Approximating the time, Su Que left the inn and went to the center of Jiannan Prefecture, to a large academy holding the rural examination.

After the rural examination began, Su Que, like other candidates, sat in a narrow little room.

To prevent candidates from cheating, answering questions, eating, drinking, toileting, and sleeping were all conducted in this small room over the days.

...

Nine days went by in the blink of an eye.

The rural examination ended.

Wearing a black scholar's cap and a gray scholar's robe, carrying a wooden book case on his back, Su Que walked out of the examination hall.

He answered the questions relying on the memories of his original self, whose knowledge reserve was abundant, allowing long essays for each question, but as for the results, he couldn't judge.

After participating in the rural examination in the prefecture, all the candidates' papers would be escorted by martial arts experts to the state mansion.

And about half a month later, the results would be out.

If Su Que wanted to return to Jade Water City, it would take about half a month too, so he might as well wait here for the results and return afterward.

Upon returning to the inn, Su Que put down the book case and was about to resume his practice when he suddenly remembered that the three "Essence Enhancing Pills" had been consumed in the days before the rural examination.

He needed to go to Purple Sun Temple to find Elder Qingxuan for alchemy.

However, after purchasing the poison, his Silver Coins were down to just over three hundred taels.

This amount of Silver Coins would likely only allow the crafting of four more elixirs.

'Let's sell the martial arts secret manual and elixir recipe obtained from White Lotus Sect Members.'

Back in Jade Water City, he planned to sell these martial arts secret manuals and elixir recipes.

But both Jade Water City and the neighboring county towns were small places, and no buyers could be found.

Thus, he had to bring them to the Prefecture City here to sell.

Su Que immediately took out paper and pen to copy the martial arts secret manuals and elixir recipes obtained from White Lotus Sect members.

Then, he repackaged the originals.

The elixir recipes to be sold also included the "Essence Enhancing Pill".

After all, he's not in the business of selling elixirs, so selling the "Essence Enhancing Pill" recipe posed no loss to him.

The next day, Su Que went to stroll around the restaurants, gambling houses, and such in Jiannan City.

After spending most of the day, he heard from Jianghu guests that most martial artists, when looking to buy secret manuals, elixir recipes, or equipment, go to the Mo Jin Commerce Association in Jiannan Prefecture City.

Because this commerce association has the best reputation and doesn't deceive customers.

Since the Mo Jin Commerce Association can sell secret manuals and elixir recipes, it's assumed they will also buy these things.

Su Que found a passerby, asked for directions to the Mo Jin Commerce Association, then returned to the inn to circulate his Qi Blood, making himself taller, donned a cloak, masked himself, covered with a hood, and carrying the bundle with martial arts secret manuals and elixir recipes, headed to the Mo Jin Commerce Association.

The Mo Jin Commerce Association is located in the center of Jian'an Prefecture.

The association has a pavilion with five floors, taller than the surrounding buildings, adorned with red pillars and painted beams, looking quite impressive.

Su Que heard from those Jianghu guests that they seemed to be unaware of which backing force the Mo Jin Commerce Association had.

However, those Jianghu guests were very sure that for Mo Jin Commerce Association to be so large, the backing force is definitely significant.

At this moment, the first floor of Mo Jin Commerce Association had quite a few people coming and going.

Both martial artists and business people were present.

As Su Que walked in, a young attendant's eyes lit up, and he immediately approached.

Seeing Su Que dressed so thoroughly, the young attendant thought it highly likely he was there to sell goods.

Moreover, there's a high possibility that he's selling quality goods.

"Esteemed guest, may I ask why you're here?"

The young attendant walked beside Su Que, bowed with hands clasped, and respectfully asked.

"I wonder if you buy martial arts secret manuals and elixir recipes here?" A rough voice came from under Su Que's hood.

"Of course!" The young attendant thought he guessed right, his eyes lighting up again:

"Esteemed guest, please follow me to the third floor."

Su Que nodded and proceeded to follow the young attendant upstairs.

The young attendant led Su Que to an antique-style booth and invited Su Que to sit down.

Inside the booth, agarwood was burning, and a lightly pleasant fragrance filled the room.

The young attendant deftly handled the tea set on the table and brewed a pot of tea for Su Que.

The refreshing scent of tea calmed and relaxed one's heart.

After pouring a cup for Su Que, the young attendant said:

"Esteemed guest, please wait a moment. I will call the supervisor here."

The young attendant himself currently lacked enough experience and expertise to accurately appraise the value of martial arts secret manuals and elixir recipes.

Hence, he needed to call the supervisor of Mo Jin Commerce Association down.

After the young attendant bowed and exited, a short while later, a slightly chubby man entered the booth.

The man's outfit had a fine texture, and he wore a valuable finger ring, exuding a sense of wealth.

Behind him followed the young attendant.

"Esteemed guest, I am Mo Lin. May I ask what you'd like to sell?"

Mo Lin bowed in greeting before Su Que, then sat down.

Su Que immediately placed the bundle on the table.

The quick-witted young attendant saw Su Que picking up the bundle and promptly removed most of the tea set from the table, leaving only one teacup and moved it aside.

After Su Que set the bundle on the table, he untied it to reveal the martial arts secret manuals and elixir recipes inside.

"I wonder how much these can sell for at your commerce association?" Su Que asked.

"Allow me to take a look!" Mo Lin said.

Su Que nodded.

Mo Lin immediately pulled the bundle over and began flipping through the martial arts secret manuals and elixir recipes one by one.

He personally was just a "Third Blood" martial artist.

His martial arts realm isn't high, but he had over thirty years of experience in the business of secret manuals and elixir recipes.

Most martial arts secret manuals and elixir recipes could be priced with just a glance.

While flipping through, Mo Lin selected several martial arts secret manuals and elixir recipes, setting them aside.

Su Que noticed that the elixir recipe documenting the "Essence Enhancing Pill" was amongst them.

After a while, Mo Lin finished looking at the last elixir recipe and said to Su Que:

"Esteemed guest, these manuals and recipes, we've already collected them before at Mo Jin Commerce Association, so we won't buy them."

"However, for the remaining items, if you wish to sell, we can offer you three thousand six hundred taels."

Su Que glanced at the "Essence Enhancing Pill" recipe and suddenly thought of how Elder Qingxuan easily crafted the "Essence Enhancing Pill". Perhaps someone had sought him for it before.

Maybe, Bai Wuji's "Essence Enhancing Pill" recipe wasn't original, but bought from elsewhere.

"Alright, prepare the money."

Su Que nodded but suddenly remembered something and asked:

"Do you have an elixir recipe better than the 'Essence Enhancing Pill' here?"

Mo Lin replied, "Recently, we acquired an elixir recipe known as 'Dragon Ascending Pill', with its effects better than 'Essence Enhancing Pill'. If you wish to buy, it costs eight thousand taels."

'Eight thousand taels?' Su Que subtly frowned, thinking elixir recipes truly are expensive.

"Then, do you have any secret manuals for quick mastery of martial arts here?" Su Que asked again.

"We do," Mo Lin replied. "About a month ago, we acquired a fragmented volume, which, upon appraisal by the martial arts experts in our association, was identified as a fragment of the 'Withered Wood Divine Skill'."

"Withered Wood Divine Skill?" Su Que frowned.

Mo Lin nodded: "Our commerce association's martial arts experts say the Withered Wood Divine Skill was created by a Demon Sect in the Central Plains. Cultivating it produces Withered Wood True Qi within."

"This True Qi is extremely resilient, and when forced into the skin, muscles, and flesh, provides defense second only to the Golden Bell Shield martial arts divine skill."

"However, this Withered Wood True Qi gradually corrodes the cultivator's emotions and desires over time, turning them into emotionless individuals."

"Furthermore, it is rumored that this Withered Wood True Qi affects the cultivator's flesh and blood, causing them to lose vitality and transform into withered wood as the cultivation deepens."

"Esteemed guest, I've told you all the drawbacks of this cultivation technique."

"If you wish to buy this fragment, we will charge you five hundred taels."

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