Feeling pleased with himself, he stored the beast corpses in his storage ring and made his way back to the sect.
After walking for quite a while, the towering gate of Silver Crescent Mountain Peak came back into view.
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As Lao Xie reached the gate of Silver Crescent Mountain Peak, he adjusted the storage ring on his finger. His thoughts drifted to his recent spoils, the lifeless demonic beasts stored away, waiting to be traded.
"Let's see how much I can get from the Resource Pavilion," he muttered, a faint smile playing on his lips.
The Resource Pavilion was located near the center of the sect grounds, a tall, intimidating building with reinforced walls and intricate carvings of beasts in combat, each surprisingly detailed and almost lifelike.
Entering, Lao Xie found rows of counters, each attended by sect elders. The walls were lined with scrolls, talismans, and small jade chests no doubt filled with valuable resources.
He approached one of the counters, where a striking female elder sat with quiet grace. Her beauty was mesmerizing, flowing hair of deep purple cascaded like silk down her back, gleaming under the soft light.
Her skin was pale as snow, almost translucent, exuding a cold, otherworldly charm. Light purple pupils shimmered like crystals, calm and unreadable, yet carrying a faint, distant allure that made it hard to meet her gaze for long.
She wore flowing robes of soft lavender trimmed in white, perfectly complementing her ethereal appearance. Every movement she made was elegant, refined like a lotus drifting on still water.
"I have a few beast corpses to sell," Lao Xie said calmly, presenting the beast corpses from his ring.
The elder's delicate fingers moved with practiced precision as she inspected the offerings. Her gaze sharpened slightly, the purple in her eyes glinting with faint light. "A demonic wolf and several demonic foxes, I see. Hmm... All in good quality, and the corpses look fresh too. This should fetch a fair price."
After a quick assessment, she offered, "Twenty spirit stones for the demonic wolf and ten per demonic fox, or do you prefer twenty silver for the wolf and ten silver each for the foxes? How's that?"
Then the elder paused, looking up and squinting as if recognizing him. "Huh, Lao Xie?" she asked in shock.
Lao Xie simply nodded, his expression unfazed. "What's wrong, Old Hag? You act like you've never seen me before."
She chuckled. "Ah, yes. That tone confirms it. Only you would be bold enough to call me 'Old Hag' in this entire sect."
Elder Yao appeared to be a middle-aged woman and yet her face retained an unexpected radiance, smooth skin, refined features, and a poise that rivaled any woman in her twenties. Despite the years, there was a captivating elegance in her appearance that made her stand out, even among younger disciples.
"So, where'd you get all these corpses? And that storage ring... Don't tell me you stole them somewhere," she teased.
"Tch, stole you said... I hunted these myself," Lao Xie responded, his face calm.
The elder raised an eyebrow, her skeptical gaze scanning Lao Xie's face for any sign of deception. "You, hunting demonic beasts? Pfftt," she burst out laughing.
Lao Xie let her laughter roll off him, remaining unbothered. Instead, he simply folded his arms, watching her with an amused glint in his eye.
When she finally regained her composure, she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "Ahh, Lao Xie. Demonic beasts, huh?" She cast a scrutinizing look at Lao Xie's slender frame, as if trying to measure him against his claim. "Looks like you've changed a bit since I last saw you."
"Perhaps," Lao Xie replied with a weird smile.
The elder raised an eyebrow, intrigued. " What the hell? Did you just smile? Huhh, very well then. I'll process these," she said, gesturing to the beasts. "But tell me, boy. Did you really take down a demonic wolf alone?"
Lao Xie's gaze remained steady. "I don't think there's any other possible answer to that question."
The elder continued to look at him. "A demonic wolf? It is a second-stage demonic beast. You're telling me that you took it down all by yourself? Hmm."
Lao Xie met her gaze without flinching. "That's exactly what I'm saying. It's a demonic beast of the second stage, sure, but I had my methods." he said.
The elder's expression shifted. "Your methods, you say? Did something good happen to you?"
"Something like that," Lao Xie replied, his smile curling with amusement.
"Oh?" A trace of curiosity could be seen in her eyes.
A creepy smile began to creep onto Lao Xie's face. "Let's just say... I'm not the same useless mortal you remember."
Elder Yao chuckled. "Oh my, now what is that supposed to mean?"
Lao Xie merely smiled at Elder Yao's question, the corners of his lips curling slightly. He had no intention of revealing the true reason behind his confidence.
Elder Yao, picking up on his evasiveness, leaned in slightly with a teasing glint in her eye. "My, my, You must have stumbled upon some fortuitous opportunity, haven't you? Did you find a hidden treasure or a cultivation manual that allows you to cultivate?! After all, our infamous 'Little Mortal' is known for being talentless in cultivation," she chuckled.
Lao Xie's expression remained calm, shrugging his shoulders casually. "Maybe," he replied, his voice smooth and enigmatic. He didn't deny her insinuation, but he certainly wouldn't confirm it either.
Elder Yao raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile dancing on her lips. "He's changed. But how? And what is he hiding…?" she thought.
"Well, no matter what, you're still the same Lao Xie I know." she said.
"Alright then, let's not dwell on your little mystery any longer," she said, her tone shifting back to business. "How would you like your payment? In spirit stones or silver coins?"
Lao Xie pondered for a moment, "I think I'll take it in the form of silver coins," he decided, a faint smile returning as he anticipated the transaction. "I'm lacking money, I can't make every transaction with spirit stones."
"Very well." Elder Yao replied, quickly preparing the exchange. "Looks like I won't have to keep an eye on you like how I used to. I'm looking forward to see how your journey will unfold."
As she finished counting out the silvers, a sense of anticipation hung in the air, mingling with the scents of herbs and treasures surrounding them.
"Here you go." she said, handing over a small pouch of silver coins. "May they aid you well in your future endeavors."
"Thanks, Old Hag." Lao Xie said, pocketing the silver coins with a satisfied nod. "You've always been fair."
Elder Yao waved him off with a grin. "Just remember to come back and regale me with tales of your exploits. I'll expect nothing less from you.'"
Lao Xie chuckled softly as he stepped away from the counter, "If it's you then it shouldn't hurt." he replied with a playful grin. With a final nod, he stepped out of the Resource Pavilion.