The Supreme 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 Supreme Ox's question.

"I am looking for a method to leave this world, and I was told you might know the method."

"Huh?" The Supreme 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 Supreme Ox weren't on good terms, Yuan refrained from mentioning her before him.

"Some Predator I met by chance. I never got to learn his identity, unfortunately."

Supreme Ox shook his head and said, "I don't have the slightest clue to what you're talking about. However, I may know someone who might."

"..."

Yuan was left speechless. After spending half a year traveling to this location, he discovered that the Supreme Ox knew nothing significant, and now, the Supreme Ox was echoing the same information Yingzi had given him.

'Am I being scammed 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 mean you can make free requests in my territory. I will provide you with the information you seek if you're willing to do me a favor."

"What is this favor?"

"It's quite simple. Allow me to buy—no, let me 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 me for a bit. Don't be stingy; it's only ten thousand years."

Yuan's eyes widened at the Supreme 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 me that? Look at me! I'm heinous compared to you!"

"…" Yuan was speechless.

At this moment, 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 me 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 Supreme 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 some 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?" Supreme 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 some information that may not even be reliable? Are you looking down on me, Supreme Ox?"

The Supreme 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 me to use your appearance as a reference, at the very least!"

"You're still asking for too much." Yuan shook his head.

Supreme 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 me? You might have to spend the rest of your life in that appearance."

Before the Supreme 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 someone with countless encounters with humans, he had an unlimited supply of human appearances to bargain with in this Primal Expanse. "W-wait!" Supreme Ox quickly said.

He raised his hand and made a gesture. In the following moment, 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 somewhat handsome features.

Supreme Ox's face brightened with excitement the moment 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 me for seven thousand years!"

Yuan calmly nodded, "Deal."

The Supreme Ox didn't waste any time and immediately copied every little detail of Yuan's new appearance, taking it for himself.