Chapter 80: This Guy Is Finished

“Go for it! Go for it!”
Suddenly, a voice appeared and echoed endlessly in Xiao Yang’s mind.

“You go ahead. I just remembered something I need to take care of,” he said, intending to find a quiet spot to purchase a dog and a cricket. If successful, the reward would be four million taels. Even Xiao Yang couldn’t help but be tempted. If the cockfighting wasn’t under the name of the Four Young Lords of North Desert, he would have jumped in without hesitation.

“Boss, do you need our help?” Jin Ying volunteered eagerly.

“No need. This is something only I can handle.” Xiao Yang refused outright. He possessed an extraordinary power of strengthening, and only he needed to know about it. Buying pets from the system’s shop couldn’t be exposed either. In this world, spatial rings could only store dead objects; summoning living creatures would surely shock the entire Spirit Martial Continent. He would become the target of everyone. Matters like these had to be handled stealthily.

“Then we’ll head to the private room first, Boss.” Jin Ying didn’t insist, smiling as he spoke. Xiao Yang nodded and walked in the opposite direction.

Due to the dog fighting, even this small beast arena had its own dog market, set up for those young nobles who wanted to purchase fighting dogs after watching the battles. However, the fighting dogs here were mostly mongrels, rarely purebred.

Xiao Yang led Hao Wenlong directly into the dog market. The barking of dogs filled the air. Even though Xiao Yang wasn’t into dogs, a glance told him these animals were all show and no substance. If he bought one, it wouldn’t even stand up to a strong martial artist—a single kick would finish a batch.

“Looks like I’ll have to buy from the system shop,” he thought, having found nothing suitable after searching around. Xiao Yang considered finding an opportunity to buy a fighting dog from the system shop. Just as he was about to give up, his eyes landed on a scruffy dog. Though filthy all over, its eyes were unusually bright and even carried a faint hint of murderous intent.

Instantly, Xiao Yang’s interest was piqued. He strode quickly to the vendor.

“Are you looking to buy a dog, young master?” the vendor asked.

Xiao Yang didn’t hesitate; he pointed directly at the scruffy dog lying in the cage. The vendor glanced over, and recognizing the dog, his eyes lit up and his smile widened significantly. This ‘dead dog’ had been here nearly ten days, refusing food, and looked on the verge of starving to death. Suddenly, here was a gullible customer—no need to worry about a loss on this sale.

“You have a good eye, young master. This is our signature dog,” the vendor said with a grin.

Xiao Yang believed him, trusting the vendor’s words.

Name: Ghost Mastiff
Cultivation: None
Potential: One in ten thousand
Description: A mongrel born from a mastiff and an unknown beast, with great malleability

“This guy is a top-tier fighting dog, capable of battling lions and tigers with ease,” the vendor boasted.

Xiao Yang rolled his eyes. The claims were getting more absurd. Fight lions and tigers? Nonsense. Most lion- and tiger-shaped beasts were at the Grand Demon Master level. Ordinary fighting dogs wouldn’t stand a chance; even Chicken Tyrant might not win.

“Heh.” He let out a cold laugh and turned to leave. If the conversation continued, the price for this scruffy dog would surely skyrocket.

Seeing his gullible customer about to leave, the vendor panicked.

“Don’t go, young master! The price will definitely satisfy you,” he called.

Xiao Yang paused and asked lightly, “How much?”

“Hundred thousand taels!”
At that price, Xiao Yang strode off without a second thought, not lingering another moment.

A hundred thousand taels!
He scoffed at the audacity, as if Xiao Yang were an easy mark. If need be, he’d simply buy one from the system shop. Even if he had to spend money to strengthen it, for a hundred thousand taels, he’d get one at the fourth or fifth layer of Demon Master.

“Hey, hey!”
Watching Xiao Yang leave, the vendor was stunned. What was wrong with this young noble? Had he grown a brain? Usually, this trick worked every time—praise the dog, and plenty of young nobles would take the bait.

Yet today, strangely, the trick failed.

Seeing his mark about to walk away, the vendor couldn’t hold back.

“Wait, young master! The price is negotiable,” he pleaded.

Xiao Yang halted. This was exactly what he’d been waiting for. He raised a hand.

“This much.”

The vendor saw a five and thought five thousand would do, still a tidy profit, not worried about losing money.

“If you like it, young master, five thousand is fine,” he said, putting on an exaggeratedly pained expression to convince Xiao Yang.

Xiao Yang rolled his eyes.

“You must be half asleep. This dog for five thousand? I meant five hundred,” he retorted.

The vendor was stunned, instinctively wanting to refuse. The dog had cost him fifteen hundred—selling at a loss was unacceptable.

“Are you selling or not? If not, I’ll leave; this dog looks close to death anyway,” Xiao Yang said indifferently.

If the vendor refused, he’d turn and walk away without a glance.

Pressed again, the vendor looked at the scruffy dog. It was close to its limit—ten days without food, and if kept any longer, it probably wouldn’t eat at all. Better to sell and recoup some cost.

“You seem sincere, young master. I’ll sell it,” the vendor agreed.

Xiao Yang didn’t hesitate, taking out a five-thousand tael gold note and handing it over. He then walked toward the Ghost Mastiff.

From a distance, Xiao Yang thought the dog was frail; up close, he realized something. Though weak, the Ghost Mastiff was constantly gathering strength, ready to deliver a lethal blow at any moment.

“I’ve bought you. Will you follow me from now on?” Xiao Yang squatted and smiled, reaching toward the dog in the cage.

The vendor was terrified.

“Careful!”
Before it went on hunger strike, this dog was ferocious. He had sent two martial artists to catch it, but both were crippled by its bite. Later, over a dozen martial artists together subdued the beast.

Seeing Xiao Yang’s delicate hands, if he got bitten, he’d lose an entire hand.

The vendor tried desperately to prevent disaster, but it was too late. He glared at Hao Wenlong, who stood motionless, gnashing his teeth at the useless guard. The master’s hand was about to be lost, and he wouldn’t even step in to help.

“Stop!”
He shouted anxiously.

But Xiao Yang acted as if he hadn’t heard, reaching straight into the cage.

“Wu wu!”
With a low growl, the once lifeless Ghost Mastiff suddenly exploded into action. Its jaws opened wide, snapping down on Xiao Yang’s hand.

Seeing this, the vendor nearly fainted, unable to bear watching, instinctively closing his eyes.

“It’s over—he’s done for,” he thought, convinced Xiao Yang’s hand had been bitten off.

Yet after a while, there were no screams. The vendor slowly opened his eyes in confusion, looking at Xiao Yang.

He saw the Ghost Mastiff biting down on Xiao Yang’s hand, but no matter how hard it tried, it couldn’t break through Xiao Yang’s inner energy defense.

Even the Ghost Mastiff showed a trace of surprise in its eyes.