The Supre Ox's gaze felt unsettling to Yuan. It carried a mixture of craving and shock, leaving Yuan puzzled about the reason behind such an intense stare. However, he decided to ignore it for now and answered the Supre Ox's question.
"I am looking for a thod to leave this world, and I was told you might know the thod."
"Huh?" The Supre Ox's eyebrows raised in a puzzled manner.
"Putting your request aside, who told you that I would know such a thing?"
Knowing that Yingzi and the Supre Ox weren't on good terms, Yuan refrained from ntioning her before him.
"So Predator I t by chance. I never got to learn his identity, unfortunately."
Supre Ox shook his head and said, "I don't have the slightest clue to what you're talking about. However, I may know soone who might."
"..."
Yuan was left speechless. After spending half a year traveling to this location, he discovered that the Supre Ox knew nothing significant, and now, the Supre Ox was echoing the sa information Yingzi had given him.
'Am I being scamd here?' he couldn't help but wonder inwardly.
"Who might this individual be?" Yuan eventually asked.
"Slow down, young dragon. You may carry the bloodline of dragons, but that doesn't an you can make free requests in my territory. I will provide you with the information you seek if you're willing to do a favor."
"What is this favor?"
"It's quite simple. Allow to buy—no, let borrow your appearance for ten thousand years."
"Huh?" Yuan was bewildered by such an odd favor. "Since you're a dragon, I'm sure you have no lack of beautiful appearances like the one you're currently wearing, so lend it to for a bit. Don't be stingy; it's only ten thousand years."
Yuan's eyes widened at the Supre Ox's weird wording.
'No lack of appearances? Like the one I'm wearing? What nonsense is this?' "Why do you want my appearance?" Yuan decided to ask.
"Are you seriously asking that? Look at ! I'm heinous compared to you!"
"…" Yuan was speechless.
At this mont, Yingzi's voice resounded inside his head, 'In the Primal Expanse, due to a lack of humans and our understanding of them, Primals like trading appearances.'
'How does that even work? Are you asking to take off my skin like we do with clothes? We can't do that.'
'It's not like that. If you agree to let the Supre Ox borrow your appearance, he will simply copy your appearance and use it for himself. Also, you won't be allowed to use your appearance for ten thousand years if you agree.'
'Why would they choose to borrow appearances? Can't they simply craft their own, tailored to their liking?' He struggled to grasp the rationale behind adopting another's visage when the possibility of creating a unique one existed.
'That's easier said than done. With a lack of humans, there are only so many authentic appearances to go around. Also, it is an unspoken rule to never copy another's appearance without permission, even if you change so of the features.'
Once Yuan thought about it, Yingzi was right. Even humans would have difficulties if told to create a human appearance without any reference since it cannot resemble another's appearance too much, much less the beasts within Primal Expanse, where humans don't exist.
'How valuable are appearances in this world?' Yuan continued asking.
'It greatly varies depending on the available features. Of course, the good-looking ones will be worth more. I have never seen anyone with your quality of appearance, so it should be worth a fortune.' Yingzi said.
'Thanks for the information.'
"What's wrong, young dragon? Why aren't you saying anything?" Supre Ox asked with a nervous smile on his face.
Seeing this, Yuan smiled coldly and said, "You want to borrow my appearance in exchange for so information that may not even be reliable? Are you looking down on , Supre Ox?"
The Supre Ox sucked his teeth after hearing Yuan's words. He was clearly trying to take advantage of Yuan due to his seemingly young age and low cultivation base.
"Fine! I won't ask to borrow it, but allow to use your appearance as a reference, at the very least!"
"You're still asking for too much." Yuan shook his head.
Supre Ox frowned and muttered in a cold voice, "Don't try to push your luck too far, young dragon. The other Predators may be afraid of the dragon bloodline, but we don't fear you."
The atmosphere suddenly stiffened, and Yuan could sense many powerful entities in the vicinity announcing their presence, almost as if they were threatening him.
Yuan remained calm and said, "Are you sure you want to threaten ? You might have to spend the rest of your life in that appearance."
Before the Supre Ox could speak, Yuan continued, "I was going to say that while my appearance isn't for sale or rent, I have plenty of high-quality appearances available, but if you don't want them, that's fine."
As soone with countless encounters with humans, he had an unlimited supply of human appearances to bargain with in this Primal Expanse. "W-wait!" Supre Ox quickly said.
He raised his hand and made a gesture. In the following mont, all of the surrounding presences disappeared.
"I apologize for my subordinates' unruly behavior. They are too easily agitated. Anyway, what other appearances do you have? May I see them?"
Yuan retrieved an appearance-altering pill and swallowed it, transforming himself into a middle-aged man with sowhat handso features.
Supre Ox's face brightened with excitent the mont he saw Yuan's disguise, even standing up from his seat.
"That one! I want that one!" he hastily said.
"Ten thousand—no, seven thousand years! I'll give you the information if you will lend it to for seven thousand years!"
Yuan calmly nodded, "Deal."
The Supre Ox didn't waste any ti and imdiately copied every little detail of Yuan's new appearance, taking it for himself.
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