Chapter 83: The Millennium Old Salted Fish (Part One)

According to the list of materials for transcending the Heavenly Tribulation that Old Mouse Li had compiled, there were indeed quite a number of spiritual ingredients required, with the Yin Vein being a non-essential among them.

“Master Mouse, where can I buy these spiritual materials?” Zhou Bai asked, his curiosity piqued. He couldn’t resist a probing question.

As expected, Old Mouse Li was waiting for just this. He chuckled slyly, “There’s the Treasure Pavilion to the north of Nether Street, and the Fine Goods Workshop to the west. In this dark district, you have me to rely on. My prices are fair for both young and old.”

Looking at his merchant-like demeanor, Zhou Bai naturally felt some doubt about his character.

But Wen Meng had said before: as long as Old Mouse Li was willing to sell, and with Wang Zhen’s influence looming over him, the prices wouldn’t be outrageously high.

“Rest assured, you’re Wang Zhen’s man—I won’t cheat you. I’ll even sell you materials cheaper than the market rate. But let’s be clear: once you buy from me, whatever happens after isn’t my concern.”

Hearing this, Zhou Bai understood: Old Mouse Li’s identity as a grave robber was likely genuine, and the materials he sold were probably of mysterious origin.

If he couldn’t use them quickly, they’d rot in his hands, and taking them out might invite trouble.

He hesitated for a moment, then agreed, planning to settle the matter of monster corpses once and for all.

“Master Mouse, do you have any monster corpses? I need them for a technique.”

“Corpses? What kind of technique? Let me take a look.”

Zhou Bai handed over the Molting Art without hesitation. In the Underworld Bureau, there were no secret manuals; almost every technique could be bought with contribution points, so he did not intend to hide it.

“A foundational technique, I see…” Old Mouse Li didn’t ask why and began to leaf through it. Zhou Bai waited for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea before he spoke.

“This foundational technique is quite interesting. And, as it happens, I do have some monster corpses in my collection. If you want one, I can sell it cheap.”

Zhou Bai was delighted, and couldn’t help but ask, “Do you have the corpse of a dragon-type monster?”

He had unexpectedly obtained a vial of dragonfish essence at Mount Pan Temple. If he could find some materials recorded in the Ancestral Reversion Method, the potential of a dragon-type monster’s body would surely rise to a new level.

“You’re young, but your demands are many. Wait right here, I’ll go have a look.”

With that, Old Mouse Li transformed into a yellow streak of light and slipped into a crack in the ground, vanishing from sight.

Zhou Bai was astonished. Old Mouse Li’s display of power was more than a simple trick—his true form as a Treasure-Seeking Mouse was indeed remarkable.

After a long wait, Old Mouse Li returned, holding something wrapped in oiled paper.

“Lucky you, there’s indeed a dragon-type. Take a look—I can let you have it cheap.”

Seeing Zhou Bai’s odd expression, Old Mouse Li explained, “My true form is like this, capable of wondrous feats. I traverse all corners of the Nine Provinces, even Nether Street is no exception.”

Hearing this, Zhou Bai’s anticipation grew as he took the package and peeled off the oiled paper.

A pungent, pickled scent assaulted his nose. Zhou Bai’s mouth twitched as he pointed at the exposed contents, asking, “Master Mouse, this is hardly fair. What is this, a salted fish or the Imperial Sword?”

Within the paper lay a dried, shriveled salted fish—a rough job, judging by the strong and unpleasant smell.

Old Mouse Li was a bit embarrassed and hastily explained, “Ahem, ahem, what Imperial Sword? Don’t joke, this salted fish—er, this monster corpse—has a remarkable provenance. It’s a fish-dragon that lived for over a thousand years but never became a true monster.”

“A thousand years? I’d say it’s been salted for a thousand years…”

Zhou Bai used his Yin-Yang Eyes to examine it. The salted fish was not as hopeless as it seemed; it carried a lingering dragon aura, just a step shy of transforming into a true dragon.

Old Mouse Li explained, “If a fish-dragon becomes a monster, it loses its chance to become a dragon. It must cultivate for a thousand years and seize a rare opportunity. If it survives the heavenly tribulation known as the Dragon Gate, its blood becomes pure dragon essence. Sadly, it didn’t make it, dying at the riverbank, where I found it.”

Zhou Bai was speechless—who ever stumbled upon luck like that? Most likely, this old fellow ambushed it during its attempt at the Dragon Gate.

“But I notice this fish-dragon is in poor condition—no scales, no eyes. Master Mouse, you haven’t been snacking on it, have you?”

Old Mouse Li thought to himself, does this kid really take me for a mouse? The thing’s clearly gone foul; how could anyone eat it?

“You think I have the appetite for something like this? The scales and eyes were removed long ago and sold for contribution points.

But after carefully studying your Molting Art, once you reach the third level, the corpse will be refined to produce vitality, and the scales and eyes will naturally grow anew.”

Zhou Bai wasn’t about to let him set the price, so he pressed the issue.

“It’s not easy to reach the third level—though it’s not for my own use, having him carry a salted fish around isn’t convenient for combat either.”

“Alright, alright, you’re a crafty monkey. I wonder how the last person who tried to take advantage of you is doing. Just give what you think is fair—thirty or forty contribution points will do.”

As Old Mouse Li said this, Daoist Hou on the far side of Nether Street suddenly felt his nose itch and sneezed heavily.

“Then I’ll take this fish-dragon,” Zhou Bai said, quite satisfied with the monster corpse. With his system, he’d master the Molting Art swiftly.

The drawbacks were obvious, but what he lacked least now were points—he’d soon resolve any issues.

He’d previously asked Yu Jun and the others with his token: dragon-types were rare, and ordinary fish-dragons didn’t count. It took a thousand fish-dragons to refine even a drop of dragonfish essence.

This thousand-year fish-dragon had cultivated a true Dao, its dragon aura nearly tangible—a fine specimen even among dragon-types.

“My friend is in Nether Street. I’ll take the fish-dragon now, have him refine it into an Ecdysis, and carry it out. As for the tribulation materials, could I trouble you to send them over?”

Old Mouse Li nodded impatiently. “Fine, but you’ll pay the delivery fee.”

“No problem.”

Once they’d settled everything, Zhou Bai handed over the contribution points for the materials and the fish-dragon—over three hundred gone in a flash, and he couldn’t help feeling the sting.

But promotion depended on total contributions; once the stars behind the token lit up, even if the points were spent, the stars retained a faint glow.

Zhou Bai left the house, planning to find Daoist Hou among his peers, then seek a secluded spot in Nether Street to master the Molting Art before leaving.

He had enough points to make a significant leap in power.

He’d left in a hurry before, so it was time to ask Manager Yan whether any martial arts manuals were available.