Chapter 208 - 141: Daniu Loses His Son, Disaster Befalls the Yun Family

Chapter 208: Chapter 141: Daniu Loses His Son, Disaster Befalls the Yun Family

"She doesn’t lack Cultivation Resources or Spirit Stones, and it seems she isn’t willing to be a sucker who pays a fortune for a Youthful Pill at auction."

"However, I can say for certain that she has never taken a Youthful Pill. That’s why we need a stalk of Youthful Grass to refine a pill to trade with her for the Purple Mist Red Fruit."

Alchemist Zhuang explained with a smile, clearing up Chen Jianghe’s confusion.

"I don’t have to trade with her. We could partner to refine a Foundation Establishment Pill. Would she refuse that as well?" Chen Jianghe asked in disbelief.

’He still had a Youthful Pill, but he could tell from Alchemist Zhuang’s words that the man knew about it.’

’Alchemist Zhuang had probably even figured out that he was the one who had listed that Youthful Pill for auction at the Hundred Treasures Tower.’

’It was just that they both had a tacit understanding not to say it out loud.’

The reason Alchemist Zhuang had asked if Chen Jianghe could get his hands on another Youthful Grass was quite simple.

His disciple, Jiang Ruxu, had her sights set on the Youthful Pill currently in Chen Jianghe’s possession.

Of course, he had to prioritize his own disciple.

"That Fairy is a Foundation Establishment Elder. She has no descendants, is very proud and aloof, and doesn’t need a Foundation Establishment Pill."

"Then she could take the Foundation Establishment Pill, list it for auction at the Hundred Treasures Tower, and the Spirit Stones she’d get would definitely be enough to buy a Youthful Pill."

"Haha, my friend, you seem to have forgotten. I’m a Tier Two Alchemist now, and my refining fee has increased. To crowdfund the refining of a Foundation Establishment Pill, you’d need to pay me two thousand Spirit Stones."

Alchemist Zhuang reminded Chen Jianghe, then added, "After all that trouble, while the Fairy could earn a profit of several hundred Spirit Stones from the exchange, as I said, she isn’t short on Spirit Stones."

Chen Jianghe froze.

’He had never imagined there were Cultivators like that, who actually weren’t interested in Spirit Stones.’

’Besides, crowdfunding the Alchemy wasn’t a hassle, and listing a Foundation Establishment Pill for auction was very convenient. Even with a Low-Quality Foundation Establishment Pill, after covering the refining fee and auction commission, she could buy a Youthful Pill and still have a hundred or so Spirit Stones left over.’

’If it were a Genuine Foundation Establishment Pill, the profit would be five to six hundred Spirit Stones.’

’She actually looked down on five or six hundred Spirit Stones?’

For someone with a frugal mindset like Chen Jianghe, who would split a single Spirit Stone in two before spending it, her way of thinking was completely incomprehensible.

"My friend, this Foundation Establishment Fairy you’re talking about... she must be a master artisan!" Chen Jianghe said with certainty.

To be able to disregard several hundred Spirit Stones meant she didn’t lack them. In his mind, only a Master of the Hundred Arts had that kind of privilege.

"Mhm, a Tier Two Refiner."

"No wonder."

Chen Jianghe understood.

He had already learned from Alchemist Zhuang about the disparity among the Four Extremes of the Hundred Arts. Although the Talisman Dao was also listed as one of the four extremes,

when it came to earning Spirit Stones, its speed fell far short of Alchemy, Artifact Refining, and Array Formation.

Alchemy was very profitable, but Artifact Refining was even more so.

As for Array Formation?

That was basically a case of "go three years without a single deal, then one deal feeds you for three years."

One only had to look at the Tier Two Large-Scale Defense Array in Jingyue Marketplace to see how high an Array Master’s earnings could be.

Establishing Jingyue Marketplace depleted several centuries of the Yun Family’s accumulated wealth, half of which was spent on that Defense Array.

"My friend, do you know anyone else who might have a Purple Mist Red Fruit?"

Chen Jianghe asked, left with no other choice.

’She’s a Tier Two Refiner and simply looks down on a few hundred Spirit Stones. Even if I genuinely offered to trade a Youthful Pill, it would be a toss-up whether she’d agree to the exchange.’

’With her status, it wouldn’t be difficult for her to get a Youthful Pill.’

’So she’s in no hurry to take a Youthful Pill.’

"Surely you don’t think Purple Mist Red Fruits are easy to get?" Alchemist Zhuang gave him a speechless look. "To venture deep into the Youxian Mountain Range and make off with a single Purple Mist Red Fruit from Fusang Cliff requires the coordinated effort of at least five Foundation Establishment Cultivators."

"Haha, just asking..."

Chen Jianghe smiled awkwardly.

He had indeed thought getting a Purple Mist Red Fruit was too simple.

Or perhaps it was because he’d seen a few too many Foundation Establishment Pills recently—after all, he still had one in his hand. This made him feel that the main ingredients for refining one weren’t that difficult to obtain.

After exchanging a few more words with Alchemist Zhuang, Chen Jianghe took his leave.

As for getting another stalk of Youthful Grass, he figured it would be very difficult. At the very least, he wouldn’t be able to get one through Gao Peiyao.

In the eyes of others, his relationship with Gao Peiyao was quite close.

But he himself knew their relationship was merely at a friendly level. One stalk of Youthful Grass had already fulfilled the entirety of their friendship’s obligation.

If he were to ask for more, he would only be making a fool of himself.

Besides, if there were any favors to be exchanged, it should be Chen Jianghe providing one for Gao Peiyao now.

Of course, even if he wanted to find Gao Peiyao, he had no way to contact her.

When Gao Peiyao left during the Mid-Autumn Festival three years ago, she didn’t leave the three of them any way to get in touch.

This meant Gao Peiyao might be returning to her Sect for secluded Cultivation, or she could be planning a new future for herself.

They were no longer Cultivators living in the same world.

「Back in Qingping Lane.」

Chen Jianghe walked past the gate to his own courtyard and arrived at Ruan Tieniu’s. Seeing no sign hanging outside, he knew Tieniu wasn’t out and wasn’t in seclusion.

He knocked on the door.

A moment later, Ruan Tieniu opened the courtyard gate. The instant he saw Chen Jianghe, his heart sank.

This was because Chen Jianghe had told him that, no matter what, he would give him a definite answer.

Ruan Tieniu knew full well that if he wanted a Foundation Establishment Pill, his only options were to trade for the Low-Quality Foundation Establishment Pill in Chen Jianghe’s hands or to ambush and kill Ji Wujin.

Having hunted demons for many years—and been a "fisherman" for just as long—

Ruan Tieniu saw through Ji Wujin’s ploy in a single glance. He knew the man was baiting a trap and could imagine he must hold a trump card that made him unafraid of even Foundation Establishment Cultivators.