Chapter 104: Jiaolong Inner Core

The waitress took out a blank sheet of paper.

"Look, this is Jinman Tower's recently launched Spirit Stone Loan product. You can get the goods now and pay in spirit stones later, just repaying a portion each year."

"Of course, a tiny, negligible amount of interest is also required."

A Spirit Stone Loan?

The unfamiliar yet familiar term made Wang Yu's head spin.

"How much?"

"Twenty percent interest. For each overdue payment, an additional half percent interest will be added to the total loan amount, with no cap."

"Can anyone borrow?"

"Certainly not." The waitress subtly pointed to the disciple token on Wang Yu's waist, and he instantly understood.

"What if someone uses their power to avoid repayment?"

"Jinman Tower's Nascent Soul cultivators will be responsible for collecting debts in person."

Wang Yu sheepishly put down the jade pot.

"I think I'll look at something lower-grade. Do you have anything first-tier?"

Seeing his reluctance to use the Spirit Stone Loan, the waitress's demeanor remained gentle, though her gaze was a little strange. If it were someone with strong self-esteem, they might have taken the loan.

Unfortunately, this tactic was useless on Wang.

He found it hilarious; he simply wasn't moved by such things. Seduction and appeals to self-esteem were useless.

"For first-tier, there are many more options. However, first-tier demonic beasts are limited in size and don't produce much essence blood. Since you, honored guest, specifically want dragon-blooded varieties, the price will be 30% higher than other essence blood of the same grade."

"Bring them out, let me see."

"Certainly."

As the jade pots disappeared into the drawers of the counter, a batch of dragon-blooded essence blood, contained in jade bottles, was brought over.

"First-tier dragon-blooded demonic beast, Ice Chi Python: one bottle, nine drops of essence blood, priced at three thousand spirit stones."

"First-tier dragon-blooded demonic beast, Swamp Purple Dragon: one bottle, nine drops of essence blood, priced at two thousand eight hundred spirit stones."

"First-tier dragon-blooded demonic beast, Tuo Dragon: one bottle, nine drops of essence blood, priced at two thousand five hundred spirit stones."

"First-tier..."

The waitress introduced many more. Each bottle contained nine drops, and according to the medicinal bath secret recipe accompanying the "Flood Dragon Strength" cultivation method, one drop could produce three portions of secret medicine.

Buying one bottle would last him until the late stages of body refining. This cost wasn't actually expensive; the further one progressed in body refining, the more resources were consumed, making the expense at the first tier mere pocket change.

"I'll take this one: the Ice Chi Python essence blood."

"Very well. That will be three thousand spirit stones."

Completing the transaction, Wang Yu let out a long sigh of relief. He then proceeded to purchase the other medicinal ingredients for the body-refining secret medicine. With this purchase, the fourth slot would become available.

The "Flood Dragon Strength" cultivation method was perfected, but he had only cultivated it to the "Fourth Sinew" level. Using the secret medicine to accelerate his progress was perfect, and the newly freed slot could be used for a spell.

Slot 4: Invisibility Spell. Invisibility Spell (3/100): Practicing twenty-four times a day, it can be mastered in three years.

As a low-grade second-tier spell, it was quite challenging for Wang Yu to study, yet the slot only required three years, showing the significant difference between the two methods.

The Invisibility Spell, as its name suggests, allows one to become invisible.

It is divided into four realms: Light Concealment, Sound Concealment, Form Concealment, and Void Concealment!

Once perfected, even if two individuals were to overlap, it would be difficult to perceive the invisible one's presence.

Most of the spiders in Ghost Eye Cave were at the introductory realm, Light Concealment, unable to even perfectly conceal their form, let alone the sounds they made.

As a bone art inherited from the Treasure Bone of the Hidden Dragon, its low-grade second-tier state was merely its most primitive form. In the future, if a Hidden Dragon with a more powerful bloodline could be hunted, perhaps an even more advanced invisibility spell could be learned.

This situation did not constitute an incomplete state.

The slot could not complete it, but rather served as a lower-tier substitute. "Advancement" would be a more fitting description.

With this, he had already planned the order of placement: Invisibility Spell, Profound Yin Hand… and then the Corpse Devil Secret Art.

While Wang Yu was at the spiritual medicine counter, purchasing the supplementary ingredient "Snake Saliva Fruit," he suddenly turned his head and looked at a figure heading towards the exit. This person seemed to have just come down from the stairs.

The person was middle-aged, with an extremely wary look in their eyes.

Subconsciously activating his Grand Yin Nether Eyes, from the Moon-Gazing perspective, he could see the "yin" side. In the center of this person's soul flame, a gleaming golden pill-shaped object was emitting a shimmering spiritual glow.

The aura of a flood dragon was exceptionally rich within it.

It was as if a cultivation method was automatically refining it, continuously drawing out golden-red threads that dispersed throughout the person's limbs and bones.

"A Flood Dragon Inner Core?"

Wang Yu's heart jolted. He quickly paid, grabbed the Snake Saliva Fruit, and involuntarily followed the person.

Flood dragons... were already among the second-tier of potent bloodlines within the dragon race. Their innate talent was comparable to that of human Heavenly Spiritual Roots, guaranteeing advancement to the Core Formation stage, and with sufficient fortune, even progressing to the Nascent Soul stage would not be an issue.

Demonic cores of the dragon race, also known as dragon pearls, were inherently rare treasures, capable of even substituting for Foundation Establishment and Core Formation spiritual materials.

The next-tier flood dragon pearls had similar effects.

Having researched Foundation Establishment spiritual materials for some time, he had a deep understanding of the intricacies involved.

He wondered what grade this person's Flood Dragon Inner Core was. Wang Yu was greatly tempted, especially since he had originally been drawn to Corroding Heart City by an unsubstantiated rumor.

Now, he had stumbled upon such a fortuitous opportunity, and he had even discovered it himself.

To take it or not? Could he take it? That was the question.

After leaving Jinman Tower, the person headed purposefully towards the city gates, walking swiftly. Wang Yu activated his Night Concealment Charm and followed closely, an intense internal struggle raging within him.

About fifteen minutes later, they were outside Corroding Heart City.

The person immediately took out a spirit boat about ten feet long, jumped onto it, and instantly propelled it to maximum power, transforming into a streak of green light that rapidly flew away.

Seeing this, Wang Yu could only sigh with regret.

It was too fast; he couldn't keep up.

Perhaps it was for the best, as it cut off his wicked thoughts and prevented him from becoming a ruthless villain.

Suddenly.

Two more streaks of light abruptly shot into the sky, rapidly pursuing the direction the person had taken. The ability to fly without any flying magical artifacts meant they were definitely Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Both individuals looked unfamiliar, likely not Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Corroding Heart City area. Such an obvious chase scene made Wang Yu's heart itch with anticipation.

To ambush and kill an innocent passerby for a treasure was something he honestly didn't want to do.

However, if two groups fought each other and he merely reaped the rewards, acting as the fisherman, he would have no qualms.

This mindset seemed contradictory but was, in fact, a reason some people gave themselves to cross their moral bottom line. Whether they stopped after a small taste or spiraled out of control depended entirely on their self-restraint.

Wang Yu, standing on his flying sword, had already shot forth.

Although he was only at the eighth level of Qi Condensation, he had witnessed the power of Foundation Establishment cultivators several times during his time at Blackbone Mountain, and those were even Foundation Establishment cultivators trained by a Nascent Soul sect.

These individuals were certainly weaker than Deacon Xu.

He, on the other hand, had grown stronger. While he couldn't guarantee victory in a fight, he was confident he could withdraw unharmed after an engagement!

Otherwise, what was the point of all those perfected spells, each described as being comparable to Foundation Establishment cultivators upon mastery? Had he cultivated them for nothing? Impossible!

However, despite his greed, this pursuit was primarily about adapting to the situation. If an opportunity arose, he would seize it; if not, so be it.

There would be no loss to him either way.

"Accelerate!"

Perhaps some technique had been cast on the cultivator with the Flood Dragon Inner Core, as the two early Foundation Establishment cultivators chasing him were remarkably precise in their direction.

Their unconcealed auras also provided Wang Yu with a clear target, allowing him to trail them from afar.