Chapter 562: Snatching
In the third ring of the Starry Hall's Spirit Herb Hall, as soon as Lin Feng arrived at the entrance, he felt a thick wave of medicinal herbs wafting toward him. Some spirit herbs had a pleasant fragrance, while others were slightly pungent.
Of course, this didn't mean that fragrant spirit herbs were superior to pungent ones. There were countless spirit herbs in the world, and no pharmacist or alchemist would dare claim to know them all.
Lin Feng stepped inside. This Spirit Herb Hall was even vaster and more expansive than the one in the fourth ring, yet it was noticeably quieter. Many people were simply walking around in silence, searching for the herbs they needed, while others were quietly making transactions.
"Blood Soul Grass, entirely blood-red in color, possibly carrying a trace of soul energy."
Lin Feng muttered to himself as he walked past the stalls one by one. When he reached the deeper part of the hall, his pupils suddenly contracted.
"Found it."
Lin Feng clenched his fist slightly. In his line of sight, there was a blood-red spirit herb that seemed almost alive, exuding wisps of soul energy.
The stall owner was an old man. In front of him was a small bamboo basket, and he sat with his eyes slightly lowered, looking somewhat listless. His stall only had that single Blood Soul Grass, nothing else, making it stand out clearly. Lin Feng spotted it at a glance.
"Phew..." Lin Feng let out a breath, trying to relax. The price of spirit herbs wasn't fixed; the more eager he appeared, the higher the seller might ask, and he couldn't afford that.
The origin stones he had obtained from the Nine Sword Peak were almost all spent.
Still crouching down, Lin Feng had no intention of looking down on others from a height—that would be rude.
"Senior, how do you trade this Blood Soul Grass?"
Lin Feng asked politely. The old man cast a lazy glance at him, smiled, and showed a hint of interest.
"What do you want it for?"
The old man didn't answer immediately but asked instead.
"A friend of mine needs it. I happened to come across it here, so I thought I'd try to get it for him," Lin Feng said casually, trying to appear indifferent. He naturally wouldn't reveal that he intended to refine the Luo Shen Pill; he understood a bit about the art of negotiation.
"Oh." The old man looked at Lin Feng with a smile and then advised, "Then you'd better let your friend come himself. This Blood Soul Grass is too expensive. If you get it for him, it might not be worth it, and he might not even know how much you paid."
The old man's words made Lin Feng's gaze sharpen. Truly, the older the ginger, the spicier it is. This old fellow was clever—retreating to advance.
"It's fine. This friend of mine isn't an ordinary one. A single Blood Soul Grass should still be within my means to gift. Senior, just name your price."
Lin Feng said nonchalantly.
"Oh." The old man responded softly, looking at Lin Feng with flickering eyes. Then, he raised five fingers.
"Fifty high-grade origin stones?"
"Fifty high-grade origin stones? Do you think that's possible?" The old man said with a knowing smile.
"Senior, although Blood Soul Grass isn't an ordinary spirit herb, isn't five hundred high-grade origin stones a bit too expensive?" Lin Feng frowned.
"Blood Soul Grass enriches flesh and blood and nourishes the soul. Five hundred high-grade origin stones is worth it," the old man shook his head with a smile.
Lin Feng furrowed his brow, seeming to ponder for a moment.
After a while, he looked up at the old man and said, "Senior, I might not have enough origin stones on me. How about this: I'll trade you one Nine Yang Grass for your Blood Soul Grass. What do you think?"
"Nine Yang Grass." The old man's eyes flickered, a sharp glint passing through them. This made Lin Feng pause inwardly, then a confident smile appeared on his lips. It seemed there was no problem.
"Although Nine Yang Grass is on the same level as Blood Soul Grass, it's not of much use to me. I'd rather have some origin stones," the old man said slowly. "But... if you could add some high-grade origin stones to the Nine Yang Grass, I might consider it."
"It seems Senior really isn't interested in Nine Yang Grass." Lin Feng smiled as he stood up and prepared to walk away, calm and composed.
The old man stared at Lin Feng, but Lin Feng's steps were already moving—truly moving away. The old man's eyes flickered, and he finally spoke, "Wait."
Lin Feng stopped and turned back to look at the old man, frowning. "Senior, is there something else?"
"You little brat, you're too shrewd," the old man shook his head with a laugh. "Take it. One Nine Yang Grass for the Blood Soul Grass. We each get what we need, and neither of us loses out."
Hearing this, Lin Feng's face broke into a smile. He stepped back a few paces and returned to the old man's stall.
Now, all the medicinal herbs were gathered. All that was left was his alchemy skill, and he could start the furnace.
Light flickered, and a Nine Yang Grass appeared in Lin Feng's hand. He handed it to the old man. "Senior, take good care of it."
The old man didn't stand on ceremony either. With a flash of sharpness, he took the Nine Yang Grass.
Meanwhile, Lin Feng's hand reached for the Blood Soul Grass on the stall, a smile also appearing on his face. Just as the old man had said, they each got what they needed.
"Wait."
Just then, a cold voice rang out, and Lin Feng felt a blur of motion pass by, incredibly fast. A phantom hand appeared in his vision.
"Hm?"
Lin Feng's eyes trembled. His hand shot out as well, grabbing for the Blood Soul Grass on the ground.
Both hands seized the Blood Soul Grass at the same time.
Lin Feng looked at the other hand—slender and fair. A cold glint flashed in his eyes.
Turning his head, Lin Feng looked to his side. What came into view was a delicate yet cold face, a woman's face full of heroic spirit.
"This Blood Soul Grass is already mine," Lin Feng said coldly.
"Since it hasn't reached your hand yet, it's not yours," the woman replied coldly, then looked at the old man. "I want this Blood Soul Grass. Whatever price he offered, I'll double it."
"Hm?" Lin Feng's eyes narrowed, a cold light flashing. This woman was too domineering. He had already paid with the Nine Yang Grass; in principle, the Blood Soul Grass belonged to him.
"Miss, this Blood Soul Grass already belongs to this young man. If you want it, you'll have to ask him if he's willing to sell it," the old man said calmly, earning a bit of goodwill from Lin Feng. This old man had principles.
The woman's gaze turned to Lin Feng, and she directly said, "Let me have it."
Lin Feng sneered. Even if the Blood Soul Grass weren't crucial to him, with her attitude, would he possibly give it up?
"Sorry, please move your hand."
Lin Feng spat out coldly, but the woman's hand didn't budge, firmly gripping the Blood Soul Grass.
"Let me have it. I said I'd pay double," the woman repeated, her tone still harsh and cold.
"No," Lin Feng said, his voice growing colder. He stared at the face so close to his, a sharp glint in his eyes.
"If you don't let go, don't blame me for being rude," Lin Feng shouted.
The woman ignored Lin Feng, her gaze still calm and cold, without the slightest wavering.
"Scram!"
Lin Feng opened his mouth and let out a thunderous roar. The sound carried a strong yang fire aura, scorching hot. Yang fire true essence surged directly toward the woman.
The woman's gaze sharpened. With a light tap of her toes, she finally released her grip on the Blood Soul Grass. If she hadn't let go, the herb would have been destroyed.
The woman retreated, but a terrifying aura burst forth from her, enveloping Lin Feng completely.
Lin Feng put away the Blood Soul Grass and stood up, looking coldly at the woman. A suffocating pressure swirled in the air.
"Li Hen, you're causing trouble again."
Just then, a voice came from outside the hall. Everyone's eyes fell on the speaker—a young man, slender and not particularly imposing, but exuding an extraordinary aura. From head to toe, he radiated a sense of nobility, a natural, effortless confidence that seemed innate.
This man wasn't exactly handsome, but once you saw him, you would never forget him.