Slaughterhouse

Chen Changqing left his sister's house and went to the slaughterhouse in Dayang County.

Previously, the souls of the Misty Shadow Cat, as well as the souls of Zhao Erbao and Chen Changming, refined a considerable amount of soul essence.

However, he and Xiao Hei were extremely exhausted.

If it weren't for going to Wang's butcher shop every day to absorb the souls of some livestock.

The essence of the soul has long been used up.

Even so, there is now only a tiny bit of the original soul essence left at the bottom of the Soul Devouring Creation Black Lotus.

It can only last for one more day at most before it burns out.

Near Dayang County, there is a slaughterhouse owned by Zhao Qinglin's brother-in-law, a member of the Zhao clan.

The slaughterhouse is located two kilometers outside the west gate of Dayang County, on a piece of wasteland near the outskirts of the city.

From a distance, thick smoke billowed from the slaughterhouse chimneys, and the air was filled with a strong smell of blood and decay.

As you get closer, you can see that the slaughterhouse is surrounded by a tall wooden fence, with the skulls of wild animals hanging on it, making it look sinister and terrifying.

As soon as he arrived at the entrance of the slaughterhouse, Chen Changqing sensed the phantom souls of seven or eight livestock entering the Soul-Devouring Creation Black Lotus.

The Soul-Devouring Black Lotus burned fiercely, refining it into pure soul essence.

It's enough for him and Xiao Hei for three or four days.

"You came to the right place." Chen Changqing's eyes brightened slightly.

Pushing open the gates of the slaughterhouse, a scene of utter chaos greeted the eye.

The ground was littered with the carcasses of various livestock, with the bodies of cattle and sheep carelessly tossed aside.

Some had already been skinned, revealing bloody muscles; others still retained their complete shape.

In the corner lay the carcasses of some wild animals: tree marten, grey lark, wild boar, deer, and even a few wolves.

Their fur was covered in blood, indicating that they had been hunted and brought here directly.

Slaughterhouse workers busily moved among the carcasses, wielding sharp knives and skillfully cutting the animals' bodies into pieces.

Their clothes were stained with blood, and their faces were expressionless, as if they had become accustomed to this bloody work.

The air was thick with the nauseating stench of blood.

Chen Changqing frowned, suppressing his discomfort, and led the little black tiger deeper into the slaughterhouse.

But the little black tiger seemed to really like the environment, its eyes shining.

One of the men saw Chen Changqing and Little Black Tiger and loudly asked, "What are you doing here?"

Chen Changqing clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute: "I've come to discuss a business deal with your boss. Where is your boss? Can you take me there?"

The waiter sized up Chen Changqing a few times, then led him to the boss.

The slaughterhouse owner was a fat, middle-aged man wearing a greasy, coarse cloth robe.

He was sitting behind a dilapidated wooden table, holding an abacus and dialing.

The fat boss was radiating spiritual energy fluctuations reminiscent of the second level of Qi Refining.

Beside the boss was a wolfhound with the aura of a fourth-level demon.

Chen Changqing stepped forward and said politely, "Boss Xiong, I'd like to discuss a business deal with you."

The boss looked up, squinted at Chen Changqing, and then glanced at the little black tiger beside him, slightly surprised.

The black tiger was wearing a very heavy weighted vest, yet it looked like it was struggling so much, panting heavily.

He put down his abacus, smiled, and said, "Young man, who are you? What's your name?"

Before doing business, you should find out the other party's background and identity.

Chen Changqing said, "My name is Chen Changqing, and I am the brother-in-law of Zhao Jingming of the Zhao Clan."

The boss, Xiong Qidong, is the brother-in-law of Zhao Qinglin, a member of the Zhao Clan. He is also the brother-in-law of the clan leader's third son, and they are all relatives of the Zhao Clan.

Upon hearing this, the boss, Xiong Qidong, looked Chen Changqing up and down. He had never met Chen Changqing before, but he was already very familiar with Chen Changqing's reputation as a scoundrel.

Xiong Qidong put down his abacus and asked with a smile, "Master Chen, what business do you want to discuss with me?"

Chen Changqing said directly, "I'd like my spirit beast to help you slaughter these livestock. What do you think?"

Xiong Qidong was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter: "Master Chen, are you kidding me? My slaughterhouse has its own workers, I don't need your spirit beast."

Xiong Qidong didn't know what this infamous guy was up to, but he figured it was probably nothing good, so he politely declined.

Moreover, his wolfhounds often help with slaughtering livestock.

One claw at a time, there's absolutely no need to hire any other spirit beasts.

Chen Changqing calmly said, "Boss Xiong, don't be so quick to refuse. I don't want any payment."

No payment required.

Upon hearing this, a hint of doubt flashed in Xiong Qidong's eyes: "Then what do you want? You can't expect the slaughterhouse to take care of your black tiger meat, can you?"

Black Tiger has a big appetite; he can eat more than ten catties of meat and dozens of copper coins a day.

Slaughterhouse workers earn only six copper coins a day.

It would be a huge loss to take the little black tiger's meat.

Chen Changqing nodded: "Don't worry about anything. My spirit beast is too timid. I just want it to kill some livestock to toughen it up and improve its killing instinct."

Upon hearing this, Xiong Qidong looked at Chen Changqing with suspicion: "Who told you that hunting livestock can temper the little black tiger's ferocity and killing instinct?"

His wolfhounds often help kill livestock; their bloodthirstiness and ferocity are just so-so, aren't they?

Chen Changqing spoke nonsense with a straight face: "My master, Zhao Qingyao, said so."

Within the Zhao Immortal Clan, Zhao Qingyao's name was even more effective than that of his brother-in-law, Zhao Jingming.

Revealing one's identity appropriately can be beneficial.

Upon hearing this, Xiong Qidong immediately stood up and asked with a smile, "Master Chen, are you currently learning talisman drawing under Pavilion Master Zhao?"

Xiong Qidong's attitude was noticeably more moderate than before.

"Hmm." Chen Changqing nodded: "I haven't been drawing talismans for long, I just learned how to draw the fireball talisman."

Upon hearing this, Xiong Qidong's face showed a hint of surprise.

Being able to draw a fireball talisman means you've entered the path of a talisman master and can be considered a first-grade talisman master.

It should be noted that the entire Zhao Immortal Clan only has four talisman masters.

They are all incredibly wealthy.

Xiong Qidong's enthusiasm surged, and he said with a smile, "Come, come, Master Chen, sit down, sit down."

Chen Changqing took out two fireball talismans and placed them on the table in front of Xiong Qidong, saying with a smile, "It's just a small token of my appreciation, I hope Boss Xiong won't find it offensive."

After saying that, Chen Changqing sat down on the stool.

Xiong Qidong examined the fireball talisman carefully and found that it had indeed been drawn recently.

He happily put it away.

Chen Changqing looked at Xiong Qidong: "Boss Xiong, I'll have Xiao Hei kill those livestock, but I won't rot their bodies."

"Okay, okay." Xiong Qidong nodded repeatedly and agreed immediately: "From now on, you can let your little black tiger have you."

However, since the little black tiger hunts livestock, we can't let this spirit beast work for nothing. The slaughterhouse will cover the meat it eats each day.

The little black tiger can eat more than ten kilograms of meat a day, which is worth dozens of copper coins.

However, if you can befriend a talisman master, this investment is well worth it.

Xiong Qidong's attitude was completely different from before.

Chen Changqing clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Then I'm very grateful to Boss Xiong."