Chapter 69: Black Market and House Snails!

Lu Yu hadn’t expected Sun Jie to be so bold, directly advancing ranks in the sky. When he saw the carriage burn to ash, he almost thought he was about to experience a plane crash in another world, and be sent for a second transmigration—because… he didn’t know how to fly!

If he swung through the sky with spider silk, he wouldn’t turn into a meat patty and it would also save spiritual energy, but what’s the difference between being a Tarzan and socially dead?

All the previous acts were for naught.

But if he let Little Spider carry him, a full-grown person, through spatial shifts from high altitude to a safe landing, it would take at least five or six blinks and they definitely couldn’t hide the fluctuation of spiritual energy, giving themselves away.

Fortunately, Sun Jie and the Ghost Soul Lantern were sensible enough to continue supporting him with spiritual energy; otherwise, it would’ve been quite rude.

Even so, Lu Yu still found a solid rock to stand on to relieve the numbness in his legs…

“In the future, I must get a flying type pet beast…”

On the surface, Lu Yu seemed to be gazing at the moon, but actually, he was pondering which type of flying pet beast to choose.

Eagles? Falcons? Hawks? Or perhaps some bizarre creatures like chimeras, flying dragons, Beauties with Demonic Wings, Floating Female Giants…

Hmm…

It feels like some good stuff got mixed in there.

In the end, thinking of his wallet, Lu Yu entered sage mode.

With two gold-eating beasts at home, adding any others would put him in debt.

Wait first to contract The Little Hamster, let it evolve, then see. He must also make it earn money! The Lu family doesn’t feed freeloaders.

Thinking this, Lu Yu lowered his head and Sun Jie came up beside him, his eyes filled with passionate reverence, already becoming a little fanboy.

He expressed his gratitude, “Thank you for your guidance. If there is anything I can assist with, please feel free to command me, and I will do my utmost to help.”

Meanwhile, Sun Jie was ready, as long as the mysterious “Collector” didn’t want to buy the whole black market, he was willing to cover the expenses for the night.

The expenses of the whole venue tonight—Sun… Uncle Sun is picking up the tab!

If the money wasn’t enough, he could find a reason to borrow funds from the neighboring 17th team; if Zhou Cheng had any opinions about it, he would have a valid justification to bring him before this mysterious entity, in case he received a few pointers, it would be a huge profit!

Considering him a brother, it would be unfilial not to call him a righteous father.

“It’s settled.”

Upon receiving the promise, Lu Yu felt joy inside but neither nodded nor rejected the offer, acting as if he hadn’t heard anything and walked towards the black market.

Sun Jie felt somewhat disappointed but also realized that how could a powerhouse like him need the help of a Beastmaster not even at Morning Star level unless he had some juniors in need of assistance.

All he needed to do was keep this kindness in mind and look for an opportunity to repay it, so he quickly followed along.

Entering the black market, the scene that unfolded before Lu Yu made him feel the visual impact of the supernatural world for the first time.

Unlike the carefully selected goods displayed by large commerce associations, the black market’s main appeal was the beauty of the wild.

Supernatural items were casually placed around, with a massive gathering of Beastmasters and pet beasts, giving a visual impact far more shocking than any superhero movie. After all, could you see alive stalls in movies of the former life?

There were small wooden huts condensed by mechanistic arts and giant water-spraying camels bearing platforms, etc…

Not far away, a Beastmaster in a red cloak threw a black ball on the ground, which in the next moment unfolded into a snail.

The little snail probed out its tentacles, with eyeballs rolling on top, cautiously observing its surroundings, quite timid.

But after eating raw meat handed by the Beastmaster, the snail’s shell on its back swiftly swelled up, and in a few breaths, it turned into a black single-person hut. The exterior looked similar to a kiosk with a plank that could be used to place items on or could be folded up into a closed small hut.

Discovering Lu Yu pausing to observe, Sun Jie thought that the big shot hadn’t seen such a low-level pet beast before and took initiative to introduce it:

“This is a House Snail, found in a newly discovered ecological secret realm at the borders in the last two years. One of the housing types of pet beasts. It has ordinary intelligence and no offensive ability, but it can change its size and shape at will, like turning into a livable house with certain defensive power and can sense and give a warning of the surroundings. Moreover, House Snails have gentle temperaments. They don’t require a bond and can be manipulated just by feeding them raw meat, thus are quite favored by Beastmasters. It’s just unfortunate they don’t have an evolutionary form and have limited potential…”

In this world, not all usage of pet beasts necessitates a contract. Before the Morning Star stage, the three ranks represent three contract slots, requiring the formation of a spiritual puzzle, each being extremely important, not to be wasted carelessly.

However, humans rely on intelligence, discover the patterns of some pet beasts, and utilize them, thereby indirectly using these pet beasts’ abilities.

House-type pet beasts and transportation-type pet beasts are representatives of this, only needing to be fed to work, and there are also some rule-type pet beasts, whose power can be borrowed in other ways.

Lu Yu was also somewhat interested, after all, whether venturing into the wilderness or entering secret realms for exploration, a living place was needed.

However, it was not required at the moment, so he turned around and walked further in.

Sun Jie touched his stubble, his gaze regretful. He’d been ready to pay, but the collector wasn’t interested. Indeed, a collector’s taste is high; such a pet beast is new in appearance but too limited in potential.

If Lu Yu knew what he was thinking, he’d probably laugh out loud. Too low potential? The Eye of Truth had already shown several evolutionary paths, like the Iron House Snail that could become a steel house or the Sand Fortress Snail that could turn into a moving fortress. There’s no weak pet beast; it’s just about discovering their correct potential. And Lu Yu… He holds the truth in hand!

And on these stands, there were plenty of rare materials laid out.

For example, at the stand of a muscle-bound behemoth wearing a pig mask, there lay a corpse of a monkey covered in dark green fur, with mushrooms that had rooted deeply into the flesh growing out of its back and head, which was bashed open, looking a bloody mess.

This top servant pet beast, the Mushroom Monkey, comes as its own food ingredient, a delicacy of the mountains. The mushrooms made into soup and poured over the monkey’s brain, savored for their delicious taste, are popular among the wealthy.

Furthermore, brains of primates can promote the evolution of brain-eating pet beasts and enhance psychic powers, resulting in their frequent hunting and rarity.

The Mushroom Monkey was also on the initial options for the Peach Pig project, but due to its damp and dark growth environment conducive to breeding bacteria and poisonous insects, coupled with its ferocious nature and fondness for infighting—often resulting in bloodshed—was discarded, and its most valuable parts being the brain and mushrooms, meant possible financial ruin, hence it was dropped. Yet keeping the Peach Pig proved more challenging.

The vendor now was most likely selling the spoils of a hunt, with a market price of fifty thousand per monkey, but due to the smashed brain and only some mushrooms left, even a ten thousand price tag wouldn’t necessarily attract buyers. This demonstrates the difficulty of material collection.

Fortunately, I’m a cheater!

Moreover, there were eggs of the White Wall Jade Beetle for skin whitening, which in reality mildly toxin that lightens the skin, curses that could grow an extra hand on a person, synthetic vocal cords that can make birds sing, and so on…

There was even a potion made from the body of a three-eyed mountain’s demon all overgrown with reproductive organs, which upon ingestion could help one regain vigor, become an ejaculating warrior, and splash one’s face upon encounter.

But as soon as it appeared, it was fiercely snatched and bought by someone who stuffed it into their arms and sneaked away. That silhouette looked somewhat like Supervisor Wang from before…

Lu Yu mused, sensing clearly that Sun Jie beside him was showing a hint of regret, reluctantly watching the person’s retreating figure.

Heh—A bunch of old men!

Too bad this perpetual motion machine didn’t need it.

Lu Yu quietly closed the Eye of Truth, merely curious about the magic potion formula, wanting to learn a bit, that’s all. The two conversed as they walked along,

Most of the time, it was Sun Jie straining his brain to find topics of conversation while Lu Yu just occasionally responded with a word or two.

Many powerful Beastmasters, attracted by the commotion at the entrance and secretly paying attention, felt a chill as they saw this scene.

As regulars of the black market, how could they not know who Sun Jie was?

He was the renowned and fierce leader of the Ghost Lantern Squad—the 16th team of the Special Branch, with a power equal to those ranked above the 15th team, all Morning Star level strongmen. Sun Jie, having transferred from the frontier corps with extreme ferocity, not only achieved a transformation of spirit but also followed the Beast King System. Once in combat, he could control hundreds, even thousands, of Ghostfire Lanterns to attack; the sea of fire would engulf sky high, burning down over a dozen bases of the Evil God Cult.

He was known by the nickname—Burner of Darkness.

But for those hunted by dark organizations, they cursed him as a man who “burns people”, the owner of a barbecue joint, etc… Essentially, someone who burns upon sight, with too much anger.

One of the top Beastmasters with the best prospects to advance to Morning Star. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been arranged by the Dayuan City League to manage the chaotic black market.

Such a god of slaughter followed the man in the yellow robe respectfully like a lackey, explaining things all the way. Who was this person? Could he be a big shot from the alliance?

Everyone was in shock, and at that moment, a group of people just happened to enter the black market…