38: Chapter 38 Green Snake's Shift in Stance

“...”

The Three-Colored Venomous Snake gradually found itself unable to follow the conversation between the human and the snake, so it flew to the side and began to ponder Xu Qing's math problem.

Just how many Frogs had it caught in total?

“Senior Brother Qing, we are fellow disciples after all. Do you think you could make it a bit cheaper?”

Xu Linger gritted her teeth and pulled out her Storage Pouch.

In order to smoothly Breakthrough to the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, she could only swallow this loss.

“Junior Sister Sword, you must understand.”

“Even brothers keep clear accounts.”

“One drop of blood for fifty taels of Spirit Stones. No haggling.”

“Junior Sister Sword is an elite from a great Sect; surely you aren't so poor that you can't even produce this small amount of money.”

Since he was selling his own body, he had to set the price of his flesh high.

There was only one Resurrection Green Snake like him in the world. Rare things were expensive; he couldn't sell himself for a pittance.

Hearing this, Xu Linger gripped her Storage Pouch tightly.

This was for the sake of being promoted to a Core Disciple of the Sect, and to obtain the golden core imprint left behind by a Golden Core Elder Senior after their passing in the future...

“Can... can I pay on credit?”

Xu Linger gritted her teeth and asked.

“...Regarding the interest, can you accept it?”

Xu Qing pondered for three seconds before replying.

Xu Linger was stunned. There was even interest? Was this really a snake?

Its intelligence was simply too high. Was this also a characteristic of the Resurrection Green Snake?

“I am your Junior Sister, after all.”

“I won't accept owing money without paying it back.”

“Can I pay with labor? I'm quite good at fighting.”

Xu Qing looked Xu Linger up and down and fell into deep thought.

He was still far from the evolution points needed for his next evolution.

With this woman joining him, the efficiency of farming monsters could be greatly increased.

His cheap Junior Sister's swordsmanship was indeed not bad, and she was very talented.

Perhaps there would be other uses for her in the future.

After all, this Junior Sister's identity was not ordinary; she was an Inner Sect Disciple of the Xuanji Sect, a top-tier power in the Xia Dynasty.

What was a top-tier power?

Only a Sect with a Soul Transformation Cultivator presiding over it could be called a top-tier power.

Although she was a traitor who had acknowledged a White Flood Dragon as her Revered Master.

However, the White Flood Dragon was very gentle; perhaps she had made quite a name for herself among human Cultivators.

Xu Qing pondered privately.

After all, legendary Yao Beasts like flood dragons seemed to have a fairly good reputation among humans.

The Divine Beast worshipped by the Xia Dynasty was the higher evolution of the flood dragon, the Divine Dragon.

“Pay with labor?”

“It's not impossible. How long can you pay with labor?”

Xu Qing looked at Xu Linger and asked.

“There is a Sect competition at the end of this year. It takes a month to travel back to the Sect, and another month to prepare.”

“I can probably pay with labor for about two months.”

Xu Linger counted on her fingers as she calculated.

“How many Spirit Stones can you get from the Sect in a year?”

“One... one thousand taels of Spirit Stones.”

Xu Linger answered with dodging eyes.

“Tell the truth.”

“Five hundred taels.”

Xu Linger lowered her head and answered.

“Really?”

“Really!”

Xu Linger nodded frantically, looking like a well-behaved Junior Sister.

In reality, she was too embarrassed to say that she only got a little over two hundred taels of Spirit Stones a year.

“Fine, then I'll count it as five hundred taels of Spirit Stones. Two months will be worth ten drops of snake blood.”

“If you need any more, you'll have to pay for it yourself.”

Xu Qing successfully recruited a cheap thug.

Although condensing spiritual blood that could be used for medicine was a bit troublesome, it was worth it to gain a sword-wielding thug.

“Alright, let's head back to the cave to regroup.”

“You start paying off your debt with labor from now on.”

“Remember, you must obey my orders at all times.”

Next, Xu Qing happily began to boss around this cheap Junior Sister.

For example, catching Frogs, catching Frogs, and catching more Frogs.

Xu Linger was dutiful; it was clear that she had a very serious personality.

She would definitely put in her best effort to complete whatever she promised.

She fit Xu Qing's impression of a Sword Cultivator.

Aside from her name being a bit lazy, everything else was good.

...

In the Monster Beast Mountain Range, Xu Qing and Xu Linger chatted idly.

The main purpose was to gather information about the Xuanji Sect.

Xu Qing was also quite curious about such a top-tier human Sect.

The competition within the Xuanji Sect was quite fierce.

Outer Sect Disciples were Qi Refining Cultivators, and Inner Sect Disciples were Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Above the Inner Sect Disciples were the Core Disciples.

Only by becoming a Core Disciple did one have the chance to obtain the golden core imprint left behind by a Golden Core Elder of the Sect after their passing, in order to Breakthrough to the Golden Core stage.

And Xu Linger was currently preparing to Breakthrough to the Late Foundation Establishment Stage to compete for a spot as a Core Disciple.

“...I'm truly envious.”

A green snake like Xu Qing, who had no one to protect him, was very envious of Xu Linger.

At the very least, Xu Linger now had a path to obtain a golden core imprint and Breakthrough to the Golden Core stage.

As for Xu Qing...

If things went poorly, he might have to take a risk in the future to slay a Golden Core and seize their golden core imprint.

Otherwise, he would have to sell his body and pick a good family... selling himself to form a Golden Core.

He definitely didn't want that kind of thing!

“Senior Brother Qing, the pressure in the Xuanji Sect is really high. I truly envy you Yao Beasts who are free and unfettered.”

Even though Xu Linger said this, the look of smugness on her face was not hidden at all.

Humblebragging, she was humblebragging!

Xu Qing's teeth itched with irritation.

“Senior Brother Qing, don't worry. If I become a Core Disciple and form a Golden Core, I definitely won't forget you.”

“We'll each have our own titles.”

“You can call me Senior, and I'll call you Senior Brother.”

Xu Linger had the look of a 'petty person who had achieved success,' but because she was exceptionally beautiful, she looked quite cute.

As expected, good-looking people look good no matter what they do.

“Hmph.”

Xu Qing gave a cold snort.

He was definitely going to form his core first, then hang this girl up and humiliate her.

How to humiliate her? Naturally, by sentencing her to call him 'Senior' ten thousand times.

Returning to his own mountain from the Monster Beast Mountain Range, he found Lin Yumo meditating in his cave.

It seemed she had been waiting for him there for a while.

She should have successfully collected the Artifact Refining Materials and the Artifact Refining methods.

She really was a convenient tool.

“Alliance Leader!”

After Xu Qing landed, Lin Yumo hurriedly stood up to greet him.

At the same time, she saw Xu Linger behind Xu Qing and felt a sudden sense of crisis.

Could it be that her position as the number one tool was no longer secure?

“Have you collected the things I asked for?”

“Please have a look, Sect Master.”

Xu Linger handed over a Storage Pouch.

Xu Qing opened the Storage Pouch, which contained three books, namely:

Identification of Spirit Ores

Basic Magical Artifact Refining Techniques

Spirit Fire Artifact Refining Method

In addition to the books, there was also a jade slip and a pile of Ores of various colors, emitting spiritual light.

“Well done. If you don't have enough Spirit Stones, you can ask me.”

Xu Qing offered a word of praise and dismissed Lin Yumo.

Lin Yumo really satisfied him; she was well worth cultivating.

However, the recipe for the Foundation Establishment Pill was held in the hands of the great Sects, and very few Foundation Establishment Pills ever leaked out.

Wait a minute, wasn't this cheap Junior Sister of his from a great Sect!

If she used a Foundation Establishment Pill supplemented by his snake blood to Breakthrough, the probability of Foundation Establishment would definitely not be low.

“Um, Junior Sister Sword, do you have any Foundation Establishment Pills?”

Xu Qing felt a bit embarrassed.

Fortune turns like a wheel; he didn't expect it to turn back to him so soon.

If he had known, he would have shown a bit more courtesy back then.

“I do, but the Sect has regulations that they cannot be leaked outside the Sect. Senior Brother Qing, you're making things very difficult for me.”

“...”

“Name your price.”

“Eight hundred taels of Spirit Stones.”

“Why don't you just rob me? An ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator wouldn't even have that much wealth!”

“Senior Brother Qing, I can offer it on credit, and I won't charge you interest.”

“Senior Brother Qing can also choose to pay with labor.”

A lovely smile appeared on Xu Linger's beautiful face.

“Junior Sister Sword, a snake shouldn't be like this.”

“I'm just a human.”