Chapter 813: Red Flame Pavilion

The Pill Medicine Shop of Daoist Master Guanghan’s family has been operating for over ten years, barely sustaining itself under both overt and covert suppression from competitors.

The forces exerting pressure include shops that have long provided the family with medicinal materials, wishing them to remain merely suppliers of raw materials.

Transferring the shop is a bitter pill to swallow, holding onto an indomitable spirit; the family desires further development and growth and cannot remain just material suppliers.

Only by refining Spirit Medicine into pills can greater profits be obtained. However, the family’s alchemists have a weak foundation, only capable of refining Qi Refining Stage and Foundation Establishment Stage Pills.

Due to intense competition, profits are relatively thin.

In Immortal City, there are many alchemists; those lacking skills find it difficult to survive. The family’s alchemists can merely break even when refining Tier Two Pills, having reached a bottleneck with slow improvement, currently unable to venture into refining Tier Three Pills.

Ji An inquired about the shop’s location and basic situation, finding it quite favorable, with only a street separating it from the Certification Association. He then asked:

“What is the yearly rent for the shop?”

“Normally, the rent for the shop’s location fluctuates around three thousand top-grade Spirit Stones. If you can promise to help train my clan members, just two thousand four hundred top-grade Spirit Stones would suffice. Actually, there’s no need for special training; if you could point them towards refining a furnace of Tier Two Pills each month, that would be enough.”

Daoist Master Guanghan learned from Zhang Jun about the search for leasing a shop and deliberately probed into Ji An’s situation.

Although little could be learned, it was confirmed that the pills refined by this unassuming cultivator were of excellent quality.

The pill shop, in the hands of the family, is like a chicken rib. If they could rely on external aid to cultivate clan members proficient in refining Tier Two Pills, the situation would gradually improve.

“Sounds not bad, but I might not always have time to guide. My fellow disciple, Daoist Master Yuhua, is a Tier Three One-Star Alchemist, sometimes swapping guidance to her would be possible?”

The time he spent on refining a furnace of Tier Two Pills took only a double hour, surely allowing room for guidance, though he needed to visit the Wanhua Mountain Range, which might cause delays.

Daoist Master Guanghan hesitated a bit and laughed:

“Of course, if a fellow cultivator has other businesses and is delayed, making up for it later works too.”

Even without knowing the alchemy skills of the other fellow disciple, having a Tier Three Alchemist guiding clan members should be fine.

Through testing, Ji An understood that the counterpart was not difficult to deal with and nodded:

“With the new shop opening, I need a supply of materials for Tier Two Pills. What materials can you provide? How much can be supplied per cycle?”

The growth of Spirit Medicine is calculated by cycles and cannot yield annually.

“Originally, our clan’s planting cycle for Tier Two Spirit Medicine is ten years, capable of reliably supplying materials for Vermilion Bird Flame Grass Pill and Jade Radiance Pill, three furnaces’ worth for each cycle, with each furnace resulting in five pills. Additionally, every fifteen years, we can supply a batch of Canglan Treasure Light Pill materials, also five pills per furnace, but lacking the primary ingredient, Canglan Spirit Mist Fruit. In half a year, the materials for the three types of pills will mature successively for harvest.”

Daoist Master Guanghan responded, unable to foresee if the counterpart could establish a foothold. If so, she would increase the support, otherwise, the quantity supplied would not affect relationships with other collaborators.

I have the Canglan Spirit Mist Fruit… Ji An smiled subtly, indicating:

“You’re very prudent, thank you for your support. I hope we can expand cooperation in the future.”

“As long as your shop flourishes, cooperation will inevitably deepen.”

Daoist Master Guanghan paused, subtly asking:

“How long does a fellow cultivator plan to operate the shop?”

As a local influencer, she found out that the counterpart was from the Western Continent and was concerned about the inability to establish long-term roots.

The duration the shop stays open also influences her decision.

“If possible, perhaps we’ll make it a millennial shop.”

Ji An cheerfully said, even if he doesn’t continue, the sect can fully take over the shop’s operation.

Daoist Master Guanghan didn’t quite believe it, issued a dry laugh:

“You have great confidence, that’s good.”

“I need to go and inspect the shop in person, if satisfied, we can directly sign the lease agreement.”

“You’re straightforward, we can set off anytime.”

“Alright, please wait a moment, I’ll notify my junior sister, we’ll go together.”

Han Yan will be the actual manager of the shop, it’s crucial to hear her opinions.

Ji An took out the Communication Golden Sword, recorded information, and immediately stimulated it to fly out.

Spirit Light rushed forth from the Grotto Mansion, leaving a golden trail that quickly dissipated.

The two chatted leisurely, discussing planting. Daoist Master Guanghan discovered that the counterpart knew little about Secret Techniques for improving Spirit Field tier but had a profound understanding of Planting Techniques.

Combining the Magic Intent felt within the woods outside the Grotto Mansion, she gained a bit more confidence in their cooperation.

About two quarters passed, Han Yan arrived at Black Stone Mountain.

Ji An introduced the two for acquaintances, exchanged brief pleasantries, then together with Zhang Liangyu, headed toward Immortal City.

…

Magnolia Street, Treasure Pill Pavilion.

Under the owner’s guidance, Ji An and the two strolled among the quiet shop, conferred briefly, and made their decision.

“Fellow cultivator, let’s sign the agreement; when will you relocate?”

Daoist Master Guanghan pondered and replied:

“We need time to clear out the remaining pills, approximately requiring a month. Apologizing for causing inconvenience, we can offer you the first month’s free rent, starting from the subsequent month. How’s that?”

“Agreed, it’s just right that we also have time for more preparations.”

Ji An nodded in agreement, after taking over the shop, they would still need to adjust the layout, redesign the living area.