Novel Full Chapter 60: The Small-Minded Shopkeeper Qi
Chapter 60: Chapter 60: The Small-Minded Shopkeeper Qi
Suppressing the excitement of soon making big money through alchemy, he once again assesses the progress of the Evergreen Skill.
Over the past three months, due to the stable and abundant spiritual energy here, the progress of the Flame Phosphorus Skill has shown significant improvement compared to the three years’ cultivation at Inverted Mountain.
This is very much in line with Li Jizhou’s middle-grade Fire Spirit Root aptitude in this life, especially thanks to the advantages of the top-grade cultivation technique Flame Phosphorus Skill.
Also, because wood generates fire, the originally abundant wood attribute Evergreen Skill within the dantian provides a nourishing effect on fire attribute magical power.
However, even though it’s only been three months, one can already feel that the transformation of the Evergreen Skill seems not as good as he expected.
At Inverted Mountain, it was thought that once reaching a spiritual energy-filled and stable field, the cultivation of the Evergreen Skill would accelerate.
But in three months of cultivation, Li Jizhou found that while the Evergreen Skill absorbs Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi faster in a stable and abundant spiritual energy setting, there’s always a limit—it ceases to grow past a certain point, resuming the next day.
“It’s still related to the passage of time, with a fixed daily limit.”
Previously at Inverted Mountain, he cultivated for four hours daily, then consolidated by consuming magical power through practicing other skills.
Now, with abundant spiritual energy, three hours daily is already saturated.
Faster indeed, but over a longer period, there’s not much change.
“Looks like the Evergreen Skill, involving time mysteries and the Time Law, has many intricacies I can’t comprehend!”
Li Jizhou remains quite composed about this.
His cultivation speed with the Evergreen Skill is not slow, anyway.
Currently, it’s as if three hours of daily cultivation equals others’ ten hours a day in terms of effectiveness.
This allows him more time to practice other skills.
Over a long period, it’s still quicker than others!
After all, other cultivators can’t always practice in seclusion; they need to toil for life and cultivation resources.
After a period of seclusion, they must pause and find ways to earn spirit stones and cultivation resources.
Even those entering sects as prodigious seedlings are the same.
Like Lin Caiwei, an Inner Sect Disciple, who also needs to take on sect missions to accumulate resources.
Of course, those with Earth Spirit Root, Celestial Spirit Root, or family background are exceptions; they can truly focus entirely on arduous cultivation without worrying about resources.
During these three months, due to ample time, after primarily practicing the Evergreen Skill, he had more time to cultivate the Flame Phosphorus Skill to condense Pill Fire, then drew talismans, studied medical poison deeply, and even spent a little effort to lightly research arrays.
Though not yet initiated in arrays, he inadvertently learned about another type of remarkable person from the insights of that rogue array master.
Arrays in this world need to connect with the grand forces of Heaven and Earth, leveraging these forces.
And low-tier array masters lack the ability to perceive “forces”; likewise, the grand forces of mountains, rivers, and seas are not readily accessible, mostly constructing false “forces” from spiritual objects and rare stones, pairing with array hubs and engraving array patterns to imitate these forces.
Yet, there’s a kind of person naturally sensitive to the grand forces of Heaven and Earth, capable of dragon spotting and determining auspicious sites, exploring Heaven and Earth Spiritual Veins.
This type of person has a natural advantage in arrays; with a strong Divine Soul, they need no external objects and can effortlessly mobilize the grand forces of mountains and rivers and connect Heaven and Earth Spiritual Veins.
They are respectfully called Earth Spirit Masters!
They are the existence all array masters yearn for!
Unfortunately, it is very clear that Li Jizhou is not of such exceptional talent.
Yet, he cares little, even feels fortunate.
Because, according to the array master’s records, it seems those Earth Spirit Masters tend to face ill fortune once they advance to Celestial Spirit Masters!
Reviewing his cultivation situation at Spirit Pearl Mountain marketplace after three months, Li Jizhou is still very satisfied.
The next day,
Li Jizhou tidies up the talismans to be delivered, instructs Guagu to watch the door, and heads toward the Ten Thousand Talisman Pavilion branch.
Before leaving, after slight consideration, he finally decides to add a middle-level high-grade talisman to today’s prepared delivery.
Yesterday, through socializing with a middle-level lower-grade talisman, he received guidance from a steward.
The meaning was clear—the shopkeeper of the Spirit Pearl Mountain branch had issues with him for being here three months without paying respects.
To prevent unnecessary hostility, Li Jizhou decides to present a high-grade talisman to elevate his status this time.
Not long after, Li Jizhou arrives as promised at the Spirit Pearl Mountain branch of the Ten Thousand Talisman Pavilion.
This branch clearly boasts a more grandiose aura compared to the Inverted Mountain branch.
The Inverted Mountain branch targets mid-lower-tier talismans, with its clientele being tens of thousands of shallow loose cultivators from Inverted Mountain.
Whereas the Spirit Pearl Mountain branch clearly targets a far higher tier.
Not only is it established in the most prosperous market street of Spirit Pearl Mountain’s inner city, but it also features a remarkable five-story pavilion.
Upon entry, the interior is lavishly decorated, and various levels of talismans are neatly arranged, with overall grading far exceeding those within Inverted Mountain.
The number of cultivator receptionists inside reaches ten, and their demeanor is notably high-caliber.
“Welcome, fellow cultivator, to our pavilion. Do let us know your needs!” a female receptionist promptly approaches.
Li Jizhou nods slightly and, without wasting words, directly presents his honored guest elder jade token.
“Greetings, honored guest elder, please wait in a private room while I invite the steward for reception.” The female receptionist nods lightly and guides Li Jizhou to a private room.
Inside the private room, during the wait, Li Jizhou begins contemplating where to buy a Pill Furnace and medicinal herbs after concluding his affairs at the Ten Thousand Talisman Pavilion.
A month after settling down, he had already thoroughly surveyed the area and knew of several pill workshops specializing in the pill business here.
Inside, Pill Furnaces, herbs, and retail of finished pills function similarly to the Ten Thousand Talisman Pavilion.
However, the pill business is fiercely contested, with no single workshop dominating the pill industry in the Qi Kingdom’s cultivation scene as the Ten Thousand Talisman Pavilion did for talismans.
Among several pill workshops, Pill Cauldron Pavilion, Miaodan Tower, and Treasure Pill Pavilion are the most prestigious, with other pill houses following behind.
The three major pill workshops each have strong backgrounds and are mutually competitive rivals.
“Never mind, I’ll decide after browsing a bit; given my current Pill Fire level, the Pill Furnace is crucial for crafting top-grade pills.”
Setting aside his thoughts, Li Jizhou notices that despite still waiting in the unattended private room, he raises an eyebrow.
Waiting this long, yet no one has come?
Intentionally leaving me hanging?
This shopkeeper seems quite petty!
Li Jizhou chuckles and shakes his head, no longer waiting, and gets up to leave the private room.
“Mr. Li, are you leaving without waiting?” The previous female receptionist hurriedly approaches to inquire, attentively observing Li Jizhou’s change of demeanor.
However, Li Jizhou remains calm, casually saying, “Seeing your busy business unable to attend me, I’ll go handle some matters first and return when you are less busy.”
The female receptionist briefly hesitates.
No anger, no annoyance, no signs of frustration or anxiety…
Before she could say anything further, Li Jizhou is already leaving the Ten Thousand Talisman Pavilion, disappearing among the crowd.
She quickly realizes and jogs up to the fifth floor where the shopkeeper resides.
“Shopkeeper, Mr. Li wasn’t angry, nor was he…”
Before finishing her sentence, standing by the window, back facing her, overlooking the entire marketplace is Shopkeeper Qi, who slowly raises her delicate, jade-like right hand, sounding amused, “This young man is quite composed; no wonder he can craft mid-level high-grade talismans at the Early Stage of Qi Cultivation—Lu Zhenhua must not have indulged in favoritism!”
Upon finishing the words, she turns back to lie down again on the soft and fragrant luxurious couch, picking up a script to read.
Qi Yuan’s reclining pose faintly reveals her slender, fair legs, radiantly smooth.
Even the fellow female cultivator receptionist is somewhat captivated…