The maid took out a spirit stone and handed it to the young man:
"The fellow Daoist just now reached a supply agreent with us, and this is your reward."
The young man’s eyes imdiately brightened. He quickly accepted the spirit stone, looked around furtively, and then slipped it into a hidden pocket sewn inside his clothes.
He patted it twice vigorously and felt the hard sensation, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
He had thought that after finally getting a business deal, there wouldn’t be much benefit to gain, but who knew there’d be such a twist of fate.
Ji An exited the Treasure Talisman Pavilion and then visited several small shops specializing in talismans, finally finding potential buyers for the talismans he would craft in the future.
It was already afternoon by then. The two of them casually found a small eatery, ate so ordinary food and drink, and then set off again to purchase pills.
"Senior, may I ask what kind of pills and herbs you need to purchase? I can recomnd a more suitable shop for you."
The young man asked, seeing the sun setting, knowing he needed to expedite the transaction.
"Buy so Jade Mushroom Pills and so common late-stage Qi Refining beast-taming dicines."
"Senior, Zhen Dan Workshop of Luofeng Valley is well-known for the quality of its pills. If you’re not too concerned about quality..."
"Let’s go to Zhen Dan Workshop."
Ji An responded casually. His ability to discern the quality of pills wasn’t strong, and going elsewhere could lead to buying inferior goods, which wouldn’t be worth the savings.
"This way, Senior," the young man’s eyes sparkled. He loved hearing custors with such financial confidence.
Leading the way, the young man continued:
"Senior, if the herbs you require aren’t rare treasures, why not visit Li’s dicine Shop?
That’s a business of the Li Clan of White Ape Mountain, which started with planting. Their herb quality is trustworthy, and the prices are fair.
It’s on our way to Zhen Dan Workshop, so it won’t delay Senior’s ti."
White Ape Mountain Li Clan?
Ji An rembered the token he had received years ago that he hadn’t used, and his heart was moved. He said:
"Then let’s visit Li’s dicine Shop."
"Alright."
The young man showed even more enthusiasm, having a distant familial tie with the shopkeeper of the dicine shop. After the transaction, he’d receive a few extra spirit crystals.
The two turned off the main street into a small alley, entering the first shop.
"What can I get for you?" The honest-looking middle-aged shopkeeper stood up with a welcoming smile.
Ji An glanced around. The shop was small, only one shopkeeper and one clerk, and the place was filled with the scent of herbs.
He smiled faintly, taking out a prescription and handing it over:
"How many crystal stones for these herbs?"
The shopkeeper took a look. His years of experience told him these were ingredients for beast-taming pills, but the herbs were common, likely not an advanced recipe.
Prescriptions like these, a slight change in quantity could alter the effectiveness, and many required a prir. Trying to recreate a formula from a prescription was a fool’s errand.
Moreover, many custors would split their purchases among several shops as a precaution. He never coveted custors’ prescriptions.
The shopkeeper took his counting rods, perford so calculations, and said:
"Friend, the herbs you need aren’t expensive, but the quantity is large. Altogether, it requires 21 spirit stones."
Ji An nodded slightly. He was purchasing a year’s supply, and these were ordinary spirit dicines, so the price was fair.
Taking out the jade token given by Li Changfeng from his storage bag, he smiled:
"I’m acquainted with Li Changfeng of your noble clan."
The shopkeeper was mildly surprised. After verifying the jade token, he smiled and said:
"With the token, you can enjoy a discount. This transaction is priced at 20 spirit stones."
Ji An handed over the spirit stones and left after so small talk with the shopkeeper.
The young man, seeing the shopkeeper gesture with one finger, was beaming with joy.
Afterward, the two went to Zhen Dan Workshop, where Ji An requested 100 pills, spending 195 spirit stones.
This drew gasps from the maid selling pills and the young broker, as such wealth was beyond what an ordinary disciple could possess.
The young man calculated his potential commission, with saliva involuntarily dripping from his mouth.
...
Ningcui Cliff.
After completing her intensive alchemy work and resting for a day, Ge Ying gathered her disciples to assess their studies.
She cultivated the Evergreen Wood Skill that could enhance lifespan, now two hundred and ten years old, exceeding the average lifespan of soone at her Foundation Establishnt Stage by ten years, feeling she had few days left, at most three to four decades.
Now she was only at the eighth layer of Foundation Establishnt, with no hope of reaching Chao Origin.
Born as a loose cultivator, by chance she beca a disciple and was ticulously nurtured, achieving what she had today.
Grateful for the sect and teacher’s kindness, she always thought of nurturing so excellent disciples for the sect before her deadline arrived.
After assessing them, her face showed a slight smile:
"Not bad, you’ve all been diligent lately, making progress, which comforts my heart."
Ge Ying fell silent for a few seconds and lightly sighed:
"The sect has changed a lot in recent years, and there are things you should be aware of. I’ll tell you, listen carefully without further spreading.
According to the investigations of the sect’s ancestors, there’s unusual movent in the Demon Race within the Ten Thousand Mountains, predicting a Demon Calamity will break out within decades."
It’s been about three thousand years since the last large-scale demon calamity, and based on historical patterns, the ti is nearly upon us.
The disciples gasped softly. Even if they hadn’t personally experienced a demon calamity, they had heard from their elders about its horrors, a disaster for cultivators.
After the disciples absorbed the shocking news, Ge Ying spoke again:
"One hundred and twenty years ago, the Golden Core Ancestor from Luofeng Valley entered deep into the Ten Thousand Mountains for herbal collection and noticed unusual changes in the Demon Race, reporting it to us and Yuanhe Mountain.
Elders from various sects jointly explored again, and since then, the Three Sects have been preparing for war, releasing countless ridian Opening Pills.
The spiritual fields of each sect began expanding the cultivation of the primary materials for Foundation Establishnt Pills, and now it’s the harvest season."
"In a few decades, the Foundation Establishnt cultivators within the Three Sects’ jurisdiction will be several tis more than those from three thousand years ago when various sects migrated to the Western Continent.
Back then, none of the migrated sects had a Golden Core Ancestor, whereas now the Three Sects have seven Golden Core Ancestors in total."
"After the demon calamity breaks out, major sects from Central Continent will send experts to assist us, based on the agreents made when many sects relocated here."
Ge Ying laid out these ordinary secrets and earnestly said:
"The demon calamity is a disaster, but also an opportunity.
I don’t know if I’ll live to see the demon calamity, but I hope you can safely endure it."
She turned her head toward a few disciples seated at the end:
"Du Huaiyuan, Mu Qingwan, Li Lingyu, you have all been in Qi Refining Perfection for several years. Are you confident?"
"Master, my Foundation Establishnt Pill is ready, all is prepared, and I will reach Foundation Establishnt in the coming days," Du Huaiyuan confidently stated.
"Master, like Senior Brother, I plan to reach Foundation Establishnt in a few days," Mu Qingwan replied.
Li Lingyu, sowhat shy, whispered:
"Master, I still need to refine for another year or two, but I was late in exchanging for the Foundation Establishnt Pill, so I must wait for the sect’s next alchemy cycle."
She had no family to rely on, having to depend on herself and her father’s support. The costs of increasing her cultivation and divine sense were significant. She had to borrow spirit stones from several senior brothers and sisters to gather enough contribution points.
Ge Ying nodded slightly:
"Foundation Establishnt is rely the first major hurdle on the Immortal Path. All of you have top-grade talents, so I’m not worried.
Once you succeed in Foundation Establishnt, you will officially beco my disciples and automatically beco inner disciples of the sect.
While I’m still capable, I will do my best to help you."
She paused, then added:
"Cultivation is battling against the heavens for longevity. I have several mature principal herbs for Foundation Establishnt Pills in my dicinal garden. Once your Qi chanism is perfectly aligned, I will open the furnace to make pills.
Lingyu, I will lend you one of the Foundation Establishnt Pills, and you can return it to once you receive the sect’s pills."
Li Lingyu had been managing the dicinal garden for years, taking up considerable ti.
She had always been diligent and never made mistakes, and Ge Ying was very pleased with her serious attitude as a disciple.
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