Evening.
Chen Ye followed Lin Qiongyu to the so-called inner assembly location.
Since the last incident that displeased Chen Ye,
this time Lin Qiongyu was much more reserved:
"Senior Chen, remember to offer some concessions later. Although it’s called an inner assembly, it’s actually just a gathering of fellow Taoists from Shunshui Street to build relationships. Of course, if we can establish a long-term stable trade, it would be even better."
Hearing this, Chen Ye felt a bit ashamed.
The reason he came to attend the inner assembly this time was not to build relationships.
He just wanted to see if he could buy pills at a low price.
Meanwhile, he also wanted to reforge his Iron Sword.
"Thank you, Taoist Friend Lin," Chen Ye expressed his gratitude.
Matter of fact.
Previously, Lin Qiongyu did try to take advantage of his disciple, but this time she genuinely helped him.
Lin Qiongyu covered her mouth with a light laugh: "We’re all neighbors, isn’t it fine? Besides, Senior Chen, your Spirit Plant Technique is at its peak. The fellow Taoists on Shunshui Street might need your help someday."
Chen Ye had come to an understanding.
It’s more like a neighborhood mutual assistance meeting than an inner assembly.
Soon, Lin Qiongyu led Chen Ye to a courtyard on Shunshui Street.
"This is the home of Pill Master Hu. It was he who suggested the inner assembly. He has a good supply of pills at reasonable prices, attracting many fellow Taoists to join."
Lin Qiongyu knocked on the courtyard door while explaining to Chen Ye.
Soon,
a portly old man in silk robes opened the door. He was full of spirit, with wrinkles on his face and jet-black hair.
This man was precisely Pill Master Hu.
Pill Master Hu’s gaze swept over Chen Ye, and he smiled warmly: "This must be the new Taoist Friend Chen from Shunshui Street?"
Chen Ye cupped his hands: "I have just arrived at this place and have not yet paid my respects to Pill Master Hu, truly sorry."
Pill Master Hu smiled enigmatically: "No matter, please come in. I’ve just completed a new batch of pills; you won’t be disappointed."
Chen Ye felt uneasy.
This old man, with that smile, didn’t seem like a good person. It felt like an underground deal.
Inside the courtyard, there were already more than a dozen people gathered.
Every now and then, they exchanged a few words with each other.
Meanwhile, there were also some who sized up Chen Ye with scrutinizing eyes.
Lin Qiongyu cleared her throat: "This is Senior Chen Ye. Senior Chen is a Spirit Plant Master who moved to Shunshui Street half a month ago."
An old woman couldn’t help but laugh:
"Senior Chen? Taoist Friend Lin, you must be mistaken; you should call him Master Chen!"
Her sharp voice immediately drew everyone’s attention inside the courtyard, even Pill Master Hu raised an eyebrow in surprise.
It really was a narrow escape!
The old woman was Wang Po from the Myat Pill Pavilion!
But upon closer thought, it made sense.
The Myat Pill Pavilion is near the free trading area, right next to Shunshui Street.
As the Steward of the Myat Pill Pavilion, Wang Po naturally had the means to live on Shunshui Street.
Wang Po carefully examined Chen Ye from top to bottom, rubbing her aged eyes.
After half a month of absence, she almost didn’t recognize this scoundrel!
Only by the Bone-Scraping Whip on Chen Ye’s waist did she realize that this was the one who whipped her!
Wang Po laughed, slapping her legs:
"Taoist Friend Lin, you might not know this scoundrel, but I do! He’s certainly no Spirit Plant Master, just a Medicinal Farmer from the shantytown! Always full of lies, and he even managed to deceive Taoist Friend Lin?"
Shantytown Medicinal Farmer?
These words, like a stone dropped in a lake, caused many of the Loose Cultivators to frown, looking displeased.
Though they were also low-level Loose Cultivators, they always looked down on the shantytown Loose Cultivators.
There was a clear distinction between them.
Chen Ye’s face turned cold, just as he was about to speak.
A warm, soft hand tugged at him,
Lin Qiongyu nonchalantly withdrew her hand, her smile radiant: "With Senior Chen’s status, there’s no need to bark back with the old dog. Let Qiongyu handle it... it’s alright."
This young female cultivator was pretty and decent-looking, like a gentle girl next door.
But her tone carried a hidden allure.
It made Chen Ye’s normally steady heart race for a moment.
Indeed, it was the subtext in Lin Qiongyu’s words that shocked him.
Wang Po was disgusted, as if she had swallowed a fly, and she spat angrily: "Taoist Friend Lin, what do you mean by this? You might want to be a dog, but I don’t!"
Lin Qiongyu’s pretty face showed a mocking smile:
"Ha... Qiongyu was just giving an example; Taoist Friend Wang, don’t take it seriously. I admire Taoist Friend Wang, truly insightful! You can identify people even better than the Stone Mirror Association. Senior Chen is a Spirit Plant Master even the Stone Mirror Association must treat with respect!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Wang Po’s laughter stopped abruptly, like a duck being choked.
Lin Qiongyu’s Taoist partner was a member of the Stone Mirror Association, something known by all the Loose Cultivators on Shunshui Street.
Therefore, her words couldn’t be false!
Moreover, each of the members of the Stone Mirror Association, these foreign Loose Cultivators, were all ruthless...
Wang Po wiped her sweat, forcing a dry laugh: "Taoist Friend Lin, don’t say such things. I... I know his background well; his disciple used to do odd jobs at the Myat Pill Pavilion. Oh... maybe, I got it wrong?"
Toward the end, Wang Po’s voice grew softer and less confident.
"Oh? Since Taoist Friend Wang lacks insight, doesn’t that make her... blind?"
Lin Qiongyu seemed demure, but her tone was aggressive.
It left Wang Po, this shrewish old woman, trembling at the lips but at a loss for words.
Chen Ye looked at Wang Po and smiled slightly at her, his fingers resting on the Bone-Scraping Whip, hinting at something.
Wang Po was so angry her vision blurred, but she dared not speak again, afraid of being bickered down by Lin Qiongyu.
At that time, Chen Ye had mercilessly whipped her and even took her Spiritual Sand before leaving!
This scoundrel was lawless even in the shantytown.
And now he’s connected with the Stone Mirror Association...
The more she thought, the more fearful she became, cold sweat trickling down.
Pill Master Hu timely interjected:
"For old times’ sake. This place is not for disputes. I’ve recently crafted a new batch of Blood Burning Pills, only thirteen in total. If anyone is interested, come to me for purchase."
Blood Burning Pills!
The many Loose Cultivators in the courtyard suddenly became excited, forgetting the spectacle, and almost simultaneously rushed towards Pill Master Hu.
Seeing Chen Ye bewildered,
Lin Qiongyu looked at him with envy and explained:
"Blood Burning Pills are a type of Demon Path pill that exhausts one’s blood essence to enhance cultivation efficiency. The Lingyin Sect prohibits their sale, but privately, they turn a blind eye. For most Loose Cultivators, they’d rather trade lifespan for cultivation..."
Chen Ye clicked his tongue, yet he understood their feelings.
Using Blood Burning Pills is a gamble to some extent.
If taken appropriately to aid in realm advancement, it can increase lifespan, doing more good than harm.
But if one becomes addicted and repeatedly takes them...
It could become a bottomless pit.
No wonder the Lingyin Sect formally bans it; who knows how many Loose Cultivators’ lives it’s claimed.
"Senior Chen, would you like to buy a few?" Lin Qiongyu suddenly asked.
"Short on funds, so maybe not."
Chen Ye quickly declined.
He was already short on life; why would he take Blood Burning Pills?
Besides, he had a proficiency panel, constantly improving his cultivation efficiency.
"Woof..."
Chen Ye froze, incredulously looking at the young female cultivator beside him.
Lin Qiongyu stuck out her tongue playfully: "Hehe, Taoist Friend Wang called Qiongyu a dog, but Qiongyu doesn’t care what others think! Qiongyu actually likes dogs!"
This female cultivator, she’s so peculiar!