Chapter 121
Chapter 121
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: An Opportunity for Crowdfunded Alchemy
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Qingping Teahouse, located on River Street near the west gate, had a quiet and elegant atmosphere. Every tea room was equipped with a spiritual sense-blocking formation.
It was a good place for cultivators to converse and discuss the Dao.
Chen Jianghe arrived at Qingping Teahouse first. He spent fifty grains of spirit sand on a pot of spirit tea and waited for Ruan Tieniu in the tea room.
The effects of the spirit tea were ordinary, only providing a simple refreshing and revitalizing effect, far less beneficial than immortal spirit wine.
Fifty grains of spirit sand, he even found it a bit expensive.
But going to Qinghe Restaurant would have been too extravagant, which made Qingping Teahouse seem more cost-effective.
After the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn.
Ruan Tieniu arrived at Qingping Teahouse and was led by an attendant into Chen Jianghe's tea room.
“It's a total of four hundred and three spirit stones and twenty grains of spirit sand. Take a look, Brother Chen.”
Ruan Tieniu handed over a storage pouch. It was likely one he had borrowed from a friend on short notice.
After all, his own storage pouch was being held by Chen Jianghe as collateral.
Chen Jianghe took the storage pouch, swept it with his spiritual sense, and confirmed the amount was correct. He then transferred the spirit stones to his own storage pouch.
Then he returned both storage pouches to Ruan Tieniu.
He had already taken out the demonic beasts' bodies and stored them at home.
“What’s the price for those four demonic beasts, Brother Ruan? Just give me the number,” Chen Jianghe asked.
Business was business. The transaction had to be settled clearly, without a single grain of spirit sand being off.
“Those two late-stage first-tier Unicorn Horses both have second-grade superior bloodlines, so they’re worth a bit more. Thirty-four spirit stones each.”
“Those two mid-stage first-tier Wind Wolves are still eight spirit stones each.”
“Just give me eighty-four spirit stones, Brother Chen.”
Chen Jianghe nodded. The parts of a Unicorn Horse sold for much more; both the horn and the spirit blood were very valuable.
The horn could be used for artifact refinement, and the spirit blood could be made into spirit ink.
He then took out eighty-four spirit stones and gave them to Ruan Tieniu, concluding their year-and-a-half-long business relationship.
He had pocketed three hundred and nineteen spirit stones and twenty grains of spirit sand.
Er, subtracting the fifty grains of spirit sand for the tea, that was three hundred and eighteen spirit stones and seventy grains of spirit sand.
He now had a total of three hundred and ninety-seven spirit stones and forty grains of spirit sand.
It was the first time he had been this close to four hundred spirit stones.
With the improvement of his talisman-crafting skills, the speed at which he accumulated spirit stones had clearly quickened.
In the next six months, he would start drawing mid-grade Five Elements Escape Talismans. As long as the success rate reached thirty percent.
After this year, he could purchase a body tempering art and begin to improve his physical cultivation.
Chen Jianghe was delighted. Everything was proceeding according to his plan.
Then, he looked at Ruan Tieniu without speaking.
The transaction was complete. Next was the opportunity Ruan Tieniu had mentioned. Chen Jianghe was not in a hurry.
He waited for Ruan Tieniu to speak first.
Ordinary opportunities held little attraction for him.
As long as he cultivated step by step, progressing gradually, reaching Foundation Establishment was only a matter of time.
“Brother Chen, how deep is your friendship with Alchemist Zhuang? How much do you know about him?”
Ruan Tieniu pondered for a long time before uttering a taboo question.
This was because Chen Jianghe's friendship with Alchemist Zhuang was better than Ruan Tieniu's. Moreover, it was through his introduction that Ruan Tieniu had even connected with Alchemist Zhuang.
Logically, such a question should not have been asked.
Chen Jianghe glanced at Ruan Tieniu. He didn't answer directly, but instead sipped his tea slowly, waiting for the other man's next words.
Whether his friendship with Alchemist Zhuang was deep or not, he couldn't say either way.
“Brother Chen, don't misunderstand. This matter is of great importance, involving a Foundation Establishment opportunity. I have no choice but to be cautious,” Ruan Tieniu said solemnly.
The meaning behind this sentence was still to press Chen Jianghe on how deep his friendship with Alchemist Zhuang was.
‘A Foundation Establishment opportunity?’
‘What is Ruan Tieniu planning? A Foundation Establishment opportunity involving Alchemist Zhuang could only be about alchemy. Does he want Alchemist Zhuang to refine a Foundation Establishment Pill?’
Chen Jianghe greatly admired Alchemist Zhuang's alchemy skills; he earned spirit stones very quickly.
But the Foundation Establishment Pill was a second-tier spirit pill.
Although it was only an entry-level second-tier spirit pill, it was still a second-tier spirit pill. Alchemist Zhuang was only a first-tier superior alchemist.
How could he refine a second-tier spirit pill?
Wasn't he afraid the cauldron would explode?
Furthermore, the main ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill were rare and incredibly valuable. The supplementary ingredients were also extremely scarce and not easy to gather.
“Brother Ruan, you can just say whatever is on your mind,” Chen Jianghe said ambiguously.
He wouldn't say anything that might offend someone.
If he said his friendship with Alchemist Zhuang was good, then in the future, when Alchemist Zhuang passed away and left behind a granddaughter, would he take care of her or not?
If he said it wasn't good, and word got back to Alchemist Zhuang, any goodwill would likely vanish, and their friendship might even be severed.
Ruan Tieniu glanced at Chen Jianghe and fell into thought. This ambiguous statement made him hesitate.
When a Foundation Establishment opportunity was involved, he dared not be careless.
Seeing this, Chen Jianghe smiled. He didn't believe there was any real Foundation Establishment opportunity. Otherwise, Ruan Tieniu would have kept it a secret, so why would he tell an outsider?
“If it's inconvenient for you to say, Brother Ruan, that's fine. I'll be heading back then,” Chen Jianghe said, making a motion to stand up.
“Wait a moment, Brother Chen.”
Ruan Tieniu's expression turned serious, a look of determination in his eyes. He stopped Chen Jianghe and said, “This concerns a major Foundation Establishment opportunity. I must ask you to keep it a secret, Brother Chen.”
“Brother Chen, do you know about the Foundation Establishment Pill recipe?”
Hearing the words 'Foundation Establishment Pill', Chen Jianghe's expression changed slightly, and tumultuous waves surged in his heart.
He yearned for the Foundation Establishment Pill.
After all, it was a life-saving item.
Regarding the success rate of breaking through to Foundation Establishment, he believed that as long as it wasn't one hundred percent, there was always an element of luck involved.
Therefore, he had to get his hands on a Foundation Establishment Pill.
“I know a little,” Chen Jianghe said, suppressing his inner excitement, trying his best not to be affected by the mention of the pill.
He truly did know a little about the Foundation Establishment Pill recipe.
Of course, it was only a little.
Alchemist Zhuang had been the one to tell him that a conventional Foundation Establishment Pill recipe had three main ingredients and thirty-six supplementary ingredients.
“I have a Foundation Establishment Pill recipe.”
Ruan Tieniu did not speak these words aloud but transmitted them solemnly to Chen Jianghe via spiritual sense.
“Mm, Alchemist Zhuang has one too.”
Chen Jianghe calmed down a bit at this.
If it was just the pill recipe, there was no need to be excited. After all, having only the recipe was useless.
The key was to have the main ingredients to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill.
“It's different. The one Alchemist Zhuang has is a conventional recipe. The one I have is another kind.”
Ruan Tieniu looked at Chen Jianghe with a serious expression and transmitted via spiritual sense.
“A conventional Foundation Establishment Pill recipe has three main ingredients and thirty-six supplementary ones. But the recipe I have, while it also has three main ingredients, only requires twenty-one supplementary ingredients.”
“And it doesn’t require Profound Ice Jade Marrow.”
Upon hearing this, Chen Jianghe's expression changed drastically.
Even for someone as composed as him, he couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion at this moment.
Twenty-one supplementary ingredients?
Alchemist Zhuang had said that the Tiannan Sect's Foundation Establishment Pill recipe had twenty supplementary ingredients. The fewer the supplementary ingredients, the simpler the refining technique, and the easier it was for the pill to form.
Most importantly, the main ingredients for refining the pill were also different, which likely meant the requirements for the main ingredients were lower.
“What about the Purple Glow Vermilion Fruit?” Chen Jianghe asked.
“Among the three main ingredients, the Purple Glow Vermilion Fruit and the Illusory Heart Grass are unchanged. Only the Profound Ice Jade Marrow is different.”
“However, I’ve heard that Puppet Master Ji in the market city has a Purple Glow Vermilion Fruit.”
“Brother Ruan, are you saying you have the other two main ingredients?”
Chen Jianghe was astonished. How could a demon beast hunter possibly gather two of the main ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill?
One had to know that each main ingredient for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill was incredibly expensive, worth at least a thousand spirit stones.
“You could say that,” Ruan Tieniu nodded.
“Why look for Alchemist Zhuang? He's only a superior-grade alchemist, while the Foundation Establishment Pill is a second-tier spirit pill,” Chen Jianghe asked.
“He has successfully refined a Life Extension Pill for someone before.”
A glint flashed in Ruan Tieniu's eyes as he transmitted, “The Foundation Establishment Pill is also a low-grade second-tier spirit pill. He has a high chance of success, and hiring him doesn't cost many spirit stones.”
Chen Jianghe fell silent.
He hadn't expected Alchemist Zhuang to be hiding his abilities so well. He could actually refine a Life Extension Pill, which was an entry-level second-tier spirit pill.
In other words, Alchemist Zhuang had the foundation to become a second-tier alchemist.
No wonder he had no interest in the Life Extension Pill. From the looks of it, he had probably already taken one.
It was just a pity his lifespan was nearing its end. Otherwise, with his alchemy skills, he would have been treated as an honored guest even if he joined the Myriad Treasures Pavilion.
Chen Jianghe glanced at Ruan Tieniu, knowing what the other man wanted from him.
But he was thinking about how he could participate in this crowdfunded alchemy attempt.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
If he missed it, he didn't know when he would ever encounter another chance for crowdfunded alchemy.
Most importantly, all three main ingredients were accounted for.
Although the Purple Glow Vermilion Fruit was in Ji Wujin's hands, Ji Wujin had no reason not to refine the pill.
Consuming the Purple Glow Vermilion Fruit alone had its benefits, but compared to refining it into a Foundation Establishment Pill, the difference was immense.
“Brother Ruan, are you collaborating with anyone else?” Chen Jianghe asked.
Hearing this, Ruan Tieniu naturally understood Chen Jianghe's intentions and immediately shook his head.
“Can I get a share?”
“You can. As long as you can gather the remaining twenty-one supplementary ingredients, Brother Chen, I have no objection.”
“However, it needs to be done within five years.”
“Five years?”
Chen Jianghe showed a puzzled expression. Since the main ingredients were already gathered, it was naturally better to refine the pill as soon as possible.
Why wait five years?
Although the supplementary ingredients were rare, they could still be bought with enough spirit stones.
The moment he considered joining, he had already decided to borrow spirit stones from Gao Peiyao and Yu Daniu.
Although he disliked asking for help.
But this opportunity was too rare to miss.
“There's one more main ingredient that I need three years to obtain.”
Ruan Tieniu paused, then continued, “Also, in five years, I will miss the optimal time for Foundation Establishment.”
With that sentence, Chen Jianghe understood.
The main ingredient he hadn't obtained yet must be the Illusory Heart Grass. It probably needed another three years to mature.
Missing the optimal time for Foundation Establishment in five years.
That meant Ruan Tieniu had likely just reached the age of fifty.
Although breaking through to Foundation Establishment before the age of sixty was considered the optimal time, if possible, most would choose to do so before fifty-five.
Because that way, they could preserve their youthful appearance.
Breaking through at sixty would basically only maintain a middle-aged or even an older appearance.
“Alright, how do I gather the supplementary ingredients?”
Chen Jianghe asked.
“I will give you the illustrations for the twenty-one supplementary ingredients, but you must swear an oath not to reveal the contents to a third person.”
“I agree.”
Chen Jianghe agreed.
After he swore the oath, Ruan Tieniu took out a prepared jade slip and handed it to Chen Jianghe.
A sweep with his spiritual sense.
It only contained illustrations of the twenty-one supplementary ingredients, with no mention of the main ingredients or the refining steps.
“Alright, I will speak to Alchemist Zhuang about the matter of alchemy. I hope you can obtain that main ingredient in three years, Brother Ruan.”
“Rest assured, Brother Chen.”
Afterward, Chen Jianghe left Qingping Teahouse. He was in a hurry to get back and calculate the value of these supplementary ingredients.
Gazing at Chen Jianghe's departing figure.
A look of sorrow appeared on Ruan Tieniu's face once again.
“Brother Feng, I still have to thank you for the Foundation Establishment Pill recipe and the second-tier ice-elemental spirit core. It’s just that you aren’t as useful as Chen Jianghe, so I could only send you on your way first.”
“My three brothers have gone down to accompany you. I imagine you won't be lonely.”
For crowdfunded alchemy, there were generally no more than three people.
Because if the alchemy was successful, a single cauldron would produce at most three Foundation Establishment Pills, and then it would be a matter of their quality.
Ruan Tieniu sought out Alchemist Zhuang because he also needed to trade the Foundation Establishment Pill recipe with him.
In other words.
Hiring Alchemist Zhuang to refine the pill was something everyone would contribute spirit stones for.
But when Ruan Tieniu gave the Foundation Establishment Pill recipe to Alchemist Zhuang, he would be collecting spirit stones from him.
It was equivalent to selling the Foundation Establishment Pill recipe to Alchemist Zhuang, with the condition that it could not be sold to other alchemists in the future.
Alchemist Zhuang was a first-tier superior alchemist who could refine entry-level second-tier spirit pills, which meant he definitely didn't possess a special Foundation Establishment Pill recipe.
This way, Ruan Tieniu's Foundation Establishment Pill recipe could be sold for a good price.
After all, this was a Foundation Establishment Pill recipe that could be passed down as a family legacy. Every alchemist would be tempted.
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Chen Jianghe didn't go to Alchemist Zhuang first. Instead, he returned home, leafed through the [Qinghe Magazine], and committed its contents to memory.
Then, he looked at the illustrations of the twenty-one supplementary ingredients that Ruan Tieniu had given him.
Four water-attribute spirit materials, five earth-attribute spirit materials, three metal-attribute spirit materials, three fire-attribute spirit materials, and six wood-attribute spirit materials.
Eighteen of them were conventional spirit materials that could be bought at the spirit material shops in Qinghe Market City, costing around three to four hundred spirit stones.
Three of them were not available in Qinghe Market City but were sold in the Immortal Sect Market City, requiring about six hundred spirit stones.
When the time came, he could ask Gao Peiyao for help in buying those three special supplementary ingredients.
In other words, the total value of the twenty-one supplementary ingredients was around one thousand spirit stones.
Within five years, he had to save at least twelve hundred spirit stones to be able to join this crowdfunded alchemy attempt.
He currently only had three hundred and ninety-seven spirit stones and forty grains of spirit sand.
He still needed to buy black pigskin, spirit ink, as well as a body tempering art and the auxiliary resources required for body tempering.
Even if he drew mid-grade Five Elements Escape Talismans with a thirty percent success rate, it would barely be enough to cover his cultivation needs.
Accumulating spirit stones would likely be impossible.
Unless his success rate for drawing mid-grade Five Elements Escape Talismans reached forty percent, would he have any hope of gathering the twenty-one supplementary ingredients within five years.
“This opportunity for crowdfunded alchemy is rare. I cannot miss it, no matter what.”
“If I really can't gather enough spirit stones by then, I'll have no choice but to ask Daniu and Gao Peiyao for help.”
Even with his long lifespan, he couldn't possibly turn away an opportunity that had fallen right into his lap.