Chapter 283: Trading Spiritual Materials
The twin swords danced in his hands, like a peacock spreading its tail—gorgeous yet filled with boundless killing intent.
Facing an unavoidable lethal strike, the most primitive ferocity belonging to a Ferocious Beast was instantly stirred within the Raging Flame Thunder Tiger. The violent Thunderflame Force erupted with a heart-palpitating aura.
Flames shot into the sky, thunder roared explosively—it was as if heavenly lightning had ignited earthly fire. The berserk, scorching thunder and flames intertwined, transforming into a dark-red lotus of destruction that enveloped Zhou Ming.
When the magma-like lotus petals collided with the dazzling emerald sword light, the expected earth-shattering explosion did not occur. Instead, the dark-red lotus of destruction began to dim.
It was as though magma bursting from the earth’s crust had suddenly lost all heat, solidifying into stone in an instant—then being split in two by the twin swords in Zhou Ming’s hands.
In the Raging Flame Thunder Tiger’s despairing gaze, the two longswords carrying the aura of death pierced through its skull like the fangs of a colossal serpent.
The savage and bloodthirsty Raging Flame Thunder Tiger immediately lost all vitality. Its massive head began to turn gray, petrifying at a visible speed.
Seeing this, Zhou Ming immediately withdrew his swords and slashed horizontally, severing the tiger’s head.
He had no intention of watching his spoils turn into worthless stone, thereby wasting the limited venom nurtured within the Venomous Gall.
As the enormous body of the Raging Flame Thunder Tiger collapsed heavily to the ground, the victory of this battle belonged to Zhou Ming.
Although he had successfully slain the Raging Flame Thunder Tiger, Zhou Ming did not lower his guard. Instead, he turned directly to look behind him.
At this moment, several people from Blue Star Academy had arrived.
“People from Blue Star Academy?”
Seeing three men and one woman—four young individuals dressed in Blue Star Academy uniforms—Zhou Ming was somewhat surprised to encounter them here.
The strength displayed by the four youths indeed lived up to Blue Star Academy’s reputation. Aside from the long-legged woman, who possessed Mid-level Professional Rank strength, the other three were all High-level Professional Rank.
As for the elderly man leading them, Zhou Ming sensed an extremely dangerous aura from him.
Transcendent Master?
When that thought surfaced in his mind, Zhou Ming’s grip on his swords tightened noticeably.
“Young friend, pardon the intrusion. To so cleanly slay a Raging Flame Thunder Tiger truly astonishes this old man.”
The elderly man narrowed his eyes slightly as he watched the Raging Flame Thunder Tiger’s head turn into lifeless stone, shattering into fragments upon hitting the ground. The shock in his heart was indescribable.
With his strength, he naturally saw through Zhou Ming’s methods. To wield such terrifying poison as a Professional Beast Tamer—this was the first time he had witnessed such a thing.
Even he was not confident he could resist that unknown toxin.
Seeing the other party’s gentle attitude, Zhou Ming hesitated briefly before withdrawing his twin swords.
“You flatter me, sir. They were merely trivial methods. They work somewhat effectively against mindless beasts.”
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Zhou Ming continued by asking the other party’s purpose.
“May I ask what guidance you intend to give, sir?”
Although Zhou Ming’s demeanor appeared exceptionally respectful, he did not withdraw his Serpentfolk Form, nor did he display the fear one would expect when facing a Transcendent powerhouse.
The four youths behind the elderly man secretly wondered what gave Zhou Ming such confidence. After all, the gap between a Professional Beast Tamer and a Transcendent Beast Tamer was like an insurmountable chasm.
“Young friend jests. This Raging Flame Thunder Tiger was originally the prey of my disappointing student. He has hunted it for several days without success.”
“Now that you have slain it, it rightfully belongs to you. However, the materials from the Raging Flame Thunder Tiger are of use to my student, so I hope to conduct a trade with you.”
Upon learning the reason for their arrival—and the cause behind the tiger’s appearance—Zhou Ming did not hand over the corpse simply because of the other party’s strength.
Because they possessed something he needed.
“Since you are willing to trade, sir, I shall not stand on ceremony. I only wish for one Dragon Transformation Fruit unique to Blue Star Academy.”
As the most renowned Beast Taming university within the Alliance, Blue Star Academy was dedicated to cultivating Transcendent Masters. The resources it possessed were naturally incomparable to those of other institutions.
Within Blue Star Academy stood a sixth-tier spiritual material—the Blood Dragon Treasure Tree.
The entire tree was crimson, like it had been carved from ruby. It bore fourth-tier spiritual materials known as Dragon Transformation Fruits, which could enhance bloodline potential.
Zhou Ming was on the verge of advancing to Transcendent Master, and Bloodline Leap was the core of that advancement. Although he had some confidence in himself, he did not mind having an additional safeguard.
The Dragon Transformation Fruit was an internal resource of Blue Star Academy. Under normal circumstances, Zhou Ming would have no way of obtaining it.
Now that the other party was willing to trade the Raging Flame Thunder Tiger’s corpse, he naturally wished to seize this opportunity to acquire the famed Dragon Transformation Fruit.
“Gu Chen, the Raging Flame Thunder Tiger will be used by you. Are you willing to exchange the resources allocated to you by the academy for a Dragon Transformation Fruit to trade with this young friend?”
Hearing Zhou Ming’s request, the elderly man turned to the tall young man behind him, whose body emitted a faintly berserk aura.
“Teacher Jiang, I agree.”
Seeing the elder willing to trade, the young man named Gu Chen immediately agreed.
After all, the Raging Flame Thunder Tiger was a mutated Ferocious Beast—rare even within the Endless Forest Sea. It would greatly benefit his dual lightning-and-fire Phantasmal Beast. Naturally, he was willing to exchange resources to enhance its potential.
Hearing Gu Chen’s consent, the elder took out a jade box and sent it floating toward Zhou Ming with a gentle breeze.
“Young friend, this is the Dragon Transformation Fruit you requested.”
Zhou Ming accepted the jade box and opened it directly. A crimson fruit, its surface resembling dragon scales, came into view.
Although it was his first time seeing a Dragon Transformation Fruit, based on its appearance and the energy nurtured within, Zhou Ming could essentially confirm that the other party had not deceived him.
Zhou Ming’s action caused the long-legged woman behind the elder to frown, though after a brief hesitation, she chose not to speak.
“Sir, please forgive me. I shall take my leave first.”
Aware that his actions were somewhat improper, Zhou Ming cupped his fists in apology and then turned to depart.
“Teacher Jiang, that fellow was rather arrogant, wasn’t he? He didn’t even trust you.”
Only after Zhou Ming’s figure had disappeared did the long-legged woman voice her dissatisfaction.
The elder smiled and shook his head, then explained.
“Go and examine the Raging Flame Thunder Tiger’s head.”
Understanding his intent, the woman immediately turned into a blur and landed beside the tiger’s severed head.
“It has completely turned into stone.”
Seeing that the tiger’s head had become shattered rock from inside out, she was utterly shocked.
The other three youths hurried forward to inspect as well.
“There is no residual energy aura. It is pure stone.”
The scholarly-looking young man released a streak of azure light from his fingertip to probe it, but found nothing else.
At this moment, the elder walked over slowly and took the opportunity to instruct them.
“The four of you are already far beyond ordinary prodigies within Blue Star Academy. At such a young age, you possess strength many never attain in their lifetime.”
“But you must understand one thing—there is always someone stronger, and the heavens stretch beyond the sky.”
“It is not wrong to have pride, but do not let it blind your eyes. Only then will you have the opportunity to advance to Transcendent Master—or even Legendary Saint.”
“That is also why the academy’s upper echelon arranges for us each year to lead a portion of the students out for experience.”
Hearing the elder’s instruction, the four exchanged glances before bowing respectfully.
“Thank you for your guidance, Teacher Jiang.”