[Species: Jade-Scaled Demon Spider]
[Bloodline: First-tier, High-grade]
[Talents: Danger Sense, Jade Scales, Venomous Silk]
Danger Sense: Possesses a certain predictive ability regarding incoming peril directed at itself. If the danger far exceeds its own power, it cannot be predicted.
Jade Scales: Its surface is covered in a layer of white jade-like scales, granting it significant defensive capabilities.
Venomous Silk: Spits transparent silk laden with sharp barbs and potent venom. The silk possesses high tenacity, stickiness, and elasticity.
[Species: Li-Fire Crow]
[Bloodline: Second-tier, Low-grade]
[Talents: Li-Fire Body, Li-Fire Flame, Solar Perception]
Li-Fire Body: Flows with a thin trace of the ancient Golden Crow bloodline. Possesses high Fire-attribute cultivation talent. Consuming Fire-attribute spirit items can rapidly increase its strength.
Li-Fire Flame: Due to the trace of Golden Crow bloodline, it birthed a flame with extreme burning capability, named the "Li-Fire Flame."
Solar Perception: Its bloodline is naturally attuned to the sun. It can absorb solar power under the sun to strengthen itself.
[Species: Illusion-Moon White Fox]
[Bloodline: Second-tier, Low-grade]
[Talents: Innate Intelligence, Spiritual Resilience, Demon Fox Illusion]
Innate Intelligence: Naturally bright with high comprehension and learning capability.
Spiritual Resilience: Possesses high soul talent. Its soul power exceeds most spirit beasts of the same level, granting it strong resistance against soul attacks.
Demon Fox Illusion: High talent in the path of illusions, capable of killing invisibly through phantom imagery.
"Jade-Scaled Demon Spider, Li-Fire Crow, Illusion-Moon White Fox..."
These were the three Qi Ping had selected from the seven. He had already read about their specific details in various scrolls, and they matched what Boss Gao told him.
He had to give up on others like the Ghost-Shadow Snake, which cost upwards of six or seven thousand spirit stones; he simply couldn't afford it yet. And even if he could, it would be like inviting disaster at his current level. Six thousand spirit stones and one thousand were completely different concepts; the former could easily draw the greed of a Foundation Establishment master. The seller themselves might even be a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
'These three each have their merits, and all would be of great help to me.'
Although the Jade-Scaled Demon Spider was a solitary insect-type beast, it was about the size of a human head. With its venomous silk and jade scales, its combat power was high, and the silk was particularly suited for defending his home. Furthermore, the Danger Sense talent—the ability to predict incoming crises—made Qi Ping salivate.
Danger Sense combined with the ability to transform into a bee and flee—it was his dream talent! Moreover, the Jade-Scaled Demon Spider could be nurtured using the insect nurturing manual, giving it extraordinary future potential.
The Li-Fire Crow was also an option that made Qi Ping's heart skip a beat. In fact, he was even more excited about the crow than the spider. Because the Li-Fire Crow possessed a trace of the Golden Crow bloodline, as long as he had enough Fire-attribute spirit items to nurture it, its bloodline potential could continue to awaken. Its potential was no less than the spider's and might even be higher!
His [Plant Growth] skill could produce an ample supply of Fire-attribute spirit herbs, which fit the crow perfectly. For others, nurturing a Li-Fire Crow was a money-sink, but for Qi Ping, it was just right, as he couldn't expose too many of the herbs he grew anyway. Usually, the crow had no special requirements for food; it was satisfied just basking in the sun, making it easy to keep.
The point that most excited Qi Ping was that any of the crow's three main talents could significantly boost his own Fire-attribute talent. No matter which one he shared, his future cultivation of the high-tier Wood-Flame Manual would be twice as effective, laying a more solid foundation. Once he finished researching the Fire Spirit Tempering Pill (Honey Version), it would be a perfect match for the crow and its talents.
The most expensive option, the Illusion-Moon White Fox, was slightly lower priority than the spider but still excellent. It had high comprehension and soul talent. If Qi Ping could contract it and share one of those, it would be a massive gain, as soul power and comprehension were the hardest things to improve in the cultivation world.
However, for now, his need for physical aptitude and cultivation speed outweighed his need for soul power and comprehension. Additionally, while his swarm was strong, it had a glaring weakness: it was vulnerable to soul attacks. Insects have ferocious bodies but are easily overwhelmed by spiritual assaults. The fox's talents could fill that gap and pair well with the bees.
Overall, he was satisfied with all three. In terms of price:
Jade-Scaled Demon Spider: Juvenile. Suitable for building a bond from a young age. Estimated price: 1,300 spirit stones.
Li-Fire Crow: Semi-mature. Its original realm was peak first-tier, but due to a damaged bloodline, its realm fell to mid-first-tier. It requires large amounts of Fire-attribute items to rebuild; the price has dropped from the market value of 3,000 to around 1,500.
Illusion-Moon White Fox: Juvenile. Estimated price: Starting at 2,000.
The prices weren't expensive; in fact, they were lower than the normal market rates Qi Ping was aware of. As Boss Gao had said, few people in Bluestone County practiced beast taming, so the prices were lower. Buying a beast here was a bargain, even if the choices were limited.
As Qi Ping pondered, Boss Gao waited quietly beside him, not rushing him. These were items worth one or two thousand spirit stones; any Qi Refinement cultivator would be cautious.
"Boss Gao, I've mostly finished considering. Let's go see these three beasts and discuss their prices individually. I'll make my final decision then."
"Alright, no problem! Every beast has a different personality; you really need to see them for yourself to feel if they're right for you. Shall we head out now?"
"Wait a moment. Boss Gao, do you have any black robes here?"
"Black robes? Yes, yes! Brother Qi, wait a moment!"
Boss Gao was puzzled for a second, then realization dawned. He immediately found a set of black robes and a hood for Qi Ping. A moment later, Qi Ping was clad in black with his aura concealed. He followed Boss Gao into a shop in the north.
This shop sold many spirit beasts, and the Jade-Scaled Demon Spider was one of them. Qi Ping glanced at the others; none were close to the spider, so he focused his attention there. It was less than the size of a palm, covered in white jade-like scales, looking as if it were carved from fine jade.