This was ng Changtu’s birthday banquet. Even if Han Xiyue had all the courage in the world, she wouldn’t dare cause a scene here. Doing so would offend not only the Han Family, but all the other guests as well.
Of course, aside from the two-faced Han Xiyue, other Cultivators also ca forward to offer toasts.
"Alchemist Chen, do you know how to refine Foundation Establishnt Pills?"
He had just seen one guest off when another ca to ask a question. The newcor had a full head of silver hair and was handso, though with a sowhat effeminate air.
It was Bian Feiyun’s father: Bian Jian!
When Chen Che had previously refused to join their little group, Bian Feiyun had secretly mocked him for not knowing what was good for him. But now, seeing his own father wearing such a fawning expression, a bitter taste filled his mouth.
"I don’t."
Chen Che shook his head.
"Is that so?"
Though the man was still smiling, his eyes clearly betrayed his disappointnt.
"Alchemist Chen, you’re incredibly talented. I’m sure it won’t take you long to learn."
After a few more pleasantries, he promptly left.
"Father, he can’t even refine a Foundation Establishnt Pill. How can he be considered a genius Pill Master?"
Bian Feiyun’s tone was dripping with envy.
"Indeed!"
Bian Jian nodded slightly.
"Idiots!"
From a distance, ng Changtu’s gaze swept over them, and he secretly shook his head.
The materials for the Foundation Establishnt Pill were scarce, and Pill Masters who could refine them were indeed exceedingly rare. But it was, after all, only a Tier Two Middle-grade Elixir. Why was it so precious? Why did its price, at its peak, rival that of so Tier Three items?
The real reason was the Primordial Sect’s monopoly.
Not only did it allow them to rake in vast quantities of Spirit Stones, but it also let them control the number of Foundation Establishnt Cultivators that appeared in the territories under their control.
The Primordial Sect could tolerate one or two pills leaking out occasionally.
But if soone actually dared to openly refine Foundation Establishnt Pills for others without limit, they would vanish from the face of the earth in less than three days.
Moreover, he had seen the bottle of Leopard Embryo Elixirs that Chen Che had sent over. The pills were perfectly round and their dicinal effects potent, no less than what a top-tier Tier Two Alchemist could produce.
How could he possibly not know how to refine a Foundation Establishnt Pill?
Thinking of this, ng Changtu’s gaze toward Chen Che grew even more satisfied.
...
’Foundation Establishnt Pill?’
He had, of course, overheard the father and son’s conversation. Toying with his wine cup, Chen Che simply smiled without a word.
This world was utterly without order.
He naturally understood that so things could be done, and so things could not.
No major power would permit a large number of Realm-breaking Elixirs to appear within their domain.
Besides, the Bian Family was one of the powers that coveted Jinyun Valley. If he actually refined the pill for them, wouldn’t that be directly aiding an enemy?
Even if he did refine Foundation Establishnt Pills in the future, he would only do so for the people closest to him first.
"Hm?"
As these thoughts ran through his mind, Chen Che suddenly noticed sothing—an old acquaintance.
Sun Hao, a mber of the small group.
Though just a Loose Cultivator, he now possessed an Eighth Layer Cultivation. Chen Che had seen him in the Market before and knew him as soone who seized every opportunity.
Half a month ago, Sun Hao had killed a well-known Tribulation Cultivator outside the Market, earning himself a bit of a reputation.
For ng Changtu’s centennial birthday, any Cultivator was welco to take a seat and have a celebratory drink.
He hadn’t expected Sun Hao to co today as well.
Due to his status, he could only sit at the lowest-ranking table.
But that was normal. One’s seat was determined by one’s station.
"Others get to sit at the head table, while you are relegated to the very last seat."
At that mont, Sun Hao also spotted Chen Che. As a complex look filled his eyes, a voice echoed in his mind:
"Focus on your Cultivation. One day, these people will only be able to gaze up at you from behind. Every word you speak will be like a holy decree in their ears! When you look back then, the humiliation of sitting in the last seat today will an nothing at all!"
"...Yes!"
Sun Hao responded, drained his cup, and turned to leave the banquet.
Watching him leave, Chen Che toyed with his cup, lost in thought.
He could sense it. The man seed drastically different from just a few months ago.
...
...
Outside, the night was as cool as water.
With that, the three-day birthday banquet had concluded, but the ng Family estate was still brilliantly lit.
Just as he returned to his guest room, there was a knock at the door.
"Elder ng... Uncle ng!"
Opening the door, he saw that it was ng Changtu, and the corner of Chen Che’s mouth twitched.
"Put this on and follow !"
ng Changtu tossed him a mask and turned to leave.
"Hm?"
Chen Che saw that it was a mask resembling a red-faced Evil Ghost. It was carved with a Restriction Array, making it difficult for Divine Sense to penetrate.
After fastening it, he saw that ng Changtu had also donned a black-and-white mask, concealing his true features.
"What’s this?"
"We’re going to an exchange et."
Seeing the confusion on Chen Che’s face, ng Changtu slowly began to explain:
"So High Tier items rarely flow into the market; most are held in private hands. Rather than selling them, these Cultivators prefer to trade their items for things they need."
"Cultivation Techniques, Weapons, Demon Beasts, Pills... you can find everything! Today, I’m taking you to see for yourself!"
A flicker of understanding dawned on Chen Che.
After putting on their masks, the two of them followed a small path out of the ng Family estate.
Along the way, ng Changtu continuously listed precautions, and Chen Che listened intently. He wasn’t arrogant enough to let the words go in one ear and out the other; after all, the experience of these elders was paid for in blood.
Even if the advice wasn’t imdiately useful, it was good to be more vigilant.
If he were to be tripped up by so unforeseen pitfall in the future, it would be too late for regrets.
"This et was originally organized by a veteran Foundation Establishnt Cultivator who hoped to trade for a Life-extending Elixir, but he was never successful. He eventually died of old age, but the et was passed down. It’s held once a year, and his descendants are in charge of it now."
Soon, the two arrived at a secluded courtyard seventy li outside of Fuyun Mountain.
It looked like an ordinary courtyard from the Mortal World.
But upon entering, they discovered a whole new world inside. With its rockeries, waterside pavilions, and andering streams, it was like a classical garden from Suzhou. The main hall was especially vast, flanked by raised platforms filled with pumpons, upon which other Cultivators were already seated.
Chen Che swept his gaze across the hall and saw that the vast majority of them, like himself and ng Changtu, were using masks, cloaks, or strange Magical Artifacts to hide their true appearances.
A few were even shrouded in smoke or mist, making them appear exceptionally mysterious.
’The scale of this isn’t small at all!’
Chen Che grumbled inwardly.
There were fewer than a hundred people, but the vast majority were Foundation Establishnt Major Cultivators.
The mont the two of them stepped into the hall, all eyes turned toward them, but only for a brief scan before turning away.
"Co!"
ng Changtu walked straight ahead, picked an empty spot, and sat down. Chen Che followed suit, sitting beside him.
Ti passed, and more and more Cultivators arrived.
Perhaps because no one knew each other, most of the Cultivators remained silent. A glance around revealed a strange scene: the night was dark and without lamps, and everyone sat cross-legged on the high platforms. Fruit had been placed before each pumpon, but no one reached for it, making the atmosphere rather eerie.
"Tsk..."
Chen Che clicked his tongue inwardly. He felt exactly like a Divine Statue being worshipped in a temple.
Then again, in the eyes of mortals, what was the difference between a Cultivator and a god?
This atmosphere persisted until the first ray of sunlight leaped over the threshold and into the main hall.
SWISH!
SWISH!
SWISH!
Almost simultaneously, all the Cultivators sitting on their pumpons opened their eyes.
’It’s about to start!’
Chen Che’s heart stirred.
At that mont, the first Cultivator on the left, who was shrouded in a swirling mist, slowly raised their head.
"Fellow Daoists, this is a Four-sided Shield, a Tier Two High Grade defensive Magical Artifact."
The voice was as clear and pleasant as a songbird’s.
She waved a hand, and the shield landed on the ground, instantly growing to a height of seventy or eighty feet. With a clench of her fist, the shield imdiately shrank to the size of a button, seemingly able to change size at will.
Then, with a flick of her fingers, several blasts of force slamd into the shield’s surface, but they were like eggs smashing against a rock.
’That’s a nice shield!’
Chen Che nodded to himself. A sideways glance revealed that three other Cultivators on the platform were moved by the offer. One of them, wearing an Impermanence Mask, slowly spoke up, "Fellow Daoist, what do you wish to trade for it?"
"A Foundation Establishnt Pill!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the Cultivator in the Impermanence Mask imdiately closed their eyes.
The other two interested Cultivators also half-closed their eyes.
’Even for an over-the-top trade, no one is willing?’
Chen Che glanced at ng Changtu, who had also clearly been interested when the Four-sided Shield appeared. But the mont she asked for a Foundation Establishnt Pill, he didn’t give it a second look.
In that mont, Chen Che gained a profound understanding of the value of a Foundation Establishnt Pill.
Seeing no takers, the Female Cultivator retrieved the Four-sided Shield and took out a circular Magical Artifact. It was shaped like a ring, and a gentle breeze swirled around it.
"This is the Clear Wind Wheel, a Tier Two Middle Grade Magical Artifact. Its edge is like a swinging blade!"
As she spoke, she twirled a finger. The Sword Wheel spun, gathering the breeze into a whirlwind. The wind was sharp as a blade, slicing the very air into fine, catkin-like threads.
"I want to trade it for a piece of Inner Armor of the sa Grade!"
"Tier Two Low Grade?"
Seeing that there was still no response even after she offered to lower the Grade requirent, the Female Cultivator retrieved the Clear Wind Wheel and left the hall directly.
Watching her leave, Chen Che raised an eyebrow slightly.
’Trying to trade an unpopular type of Magical Artifact for a popular type of Weapon... she must take us all for fools!’
But cases like the Female Cultivator, where two consecutive items received no interest, were extrely rare.
During the et, another Cultivator wearing a Vajra Mask brought out a Tier Two Low Grade Profound Turtle Egg, wanting to trade it for a Body Refining Elixir. In the end, ng Changtu acquired it with a Leopard Embryo Elixir.
Seeing Chen Che staring at him, ng Changtu’s eyes were full of amusent.
...
The efficiency of this exchange was rather slow, even with many people skipping their turn.
A full four or five hours passed, and they were only halfway through.
However, the Cultivators present were at least at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, with many being Foundation Establishnt Major Cultivators, so no one felt tired. Chen Che had his horizons broadened considerably. He also noticed that most of the items being offered were Tier Two Low Grade.
Besides the items from the first Female Cultivator, only four Middle Grade or High Grade items had appeared in total.
Clearly, the higher the Grade, the rarer the item.
Of course, so trades failed, but the parties involved agreed to et here again next year.
"I have a Tier Two Middle Grade Spirit Ring Fruit. Its greatest effect is helping a Demon Beast purify its bloodline, giving it a thirty percent chance of breaking through to the Foundation Establishnt Realm!"
At this, a Cultivator shrouded in black mist raised a hand, and a white, ring-shaped fruit appeared in their palm.
The mont the fruit appeared, several Cultivators, including ng Changtu, all looked over.
Even Chen Che looked over with great interest.
However, the Cultivator’s next words made his eyes narrow, a cold light glinting within them.
"I want to trade it for Chen Che’s ’Jingfeng’!"
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