Chapter 636: The Challenges of Cultivation and Business Ventures
Chapter 636: The Challenges of Cultivation and Business Ventures
"The Clear Quiet Lapis Tea leaves have passed their peak effectiveness and are now entering a period of gradual decline. It might take a long time before their potency diminishes significantly."
"As such, we must not waste any time as we did before."
"It's also time to venture out."
Lu Chen rose to his feet and spoke softly.
There were a few urgent matters that needed attention. The cultivation of the two six-product spirit species, the Yuan Magnetic Spirit Wood, and the Nine Confucian Treasure Trees, had not yet begun due to a lack of necessary conditions. He needed to address this as soon as possible.
Lu Chen had heard about the Yuan Magnetic Spirit Mountain or the spirit mine from Wood Daoist before, and he intended to visit the Star-Picking Tower to inquire about its specific location.
If he obtained the information, he would decide whether to buy it directly, hire someone, or go there himself, depending on the situation.
As for the Nine Confucian Treasure Trees, he wanted to find a Confucian monk from one of the eighteen secret realms of the Star Cave to help with cultivation.
Additionally, Lu Chen considered renting or buying a small shop.
The store would be used to sell some spiritual plants and treasures of the fourth product and below.
He had simply accumulated too many spiritual plants and treasures!
He had at least seventy or eighty third-product sword gourd plants, and that number would likely increase by several dozen after some time.
As for the Spirit Pills, Water-walking Pearls, and Water Dragon Talismans that sprouted from the glowing balls of the Water Spark Grass, there were even more of those.
Now that he had reached the Pill Formation stage, he had no use for those things. However, keeping them would be a waste. It would be better to sell them and exchange them for spirit stones.
Accumulated, they would also amount to a substantial sum of spirit stones.
If he frequently went out to sell them, it would undoubtedly impact his farming and cultivation.
Lu Chen had considered selling them to the Sea Tower Commerce Guild and other shops, but the difference between the buying and selling prices was significant. He didn't feel right using his position as a guest advisor to further his personal interests and raise prices for greater gains. It would be better to sell them himself.
He could buy or rent a small store in the Star-Picking Tower, hire a trustworthy monk, and periodically offer treasures and collect spirit stones.
Being inside the Star-Picking Tower would ensure safety. After all, it was the second most powerful force in Li Yang Jing. Even Yuan Ying monks wouldn't dare to cause trouble there.
With these thoughts in mind, he tidied up slightly, instructed the grass puppet to guard the spirit fields carefully, activated the two five-product formations, and made his way to the Star-Picking Tower.
As soon as he entered the Sea Tower Commerce Guild, the charming female cultivator who was the tower's master greeted him.
"Elder Lu, congratulations on your advancement to the Pill Formation stage!"
The female cultivator bowed gracefully, her figure accentuating her curvaceous body.
"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Wen."
"Elder Lu!"
"Elder Lu!"
A series of crisp and pleasant voices rang out one after another. Along the way, numerous attendants and guards from the various sub-towers greeted him, attracting curious glances from the many cultivators in the main hall.
Lu Chen made his way directly to the room where Wood Daoist was located.
"Elder Lu, what brings you here?" The tall, red-eyed elder stood up as he saw Lu Chen, and the bizarrely shaped treasure tower behind him followed suit.
"I've been cooped up in my cave abode for too long, so I thought I'd come out for some fresh air." Lu Chen smiled.
"Also, I have a few matters on which I'd like to seek your assistance, Fellow Daoist Wood."
"Please speak, Elder Lu. I will do my best to answer your queries," the elder replied promptly.
"The first matter concerns the Yuan Magnetic Spirit Mountain or spirit mine. I recall discussing this with you previously, and I was wondering if you've made any progress in that regard?"
"I inquired with my elder clan members, and they mentioned the appearance of a Yuan Magnetic Spirit Mountain on the distant Yuan Feng Island some time ago. However, it's been quite a while, and I'm not sure if it's still there."
"An elder from my clan ventured onto the island over two hundred years ago and discovered a Yuan Magnetic Spirit Mountain. However, due to its massive size and his lack of the necessary abilities to absorb its essence, he had no choice but to leave empty-handed."
Lu Chen nodded, "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Mu. I will look into this matter further before making a decision."
"The second matter is that I've come across a Confucian treasure, but I'm unable to decipher its secrets. So, I was hoping to find a Confucian cultivator in either the Star-Picking Tower or one of the eighteen star caves to help me understand it better."
"Fellow Daoist Mu, with your years of experience in the Star-Picking Tower, your connections must far surpass mine. Have you heard of any Confucian cultivators in the area? I'm looking for someone at the early or middle stages of Foundation Establishment, or at the very least, a high-level Qi Refining cultivator." Lu Chen asked gently.
"A Confucian cultivator?" The tall elder pondered for a moment. "It shouldn't be too difficult to find someone who fits your requirements in the Great Xia Realm. However, they are quite rare in Tianxing Cave. I'll have to ask around among my friends."
"As for my last request, I was hoping to get your help in purchasing or renting a shop within the Star-Picking Tower. The location and size don't matter."
"A shop?" Mu Daoist looked at him with a puzzled expression.
"Yes," Lu Chen affirmed. "You know my background, Fellow Daoist Mu. When my family fell apart, I acquired quite a few treasures from our clan's treasury, which I've kept in my storage bag all this time as mementos."
"But after breaking through to the Pill Formation stage, I've exhausted my supply of spirit stones, and even maintaining my basic cultivation has become difficult. That's why I want to open a shop to sell some of these treasures and earn spirit stones to support my cultivation." Lu Chen explained, using the backstory he had fabricated earlier when he first sold the Clear Quiet Lapis Lock in the Sea Tower Commerce Guild.
This way, he could also justify the vast number of treasures that would eventually be sold in the shop, avoiding any suspicions about their origins. While spiritual plants were exempt, he knew that possessing an excessive number of third-rate and above treasures would inevitably raise questions. So, he crafted this excuse to deflect any potential concerns.
As for the fifth and sixth-rate treasures, he had no plans to sell them in the shop. Instead, he intended to trade them for spirit breeds, spirit beast eggs, and necessary materials through other channels.
"I have no choice. Cultivation is a challenging path, and I need to make some money to sustain it," he said with a wry smile, seeing the realization dawn in the elder's eyes.
"Indeed, Senior. The resources required for Pill Formation are astronomical. Every little bit helps," Mu Daoist nodded in agreement.
He wasn't worried that Lu Chen's shop would pose any competition to the Sea Tower Commerce Guild. After all, Lu Chen was just a lone spiritual herbologist, even with his Pill Formation cultivation, and the number of treasures he could offer was limited. This posed no threat to their business, which spanned the myriad worlds.
"I will help you inquire about a shop, Senior Lu. Given the current cultivation situation, finding a small shop shouldn't be an issue." The elder assured him.
(End of Chapter)
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