txolops Chapter 17 Shrimp Soldiers?
Chapter 17 Shrimp Soldiers?
"Fellow Daoists," Cao Lu's voice rang out again, tinged with solemnity, "this is a level-five demonic beast—the 'Iron-Armored Conehead Shrimp'! This demonic beast dwells year-round in deep-sea trenches, renowned for its indestructible defense. Its armor-like shell is an excellent material for crafting top-tier defensive magical artifacts and heart-protecting mirrors. If one could obtain a complete and intact shell, it would be enough to forge a protective treasure comparable to the prototype of a magical artifact! Furthermore, its pair of 'Wave-Breaking Heavy Claws' possess innate divine strength, making them superior materials for crafting heavy blunt weapons and armor-piercing warhammers. The demonic beast power contained within them can multiply the power of magical artifacts."
Cao Lu paused, his gaze sweeping over the weapon refiners and body cultivators below the stage, their eyes already burning with fervor, and continued, "Although this demon is only level five, its defensive capabilities are comparable to a level six demon beast. Ordinary spells can hardly harm it in the slightest. If it weren't for a Core Formation expert setting a trap, confining it with an array, and then killing it with a swift and decisive blow, ordinary cultivators would probably have no choice but to temporarily retreat. Now, this complete corpse of the 'Ironclad Conehead Shrimp' is a great opportunity laid out before you all!"
Upon hearing this, a collective gasp filled the auction hall.
Materials that can be used to forge defensive magical artifacts are already scarce, let alone such complete and high-grade materials from demonic beasts.
Many cultivators have already begun to secretly calculate how much they will need to pay to acquire this "Ironclad Conehead Shrimp".
Holy crap, shrimp soldiers?
Han Xiaoliu's pupils shrank suddenly, and he froze on the spot as if struck by lightning.
He stared intently at the hideous monster corpse on the stage, his breath catching in his throat.
This...this isn't some kind of native monster from the Chaotic Star Sea!
This is clearly the same "shrimp soldier" with a wolf-tooth hammer and an honest face from his previous life in "Fantasy Westward Journey"!
Except for the absence of upright walking feet, this corpse, from its iconic dark red armor to its exaggerated pincers and even its slightly hunched figure, was exactly the same as the summoned spirit shrimp soldier in his memory.
However, the one in front of us is clearly still in a wild state that has not fully evolved, exuding a primitive ferocity and lacking the adorable, tamed feel of the one in the game.
"Could it be..." Han Xiaoliu's heart skipped a beat, an uncontrollable surge of heat rising within him, "that this demonic beast might contain the bloodline capable of activating the 'Summoning Spirit Shrimp Soldiers' life seed?"
I never expected that after searching high and low, this chaotic starry sea would turn out to be my treasure trove.
This is not just material, but the key to activating his new summoned spirit!
Han Xiaoliu, who was still weighing the pros and cons, no longer hesitated at all.
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the fervor in his eyes, his fingers gently stroking the storage pouch in his sleeve, a firm order already made in his mind:
No matter the cost, this "shrimp soldier" must be captured! Even if it's just to be sent into the Dream World for an experiment, we absolutely cannot let someone else get there first.
Cao Lu smiled slightly, indicating that the two level-five demonic beasts would be auctioned off in batches.
The first items to be auctioned were two large pieces of dark red monster meat.
"This is the flesh of the level-five demonic beast 'Ironclad Conehead Shrimp,' containing pure demonic power. Consuming it can temper one's bones and muscles, and it can also be used in medicine." Cao Lu's voice was calm and composed. "Starting bid: five hundred spirit stones."
The reaction from the audience was lukewarm, with only a few independent cultivators whispering among themselves.
"Five hundred spirit stones." A hoarse voice rang out.
"Five hundred and ten spirit stones."
"Five hundred and fifty spirit stones!"
……
"Six hundred!" Jade Lady's voice came from the private room, pushing the price of demon beast flesh to its highest point.
In the end, Han Xiaoliu acquired it for 600 spirit stones.
With the meat of a level-five demon beast and the century-old herbs that Bubble found, Han Xiaoliu believed that his "Elephant Armor Technique" would soon be perfected.
We'll have to consider finding other body-refining techniques then!
Immediately afterwards, the maid presented a small bottle of demonic blood that exuded a strong fishy smell and demonic power.
"This is the essence blood of a demon beast, with a wide range of uses, including refining weapons, alchemy, and drawing talismans. Starting bid: seven hundred spirit stones!" As soon as Cao Lu finished speaking, the atmosphere below the stage became even more heated.
"Eight hundred spirit stones!" An old man in a gray robe spoke first.
……
"Nine hundred!" a female cultivator retorted defiantly.
"One thousand spirit stones!" The gray-robed old man raised the price again.
"One thousand one hundred spirit stones!" Jade Lady's voice rang out, and Han Xiaoliu also joined the bidding.
"One thousand one hundred and fifty spirit stones!" The gray-robed old man glanced at the private room where Han Xiaoliu was, his eyes filled with scrutiny.
"One thousand two hundred spirit stones!"
The old man frowned and didn't raise the price further. In the end, Han Xiaoliu won the bottle of essence blood for 1,200 spirit stones.
Next to take the stage were those ferocious "Wave-Breaking Heavy Pincers".
"This is the 'Wave-Breaking Heavy Turtle Claw,' possessing innate divine power, making it a superior material for forging heavy blunt weapons and armor-piercing warhammers!" Cao Lu's voice suddenly rose.
"Five thousand five hundred spirit stones!" a muscular, burly man shouted immediately.
"Two thousand spirit stones!" A middle-aged man who looked like a weapon refiner followed closely behind.
"Two thousand five hundred spirit stones!"
"Three thousand spirit stones!"
The bidding was fierce, and the price soared. In the end, the burly man gritted his teeth and won the pair of pincers for a hefty price of three thousand eight hundred spirit stones.
Next up is the complete armor of the "Iron Conehead Shrimp".
When this object appeared, the light on the stage seemed to dim slightly, and its dark red shell gleamed with a cold, metallic sheen.
"This is the armor of the 'Ironclad Conehead Shrimp,' with defensive capabilities comparable to a level six demonic beast! It's an excellent material for crafting top-tier defensive magical artifacts and heart-protecting mirrors!" Cao Lu's introduction elicited a collective gasp from the audience.
"Four thousand spirit stones!" An old man in a purple robe spoke first.
"Four thousand five hundred spirit stones!" Another weapon-refining master retorted.
"Five thousand spirit stones!"
"Five thousand five hundred spirit stones!"
The price quickly surpassed five thousand spirit stones, and several master-level cultivators in weapon crafting argued fiercely. In the end, the purple-robed elder acquired the armor for an astonishing six thousand two hundred spirit stones.
The final, most anticipated item was naturally the level-five demon core.
The demon core was light blue, and inside it seemed as if water was slowly swirling, emitting a pure water-based demonic power.
His demonic power was exceptionally abundant, and he indeed died instantly, peacefully.
"This is the demon core of the level-five demon beast 'Ironclad Conehead Shrimp'! It's pure water element and priceless!" Cao Lu's voice was full of temptation.
The atmosphere in the audience instantly reached its peak.
"Four thousand spirit stones!"
"Four thousand five hundred spirit stones!"
"Five thousand spirit stones!"
The bidding was fierce from the very beginning. In the end, a mysterious black-robed cultivator won the demon core for 5,500 spirit stones.
Han Xiaoliu watched as each item was auctioned off, but he felt little excitement.
His ambitions lay elsewhere. Though the materials were excellent, they were not meant for him. His true pursuit was to activate the life seed of the summoned spirit.
After trading the goods, Han Xiaoliu didn't have many spirit stones left. The remaining few hundred spirit stones would only be enough for him to squander for a while.
If there are still things I want in the upcoming auction, I'll probably have to spend some of my savings. But right now, the only valuable things I have left in my storage bag are herbs that are three or four hundred years old. If I take them out, it will probably cause quite a stir.
Being targeted is not a good thing. Although one can borrow the strength of another, it cannot change the fact that one's own strength is weak. If a stubborn Foundation Establishment cultivator comes along, is it necessary to reincarnate again?
Just as Han Xiaoliu was contemplating life, a huge water tank was taken control of by the guards and floated onto the auction stage.
A cute little monster cub swims curiously in the water tank.
It seemed unafraid of the noisy crowd around it. Instead, it opened its big, dark eyes and curiously observed the densely packed humans below the stage through the thick crystal wall. Occasionally, it would exhale a tiny bubble and watch it rise to the surface, exuding a natural cuteness and liveliness.
Wow, it's so cute!
An uncontrollable gasp broke Han Xiaoliu's reverie.
The usually quiet Daya was now pressed against the window, her face almost touching the protective shield, her eyes sparkling.
Just like when Han Xiaoliu first saw the mountain of RMB on TV, his love and desire were undisguised.
Han Xiaoliu glanced at the small, clawing creature in the tank, his face full of disdain, and curled his lip, saying, "What's so great about a lobster? It might be more appealing if you added some scallions, ginger, and garlic and cooked it."
Lady Yu sat upright to the side, taking in the two little ones' completely different expressions.
Her alluring eyes flickered slightly, her gaze lingering between Han Xiaoliu and Daya's longing eyes, and a meaningful smile slowly curved her lips.