Immortal Cultivation: Starting as a Fortune Cultivator - Chapter 19

Inside the Hundred Treasures Pavilion!

Upon hearing Ye Qingxuan’s request, the shop assistant led him to the elixir section.

The light wall in the elixir area displayed the prices of various pills, convenient for customers to view at any time.

After looking around, Ye Qingxuan focused on the prices of first-grade pills.

Just as he had expected, in the Profound Heaven Sect’s market, the most expensive among the first-grade pills were those that aided cultivation—specifically, the Spirit-Boosting Pill, with which Ye Qingxuan was quite familiar.

The exchange price for a Spirit-Boosting Pill at the sect’s Ten Thousand Things Hall was ten contribution points per pill. However, purchasing it with spirit stones at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion cost twelve low-grade spirit stones per pill—a full twenty percent increase!

Of course, contribution points served as the internal currency within the sect, and disciples were permitted to trade them privately. Thus, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion also accepted contribution points for pills, at the same rate as the sect: ten contribution points per Spirit-Boosting Pill.

Looking at the price of the Spirit-Boosting Pill, the most expensive among the first-grade pills, Ye Qingxuan asked, “Do you have the recipe for the first-grade Spirit-Boosting Pill here?”

The Spirit-Boosting Pill was a rather unique pill, and the alchemy heritage of the Ye Family did not include its recipe.

Hearing Ye Qingxuan’s question, the shop assistant beside him gave him a surprised look and replied, “We do, sir. The recipe for the first-grade Spirit-Boosting Pill costs one thousand contribution points or twelve hundred low-grade spirit stones. Additionally, after purchase, you must swear a restrictive oath not to disclose it to others.”

Ye Qingxuan nodded thoughtfully. He only had a hundred contribution points left, and with a monthly stipend of just thirty contribution points, it would take him over two years to save up enough without taking on missions.

After weighing his options, he finally decided to use spirit stones for the purchase. “I’ll take one copy of the Spirit-Boosting Pill recipe. I’ll pay with spirit stones.”

He was confident that he could make up the two-hundred-spirit-stone difference within those two years.

Hearing Ye Qingxuan’s decision, the shop assistant hesitated for a moment. Noting that Ye Qingxuan was only at the early Qi Refining stage, he kindly advised, “Sir, the Spirit-Boosting Pill is quite difficult to refine. If you’re just starting out in alchemy, I’d recommend choosing a less challenging pill to practice with.”

Ye Qingxuan appreciated the assistant’s concern, but he had his own plans. “It’s alright. Thank you for your advice, brother.”

The shop assistant was at the Foundation Establishment stage. Though their ages weren’t visibly apparent, the assistant was likely older, so addressing him as “brother” seemed appropriate.

Seeing Ye Qingxuan’s determination, the assistant said no more. He retrieved the Spirit-Boosting Pill recipe and completed the transaction.

After obtaining the recipe, Ye Qingxuan looked at the assistant and asked, “What should I call you, brother? Are you also a disciple of the Profound Heaven Sect?”

Hearing himself addressed as “brother,” the assistant became more enthusiastic, his tone no longer as formal. “My name is Bai Wenyang. I’m an outer sect disciple of the Profound Heaven Sect.”

Confirming that Bai Wenyang was also a sect disciple, Ye Qingxuan couldn’t help but reflect inwardly: “Although the Profound Heaven Sect is a sect, it operates more like a country. Its disciples seem to be involved in every aspect of life within the sect.”

Turning to Bai Wenyang, Ye Qingxuan smiled and said, “In that case, how about you call me ‘junior brother’ from now on? Haha!”

“Then this senior brother will gladly accept,” Bai Wenyang replied with a laugh, not refusing the offer.

Instantly, the relationship between the two felt much closer.

Ye Qingxuan continued, “Senior Brother, how much does the spiritual herb set for the Spirit-Boosting Pill cost? Also, does the Hundred Treasures Pavilion purchase Spirit-Boosting Pills?”

From their conversation, Bai Wenyang had already guessed Ye Qingxuan’s intentions. Seeing Ye Qingxuan’s confidence, he didn’t want to discourage him. Who knows? Maybe Ye Qingxuan could actually refine the Spirit-Boosting Pill.

So, Bai Wenyang explained, “Junior Brother, one set of herbs for the Spirit-Boosting Pill costs ten low-grade spirit stones. I can give you a 5% discount on those. As for the buying price, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion offers nine low-grade spirit stones per Spirit-Boosting Pill. I’m afraid I can’t do anything about that price.”

After learning the cost of the herb set and the pavilion’s buying price, Ye Qingxuan nodded to himself. If he could refine just one pill from one set of herbs, he would roughly break even. If he could refine two pills from one set, he would make a good profit.

Making up his mind, Ye Qingxuan said to Bai Wenyang, “Thank you, Senior Brother! Please get me three thousand three hundred sets of the Spirit-Boosting Pill herbs.”

“Of course, Junior Brother. Just a moment,” Bai Wenyang said before heading behind the counter.

While waiting, Ye Qingxuan turned his gaze back to the light wall displaying pill prices. Looking further up, he noticed that for pills above the fourth grade, the prices of healing, energy-restoring, and detoxifying pills increased sharply, almost matching the prices of those that enhanced cultivation speed.

This discrepancy puzzled him. There didn’t seem to be any major conflicts happening within the Profound Heaven Sect’s territory. Who would buy such expensive healing, restorative, and antidote pills?

Just as he was pondering this, Bai Wenyang returned with a storage bag. Handing it to Ye Qingxuan, he said, “Junior Brother, here are the herbs you requested. This storage bag is complimentary from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.”

Taking the bag, Ye Qingxuan instinctively voiced his confusion about the pill prices: “Senior Brother, why are the prices for healing, energy-restoring, and detoxifying pills so high from the fourth grade upwards?”

This time, however, Bai Wenyang didn’t answer directly. Instead, he looked meaningfully at Ye Qingxuan and said, “Junior Brother, when your cultivation reaches that level, you’ll naturally learn what you need to know.”

Intrigued by Bai Wenyang’s mysterious tone, Ye Qingxuan asked curiously, “So, do you know, Senior Brother?”

“Senior Brother is only at the Foundation Establishment stage right now, so I don’t know either,” Bai Wenyang replied earnestly.

“Huh?”

Ye Qingxuan was speechless. Bai Wenyang had made it sound so mysterious, leading Ye Qingxuan to think he actually knew the reason. And this was the answer?

Unable to resist rolling his eyes at Bai Wenyang, Ye Qingxuan checked the Spirit-Boosting Pill herbs. Then, he placed a pile of spirit stones on the counter and exchanged communication marks with Bai Wenyang.

After completing the transaction, Ye Qingxuan prepared to leave the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. He cupped his hands in farewell and said, “Thank you for your help, Senior Brother. I’ll take my leave now.”

In response, Bai Wenyang collected the spirit stones and similarly cupped his hands. “You’re welcome, Junior Brother. I wish you success in refining the Spirit-Boosting Pill soon!”

As a shop assistant at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, Bai Wenyang had certain performance targets, and acquiring Spirit-Boosting Pills was one of them. However, he didn’t hold much hope for the junior brother he had just met today. After all, without a natural talent for it, alchemy was usually a futile pursuit. He had tried it himself back in the day… well, some things were better left unsaid.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Bai Wenyang, Ye Qingxuan left the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. Short on funds, he didn’t linger in the market and instead used the teleportation array to leave.

His purchases this trip included:

• Thirty sets of Qi-Guiding Pill materials for 75 low-grade spirit stones.

• The Spirit-Boosting Pill recipe for 1,200 low-grade spirit stones.

• Three thousand three hundred sets of Spirit-Boosting Pill materials, with a 5% discount, for 31,350 low-grade spirit stones.

The total came to 32,625 low-grade spirit stones! Now, only 375 low-grade spirit stones remained in Ye Qingxuan’s storage ring. If he didn’t return quickly to focus on studying alchemy, he would face bankruptcy.

However, on his way back, he made a detour to the Servant Branch to visit Ye Qingxiao.

Ye Qingxiao was very happy to see him and complained incessantly about the strict constraints of being a servant disciple. There were daily tasks assigned, leaving him no freedom to sneak out and have fun. Fortunately, Mo Tian, the supervisor of the Servant Branch, had arranged relatively easy tasks for Ye Qingxiao out of respect for their ancestor, Ye Zhaoyang.

Even so, despite having fewer resources and less cultivation time than Ye Qingxuan, Ye Qingxiao’s cultivation had already surpassed his, reaching the fifth level of Qi Refining.

Ye Qingxuan couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, “It’s true. Talent is paramount in cultivation. Those without it who think they can defy the heavens are simply deluding themselves.”

Of course, he considered himself an exception.

Spurred by Ye Qingxiao’s progress, Ye Qingxuan decided to return to his courtyard and go into seclusion for intensive cultivation. He also planned to delve into alchemy to lay the foundation for developing his future blessed land!

Before leaving, Ye Qingxuan and Ye Qingxiao exchanged communication marks.