Translator: CinderTL
Xu Sanyan nodded silently, finally understanding.
No wonder most of the Dog Clan were three-headed dogs. The first three blessings only required Earth Vein Stones, a renewable resource, so using them wasn't as painful.
In contrast, the Dog God's essence blood was a non-renewable resource, requiring strict management.
Xu Sanyan recalled another question and asked, "Clan Chief, I have something I don't understand. May I ask for your guidance?"
"Hmm, speak."
"Are Earth Vein Stones interchangeable between tribes?"
Xu Sanyan remembered the Old Clan Chief saying that Earth Vein Stones were formed from the Dog God's corpse. If that were true, could other tribes also use them?
The Old Clan Chief glanced at him, her eyes holding profound meaning, and slowly uttered, "Yes."
"Whether it's Earth Vein Stones or essence blood, they are merely mediums—channels to connect with the 'gods.' The source of your power isn't the stones themselves, but the 'gods.'"
"Gods..." Xu Sanyan murmured softly, his skepticism about the existence of true "gods" in this world lingering.
"Although Earth Vein Stones can regenerate, the process is extremely slow. We must use them sparingly, as they are not an inexhaustible resource," the Old Clan Chief emphasized, reiterating the stones' preciousness before steering the conversation back on track. "Therefore, we can grant you only one additional blessing. This is the Dog God Tribe's bottom line."
Xu Sanyan pondered for a moment. "How many members does the Dog God Tribe have?"
"Six hundred and seventy-two."
Xu Sanyan raised an eyebrow in surprise. "That many?"
Is this old hag counting the infants too?
Even if he bought the cheapest magic artifacts, six hundred and seventy-two would still cost hundreds of thousands of spirit stones. Where was he supposed to get that kind of money?
If he were still the holy son of the demonic sect, mobilizing the sect's resources might have been possible. But now he was in hiding, with less than ten thousand spirit stones to his name. How could he possibly acquire so many magic artifacts?
"That's far too many," Xu Sanyan shook his head.
The Old Clan Chief calculated for a moment, then pointed at the short sword. "If they're all of this quality, three hundred will suffice."
While the short sword wasn't a top-tier magic artifact, it was still decent. Crafting one from scratch would likely cost several hundred, if not over a thousand, spirit stones.
Three hundred such artifacts would require nearly three hundred thousand spirit stones—an astronomical sum.
"A hundred at most. Three hundred is far too many. This item is considered a treasure even in the outside world and is not easily obtained," Xu Sanyan bargained.
"Agreed," the Old Clan Chief nodded. The price was reasonable; a hundred magic artifacts in exchange for a blessing was acceptable to both parties.
"Very well, it's settled then. I'll prepare the artifacts before my next visit," Xu Sanyan said, rising and cupping his hands in farewell.
Regardless of the circumstances, this deal was advantageous for him.
A hundred magic artifacts might seem like a lot—and it was indeed a substantial number—but it remained within his means. Though he lacked sufficient spirit stones, he could find a way to acquire them.
I want the item, but I don't have the spirit stones. What should I do?
I'll just have to make someone else suffer.
After finalizing the agreement, Xu Sanyan took his leave. As he exited the mountain cave, he saw Xun Ancai squatting on the ground, drawing something with a twig. Hearing his footsteps, she looked up and bounced over to him.
"What did you talk about with the clan chief?"
"Nothing much, just a business deal," Xu Sanyan replied casually as he walked.
Xun Ancai followed beside him, pressing, "What kind of deal?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
"Tch..." Xun Ancai pouted, clearly dissatisfied with the answer.
Xu Sanyan glanced back at the mountain cave, a hint of composure showing through his lowered eyelids.
His reasons for seeking cooperation with the Old Clan Chief were twofold. Obtaining a blessing was only one part of his objective.
The other reason stemmed from concerns for his own safety.
After completing his second blessing, he would be tasked with participating in the joint assassination of the Snake Clan and Bear Clan chiefs. Xu Sanyan feared being treated as a disposable pawn.
With this cooperative alliance in place, the Old Clan Chief would do her utmost to ensure his safety, as his death would inevitably terminate their agreement.
Of course, even this arrangement wasn't foolproof, but he had done everything he could. Such endeavors inevitably carried risks, and he could only strive to minimize the dangers.
"What are you thinking about?" Xun Ancai waved her hand in front of his eyes, her large eyes brimming with innocent curiosity.
Xu Sanyan smiled at her and casually wrapped an arm around her waist. "Nothing much. Let's go home."
"Oh..." Xun Ancai stiffened slightly, her cheeks flushing crimson, and she instantly became remarkably docile.
"What was the Old Clan Chief talking about earlier with the pack beasts?" Xu Sanyan asked casually.
Xun Ancai's hands twisted nervously together, seemingly uncomfortable with public displays of affection.
"Ah, they're a type of wild beast. Usually they gather in large, fierce herds, but around this time of year, they give birth. After giving birth, they become weak, making them perfect for hunting. All the nearby tribes send hunters."
As she spoke, Xun Ancai grew excited. "Pack beast milk is so delicious! I'll bring some back for you to try."
Xu Sanyan frowned. "You kill the mothers right after they give birth? What happens to the babies?"
Isn't that like draining the pond to catch all the fish? At this rate, these beasts will be extinct within a thousand years.
Xun Ancai tilted her head, puzzled. "We don't kill the babies."
Xu Sanyan rephrased his question. "If you kill their mothers, how do the newborns survive?"
Understanding dawned on Xun Ancai. "Oh, don't worry. The other pack beasts will help care for them."
Xu Sanyan nodded. "Have you ever tried raising the babies and killing them when they grow up?"
Xun Ancai shook her head. "We tried, but they don't survive. They die within a few days."
"I see."
The two continued walking and talking until they soon arrived home.
Xu Sanyan gazed at the scattered wood on the ground, remnants from his last visit when he had planned to build a wall but abandoned the project due to lack of time. Since he had nothing pressing to do today, he decided to finally construct the wall.
He casually picked up his longsword and began shaping the wood, with Xun Ancai assisting him.
The wall's construction was crude: they dug holes around the perimeter of the house, arranged the wood in sequence, and hacked out square openings with the longsword to serve as windows.
Working swiftly, they completed the wall by dusk. Though large gaps remained between the wooden planks, it was still a significant improvement over the previous open-air pavilion. At least now they could enjoy their intimacy at night without fear of being seen.
"You're amazing!" Xun Ancai praised with a radiant smile, clearly delighted with the renovated house.
Xu Sanyan stared at the crooked, uneven structure, unsure whether she was complimenting him or teasing him.
"I'll make dinner," Xun Ancai said, retrieving a piece of meat from under the eaves and starting a fire to roast it.
She only knew how to cook by roasting, and without any seasoning, the food wasn't particularly delicious. Fortunately, the meat itself was of good quality, making it palatable enough.
(End of the Chapter)
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