High School of Demon Hunting

Gill Pouch Grass is a magical plant native to the Mediterranean region, resembling numerous slippery mice tails intertwined, with a surface covered in slime. After consumption, it allows a wizard’s face to grow gills on the sides, as well as fin-like fingers and toes, making it easier for wizards to move underwater.

The effect of the Shaotang Fruit is similar, except that the Shaotang Fruit doesn’t adapt the wizard by transforming them to suit the underwater environment, but instead grants them the ability to ’control water.’ After consumption, it creates a small water-free environment around the wizard, similar to the effect of the water avoidance art, but without the need to continuously hold onto the spell when using it.

Zheng Qing knew about these two herbs mentioned by Old Yao.

But he felt the reminder was somewhat unnecessary.

Because he visited Quanke comes last year, and, as far as he remembers, neither entering the Seabed Fair City from the surface nor trading at the market required the ability to breathe underwater. The market organizers established a bubble-like barrier at the seabed, creating a humid air-filled area to meet the needs of both aquatic and land visitors.

There was no opportunity for Gill Pouch Grass to show its talents.

However, this confident feeling of experience lasted only less than two days before Zheng Qing heard some slightly worrying news from Xin Fat Man.

"——What do you mean the price of Gill Pouch Grass has tripled in the past week?"

On Tuesday evening, while Zheng Qing was carrying out small hand tasks, he lifted his head, feeling puzzled, and rubbed his tired eyes after hearing a certain sentiment from the Fat Wizard during manuscript review: "Isn’t it unnecessary to go to Quanke comes for that stuff?"

Even though his mind was still somewhat dazed, he quickly found the direct cause of the skyrocketing price of Gill Pouch Grass.

"Indeed, it’s not needed."

The Fat Wizard first gave Zheng Qing a definite answer and then pointed at the manuscript beside him with a feather pen: "When the journalists from the campus newspaper interviewed, the students buying Gill Pouch Grass also knew there is a seabed water-shielding barrier at Quanke comes’ market... But they still bought it. Moreover, not only is the price of Gill Pouch Grass soaring, but Shaotang Fruit, which has similar effects, is also rising sharply. These two herbs are not only more expensive than usual but also too exaggerated compared to the same period last year."

Zheng Qing’s expression became slightly serious.

His gaze scanned over the Fat Wizard’s manuscript and turned to look at the Diviner from the Atonement Hunting Team: "——Is there something we don’t know?"

Old Yao’s reminder about the final exam time last weekend was very effective, so for the past two days, Zheng Qing rarely allowed distractions, not concerning himself with Seven Sins or the Cat Fruit Tree, focusing more on his academics.

This also made him somewhat slow to external news.

Xiao Xiao frowned, focused on revising the draft paper on sprite transformation, seeming not to hear his companions’ chatter, until the Fat Wizard threw a paper ball at his head.

"What?" The Diviner straightened his hair, adjusted his glasses, showing some displeasure because the paper ball messed up not only his hair.

Zheng Qing quickly repeated the topic just discussed.

The short Warlock picked up his crystal ball from the bed, wiped it casually with his sleeve, shaking his head, his tone laced with a bit of disdain: "Such a simple supply-demand relationship, where would I need divination... You guys should really take a numerology divination class to train your logical thinking skills. Remember last week’s magic potion class?"

The first thing that flashed in Zheng Qing’s mind was Jiang Yu’s face.

"Li Meng got the earworm?" he instinctively responded.

As soon as he uttered it, he knew he was wrong, not only did Xiao Xiao and the Fat Wizard show mocking expressions, even Fatty Cat Tuan Tuan at the edge of the desk twitched his ears, expressing speechlessness.

"You didn’t go, why are you fooling around!" The boy felt his ears getting warm, picked up the paper ball Xiao Xiao had thrown aside, and threw it at the Fat Cat.

Tuan Tuan squinted, yawned, revealing a mouthful of sharp teeth.

Zheng Qing’s momentum instantly faded.

After all, when the Gem Cat gets hurt, he also feels a ’personal experience’ kind of sensation. It’s unnecessary to provoke that Fat Cat due to a bit of minor embarrassment.

No need.

"Hmm, it’s Zao bugs, right? I remember." He chuckled, avoiding the Fat Cat’s gaze, his tone already much softened: "——The Shatang Tree in the Hundred Herb Gardens got infested, Professor Li even asked us to help with pest control, haha, how could I forget this stuff? I was just joking a moment ago! Ha, haha."

His laughter was not convincing at all.

Xiao Xiao and Xin Fat Man simultaneously showed contemptuous looks.

Zheng Qing took a deep breath.

This dorm, can’t stay here, not only do cats bully people, people bully people too!

While this thought flashed in his mind, his feet remained motionless, looking at Xiao Xiao, he showed a knowing expression: "So, you mean, Shaotang Fruit crop failed this year, causing a price surge, which then affects the price of a similar effect Gill Pouch Grass, am I right?"

Last week, when applying pesticide to the Shatang Tree, Professor Li had reminded the young wizards that these pesticides would cause all the leaves to fall off, and not a single fruit would be produced this year.

At this thought.

The boy suddenly felt some regret in his heart.

This year’s Shaotang Fruit scarcity means insufficient market supply, and Shaotang Fruit prices will rise. Such a simple economic principle can be understood immediately, but during that class, he didn’t realize it at all.

Indeed, part of the reason is that his monthly income of over seven hundred jade coins already looks down on the profit from hoarding Shaotang Fruit or Gill Pouch Grass. But the greater reason is his lack of this kind of associative thinking.

Someone hears about a gold mine in the Yukon Area, goes there to sell jeans and shovels.

Someone only knows how to pan for gold there.

Fortunately, he is not completely hopeless and without waiting for Xiao Xiao’s affirmative answer, his tone shifted: "D&K has supply contracts with the Fishman Tribe of Lin Zhong Lake, if I recall correctly, Lin Zhong Lake also cultivates Gill Pouch Grass!"

Unfortunately, he asked this question a bit late.

Xiao Xiao glanced at him speechlessly.

"By the time you remember Atonement still has a small shop, D&K’s resale contracts might have gone gray!" He did not hide the mocking tone towards the shop manager.

Then, he wiped his crystal ball with his sleeve again, supplementing: "——Also, Gill Pouch Grass’s price surge isn’t just because of Shaotang Fruit’s crop failure this year, but also because of our class meeting last week."

"Class meeting?"

"Yes... You might not care about the Legendary Wizard’s reminder, but others will not. Old Yao clearly said in the class meeting ’pay attention to safety’ and ’preparing a few Gill Pouch Grass or Shaotang Fruit wouldn’t hurt’... This kind of message quickly spreads across Buji Island... For many wizards planning to go to Quanke comes, this is a more authoritative divination than any on the market!"

"But there is a market barrier..."

"Yes, I know." Xiao Xiao nodded yet shook his head, looked at Zheng Qing with deep meaning: "But who told you, the barrier won’t suddenly fail or collapse?"