Sea Soul Market, the sprawling bazaar in Vast Sea City that trades in oceanic Spirit Beasts, was said to stock everything related to sea-dwelling creatures—and naturally, the high-grade Whale Jiao Yu Yan sought.
Stepping inside, Yu Yan was surprised; the place was nothing like he'd imagined. Spotless streets, shops in perfect rows—clearly laid out by design.
Shop by shop he searched until, halfway down the market, he found a store devoted entirely to whale-type Spirit Beasts.
Whale-type Spirit Beasts supplied more than Whale Jiao: whale oil, ambergris, cosmetics—an entire catalogue of goods.
"Why don't you browse the pearl shop across the street?"
Still uneasy after their earlier encounter, Yu Yan pointed to the neighbouring store, hoping Xiao Wu wouldn't insist on following him inside.
"But I kind of want to stay with you."
Xiao Wu leaned closer, clearly intent on entering the Whale Jiao shop at his side.
"Stop teasing. Take these gold coins and go look around. Keep this up and I really will get mad."
He pulled a pouch of gold coins from his robe, pressed them into Xiao Wu's hand, and firmly ushered her into the pearl shop opposite.
Reading the irritation on his face, Xiao Wu knew when to quit. She waved, turned, and disappeared into the pearl store.
With Xiao Wu gone, Yu Yan composed himself and stepped inside the whale-product shop.
In a corner display he spotted the Whale Jiao: a deep-yellow, stone-like mass. Thanks to his earlier research he could tell it was roughly five-thousand-year grade.
"Shopkeeper, what do you ask for your Whale Jiao?"
Certain they had decent stock, Yu Yan walked straight to the counter and asked the price.
The moustached proprietor behind the counter sized him up, then smiled. "Which age does the customer need?"
"Tell me about every grade; I'll compare and decide."
Yu Yan avoided a direct answer, instead requesting prices for every year-level.
Three stores on the street sold whale Materials; his words warned the keeper: if the price wasn't right he'd walk.
In this era Whale Jiao was seen merely as an aphrodisiac—nothing more. Better stimulants existed, and no Spirit Master would hunt whales solely for it.
It was only a trinket scooped up after killing whale-type Spirit Beasts; no one risked their life for it.
Thus Whale Jiao was cheap.
"Hundred-year Whale Jiao: ten to fifty gold coins, depending on exact age."
"Thousand-year Whale Jiao: one hundred to one thousand gold coins."
"Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Jiao starts at one thousand, final price depends on the piece."
The shopkeeper studied Yu Yan a moment, then slowly listed the prices.
Elsewhere the fee might double, but Vast Sea City sat on the coast; Whale Jiao was plentiful.
"Fair rates," Yu Yan nodded. "Why no fixed range for the ten-thousand-year piece?"
If possible, he wanted the stronger Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Jiao—once he'd confirmed its true effect.
"Anything from a Ten Thousand Year Spirit Beast is rare. A whale of that age is hard to kill, so we auction it. Opening bid is one thousand, highest offer wins."
"Sometimes it closes at two thousand, sometimes ten. That's what I meant by 'depends'."
Understanding, Yu Yan agreed; auctioning a product from a Ten Thousand Year Spirit Beast made sense.
Satisfied the customer understood, the keeper pressed, "So, what age do you want? We stock everything below ten thousand."
"Three thousand-year pieces for now. If my employer is pleased, I'll be back."
The shopkeeper's oily smile made Yu Yan uneasy; he blamed a non-existent boss for the purchase.
Once the excuse was given, the keeper's grin relaxed into something more genuine.
He asked no further questions—prying was bad business—took Yu Yan's bearer deposit book, confirmed three thousand coins, and led him to the storeroom. Three fist-sized, deep-yellow slabs were placed in Yu Yan's hands.
Checking colour and size, Yu Yan saw he hadn't been cheated. He packed the three pieces into his rucksack and left without expression.
Outside the shop he found Xiao Wu waiting a few doors down.
"All done?"
She skipped over and fell in beside him, chatting as though nothing had happened.
"Mm. Three thousand-year Whale Jiao. Now let's test whether the Opportunity I saw is real."
He muttered the last words, cheeks warming; the last thing he wanted was to be misunderstood.
"Whale Jiao has another use? Are you sure you weren't tricked? People would have noticed by now."
Xiao Wu remained sceptical; if Whale Jiao really worked, surely someone would already know.
"No harm trying. Failure costs nothing, success gains everything."
Yu Yan couldn't explain how he knew the real method, but the source was reliable—written in that hated person's own hand.
"True, we won't lose much."
Glancing at her empty hands he asked, "You didn't buy anything from the pearl shop?"
"No. I don't see the point of pearls," Xiao Wu shrugged; they held no charm for her.