**Chapter 38: An Unexpected Big Harvest!**
By Gu Zhenren
February 9, 2013
The bow was named Hurricane. Its body was a dark, primitive blue, and its string was pale yellow and three times thicker than a normal bowstring. Chu Yun’s discerning eye could tell it was made from dragon sinew. The entire Hurricane bow was twice the size of the Star-Fixing Bow.
Chu Yun tested the bowstring, finding it required half again as much strength as the Star-Fixing Bow to draw it fully.
The hall’s manager’s eyes lit up. He saw Chu Yun’s skilled stance, his steady arms like bedrock as he drew the bow, and his sharp, falcon-like gaze. He rejoiced inwardly and bowed. “Young Master Chu, you possess great strength. The Hurricane bow is fortunate to have found such a master; it is not wasted.”
He could tell Chu Yun’s archery skills were not weak.
“This is a good bow. A Great Demon with 700 years of cultivation, why is it only selling for 600 Disha Stone Coins?” Chu Yun asked, puzzled. This price was less than one percent of the Hurricane Bow’s actual value.
The manager seemed to have anticipated this question. He immediately raised his voice and smiled. “Not just this Hurricane bow; our Nianyun Trading Firm is participating in the Archipelago’s sea market for the first time. We have specially prepared 10 items like the Hurricane bow, selling them at a low price to clear stock. One per day. We hope everyone will pay attention.”
“One per day?”
“You mean the Hurricane bow is just the first one?”
“This Nianyun Trading Firm has some strategy. I’ll have to check back for the next nine days.”
…
The surrounding crowd erupted in excited murmurs.
Chu Yun was also slightly surprised. Selling 10 precious items like the Hurricane Demon Bow consecutively was a bold move. It showed the owner of the Nianyun Trading Firm had considerable nerve.
This move, however, would make the firm’s name. No wonder the manager hadn’t tried to haggle the price earlier; it was all part of the plan.
“Hehehe, esteemed guests, please feel free to explore the second and third floors. The items upstairs are even more valuable. However, from the third floor onwards, we only accept bartering. Furthermore, the Nianyun Trading Firm is sincerely looking to purchase rare heavenly materials and earthly treasures from the islands. Our prices will be fair, and we guarantee honesty.” The manager promoted further.
“This trading firm is quite interesting.”
“Let’s go, let’s check out the upper floors.”
…
With these words, the stagnant crowd in the hall surged towards the upper levels of the ship.
Chu Yun, however, did not follow. He approached the manager and quietly inquired about the Hurricane Bow’s drawbacks.
Demon Soldiers were different from Demonic Beasts and Demonic Plants. The latter were creations of nature, born with the perfect principles of the Dao, thus flawless.
Demon Soldiers, however, were man-made. They were acquired, and every Demon Soldier, regardless of its potential, had some flaws. For example, the Sunflower Needles, the As-You-Wish Staff, or the Drunken Snow Saber.
“Young Master Chu, please come here. It’s too crowded and conspicuous in the hall,” the manager said cautiously, leading Chu Yun into a private room.
This careful and discreet action earned Chu Yun’s favor. The flaws of Demon Soldiers were often the weaknesses of Monster Tamers, which enemies could exploit.
Chu Yun knew he was in the spotlight, and the Hurricane Demon Bow’s weaknesses would eventually be discovered. But he would keep them hidden for as long as possible. The manager’s cautious actions, showing concern for Chu Yun, made him think highly of the Nianyun Commercial Association.
After their conversation, Chu Yun learned that the Hurricane Demon Bow’s drawback was its slightly shorter range. Compared to longbows of equivalent types, its range was only half as effective.
As a ranged weapon, this drawback was quite fatal. However, compared to short bows like the Star-Fixing Bow, its range was similar. More importantly, this flaw wouldn’t limit Chu Yun’s attack rate, allowing Meteor Archery to be used to its full potential.
This was exactly what Chu Yun needed.
“The Star-Fixing Bow is ruined; I’ll use this Hurricane Bow as a replacement. Although it’s not ideal, it will suffice for now,” Chu Yun thought to himself, storing the Hurricane Bow into his Star Sea Dragon Palace Immortal Pouch.
He recalled there were secret caches of Supreme grade Demon Bows, but the places were too dangerous. He had wisely retreated back then, or he might have lost his life.
“Oh, right, do you have any Drunken Snow Wine for sale? I mean, a large quantity. And I also need some Extreme Ice Crystals,” Chu Yun cautiously asked, not expecting the manager to give him a pleasant surprise.
While this merchant ship didn’t have Extreme Ice Crystals, it did have a large amount of Drunken Snow Wine.
“I don’t need to elaborate on the value of Drunken Snow Wine. It’s currently located on the third floor and requires bartering. May I ask, young sirs…” The manager directed his question to Chu Yun and Jin Bihan.
Chu Yun smiled slightly and produced a Dragon Eye Fruit. “Would this be acceptable?”
“A fruit from a Demonic Plant?” The manager’s eyes showed a flicker of disappointment, which he quickly concealed.
His smile remained, but inwardly, he was unimpressed. Some Demonic Plant fruits were considered rare treasures, but they were few. He would have preferred some other exotic treasures from the deep sea.
However, the fruit in his hand clearly lacked the characteristics of deep-sea Demonic Plants.
“Forgive my poor eyesight, I don’t recognize the… ah” His smile suddenly froze. His eyes widened as he saw the Dragon Eye Fruit’s shell open like an eyelid, revealing its dragon-eye-like flesh.
“Dr-Dragon Eye Fruit?” He shot up from his seat, his mouth agape. He blinked, disbelieving, genuine shock on his face.
Chu Yun nodded with a smile.
The manager trembled with excitement, unable to contain himself. He murmured, “It’s a shame this Dragon Eye Fruit isn’t a high-grade one, only Middle grade…”
“Is this not enough to trade for the Drunken Snow Wine?” Jin Bihan frowned slightly. Treasures that could enhance a Monster Tamer’s potential were priceless. Moreover, Dragon Eye Fruits did not cause Resistance, making them even more valuable. Trading for Drunken Snow Wine felt like they were getting the short end of the stick.
Seeing Jin Bihan’s displeased expression, the manager jolted and quickly waved his hands. “Young Master, you misunderstand. The Drunken Snow Wine we are selling is not an ordinary variety. It is part of the Thousand-Year Clear Snow Drunken Snow Wine.”
Jin Bihan’s expression changed, her displeasure vanishing, replaced by surprise. “Drunken Snow Wine comes in many varieties. Clear Snow Drunken Snow Wine can be brewed into Clear Snow Wine, which is extremely valuable. It is said that this wine warms the heart and can make one smile like the sun even in the coldest winter. Hence the name Clear Snow Wine.”
Chu Yun was delighted. Drunken Snow Wine was a rare and precious ingredient, and he hadn’t expected to be so lucky as to encounter a top-grade variety—Clear Snow Drunken Snow Wine.
“In that case, one Dragon Eye Fruit is indeed insufficient. How about two?” Chu Yun produced another Dragon Eye Fruit.
“Two Dragon Eye Fruits is a bit much. We can supplement with some other items as compensation,” the manager hesitated, then cautiously added, “This may be too presumptuous, but I must ask, young masters, please forgive me. Does your family possess the Supreme grade Demonic Plant, Lishan Dragon Eye Flower Branch?”
“Yes.” Chu Yun nodded. There was no need to hide this. The Lishan Dragon Eye Flower Branch had been exposed to countless Yan Family members during the pursuit of Ning Fanchen. The entire Archipelago now knew that his Shu Family possessed a Supreme grade Demonic Plant.
Only this merchant from the Jianghan Kingdom, who was participating in the sea market for the first time, was unaware.
“Excellent, excellent! Our trading firm is saved!” The manager was so overjoyed he was trembling, his eyes moist.
Chu Yun and Jin Bihan exchanged glances.
“Alas, this matter began with this Thousand-Year Clear Snow Drunken Snow Wine…” The manager sighed and began to narrate the story.
A prince from the Jianghan Kingdom was celebrating his newborn son’s full moon banquet. The Nianyun Commercial Association presented a flask of Thousand-Year Clear Snow Drunken Snow Wine as a gift. Unexpectedly, during the public presentation, the wine flask erupted, releasing a Jade Sheep.
This Jade Sheep, a Spirit Monster with a thousand years of cultivation, transformed from essence. It caused chaos at the banquet, nearly harming the prince’s beloved son, before escaping into the ground.
The prince was naturally furious, and the Nianyun Commercial Association suffered the consequences, with many factions kicking them while they were down. The Nianyun Commercial Association was on the brink of bankruptcy. The owner made a final gamble, dispatching fleets to collect heavenly materials and earthly treasures from all over to appease the prince.
This merchant ship, sent to the sea market, carried such a mission. Otherwise, they would not have resorted to such grand gestures as the Hurricane Demon Bow to increase their visibility.
“Forgive my directness, but your Dragon Eye Fruit is cultivated from the eyes of a Middle grade Dragon-type Demonic Beast, not the most prized kind. Coincidentally, our firm is selling a pair of eyes from an Extreme Ice Dragon. I sincerely implore you, young master, to cultivate such a Supreme grade Dragon Eye Fruit,” the manager bowed to Chu Yun, his expression extremely sincere and earnest.
“Extreme Ice Dragon? That’s a Supreme grade Demonic Beast!” Chu Yun exclaimed.
Dragon Eye Fruits varied in quality based on the dragon’s eyes. The eyes of a Supreme grade Demonic Dragon could produce a Supreme grade Dragon Eye Fruit, far superior to the Middle grade Dragon Eye Fruits Chu Yun had consumed.
Chu Yun’s heart skipped a beat.
All Dragon-type Demonic Beasts possessed at least Middle grade potential, meaning they could become Great Demons. Those with High-grade potential could cultivate to become Spirit Monsters.
Dragon-type Demonic Beasts had no Lower grade potential. Hunting and collecting their eyes was incredibly difficult. Chu Yun had dozens of Dragon Eyes due to the Shu Family’s generations of accumulated stock. However, all these eyes were from Middle grade Demonic Beasts. Not a single one was High grade, let alone Supreme grade.
“In the sea surrounding the Archipelago, there are only a few dozen types of Dragon-type Demonic Beasts. Most of them have already been used to cultivate Dragon Eye Fruits. The remaining ones are mostly High grade, making them difficult to hunt and even harder to collect eyes from. Supreme grade Dragon Beasts are simply fools to hunt; they are usually subdued and utilized. Therefore, this pair of Extreme Ice Dragon eyes is a rare find!” Chu Yun’s thoughts raced.
Seeing Chu Yun’s indecision, the manager grew anxious and quickly added, “Of course, I understand that harvesting a Dragon Eye Fruit will diminish the Lishan Dragon Eye Flower Branch’s cultivation. Our Commercial Association will provide you with satisfactory compensation.”
Dragon Eye Fruits were part of the Dragon Eye Flower Branch. Harvesting them would cause the Supreme grade Demonic Plant’s cultivation to decline. Chu Yun had harvested many Dragon Eye Fruits, and the Lishan Dragon Eye Flower Branch’s cultivation had already dropped by several hundred years.
“I can cultivate Dragon Eye Fruits, but I will keep one of the two fruits produced. And I will only use one Dragon Eye Fruit to trade for your Drunken Snow Wine,” Chu Yun pondered for a moment, adopting a posture before finally speaking.
“This…” The manager hesitated, then hardened his heart and nodded. “Then I shall trouble you, young master!”
…
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