For his second animal companion, Qi Ping's heart originally desired a beast with high attack and defense—something that could fight on the front lines. Creatures like the Barb-Armored Bear or the Crimson-Flame Tiger came to mind. Their direct combat power would perfectly compensate for his own lack of strength, and combined with the Golden Marrow Bees, they would create a terrifyingly lethal combination. For instance, a Barb-Armored Bear could pin down an opponent while the bees used their speed to deliver toxins.
If he was lucky enough to share a physical or defensive talent from such a beast, combined with his Wood Shield Art, his survival and defense would skyrocket. However, there was a fatal flaw: these beasts were far too large! Since Qi Ping lacked a Spirit Beast Bag, having them by his side would be too conspicuous. It would be like screaming to every marauder: "I have something valuable!" Even if a marauder didn't have bad intentions, such a large pet would be an easy target, potentially drawing in even stronger enemies.
So, until he had a Spirit Beast Bag, he didn't plan on considering those types of pets unless he found something exceptionally perfect. Settling for the next best thing, a beast that was easy to hide but still possessed decent combat power became his most suitable option.
Qi Ping's current first-tier choice was a flying beast, such as an Azure-Cloud Crane or a Thunder Hawk. They weren't overly flashy but possessed good combat strength and would synergize well with his bees. If no flying beast was suitable, he would consider things like the Hard-Rock Hedgehog, Thick-Shelled Tortoise, or Starlight Civet.
'The situation is too dangerous. Once I hit Level 2, I need to contract a second companion as soon as possible within my means to boost my strength.'
As his level increased, he would gain more contract slots, so not every companion had to be perfect. As long as it wasn't terrible, it would do to help him survive the current marauder crisis. Moreover, Lin Chaoyang's news about the Secret Realm gave him an ominous feeling. Perfect spirit beasts were too rare; if he insisted on one, he might never find it. He had never even dreamed of the "stumbling upon a divine beast" scenario favored by legends.
"What are you thinking about so intently?" Sister Nan asked, looking at the dazed Qi Ping with curiosity.
"Sister Nan, I was thinking about the things I need to buy, and what kind of wine Old Man Zhou wanted..."
"That old man! Just buy him whatever. Drinking less might actually let him live a few years longer!"
From her tone, it was clear she was very familiar with Old Man Zhou.
"He only has that one vice. I've talked to him, but he says if he can't drink, he might as well just drop dead right now."
"He's a true drunkard... but he's not wrong. Without reaching Foundation Establishment, our lifespans aren't even two hundred years. One might as well be happy; a few years more or less doesn't matter much."
"Exactly, so I just let him be."
"Let's not talk about the old man. It's late; we should sell our things and buy what we need quickly. Travelling at night is far more dangerous than during the day!"
"Understood, Sister Nan!"
Without further delay, they headed toward the Zhiyuan Chamber of Commerce. Though there were many small vendors lining the streets, nothing caught their eye—or at least, nothing was worth wasting spirit stones on. Along the way, they encountered market enforcement teams twice, composed of mid-to-late Qi Condensation cultivators. These were just the visible forces; the security of the market was clearly robust.
Boss Gao's Zhiyuan Chamber of Commerce was nestled in a corner of the eastern district. Its location wasn't prominent, so foot traffic was low, and the rent and entry fees were correspondingly lower. Because of this, Boss Gao mostly did business with regular customers.
When they reached the shop, they saw Boss Gao warmly seeing off a pair of customers. Spotting the two, he greeted them enthusiastically.
"Sister Nan, Brother Qi! It's been a while. Please, come in! I'll brew some tea for you first!"
A sixth-level Qi Condensation cultivator personally welcoming them with such enthusiasm—his service was truly impeccable. His shop relied on repeat business, after all.
After a cup of tea, Sister Nan was the first to present thirty Spirit-Condensing Fruits. "Boss Gao, take a look at these. How many spirit stones are they worth?"
Boss Gao had a sharp eye. With a single glance, he said, "Five at Grade B-Superior, thirteen at Grade B-Medium... Sister Nan, your farming skills have certainly improved lately!" He looked at her with surprise. He knew her land wasn't even considered spirit land, yet she had produced so many high-grade fruits. Even some First-Order spirit lands couldn't guarantee such quality!
"You flatter me, Boss Gao. It's thanks to you; the materials you found for my fertilizer were much better than what I could find elsewhere."
"Since you asked, I naturally did my best. This batch would fetch 67 to 69 stones at the larger chambers. I'll give you 72. How does that sound?"
Boss Gao was honest. He kept his regulars because he was transparent; he made his money through steady, long-term business.
"No problem!" Sister Nan agreed readily. Having grown these fruits for years, she was intimately familiar with the market prices. Gao Zhiyuan wasn't lying to her.
He quickly counted out 72 low-grade spirit stones and handed them over before stowing the fruit. Next was Qi Ping. He presented his eleven bottles of honey without hesitation. "Boss Gao, please take a look."
When the bottles appeared on the table, both Boss Gao and Sister Nan let out a soft exclamation of surprise.
"Four bottles of Grade A-Inferior? Seven bottles of Grade B-Superior?" Boss Gao's voice carried a hint of shock.
Neither expected Qi Ping to produce Grade A honey. Brewing such honey was no easier than cultivating Grade A fruit. While it wasn't incredibly precious, producing it in a place like Area D was a rare feat.
"Brother Qi, your beekeeping skills have surely surpassed your master's!" Boss Gao praised. Old Man Zhou had worked with him for years, but he had only produced Grade A honey on a few occasions. He hadn't expected Qi Ping to produce it today!
"I've had some breakthroughs in my experience lately, but it's mostly thanks to Old Man Zhou's teachings and his years of accumulation," Qi Ping said modestly. He naturally wouldn't mention the Golden Marrow Bees or the spirit flowers.
"Then your comprehension must be exceptional to master the technique so quickly. I've met many people, but few like you. The big chambers usually pay 53 to 56 stones for this; I'll offer you 59. What do you think?"