Chapter 199 Spiritual Beasts Everywhere!
Sang Yi did not say much about the Blind Bazaar despite Ikasa's several probes. Seeing his reluctance to speak more of the subject, Ikasa stopped prodding him.
Two of them continued to walk in silence until Sang Yi turned to his left, leading Ikasa to an alleyway.
"Why did you have to park your ride so far… "
The question Ikasa was about to ask Sang Yi died on his lips. As soon as they entered the alley, Ikasa felt the intimidating presence of a Spiritual Beast!
Alarmed, Ikasa trained his eyes in the direction of aura. There, right near the entrance, stood a majestic two horned horse tied to a carriage!
Its thick golden brown mane like that of a lion's shone under a few stray rays of sun. Two blackish brown eyes of the beast shined with intelligence as they stared at Ikasa.
Ikasa stood rooted on the spot as all his instincts screamed danger. He was about to remove his weapon when the Dual-Horned Horse looked away, losing interest in Ikasa.
It turned its attention to Sang Yi, tapping its front hooves impatiently. The crazy young man immediately reached the horse and caressed its mouth.
"Isn't my Little Horny beautiful?"
Sang Yi asked as he dotingly rubbed his cheek against the mare's neck. The mare made a 'phurr' sound as if snorting disdainfully at its master and looked away.
'Little- Little Horny?'
Ikasa repeated in his heart, trying to keep his face straight. To call this majestic beast such a cutesy name was blasphemous!
Ikasa raised his thumb at Sang Yi with his lips twitching with a barely suppressed smile.
He could not trust himself to hold back his laughter so quickly boarded the carriage before Sang Yi. Inside, he took a few deep breaths and regained his composure.
He saw Sang Yi whisper something to the carriage driver, probably the destination. Then Sang Yi came to the back and joined him inside the Coach.
The carriage set off and Ikasa immediately felt the difference between his vehicle and Sang Yi's.
Ikasa had arrived at the Inn using the same route they were traveling on now, yet the speed of the carriage was very different. The distance traveled by his carriage in half an hour was covered by Sang Yi's carriage in less than a few minutes!
Before he knew it, their Carriage turned right, connecting to the Eastern Street.
The Eastern Street along with the Northern Street were like the inner-cities of the Tier-3 Cities. Here, only those who were truly rich and powerful could roam freely.
Ikasa also remembered that this was one of the streets the guard at the city gates had warned him about. Soon, he understood why.
As they went further on the street, Ikasa began to feel powerful auras not inferior to the Dual-Horned Horse. He parted the curtains and peeked outside, only to suck in a cold breath of air.
The Spirit Condensation stage Beasts, which were an object of terror in a Tier-3 City, were being used to draw carriages here!
Ikasa did not feel much of a surprise when Sang Yi showed his ride. As one of the two most powerful forces of the City, Nian Clan ought to have such strength.
However, when he realized that the Spiritual Beasts were commonplace here, he could not help but gasp. He once again came to realize the disparity between a Tier-3 City and a Tier-2 City.
Ikasa focused his attention outside the window and observed the Spiritual Beasts on the streets with great interest.
"Red-Crown Bird Beast… Silver Maned Horse… Purple-Striped Wolf… Rock Hoof Beast…"
The variety of Spirit Condensation Stage Beasts dazzled Ikasa!
Though most of them were a variety of horses, there were a few predators like wolves mixed in as well.
'No wonder the guard warned me not to bring the carriages drawn by ordinary beasts to this street. My ordinary horses would have been petrified by the mere aura of their natural predators and upturned the carriage in their panic.'
Ikasa thought as his desire to possess a carriage pulled by a Spiritual Beast grew stronger.
Sang Yi saw the shock on Ikasa's face and he was reminded of the latter's origins. Though Ikasa had miraculous manuals, he was still from a Tier-3 City. He had most probably never been in contact with domesticated Spiritual Beasts.
A smile of satisfaction formed on his lips as Sang Yi watched the barely suppressed excitement mixed with envy on the face of the young businessman.
"Rumors say that there is going to be a Spiritual Beast Carriage in the list of items for auction."
Sang Yi said, remembering the gossip he heard from the Clan's Elders. Hearing the words Ikasa whipped his neck and looked at Sang Yi with slight eagerness.
"Really?"
Sang Yi nodded his head.
"If there are rumors about it, it must be one of the items in this Auction."
Even if they were rumors, the possible availability of Spiritual Beast Carriage for sale made Ikasa happy.
Seeing Ikasa count his chickens before they hatched, Sang Yi warned.
"You are not the only one who desires a Spiritual Beast Carriage. If you don't have minimum of 20,000 gold, you can forget about placing the winning bid."
"20,000 gold?"
Ikasa asked with wide eyes. His eyes darted to the Dual-Horned Horse pulling the carriage.
'I wonder how the Nian Clan had enough funds to buy a Spiritual Beast Carriage worth 20,000 gold but don't have capital to purchase a high Grade Cultivation Scroll worth 10,000 Gold.'
Sang Yi did not notice his speculative look but his words cleared Ikasa's confusion anyways.
"Had I not raised Little Horny since she was young, I wouldn't even have a Spiritual Beast Carriage. Even our Clan Head has raised his own Gold-Eye Tauruses from when they were calves to draw his Carriage."
Ikasa was reminded once again that the Nian Clan lived directly off nature.
Unlike other forces, these Totem-Worshippers did not rely on money to get what they needed. Though it may take a lot of time, these people would rather wait than spend coins to purchase what they wanted from the market.
Ikasa also had the same option but he was not willing to wait. After all, he had a lot of gold but not enough places to spend it.
While they talked, the carriage came to a stop before their destination. Ikasa got down and raised his head to look at the humongous structure before him.
At the first glance the building gave off a lofty feel. A giant overarching dome was supported by tall and thick pillars made of red stone. Murals of blooming lotuses were carved on the pillars, somehow emitting serenity and regal grace at the same time.
As Ikasa and Sang Yi entered through the gates, they saw a giant plaque hanging over the entrance.
Delicate words that looked like a string of flowers were written on the board. They read, "Fortune Lotus Pavilion".
'Is it perhaps related to the Lotus Pavilion of Sal City?'
Ikasa wondered upon reading the name. When Sang Yi tapped on his shoulder, he reined in his wandering thoughts and stepped into the auction house.