https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-44-The-Dao-Discussion-Platform-Eighteen-Fights-to-the-Death/12831515/
Chapter 45: Mount Tai Market, Golden Stone Pavilion
Chapter 45: Mount Tai Market, Golden Stone Pavilion
Luo Chen pondered the matter as he sold his elixirs.
The entrance fee would probably be quite steep, and even if he went, he might not find a good spot.
But if he could witness a battle between top-tier Qi Condensation realm cultivators, it would undoubtedly be beneficial for his own cultivation!
By noon, he still hadn't decided.
However, the Wondrous Pill and Abstinence Pill had been selling steadily.
These elixirs might not be easy to sell elsewhere, but in places like the Great River Market, which was close to the Hundred Thousand Mountains, they were quite popular.
Many cultivators, under the pressure of their cultivation, wanted to enjoy life without sacrificing their combat prowess.
The Wondrous Pill helped them achieve this, making it a sought-after item.
A mere sixty pills were quickly digested by the market.
For three hundred and eighty spirit stones, he had sold three hundred spirit stones' worth of Wondrous Pills and eighty spirit stones' worth of Abstinence Pills. This was the income from his hard work over the past half-month.
He still had raw materials worth two hundred and fifty spirit stones at home, and with his current advanced alchemy skills, the yield should be higher.
At that point, he would be making a pure profit.
He did a quick calculation of his assets, adding the remaining funds. His savings were now back up to five hundred and fifty spirit stones, neatly rounded.
In the past, Luo Chen would have been overjoyed.
Now, he could treat this "huge sum" with a calm mind.
It wasn't much, really—only relatively speaking for early and mid-Qi Condensation realm cultivators.
For late-Qi Condensation realm cultivators, most could easily come up with this amount.
For Foundation Establishment realm cultivators, this amount of spirit stones was a mere drop in the ocean, barely enough for a single visit to the Bell and Tripod House or the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion.
As Gu Caiyi had mentioned, a late Foundation Establishment realm cultivator could casually reward a bottle of Dust Transformation Pills, which cost a thousand spirit stones—enough to buy a mid-grade defensive magical artifact or an entry-level high-grade magical artifact.
Luo Chen knew very well that this sum of spirit stones wouldn't be his for long.
At the Spirit Medicine Pavilion:
"Three bottles of Qi Nourishing Pills!"
"Customer, here are your three bottles of Qi Nourishing Pills. Thank you for your purchase of three hundred spirit stones."
"Here you go."
Luo Chen didn't even look at the still-warm, crystalline spirit stones, quickly storing the three bottles of pills in his storage bag.
This would be his cultivation resources for the next month!
After leaving the Spirit Medicine Pavilion, Luo Chen headed straight to the nearby Hundred Herbs Hall.
He still had some raw materials left for the Wondrous Pill, but the ingredients for the Abstinence Pill were completely depleted. It was time to restock.
Since he had experienced the processed herbs from the Hundred Herbs Hall, he no longer found the loose herbs sold at the scattered cultivator markets appealing.
Processing them was too time-consuming.
While he wasn't at the point where he needed to exchange spirit stones for time, he didn't need to save on these spirit stones now.
The main ingredients for the Abstinence Pill were quite cheap, and buying in bulk offered discounts.
Purchasing from private sellers or the Hundred Herbs Hall might only differ by one or two spirit stones.
Luo Chen didn't need to be frugal about this anymore.
When he entered the Hundred Herbs Hall, he didn't see the fat shopkeeper Liu Hecai. Bai Meiling was lounging on the counter.
"Miss Ling, where is Shopkeeper Liu?"
Bai Meiling glanced at Luo Chen, pointed upstairs, and then laid her head back down on the counter.
"A Foundation Establishment realm cultivator from the Mount Tai Market came to visit. He's an old friend of Shopkeeper Liu, and they are catching up."
"Oh."
Luo Chen nodded and took out a list.
"Please prepare fifty spirit stones' worth of the herbs and proportions listed here."
Bai Meiling took the list and looked at Luo Chen suspiciously.
It was indeed the recipe for Abstinence Powder.
So, Luo Chen hadn't been lying to her?
Fifty spirit stones' worth of ingredients, with his high-quality output, could sell for about a hundred spirit stones.
After deducting the cost, he would net fifty spirit stones.
Was this how he managed to afford living in the inner city?
"That must be a tough life, saving for months just to buy a bottle of Qi Nourishing Pills."
Muttering under her breath, she quickly gathered the herbs for Luo Chen, placing them in a large bag and carrying it out.
As she stepped out, her eyes widened in surprise.
Luo Chen was actually chatting with Liu the Shopkeeper and the Foundation Establishment cultivator from Mount Tai’s market.
“Looks like one shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. At such a young age, you can already make a living through alchemy.”
“Senior, you flatter me. It’s merely a minor skill, not worth mentioning,” Luo Chen replied with a deep bow, his expression filled with respect.
There was a reason for his deference; both men before him were Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Liu the Shopkeeper was more approachable, as their relationship was purely business.
However, Senior Kang was someone Luo Chen had to treat with the utmost respect, as a junior cultivator.
Kang Dongyue chuckled, “Old Liu mentioned you use Fire Dog Whips in your alchemy. I’m quite curious. Besides using it for nourishment and raising young beasts, what other elixirs can you refine with it? Could you enlighten me, young friend?”
Luo Chen felt a wave of unease, even breaking into a sweat.
This wasn’t the first time he had faced a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but others like Liu the Shopkeeper and Elder Chu were business acquaintances.
Now, Senior Kang, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, was directly asking about his elixirs.
If he was just curious now, what would he want later?
Would he ask for the elixir formula, or perhaps...
Seeing Luo Chen’s hesitation, the two seasoned Foundation Establishment cultivators sensed something was amiss.
Liu the Shopkeeper smiled, “Don’t worry, Xiao Luo. Senior Kang is the head of the Stone Pavilion at Mount Tai’s market, responsible for selling various elixirs. He’s just curious. If your elixir quality meets the standard, he might even buy from you.”
Kang Dongyue added, “My family, the Kangs, is one of the affiliated families of the Jade Cauldron Sect, known for our alchemy. We run the Stone Pavilion to sell various elixirs. Since only a few elixirs sell well within our clan, we often collect and sell elixirs from independent cultivators.”
Hearing this, Luo Chen felt a bit relieved.
Similar small pharmacies existed in the Great River Market, run by minor sects or cultivation families.
They sold a wide variety of items, from elixirs and talismans to magical artifacts.
Scattered cultivators with limited spirit stones often couldn’t afford to shop at large stores and preferred these smaller shops over the scattered cultivator markets.
In a sense, his and Elder Chen’s stall also fell into this category, selling elixirs and talismans together, lacking only a prominent sign.
With a respectful gesture, he handed over a jade bottle containing a Marvelous Pill.
Kang Dongyue took it, examining it closely before sniffing it.
After confirming there were no issues, he pinched a bit of the powder and tasted it.
Closing his eyes, he felt the effects and nodded.
“A first-tier elixir with yang-strengthening properties and a minor spirit-replenishing effect. To be honest, it’s quite unique, but unfortunately, it’s only of low quality. If cultivators take too many, it could lead to excessive yang energy and loosen the Golden Lock at the lower dantian.”
Hearing this evaluation, Luo Chen couldn’t help but respect the man even more.
With just a few simple actions, he had nearly described the Marvelous Pill’s strengths and weaknesses in full.
This was no ordinary cultivator; he was at least an experienced first-tier alchemist, possibly even a second-tier one.
“What’s the price?”
“Around five spirit stones.”
Kang Dongyue shook his head, handed Luo Chen five spirit stones, and took the elixir.
“Your price is too high. It might sell in places like the Great River Market and Snow Lotus Market, which are near the Million Mountains, but in Mount Tai’s market, it would need to be half the price.”
“Indeed, if sold in the mortal regions, it would be quite popular, but mortals rarely have what we cultivators need.”
After discussing the price and market, he asked curiously, “How many of these elixirs can you refine in a month?”
This time, Luo Chen didn’t answer immediately.
Gathering his courage, he asked, “Senior, are you considering buying from me?”
(End of Chapter)
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