Chapter 116: 116 Qián Yáng Lí Huǒ
Zhou Yi carefully pondered and then understood the reason behind it.
Among the many elixirs, only with the Foundation Establishment Pill did the submission and exchange not follow market fluctuations; this was, in fact, a loophole intentionally left by the sect.
Take Fang Chengfeng, for instance, who was chatting leisurely with fellow disciples not far away. He was the Nascent Soul Patriarch's biological son, with low-grade spirit roots and not adept at combat.
Unless Elder Jian Chen intervened, Fang Chengfeng would never be able to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill from the sect competition in his lifetime. Should he just be left unable to find a Foundation Establishment Pill, stuck in the Qi Refinement stage, only to die at over a hundred years old?
Therefore, the low contribution required for submitting Foundation Establishment Pills allowed those with surplus medicinal pills to opt to sell them for spirit stones.
Fang Chengfeng had plenty of spirit stones and could thus buy Foundation Establishment Pills to break through his cultivation realm.
Of course, Elder Jian Chen did not lack elixirs, but some wealthy direct descendants were in urgent need of Foundation Establishment Pills and were willing to pay a high price.
Meanwhile, due to the scarcity of thousand-year-old Spirit Ginseng, the number of Foundation Establishment Pills that ended up outside the sect was limited, preventing significant effects on loose cultivator factions and not completely blocking the direct descendants' path.
The way of balance cannot be absolute; both sides must be weighed!
"The Cultivation World, too, is a society based on personal relationships!"
Zhou Yi sighed inwardly and then asked the maid beside him, "Can I post a purchase request now?"
"Senior, you may post it at any time."
The maid spoke softly, explaining the trading rules - a clear price must be offered rather than negotiable terms, and after agreeing to trade, the spirit stones and items would be given to the Ziyun Association and could be collected from Fang Chengfeng afterwards.
"Good."
Zhou Yi thought for a moment and said, "I would like to purchase a large number of Thunder Beads and Fire Beads; the power must be comparable to the late stages of Foundation Establishment. The price is tentatively set at two thousand spirit stones each."
The price of a Thunder Bead in the late stage of Qi Refinement was five hundred spirit stones, so two thousand for those suitable for the late stage of Foundation Establishment was already not low.
The maid bowed to take the order and immediately used a spell to transmit the message.
A moment later.
Zhi Mo executed a spell and new purchase entries appeared on the painting scroll.
Among the many items up for purchase or sale, Thunder Beads and Fire Beads were unique; these one-time-use magic artifacts were mightily powerful but also had their flaws.
Firstly, they lack flexibility; they can be quite useful for Qi Refinement cultivators who move slowly.
Foundation Establishment cultivators, who specialize in Escape Techniques, can instantly move dozens of feet away, reducing the hit rate to less than one in ten.
Secondly, the price is expensive; it is usually better to save more spirit stones and wait for a chance to buy top-grade magic artifacts. Top-grade magic artifacts already possess a trace of magic weapon spirit and far exceed high-quality magic artifacts in power, enabling one to dominate their peers with a single piece.
Zhou Yi did not care about others' gazes; top-grade magic artifacts were not so easy to come by, as seen in the many listings that had been seeking for a long time.
Instead of waiting, it's better to lavish plenty of Thunder Beads.
If the hit rate isn't enough, quantity will make up for it.
Moreover, Zhou Yi would not chase enemies deep into their territory and would only risk being hunted by cultivators; Thunder and Fire Treasure Beads were perfect for blocking enemies.
Zhou Yi listened to discussions around various pavilions and, in less than half an hour, he had already completed more than a dozen trades, acquiring a variety of items including elixirs, spirit mines, and magic artifacts.
"Senior, someone has offered Fire Beads, named the Qianyang Li Fire Beads."
The maid transmitted a message, "The seller claims that one bead can cause serious injury to a cultivator at the late stage of Foundation Establishment but requires three thousand spirit stones each, with a total of ten beads available."
"Proceed with the trade."
Zhou Yi nodded in agreement and added, "Send a message for me. If this fellow Daoist is willing to sell the formula for making them, name any price."
After communicating for a moment, the maid looked apologetic, "That senior does not wish to sell the method of concoction."
Zhou Yi had anticipated this and took out two Jade Bottles from his storage bag, "Here are two Foundation Establishment Pills, select the highest-priced trades."
The maid bowed and accepted the pills, envy flashing in her eyes; with her aptitude and status, she could never afford even one in her lifetime.
An hour later.
Zhi Mo put away the painting scroll magic artifact and said softly, "This month's trade session has ended, fellow Daoists may go to Brother Fang to collect spirit stones and items."
After speaking, he slowly departed, and the assembly moved to the next phase: free trade and casual discussions.
Zhou Yi had planned to take the spirit stones and leave, but upon hearing that someone was selling formation inheritances, he got up and moved closer to find out more.
The seller was a middle-aged Daoist who claimed to be Zhong Xing, whether it was his true appearance or not was unknown, but seeing how familiar he was with over a dozen fellow disciples, his identity likely was genuine.
It's rare for someone to sell inheritances of the four arts of cultivation, and even for formations, which are hard to learn and master, there was significant interest. Even if one doesn't have time to practice, buying it for a family inheritance could eventually lead to a formation master emerging.
Zhong Xing spoke with determination, "I do not need Spirit Stones, four intermediate Formation methods, one advanced Formation method, along with my ancestral insights on setting up the Formations, in exchange for two Foundation Establishment Pills!"
Zhou Yi listened for a moment and understood the reason behind it.
Zhong Xing's life was drawing to a close. He had exhausted all his merits to exchange for three Foundation Establishment Pills, yet none of his clan members had achieved a breakthrough. Seeing that his family had no successors, he had no choice but to sell his inheritance of Formation knowledge, hoping to forcefully produce a cultivator who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage.
"Foundation Establishment Pills are scarcer than expected; these cultivation clans occupy the benefits, willing to exhaust all their wealth just to ensure they have the blessing of a true Immortal for generations!"
Zhou Yi's face showed delight as he transmitted his voice, "Fellow Daoist Zhong, let's make the exchange ten li to the north of the Fire God Peak." Stay updated with m-v le-mpyr
Zhong Xing's expression remained calm, and without searching for the source of the transmitted voice, he gave a slight nod to indicate he understood.
As evening approached.
Zhou Yi hadn't encountered a suitable Cultivation Technique and with a flash, he dived underground, arriving at the rear mountain palace behind Ziyun Peak.
Fang Chengfeng bid farewell to a fellow Daoist and looked up to see a white-haired elder, expressing confusion, "This fellow Daoist looks unfamiliar?"
"Brother Fang, it's me."
Zhou Yi thought for a moment, transformed into "Zhu Gang," as for his real appearance, it had never been revealed in the Cultivation World.
Fang Chengfeng said with surprise, "So it's Junior Brother Zhu, this technique of transformation is truly mysterious, even deceiving the Seven Emotions Sensing."
"Brother Fang flatters me."
Zhou Yi took out a token made of a jade slip, "Junior Brother has bought ten Qianyang Lihuo Beads and sold two Foundation Establishment Pills, I have come to collect the Spirit Stones and Magic Artifacts."
"So it's Junior Brother Zhu."
Fang Chengfeng checked the jade slip and handed over a storage bag, "Here are one hundred and thirty thousand Spirit Stones and the Lihuo Beads. I have taken care of the two Foundation Establishment Pills."
Zhou Yi bowed his hands in thanks, "Many thanks to Brother Fang for your care."
Fang Chengfeng said with a smile, "If you get more Foundation Establishment Pills in the future, you can sell them directly to me, guaranteeing the highest price of the sect!"
"Agreed."
Zhou Yi nodded in agreement, his Divine Sense sweeping over the storage bag, finding rows of clear, transparent Spirit Stones, with the ten Qianyang Lihuo Beads sealed separately in a Jade Box.
...
Divine Fire Peak.
Ten li to the north.
Zhong Xing stood suspended in the air, having waited for three to four hours.
The night was deep, and he saw no sign of the person coming, gradually growing impatient.
At that moment.
A streak of Escape Light came speeding through the sky, Zhou Yi had transformed into a handsome young man, taking out two Foundation Establishment Pills.
"It was quite difficult to acquire these two pills, so I'm a bit late, making Brother Zhong wait."
"It's fine."
Zhong Xing showed delight, taking out the inheritance jade slip, "You may verify it first."
Zhou Yi's Divine Sense swept over the jade slip, he tossed the Foundation Establishment Pills over with a smile, "Brother Zhong is indeed a trustworthy man!"
After saying this, he rode the Escape Light away, his hurried departure left Zhong Xing stunned in place.
"Such a casual transaction for tens of thousands of Spirit Stones? I wonder which ancient progenitor's descendant that was, and that fleeting moment of life-and-death crisis, was it due to operating some sort of supreme Magic Artifact!"
...
Regret Cliff.
Zhou Yi discontinued his Escape Light and carefully thought about potential flaws from the day's activities.
The only one who knew the seller's identity was Fang Chengfeng, and with his influence in the sect, the subsequent transaction with Zhong Xing was also likely hard to conceal.
"One hundred and sixty thousand Spirit Stones should be enough to earn ten thousand merits, enough to exchange for inheritance and get away smoothly."
Zhou Yi steadied his heart and entered the Black Wind Cave.
Jiang Kang was sitting in meditation amidst the Black Wind Poisonous Fire and upon hearing footsteps, he slowly opened his eyes.
"Junior Brother Zhu, I'm going to Ji Continent, and I'm afraid I'm not coming back."