These stone ova numbered a little more than fifty, which was ten percent.
As for the hundred-thousand year old stone ova, he naturally couldn’t casually give them to someone for appraisals. Otherwise, would it be okay if others knew the details of his own collection? It was just like how Shen Yuanbai and Lan Wenxi wouldn’t take out all of their stone ova.
Once these stone ova appeared, the few people in the room were startled.
Even Shen Yuanbai’s pupils shrank in an instant.
If this was extrapolated, wouldn’t the total be five hundred-something? Although they were aware that the number wouldn’t have been low based on Gu Zuo’s previous reaction, they didn’t expect it to be like this…
A long while later, the stagnated atmosphere slowly relaxed.
Lan Wenxi sighed and said: “Sure enough, heaven-level potential will stand out from the masses. The amount of stone ova you guys obtained is many times higher than what we got.”
Shen Yuanbai also nodded: “It’s quite astonishing.”
They also discovered that none of the stone ova here were acquired from those strange phenomena — This wasn’t unusual. After all, no one knew that there would be an earthquake. Furthermore, there weren’t any requirements for the ten percent of stone ova. As a pharmacist, it would’ve been baffling if Gu Zuo had been willing to take out the stone ova that had matured for far longer in those strange phenomena.
In actuality, when Shen Yuanbai took out the Gate Opening Pearl, it mostly acted as a token of friendship. As for selling ten percent of the stone ova, if there many, it would be better. But even if there were few, it wouldn’t be considered a loss.
However, he never anticipated that Gu Zuo and Gongyi Tianheng were willing to take out so many stone ova. Surprisingly, it far exceeded his estimations.
Shen Yuanbai slightly pondered, and asked: “Pharmacist Gu, Brother Gongyi. Are you two sure about appraising these stone ova and selling them to this Shen?”
Gu Zuo thought about it, and said: “I wouldn’t say it quite like that.” He chose his words carefully, “After these stone ova are appraised, those with a relatively large number of the same grade will definitely be sold. If I don’t have any need for it, I’ll sell it. But if I really like it, I’ll keep it. However, I’ll take out some more stone ova to make up for the deficiency… Brother Shen, do you think this is okay?”
Shen Yuanbai nodded his head, and said: “It should be so.”
Gu Zuo smiled: “In that case, I’ll have to ask Pharmacist Huang to appraise them.”
He also knew that it ought to have been like this, but it was better to talk about it in advance.
Soon after, Huang Zhen didn’t stand on ceremony. He grasped one of the stone ova, and held it in the palm of his hand.
Gu Zuo detected that a silk thread of psychic power rushed out from the space between Huang Zhen’s eyebrows, and swiftly wrapped up the stone ovum. At the same time, an invisible layer covered his eyes, bathing them in a bright and clear sheen.
Huang Zhen scrutinized it for some time.
Gu Zuo observed for a while, and saw that he was only doing it this way. There weren’t any other special displays. Right away, Gu Zuo was a bit disappointed… However, because Gu Zuo could see that Huang Zhen’s psychic power was stronger than that of all the pharmacists he met before, and that Huang Zhen’s control wasn’t lower than his own, he gradually gained a deeper understanding of the level of his own psychic power.
If it was guaranteed that Huang Zhen could refine Noble Realm medicinal pills… Well, although his own internal qi realm was insufficient, perhaps he could make a slight attempt at refining pills suitable for Noble Realms, too.
While considering such things, Huang Zhen opened his mouth: “This ovum is not dead. Contained inside is a wondrous medicine called the Heavenly Zither Feather.”
After he finished speaking, he handed the stone ovum to Gu Zuo.
Gu Zuo also “looked” at it.
Based on his memory of the canonical text and the differentiation of the shadow inside the stone ovum, he came to the same conclusion as Huang Zhen. It seemed that Huang Zhen truly was rather knowledgeable in terms of wondrous medicines.
Gu Zuo placed this stone ovum on the side.
Huang Zhen started the appraisal of the next stone ovum.
“This ovum is not dead. Contained inside is a wondrous medicine called the Jasper-Silk Mesona Mint.”
“This ovum is not dead. Contained inside is a wondrous medicine called the Redbud Longhorn Beetle…”
“This ovum is not dead. Contained inside is a wondrous medicine called the Roosting Swallow Flower.”
“This ovum is not dead. Contained inside is a wondrous medicine called…”
Huang Zhen confidently identified one stone ovum after another as if he already had a complete picture of them in his mind.
Whenever he wasn’t appraising one stone ovum, Gu Zuo would quietly “look” at it again. Indeed, it would be exactly the same as what Huang Zhen saw. Huang Zhen, this individual, was worthy of being Shen Yuanbai’s heavily-relied-upon master appraiser!
Everyone patiently watched Huang Zhen’s appraisals. After roughly three hours passed, Huang Zhen finally finished identifying all of the stone ova. He slowly gave a long sigh.
“There are fifty-six stone ova. Among them, the number of dead ova is…six.”
The room was filled with silence.
Lan Wenxi exclaimed: “In fifty-something stone ova, not even ten percent are dead ones! This kind of result is truly incredible!”
Shen Yuanbai’s expression was grave and stern: “Pharmacist Gu, Brother Gongyi. Are you sure that you want to sell these stone ova to this Shen?”
The amount of good stone ova was rather shocking. He had no other option but to ask this question once more.
Gu Zuo spoke: “There are nineteen duplicates here. Naturally, I’ll have to take some back. In addition, there are twelve types that are very rare, and I want to keep them for myself. This leaves a discrepancy of a little more than thirty… I’ll bring out some more stone ova. Though, I’ll have to trouble Pharmacist Huang to help appraise another batch.”
Soon after, he took out another fifty stone ova.
Shen Yuanbai faintly nodded his head.
Huang Zhen continued the appraisals.
As before, this round lasted about three hours. It was found that there were a few more dead ova in this batch, but it only amounted to ten. It could be seen that the stone ova obtained by Gu Zuo and Tianheng were of outstanding quality.
Gu Zuo similarly withdrew some of the duplicates and rare ones, of which there was an even twenty types. Subsequently, they followed the set pattern until he chose exactly fifty stone ova to be sold to Shen Yuanbai.
Then, it was time to settle the accounts.
Shen Yuanbai’s present Divine Wind Trading Company had been established across many regions. Naturally, he was rich and influential, and his assets were extremely robust. While these wondrous medicines were precious, if it was just fifty stone ova, he was still capable of purchasing them. Not to mention that there were differences between wondrous medicines. The stronger the medicinal effects and the greater the rarity, the more valuable and expensive they were — For the most part, profound crystals were used to calculate the price. However, for some especially rare ones, even treasured crystals were utilized. It also wasn’t necessarily impossible to trade with source crystals.
Though, among this batch of stone ova, it didn’t get to the point that wondrous medicines requiring treasured crystals or source crystals appeared. If there were any of those kinds of wondrous medicines, only extremely few would’ve been sold at an auction. Even if a martial artist obtained one, it would be kept hidden until it was traded with someone else at a later date.
— Back to the main point. The price for this batch of stone ova was quickly calculated.
Five hundred thousand profound crystals.
It was basically an average of ten thousand profound crystals per stone ovum, but this was a fair price. Additionally, the specific price of each stone ovum was somewhat different, so this total price wasn’t considered too low. However, if these stone ova were placed on an auction or privately sold to others, the price would’ve risen several times higher.
Shen Yuanbai didn’t expect that he could purchase this many stone ova, but he was never short of funds. Hence, he touched the bangle on his wrist, and took out several bag-shaped, inter-spatial tools. Inside each bag was a hundred thousand profound crystals.
He spoke forthrightly: “Please confirm the amount.”
Of course, Tianheng didn’t actually take an inventory. He received these bags, swiped his hand, and collected them inside his own bangle. Immediately following which, he smiled and said: “Why should I have to check? This one naturally trusts Brother Shen.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Yuanbai’s gaze eased.
Soon after, Gu Zuo took out ten more stone ova, and pushed them in front of Shen Yuanbai: “For this trip into the leyline, we’ve had a bountiful harvest. This paltry sum will be gifted to Brother Shen to show our appreciation.”
At this time, Shen Yuanbai’s brows faintly furrowed: “There’s no need to do this.”
Gu Zuo replied: “These ten stone ova haven’t been appraised yet. Who’s to say that there will be bad luck and all of them are dead ova? Brother Shen, there’s no need to decline. This is just a small kindness.”
Tianheng also said: “Brother Shen should understand that Ah Zuo and I have already gained many benefits on this trip.”
When the conversation reached this stage, Shen Yuanbai couldn’t refuse again if he didn’t want to step on Tianheng’s honor. As a result, he could only keep these ten stone ova. He also didn’t have Huang Zhen do any appraisals in their presence.
Gu Zuo smiled happily.
This affair no longer weighed on his mind.
The discussion about this matter was basically finished. Following this, everyone had a meal together.
With the friendly relationships developed over the course of this trip to the leyline, Shen Yuanbai and Lan Wenxi were optimistic about Tianheng and Gu Zuo’s potentials. Everyone also became more familiar with one another.
After the meal, it was time to go their separate ways.
Gu Zuo hesitated for a moment, but he still inquired: “Now, about Brother He Meng… Brother Shen, did you guys find any wondrous medicines that can treat psychic powers?”
Shen Yuanbai shook his head: “The stone ova haven’t been cut open yet, but we didn’t encounter any of those types among the strange phenomena.”
Gu Zuo struggled a little.
But after hesitating, he spoke up: “I actually have one stalk of this type of wondrous medicine… When Brother Shen goes back to check on his stone ova, if there are none to be found, come to Ten Ultimates Sect and look for me. At that time, although the wondrous medicine can’t be given away in its entirety, I can share some of it. Then, Brother Shen can take it back to treat Brother He.”
Shen Yuanbai originally thought about inviting Gu Zuo to go back and test his stone ova. If there was one that was related to psychic power, Shen Yuanbai wanted to purchase it. However, Gu Zuo had previously taken out so many stone ova, and sold them to him. It wouldn’t have been easy for him to mention it — Otherwise, it would’ve appeared somewhat excessive.
But what he didn’t anticipate was that Gu Zuo would take the initiative to bring this up. This made his mood much better, and his impression of Gu Zuo and Tianheng also improved.
Shen Yuanbai resolutely said: “Although it’s not appropriate, this matter is related to He Meng’s life. If nothing can be found, this Shen will have to shamelessly impose.”
Gu Zuo felt a bit of heartache, but he couldn’t bear to see He Meng being crippled and dying like this. Hence, he soothed his frame of mind, and smiled as he said: “This is nothing. I just hope that Brother He gets better as soon as possible.”
After these words were spoken, Gu Zuo and Tianheng bade farewell to the others.
One couldn’t focus on the fact that they had checked lots of stone ova in this place. Once they went back, they would be busy for quite some time…
Very quickly, the battle slaves were led away from Shen Yuanbai’s residence. Just like this, Tianheng and his personal pharmacist rushed back to Ten Ultimates Sect in a grandiose procession.
After returning to the manor, Gu Zuo and Gongyi Tianheng stayed at the summit. They took out all of the stone ova, both large and small, which practically piled up into a small hill on the ground.
Gu Zuo took a deep breath. After that, he displayed a mentality that wasn’t afraid of hardships or weariness. Regardless of the time of day or night, he differentiated the stone ova, divided them into various types, and laid them in certain areas.
Tianheng assisted him on the side. Whenever Gu Zuo wasn’t distinguishing one stone ovum, Tianheng would help him by setting it in the proper place.
Gu Zuo had the company of his family’s big brother. After bustling around for an entire twenty-four hours, he finally separated all of the stone ova.
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