Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Xiao Hei's Intense Craving
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Fortune and Longevity Lane, Number 136, Fortune Residence.
Zhuang Xinyan returned from Qinghe Restaurant, hung a 'In Seclusion' sign on the courtyard gate, then walked in and shut the gate tight.
At this moment, Jiang Ruxu had also finished her alchemy and saw Zhuang Xinyan entering.
"Senior Sister, you went out?"
Jiang Ruxu asked, puzzled.
She had been a disciple under Alchemist Zhuang for several years and knew that Zhuang Xinyan was deeply cherished by him. He usually wouldn't let her go out alone.
It was as if some accident would happen the moment Zhuang Xinyan was out of his sight.
It wasn't until she arrived that Alchemist Zhuang began to let Zhuang Xinyan go out with her, but he still rarely allowed her to go out by herself.
"Yes, Senior Chen has arrived. Grandfather had me go to Qinghe Restaurant to order some spirit cuisine."
"Senior Chen is here?"
Jiang Ruxu's lively, large eyes stole a glance at the guest hall, where she saw Chen Jianghe's back.
She quickly came to Zhuang Xinyan's side and whispered in her ear, "Senior Chen isn't here to hold us accountable, is he?"
"No, it seems what Grandfather said was true. Senior Chen is here to visit him."
Zhuang Xinyan had a simple personality and thought the conversation between Chen Jianghe and Alchemist Zhuang was just as it seemed on the surface.
"Uh... so they really are friends."
Jiang Ruxu was a bit skeptical, but seeing that Chen Jianghe had come and was chatting and laughing with her master in the guest hall...
And Zhuang Xinyan had even brought back spirit cuisine and Immortal Spirit Wine from Qinghe Restaurant.
"By the way, Junior Sister, were you successful?" Zhuang Xinyan asked.
"Yes, but the pill formation rate is a bit low. I can only produce two Spirit Accumulating Pills per furnace."
"Two Spirit Accumulating Pills in one furnace! Junior Sister, your talent is truly amazing. No wonder Grandfather always praises you, saying you have the potential to become a Tier 2 Alchemist."
"But I can only form one pill per furnace, sigh~"
"Senior Sister, let's hurry inside. We shouldn't keep Master and Senior Chen waiting."
Jiang Ruxu took Zhuang Xinyan's arm, and the two walked into the guest hall together.
"Greetings, Senior Chen." Jiang Ruxu bowed respectfully to Chen Jianghe.
"Fellow Daoist Jiang, have you finished your alchemy?"
Chen Jianghe nodded and smiled. "Alchemist Zhuang is a renowned master. It is a great fortune for you to be his disciple."
"You must study the art of alchemy diligently and not waste this rare opportunity."
"I will remember Senior Chen's teachings and will definitely study hard with my master." Jiang Ruxu nodded earnestly.
"Ruxu, how was the pill formation?"
Alchemist Zhuang asked at this moment.
"Reporting to Master, this disciple formed two pills in this furnace."
"Two Spirit Accumulating Pills. Hmm, not bad. You can barely be considered a low-grade alchemist." Alchemist Zhuang nodded with satisfaction.
Hearing this, Chen Jianghe also smiled.
He could tell Alchemist Zhuang was showing off to him, displaying the foundation he had for building a connection.
*Even though you're friends with a Foundation Establishment cultivator from a sect, I'm not lacking either. I'm a high-grade alchemist myself, and my disciple is an alchemist with great potential.*
Chen Jianghe found it amusing.
What capital did he have for networking? His friendship with Gao Peiyao was just an acquaintance from their early days.
Unlike with Yu Daniu, Gao Peiyao owed Yu Daniu a favor.
However, since Alchemist Zhuang was intent on befriending him, Chen Jianghe naturally wouldn't refuse. Having another high-grade alchemist as a friend...
would be very helpful for his future cultivation.
After all, whether it was body tempering or cultivating spiritual arts, both required the aid of spirit pills.
Afterward, Alchemist Zhuang had Zhuang Xinyan bring out the spirit cuisine and Immortal Spirit Wine from Qinghe Restaurant.
The moment the spirit cuisine and Immortal Spirit Wine were brought out, a fragrant aroma instantly filled the entire room.
It had to be said, Alchemist Zhuang was indeed well-off.
The profits of an alchemist far exceeded those of a talisman master.
A table of spirit cuisine like this—Wind Wolf leg, Black Bear paw, Spitfire Rabbit, as well as Green Scale Fish and Egret imported from Qinghe Market City.
These were all spirit dishes made from spirit beasts and demon beasts.
And that pot of top-grade Immortal Spirit Wine.
Chen Jianghe couldn't guess the value of the spirit cuisine, but he knew that a pot of top-grade Immortal Spirit Wine cost ten spirit stones.
When he was giving a congratulatory gift to Gao Peiyao, Yun Xiaoniu had mentioned it.
At the family banquet, there was laughter and conversation, a joyous and harmonious atmosphere.
Since both had the intention of forming a friendship, they naturally found common ground in their conversation, not stingy with their words of praise.
After several rounds of drinks and courses.
Just as Chen Jianghe was about to take his leave.
Alchemist Zhuang finally said to Chen Jianghe, "Fellow Daoist, if you have any need for spirit pills in the future, feel free to come to me."
"I can't promise a huge discount, but I can help you save quite a few spirit stones."
Alchemist Zhuang didn't specify the price, but his tone suggested it would certainly be a better discount than the one he had promised before.
Twenty-five years ago, with Talisman Master Chu Lang's introduction.
Alchemist Zhuang had once told Chen Jianghe that if he bought spirit pills from him, he could get a five percent discount.
Now that the two were friends, the discount would naturally be greater.
"Then I thank you in advance, Fellow Daoist." Chen Jianghe cupped his hands in thanks.
At this moment, he thought of Ruan Tieniu's matter and added, "There is one more thing, if you have the time, Fellow Daoist?"
"Oh? What is it?"
A sharp glint flashed in Alchemist Zhuang's eyes as he said with a smile.
He wasn't a fool.
Chen Jianghe not only didn't come to hold him accountable but instead made a special trip to befriend him. There must be something he needed help with.
There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
So-called friendships were merely exchanges of benefits.
It was just that nothing was said explicitly.
If Chen Jianghe truly wanted nothing, then he would have to worry about Chen Jianghe's intentions for befriending him.
Was he planning to prey on his family after his death?
Just as Chen Jianghe also understood that Alchemist Zhuang befriended him and claimed to have a connection with him to outsiders.
In reality, he was paving the way for his granddaughter.
It was just that Chen Jianghe's friendship with Gao Peiyao was not as deep as Alchemist Zhuang imagined.
"A friend of mine is the captain of a demon hunting team and would like to meet you. If you are free, you could meet at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion's first floor tomorrow. If you're busy, then never mind."
Chen Jianghe said casually.
"A demon hunting team? What level of demon hunting team is it?" Alchemist Zhuang asked.
"The team is composed entirely of late-stage Qi Refining cultivators."
"Hmm, that's worth meeting. I sometimes use the spirit cores and heart marrow of spirit beasts in my alchemy."
"In that case, I will convey your intentions to him when I return."
"Good." Alchemist Zhuang nodded.
"Then I will take my leave."
"Take care, Fellow Daoist."
"Take care, Senior Chen."
"No need to see me out."
——
Chen Jianghe returned to Qingping Lane. Instead of going back to his own courtyard first, he went to courtyard number 514.
He knocked on the door knocker.
Soon, Ruan Tieniu opened the courtyard gate.
His clothes had been changed, and spirit medicine had been applied to his wounds, but it looked like spirit herbs for stopping bleeding and recuperating.
Not a healing spirit liquid.
And certainly not a healing spirit pill.
This showed how much demon hunters valued spirit stones.
After all, according to Ruan Tieniu, a four-month trip out would earn him a share of twenty to thirty spirit stones.
This was likely pure profit.
But even as pure profit, it wasn't much.
If he went out three times a year without rest, he would only get seventy to eighty spirit stones.
After deducting the rent in Qinghe Market City.
He didn't need fasting pills, as food was sourced from the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range.
These spirit stones were just enough for a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator's needs. Wanting to save up spirit stones was nothing short of a fool's dream.
Not to mention buying a body tempering art.
That's why even if a demon hunter reached the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining before the age of sixty, they wouldn't dare to attempt a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment.
Because their success rate was less than thirty percent.
As for buying spirit pills, they were even more reluctant.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have sought out Chen Jianghe to see if he could buy discounted spirit pills.
"Fellow Daoist Chen? How did it go? Is Alchemist Zhuang willing to meet?" Ruan Tieniu asked nervously.
This concerned the vital interests of his brothers in the demon hunting team.
As they ventured deeper into the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range, the spirit stone profits increased, but so did the danger.
Therefore, they needed to stock up on some healing spirit pills.
Healing spirit liquid was slightly less effective.
Once injured, they needed to take a spirit pill immediately to maintain their combat strength.
So they wouldn't just be sitting ducks waiting to die.
"Alchemist Zhuang has agreed. The meeting is tomorrow on the first floor of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. You can speak with him privately then, Fellow Daoist Ruan."
"Good, good~"
Ruan Tieniu was extremely excited and quickly said, "Are you free, Fellow Daoist Chen? I can take you to meet my friend right now."
Chen Jianghe shook his head and said, "I'll give the spirit talismans to you, Fellow Daoist Ruan. Could you perhaps help me with the trade?"
"Uh... this?"
Ruan Tieniu was a bit hesitant, not because he was unwilling, but because this involved spirit stones.
As a demon hunter, he valued spirit stones very highly.
He was extremely cautious even when spending a single spirit stone, so how could he walk away with someone else's valuable spirit talismans?
"Is it inconvenient for you, Fellow Daoist Ruan?"
Chen Jianghe didn't want to wander around Qinghe Market City anymore, nor did he want to meet more people. He just wanted to cultivate in peace.
Befriending Alchemist Zhuang and Ruan Tieniu was all for the sake of earning more spirit stones.
If not for that, he wouldn't have associated with these two so much.
"It is convenient, but the value of the talismans... How many spirit talismans do you have, Fellow Daoist?"
A trace of determination flashed in Ruan Tieniu's eyes as he asked.
"Thirty-two mid-grade protection talismans."
"Hiss~ So many!"
Ruan Tieniu was a little surprised.
"Can your friend not use this many, Fellow Daoist Ruan?" Chen Jianghe asked.
"No, no, no, even fifty could be used. His demon hunting team has over thirty mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators."
Ruan Tieniu said awkwardly, "It's just that I... only have one high-grade flying sword."
"I've used it for over five years, and it's a bit damaged. Its value is far from that of your thirty-two mid-grade protection talismans, Fellow Daoist Chen."
Ruan Tieniu took out his flying sword. It was a red, high-grade flying sword, with several nicks on the blade and a long crack on its body.
If he were to sell it at a magical artifact shop, it would be worth eighty spirit stones at most.
The thirty-two mid-grade protection talismans in Chen Jianghe's hands, if sold at a ten percent discount from the market price, would be worth two hundred and one spirit stones, plus sixty grains of spirit sand.
Before Chen Jianghe could say anything, Ruan Tieniu took out his storage pouch.
"Fellow Daoist Chen, this storage pouch is one and a half cubic meters, worth one hundred and fifty spirit stones. Inside are two Tier 1 late-stage demon beast carcasses, worth about fifty spirit stones."
As Ruan Tieniu spoke, he put away his flying sword, erased the spiritual sense imprint on the storage pouch, and handed it to Chen Jianghe.
"Uh... alright!"
Chen Jianghe took out the thirty-two mid-grade protection talismans and exchanged them with Ruan Tieniu.
"Please wait for me for an hour, Fellow Daoist."
With that, Ruan Tieniu quickly left.
Chen Jianghe had originally planned to ask Ruan Tieniu for some collateral after he agreed, since it was over two hundred spirit stones worth of goods.
Naturally, he couldn't just hand them over to someone else like that.
It's not like they were particularly close or familiar.
He just hadn't expected Ruan Tieniu to proactively offer collateral, which saved him the trouble of asking.
From this, it seemed Ruan Tieniu was quite honest.
He looked tall and imposing with a stern face, but he was also a down-to-earth man.
Chen Jianghe didn't wait in Qingping Lane. With an hour to spare, he decided to return to his own small courtyard first.
He weighed the storage pouch in his hand.
A sweep of his spiritual sense revealed two relatively small demon beasts and a few items of clothing inside.
As for spirit stones?
Demon hunters couldn't save spirit stones at all. They basically spent them as soon as they sold the beasts.
"About fifty spirit stones... it seems that as a captain, Ruan Tieniu can earn over forty spirit stones per trip."
"But why does he rent a single-room courtyard in the southwest district instead of a five-room courtyard in the northwest district?"
Demon hunters spent most of their time in the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range; there was no need to rent such an expensive courtyard.
Unless Ruan Tieniu also had a secret he couldn't tell.
And needed a relatively private space.
"Master, are we home?"
Xiao Hei's impatient voice rang out on his spirit platform.
The current Xiao Hei had a new goal: to cultivate diligently and become a Tier 2 spirit beast as soon as possible.
With a thought, Chen Jianghe released Xiao Hei.
"We're back, but I haven't bought the Crimson Cloud True Dew for you yet. I can only buy it tomorrow."
It was already getting late. By the time Ruan Tieniu returned, it would likely be after nightfall.
By then, cultivators were not allowed on the streets.
Otherwise, wouldn't those cultivators who didn't live in Qinghe Market City never have to leave?
Xiao Hei's nose twitched, and he stared intently at the storage pouch in Chen Jianghe's hand.
"Master, are there demon beasts in there?"
"You can smell what's inside a storage pouch!" Chen Jianghe said in surprise.
"The scent is very faint, but it's very close, so I can smell it." Xiao Hei's beady eyes didn't leave the storage pouch for a second.
With a thought, Chen Jianghe retrieved the demon beast carcasses from the ownerless storage pouch.
"Hiss~"
Xiao Hei took a deep breath, a fierce light erupting in his beady eyes.
"Master, I want to eat them."
"Huh?"
"The magical power from the Three Revolutions Demon Ascension Art I'm cultivating is stirring. I feel that the bodies of these demon beasts will be more helpful to my cultivation than the Crimson Cloud True Dew."
Xiao Hei looked at Chen Jianghe excitedly. "Master, can I eat them? I don't want the Crimson Cloud True Dew anymore."
His gaze was fixed on the two demon beast carcasses, and his voice, filled with longing, echoed on Chen Jianghe's spirit platform.
"If you eat the bodies of these two Tier 1 late-stage demon beasts, how many bottles of Crimson Cloud True Dew do you think it's equivalent to?"
Chen Jianghe didn't agree right away, asking for clarification first.
To see which option was more cost-effective.
A bottle of Crimson Cloud True Dew was twelve spirit stones.
The bodies of these two demon beasts, Ruan Tieniu said, were worth about fifty spirit stones.
In other words, the body of one Tier 1 late-stage demon beast was equivalent to two bottles of Crimson Cloud True Dew.
If eating two Tier 1 late-stage demon beasts was less effective than one bottle of Crimson Cloud True Dew, then he definitely couldn't let him eat them!
He was still very short on spirit stones right now.