Hearing this, Li Jing's face twitched. "Then you're really unlucky. The Iron-Crested Eagle is a Yao Beast, very powerful. Fellow Daoist Yan only suffered minor injuries; he probably already took down the Iron-Crested Eagle."
After walking for an unknown amount of time, the two arrived at the foot of a mountain. This mountain didn't have dense forests but was covered in various shrubs. A winding mountain path slowly ascended along the terrain.
"Fellow Daoist Yan, please wait here. I'll go call Fellow Daoist Huang!"
Li Jing said, then walked up the mountain path.
Yan Jian sat down with a thud, waving his hand, "You go ahead. These old bones of mine can't compare to you youngsters."
After walking along the mountain path for a short while, Li Jing reached the summit. He saw Huang Yan lying sprawled on the grass, looking utterly dejected.
"Cough, cough..."
Seeing this, Li Jing could only cough a few times. It seemed he had arrived at an inopportune moment.
Huang Yan snapped back to reality, her oval face filled with surprise and embarrassment. She quickly sat up, hands resting on her knees, and smiled, "Fellow Daoist Li, what brings you here?"
Li Jing didn't say much, simply telling her that he and Yan Jian were going to Songfeng Market and had come specifically to invite her along.
Hearing that the two were going to Songfeng Market, Huang Yan quickly stood up and smiled brightly, "I was just wondering where the Market was. Let's go now!"
Li Jing nodded. With Huang Yan accompanying them, they could handle a Yao Beast if they encountered one, and escape if they ran into Robber Cultivators.
Immediately, Huang Yan went into the wooden house to prepare, then walked down the mountain with Li Jing.
Huang Yan was slightly surprised when she saw the injury on Yan Jian's face, but she didn't ask further.
As noon approached, the group finally arrived at the outskirts of Songfeng Market.
Around them, ancient pines were vigorous like canopies, their gnarled branches obscuring the sun. Waves of pine scent carried crisp Spiritual Qi, and tree shadows fell upon the Market's outline. Occasionally, Spirit Beasts perched on the treetops.
The three were delighted at the sight and quickly stepped inside. Within the Market, people flowed like a river on the bluestone path, and the calls of vendors on both sides were endless.
Shops hung glowing signboards, with seal script flowing with Spiritual Qi. On the counters, Medicinal Pills gleamed with a moist luster, and Talismans drifted with faint Golden Silk smoke.
Li Jing followed the crowd, gazing at the various treasures on the stalls, his eyes full of longing. Unfortunately, he was short on funds, without a single Spirit Stone.
"Fellow Daoists, let us part ways here. When it's time to leave, we can meet at the Market entrance."
Yan Jian suggested.
Li Jing nodded slightly. He still needed to deal with the Wind Chasing Tiger's corpse and couldn't just wander around with the two of them.
Huang Yan also nodded in agreement. She wanted to buy some rouge and powder; the past two days had left her quite sunburnt, and her skin had become a bit rough, not to mention having to do manual labor herself.
The group dispersed to buy what they needed. After walking for a while, Li Jing glanced around and saw a woman pushing a small cart, surrounded by Cultivators, creating a lively scene.
"Come and see, come and look! My shop offers excellent quality at low prices. You won't lose out, you won't be fooled. Everyone, come and see!"
The voice was clear and pleasant, like a nightingale's first song, or a jade chime soaked in morning dew, clear and gentle.
This voice came from among the Cultivators surrounding the small cart. Li Jing walked closer and saw that the stall owner was a woman in a green skirt, her jade-like hands slender, her knuckles even and delicate like carved scallions, her fingertips glowing faintly, as if wrapped in a layer of moonlight.
At this moment, those hands were rapidly working an abacus, clattering, indicating good business.
Li Jing squeezed into the crowd and looked. The small wooden cart was laden with various goods: Magical Artifacts, Medicinal Pills, Talismans, Formation Plates, and some raw materials.
He looked them over; these items were all quite good and reasonably priced.
"Fellow Daoist, have you seen anything you like? I can offer you a ten percent discount!"
Li Jing looked up and saw the young woman smiling slightly at him, looking very cute.
"Your items are indeed good, Fellow Daoist, but they're not what I need."
Li Jing shook his head and said.
"Hehe, I see this is your first time here, Fellow Daoist. My name is Yun Wan. Next time you come, I'll give you a twenty percent discount!"
Yun Wan looked at Li Jing with a beaming smile, speaking with fiery enthusiasm.
Hearing the twenty percent discount, Li Jing's throat bobbed. Seeing the young woman's fiery enthusiasm, he could only smile slightly and say, "Next time, I will definitely buy treasures from you, Fellow Daoist."
After speaking, he left somewhat awkwardly. The young woman was simply too enthusiastic; he couldn't quite handle it.
After walking a few dozen more steps, Li Jing saw a wooden building. The building had upturned eaves and ornate brackets, carved beams and painted rafters, glazed windows, and a white jade plaque.
Its main structure was built of nanmu wood, with several red pillars about two zhang high, adorned with Golden Silk cloud patterns. Medicinal Pills, Magical Artifacts, and Talismans filled the display stands, shimmering with Spiritual Qi. A white jade plaque above the entrance bore the three characters "Treasure Gathering Tower" written in a vigorous Dragon and Phoenix style.
This Treasure Gathering Tower was an industry of the Beast Taming Sect, earning a large amount of Spirit Stones for the Sect every year. It was said that Sect Disciples could even enjoy a five percent discount.
Knowing about the discount, Li Jing stepped into the hall. Suddenly, a wisp of Qi swept over him, instantly making his hair stand on end, then quickly disappearing as if it were an illusion.
His heart tensed. He naturally didn't think it was an illusion. He had felt a similar wisp of Qi from Deacon Chen, but Deacon Chen's was hidden, while this wisp of Qi was a blatant deterrent.
"Is this a warning not to have any improper thoughts?"
There was a reason why this Treasure Gathering Tower could operate in the Hundred Thousand Great Wilderness. With a Foundation Establishment Cultivator overseeing it, no petty criminal would dare cause trouble.
Just then, a Red-skirted Female Cultivator gracefully approached.
"What do you need to purchase, Fellow Daoist? Our Sect Disciples enjoy a five percent discount."
The Female Cultivator's voice was clear, her red lips slightly parted, revealing a glimpse of snow-white skin at her neck.
Li Jing secretly sighed that the Beast Taming Sect was truly grand, actually having Cultivators serve as attendants. The faint Qi she exuded seemed even stronger than his own.
This was also the sorrow of these low-level Cultivators. It was fine if they became Sect Disciples, but if they became Loose Cultivators, their lives were truly miserable, having to split a single Spirit Stone in half to spend.
"Can I sell Yao Beast corpses here?" Li Jing averted his gaze and said in a deep voice.
"Yes, please come this way." The Female Cultivator led Li Jing into a quiet room, offered him tea, excused herself, and went to call the Fellow Daoist specifically in charge of this matter.
Li Jing took a small sip of tea, waiting quietly. After a moment, the Red-skirted Female Cultivator pushed the door open, followed by a plump middle-aged man.
The fat man was dressed in a Golden Silk agate Daoist robe, exuding an aura of lavish wealth. He turned to Li Jing, his chubby face smiling as he said, "Fellow Daoist, please release the Yao Beast you hunted so I can take a look."
Li Jing nodded, slapped his Storage Pouch, and the Wind Chasing Tiger's corpse lay horizontally in the quiet room. Although the Wind Chasing Tiger was dead, its fierce Qi still lingered.
The Red-skirted Female Cultivator shivered, retreating slightly in fear. These Cultivators had probably never seen such a ferocious Yao Beast in their lives, as the Sect's Spirit Beasts all had an inherent pure Qi and were very friendly.