Chapter 207 - 140: Traces of a Demon Cultivator, a Surprise from Alchemist Zhuang

Chapter 207: Chapter 140: Traces of a Demon Cultivator, a Surprise from Alchemist Zhuang

Back then, there were only rumors of Lann Tianxiang looting the Qiyun Mountain Marketplace, but no news of Illusion Heart Grass being robbed.

Chen Jianghe wondered what other secrets Ruan Tieniu was hiding.

To think that the once-ruthless Demon Cultivator, Lann Tianxiang, had actually died by his hands. Moreover, Lann Tianxiang’s treasures had been in Ruan Tieniu’s possession for at least twenty-eight years. In other words, Ruan Tieniu was already at Late-Stage Qi Refining twenty-eight years ago.

Calculating it this way, Ruan Tieniu’s true age was definitely not in his fifties. He should be around Chen Jianghe’s age, or perhaps even older. Since he looked young, he must have taken a Youthful Pill. Since he still harbored thoughts of Foundation Establishment, he had certainly taken a Lifespan Extension Pill as well.

Chen Jianghe took a deep breath. His mind felt a bit muddled; it seemed Ruan Tieniu carried far too many secrets.

Most importantly, since Ruan Tieniu had obtained Lann Tianxiang’s Puppet Inheritance, why hadn’t he practiced it? Crafting Puppets should yield higher profits than Demon Hunting! Unless Ruan Tieniu had no Talent whatsoever in the Puppet Dao.

But that was basically impossible.

Among the Hundred Cultivation Skills, aside from the Array Dao, Alchemy Dao, and Artifact Dao which required solid Talent, the rest—including the Talisman Dao—could reach the Entry Level as long as one studied hard.

Why were there so few artisans? What they lacked was not Cultivators with Talent, but rather inheritances. Family Cultivators had it easier, as they could rely on the foundational inheritances accumulated by their families. For Loose Cultivators, obtaining a single inheritance was a profoundly difficult endeavor.

Furthermore, Ruan Tieniu rented a single-room courtyard in the Southwest District all by himself, just like Chen Jianghe, entirely shutting out any outsiders. Chen Jianghe had Little Black and Fur Ball hidden in his own yard. So what was Ruan Tieniu hiding in his?

Shaking his head, Chen Jianghe felt his thoughts tangle like hemp; the more he tried to sort them out, the messier they became. The secrets involving Ruan Tieniu were simply too numerous.

However, he genuinely wanted the Demon Cultivation Secret Technique. Typically, a Demon Cultivation Secret Technique involved either extremely powerful Attack Techniques or highly unique life-saving methods. Regardless of which one it was, Chen Jianghe was in dire need of it. He needed to strengthen his trump cards.

As for the Puppet Inheritance, he didn’t value it as much. If he could obtain the Purple Mist Red Fruit and Refine a batch of Foundation Establishment Pills, he felt he could go through with this trade with Ruan Tieniu.

Having made up his mind, Chen Jianghe walked out of his courtyard gate and headed toward Fushou Lane.

Two months had passed. He needed to go to Alchemist Zhuang’s place to retrieve the Lifespan Extension Pill and prepare it for Yu Daniu and his wife in advance. As for taking Yu Daniu and Yun Huizhen directly to Alchemist Zhuang’s place, he decided against it. After all, Alchemist Zhuang couldn’t stand seeing members of the Yun family. There was no need to make things difficult for him.

Arriving at Fushou Lane, he cast another glance at Ji Wujin’s courtyard door.

The sign still read ’Out’.

For a brief moment, this made Chen Jianghe suspect that the Puppet Inheritance and Demon Cultivation Secret Technique in Ruan Tieniu’s possession didn’t come from Lann Tianxiang at all, but rather from Ji Wujin.

Without lingering in front of Ji Wujin’s door, he walked over to Blessed Residence No. 136 and knocked on the door ring. Before long, Jiang Ruxu walked out.

"Elder Chen, please come in," Jiang Ruxu said with a playful smile, ushering Chen Jianghe into the courtyard.

"There’s no need to call me Elder. You are now at the Late-Stage Qi Refining Cultivation as well, not to mention a Middle-Grade Alchemist. We can address each other as Fellow Daoists from now on," Chen Jianghe said with a smile.

"How could I do that? You are Master’s Close Friend. According to Master’s wishes, my senior martial sister and I are supposed to call you Grandmaster Chen, but... you look even younger than me! I just can’t bring myself to say it, hehe."

Chen Jianghe rolled his eyes at Jiang Ruxu in sheer speechlessness.

At this moment, Alchemist Zhuang walked out and said solemnly, "You really should call him Grandmaster. Fellow Daoist and I are Close Friends; naturally, Xinyan and Ruxu are his juniors as well.

"What does age matter? In large clans, it’s quite common to see newborns who belong to a Grand Ancestor’s generation..."

"Ahem, you’re exaggerating," Chen Jianghe hastily interrupted Alchemist Zhuang.

If he let the man continue, Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan might actually start calling him Grandmaster.

"Haha! Having taken a Youthful Pill in your early years, your mindset is still excellent, Fellow Daoist!" Alchemist Zhuang teased.

Chen Jianghe chuckled.

However, this chuckle gave Alchemist Zhuang the answer he was looking for. He assumed Chen Jianghe was tacitly admitting to having previously consumed a Youthful Pill, which was why he planned to sell the second one. At the same time, it indirectly suggested that Chen Jianghe’s relationship with Gao Peiyao was not as simple as it appeared on the surface.

"Have you finished Refining the Lifespan Extension Pill, Fellow Daoist?" Having matters weighing on his mind, Chen Jianghe didn’t want to banter with the old man any longer; getting down to business was more important.

"Has Yu Daniu arrived at the Qinghe Marketplace?" Alchemist Zhuang asked simply, handing over a Jade Bottle.

"Not yet, but it’ll be within the next few days."

Chen Jianghe took out five hundred Spirit Stones and handed them to Alchemist Zhuang. Then, he accepted the Jade Bottle and swept his Divine Sense over it. His expression shifted slightly.

Looking at Alchemist Zhuang, he said, "Fellow Daoist, you’ve given me too many Lifespan Extension Pills."

"Not too many. Three pills from one batch—it’s exactly right," Alchemist Zhuang replied with a straight face.

"Uh?"

Chen Jianghe looked at the Jade Bottle in his hand, which contained three Lifespan Extension Pills.

The market price for a Lifespan Extension Pill was five hundred Spirit Stones apiece. However, they were priceless and completely out of stock in regular markets. Generally, they could only be purchased at auctions, where everyone had a tacit understanding to set the starting auction price of a Lifespan Extension Pill at eight hundred Spirit Stones.

"I originally asked to purchase one pill from you. Besides, I only gave you five hundred Spirit Stones; three pills is too much." Chen Jianghe took out one Lifespan Extension Pill and handed the Jade Bottle back to Alchemist Zhuang.

Alchemist Zhuang raised a hand to stop him.

"When you ask me to practice Alchemy, it naturally yields a full batch. Who Refines pills one by one? Furthermore, the materials cost no more than two hundred Spirit Stones. Since you gave me five hundred Spirit Stones, I actually overcharged you for the Refining fee. I truly feel ashamed."

For a Tier Two Alchemist, a Lifespan Extension Pill wasn’t particularly valuable. As long as they had the Pill Formula, any Tier Two Alchemist could Refine it. Moreover, the materials could all be easily bought. Thus, the Lifespan Extension Pill, which was incredibly precious in the eyes of other Cultivators, was merely an ordinary Spirit Pill to a Tier Two Alchemist.

Alchemist Zhuang was on good terms with Chen Jianghe; it was just one batch of Lifespan Extension Pills. Had Chen Jianghe not been buying it for the Yun family, Alchemist Zhuang would have only charged him two hundred Spirit Stones for the materials. He might not have even asked for those two hundred Spirit Stones.

"This..."

"Are you treating me like an outsider, Fellow Daoist?"

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist." Hearing this, Chen Jianghe took the Jade Bottle back, placed it into his Storage Pouch, and cupped his hands in gratitude.

"However, you must keep the Refining of the Lifespan Extension Pill a secret. The Celestial South Sect implicitly allows Tier Two Alchemists to Refine Lifespan Extension Pills, but it cannot be brought to light, nor can they be sold openly. Otherwise, it would infringe upon the Celestial South Sect’s interests, and even a Tier Two Alchemist in the Foundation Establishment Realm would meet a grim end," Alchemist Zhuang earnestly cautioned him.

"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist, I understand." Chen Jianghe nodded, then asked, "Do you know who in the Qinghe Marketplace has a Purple Mist Red Fruit?"

"Did Ruan Tieniu die in the Youxian Mountain Range?" Alchemist Zhuang asked in astonishment, then nodded to himself. "Fusang Cliff is occupied by several Tier Two Demon Beasts. For someone at the Tenth-Layer Qi Refining to go there alone is indeed courting death."

"Ahem... Fellow Daoist Ruan is still alive and well, but he probably doesn’t plan on heading to Fusang Cliff anymore." Chen Jianghe couldn’t help but chuckle as he added, "Therefore, I can only look for someone else to collaborate with on Alchemy."

"As for the Purple Mist Red Fruit, I do know someone who has one, but I wonder if you can procure another stalk of Youthful Grass?"

"What does this have to do with Youthful Grass?"