Grade A honey usually commanded a slight premium, so Boss Gao offered three stones more than the average, just as he had for Sister Nan. Qi Ping naturally accepted. Trading with Boss Gao was simple and direct—no haggling or testing the waters. Qi Ping hated bosses who made up excuses just to lower the price; arguing with them was exhausting.
"No problem! I've always trusted your prices most, Boss Gao."
"A win-win collaboration is the most sustainable way. Just remember to frequent my shop in the future... If you need to buy something precious later, you can also come to me. I know every corner of the Qingshi Market and can find you the best value for your money!"
As he counted out the spirit stones, Boss Gao introduced his new service. Acting as an agent to find and buy high-value items was a business he had recently developed. Because he was so familiar with the market and had various connections, he could often find better deals than an ordinary person could. He had started it a few months ago after a regular asked for help, and it had already earned him a tidy sum—even after he paid his dues to the powers that be. For a sixth-level cultivator, it was quite lucrative and didn't interfere with his regular business. He could earn double the income!
"Actually, I have something I'd like to trouble you with!" Qi Ping had intended to bring it up anyway; he hadn't expected the boss to mention it first. Sister Nan had told him about this service on the way, which was why he had considered asking the boss to look for a spirit beast.
Since there were few beast tamers in Qingshi County, there were no large-scale chambers specialized in selling spirit beasts. Finding a suitable one was no easy task. Qi Ping could probably visit the market ten times and still not find what he needed! Setting aside the time, the risk of the journey alone was something he couldn't accept.
"Oh? How serendipitous! What are you looking for, Brother Qi?" Boss Gao looked pleasantly surprised. A customer already!
"I want to buy a spirit beast. I wonder if you have any channels for that?" Qi Ping wasn't sure if the boss had the necessary resources.
"A spirit beast?" Boss Gao looked even more surprised.
Beast taming was no simple task. Everyone knew a strong beast was a great help, and the Blood Contract method wasn't hard to find. Yet, despite this, very few people in Qingshi County chose that path. There were two main reasons.
First, raising a spirit beast was like raising a "gold-swallowing beast." The cost of nurturing most beasts was often higher than the cost of a cultivator's own training, even without accounting for the purchase price. For most people in the county, every resource was squeezed out of their own meager earnings; where would they find extra to feed a beast? Any surplus was better spent on themselves. And a beast that hadn't been properly nurtured had no combat power; it wouldn't last a single stroke of a saber. The resource requirement alone blocked over half the cultivators.
Second, the difficulty of beast taming was immense. People imagined that after signing a Blood Contract, they would share a mind with their pet and fight together, with the beast even willing to die for its master. That was a fantasy!
In reality, if a spirit beast didn't agree, it was nearly impossible to forcibly contract. Communication was difficult due to the lack of intelligence and language, especially with beasts that weren't naturally inclined toward humans. During combat, they might slack off or even turn on their master. They were often disobedient and could cause trouble if one wasn't careful...
The problems were endless. Any one of them could spell failure. Most beasts were hard to tame—the stronger they were, the harder it became. Some even possessed a bloodline-deep hatred for humanity. This was why beast taming was a specialized path requiring its own sects and knowledge—how to choose a beast, how to increase its affection, how to train it for combat.
A good beast tamer could turn an ordinary beast into a powerful entity that surpassed its own bloodline. This was why Boss Gao was so surprised by Qi Ping's request. However, he didn't pry. Interrogating a customer was a taboo for a merchant, and Boss Gao was too shrewd for that. As long as Qi Ping had a need, he would provide a solution and earn his stones.
After thinking for a moment, he said, "I have channels. Although there are few beast tamers in Qingshi, I know some friends who can get their hands on spirit beasts. And because there's little competition, the prices are actually lower here than in many other places."
Qi Ping was delighted. He had definitely asked the right person!
"What kind of beast are you looking for?"
"A flying beast is best. I'm open to others, though. If the value is good, I can consider other types. I prefer smaller beasts."
"What is your price range?"
"Within two or three hundred spirit stones. If the quality is exceptional, I can go higher, but I'll need some time to raise the extra funds."
Qi Ping spoke conservatively. Two or three hundred stones was a sum that wouldn't seem too suspicious for him and Old Man Zhou to produce, but anything more would be pushing it. He left the door open for higher prices just in case there was a high-value beast with a great performance-to-price ratio.
Boss Gao understood. He knew what kind of beast to look for now. "Any requirements regarding age?" Generally, the younger the beast, the easier the contract and the better the bond, which meant a higher price.
"Any age is fine. An adult is okay if the value is high, though the price would have to be lower!"
Boss Gao asked a few more questions, some of which Qi Ping hadn't even considered. His professionalism was evident; he had pinned down Qi Ping's exact needs in just a few sentences.
"Understood. I'll find some suitable beasts and their prices for you. You can decide then."
"Great. I'll leave it in your hands, Boss Gao!"
"It's no trouble at all. It's my honor that you and Sister Nan trust me. I'll do my absolute best."
Sister Nan, Qi Ping, and Old Man Zhou were long-term clients. He only offered this service to such customers. Otherwise, if he prepared fertilizer and Sister Nan didn't want it, or he spent his effort finding beasts and Qi Ping changed his mind, he would be wasting his time. This business relied on his network and information, but it was built on a foundation of trust.
After the transaction was complete, they bid the boss farewell. Boss Gao immediately began searching for information. This was a significant order; if he completed it, he would make a handsome profit. Earning stones wasn't easy, and every opportunity was worth cherishing—especially a safe one like this. He noted that Qi Ping had mentioned "performance-to-price ratio" many times, so if he could find a high-quality beast that was hard to sell for some specific reason, there was a high probability Qi Ping would take it!