Mountains and giant beasts, cabins in the woods

The man in animal hide, his face tense, said coldly, "This is a finished medicine, made from a fifth-tier innate rare seedling. If you can find a higher-level alchemist, you can try to refine it a second time."

"Haha..." Liu Xingmo chuckled awkwardly, "How much are these bugs? Give me two."

"It's a low-grade earth-level medicine, and two of them are worth one spirit stone. This kind of medicine is in high demand and short supply, so I can only give you two at most."

"Okay, deal."

The man in animal hide tied the cicada with hemp rope and handed it to the customer: "Your miracle drug can only be exchanged for this much merchandise."

At this moment, Liu Xingmo took out a porcelain bottle from his medicine box: "Brother, take a look at this, the One Qi Sword Radiance Pill, it's just right for you."

The man accepted the porcelain bottle expressionlessly, poured out a pill, put it in his mouth, and said while savoring it, "The main ingredient is top-grade yellow, equivalent to a second-level alchemist. It's equivalent to a mid-to-low-grade Xuan-grade spiritual medicine."

He then took a dozen or so porcelain bottles: "These are valued at one spirit stone each; I'll buy them as samples."

"Take it all." The deep voice echoed into the warehouse. "Here, have some."

The man was startled and looked out the window from the dark room.

On the half-head covered by mammoth fur, there is a large eye that is gazing at the tiny human.

The man nodded and glanced at the medicine box again: "A total of three spirit stones."

"I estimate it will be around that price," Liu Xingmo said. "Let me take a look at the Fortune-Boosting Elixir!"

"The elixir of destiny is extremely precious, and the entire caravan has no surplus for sale. If you order now, it can be delivered next year."

"Alright then," Liu Xingmo said through gritted teeth, feeling a slight pang of regret. "I'll pay a deposit of one spirit stone and order five spirit stones worth of goods. I'll pay the full amount next year with the divine medicine."

"Alright. You have two spirit stones left."

Liu Xingmo held out his palm: "That's enough. Just give me the spirit stones."

The man in the animal skin took out two round beads, the color of mutton fat jade, with slight wear on the surface.

Liu Xingmo weighed the marble-like spirit stones in his hand, carefully put them away, then picked up the goods and left the wooden house.

He was carrying a crumpled stomach in his left hand and two large worms in his right. He looked like he had just come back from the market.

The mountain-like mammoth packed its things, shook its trunk as a farewell, and then disappeared into the forest, perhaps to find some old friends.

Most of the other mammoths in the caravan stood still, put down their cargo, set up stalls, and waited for customers to come.

Although it's called a market, it's really no different from a human street. Large and small warehouses are lined up in two rows, leaving a wide road in the middle.

Liu Xingmo placed the ambergris and the medicinal cicada on the truck, then clutched the two spirit stones and continued strolling around.

The goods for sale are dazzling and varied.

Not only elixirs, but also magical artifacts, runes, golems, puppets, and mechanical creations whose purpose is unclear.

Liu Xingmo noticed a large water vat with strange objects wriggling inside.

He stepped forward and asked, "What is this?"

"Splash!" Blue-eyed, semi-transparent gelatinous substance burst out of the water.

An elderly man was tending the stall, waving a maple leaf fan and cheerfully saying, "Young man, you have a good eye. This water elemental is a newly researched spiritual creature, a kind of acquired rare beast."

"Water element? Spiritual creature?" Liu Xingmo asked, looking at the strange colloid in the water tank. "Isn't this some kind of weird bacteria or jellyfish?"

"Of course it's not some ordinary thing!" the old man said, beaming. "You know, in the past, when inanimate objects came to life, they were all naturally formed wonders! Now they can be mass-produced. Why don't you buy one and try making a contract with it?"

"If it's not bacteria, then forget it." Liu Xingmo shook his head and left, merging into the crowd.

A distant voice came from behind: "Old man, this is your eighth failed sale today."

"Shut up, you long-nosed pig!" the old man roared. "I just went to the outhouse, how could you buy such a piece of junk? How will it survive the winter? Huh?"

Liu Xingmo whistled and ran even faster.

The whole street was bustling with activity, as people from Black Dragon Village and Mammoth Kingdom chatted about all sorts of things.

Smoke drifted from the mountain of goods on the backs of some mammoths, and someone called out from the window to their companions to eat.

How wondrous. In this world, there are both contracted beasts of humans and contracted humans of wild beasts.

Liu Xingmo, carrying spirit stones, browsed through many shops, wanting to buy everything, but there was nothing he truly needed.

Forget it, I'll save money properly next year and then splurge when the time comes.

As dusk fell, Liu Xingmo and his seventh great-uncle took a car home.

He pushed open the door of Mushroom Castle, walked into the workshop, and proudly showed off his new goods: "Mary, look what good stuff I brought you!"

Sumali, sitting at the worktable, put down the test tube and turned her head to see two large worms bound with hemp rope. Their plump bodies writhed and their ferocious claws tore at her.

The woman's expression shifted several times: surprise, doubt, joy... and finally, a hint of slight resentment.

"My dear husband, is this my dinner?" Sumali smiled.

"Well, you could say that." Liu Xingmo placed the mud-covered worms in front of his wife. "This is a Grade Earth Refining Elixir. And what kind of insect refining method was used?"

Looking into her husband's eyes, Sumari asked, "This can only be eaten raw, right?"

"It works great! It's a hot commodity; most people can't even buy it."

"Fine, let me see."

Sumali held the cicada in her arms, sniffing it lightly, and smelled the faint fragrance of grass and trees.

She took out tweezers and a knife, removed a finger-thick worm leg, washed it clean, and placed it on a white porcelain plate.

She cut off a small piece of insect leg meat, gracefully placed it in her mouth, and chewed slowly. Her slender neck twitched slightly as she swallowed the elixir.

She said indifferently, "Hmm, not bad."

Su Dabao and Du Xiaomei also arrived, watching this scene with slight nervousness, while unconsciously swallowing.

Sumali waved her hand: "You guys should try some too."

Su Dabao and Du Xiaomei exchanged a glance, then each picked up a piece of insect leg and put it in their mouths.

"Ugh!" Su Dabo immediately felt nauseous. He clutched his neck with both hands, his face turning red, barely managing to hold back his vomit.

Du Xiaomei's expression was calm, but tears welled up in the corners of her eyes. Her voice trembled as she said, "It's truly a wonderful medicine."

Liu Xingmo was a little unsure: "So, what do you think? Should we buy a few more to try next year?"

"Keep buying, bring more." Su Mali's voice was merciless.

It seems that the medicinal cicadas are effective.

Liu Xingmo wanted to try his medicine again.

He picked up the stomach of the unknown animal, untied the rope, and revealed a small opening.

He stuck his nose in and took a deep breath.

My body felt weak and my mind was hazy. I leaned back in the recliner and fell into a deep sleep.

Sumali watched this scene and was about to grab a blanket.

Liu Xingmo slowly woke up, stretched, and said, "I slept so well. What time is it?"