Chapter 104 - 103: Answering the Call, A Hot Commodity

Chapter 104: Chapter 103: Answering the Call, A Hot Commodity

"Heh..."

Dong Xing got up and patted his rear. He chuckled and said, "Well, I’m heading back too."

With that, he turned and walked toward the door.

"Wait."

Li Changsheng called out to him, stood up, and walked over. With a flip of his hand, he produced the porcelain bottle containing the Spirit Fusion Pills and offered it to Dong Xing.

"I told you, this is a congratulatory gift for you."

Dong Xing waved his hand and pointed into the courtyard. "You go hold back Xiaohua and the others. These old bones of mine can’t take a charge from them!"

Seeing this, Li Changsheng had no choice but to put away the pill bottle and walk into the courtyard with Dong Xing.

"Make sure you hold them back!"

Dong Xing glanced at Li Changsheng, who was standing beside Xiaohua, and warned him, still a little worried.

"Don’t dawdle. I have to go to the Marketplace in a bit."

"Alright."

After agreeing, Dong Xing, with comical haste, pounced on the cubs lying on the ground and snatched two of them up by the scruffs of their necks.

YELP... The cubs were stunned for a moment, then let out piercing shrieks.

SNORT SNORT...

Xiaohua and Big Flower both grew agitated, but under Li Changsheng’s calming influence, they ultimately refrained from charging Dong Xing.

"I’m heading back first, Junior Brother! I’ll make up the Spirit Stones for the cubs next time..."

Tucking one cub under each arm, Dong Xing called out a farewell to Li Changsheng and scurried out of the small courtyard as if afraid he would change his mind.

"That guy!"

Li Changsheng shook his head, his gaze turning to the single, somewhat frightened cub. "Well, now there’s only one left."

He then herded Big Flower and Little Xiaohua into the beast pen.

Li Changsheng thought for a moment, then put seven snow goat kids that were almost ready for sale, along with five Red Fox cubs, into his Spirit Beast Bag.

In a few days, he would be heading to the Ring Mountain Spiritual Land. Having too many Spirit Beasts would be inconvenient, so he planned to sell these market-ready cubs ahead of time.

He didn’t stop there.

Li Changsheng then went to the kitchen and put the 2,500 pounds of Yellow Seed Spirit Rice he had harvested in the first half of the year into his storage bag.

After doing all this, Li Changsheng sat on Xiaohua’s back and leisurely headed toward the mountaintop Marketplace.

The main purpose of his trip to the Marketplace was to meet his appointment with Chang the Pill Master. Secondly, he needed to sell some Spirit Beasts and buy some pills to advance his Late-Stage Qi Cultivation.

As he traveled, Li Changsheng was surprised to find that the Spirit Field Zone had become bustling again.

Moreover, there were many new faces of varying ages. They all had a drive and vigor that the older Spirit Farmers lacked.

As he passed by, some of the newcomers saw him riding on Xiaohua’s back and looked at him with surprise and envy.

Of course, when they noticed the swarm of insects circling him, their expressions changed drastically, and they quickly walked away.

’Tsk, the old generation is being replaced by the new, huh?’

Li Changsheng mused happily, his eyes occasionally sweeping over his surroundings.

By the time he reached the mountain path, Li Changsheng closed his eyes and focused, circulating his Spiritual Power to nourish the meridians he had opened throughout his body.

「Night gradually fell, and brilliant stars emerged in the sky.」

Before a shop with a sign that read "Chang’s Pill Pavilion," a person with their head covered by a black veil, wearing a long blue and white robe, strolled inside.

With the increase in Loose Cultivators, business at Chang’s Pill Pavilion had become more and more prosperous. At this moment, seven or eight fierce-looking Cultivators were inside, talking with the attendants.

Before long, an attendant hurried forward and said respectfully, "What kind of pills would you like to purchase, sir? You can just tell me."

Li Changsheng said softly, "I’m looking for your Chang the Pill Master. Just tell him that a Cultivator with the surname Li has come for an appointment."

"Please wait a moment, sir. I will announce you right away."

The attendant led Li Changsheng to a seat, poured him a cup of tea, then turned and rushed toward the back courtyard.

And while Li Changsheng was drinking his tea, a Cultivator with dark circles under his eyes and a pale face walked in through the door. His eyes lit up slightly when he saw Li Changsheng’s profile, and he quickly walked over.

Once he was closer, he sensed Li Changsheng’s aura, which showed he had just broken through to Late-Stage Qi Cultivation. A hint of confusion flashed in his eyes, and he promptly plopped down in the seat opposite him.

Li Changsheng glanced at him, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly. He continued to sip his tea without a word.

Seeing this, a warm look passed through the Cultivator’s eyes. He cupped his fist and said, "I am Wan Peng. May I ask for your esteemed surname, brother?"

’It’s best not to come to the Marketplace for the next few days if you can help it,’ Li Changsheng sighed internally. He put down his teacup, cupped his fist, and said, "I am Li Changsheng."

"Haha, so it’s Junior Brother Li."

A look of surprise appeared on Wan Peng’s face. He laughed loudly and said, "I often hear Junior Brother Feng talk about you. I didn’t expect to run into you here."

’Junior Brother Feng... Feng Hui?’

Li Changsheng pondered this for a second before asking with a look of confusion, "And you are?"

"I work under Steward Meng, and I’m a colleague of Junior Brother Feng Hui."

Wan Peng seemed to have been prepared for this. He chuckled and readily revealed his background and connections.

"Oh."

Li Changsheng gave a noncommittal nod and said no more.

"Junior Brother Feng and I are both under Steward Shen Tu now. I wonder if you, Junior Brother, would be willing to..." Wan Peng tried to strike while the iron was hot, but just as he was about to extend his invitation, a slightly surprised and happy voice called out.

"Junior Brother Li, you’re here!"

Li Changsheng looked up, a slight smile on his face. He turned to Wan Peng, cupped his fist, and said, "I have other matters to attend to. Farewell."

"I..."

Wan Peng was dumbfounded. He raised his hand to call out, only to see Changxing already leading Li Changsheng into the back courtyard.

Instantly, his face alternated between pale and livid.

His arrival was, of course, no coincidence. He had received orders to invite Li Changsheng to the former Patrol Guard Station.

But this...

Wan Peng wanted to follow them inside, but he didn’t quite dare.

After all, anyone who could run a Pill Pavilion was someone he couldn’t afford to offend.

After waiting for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Wan Peng snorted coldly and turned to leave.

「Back Courtyard. Pavilion.」

Changxing looked Li Changsheng up and down and exclaimed with admiration, "Junior Brother, you truly have great fortune, great talent, and great perseverance!"

"It was just a fortunate encounter," Li Changsheng said with a light chuckle, cupping his fist. "And thank you for getting me out of that situation, Senior Brother Chang."

"It was nothing."

Changxing shook his head, then smiled. "This time, I’m the one who needs to trouble you, Junior Brother Li."

"Oh? Can you finally tell me what this ’small favor’ is, Senior Brother Chang?" Li Changsheng asked, puzzled.

With a flip of his hand, Changxing produced a piece of emerald-green, jade-like stone and placed it in front of him. He said with a chuckle, "Junior Brother, you just need to channel a bit of life force into this Thousand-Year Wood Heart." After a pause, he explained, "Some of the precious pills in the Pill Pavilion need to be constantly nourished, or they will lose some of their medicinal properties."

"And the preservation formation for these pills uses that life force as its source." At this point, Changxing took out another pill bottle and placed it in front of him, smiling. "I’ll also have to trouble you to infuse a bit more into this..."

"So that’s how it is..."

Li Changsheng understood now. He picked up the stone, and with a slight stir of his thoughts...

As the mark between his brows trembled slightly, wisps of life force flowed into the Wood Heart.

After a cup of tea’s time, Li Changsheng broke the connection and placed the stone in front of Changxing.

The jasper-like Wood Heart, having absorbed the life force, had become magnificently beautiful. Its surface patterns now rippled with a soft halo of light.

"It’s so pure! Excellent, excellent..."

Changxing’s face lit up with joy. He cradled the Wood Heart as if it were a priceless treasure, admiring it for a moment before putting it into his storage bag.

Then he looked directly at Li Changsheng and asked, "Junior Brother, have you condensed a Spirit Plant Mark?"

Li Changsheng nodded slightly.

Changxing’s eyes lit up. "A partial one or a complete one?"

"Complete."

"Incredible, truly incredible..."

Changxing stared at him as if looking at a monster.

He had spent many years around the Cyan Yang Sect and knew very well how vast the gap was between a Spirit Plant Master with a complete Mark, those with partial Marks, and those who hadn’t even managed to cultivate a Mark at all.

A Spirit Plant Master who hasn’t cultivated a Mark absorbs life force that is mostly impure wood qi. The amount of actual life force is only enough to sustain some Tier Two Low-grade Spirit Plants.

A Cultivator with a partial Mark can absorb life force and impure wood qi at a stable one-to-one ratio, which is enough to sustain Tier Two Low-grade to Middle-grade Spirit Plants.

But a Cultivator with a complete Spirit Plant Mark can absorb life and wood qi at a minimum ratio of seven to three. Some of the more domineering meridian diagrams can even reach ratios of eight to one or nine to one.

Sustaining Tier Two Top-grade Spirit Plants is no problem at all, and they can even manage to sustain some rare Spirit Plants whose value is comparable to Tier Three Spirit Plants.

Although a partial Mark can be gradually mended into a complete one, it can never quite compare to a Mark that was complete from its initial condensation.

Changxing had once heard a rumor that this was related to the requirements for becoming a Spirit Plant Master.

This just showed how precious Li Changsheng’s complete Mark was.

A hundred thoughts raced through Changxing’s mind as he considered how best to befriend him. Although he was only a Tier One Middle-grade Alchemy Master and had no need for Tier Two Spirit Plants yet, that didn’t mean he lacked ambition.

Seeing him remain silent for a long time, Li Changsheng cupped his fist and said, "Senior Brother Chang, I still need to buy some pills, I was wondering..."

"Hm? Buying pills? Yes, yes..."

Changxing snapped back to reality, his eyes shining. He quickly asked, "I see you’re at Late-Stage Qi Cultivation, Junior Brother. Pills suitable for this stage include the Spirit Fusion Pill, the Cyan Spirit Pill..." He paused, then continued, "There are also the Spirit Stabilizing Pill and Spirit Combination Pill for purifying Spiritual Power... and the Qi Blood Pill and Tiger Flood Dragon Pill for tempering the physical body..."

Listening to the long string of pills Changxing was rattling off...

?

A question mark appeared in Li Changsheng’s mind. Seeing that Changxing was still rambling on, he quickly interrupted, "Senior Brother Chang, I just need some pills to advance my Late-Stage Qi Cultivation." He paused, then added, "Nothing too expensive."

Changxing stopped, looking as if he still had more to say. He thought for a moment and said, "In that case, I recommend you buy the Spirit Fusion Pill and the Cyan Spirit Pill."

"The former is suitable for the Qi Cultivation Seventh and Eighth Layers, while the latter is for the Ninth Layer."

"Those will do," Li Changsheng nodded decisively.

「An hour later.」

A smiling Changxing saw Li Changsheng out of the Pill Pavilion. After watching him enter a shop that dealt in Spirit Beasts, he turned and returned to the back courtyard.

「Back courtyard. Inside the pavilion.」

An old man with a plain face, dressed in linen clothes, was leisurely sipping tea. Seeing Changxing return, he smiled and asked, "See him off?"

"Yes."

Changxing nodded with a chuckle, sat down opposite the linen-clothed old man, and with a flip of his hand, took out the Wood Heart and passed it over. He said happily, "Grand-uncle, this favor wasn’t a bad investment, was it?"

"Not a bad investment? It’s far more than just ’not bad’..."

The linen-clothed old man took the Wood Heart and examined it closely. He sighed, "To have this little piece of Wood Heart infused with life force... Do you have any idea what it would cost to ask a true Spirit Plant Master from the sect to do this?"

Before Changxing could ask, he smiled and said, "A full two thousand Spirit Stones!"