Cultivation System: Stronger with Age-Chapter 73 - 59: The Choice of the Spiritual Beast, The Big Seller of Three Hundred Forehead Scales (Subscription Requested)_2

Han Lu, covered in blood, landed beside Lin Xuankong. Supporting his body with one leg, his voice was tinged with urgency, "My master, my master..."

Hearing this, Lin Xuankong’s expression immediately changed, and he grabbed Han Lu’s shoulder. "What happened to Steward Ma?"

Han Lu frowned and said, "My master is injured! Yesterday, while my master and I were transporting materials from Four-Direction City, we were ambushed by bandits using Enchanting Fragrance. Nearly forty Martial Cultivators of the Second Layer and above attacked us. That terrifying Enchanting Fragrance significantly reduces a Martial Cultivator’s Explosive Power... But my master fought desperately and eventually repelled those bandit Martial Cultivators. Unfortunately, my master also sustained serious injuries! Now, my master, along with the other disciples, has returned to the Mule Street Branch. I tried to persuade him to rest immediately and not work while injured, but he scolded me! My master has always liked you. Go and persuade him!"

Why is he still busy when he’s injured? Not resting properly, this boss of mine... Lin Xuankong nodded and glanced at Han Lu’s broken leg. "First, go treat your leg injury. I’ll go check on Steward Ma!"

After saying that, his face darkened as he headed towards the Mule Street Branch.

Bandits... How could there be so many powerful bandits in the Great Marsh Prefecture? There must be something fishy about this!

Upon entering the Mule Street Branch, he saw numerous disciples moving large quantities of medicinal herbs and materials from carriages towards the first warehouse. In a corner of the Cultivation Field, several physicians were treating the wounds of dozens of injured disciples.

Lin Xuankong stopped a disciple and asked a few questions. He then learned that Ma Jiang had been summoned by Chief Steward Jiang to the General Manager’s Tower.

He quickly headed towards the General Manager’s Tower. Just as he reached the entrance, he was stopped by two disciples.

One of the disciples cupped his hands and said, "Steward Lin, Chief Steward Jiang is discussing important matters with Chief Steward Gao and Steward Ma. Please wait here for a moment; I’ll go in and inform them..."

"Let Steward Lin come in!" Chief Steward Jiang’s voice came from inside the tower.

Upon entering the General Manager’s Tower, Lin Xuankong quickly walked over to Ma Jiang, whose face was pale and covered in blood. "Boss, your injuries?"

Ma Jiang waved his hand. "Minor injuries! Just a few ruptured intestines and two shattered kidneys!"

Lin Xuankong’s eyebrows immediately tightened. Kidneys gone, and he calls those minor injuries? Would being ground to dust be considered a major injury then?

Jiang Yuran spoke, "Steward Lin, rest assured. I have already given Steward Ma a drop of Marsh Python Gall Liquid. After he uses it, his flesh will regenerate quickly, leaving no wounds."

Hearing this, Lin Xuankong finally relaxed. However, seeing the mangled flesh and exposed organs in Ma Jiang’s abdomen, he couldn’t help but clench his fists tightly.

Jiang Yuran looked at Ma Jiang. "Steward Ma, are you certain that one of the three bandit leaders was Zhao Dalong of the Black Tiger Gang, the one who wields the Profound Iron Whip?"

Ma Jiang nodded definitively. "Few Martial Cultivators use the Profound Iron Whip. Although that leader wore a Profound Iron Mask, the sound his bones made during full-force attacks was very similar to the Black Tiger Gang’s Fierce Tiger Roar Bone Technique. Unfortunately, I was affected by that Enchanting Fragrance and could only exert Early Stage Third Layer power... Otherwise, Zhao Dalong, wielder of the Profound Iron Whip, and the other two leaders would have been no match for me!"

Nearby, Chief Steward Gao Yunchao’s eyes flickered. "The only thing that can significantly lower a Martial Cultivator’s power in a short time is the Spirit Snake Gang’s secret Soft Bone Enchanting Fragrance. Combined with the Profound Iron Whip and the Bone Roar Technique, it should be Zhao Dalong of the Black Tiger Hill City Branch, a Mid-grade Third Layer Steward. No one else would have access to such an Enchanting Fragrance! With the Demon Slaying Conference approaching, many Black Tiger Gang experts are arriving from various branches, so it’s normal for him to come to the Great Marsh Hall!"

Jiang Yuran’s beautiful face changed, anger flaring in her eyes. "The Black Tiger Gang is becoming increasingly arrogant! If Steward Ma hadn’t been on this mission, this entire batch of important materials would have been destroyed by them! Wearing a Profound Iron Mask... Such a self-deceiving act! Do they really think I, Jiang Yuran, will tolerate it? I don’t care what Zhao Dalong’s status is. So, he wants to stir up trouble and play dirty tricks? I, Jiang Yuran, have never been a kind person! Chief Steward Gao, immediately arrange for some experts to secretly intercept the Black Tiger Gang’s material transport routes. As for what to do, I don’t need to spell it out for you, do I!"

A hint of killing intent appeared on Gao Yunchao’s face. He rose and said, "Your subordinate will see to it at once!"

Watching Gao Yunchao leave quickly, Ma Jiang’s eyes showed a trace of excitement. Although our Chief Steward is a bit impulsive, not as steady as the Hall Master, this is much more satisfying... When dealing with the insidious and vicious Black Tiger Gang, one must naturally be even more ruthless! Once I recover, I’ll also secretly cause some trouble for those Black Tiger Gang scoundrels!

However, when Ma Jiang turned and saw the anger in Lin Xuankong’s eyes, he couldn’t help but shake his head, a trace of worry in his own. "Xuankong, let Chief Steward Gao handle this matter. You mustn’t act impulsively. Zhao Dalong and the others are all Mid-grade Third Layer; they’re not people you can deal with! My injuries will heal quickly; it’s not worth getting worked up over that filth! Besides, I gained some insights from this battle. Perhaps this misfortune will turn into a blessing!"

Jiang Yuran then said, "Zhao Dalong and his cohorts are indeed formidable! Steward Lin, you should focus on the task I assigned you recently. That matter is countless times more important than dealing with the Black Tiger Gang!"

「After leaving the General Manager’s Tower」

Lin Xuankong’s face remained somewhat grim. In the Yin Talisman Sect, the person he cared about most was Ma Jiang, who had always valued and supported him!

If not for the Sect’s Marsh Python Gall, Ma Jiang would definitely have died from his injuries this time... The Black Tiger Gang truly is my fated enemy! My Soul-Extinction Celestial Thunder Divine Technique has progressed significantly recently. I wonder what effect it would have on Mid-grade Third Layer Martial Cultivators? I just don’t know where Zhao Dalong is now... I need to find a way to investigate. I’ll remember this debt! 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Frowning in thought, he walked to his Cow and Horse Street residence. Just as he entered the Steward’s Tower, Yang Mountain’s voice came from outside, "Steward, I finally found a seller for the Forehead Scales!"

"Come in and tell me!" Lin Xuankong said. This Yang Mountain is indeed conscientious. He completes every task I give him.

"Who is the seller? Where is the transaction? What’s the price?"

Yang Mountain cupped his hands and said, "It’s one of the many auction items announced by the Great Marsh Prefecture’s official auction house. The auction will be held in three days. There are three hundred Marsh Python Forehead Scales, not sold individually. The starting bid is twelve thousand silver taels, averaging forty silver taels per scale. This is nearly ten silver taels higher than the previous starting prices at the auction house. The only unfortunate thing is the price; it’s too expensive!"

Three hundred Marsh Python Forehead Scales, plus the ones I already have, will be more than enough to craft the Exorcism Armor! With these three hundred, I can definitely create an incredibly powerful and unparalleled defensive Exorcism Armor before the Demon Slaying Conference. Wearing a full set of Exorcism Armor, dealing with Zhao Dalong and the others from the Black Tiger Gang to vent my anger and my boss’s will be much easier! Most importantly, the Exorcism Armor can easily resist the Demon Qi contamination and attacks from Demons... To acquire a large number of Treasures at the Demon Slaying Conference and fight Demons more easily, the Exorcism Armor is a must-have!

But the price of these Marsh Python Forehead Scales... Not sold individually, and a starting bid of twelve thousand silver taels. So expensive, it’s worth millions of baked biscuits! However, it’s understandable. Ever since the Yin Talisman Gate Outer City territory lost the Marsh Python People, the production of Forehead Scales has decreased significantly. Plus, with the Demon Slaying Conference approaching, others might also be making Exorcism Equipment, so the price of Forehead Scales will only continue to rise!

After a moment of thought, Lin Xuankong decisively stood up and walked out. "Yang Mountain, you’ve done well on this matter. Tomorrow, I will apply to Steward Ma Jiang to promote you to Deputy Steward!"

Yang Mountain’s face lit up with joy. "Thank you, Steward!"

「After leaving the residence」

Lin Xuankong returned to his wooden building. After informing the Young Lady, he took out all his savings.

The silver taels from selling materials, combined with his monthly stipends and rewards, totaled eight thousand silver taels—a large pile of white Silver Yuanbao.

However, this sum of eight thousand silver taels, though seemingly substantial, was still four thousand silver taels short of the starting bid. Winning the auction would require even more... It was so hard to find such a large quantity of Forehead Scales. If I can’t gather enough silver taels, it will be as disgusting as a cooked duck flying away. Miss this chance, and there won’t be another like it! The Battle Armor is extremely important for the upcoming Demon Slaying Conference; it’s a matter of life and death. The Battle Armor will also greatly enhance my strength. But how can I quickly gather ten to twenty thousand silver taels?