The ultimate goal of Chang Jiantao and the others' sneaky outing was originally the Night Fire Spider.
Since Li Pu has fortuitously brought back a significant number of Night Fire Spiders, and they're alive, why should they go out hunting?
Wouldn't buying them be much easier than arduously searching in the deep mountains?
Anyway, for this kind of magic beast, submitting just one living specimen is enough to pass the "Material Collection" end-of-term assessment.
He had heard from his brother that some seniors, unable to complete the assessment at the end of the term and unwilling to fail, would eventually resort to buying materials to pass.
Chang Jiantao thought it's better to be safe than sorry, so he decided to buy a living Night Fire Spider to keep.
If by then he really couldn't complete the end-of-term assessment, he could simply submit it.
In any case, the Night Fire Spider, being a magic beast that poses little threat and is easy to keep, serves as a precaution.
So his proposal won the approval of quite a few classmates around.
"Yeah, Li Pu, why don't you sell me one too?"
"Count me in as well, please."
"Since we're classmates, the price is negotiable."
They surrounded Li Pu even more tightly for a moment.
Of course, some classmates had different convictions and didn't agree with this approach.
They silently stepped back a little.
This group included Fu Erdai.
(Why is he so strong?)
(When we couldn't even get out of the school gate, he could already take down a Level 4 D-class magic beast!)
Intuitively, he didn't believe the nonsense about finding a giant lizard by chance.
Now he seriously suspected that this guy was a rich second-generation like himself.
No, the other family could be even richer.
That scarecrow, although it appeared to be a weak F-class, might actually be a rare species like the king of all plants.
As for many people having seen Li Pu summon a scarecrow in the Wind Listening Hall, that's easily explained.
People might have seen him summoning a scarecrow on the summoning platform, but who actually saw if he was tearing up a beginner's blue talisman?
Watching the figure being embraced by others, Fu Erdai felt he had found a short-term goal.
For the days to come, he must make a concerted effort; once he surpasses the other, he will become the top of the class!
Thinking of this, Fu Erdai silently clenched his fist.
In two weeks, the arena will be his first opportunity to challenge.
Before then, effort, effort, and more effort!
At this moment, Li Pu, who had been keeping a low profile, had already attracted the attention of his classmates and found himself hard-pressed to deal with those surrounding him.
"Li Pu, was that lizard really taken down by you?"
"I'm curious too, is your scarecrow actually super powerful?"
"Sell me a Night Fire Spider, and I'll owe you a favor, Li Pu."
"Pfft, with that little ability, what use is a favor?"
"Li Pu, sell it to me, and I'll arrange for our dorm to have a mixer with yours."
"Who can't have a mixer! Li Pu! Our dorm can have a mixer too!"
"..., but yours is a boys' dorm."
"Who knows! In our dorm, some guys can act no less like girls!"
"Don't listen to their nonsense, Li Pu, just name your price."
"Yeah, yeah, name your price."
Among these classmates, some were curious, some wanted to cozy up, and some were undermining each other.
But in the end, business is business, and soon the unified price for the Night Fire Spider was agreed upon.
This outcome left Li Pu contemplative.
People were right; student money is indeed easy to earn.
Little did he expect that the Night Fire Spiders he brought back unintentionally could sell for 100 Crystal Coins apiece here.
He has already pre-sold 7, which amounts to 700 Crystal Coins.
Looks like he can soon repay Wu Guinan, what a relief.
"Alright, that's settled."
Just as they finished negotiating, the Gatekeeper uncle returned with the mushroom-eating lizard.
"I've packed these Night Fire Spiders for you."
In his other hand, he held a cardboard box.
The box was filled with glass jars, each holding a Night Fire Spider, as they're a species that needs to be housed separately.
"Thank you, uncle."
Li Pu received the box and nodded his thanks.
Since he was a freshman, the Gatekeeper uncle also provided a brief introduction.
Within the school, there is a dedicated trading station that helps teachers and students handle the loot brought back from outside.
Things like magic beast carcasses or live specimens can be directly sold to the trading station for Crystal Coins, or they can assist in processing/decomposing/consigning them.
"So, do you need me to have it drag this big lizard over?"
Considering Li Pu's previous struggling look, the Gatekeeper uncle pointed to the Earth Listening Beast beside him.
At this moment, the Earth Listening Beast was happily gnawing on the piece of lizard tail given by Li Pu.
Despite looking like an old dog, as a second transition summoned beast, moving a mere big lizard was very easy.
"That would be great."
Li Pu was more than happy to oblige.
Currently, the scarecrow isn't as strong as himself, and it took quite an effort to drag the mushroom-eating lizard all this way, to be honest.
Having a dog to do it instead is the best.
"But please wait a moment."
He moved the cardboard box in front of everyone and began trading.
The Gatekeeper uncle didn't pay this any mind, as it's outside the scope of his duties.
According to the earlier agreement, Li Pu handed over 7 Night Fire Spiders, receiving 700 Crystal Coins.
With nearly 30 remaining, he had no intention of keeping them, planning to process them along with the mushroom-eating lizard later.
He heard that there's someone on duty 24/7 over there, so after finishing here, Li Pu had the Earth Listening Beast lead the way.
The Earth Listening Beast was a bit reluctant, not having finished the lizard tail yet, but out of fondness for Li Pu, it hurriedly buried it and awaited his return to savor it slowly.
Watching Li Pu's departing back, those still standing punishment couldn't help but remark.
"Do you think he has already passed the 'Material Collection' end-of-term assessment?"
"Of course, even without the big lizard, just the living Night Fire Spiders are enough."
"So strong; if anyone dares to say Li Pu isn't the top of this cohort again, I'll be the first to object."
"That's certainly true; the gap is huge."
"By the way, do we really have to stand here until dawn..."
Under their gaze, the Earth Listening Beast guided Li Pu out of sight.
Twenty minutes later, Li Pu arrived at his destination.
It was already past two in the morning, but the building ahead was still aglow with light.
[Woof Woof!]
Having put down the mushroom-eating lizard and pointed at the entrance with its paw, the Earth Listening Beast was about to leave.
"Old dog, thanks a lot."
Li Pu thanked it and watched it leave.
Yet after the Earth Listening Beast departed, he didn't enter through the door immediately.
Instead, his gaze turned to the mushrooms on the back of the mushroom-eating lizard.
...
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