[Evergreen Technique Master: 180/1600]
Ever since the cultivation technique reached the Master Realm, combined with the effect of the First Tier Spirit Vein and the Spirit Gathering Array, even without deliberate breathing exercises, his proficiency could steadily increase by 25 points daily.
This means, even if Pills are entirely abandoned, breaking through to the next realm of the Evergreen Technique would only take a little over two months.
Lately, he almost tirelessly refined Qi Nourishing Pills day and night, having accumulated a considerable resistance in his body; the pills were no longer as beneficial to his cultivation as before.
Chen Ye counted his Storage Bag and found only twenty Qi Nourishing Pills left.
He pondered for a while and finally decided to temporarily stop consuming pills.
"Pills are, after all, external objects. Overconsumption has more drawbacks than benefits, possibly affecting one’s foundation. On the path of cultivation, one must be strong on their own..."
As for the remaining Qi Nourishing Pills, he didn’t intend for his disciples to take them either.
These pills of inferior quality would affect their future development.
Having decided, Chen Ye rose to his full height in the Cultivation Room.
He glanced out the window,
On this day, the weather was fair with a pleasant breeze.
Chen Ye decided to take his two disciples to the market to select suitable Magical Artifacts for them.
After all, the disciples had begun cultivation; they couldn’t always remain barehanded.
"Zhiwei, Qing Jun, let’s go. Today, your master is taking you to stroll in the Market and see if there are any handy Magical Artifacts," Chen Ye called out in the courtyard.
"Master, what are Magical Artifacts?"
Qing Jun, rubbing her sleepy eyes, mumbled as she walked out from the house.
Her skin was snow-white and tender, yet there were faint dark circles under her eyes, indicating that she stayed up late playing Gobang with her senior sister the night before.
Zhiwei, on the other hand, quietly followed behind Qing Jun, having changed into a clean light blue cotton dress.
Her ink-black long hair was pinned up with a simple wooden hairpin, revealing her delicate brows and eyes.
Perhaps due to starting the cultivation of the Frost Splendor Record, this girl exuded a faint aura of coldness, not like someone from the mortal world.
It was difficult to tell that the black-haired girl squatted down yesterday to earnestly scrub his big feet...
Thinking of this, Chen Ye felt a bit guilty.
The game plot’s depiction of Zhiwei was too impressive.
Aloof, looking down on all beings, indifferent and emotionless...
Hiss—
I wonder, if he could later have Zhiwei wash his feet every day?
Chen Ye smiled and explained:
"Magical Artifacts, you see, are tools used by cultivators to deploy magic, subdue demons, and eliminate evil. Now that you have embarked on the path of immortality, naturally you also need a few protective items."
The two disciples were destined to be top prodigies in the future.
Chen Ye was determined to nurture the two disciples well.
In the past, resources were scarce, and dangers loomed, leaving him spread thin. Now, having joined the Lingyin Sect with a breather, it was time to arm them well!
Who knows,
these two little ones might even be a great help to him.
Although not long-legged, short legs aren’t unworthy of a hug either...
Chen Ye glanced at the short legs of his two disciples.
Zhiwei’s eyes flickered, and she quietly went on her tiptoes.
...
The two disciples hadn’t been out shopping for a long time.
As they entered the Market, it was like fish entering water, finding everything novel.
Qing Jun was particularly excited. Naturally lively and active, she pulled Zhiwei’s hand, jumping around from one stall to another.
Her little head swayed left and right, her bright phoenix eyes glinting with curiosity.
She occasionally marveled at a resplendent Jade Sword and sometimes was drawn to the shining strange minerals on the stalls, exclaiming in awe.
If it weren’t for Chen Ye’s earlier admonition not to touch things recklessly, this little girl would likely have touched everything around.
Chen Ye chuckled to himself; this little girl truly had the True Dragon Bloodline, so fond of shiny things?
He did not rush them, letting them browse as they please.
Today his primary goal was to retrieve his Iron Sword from the Spirit Treasure Pavilion and select some fine Magical Artifacts for his disciples.
When mentioning the Iron Sword and Ping Zhuo, Chen Ye couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret.
He and Ping Zhuo had been quite acquainted, finding a fondness for his candid and emotional nature.
Never did he expect that this Black Tower strong man with a "maiden’s heart" would be tragically killed by someone like Wang Po, truly a lamentable fate.
If not for natural disasters, Ping Zhuo would have safely returned to the Spirit Treasure Sect to report for duty long ago, avoiding such an end.
"Master, where are we going?"
Having seen enough novel items, Qing Jun looked up and inquired.
"We’re going to the Spirit Treasure Pavilion. Some days ago, I asked someone to recast a Sword Artifact, and today is the day to pick it up."
As he spoke, Chen Ye led his two disciples toward the magnificent pavilion in the center of the Market.
Inside the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, it was still bustling with people coming and going.
After Chen Ye stated his purpose, a steward drowsing behind the counter sluggishly lifted his eyelids, giving Chen Ye a glance, "Oh, here to collect a sword? Do you have a voucher?"
Chen Ye took out a token given by Ping Zhuo from his Storage Bag.
The steward received the token and lazily gave it a glance.
He tossed it onto the counter casually, flipping through the ledger, and said meticulously,
"Hmm, indeed that’s the case. But... this was a private transaction. What does it have to do with the Spirit Treasure Pavilion?"
Chen Ye’s brows slightly furrowed, sensing a hint of trouble ahead, "Taoist Friend Ping, unfortunately, perished, but he was in charge of recasting my Iron Sword inside the Pavilion..."
The steward snorted a laugh, saying with a fake smile,
"You’ve got it wrong, friend. Conducting private transactions means assuming the risk yourself. Master Ping’s untimely demise occurred while your Sword Artifact was still unfinished. Out of kindness, the pavilion assigned someone else to continue its casting, creating the current final product. The effort and materials spent far exceeded expectations. Just sixty more Spirit Stones, friend, and you can take this treasured sword away."
"Sixty Spirit Stones?" Chen Ye’s face darkened, "Are you trying to raise prices indiscriminately, friend?"
If it were an additional thirty Spirit Stones, Chen Ye could accept.
After all, Ping Zhuo had received his deposit and the balance was yet unpaid.
But sixty Spirit Stones? That was sheer daylight robbery!
"You shouldn’t phrase it like that,"
said the steward, still unfazed and unyielding,
"If you’re unwilling, then let’s leave it at that. The Sword Artifact, well, our Spirit Treasure Pavilion will just keep it and sort it out ourselves. This sword, after being recast, now rivals a Tier One Top-grade Magical Artifact, though it doesn’t have a Talisman Array engraved... Charging you sixty Spirit Stones isn’t excessive!"
His words were glaringly clear; he was counting on Chen Ye relenting.
Indeed, the current Iron Sword was worth that value.
However, the key point was that this was remade using Chen Ye’s Iron Sword, and even before recasting, its market price exceeded thirty-five Spirit Stones!
Chen Ye smirked internally; he was no longer the penniless Medicinal Farmer from the ghettos.
He was about to retort when he heard footsteps from behind.
"Well, well, isn’t this Steward Zhang? How come you have time to hang around on the first floor today? What’s this, causing trouble for another Taoist friend?" A slightly teasing voice rang out.
Chen Ye turned towards the voice and saw a few people dressed in matching dark robes, led by a young master with a jade-like face, starry eyes, and a bright gaze, whose cultivation had astonishingly reached the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer.
Rumors said he had many old acquaintances even in the Inner Sect of the Lingyin Sect, with an extensive network of contacts.
"Chairman Ji! Here to do business with the Xu Family? The appraisers at our Spirit Treasure Pavilion, they’re top-notch fair!"