Although the price was squeezed from an initial fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones down to one Low-Grade Spirit Stone, Gu Kaiyuan was still very happy when he received that single Low-Grade Spirit Stone.
Then, in front of Chen Er Zhu, he took out a Pill Recipe Book and a Talisman Recipe Book from his Storage Pouch at his waist and placed them on the stall.
These Pill Recipe Books, Talisman Recipe Books, and Spell Cultivation Techniques were all copied by ordinary people he hired, costing only mundane gold and silver, which was no different from picking them up for free.
Even selling two books for one Low-Grade Spirit Stone, he still made a huge profit.
However, he did not deceive Chen Er Zhu; the content on both the Pill Recipe Book and the Talisman Recipe Book was indeed genuine, and the experience and insights were written by Alchemist and Talisman crafting Seniors.
It's just that Alchemy and Talisman crafting are not something ordinary people can afford to dabble in.
Finally, Chen Er Zhu arrived at the Treasure Item Pavilion.
"Fellow Daoist, what would you like to buy? Our Treasure Item Pavilion primarily deals in various Magical Artifacts, whether they are defensive, offensive, or even hidden weapon types, we have them all, and they are genuine. We also have other items like Medicinal Pills, Talismans, Spiritual Pets, and Formations," the Treasure Item Pavilion's shopkeeper said enthusiastically upon seeing Chen Er Zhu.
Chen Er Zhu's goal was clear; he asked, "I want to buy a defensive Magical Artifact suitable for the Lianqi (Qi Condensation) Level 3 Realm."
Magical Artifacts are Low Grade Magic Treasures, generally used by Lianqi (Qi Condensation) and Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Above Magical Artifacts are Spiritual Artifacts, and one Rank higher than Spiritual Artifacts are Spirit Treasures.
Their grades are divided from low to high: Low Grade, Medium Grade, High Grade, and Top Grade.
With Chen Er Zhu's current ability, being able to afford a Low Grade Magical Artifact was already quite good.
"Fellow Daoist, this Low Grade Magical Artifact, the Azure Bamboo Heart Guard, perfectly meets your requirements. Even a full-force strike from a Qi Refinement Fifth Level Cultivator, it can fully withstand, protecting the wearer's safety," the shopkeeper introduced.
For Chen Er Zhu, who was currently short on funds, he had no choice. Even a Low Grade Magical Artifact, he might not be able to afford.
"How many Spirit Stones for this Azure Bamboo Heart Guard?"
"It's cheap, only fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones."
Upon hearing the shopkeeper's words, Chen Er Zhu's face immediately showed difficulty. In fact, he knew that even the lowest-grade Magical Artifacts were not cheap.
This price still exceeded his psychological limit.
"That's too expensive, can it be a bit cheaper?" Unlike buying Talisman Recipe Books and Pill Recipe Books, a defensive Magical Artifact was a necessity, as it concerned his own life safety.
"At least forty-five Low-Grade Spirit Stones, no less."
"Twenty-five Low-Grade Spirit Stones, and I'll take it."
"No, how can you bargain like that? Twenty-five Low-Grade Spirit Stones, how could you possibly buy such a good Low Grade defensive Magical Artifact? This price won't sell."
"If it won't sell, then forget it. I'll go ask someone else."
"Wait, Fellow Daoist, if you sincerely want it, I'll give you a bit more of a discount. Thirty Low-Grade Spirit Stones, and you can take it."
"My psychological price is twenty-five. If you're willing to sell, then we have a deal."
The cost of refining Low Grade Magical Artifacts is extremely low for Artifact Refiners, but the number of low-level Cultivators is the largest, so there are many buyers.
Selling Low Grade Magical Artifacts relies on small profits but quick turnover.
"Alright, twenty-five it is," the shopkeeper readily agreed.
Chen Er Zhu currently only had six Low-Grade Spirit Stones on him, so he definitely couldn't produce twenty-five Low-Grade Spirit Stones. However, he now had twenty-one Supreme Quality Qi Gathering Pills and five bottles of Low Grade Qi Gathering Pills. He only needed to replicate them with the bronze mirror to get fifty more Supreme Quality Qi Gathering Pills.
"Do you accept Qi Gathering Pills here? I don't have enough Spirit Stones on me, so I'd like to exchange them for Qi Gathering Pills."
"We do accept them, but we only accept at least Medium Grade Qi Gathering Pills, and only in full bottles."
Bartering is common in the cultivation world. Twenty-five Low-Grade Spirit Stones might sound like a small amount, but for a low-level Cultivator, it's a considerable sum.
"I'm selling Supreme Quality Qi Gathering Pills. How do you accept them here?"
"Are you sure they are Supreme Quality Qi Gathering Pills? How many do you have? Although Qi Gathering Pills are ordinary First Rank Medicinal Pills, Supreme Quality Qi Gathering Pills are good things. I can purchase them at a price of four Low-Grade Spirit Stones per bottle."
The price of a bottle of Low Grade Qi Gathering Pills is one Low-Grade Spirit Stone, Medium Grade is two Low-Grade Spirit Stones, High Grade is three Low-Grade Spirit Stones, and Top Grade is at least five Low-Grade Spirit Stones. When prices are high, they can even sell for six Low-Grade Spirit Stones per bottle.
The price offered by Treasure Item Pavilion was reasonable.
"Alright then, I'll go get the Qi Gathering Pills and be right back."
Those five bottles of Low Grade Qi Gathering Pills needed to be replicated to become five bottles of Supreme Quality Qi Gathering Pills. He definitely couldn't use the bronze mirror here, so he had to go out and find a safe place to replicate them.
Before long, Chen Er Zhu returned to the Treasure Item Pavilion.
Seeing Chen Er Zhu return, the Treasure Item Pavilion's shopkeeper quickly said, "Steward Weng, this is the Fellow Daoist selling Supreme Quality Qi Gathering Pills."
Steward Weng's name was Weng Li. He was the steward of the Treasure Item Pavilion in the Lingding Immortal Sect's Outer Market, and a genuine Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator.
After Chen Er Zhu left earlier, the shopkeeper had informed Weng Li about someone selling Supreme Quality Qi Gathering Pills.
Although Qi Gathering Pills were just ordinary First Rank Medicinal Pills,
even a Second Grade Alchemist might not be able to refine Supreme Quality Qi Gathering Pills, and a Second Grade Alchemist was certainly enough for them to try and win over, which is why the shopkeeper called Weng Li.
Weng Li was somewhat surprised to see Chen Er Zhu, as Chen Er Zhu was too young.
He had seen many Alchemists, but even the most talented Alchemist would absolutely not be able to refine Supreme Quality Qi Gathering Pills at such a young age.
"Hello, Fellow Daoist. My name is Weng Li, and I am the steward of the Treasure Item Pavilion. Did Fellow Daoist bring the Supreme Quality Qi Gathering Pills?"
Chen Er Zhu took out seven small porcelain bottles and said, "Here are seven bottles of Supreme Quality Qi Gathering Pills. Please inspect them."
Weng Li opened each porcelain bottle one by one, inspecting them. After confirming they were correct, he said to Chen Er Zhu, "These are indeed seven bottles of Supreme Quality Qi Gathering Pills. According to our previous agreement, here are twenty-eight Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Daoist Chen, please accept them."
"May I ask what Fellow Daoist's name is?"
"My name is Chen Er Zhu."
"So it's Daoist Chen. Daoist Chen is a Lingding Immortal Sect Disciple, correct? Could it be a Disciple of Immortal Master Huode of Purple Cloud Peak?"
"I am indeed a Lingding Immortal Sect Disciple, but my Master is not Immortal Master Huode."
Immortal Master Huode's name was Zhao Qingfeng. He was at the Core Formation Late Stage Realm, and also the Peak Master of Purple Cloud Peak and Luo Ling's Master. His Master was the current Sect Leader of the Lingding Immortal Sect.
The reason Weng Li suspected Chen Er Zhu was a Disciple of Immortal Master Huode was because Immortal Master Huode had the highest Alchemy talent besides the current Sect Leader of the Lingding Immortal Sect.
It was rumored that he had already touched the threshold of a Third Grade Alchemist, and becoming a Third Grade Alchemist was only a matter of time.
Upon learning that Chen Er Zhu was not a Disciple of Immortal Master Huode, Weng Li was somewhat surprised.
When he saw that Chen Er Zhu did not want to discuss this matter, in order not to displease Chen Er Zhu, he did not continue talking about it.
After paying twenty-five Low-Grade Spirit Stones, Chen Er Zhu obtained the coveted Azure Bamboo Heart Guard.
After publicly putting on the Azure Bamboo Heart Guard inside the Treasure Item Pavilion, he went back to the Slovenly Old Daoist from before and bought five bottles of Low Grade Qi Gathering Pills before finally leaving.