Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Miaorou and the Deal

After giving his instructions to Bai Lin, Li Ping headed down the mountain.

He had a few reasons for this trip.

First, he needed to get a Jade Token for Bai Lin so she could come and go from Immortal Peach Mountain.

Second, he planned to visit the market to sell the Pills in his Storage Bag. While he was there, he also wanted to see if he could find a suitable Escape Technique or a desperate, life-or-death Magic.

Getting the Jade Token was simple. Li Ping just had a word with the Meng family’s steward, who immediately processed one for Bai Lin as requested.

Of course, it was only a Jade Token for entering and exiting Immortal Peach Mountain.

He had no intention of giving her permission to freely enter his cave abode just yet.

Only in the future, once she had truly become one of his own, would she be worthy of his trust.

...

He found a secluded corner and put on his black market attire, transforming once more into a shadowy figure.

Satisfied with his disguise, he headed for the Spirit Treasure Pavilion.

Whether he was selling Pills or buying sinister cultivation techniques and spells, he didn’t want to reveal his identity.

’It’s a shame this method of hiding my identity is so Low Level. Just covering my face makes me look shifty, like I’m up to no good. Plus, anyone who knows me could still recognize me from my posture or habitual movements. The best way to hide my identity would be to completely alter my form and face, becoming an entirely different person. For example, the legendary Great Divine Ability from the Cultivation Realm, the Eight-Nine Profound Skill... once mastered, it grants the power of endless transformations. That would fit my needs perfectly.’

...

「Spirit Treasure Pavilion, Second Floor.」

Miaorou gave the cloaked figure before her an odd look. She shook her head inwardly before smiling. "How may I help you, fellow cultivator?"

"Easily done, easily done," Li Ping rasped in a voice like a broken gong. "I have some business for your esteemed pavilion."

As he spoke, he slapped the Storage Bag at his waist, and hundreds of bottles of Qi-Replenishing Pills and Qi Gathering Pills tumbled onto the table. "I plan to sell all these Pills," he said, his voice grating. "I trust your pavilion can make me a fair offer."

"What is all this?" Miaorou was stunned to see Li Ping produce so many Pills.

However, her expression returned to normal after a quick inspection revealed they were all just Tier One Lower Grade and Tier One Middle Grade Pills.

A bottle of twelve Tier One Lower Grade Pills was worth about ten Spirit Stones.

A bottle of Tier One Middle Grade Pills was worth twenty Spirit Stones.

They were hardly precious.

But then, her face lit up with a joyous smile.

’Tier One Middle and Lower Grade Pills aren’t expensive, but the sheer quantity is staggering!’

Hundreds of bottles of Pills—roughly half Tier One Lower Grade and half Tier One Middle Grade—amounted to a huge transaction.

Besides, unlike Low-Tier Spirit Talismans, Pills that enhanced one’s Cultivation were a hot commodity among Cultivators; they would sell out instantly.

The Spirit Treasure Pavilion could buy them, mark up each bottle by one or two Spirit Stones, and still make a profit of several hundred Spirit Stones.

’Wait, Spirit Talismans.’ The thought of them immediately brought the image of that Tier Two Talisman Maker, Li Ping, to Fairy Miaorou’s mind. But the image of Li Ping was quickly overshadowed by the eccentrically dressed Cultivator before her.

’Alchemists are far more distinguished than Talisman Makers,’ she thought, ’especially one as prolific as this.’

’He might be ugly behind that mask, and judging by his voice, he’s obviously quite old.’

But, Miaorou thought.

’It doesn’t matter if a male Cultivator is old and ugly. The most important thing is his ability to earn Spirit Stones, and an Alchemist earns far more than a Talisman Maker.’

’Compared to him, that Talisman Master Li Ping isn’t even fit to carry this ’old, ugly Alchemist’s’ shoes.’

Miaorou’s voice unconsciously took on a seductive tone. "Forgive my disrespect. I didn’t realize you were an Alchemist, fellow cultivator."

"Heh heh..." Li Ping chuckled, neither confirming nor denying.

Thanks to Miaorou’s deliberate efforts to curry favor, the Spirit Treasure Pavilion soon purchased all of Li Ping’s Pills at the agreed price. His once-empty Storage Bag now held several thousand Spirit Stones.

Although becoming an Alchemist required a huge initial investment, their ability to earn Spirit Stones was second to none among all the professions in the Cultivation Realm.

They out-earned even Array Masters and Artifact Refiners.

After all, Pills were consumables, whereas Dharma Artifacts and Arrays were durable goods.

Moreover, for most Cultivators, Pills that could advance their Cultivation took priority over even Dharma Artifacts.

...

With the Pill sale concluded, Li Ping produced a shopping list: the Spirit Medicines required to refine the Tier One Upper Grade Pill, "Qi Nourishing Pill."

As a Pill capable of advancing the Cultivation of late-stage Qi Refining Cultivators, the Qi Nourishing Pill was highly sought after in the Immortal City. A single bottle could fetch a high price of nearly 50 to 60 Spirit Stones.

The cost of its ingredients, however, was merely a dozen or so Spirit Stones, making the profit margin extremely high.

’In any case, as far as my Nourishing Life Skill is concerned, the ’Innate qi’ from any Tier One Upper Grade Pill is the same,’ Li Ping mused.

’Given the choice, of course I’ll refine the one that earns the most Spirit Stones.’

’Actually, the most profitable of all Tier One Upper Grade Pills is the Qi Condensing Pill, which helps Cultivators break through the bottleneck into late-stage Qi Refining. A single one of those is worth more than a whole bottle of twelve Qi Nourishing Pills.’

’But the required Spirit Medicines are too rare. I could search the entire Immortal City and might not find enough for even a few batches. That doesn’t work for my large-scale production needs, so I have to give it up, as painful as it is.’

Refining Tier One Upper Grade Pills required Spirit Medicines that were at least fifty years old.

The Spirit Treasure Pavilion didn’t have a large stock of Spirit Medicines of that age. Even after buying their entire supply, Li Ping only managed to gather enough ingredients for thirty batches of Qi Nourishing Pills.

Based on his experience, that wouldn’t be nearly enough to sate his Nourishing Life Skill.

But that was fine. After the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, he would just visit other shops. Fifty-year-old ingredients could be grown on many Tier One Spiritual Lands, and there were plenty of those around the Immortal City.

If he made a few more stops, he should be able to gather what he needed.

...

After stowing the Spirit Medicines in his Storage Bag, Li Ping turned to inquire about the Magic he was looking for. "Kekeke..." he cackled. "Shopkeeper Miao, does your establishment have any fast Escape Techniques for sale? I don’t mind if they have significant side effects."

As he spoke, his gaze roamed wantonly over her body, as if he were appraising a piece of merchandise.

’Hidden behind this disguise, not showing my real face... I can’t help but let loose a little,’ Li Ping thought to himself.

"Oh? You’re looking to purchase an Escape Technique?" Miaorou completely ignored the ’old, ugly Alchemist’s’ insolent gaze, instead sweeping her own flirtatious glance over him. "You must be joking, fellow cultivator. The Spirit Treasure Pavilion only deals in premium items. None of our techniques have any side effects."

Li Ping frowned at her words. An Escape Technique with no side effects wasn’t even on his radar.

’If an Escape Technique has no side effects, everyone will practice it. That’s no good for me.’

’When the time comes, if my pursuers have a higher Cultivation *and* use the same Escape Technique, how am I supposed to get away?’

’Well, since I’m already here...’ Li Ping didn’t mind spending a little more time. "Bring them all out. Let me have a look."

...

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