Chapter 65 – War Preparations (2)
Lu Ping sorted the contents in his interspatial pouch, he still had roughly 4,000 spirit stones left.
The spirit herbs couldn’t be used. He needed them to practice and train his alchemy.
The spirit materials were mostly sold already, most of them were looted from the Qiao brothers’ interspatial pouches.
The charms were also the same. Right now, the Blood Refining Realm charms were useless to Lu Ping already. After gaining the divine sense, the Blood Refining Realm charms Lu Ping could craft were all either high-grade or top-grade charms, with a 60% success rate of the latter.
The remaining few sets of Parent-Children Warning Charms and Parent-Children Landmine Charms were consigned to the auction house, as well as the six bottles of Blood Solidifying Pellets and a few unused mid-grade mystic instruments. They were all consigned to the Blood Refining Realm auction.
However, Lu Ping wasn’t willing to auction the three bottles of Blood Vigor Pellets. Although their efficacy was minimal at best , they were still beneficial to his cultivation progress. In a situation where he lacked Blood Condensation Realm medicinal pellets, Blood Vigor Pellets were better than nothing.
Only now did Lu Ping finally understand the scarcity of Blood Vigor Pellets among Blood Refining Realm cultivators. They were most likely hoarded by Blood Condensation Realm cultivators who couldn’t get their hands on Blood Condensation Realm medicinal pellets. After all, there was no way a Blood Refining Realm cultivator could compete against a Blood Condensation Realm cultivator.
Lu Ping also had the three Condensed Blood Beads from Qiao Xipeng. They were the biggest reason why Lu Ping was given an invitation card to the Blood Condensation Realm auction. Otherwise, Lu Ping would have to purchase the entrance ticket with more spirit stones.
After settling everything, he attempted to craft Blood Condensation Realm charms. In the Blood Condensation Realm, these charms weren’t classified according to their powers anymore as they were all almost equivalent in power.
Instead, they were classified according to the frequency they could be cast. Superior charms could cast three spells before disintegrating while the lower quality ones could only be used once.
After leaving the Multi-Treasure Pavilion, Lu Ping’s next stop was the medicinal pellet store in the market. The store manager, Master Immortal Li, was an old acquaintance of Lu Ping’s. He exclaimed at seeing the younger man, “Little Brother, it’s only been a few months and you’ve already progressed this much. So young and yet already an inner disciple, you have a bright future ahead of you!”
Lu Ping smiled. “Master Immortal, you’ve overestimated me. I’m just lucky.”
Master Immortal Li waved his words away. “With your level and as an inner disciple, you and I are now of the same rank. If you still regard yourself as a junior, you’d be shaming me.”
Lu Ping knew he wasn’t joking so he didn’t insist anymore. “Brother, I’m here for the medicinal pellets.”
Master Immortal Li had expected this, and he led Lu Ping to the back hall. “Although the sect set up medicinal pellet stores, the pellets we sell are just the common ones. Blood Vigor Pellets and those of higher grade are not available to the public anymore.”
Lu Ping knew that he was about to mention the unspoken rules of Zhen Ling Sect. This was a common method of business among the sects. After all, it wasn’t easy to operate a sect while maintaining a fair and just environment.
Hence, he said, “Senior Martial Brother, please speak freely. Whatever you say next will only be known by me and no one else.”
Master Immortal Li nodded and continued, “Junior Martial Brother, you’re an old customer of mine. Of course I trust you. Blood Condensation Realm pellets are naturally rarer than those for the Blood Refining Realm. They only get restocked every quarter, with one cultivator limited to only one bottle.”
Lu Ping knew that Blood Condensation Realm medicinal pellets were few in number, but he never knew they were that rare.
Master Immortal Li ignored Lu Ping’s expression. Perhaps, he had seen too many reactions like his. “Due to the scarcity of spirit herbs, it is impossible to supply the medicinal pellets in batches. Most of the time, it depends on the types of spirit herbs available. Hence, the quantity per quarter isn’t fixed. Sometimes, the ten medicinal pellets in a bottle can consist of different types of medicinal pellets.”
At this time, Lu Ping could only be dumbstruck with his mouth agape. When Master Immortal Li finished saying his piece, Lu Ping said, “I never thought it would be this difficult. In that case, I am more eager than before. Senior Martial Brother, please just tell me the price.”
Master Immortal Li smiled. “You should be well aware of it yourself. Ordinary Blood Condensation Realm pellets are ten times the price of a Blood Vigor Pellet. In fact, they’re worth more than that in the market due to their scarcity. Hence, each bottle is priced at 1,200 spirit stones. But for rogue cultivators and disciples from other sects, the cost is 1,500 spirit stones.”
Lu Ping obediently handed over 10 mid-grade spirit stones and 200 low-grade spirit stones. But Master Immortal Li smiled and said, “Because we have to confirm the list in advance so we can make proper arrangements, you have to pay upfront six months in advance!”
Lu Ping was helpless, he could only hand in another 1,200 spirit stones.
He received a bottle of Fu Ling Pellets, as well as a copper medal which was inscribed with the name of “Di Kun”. The back of the medal had a picture of a cauldron.
Master immortal Li explained, “This serves as proof of payment. With this medal, you can claim your share of medicinal pellets from any of our sect’s medicinal pellet stores. I know you’re also acquainted with the side hall market’s Xu Zixian. You no longer have to buy double supplies of medicinal pellets like you did in the Blood Refining Realm. Blood Condensation Realm pellets are all arranged and sold in a unified manner. Your purchasing records here will also appear in his books.”
Lu Ping smiled awkwardly, he actually had this idea in his mind just now.
He hesitated for a while before asking, “Senior Martial Brother, I’d like to practice alchemy under a sect alchemist. Do you think it’s possible?”
Master Immortal Liu sighed, it was as if he knew Lu Ping would ask this question.“That was exactly my intention back when I was in your position. I, too, thought of learning alchemy. But eventually, I abandoned this idea and worked my way to become a medicinal pellet store manager. Let me ask you, what are the elements of your foundation bloodline?”
Lu Ping, who actually knew about alchemy a long time ago, smiled awkwardly as he answered, “Water.”
Master Immortal Li shook his head. “Alchemy is a noble profession, it has strict rules for inheritance. In order to become an alchemist, the first thing considered is the cultivator’s element. The best element is a mix of wood and fire, followed by pure wood or pure fire.
“The need for a fire element is straightforward. An alchemist first has to master the fire and heating of a cauldron. Naturally, cultivators with the fire element are preferred. Wood element cultivators naturally have more of an affinity with spirit herbs. They can easily grasp their properties and their uses. Alchemy is also very dependent on the cultivator’s talent, understanding, and the teacher’s guidance.
“Before becoming a qualified alchemist, they also have to practice concocting medicinal pellets which costs a large amount of spirit herbs. This alone keeps the poor out of this profession. This is why most alchemists are strict in choosing their students, with most only having one. Once they select a student, they dedicate all their efforts to train them.”
Lu Ping remained determined. “I still want to give it a try. Can I obtain some insights and experiences from the sect alchemists, even if it’s just some medicinal pellet recipes!”
Master Immortal Li looked at Lu Ping for a while, before saying, “Fine then. It looks like you won’t give up at all, so I’ll help you ask around. Even if I can get you some teachings from the alchemists, they won’t be very valuable. I can get you some recipes though.
“But these recipes won’t just be a list of spirit herbs. They’ll record the concocting procedures, such as the fire settings, the timings, and a lot of other things.
“Which is why these recipes are often made into one-time-use charms. Once you read them, the charms will disintegrate away. So every recipe has to be purchased with spirit stones.”
Lu Ping nodded. “I understand. Please, Senior Martial Brother, and thank you for helping me.”