Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: Forging a Connection
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Stepping out of his courtyard.
Chen Jianghe frowned. The scent of blood hit him, and looking up, he saw Ruan Tieniu from Courtyard 514 walking over from the alley's entrance.
The strong smell of blood was coming from him.
There were bloodstains on his clothes, which were torn in several places. A particularly deep wound was visible on his left shoulder.
It looked like the work of a demonic beast.
The gash was so deep that bone was visible, with flesh peeled back.
But Ruan Tieniu's face showed no sign of pain, as if he were used to it.
As he passed Courtyard 512, Ruan Tieniu smiled and nodded.
Chen Jianghe nodded back in greeting.
He was about to head to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion to sell the spirit talismans he had, and it was also time to purchase this year's cultivation resources.
"Fellow Daoist Chen, please wait a moment."
Suddenly, Ruan Tieniu called out to Chen Jianghe and came to stand before him. The smell of blood was even stronger up close.
The wound on his shoulder was even clearer to see.
*I wonder if an injury like this will affect his lifespan,* Chen Jianghe thought.
"Is there something I can help you with, Fellow Daoist Ruan?"
Chen Jianghe asked with a smile.
Ruan Tieniu noticed Chen Jianghe's gaze on his shoulder wound. He smiled faintly and pulled a scrap of his torn clothing over the gash to cover it.
The mere sight of the action made Chen Jianghe wince.
"I just returned from the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range. A bit of a sorry sight, I'm afraid."
"It's nothing," Chen Jianghe replied with a calm smile, showing he didn't mind.
"Has your skill in the Dao of Talismans improved?"
"Don't get me wrong, I just want to connect you with a business opportunity, right here in the market city."
Hearing Ruan Tieniu's words, Chen Jianghe already knew what kind of deal it was, and that it would be very beneficial to him.
It was just that his talisman skills didn't meet Ruan Tieniu's requirements.
"Although I've improved, I'm still just a mid-grade Talisman Master. I'm afraid I don't meet your requirements," Chen Jianghe said with a wry smile.
"A mid-grade Talisman Master? Then can you draw mid-grade Five Elements Escape Talismans?" Ruan Tieniu asked.
"Uh... I haven't tried yet."
"What about mid-grade Protection Talismans?"
"Those I can draw."
"If you can draw mid-grade Protection Talismans, that's good enough. I have a friend who's also the captain of a demon-hunting team. His team has many mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators, so they have a high demand for mid-grade spirit talismans."
Ruan Tieniu said with a cheerful laugh, "You must have just recently become a mid-grade Talisman Master. I wonder, could you produce twenty-five mid-grade Protection Talismans in a year?"
"..."
*Twenty-five mid-grade Protection Talismans? That's considered high demand?*
Chen Jianghe currently had thirty-two mid-grade Protection Talismans on hand.
But on second thought, Ruan Tieniu's question about twenty-five talismans was in line with the typical annual output of a newly promoted mid-grade Talisman Master.
But Chen Jianghe was different.
He cultivated the Myriad Waters True Scripture, which increased his spiritual power by thirty percent. Over a year, he could attempt to draw talismans over twenty more times than other mid-grade Talisman Masters.
With a thirty percent success rate, that meant he could produce an extra six or seven mid-grade Protection Talismans.
"I can," Chen Jianghe nodded.
"Alright then. If you're willing to sell them at ninety percent of the market price, I'll introduce you tomorrow," Ruan Tieniu said, pleased.
"That's fine. May I ask what I can help you with?"
Chen Jianghe asked.
He had no prior relationship with Ruan Tieniu; the man wouldn't have offered him such a good deal for no reason.
In Qinghe Market City, the consumption of spirit talismans was enormous.
Because it was adjacent to the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range, the market city was home to many demon hunters. In the northwest residential area, seventy percent of the cultivators were demon hunters.
Therefore, whether it was low-grade, mid-grade, or even high-grade spirit talismans, the demand was incredibly high.
As a result, many Talisman Masters engaged in private transactions with demon-hunting teams, allowing them to earn more spirit stones.
The members of the demon-hunting teams could also spend fewer spirit stones.
Of course, the ones who lost out were the spirit talisman shops in Qinghe Market City.
However, Qinghe Market City supported the demon-hunting industry, as it was its primary economic driver.
The demonic beasts hunted by demon hunters, after being processed, could be sold in the market cities north of the Sky-Reaching River.
North of the Sky-Reaching River, there were no large mountain ranges suitable for demonic beasts to thrive, so their numbers were relatively low.
The demand for demonic beasts over there was very high.
Coincidentally, Qinghe Market City had no shortage of demonic beasts. Thus, it supported the demon-hunting industry and turned a blind eye to the private dealings between Talisman Masters and demon hunters.
The demon hunters spurred on too many industries.
Spirit pills, spirit elixirs, magical artifacts, formations, puppets, and many other industries all relied on the business of demon hunters.
Qinghe Market City didn't really care about the spirit talisman industry alone.
"I hear you're on very good terms with Alchemist Zhuang?" Ruan Tieniu asked with a laugh.
He was, of course, asking a favor of Chen Jianghe. Otherwise, why would he be so attentive to a mere eighth-level Qi Refining cultivator?
"How did you hear that I have a relationship with Alchemist Zhuang?"
Chen Jianghe was puzzled.
What kind of relationship did he have with Alchemist Zhuang?
They had met once at Mirror Moon Lake and exchanged fewer than three sentences.
At Gao Peiyao's Foundation Establishment celebration, although he had spoken a few words with Alchemist Zhuang, they certainly didn't have any kind of close relationship.
So, why would Ruan Tieniu think he was close with Alchemist Zhuang?
Something seemed off!
"During the Hundred Arts Exchange a while back, I went to check it out and happened to overhear Alchemist Zhuang mentioning that he and you were on good terms."
"And that his disciple is also quite close with you."
At this point, Ruan Tieniu's tone became imploring. "I'd like to ask you for an introduction."
"Regardless of whether you can buy spirit pills from Alchemist Zhuang, I'll definitely sort out the matter of selling your spirit talismans."
"And from now on, you will be my brother, Ruan Tieniu's brother."
Chen Jianghe had no interest in becoming brothers with Ruan Tieniu. Having one brother like Yu Daniu was enough.
Brothers born of mutual benefit? He'd rather not.
But making a friend was acceptable.
What puzzled him was why Zhuang Yanfeng, a high-grade Alchemist, would go around saying they were close friends.
What did that mean?
He even brought up his own disciple.
This displeased him somewhat.
However, Ruan Tieniu's offer was tempting.
Selling spirit talismans to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion or other shops would get him eighty-five percent of the market price.
But selling to demon hunters would fetch ninety percent.
The difference in profit was significant.
For a hundred mid-grade Protection Talismans, he could earn an extra thirty-five spirit stones.
That was equivalent to reducing the cost of drawing the talismans by a third. It was definitely a good deal.
In the future, when he sold mid-grade Five Elements Escape Talismans or even high-grade spirit talismans, the profits would be even greater.
"I'll need to ask Alchemist Zhuang first. Whether he agrees to see you is not something I can decide."
Chen Jianghe didn't make any firm promises.
It wasn't like he actually had a close relationship with Alchemist Zhuang.
"Alright, I'll wait for your news, Fellow Daoist."
Ruan Tieniu cupped his hands in thanks.
Chen Jianghe nodded. Watching Ruan Tieniu return to his courtyard, he decided against heading to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
Now that he had a better sales channel, he certainly wasn't going to be a sucker anymore.
There would be many more expenses requiring spirit stones in the future. He needed to learn to be frugal and not waste a single one.
He would strive to make every grain of spirit sand count.
Ruan Tieniu asking him for an introduction to Alchemist Zhuang was also about saving spirit stones. After all, the spirit stones earned by demon hunters were paid for with their lives.
They cherished every single spirit stone they obtained.
In Qinghe Market City, shops bought back spirit pills at a very high price—ninety-five percent of the market value.
Therefore, Alchemists had no need to engage in private transactions with demon hunters.
All the cultivators in Qinghe Market City knew that Alchemists were wealthy, and the profits from alchemy were even higher.
Yet, very few cultivators chose to learn it.
First, they lacked the legacy or teachings.
Second, the Dao of Alchemy had extremely high requirements for talent. Pharmacology, heat control, hand seals—if you could understand these things, you understood them.
If you couldn't, no amount of time spent grinding away would help you see the light.
Chen Jianghe walked through Qing Street, crossed the small bridge on He Street, and turned into Fushou Alley in the northeast district.
He arrived at number 136.
This was Alchemist Zhuang's residence.
The layout of the courtyards in the northeast district was different from those in the northwest and southwest districts.
They were all two-story buildings on a third of an acre of land, complete with either a smithy or an alchemy room.
In addition to the Spirit-Gathering Formation, Awareness-Concealing Formation, and Defensive Formation, there was also a Fire-Inducing Formation.
It could draw upon earthfire for alchemy or artifact refinement.
The rent here was very expensive: fifty spirit stones a year.
It could accommodate up to five people.
Of course, one more person could live there, but for long-term residence, it had to be reported to the Housing Guild.
Then an additional four spirit stones per year would suffice.
So, in these two-story courtyard houses, you could have as many cultivators as you wanted. The Housing Guild didn't care, as long as you paid the spirit stones.
*Knock, knock knock.*
Chen Jianghe lifted the door knocker and rapped on Alchemist Zhuang's gate.
After about twenty breaths, the gate slowly opened, and Alchemist Zhuang's granddaughter, Zhuang Xinyan, stepped out.
"Senior Chen?"
Seeing Chen Jianghe, Zhuang Xinyan's eyes filled with panic. She bowed respectfully.
"Junior greets Senior Chen."
"Mm, is Alchemist Zhuang at home?" Chen Jianghe asked.
But he clearly saw the panic in Zhuang Xinyan's eyes when she saw him.
It was as if she had been caught doing something wrong by an elder.
"He is. Grandfather is instructing my junior sister in alchemy," Zhuang Xinyan said nervously.
After saying that, she fell silent.
She lowered her head, her delicate hands fidgeting with the corner of her clothes.
Chen Jianghe was also a bit stunned. Since Alchemist Zhuang was home, shouldn't she be inviting him in at this point?
Offer him a cup of tea and let him wait for Alchemist Zhuang to finish?
Why were they just standing here at a standstill?
"Am I that scary to you?"
Chen Jianghe asked, confused.
"No, it's just... my grandfather only went around saying he and Senior... Ah! No, no, that's not it, I..."
Zhuang Xinyan's heart trembled. She was so nervous she couldn't even speak clearly. She stole a glance at Chen Jianghe, feeling even more anxious.
She thought Chen Jianghe had come to call them to account.
Because her grandfather had said more than once to outsiders how close he was with Chen Jianghe back in Mirror Moon Market City.
Zhuang Xinyan knew her grandfather was doing it all for her.
The Zhuang family had been wiped out by Lan Tianxiang.
Only the two of them, grandfather and granddaughter, were left.
One must remember that over twenty years ago, when Zhuang Yanfeng first met Chen Jianghe, he was already over seventy. Now, he was approaching a hundred, his lifespan's limit clearly in sight.
"May I come in and wait for Alchemist Zhuang?" Chen Jianghe asked with a smile.
He had guessed why Zhuang Xinyan was so nervous, but he hadn't come to reprimand them.
Zhuang Yanfeng saw his close relationship with Gao Peiyao and thus wanted to befriend him to pave the way for his granddaughter's future. It was understandable.
He probably took Jiang Ruxu as a disciple and taught her alchemy for his granddaughter's sake as well.
Eighty percent of the alchemy profits for sixty years would be more than enough for Zhuang Xinyan to live well in Qinghe Market City.
Besides, Zhuang Yanfeng must have accumulated a considerable amount of spirit stones himself.
"Yes, of course you can. Please come in, Senior."
Zhuang Xinyan invited Chen Jianghe inside.
As soon as he entered the small courtyard, he was hit by a wave of spiritual energy. Its density was something he had never experienced at Mirror Moon Lake.
The courtyard was large, and the landscaping was elegant.
There were three two-story buildings and an auxiliary room.
Seeing the flickering firelight in the auxiliary room, he figured that must be the alchemy room.
"This way, Senior."
"Mm."
Once inside the guest hall, Zhuang Xinyan brewed a cup of tea for Chen Jianghe. "Please wait a moment, Senior. Grandfather should be out shortly."
"It's fine."
Chen Jianghe sipped his tea and, looking at the nervous Zhuang Xinyan, asked with a smile, "I heard from Alchemist Zhuang that you're also an alchemist?"
"Yes, I'm a low-grade Alchemist. But my talent isn't very good. Grandfather says I might never become a mid-grade Alchemist in my lifetime. He wants me to focus on my cultivation, which is why he took my junior sister as a disciple."
After she finished speaking, Zhuang Xinyan lowered her head again, not daring to meet Chen Jianghe's gaze, as if feeling guilty.
Hearing her words, Chen Jianghe sighed inwardly.
She had been too well-protected by Alchemist Zhuang. With just one question, she had revealed her entire situation.
She even revealed the future Alchemist Zhuang had planned for her.
Being too naive was not a good thing in the cultivation world.
Chen Jianghe didn't speak to her further. If they continued talking, he was worried this innocent girl would spill all her family's secrets.
He wasn't much of a gossip.
Half an hour passed.
A gap appeared in the formation around the alchemy room, and Alchemist Zhuang pushed the door open and walked out.
"Fellow Daoist Chen?"
When he saw Chen Jianghe, Alchemist Zhuang was visibly startled, then gave a helpless, wry smile. He knew this day would come.
At the Hundred Arts Exchange, he had told everyone he met how close he was with Chen Jianghe.
Such words were bound to reach Chen Jianghe's ears.
"Have you come to call me to account, Fellow Daoist? I am deeply sorry and was just about to visit you to apologize," Alchemist Zhuang said, cupping his hands.
Chen Jianghe stood and returned the gesture.
A high-grade Alchemist held a respected position. If not for his approaching lifespan limit and the need to pave a path for his granddaughter, why would he have shamelessly tried to associate with him?
"What do you mean, Alchemist Zhuang? I haven't come to call anyone to account," Chen Jianghe said calmly.
Alchemist Zhuang's face lit up with joy, but then he looked a little puzzled.
He truly had no close relationship with Chen Jianghe, so why would Chen Jianghe suddenly come looking for him?
Moreover, to build a connection, he had planned to have his disciple, Jiang Ruxu, visit Chen Jianghe first, after which he would personally visit with his granddaughter.
"I've come to visit a friend. Could it be that Alchemist Zhuang doesn't welcome me?" Chen Jianghe said with a cheerful laugh.
"Ah, this..."
Alchemist Zhuang was stunned for a moment, then his face broke into a delighted smile.
"Haha! For you to visit, Fellow Daoist, I am overjoyed."
"Xinyan, quickly go to the Qinghe Restaurant and order a table of their finest spirit cuisine. And get a bottle of top-grade Immortal Spirit Wine to bring back."
"I must catch up properly with Fellow Daoist Chen."