Proud Sword Soaring Clouds

The vendor had likely grown tired of all the questions. These sellers weren’t true merchants; for them, patiently hyping up their own goods was already a stretch. Too many people asked questions without buying—a situation that would annoy even a real merchant, let alone a Martial Artist.

So, upon hearing Ling Xiao speak, the vendor replied without even lifting his gaze, "Let me be clear. One Tier Five Magic Beast Crystal Core. The price is firm. If you can’t accept that, then please—" THWAP! Before the man could finish, Ling Xiao had tossed over a gleaming Magic Beast Crystal Core. Judging by its size and the energy fluctuations it emitted, it was clearly Tier Four or higher!

"Can I see it now?" Ling Xiao said with a slight, arrogant curl of his lip. "If it checks out, the Crystal Core is yours."

"Yes, of course!"

The man wasted no time. "Finally, someone with a discerning eye! This is made from the bone of a genuine High-Tier Magical Beast! Hmph. Those other people don’t know quality when they see it. Accused me of trying to cheat them! A bunch of ignoramuses. My family has passed down carving techniques for generations. Forget everything else, just look at this craftsmanship... Tsk, tsk. My friend, you really know your stuff." He seemed to be venting his earlier frustration as he grumbled and handed the golden beast bone hairpin to Ling Xiao.

He then pulled a Crystal Ball used for appraising Crystal Cores from his pocket. After glancing at the color displayed, he put the Magic Beast Crystal Core away with a satisfied expression, acting as if the deal was already done.

Many onlookers saw what Ling Xiao did. After glancing at the bewitching woman beside him, they couldn’t help but curse him in their minds. ’He must be out of his mind! Trading a Tier Five Magic Beast Crystal Core for a useless beast bone hairpin just for a woman!’

Ling Xiao paid no mind to the onlookers. As he took the golden hairpin in his hand, he immediately felt a faint wave of Spiritual Power. His gaze fell upon the lifelike, fiery-red bird adorning the head of the hairpin.

The hairpin’s craftsmanship was superb. The firebird’s eyes were so vivid that no matter how you turned the pin, they seemed to be looking right at you. The feathers were also exquisitely detailed. ’In any case, even if this were an ordinary beast bone hairpin, its value would still be considerable. It could be considered the work of a Grandmaster-level artisan!’

However, if it were carved from ordinary beast bone, it obviously wouldn’t be worth such a price.

The vendor, somewhat afraid that Ling Xiao might back out of the deal, quickly added with a grin, "Wear this hairpin, and you won’t be bothered by insects. What’s more, I’m pretty sure it’s made from the bone of at least a Tier Seven Magical Beast! As long as you have it on, you’ll never even run into a Magical Beast below Tier Seven! My friend, just for that, wouldn’t you say it’s worth a Tier Five Crystal Core? Out in the wilds, many low-tier Magical Beasts have deadly abilities. Running into them is a huge hassle. With this, you can guarantee all those nasty creatures will keep their distance!"

"So, you don’t even know what kind of beast bone this is made of?" Ling Xiao shifted his gaze from the firebird to the young man and chuckled. "And you still have the nerve to ask for a Tier Five Crystal Core? Aren’t you being a bit too greedy?"

"’Greedy?’" The man seemed to have quite a temper. "I just told you," he said, displeased. "When you wear this, any Magical Beast below Tier Seven will stay hundreds of meters away. Isn’t that enough?" He pulled the Tier Five Crystal Core from his pocket. Though his eyes betrayed his reluctance to part with it, his voice remained firm. "If you’re not buying, give the hairpin back. Hmph! If no one else wants it, I’ll just save it for my future wife!"

"I’ll take it. Who said I wouldn’t?" Ling Xiao replied with a wide grin. "Just one more question. Do you have any more of the beast bone this hairpin was made from?"

An embarrassed look finally appeared on the young man’s face. He glanced around cautiously before lowering his voice. "Apologies, I was lying before. My family isn’t some dynasty of master carvers. I dug this thing up in a set of Ancient Ruins! But... I swear I wasn’t lying about its effects! That’s why I think it’s definitely worth a Tier Five Crystal Core. You’re a man who knows his stuff, sir, so I won’t hide the truth from you any longer..."

"..."

’Looking at the young man’s sheepish grin, Ling Xiao had the sudden urge to plant a foot right in his face. This guy had the makings of a true swindler! He could lie without even blinking. Still, it’s a good thing he doesn’t know what this item truly is. Otherwise, a single Tier Five Crystal Core wouldn’t have been nearly enough to buy it!’

Ling Xiao laughed to himself. He put on a look of someone who had just been taken, shaking his head in resignation. "Fine, I won’t argue with you. I guess I have only myself to blame for liking it so much." With that, he casually placed the golden beast bone hairpin in Song Mingyue’s hair. The golden pin glittered in the sunlight, and the exquisitely beautiful firebird on top was a stunning, eye-catching crimson from a distance.

"Oh, someone already bought it." A disappointed voice suddenly spoke up right in front of them. The moment Ling Xiao heard it, the expression on his face became priceless, as if he had just seen a ghost. He never would have thought that after making her rounds, Teacher Shangguan would have circled back.

Ling Xiao’s current build and facial features were completely different from his original appearance; even the look in his eyes had changed. Logically, there was no way Shangguan Yutong could recognize him. And yet, for some reason, he felt an immense pressure when facing her. ’Maybe it’s because Teacher Shangguan has always been so good to me—so good that I can’t bear the thought of deceiving her.’