Chapter 810: Greed (2)

“Then it’s settled. After coming to Central Continent for these years, I’ve accumulated quite a few spirit medicines and spirit fruits, let’s buy some auxiliary medicines and see how many pills we can refine. Once the shop location is chosen, I’ll inform junior sister. For now, let’s head to the Certification Association in the Immortal City and get certified as an alchemist, the rental fee for the grotto mansion can be reduced a bit.”

“How much can be reduced?”

“As long as one completes the Tier Three, One-Star Alchemist certification, five top-grade spirit stones can be reduced each year. Every star upgrade reduces two more top-grade spirit stones, looking at the long term, it can save quite a significant cost.”

The movement of high-tier craftsmen is not large, unless there’s an unavoidable reason to leave, no one would abandon the connections they have painstakingly built.

Ji An is heading to the Wanhua Mountain Range, and after the Five Elements Sect relic opens, he still has to return to Cloud Sea Immortal City.

Han Yan curiously asked, “Are only alchemists eligible for this privilege?”

“No, all cultivators learning cultivation techniques can receive the benefit if their certified ability reaches Tier Two. If a cultivator masters multiple cultivation techniques, the reduction of grotto mansion rental fees can stack.”

Ji An now has two Tier Three, Four-Star certifications in alchemy and talisman making, allowing him to reduce twenty-two top-grade spirit stones per year.

“This approach isn’t very clever but quite practical; it seems the Immortal City can attract many skilled loose cultivators.”

…

Cloud Sea Immortal City, Certification Association.

The examination has already passed two double hours, Ji An waits outside the room, his forehead pressed against the jade slip with improvement suggestions for the Thunder Bead.

Not wasting time has become his instinct, pursuing higher realms is his eternal motivation.

With a creaking sound, the door was opened, Master Lie Yang came out:

“Fellow Daoist Xuanqing, your junior sister was certified as a Tier Three, One-Star Alchemist, her jade token is being made shortly, let’s go have a chat.”

Han Yan followed out, smiled, and nodded to Ji An.

“Alright,” Ji An agreed, and the pair followed Master Lie Yang into another room.

After the three took their seats and exchanged pleasantries, Master Lie Yang said:

“Being certified as an Alchemist allows you to enjoy the resources provided by the association and also take on tasks released by the association. Given Daoist Master Yuhua’s performance in the assessment, she can take on tasks to refine the Fire Element Pill and all pills below Tier Three.”

Han Yan nodded lightly, “I understand, thank you for informing me, fellow Daoist. Does the association currently have a task for refining the Fire Element Pill?”

‘Yuhua’ is her honorific; among the few Tier Three pill formulas she knows, it’s the Fire Element Pill that she has refining experience with.

“Temporarily none, let’s exchange magic seals. If there’s a suitable alchemy task, I’ll notify you with the Communication Golden Sword. You possess the Cyan Lotus Treasure Color, you can take on Vajra Pill refinement tasks daily. It’s a pill for purifying demonic qi pollution, and when the True Demon Tribulation fully erupts, these will be heavily utilized. There are several batches of Vajra Pill needing refinement now, would you take the task?”

Master Lie Yang’s tone was full of envy; both the junior and senior siblings possess the Cyan Lotus Heart-Burning Fire, showing their sect has obtained a fire seed.

A single piece of Heaven and Earth Spirit Fire can condense two to three fire seeds, whether the opposing sect still has leftover fire seeds is unknown.

If they do, it would be worth paying a bit more to acquire it.

However, now isn’t the time to inquire; perhaps in a few years, he might probe slightly further.

Since their sect already has two alchemists possessing Heaven and Earth Spirit Fire, if there were a third fire seed, he’d be decently positioned with enough cost.

Han Yan certainly knew of the Vajra Pill; the sect’s Agricultural Hall had already begun planting related herbs.

“I am willing to accept the task.”

She had not personally refined the Vajra Pill before; she would naturally take the opportunity for practice, as it would also be useful upon returning to the sect.

“This pill requires a pill formation success rate of forty percent, if you don’t meet the requirement, it must be supplemented later.”

Master Lie Yang laughed, noting that Vajra Pill refined with Heaven and Earth Spirit Fire was more favored; handing them over to headquarters would earn greater rewards.

Han Yan furrowed her brows, “The Vajra Pill is a Tier Two top-quality pill; it is my first time coming across its refinement, why such high requirements?”

Master Lie Yang smiled and explained:

“Headquarters now requires that Vajra Pill and Treasure Flower Pill only be handed to cultivators with refining experience. If Daoist doesn’t possess the Cyan Lotus Heart-Burning Fire, I wouldn’t offer you the refining opportunity; in future, your pill formation success rate must reach fifty percent. This Fellow Daoist Xuanqing is also aware of.”

Ji An nodded slightly, “Indeed so, don’t worry, accept the task boldly; if there’s a problem, I’ll cover.”

Nowadays, he rarely takes Vajra Pill refining tasks, given that Daoist Master Feiyun’s family also has Vajra Pill needs, and all pills can be traded for Purple Cloud Jade Ganoderma Pill.

“Thank you, senior brother, but I won’t lag behind.”

Han Yan chuckled, “Please, fellow Daoist, provide me the herbs.”

Master Lie Yang kindly stated, “No rush, let’s discuss task details and sign the commission agreement, while we wait for the jade token to be delivered.”

He wasn’t in any worry about the opposite party’s credibility; although this was their first interaction, he greatly trusted the other party’s senior brother.

…

Leaving the Certification Association, Ji An took Han Yan to stroll around the Immortal City. As the day faded, held a banquet at the Tripod Fragrance Pavilion, welcoming her cleansing journey. As they departed, the bright moon hung high.

Returning to the Black Stone Grotto Mansion, Ji An stepped into the Gourd World, riding the clouds to flying escape to the Wood Element Spirit Field. He chopped down three Tier Three middle grade Azure Dragon Woods.

The Spirit Wood let out a sad cry, as the Cyan Lotus Treasure Banner flew out and wailed loudly, as if in mourning.

Ji An stored the spiritual materials into the Grotto Void Stone, then flew escape to the Vajra Bodhi Tree, finding suitable Spirit Wood, summoned the Stone Turtle, commanding:

“Refine Dao Rhyme, elevate the Spirit Wood tier to Tier Three upper grade.”

The Stone Turtle appeared above the chosen Azure Dragon Wood, and an Eight Trigrams pattern emerged on the ground, weaving a silver light cocoon.

After spending more than a double hour, consecutively elevated three Vajra Bodhi Trees and obtained six top-grade Geng Metal Divine Thunder Talismans.

Once the task was completed, Ji An flew to the Gathering Essence Tree, beginning the rotation of the Five Elements Reincarnation Scripture.

Due to an inadequate supply of Purple Cloud Jade Ganoderma Pills, he could only take two monthly, still a privilege above most mid-stage Golden Core cultivators.

Nature’s spiritual energy quickly aggregated into a vortex over his head, the Five Elements Spirit Light like mischievous elves, danced around him.

Spiritual qi got refined into magic power crystals, divided into two portions, most went into the middle dantian, devoured by the golden core, while a small portion entered the lower dantian, nurturing the Stone Turtle and Primordial Life Fire.

The Blazing Sun Furnace floated in flames, now its happiest moment, indulged solely in the nourishment of the Primordial Life Fire.

Since breaking through to Gold Core, the Primordial Life Fire had roughly doubled in size; its hue transitioned from light gold to golden yellow.

Five Elements Spirit Liquid was condensed in the Divine Mansion, being transferred to the middle dantian.

Every time spirit liquid was absorbed by the golden core, the rotation speed increased, driving the cultivation technique’s operation speed.

As his divine sense got consumed substantially, Ji An halted the cultivation technique, and began practicing Acala Bodhisattva Skill.

…

The next day.

Ji An rode clouds to the Immortal City, landing at the Golden Puppet Pavilion.

He directly found the pavilion master, saluting and smiling:

“Greetings, fellow Daoist, I have something to trouble you with today. The puppets you crafted last time were very satisfactory; this time, a fellow from the Western Continent brought three upper-grade Vajra Bodhi Trees, and they immediately thought of you, hoping to have you refine them into puppets.”

Daoist Master Xuanji, astounded, responded, “Alright, let’s talk in the storeroom.”

His expression remained indifferent though his heart stirred with surprise; accumulating three upper-grade Vajra Bodhi Trees in thirty years showed the sect controlled extraordinary resources.

If the Golden Puppet Sect could control such power… a greed surged from his heart.

Arriving at the storeroom, Ji An brought out the spiritual materials:

“Please, fellow Daoist, inspect.”

Daoist Master Xuanji quickly examined them and said:

“The material quality is excellent, just like last time, it’ll take five years for me to refine, the payment remains unchanged, agree?”

“Agreed, let’s sign an agreement.”

After signing the agreement, the two returned to the guest room for a brief chat before Ji An bid farewell.

Daoist Master Xuanji’s gentle gaze acquired a fierceness, a sect from the Western Continent possessing rapid spiritual material growth techniques was something the Golden Puppet Sect lacked.

He recorded everything crisp on a jade slip, sealed it with a key, before calling trusted aides, solemnly instructing:

“Set off immediately, deliver the jade slip to the sect leader.”

Ji An’s first presentation of three-tier upper-grade spirit wood stirred greed, though not intensely.

Because he felt regardless of whether secret techniques or treasures brought benefits, there were always other costs; obtaining secret treasures, techniques presented slim chances.

With the current cost seemingly low, if the sect’s Daoist Monarch would be interested, the attempt for acquisition worth trying.

Not guaranteed to obtain, but as long as a chance exists, it’s worth it.

“As you command!”