“Sister Parul, that’s difficult to get,” Sherris reminded me. Unlike the other materials, the Cage Grass Spirit Snail was something that could be used to break through undead ranks, and its effect was far better than the bodies of high-level undead, still effective for them.
It was extremely rare and very difficult to capture. Spirit Snails could teleport and travel between the spirit world. To capture one, one usually had to set up a trap in advance to lure it in. Success had to be immediate; otherwise, it would escape.
Moreover, one couldn’t injure the Cage Grass during the capture. The Cage Grass and the Spirit Snail were integrated. If the Cage Grass was harmed, the Spirit Snail would dissipate, leaving only a withered flower, rendering all effort in vain.
Due to its wide range of uses, the Spirit Snail was heavily hunted. Many were directly killed due to unskilled methods, which was a great waste. This also contributed to the extreme rarity and high price of this top-tier material, to the point where it was more valuable than available.
Therefore, if I wanted to buy the Spirit Snail, I would inevitably have to bid against many high-level undead. In fact, this was already the case. Gathered around the Spirit Snail now were high-level undead like Skeleton Kings, Ghoul Kings, and Vampires.
However, if I could obtain the Spirit Snail, the chances of curing Lorna would be very high. Regardless, I had to try, so I walked into the dance floor.
The bidding was already fierce. Everyone knew the price wouldn’t be cheap. Materials like human blood and low-level otherworldly corpse bones were ruled out from the start. Everyone was increasing their bids significantly.
“I bid twenty cans of ashes, all from the incineration of victims of the undead plague. Each can weighs no less than ten jin,” said the Ghoul King.
“It can be valued at two hundred thousand standard blood units,” appraised the official Appraiser next to the crystal cage holding the Spirit Snail.
“I offer a Mage’s Brain. Intact. In life, he was a fifth-circle Mage specializing in prophecy. If consumed, or with telepathy, his knowledge and memories can be acquired. Of course, with special methods, it can also be transformed into a tool,” said a Doctor wearing a white coat, his eyes bloodshot, looking like a mad dissector.
“We don’t know exactly what spells are inside, and you’ve already reviewed the memories yourself, haven’t you? The added value isn’t much, but the Mage’s Brain itself can be valued at four hundred thousand standard blood units,” the Appraiser replied.
The so-called “added value” referred to finding hidden treasure locations or secret rooms, bank accounts, and other such secrets within the brain’s memories. Since the undead doctor brought the brain out for sale, he had naturally absorbed its memories thoroughly.
As for his claim of transforming it into a tool, that referred to items like my External Brain. Some high-level Mages possessed such technology. Additionally, there were other uses like transplantation, so its inherent value was considerable.
“I bid ten liters. Blood of a Vampire Viscount. All of it is essence blood containing bloodline power,” said the Vampire. Many undead nearby took a deep breath.
“Ten liters of Viscount’s blood can be valued at fifty standard blood units,” the Appraiser stated.
Ten liters of Viscount’s blood would be enough to transform an undead completely, or to be divided among over a dozen low-level undead for their evolution. Furthermore, they would no longer fear forced control or summoning by vampires below the Viscount rank.
Keep in mind that Lavias was only a Count. His descendant, Via, had people willing to exchange for just a few drops of her blood earlier. This Viscount’s bloodline also attracted many.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t a Count-level or higher bloodline. Otherwise, Via might have even approached the Vampire for a private transaction.
The undead bid higher and higher, and soon many withdrew, leaving only a few with substantial wealth still competing. The remaining undead could only sigh in admiration at their bids.
“I offer a Bone Staff Magic Apparatus solidified with sixth-ring Zombie Gaze, a defensive amulet that can distort projectiles, a cursed spear, and ten gallons of Insect Race monster blood,” said a Lich.
I had seen this Lich earlier; it was the one sitting in its position, smoking from an incense burner. Liches were powerful Mages who transformed themselves into undead to pursue immortality.
“Four items, combined, can be valued at one point five million standard blood units,” the Appraiser stated.
No one else bid. It wasn’t that they couldn’t afford it, but the value of the Spirit Snail was around that much. Moreover, to ensure they didn’t lose money, the bar’s appraisals were always slightly lower. Bidding too much would feel like a loss.
“Are there any other bids?” the Appraiser asked. If no one bids after three inquiries, the Spirit Snail would belong to the Lich.
“I bid thirty gallons of mid-tier monster blood, plus fifty kilograms of mid-tier monster bones,” I said, seeing that the time was right.
The undead froze for a moment, surprised that someone was bidding again at this point. The Lich also turned its head towards me, its eyes flickering with emerald green Ling Huo.
The Appraiser pondered for a moment and said, “Mid-tier monster blood is valued at twenty thousand per gallon. Thirty gallons are six hundred thousand. Fifty kilograms of mid-tier monster bones are valued at one million. The total is one point six million standard blood units.”
“I’ll add ten gallons of monster blood,” the Lich said cautiously. At this price, it was already something it found difficult to accept.
“I’ll add another thirty kilograms of mid-tier monster bones,” I bid decisively, increasing the price by six hundred thousand at once.
Many undead nearby showed expressions of astonishment and desire. Over a hundred kilograms of bones in total could be used to create many Skeleton Soldiers, and bones from mid-tier monsters would be of better quality.
“You!” The Lich’s skull couldn’t display emotions, but judging by how it stared at me, it must have been quite angry. But I wasn’t targeting you; I’m purely here to buy something.
Clearly, the Spirit Snail was also very important to the Lich. It pondered for a moment and said, “I’ll add a Soul Scythe and a Black Blood Chain.”
It produced a semi-transparent, spectral long-handled scythe and a dark chain, looking like a set of tools for a soul reaper. Was it offering all its possessions to compete with me?
It’s useless. I unhesitatingly continued to bid, “Then I’ll add fifty kilograms of monster bones.”
“You! Where did you get so many bones!?” the Lich could no longer contain itself and asked. It simply couldn’t keep up with bids increasing by a million at a time.
“Never mind where, you bidding or not? If you don’t bid, the item belongs to me,” I said. The undead in this small city were inexperienced. They were so surprised by a mere few hundred kilograms of monster bones.
Unlike the monster blood in my possession, which Via constantly drank, monster bones, though precious, were not used much and were stored in the warehouse as materials, accumulating more and more. They were rarely used and were already piled up like a mountain.
Older Brother Jayad often discarded a significant portion of monster bones when hunting. If I had brought back the remains of that One-eyed Tusker Elephant from last time, I could bid by the ton. A mere few dozen kilograms is nothing.
