Chapter 195 - 136: Each Has Their Secrets and a Way Out

Chapter 195: Chapter 136: Each Has Their Secrets and a Way Out

The more Chen Jianghe thought about it, the more he felt that Ji Wujin was a young disciple from a great clan out gaining experience.

Ji Wujin was probably an alias.

His real identity was likely that of a descendant from the Beast Taming Immortal Race’s Zhou Family, or perhaps the Puppet Immortal Race’s Lu Family.

Whatever the case with Ji Wujin,

He absolutely could not leave Qinghe Marketplace now.

It wasn’t just the threat from Qingfong Village anymore; he had also become a hot commodity in the eyes of many Ninth-Layer Qi Refining Cultivators.

No wonder Ji Wujin dared to go "fishing."

With a Tier Two Spirit Beast and a Tier Two Puppet, anyone would dare to go fishing.

Of course, Chen Jianghe was an exception.

It wasn’t that he was a coward; he just believed such actions were wrong and went against the natural order.

Two more days passed.

The knocker on Chen Jianghe’s courtyard gate was struck.

He went out to find an unfamiliar Cultivator, but the aura emanating from him was dense and powerful.

Ninth-Layer Qi Refining, and he had reached Body Refining Perfection.

"Are you Fellow Daoist Chen?"

"And you are?"

"I am Qiu Yuming from the Treasure Pavilion. A pleasure to meet you, Fellow Daoist Chen."

"Treasure Pavilion? What business does Fellow Daoist Qiu have with me?"

"I’ve heard that Fellow Daoist Chen possesses a Low-Quality Foundation Establishment Pill. I wish to purchase it at a high price, if you are willing to part with it."

Qiu Yuming said with his hands clasped, "Two thousand Spirit Stones. Furthermore, you will receive a two-percent discount on all future purchases at the Treasure Pavilion."

SLAM~

Chen Jianghe slammed the door shut.

’With people like this, it’s best not to waste a single word. Give them an inch, and they’ll take a mile.’

’Two thousand Spirit Stones?’

’Is he taking me for a fool?’

’If I wanted to exchange the Foundation Establishment Pill for Spirit Stones, I could just take this Low-Quality Foundation Establishment Pill to the Hundred Treasures Tower and put it up for auction.’

’It would easily sell for at least 2,400 Spirit Stones.’

’And as for the two-percent discount at the Treasure Pavilion?’

’That’s just plain disrespectful.’

’If I auctioned this Foundation Establishment Pill at the Hundred Treasures Tower, I’d get a two-percent discount on all future purchases of Cultivation Resources there.’

’And the Hundred Treasures Tower is a hundred times better than the Treasure Pavilion.’

’The guy not only lacked sincerity, he was treating me like an idiot.’

Three more days passed.

It was almost New Year’s Eve.

After finishing his cultivation of the Tidal Body Refining Technique, Chen Jianghe sat on his reclining chair, basking in the sun. He finally understood Alchemist Zhuang’s frustration.

Over the past three days, more than a dozen Ninth-Layer Qi Refining Cultivators had come knocking on his door.

Without exception, they all wanted to get their hands on his Low-Quality Foundation Establishment Pill.

The offered price had also risen to 2,300 Spirit Stones.

But Chen Jianghe had no intention of selling.

He didn’t know if he would ever be able to gather the materials to refine another Foundation Establishment Pill in the future. This was his safety net.

He couldn’t bring himself to cut off his own line of retreat.

KNOCK, KNOCK-KNOCK!

This time, the sound of the knocker was urgent.

It didn’t sound like those who came seeking the Foundation Establishment Pill, but rather like someone he knew.

Because the day of his transaction with Boss Wang was approaching, and Demon Hunters didn’t have fixed return schedules,

Chen Jianghe hadn’t hung the ’In Seclusion’ sign on his courtyard gate.

He opened the gate.

"Brother Ruan?"

"Brother Chen, word got out about us crowdfunding the Foundation Establishment Pill! Everyone in Qinghe Marketplace knows about the Low-Quality Foundation Establishment Pill in your hands now," Ruan Tieniu said urgently upon seeing Chen Jianghe.

"I already know. Thank you for the kind warning, Brother Ruan," Chen Jianghe said with a nod.

"As long as you know, as long as you know~"

Ruan Tieniu repeated.

After speaking, he just stood there without leaving, and Chen Jianghe, for his part, wouldn’t invite an outsider into his courtyard.

Suddenly, the atmosphere became a little awkward.

"Brother Ruan, is there something you wanted to tell me?" Chen Jianghe asked, puzzled.

"Brother Chen, shall we move this conversation to the Qingpin Tea House?"

Ruan Tieniu said solemnly.

"Alright."

Chen Jianghe agreed.

’Here in Qinghe Marketplace, as long as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator doesn’t make a move, I fear no one.’

’As for the Foundation Establishment Cultivators in Qinghe Marketplace, they probably all know about my relationship with Gao Peiyao. They wouldn’t risk offending a Sect Foundation Establishment Disciple like her over a mere Low-Quality Foundation Establishment Pill.’

They arrived at the Qingpin Tea House.

Ruan Tieniu ordered a pot of Spirit Tea that cost two Spirit Stones. It was clear he was asking for a favor; otherwise, he wouldn’t have ordered such expensive Spirit Tea.

Demon Hunters valued Spirit Stones as much as their own lives.

"Brother Ruan, you can just speak plainly. There’s no need to go to all this trouble,"

Chen Jianghe said with a chuckle.

’While he wouldn’t say he had a close friendship with Ruan Tieniu, the man was very useful to him.’

’Chen Jianghe was still counting on Ruan Tieniu to charge into the fray and retrieve the Purple Mist Red Fruit for him!’

"I want the Low-Quality Foundation Establishment Pill you have, Brother Chen,"

Ruan Tieniu said.

But then he immediately added, "But I won’t be buying your Foundation Establishment Pill right now."

"What do you mean, Brother Ruan?"

Chen Jianghe had an idea of what was coming, but he still wanted to hear Ruan Tieniu say it himself to confirm his suspicions.

"I have three years left before I miss the optimal window for Foundation Establishment."

"I’ve already failed once, which cut my success rate in half. If I also miss the optimal window, then I’ll have no hope of ever reaching Foundation Establishment in this life."

"So, if in three years I fail to retrieve the Purple Mist Red Fruit, I’m asking you, Brother Chen, to sell me the Low-Quality Foundation Establishment Pill you have."

Hearing Ruan Tieniu’s words,

Chen Jianghe didn’t respond. He simply looked at Ruan Tieniu calmly, his meaning self-evident.

"Don’t worry, Brother Chen, I won’t let you suffer a loss. Even if I can’t get the Purple Mist Red Fruit and I really have to buy the Foundation Establishment Pill from you, I will trade an Illusion Heart Grass for it."

"Of course, an Illusion Heart Grass is nowhere near as valuable as a Foundation Establishment Pill, but I will make up the difference with Spirit Stones."

Ruan Tieniu looked at Chen Jianghe with hopeful eyes, desperate for a positive response.

He only had three years left.

He had hesitated for the past two years, never daring to venture deep into the Youxian Mountain Range.

His comrades wouldn’t accompany him to Fusang Cliff either; facing a Tier Two Demon Beast would be a suicide mission for them.

Therefore, Ruan Tieniu felt that his chances of obtaining the Purple Mist Red Fruit within three years were very low.

He had no choice but to find a backup plan.

The fact that Chen Jianghe hadn’t taken the Foundation Establishment Pill to attempt his breakthrough yet undoubtedly gave him hope.

"Brother Ruan, you should know that I also need the Foundation Establishment Pill, so I cannot give you a definite yes."

"However, I can promise you this: if I ever decide to sell the Foundation Establishment Pill, I will certainly trade with you for the Illusion Heart Grass."

After saying this, Chen Jianghe stood up and took his leave.

’This was the guarantee he was giving Ruan Tieniu.’

’There were three main ingredients for refining a Foundation Establishment Pill, and Illusion Heart Grass was one of them.’

’He just hadn’t expected Ruan Tieniu to have an Illusion Heart Grass on him. It seemed he really did have a safe channel to acquire them!’

’If he could obtain this Illusion Heart Grass, he would have two of the three main ingredients. The auxiliary materials were easy to deal with; he could just ask Alchemist Zhuang to purchase them on his behalf.’

’So, if he could find a Cultivator with a Purple Mist Red Fruit to crowdfund Alchemy again, he would definitely be willing to trade with Ruan Tieniu.’

’With the price difference covered, of course.’

’If I really were to crowdfund Alchemy again, possessing two of the main materials would allow me to demand priority choice after the Foundation Establishment Pills were successfully refined.’

’That way, I would be guaranteed to get a Genuine Foundation Establishment Pill.’

Watching Chen Jianghe’s departing figure, Ruan Tieniu’s expression brightened. Although he hadn’t received a definite "yes" from Chen Jianghe,

as long as Chen Jianghe had any intention of selling the Low-Quality Foundation Establishment Pill, he would be the first person to trade with.

That was already more than good enough.

’The Spirit Stones I got from selling the Foundation Establishment Pill Formula have already been spent on Nourishing Spirit Pills, a Spiritual Cultivation Technique, and a Spiritual Object to enhance my Soul Essence. If I trade for the Foundation Establishment Pill with Brother Chen, I’ll still need to make up the price difference... It looks like I’ll have to team up with Boss Wang and go after Duan Ming just this once...’