Chen Ye’s back turned cold as he discreetly stepped back half a pace.
He began to understand Xue Chengjun,
Xue Chengjun could be described as a diligent and hardworking young man.
Day and night, he was constantly honing his skills in the Three Thousand Great Mountains.
To make ends meet, he beat someone into framing his predecessor for a single Spirit Stone.
Yet, such a young man was tamed into a sycophant by Lin Qiongyu.
But, leaving aside Xue Chengjun, even Chen Ye could faintly feel his blood speeding up.
This young and beautiful female cultivator, lowering herself humbly in front of him, demeaning her own status, while looking at him with adoring eyes...
At this moment,
Lin Qiongyu didn’t mind Chen Ye’s half-step retreat, her gaze intensely fixed on the inner room, filled with longing.
The bustling courtyard suddenly fell silent as Pill Master Hu came out of the inner room holding a sandalwood box.
Thirteen crimson pills rolled amidst the satin, with a bloody scent mingling with the medicinal aroma.
"Such an eerie pill!"
Chen Ye’s eyes swept over the dark streaks on the pill’s surface, his brow slightly furrowed.
This Blood Burning Pill was mottled in appearance, evidently not cooked thoroughly enough, likely reducing one’s lifespan if taken.
It looked demonic and smelled nauseating.
The surrounding loose cultivators, however, already had reddened eyes, clutching their Spirit Stone Bags and pushing forward, even Wang Po hunched over moving closer.
"Qiongyu once had the good fortune to take one, and still can’t forget the sensation of consuming a Blood Burning Pill." Lin Qiongyu stared at the pills with an almost obsessive look, drooling.
Chen Ye was puzzled, "Blood Burning Pill, how does it differ from a Qi Nourishing Pill?"
Both were pills used for cultivation.
Yet Qi Nourishing Pills were so widespread due to their unique advantages.
Their properties were neutral and mild, even sect disciples often took them.
Whereas the Blood Burning Pill had significant side effects and was always officially banned.
"Qi Nourishing Pills only accelerate a cultivator’s training speed, but a Blood Burning Pill, by burning blood essence, increases cultivation efficiency and enhances a cultivator’s affinity with Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power. A lower grade Blood Burning Pill might last one to two months."
"Simply put, it can raise Five Spiritual Roots to Four Spiritual Roots, legend has it that a top-grade Blood Burning Pill can even elevate one to Three Spiritual Roots!"
"Once loose cultivators experience this feeling, they can’t stop...," Lin Qiongyu explained eloquently.
Chen Ye understood it in his own way.
Roughly speaking, a Qi Nourishing Pill is addition, while a Blood Burning Pill is multiplication.
The latter is naturally nobler than the former.
Pill Master Hu coughed lightly, bringing the courtyard to silence.
Only then did he say, "This batch of Blood Burning Pills, ten lower grade ones, five Spirit Stones each. Three middle grade ones, eight Spirit Stones each."
Such high prices didn’t deter the loose cultivators in the slightest, who surged forward.
Chen Ye clicked his tongue in secret.
That meant a single batch of Blood Burning Pills could fetch seventy-four pieces of Spirit Stone!
"Such a high price, can they really afford it?" Chen Ye couldn’t help but ask.
Lin Qiongyu’s expression was complex as she whispered, "Senior, that’s why I said... they can’t quit!"
Damn.
Chen Ye was stunned.
This so-called gathering wasn’t some kind of neighborhood mutual aid, but rather Pill Master Hu’s opportunity for profiteering!
...
After the loose cultivators bickered red-faced and bought the Blood Burning Pills.
"Taoist Friend Ping, may I have a word?"
Chen Ye called out to the dark-skinned man who was about to leave.
This man was shirtless with a robust upper body, with a tattoo of an exotic beast with a fierce face and tusks on his right arm, carrying a Red Hammer on his shoulder, he was exactly the Artifact Refiner Ping Zhuo.
Compared to the Dark Old Man, Ping Zhuo seemed more robust and youthful.
Ping Zhuo halted irritably, and when he looked up,
seeing it was Chen Ye, he was slightly startled, pondering silently:
This person, being valued by the Stone Mirror Association, must have a good craft.
Ping Zhuo was an Artifact Refiner at the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, not wary of the Stone Mirror Association, nor opposed to networking.
The dark-skinned man politely asked, "Taoist Friend Chen, what do you seek me for?"
"I heard Taoist Friend Ping is an Artifact Refiner, I wish for your help in reforging this sword." Chen Ye handed over the Iron Sword.
"Taoist Friend Chen, this sword has three pounds of Profound Iron mixed in, the base is quite decent."
Ping Zhuo weighed the Iron Sword, his thumb rubbing the rust marks on the blade’s ridge, slightly puzzled,
"But why choose to reforge, why not buy a new one?"
He merely weighed it, yet he could discern the raw materials of the Iron Sword.
No wonder he served as the Artifact Refiner at Spirit Treasure Pavilion.
Chen Ye felt reassured and, rubbing the gold medallion hanging around his neck, spoke with emotion, "An old item, quite sentimental. I trouble you to make this sword heavier, no less than fifty pounds."
Hearing this,
Ping Zhuo grinned, "Thirty Spirit Stones, I guarantee satisfaction for you!"
"How much? Thirty?"
Chen Ye almost crushed the sword hilt, thirty Spirit Stones could buy a First Tier Middle Grade Magic Sword!
Ping Zhuo looked Chen Ye up and down, affirming:
"Since you only mentioned making it heavier, this sword probably has another purpose. I observe your blood and qi are abundant, likely practicing a Body Refining Method, requiring weight for body refining."
"Coincidentally, Spirit Treasure Pavilion has recently received seven Sinking Gold pieces. Though small, each piece is five pounds, excellent material for adding weight. Moreover, in the future, if you want to increase the weight, you only need to keep adding Sinking Gold."
Sinking Gold is a Tier One Upper Grade ore!
Merely one piece, its price is two Spirit Stones.
The only downside is its weight, but its toughness and hardness surpass ordinary Second Tier ores!
Chen Ye was immediately tempted.
Although seven pieces of Sinking Gold, dispersed within the sword artifact, wouldn’t have much effect.
But his proficiency in Heavy Body Technique was improving by the hour.
Sooner or later, he could wield a sword artifact made entirely of Sinking Gold!
Ping Zhuo, counting his blackened fingers, calmly narrated:
"Seven Sinking Golds fourteen Spirit Stones, First Tier Middle Grade Fire Pattern Steel eight Spirit Stones, a Cold Pool Water one Spirit Stone... all other costs are waived for Taoist Friend Chen, truly no extra profit is made from you, normally, it’d be forty Spirit Stones!"
Of course, there was one thing Ping Zhuo didn’t say.
That these materials were the Spirit Treasure Pavilion’s public prices, actual cost prices were lower.
But indeed, he didn’t make extra profit from Chen Ye.
If he crafted for Chen Ye in the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, the Pavilion would also take a commission.
"But... I’m short on hands now, better wait a few days," Chen Ye was financially strained.
"No problem! Taoist Friend Chen is my neighbor, I can start crafting for you, forging also takes some time. Besides, you just moved to Shunshui Street, at least still have a five-month lease term, and are valued by the Stone Mirror Association. I can rest assured!"
Ping Zhuo laughed heartily, patting Chen Ye’s shoulder.
Chen Ye was quite surprised, he briefly pondered.
Sooner or later, he needed to make the Iron Sword heavier, one reason for practicing Heavy Body Technique, the other for combat tactics.
Sooner or later, it had to be reforged...
"Alright, deal!" Chen Ye agreed.
Ping Zhuo’s face lit up with joy as he strapped the Iron Sword onto his back, "By then, I’ll certainly not disappoint Taoist Friend Chen!"
This transaction was conducted privately.
It was beneficial for both parties, as Ping Zhuo also didn’t have to face a commission from the Spirit Treasure Pavilion.
Thirty Spirit Stones were no small sum.
Ping Zhuo feared that Chen Ye might change his mind in a few days, so he hurried to finalize the deal.
As Ping Zhuo walked further away,
Lin Qiongyu lightly bit her cherry lips, her eyes sparkling, "Senior, you’re actually willing to spend thirty Spirit Stones to reforge an old item just for practicing the Body Refining Technique?"
Such a quantity of Spirit Stones was quite considerable for ordinary loose cultivators.
Typically, they would only be willing to spend as much on acquiring a crucial Protective Magical Artifact!
But this Chen Ye spent thirty Spirit Stones merely for cultivating the Body Refining Technique—despite being a Spirit Plant Master!