Chapter 49 - 47: Nalan Lin’s Surprise and Trepidation

Chapter 49: Chapter 47: Nalan Lin’s Surprise and Trepidation

"Strange, he was just here a moment ago. How did he suddenly vanish without a trace?"

A gentle breeze swept across the land. Under the shade of an ancient green tree in the night, a breathtakingly beautiful girl in a pink dress, radiating Immortal Spirit Qi, muttered to herself as she looked at the empty surroundings.

Qin Xiangyuan carefully sensed the entire Upper Spirit Garden, a ripple appearing in her beautiful eyes. She had clearly seen that white-robed figure leave No. 7 Courtyard just now, which was why she deliberately followed him out. She never expected that in just a brief moment, the other party would evaporate into thin air, leaving no trace behind.

However, the more this happened, the more Qin Xiangyuan confirmed the thought in her mind.

"I knew it. You are definitely not that simple, my dear brother."

Qin Xiangyuan smiled triumphantly. Seeing that she had lost track of him, she simply stopped searching and turned back to her own courtyard.

Two hours later.

Jiang Hao flew over the mountainous forest region between Qin City and Celestial City, finally catching sight of the magnificent, imposing giant city. The entire giant city was majestic and boundless, exuding an ancient aura. Its mottled walls seemed to recount its once glorious history.

"Flying is strictly prohibited within the city. Please consciously abide by the rules upon entering. Anyone who unauthorizedly flies through the air will bear the consequences."

In front of the bustling city gates, dozens of figures with terrifying auras stood guard, calling out reminders to the flow of people entering and exiting. Even though it was night, Cultivators continuously arrived through the air from all directions, scattering like heavenly flowers, while merchant caravans slowly advanced. However, no matter who they were, everyone landed on the ground before approaching the city gates and entered on foot.

Gazing at the vastness of Celestial City from afar, Jiang Hao was filled with emotion. Looking down from high above, the giant city stretched endlessly, vastly beyond imagination. Compared to it, Xingyue City was like dirt looking up at the heavens. What astonished Jiang Hao even more was that Celestial City actually had a garrison, and their strength was absolutely terrifying. It was hard to imagine just how many fearsome experts lay dormant within this giant city.

Pausing for a moment, Jiang Hao slowly landed and followed the crowd walking toward Celestial City. He faced no obstruction, and his path was completely unimpeded. After all, Jiang Hao was currently only displaying the cultivation of the Creation Realm Third Layer. Cultivators at this realm could not even attract the attention of the guards.

Jiang Hao’s objective for this trip was very simple. He intended to sell the Foundation Establishment Pill in his hand and exchange it for the things he needed most, while also taking the opportunity to understand this Earth Realm.

After entering the city, Jiang Hao walked aimlessly through the vast ancient city. Along the way, he saw many branch shops of the Divine Pill Pavilion in the city. Opposite every Divine Pill Pavilion branch, there was a Miaodan Square. However, Jiang Hao chose not to enter any of them. His identity was extremely sensitive right now, and rashly walking into these giant storefronts would easily draw attention.

Ultimately, Jiang Hao walked through several central avenues and observed many Pill Workshops before finally choosing a Little Pill Workshop named Pill Storage Tower.

The reason he chose this one was firstly because it was inconspicuous. Secondly, in comparison, its facade was quite decent. After all, he was trying to sell a Foundation Establishment Pill. A Pill Workshop that was too large might not maximize his profits, while one that was too small might not be able to afford it.

After locking onto the Pill Storage Tower, Jiang Hao did not rush in. Instead, he first found an empty alley, took out a grimace mask, and put it on before making his move. This was also a helpless choice. If he wanted to establish a foothold in this place in the future, he would inevitably have to come back and interact with others. Not showing his true face was a form of protection.

Just before entering the Pill Storage Tower, Jiang Hao thought for a moment and fully circulated the "Concealment Art," completely hiding his cultivation. At this moment, he was like a mortal, without any aura fluctuations around his body.

Meanwhile.

Nalan Lin and Nalan Yanyu sat in the first-floor lobby of the Pill Storage Tower, both looking somewhat dispirited. At this moment, there wasn’t a single customer inside the Pill Storage Tower, which was another reason Jiang Hao had chosen it. However, just as the father and daughter sat in silent dejection, a figure slowly walked in.

"I’m sorry, the Pill Storage Tower is closed for the day. Please visit another Pill Workshop." Sensing someone entering, Nalan Lin’s eyes were full of exhaustion, and his voice lacked strength. If they couldn’t find a Foundation Establishment Pill, this pill tower would be completely unable to stay open.

However, as soon as Nalan Lin finished speaking, a hoarse voice rang out.

"Shopkeeper, since your doors are open, how can you refuse to do business?" Jiang Hao lowered his voice, making his vocal cords as hoarse as possible.

At these words, Nalan Lin instinctively looked up. When he saw Jiang Hao’s attire, he couldn’t help but freeze slightly. The other party was wearing a mask, clearly not wanting anyone to see his true face. However, this wasn’t the first time he had seen such a situation. Many Cultivators, when purchasing decent-grade Spirit Pills, would take measures to avoid trouble and prevent being targeted.

Just as Nalan Lin hesitated to speak, Nalan Yanyu was the first to voice out, managing to squeeze out a faint smile.

"You are right. Father, no matter what happens in the future, as long as the pill tower is open for a single day, there is no reason to turn away a customer."

Hearing his daughter’s words, Nalan Lin sighed and slowly stood up, walking absentmindedly toward the pill storage cabinet on the side.

"What kind of Spirit Pill do you wish to purchase? Although our Pill Storage Tower is a family-run Pill Workshop, we have quite a complete variety of pills."

"I’m not here to buy."

Before Nalan Lin’s voice faded, the hoarse voice sounded again.

Nalan Lin and Nalan Yanyu both paused slightly at the sound and exchanged a glance.

Nalan Lin’s attitude shifted as he said, "You entered a Pill Workshop but aren’t buying pills. Could it be that you have a Spirit Pill you wish to sell?"

"Indeed, I have a useless Spirit Pill that I wish to sell." Jiang Hao spoke indifferently. After speaking, he glanced sideways and waved his large hand.

CREAAK—SLAM!

The main doors of the Pill Storage Tower closed in response.

This scene instantly shocked Nalan Lin and his daughter. The other party closing the doors clearly meant he had a good Spirit Pill he was eager to get rid of. Originally, in Nalan Lin’s eyes, the Pill Storage Tower was on the verge of bankruptcy, so naturally, they wouldn’t purchase any more pills. However, Jiang Hao’s unusual behavior sparked a sliver of interest.

"I wonder what kind of Spirit Pill you are looking to sell?" Nalan Lin asked, reasoning that if it were too ordinary, he would politely decline; otherwise, buying it would only leave dead stock on his hands.

Hearing this, Jiang Hao countered with a question, "What grade of Spirit Pill can your tower afford?"

At these words, Nalan Lin instantly frowned, feeling a bit looked down upon.

"Although my Pill Storage Tower is no massive workshop, it is a century-old enterprise with hundreds of years of foundational heritage from our ancestors.

"As long as you dare to sell it and the pill’s origin is legitimate, there is nothing my Pill Storage Tower wouldn’t dare to buy."

Hearing the other party’s words, Jiang Hao breathed a slight sigh of relief. He then took out an exquisite small box, resting it on his palm. "I wonder if your tower will accept this Spirit Pill?"

"What Spirit Pill is in your hand?" Nalan Lin asked instinctively, not reaching out to take it right away.

Jiang Hao lowered his voice once more. "A Foundation Establishment Pill."

BOOM!!!

At these words, Nalan Lin’s head snapped up. Even Nalan Yanyu beside him abruptly stood up, earth-shattering ripples surging in her beautiful eyes.

"Did you just say... a F-Foundation Establishment Pill?" Nalan Lin’s breathing instantly quickened, somewhat unsure of his own ears.

Jiang Hao frowned slightly. "What? Does your tower not accept it?"

"We accept! We accept it!" Nalan Lin blurted out instantly, his tone resolute. He swallowed hard, then quickly took the small brocade box from Jiang Hao’s hand, his fingers trembling slightly as he opened it.

Standing to the side, Nalan Yanyu’s chest heaved erratically, her heart in her throat.

The moment the box was opened, waves of pill fragrance assaulted their noses, and endless pill light burst forth from within.

"A Foundation Establishment Pill? It really is a Foundation Establishment Pill!" In an instant, Nalan Lin was wild with joy, hugging the box and unable to put it down.

Hearing this, a flash of excitement and astonishment also crossed Nalan Yanyu’s beautiful eyes.

Seeing the visibly thrilled father and daughter, Jiang Hao furrowed his brows beneath his mask. It was merely a Foundation Establishment Pill, and one that had been deliberately downgraded to an ordinary Foundation Establishment Pill at that. They were people of a pill tower in Celestial City, after all; they shouldn’t be acting this way.

He thought that whenever things were abnormal, there must be something fishy going on. This was Jiang Hao’s first reaction. Not wanting to get entangled too deeply, he immediately let out a hoarse voice.

"How about it, Shopkeeper? Can your tower accept this pill?"

"We’ll take this Foundation Establishment Pill," Nalan Lin instantly replied in excitement.

However, Nalan Yanyu lightly tugged at her father’s sleeve and whispered, "Father, have you forgotten the rules of the Pill Workshop Realm?"

In the Pill Workshop Realm, any shop or faction dealing in the Spirit Pill business had three strict non-acceptance rules: pills of unknown origin were not accepted, highly toxic pills were not accepted, and lastly, Tribulation Pills were not accepted. The refusal of Tribulation Pills meant that Spirit Pills obtained by Tribulation Cultivators through murder and robbery would not be accepted.

Evidently, even at this critical moment, Nalan Yanyu still remembered the rules of the Pill Workshop Realm. There were certain things they were unwilling and afraid to touch. Business was business; a moment of carelessness could invite disaster.

Nalan Lin naturally understood his daughter’s meaning, but how could he care about so much right now? This Foundation Establishment Pill was the Pill Storage Tower’s hope of survival. He immediately declared with ironclad certainty, "Sir, my Pill Storage Tower will take the pill."

"Make an offer," Jiang Hao preempted, letting the other party quote a price. For someone like him who didn’t understand the pill market, this was undoubtedly a proactive strike.

Hearing this, Nalan Lin pondered for a moment. However, when he sized up Jiang Hao once again, his heart fiercely trembled. Ultimately, Jiang Hao sold this Foundation Establishment Pill to the Pill Storage Tower for the price of three hundred Spirit Stones. One Spirit Stone was equivalent to one hundred thousand taels of silver. This downgraded Foundation Establishment Pill had sold for the astronomical price of thirty million taels of silver. However, as a Cultivator, Jiang Hao naturally did not choose silver or gold, but Spirit Stones.

"Three hundred Spirit Stones is acceptable, but I have a condition," Jiang Hao said.

"Please, speak freely."

"For these three hundred Spirit Stones, pay a portion using a Pill Furnace and Spirit Medicines. Settle the remainder with Spirit Stones."

When Jiang Hao mentioned that a portion of the Spirit Stones needed to be paid with an Alchemy Furnace and Spirit Medicines, Nalan Lin abruptly raised his head, endless shock surging in his eyes. Even Nalan Yanyu’s beautiful eyes rippled with world-shaking waves.

"Are you an Alchemy Master? Could it be... that you refined this Foundation Establishment Pill yourself?" Nalan Lin instantly grew nervous. A Pill Master capable of refining a Foundation Establishment Pill—he didn’t dare to imagine how terrifying the other party’s identity might be.

"Do not ask what you shouldn’t ask."

Fifteen minutes later.

Jiang Hao received a fairly decent Alchemy Furnace and the Spirit Medicines he needed. As he turned around, the main doors opened in response.

Just then, lightning flashed and thunder rolled outside, signaling an imminent, torrential downpour. As the doors opened automatically, the figure wearing the grimace mask slowly walked out. Amidst the flashing of a few lightning bolts, he vanished completely into the night.

Watching this scene, the father and daughter were both greatly shaken, staring blankly as they watched Jiang Hao depart.