Qi Ping estimated that the near-impossibility of a forced contract was exactly why the Cloud-Dream Immortal Tiger appeared on the Mysterious Black Market's sales list. Otherwise, under normal circumstances, most people would never choose to sell such a spirit beast, or the price would be even more astronomical.
The other spirit beast, the Hallowed Spirit Turtle, was no less rare or capable in divination than the tiger. As one of the strongest divine beasts for calculating the world's secrets, the Black Tortoise excelled even more than the Bai Ze in this specific field, and it possessed an incredibly long lifespan. The Hallowed Spirit Turtle, sharing that bloodline, inherited these traits: superior divination skills and high longevity.
However, the differences in their abilities were quite distinct:
Species: Cloud-Dream Immortal Tiger
Bloodline: Rank 3 High-Grade
Talents: Insight into All Things, Boundless Providence, Monarch of Waters.
Insight into All Things: Understands the principles of all creation and the affairs of spirits and gods. Can calculate and divine matters of the world. (Divination consumes lifespan and physical vitality. The greater the karma involved, the stronger the target, or the more detailed the reading, the greater the consumption. In severe cases, the user may die from backlash.)
Boundless Providence: Possesses profound luck; suffers few disasters and meets many opportunities. Sheltered by fortune, it can use the power of providence to protect itself, block divination attempts, and ward off curses.
Monarch of Waters: Possesses an exceptionally high talent for water-attribute cultivation. A true lord of the waters, it possesses the special Water-Glass Physique known as the [Cloud-Dream Spirit Body]. High cultivation speed, proficient in water spells, and can harness the power of rivers, lakes, and seas in battle.
Evaluation: With it by your side, you have truly stumbled into good luck!
Species: Hallowed Spirit Turtle
Bloodline: Rank 3 High-Grade
Talents: Black Tortoise Divination, Hallowed Turtle Body, Longevity of the Spirit Turtle.
Black Tortoise Divination: Can divine all things in heaven and earth! (Consumption rules are the same as above.)
Hallowed Turtle Body: Possesses a special water-attribute physique with extraordinary defense and recovery. Possesses incredible life-saving capabilities.
Longevity of the Spirit Turtle: Possesses an incredibly long lifespan. One turtle can outlive ten generations; the master may pass, but the turtle remains!
Evaluation: Do not let the turtle overwork its divination, or it might not survive even one generation!
'The Cloud-Dream Immortal Tiger leans toward fortune; it can increase luck and use that luck to block divination. The Hallowed Spirit Turtle leans more toward survival and direct calculation. Both have their merits, but clearly, the tiger is more suited for me!'
Given the choice, Qi Ping naturally preferred the Cloud-Dream Immortal Tiger. The reason he wanted a divination-type spirit beast was so that when others tried to calculate his secrets, he could use the power of the Heavenly Secret to interfere and cause a backlash. Moreover, he could better prepare for future dangers.
The tiger could counter others with Insight into All Things and shield everything around it with Boundless Providence. In terms of preventing others from divining his location, the tiger was undoubtedly far superior to the turtle. The turtle's advantage lay in its long life, which allowed it to better endure the cost of divination. However, Qi Ping didn't have a massive need for constant calculations. He didn't plan to go out and roam much; at most, his Treant Clone would wander the outside world.
Divining the weak was useless; divining the strong was a good way to kill oneself. Thus, while the turtle was good, its priority was lower, and its cost-effectiveness was inferior to the tiger's. Furthermore, Qi Ping was truly salivating over the tiger's Monarch of Waters talent. Not only would it provide him with a high-tier water-attribute spirit body, but it would also drastically boost his cultivation of water spells! If he could obtain it, he would have the third of his Five Elements spirit bodies!
'Now I just have to see if this cub is willing to form a contract with me.'
Qi Ping was uncertain when it came to this type of beast. Especially with a creature like the Cloud-Dream Immortal Tiger, where a forced contract would invite heaven's wrath. Qi Ping didn't think he could necessarily withstand such a backlash.
Fortunately, Qi Ping had asked the crate-puppet last time. If the spirit beast was deemed unsuitable upon inspection, he could choose not to buy it, provided he paid a few hundred spirit stones for 'shipping fees.' For special items, the fee might increase. Hearing this news had been a great relief. He had been terrified of spending over three hundred thousand stones on a beast he couldn't contract and being unable to return it. Paying a small fee for the trouble was acceptable.
Having decided, Qi Ping spent another two hundred spirit stones to refresh the Black Market and purchased several Rank 2 Low, Middle, and High-grade fire-attribute medicinal seeds. This included items like Flame-Eating Fruits and Flame-Veined Grass. These were herbs required for his and Crow-Crow's cultivation. With these, his cultivation level could finally begin to rise again.
As for spirit trees, Qi Ping hadn't decided which ones to buy yet. He planned to think it over and then use his Treant Clone to make the purchase later. With the clone, he no longer had to worry as much about safety. Without further delay, he finalized the purchase.
A moment later, a notification appeared on the Mysterious Black Market token:
[Purchase Successful! Arrival in five days, seven hours, and forty-five minutes.]
'Five days? It takes that long?'
This was the first time Qi Ping had encountered such a long wait. He assumed it was due to the special nature of the Cloud-Dream Immortal Tiger. For safety, Qi Ping decided to wait in a different location. Even if the Treant Clone was exposed for some reason, it wouldn't compromise his usual transaction spots.
Thankfully, the five days passed without incident. Qi Ping arrived at the transaction site with a heart full of anticipation and anxiety. He truly loved the tiger's talents, but if it was unwilling to become his companion, there was nothing he could do.
Not long after he arrived, the familiar crate-puppet appeared as promised. Without any nonsense, it immediately produced the centerpiece of the trade: the Cloud-Dream Immortal Tiger.
When the white cub with two small horns appeared, it didn't seem surprised to be there. It merely looked at Qi Ping with curious eyes, as if it had known this moment would come. Then, it padded over on fluffy paws and affectionately rubbed against the hem of Qi Ping's trousers.
This series of actions left Qi Ping stunned. 'Good heavens, did it foresee this?'
As expected of an auspicious beast that understood all things!