Xuanwu War Sovereign

"Qin Feng has taken an interest in this White Sparrow?" Jiang Liu wore a strange expression.

Jiang Liu sized up the White Sparrow. The White Sparrow was one of the few species of Water Attribute Fierce Birds, but that was all it had going for it.

In terms of combat strength, flight speed, and endurance, it was even inferior to a Grey-feathered Crane.

Aside from being somewhat pretty, this type of White Sparrow was utterly unremarkable.

Even if it awakened its bloodline and evolved into a White Jade Ice Sparrow, it would still be considered one of the weakest among Barbaric Beasts.

Jiang Liu glanced at the White Sparrow. Of the dozen or so White Sparrows in the Spiritual Bird District, this one clearly had the most vitality and the purest bloodline—something made obvious by its flawless white feathers.

However, no matter how pure its bloodline was, the chances of it evolving into a White Jade Ice Sparrow—a Barbaric Beast—were still incredibly slim.

Qin Feng saw the doubt in Jiang Liu’s eyes and thought calmly to himself, ’Of course a pure-blooded White Sparrow like this is useless in your hands!’

’But it’s a different story in my hands. I control the Blue Sea and Heaven, which provides a continuous supply of Water Attribute Spiritual Energy to act as a catalyst. With that, even a pig could undergo an atavistic transformation and become a Barbaric Beast, let alone a White Sparrow that possesses a trace of the Innate True Spirit Ice Simurgh’s bloodline!’

Dressed in a black robe, Qin Feng’s expression was indifferent. It wasn’t as if he absolutely had to buy this particular White Sparrow. Spiritual Birds with pure Water Attribute bloodlines were rare, but not nonexistent.

Ji Huang’Er watched Qin Feng with her bright, lovely eyes, sizing him up.

’Could it be that this White Sparrow is special in some way, too!’ Ever since Qin Feng had seen through the Heaven-Burning Finch’s true form, he had been shrouded in an aura of mystery in Ji Huang’Er’s mind.

Jiang Liu’s thoughts raced, but he suppressed his doubts and said with a smile, "Since you’ve taken a liking to this White Sparrow, Brother Qin Feng, then let’s make it a flat price: sixty Points!"

"Sixty Points is too expensive. It’s just a White Sparrow. In other shops, this kind of Fierce Beast would be thirty Points at most! If you don’t want my business, Brother Jiang, then forget it! Why ask for such an outrageous price?"

A cold glint appeared in Qin Feng’s eyes. This Jiang Liu really took him for a sucker.

Qin Feng realized that even though they were both Elders, his treatment compared to Ji Huang’Er’s was like night and day.

Clearly, Jiang Liu didn’t think he could hold on to his position as Elder Cyan Dragon for long! That was why he was trying to make a quick, one-time sale.

Qin Feng turned and walked toward the exit.

"In that case, Brother Qin Feng, I won’t see you out!"

Watching Qin Feng’s back, the corners of Jiang Liu’s mouth twisted into a cold sneer as a flicker of derision crossed his eyes. ’The Primordial Spirit Beast Shop isn’t a place just any pauper can walk into!’

Hearing this, Qin Feng stopped in his tracks. A sinister chill glinted at the corner of his eye. A Secret Technique surfaced in his mind—the Chaotic God Technique, which was channeled through Spiritual Power. If he were to use it, it would be enough to incite a rampage among all the Fierce Birds and Fierce Beasts in the entire Spirit Beast Shop.

"Young brother, please wait!" Just then, a slightly somber voice called out.

"My apologies for the poor service, young brother!" A chubby, wealthy-looking man in magnificent clothes walked over, his gaze sweeping over Qin Feng and Ji Huang’Er.

"Lord Steward!" Jiang Liu’s face changed in an instant.

With a cold look in his eyes, the chubby middle-aged man barked, "Jiang Liu, is this how you do business? Get lost!"

"...My lord, I..." Jiang Liu’s face went pale.

"Did you not hear me clearly?" A flash of anger appeared in the middle-aged man’s eyes, his tone growing heavier.

"Yes!" Jiang Liu lowered his head. He glanced back at Qin Feng, his eyes filled with bitter resentment, before turning and disappearing a moment later.

’What an idiot!’ Lin Ping cursed internally, glancing at Jiang Liu’s retreating figure out of the corner of his eye with a cold glint. ’This Qin Feng is someone the Princess specifically instructed us to look after. If you ruin Her Highness’s important plans, I’ll have to make you suffer!’

Turning to face the black-robed youth, Lin Ping sized him up for a moment before a smile flashed in his eyes.

"You must be young brother Qin Feng?"

The chill in Qin Feng’s eyes subsided slightly. His gaze shifted. "And you are, Steward?"

"My name is Lin Ping! I’m the Steward of this Spirit Beast Shop." The chubby middle-aged man wore an amiable smile.

"I’m also Princess Qingcheng’s uncle."

Princess Qingcheng was Du Pingxia’s title in the Great Yan Kingdom!

A flicker of surprise appeared in his eyes. Qin Feng looked up, clearly not having expected this chubby middle-aged man to be Du Pingxia’s uncle.

"Earlier, the clerk was rude."

Lin Ping glanced at the White Sparrow in the cage, a hint of surprise in his eyes, before smiling.

"Since you’ve taken a liking to this White Sparrow, young brother Qin Feng, allow me to make the decision to gift it to you. Please consider it my apology."

Seeing Lin Ping’s extremely humble attitude, Qin Feng finally dismissed the dark thoughts in his mind. He looked at Lin Ping’s sincere expression and shook his head. "Let’s not. I, Qin Feng, can still afford thirty Points."

Qin Feng didn’t like owing people favors.

Favors always had to be repaid eventually, and that was troublesome!

Seeing that Lin Ping looked troubled, Qin Feng’s gaze shifted. It landed on the ugly bird by the door, and he smiled.

"If Steward Lin is so inclined, how about you give me that one instead?"

"The young brother has his eyes on this Nether Crow?" Following Qin Feng’s line of sight, Lin Ping’s gaze shifted and landed on the plump, ugly bird with a small tuft of black feathers on its head.

"CAW! CAW! What do you all want, staring at the Eighth Master?" the ugly bird shrieked when it noticed their gazes.

A hint of a smile in his eyes, Qin Feng looked at Lin Ping and said, "Steward Lin, I am about to travel alone to take up my post at Heavenly Red Peak’s Green Water Cave. The journey will be lonely. This Nether Crow may be useless, but it has a glib tongue. With a pet like this for company, the journey surely won’t be boring!"

A strange look flashed through Lin Ping’s eyes. He didn’t believe Qin Feng’s story at all.

If it were anyone else, Lin Ping would have refused without a second thought and then found a way to pry the truth out of them.

Qin Feng’s gaze swept over Lin Ping. He knew that the Steward must have his doubts.

After a moment of contemplation, Lin Ping’s eyes flickered as he thought to himself, ’Forget it. Since the Princess values him so highly, and he’s an old acquaintance of hers, it’s fine to give it to him.’

’Besides, this ugly bird has never shown any special qualities. The other masters have already inspected it and found nothing out of the ordinary; it’s just a common Nether Crow. And even if there were something special about it, it would be useless in my hands. I might as well give it to Qin Feng and curry a favor for the Princess!’

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. Lin Ping looked up. "Very well. Since young brother Qin Feng is a friend of the Princess, I’ll take it upon myself to gift this Nether Crow to you!"

...

「An hour earlier, just as Qin Feng was entering the Primordial Spirit Beast Shop.」

「In an inn within the City of Many Stars.」

"Your Highness, we’ve found Qin Feng. He’s on Spirit Beast Street buying a Spirit Beast. It seems he’s preparing to set off for Heavenly Red Peak!" an extremely plain-faced middle-aged man reported to a heroic-looking youth dressed in a magnificent Python Robe and a Purple Gold Crown.

"Your Highness, should we ambush him on the road and..." The middle-aged man made a throat-slitting gesture.

"No. This is the City of Many Stars. Even if we succeed, the consequences would be dire!" The youth shook his head.

"So we’re just letting him go?"

"Of course not. How can someone who blocks my, Hong Wen’s, path be allowed to live? And isn’t the Barbaric Realm full of Barbaric Beasts?" Hong Wen gave a sinister smile, then put on a sorrowful expression as he lamented, "While traveling to Heavenly Red Peak, Elder Cyan Dragon was attacked by a stray Barbaric Beast and tragically passed away. To die so young... what a terrible loss for the world. Truly, the heavens are jealous of great talent!"