You're just a single demon beast? I have a whole army of beast tamers!

"It's far inferior to your Zhenyuan Immortal Mansion," Shen Liuli commented.

"That's natural," Qin Shou said. "Even if Zhenyuan Immortal Mansion is dilapidated, it's still a grotto-heaven. These are just houses that can be taken away."

He said it aloud, but he kept it in mind.

If one establishes their own clan in the future and needs to settle their descendants, this kind of celestial abode would be a good option.

After leaving the Celestial Craftsmanship Palace, Qin Shou visited several more shops selling immortal arrays and immortal talismans.

There is a shop that specializes in selling all kinds of defensive formations. A set of formation flags that can withstand several attacks from an early True Immortal is priced at 20,000 Immortal Crystals.

He glanced at it a few more times, but didn't buy it.

He doesn't need these things, but if the Shui family really goes to war with the Myriad Demons Sect in the future, they can stockpile some.

"There's a beast-taming workshop up ahead."

Shen Liuli suddenly said, "Let's go take a look."

Qin Shou looked up and, sure enough, saw a group of people gathered at the entrance of the alley on the right.

The alley wasn't wide, but there were quite a few people gathered around.

As he approached, he saw a small shop with only a wooden plaque that read "Bai Shou Zhai" (meaning "Hall of a Hundred Beasts").

A bronze square platform stands outside the door.

A pale gold protective barrier covered the platform. Inside the barrier lay a small golden-haired beast.

The beast was tiger-shaped, with golden fur all over its body, and a small protrusion on each side of its head, which was not yet fully grown.

It lay motionless, its eyes half-closed.

It only raises its eyes when someone approaches the square platform.

His eyes were fierce; he glared at them fiercely within the barrier, startling the two young female cultivators who took several steps back.

"This beast may not look big, but it has quite a temper."

"The shopkeeper said it's an eighth-tier golden lion beast."

He possesses the bloodline of the Suanni, but it has not yet awakened.

"The Suanni? That's a divine beast. If it truly awakens, would it even be our turn?"

"That's why it's this price. Otherwise, it would have been snapped up by those big shots long ago."

Qin Shou stood outside the crowd and listened for a while.

Eighth-tier Golden Lion Beast.

The bloodline of the Suanni.

divine beast.

These words, once they reached his ears, stirred something within him.

Mythical beasts are a higher level of life than true spirits.

Of the five natal beasts he possessed, the strongest was only a pure-blooded true spirit.

Even if we can take in this golden lion beast and it doesn't awaken for the time being, it will still be of great use.

He squeezed to the front of the platform.

Prohibitions do not prevent exploration.

Qin Shou reached out and pressed his hand on the edge of the square platform.

A faint wisp of energy probed into the Golden Lion Beast's body through the barrier.

The energy comes from the colorful sphere inside the treasure gourd.

The golden lion beast sensed something, suddenly raised its head, and looked directly at the Qin beast.

The fierceness in his eyes faded somewhat, replaced by a hint of doubt.

Qin Beast closed his eyes.

The sphere's feedback came back quickly.

This golden lion beast does indeed possess the bloodline of the Suanni, and at a considerable concentration.

Because of an injury sustained in childhood, his bloodline has been dormant.

If nourished with the blood of a true spirit and aided by a sphere, it will not be long before it awakens.

The most remarkable thing is that this beast has not yet recognized a master, and its consciousness has no master's mark.

He withdrew his hand and asked the gray-clad shop assistant beside him:

"How much is this beast?"

The shopkeeper, a cultivator at the Void Refinement stage, quickly replied upon hearing this:

"Fellow Daoist, this beast does not sell immortal crystals."

My master said he'll only exchange for first-grade immortal pills with five or more runes.

"Five or more markings?" Qin Beast asked again to confirm.

"Exactly. Five lines appear one at a time."

"If it has six markings, then it's not just this golden lion beast; there are other good things in the shop to discuss," the shopkeeper said.

The onlookers whispered amongst themselves.

A five-patterned, first-grade immortal pill is as difficult as ascending to heaven for ordinary true immortals.

Most of those present were just there for the spectacle; upon hearing the price, many shook their heads and dispersed.

The Qin beast did not leave.

He hesitated for a moment, then took out a jade bottle from his sleeve and handed it to the shopkeeper.

"Please have your manager come out and inspect it."

The shop assistant took it and quickly turned and went into the inner room.

A short while later, a middle-aged man with a thin face came out quickly.

This person's cultivation level is not high; he is only at the early stage of True Immortal.

He glanced at Qin Shou first, then uncorked the bottle.

A fragrance of water-attribute pills wafted out, and inside the bottle was a bluish-white immortal pill with five distinct golden lines.

"Good pill."

A glint flashed in the middle-aged man's eyes as he capped the bottle. "How shall I address you, fellow Daoist?"

"A rogue cultivator, surnamed Qin," Qin Shou said.

The middle-aged man didn't ask any more questions and said, "Fellow Daoist Qin, please follow me inside."

Qin Shou followed him into the back room of the shop.

The golden lion beast, along with its cage and platform, was carried in through the back door.

After examining the pills, the middle-aged man glanced at Qin Beast again:

"I'll pack this golden lion beast for you, fellow Daoist."

Furthermore, the owner has decreed that if a guest is found to possess a pill with five or more runes, they must leave a token for future interactions.

Qin Shou said, "There's no need for a token."

"I buy the beast today, you receive the elixir today, we are even."

The middle-aged man smiled and stopped insisting.

He put the golden lion beast into a specially made beast bag and handed it to Qin Beast.

Qin Beast put away the beast pouch and then took out a jade bottle:

"There is also a Five-Path Immortal Pill here. I have a question for you."

"Fellow Daoist Qin, please speak."

"Does your master possess the Nine-Aperture Spirit Soil?" Qin Shou asked.

He plans to refine another pool of immortal spiritual energy for other clan members who are unable to enter the treasure-gathering gourd.

Some Xuan Yuan Kong Jing remained, but the Nine Aperture Spirit Soil was gone.

The middle-aged man was taken aback:

"Nine-aperture spiritual soil, this is quite rare. I need to ask the master about it."

"Then we'll await your news." Qin Shou pushed the jade bottle over and stood up to take his leave.

Shortly after he left, the screen in the back hall was pushed open.

A young man dressed in a dark black robe stepped out.

This person looks young, but his cultivation level is already at the mid-stage of True Immortal.

He picked up the two pills left behind by the Qin beast and examined them one by one.

"The aura of water element is condensed and doesn't dissipate. Five markings indicate a solid foundation," the young man said. "This person is not simple."

"Young master, shall we investigate his background?" the middle-aged man asked.

"No need. With the Alchemy Grand Meeting approaching, those with five-line alchemy skills are not born from stones."

The young man put the pill back into the jade bottle. "Go, release another eighth-tier demonic beast, and exchange it for a pill with five or more runes. This time, release one with fire attributes."

"Yes."

The young man walked to the window, gazing at the flow of people outside, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"This conference is more interesting than in previous years."

One after another, geniuses with five-line markings emerged.

The middle-aged man asked in a low voice, "Young master, if that golden lion beast doesn't awaken, it can only reach the ninth level or the True Immortal realm at most."

"Wouldn't we be losing out by exchanging a Five-Path Immortal Pill?"

"I won't lose money," the young man said. "A first-grade immortal pill with five runes isn't cheap. Besides, what I want is the person."

As he spoke, he took a small bottle out of his sleeve.

There were also several elixirs in the bottle, one of which had six faint golden lines on its surface.

"Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated," the young man said softly.

"Should we prepare the Nine-Aperture Spirit Soil for this person?"

The young man pondered for a moment and said, "Give it to him. This person can refine five-pattern immortal pills, so it's worth making friends with him."