Chapter 720: Exchange

“A half-step Grandmaster realm nine Purple-winged Heavenly Might Beast?”

Their eyelids twitched, and both Senior Brother Feng and the young man were simultaneously stunned. They were both at the Grandmaster 5-realm. Even with a flying beast companion, they would only reach the Bridge Heaven realm, and at that level, flying over the lake would still make them vulnerable to surprise attacks from Grandmaster 7th or 8th-realm spirit beasts in the water, leading to their demise. But this Heavenly Might Beast was different. Being a half-step ninth-realm beast with astonishing vital energy, any creature daring to provoke it would likely be killed before even inflicting harm.

As expected, just as this thought crossed their minds, a large Grandmaster 8th-realm fish leaped out of the water. It opened its mouth, intending to swallow Zhang Xuan and his companion. However, before it could even get close, it was detected in advance. A claw struck down, instantly crushing it to death, and its inner core was seized and held in its palm.

“He... how can he possess such a powerful beast companion?”

Senior Brother Feng swallowed hard, his voice suddenly hoarse. Wasn’t he only at the Harmonization realm? How did he manage to tame a half-step ninth-realm spirit beast as a companion? He had initially felt proud, believing he’d gotten the better of Zhang Xuan by snatching the ferry service when Zhang Xuan seemed unwilling to pay a single mid-grade spirit stone. Now, seeing this, he finally understood how utterly ridiculous his pride had been! With such a formidable beast companion, he could simply fly across. Who would bother with a slow ferry? He wouldn’t ride it even if they paid *him*!

“Senior Brother Feng, look... why aren’t they moving?”

Still reeling in shock, he heard the young man’s anxious voice. Looking up, he saw that the Purple-winged Heavenly Might Beast, carrying Master Zhang, had indeed stopped mid-air and wasn’t proceeding. Weren’t they riding a flying spirit beast to reach the trade fair quicker? Why stop there? Perplexed, they watched as the Heavenly Might Beast flapped its massive wings once more, diving straight down to the water surface, its hoof-claw extending sharply downwards.

Swoosh!

Another Grandmaster 7th or 8th-realm fish spirit beast was crushed in its hoof, instantly killed, its inner core immediately extracted. Having done so, the Heavenly Might Beast hovered again, waited for a moment, then reached into the water on the other side once more.

“They’re... hunting?”

The two, along with the boatman, exchanged glances, nearly breaking down. For everyone else, this lake was a death trap, a place they wouldn’t dare approach lightly. But this guy... he was treating it like a treasure trove, coming here to fish!

“How can the Purple-winged Heavenly Might Beast possibly catch spirit beasts from the water?”

Beyond shock, incredulity filled them. While the Purple-winged Heavenly Might Beast’s strength was undeniable, no matter how powerful it was, it was still a creature of the sky. Water spirit beasts had their own ways of survival; if outmatched, they could easily escape. So how could it catch one every single time with such precision? It was as if it knew exactly where the water spirit beasts would swim, never missing once it made a move. How was that possible?

“Exactly... and more importantly, even if this Heavenly Might Beast is incredibly powerful, killing a Grandmaster 8th-realm spirit beast shouldn’t be *that* easy...”

A half-step ninth-realm beast, while superior to an eighth-realm one, wouldn’t be vastly stronger, especially given spirit beasts’ formidable defenses; they could certainly endure a few attacks. Yet, the Purple-winged Heavenly Might Beast, with a single strike, could instantly pinpoint a water spirit beast’s weakness and deliver a fatal blow. This was simply too powerful!

While they reeled in disbelief, Zhang Xuan, perched on the beast’s back, nodded contentedly as he examined the inner core in his hand. He needed capital to buy things at the trade fair, and currently, he was completely broke. Since so many spirit beasts were rushing to their deaths, he naturally wouldn’t let such an opportunity pass. Grandmaster 8th-realm spirit beast inner cores could be used as medicinal ingredients, for setting up formations, or even for cultivating techniques. Their value was considerable. As for how he found these spirit beasts, with his abilities, as long as they intended to attack, pinpointing their location and weaknesses was incredibly simple.

Guiding the Heavenly Might Beast to hunt relentlessly, in less than half an hour, he had culled over a dozen Grandmaster 8th-realm beasts and more than twenty 7th-realm ones, their inner cores forming a substantial pile in his storage ring.

“The Grandmaster 7th and 8th-realm spirit beasts in the lake are nearly all hunted. Let’s head to the trade fair!”

After circling a few more times and finding no more spirit beasts emerging, Zhang Xuan waved his hand, a hint of regret in his gesture. Although the lake contained numerous spirit beasts, there was only a finite number within a given area, and they simply couldn’t withstand such systematic hunting. The Heavenly Might Beast had practically annihilated them in less than half a day. Any survivors would be few and far between, too busy hiding to dare show their faces. With no more spirit beasts to trouble them, and realizing there was no point in lingering, the Heavenly Might Beast flapped its wings and flew directly towards the floating pavilion where the trade fair was held.

They soon arrived. Zhang Xuan and Master Hong leaped onto the ship. The ship was massive, several hundred meters long. Inside its spacious cabins, stalls were packed tightly together, offering a full range of goods, and the crowd moved like a shuttle, creating a lively atmosphere.

“See them? Those two are the ones who were riding the Purple-winged Heavenly Might Beast, hunting on the lake!”

“The lake, which others feared like snakes and scorpions, actually became a hunting ground for him... Is that guy really a new student?”

“Only new students reside in that section!”

“A beast companion requires proper communication to cooperate effectively. Even if tamed with an elder’s help, they need to grow up together from a young age to achieve such intimate cooperation. This Heavenly Might Beast is over two hundred years old, while the person is under thirty. He must have tamed it himself...”

“Indeed, his cultivation hasn’t even reached the Grandmaster 6th-realm, yet he tamed a half-step ninth-realm spirit beast... Since when did spirit beasts become so easy to tame?”

News of the Purple-winged Heavenly Might Beast’s unrestrained hunting on the lake had already spread throughout the trade fair. Now, seeing the pair appear, everyone’s eyes widened, staring at them as if they were monsters. All those attending the trade fair were genius master teachers from various major powers, possessing keen insight. They could naturally discern that this Heavenly Might Beast was Zhang Xuan’s tamed companion. But... a mere Harmonization realm lad taming a half-step ninth-realm spirit beast? No matter how they racked their brains, they couldn’t fathom how it was possible. The disparity was simply too vast! It was as unbelievable as an ant taming a divine dragon.

“It’s likely... the Purple-winged Heavenly Might Beast was severely injured, and he coincidentally rescued it, earning its gratitude...”

“That’s possible!”

After a period of astonishment, a theory began to circulate. While rare, it wasn’t unheard of for someone with low cultivation to tame a high-level spirit beast, though it required extreme luck.

“Hmph, just a lucky kid!”

Upon understanding this, their astonishment gradually receded. Master teachers, ultimately, relied on their strength. Good luck might smooth over one or two matters, but at the academy, one still needed genuine power to command respect.

“Master Zhang, what do we do...?”

He hadn’t anticipated such a commotion. Being stared at by so many people as soon as they arrived at the trade fair, Master Hong couldn’t help but feel a little nervous.

“It’s nothing!” Smiling, Zhang Xuan flipped his wrist, and a spirit beast’s inner core appeared in his palm. He looked around and announced, “Grandmaster 7th-realm spirit beast inner cores exchanged for Harmonization realm cultivation techniques. As long as they’re suitable, it’s one book per core!”

“One book for one core? Master Zhang...”

Master Hong swayed, almost passing out. “Isn’t that incredibly cheap? Although the Purple-winged Heavenly Might Beast was incredibly mighty just now, he had only obtained a few dozen inner cores. If he truly exchanged them one book for one core, he’d run out in no time and suffer a massive loss!”

“Are you serious?”

“Any Harmonization or Bridge Heaven realm cultivation technique can be exchanged?”

As expected, upon hearing this, the eyes of the surrounding onlookers all lit up, each one incredulous. In this world, Master Teacher Pavilions were numerous, and various cultivation techniques abounded. Many weren’t exclusive and weren’t considered secrets. With a bit of effort, thousands, even tens of thousands, of cultivation techniques for the same realm could easily be found. Many master teachers had compiled and collected numerous cultivation techniques, drawing from a wide range of sources. Thus, while these cultivation techniques were precious to others, they weren’t particularly valuable to master teachers. Exchanging a single book for a Grandmaster 7th-realm inner core was an absolute windfall!

“I guarantee it on a Master Teacher’s reputation—fair trade for all! As for Bridge Heaven realm cultivation manuals, it’s one Grandmaster 8th-realm inner core per book!” Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, “However, there’s a condition: the technique must be suitable. If it’s not, I won’t take it. Rest assured, whether suitable or not, I can determine it by simply touching the book; there’s no need for me to see the title or content. If a technique isn’t suitable, I absolutely will not open the book, so you needn’t worry about your cultivation technique being leaked! Even if it is suitable, I will return it after a single glance. I won’t request your original, nor will I even copy it!”

“He won’t open unsuitable ones? Won’t even look?”

“Even if it’s suitable, he won’t keep it, just one glance and he’ll give a Grandmaster 7th or 8th-realm inner core?”

“What a great deal!”

Upon hearing Zhang Xuan’s words, everyone’s eyes gleamed. Since the manuals wouldn’t be opened, there was no way to view them. Those who had initially worried about their techniques being leaked were now brimming with excitement.

“I have twenty-two Harmonization realm cultivation techniques here. See if any are suitable for you!”

Amidst the chatter, a master teacher approached, flipped his wrist, and produced a stack of books. Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, slid his finger across the stack, and shook his head. “I’m truly sorry, but none of your books are suitable for me...”

“Not suitable?”

Upon hearing that none were suitable and the exchange couldn’t proceed, the master teacher felt a pang of disappointment, shaking his head as he stepped back. As he withdrew, the surrounding crowd watched and nodded. He was right; he really did just touch them without opening any. Just touching... even the most powerful person wouldn’t know the content, would they? Their cultivation techniques wouldn’t be leaked... there was nothing to worry about!

“Let me try...”

The lure of wealth was irresistible. Grandmaster 7th and 8th-realm inner cores were simply too enticing, and soon, everyone else could no longer hold back, each pulling out their manuals and stepping forward. Before long, cultivation technique manuals were piled like a mountain before Zhang Xuan. However, after his inspection... he found only two suitable ones. Of course, he casually declared these two ‘suitable’ to maintain interest; if he’d found none, it would have been too discouraging, and people would have lost interest, effectively ending his collection.

“I’m truly sorry, but let’s call it a day here. Perhaps you all can go back and look again. Starting tomorrow, my Bridge Heaven realm cultivation manuals will be exchanged for two Grandmaster 8th-realm spirit beast inner cores each!”

An hour later, Zhang Xuan stopped, looking around apologetically. He had already collected a good number of Harmonization realm techniques in his mind, but only a handful of Bridge Heaven realm ones. He hoped to gather more tomorrow.