Chapter Thirty-Four: Strange
Shopkeeper Qian’s expression remained unchanged as he chuckled amiably. “To be honest, my friend, the main ingredient for the Essence Condensation Pill, the Condensed Yin Grass, only grows in places where yin energy converges. It’s notoriously difficult to find, which is why the price of this pill is generally higher than most others.”
After a brief pause, his face revealed a hint of difficulty. “Moreover, our stock is limited. For a bottle of twelve pills, the lowest price is eight thousand five hundred lower-grade spirit stones!”
At this, Qu Yiqiu raised an eyebrow.
“So, does this mean that the Treasure Pavilion is in need of restocking Essence Condensation Pills?”
Shopkeeper Qian and Luo Yingying were momentarily bewildered.
Shopkeeper Qian replied, “Indeed. With the pacification of Qu’nan City drawing near, the demonic cultivators have countless tricks up their sleeves. The thing cultivators fear most are techniques targeting the soul. If they can prepare enough Essence Condensation Pills in advance, it will certainly offer them greater security amidst the coming chaos.”
“Unfortunately, Condensed Yin Grass is so rare that most cultivators are unwilling to risk venturing into places dense with yin energy.”
He wore a look of genuine regret.
Qu Yiqiu blinked.
The spirit stones Yao Zhimei had loaded into her storage pouch from the Ghost Cultivator’s Treasury would have sufficed to buy all these pills. But for someone at her level, spending so many spirit stones at once would draw far too much attention.
If she used Essence Condensation Pills for barter instead, she could attribute their origin to Mo Qingli.
With this in mind, Qu Yiqiu slapped her storage pouch and took out several bottles of Essence Condensation Pills she had refined herself.
“What is this?” Shopkeeper Qian eyed the porcelain bottle she produced with suspicion.
Luo Yingying was equally curious.
Qu Yiqiu explained calmly, “Shopkeeper Qian, to tell you the truth, I hadn’t expected Qu’nan City’s unrest to come so soon, and I don’t have many spirit stones on hand. However, I do have a few bottles of Essence Condensation Pills refined by my master. I wonder if I could use them to exchange for Spirit Replenishing Pills or other magical artifacts.”
She turned her gaze towards Shopkeeper Qian.
He exchanged a look of surprise with Luo Yingying, and both picked up the porcelain bottle to examine it.
Shopkeeper Qian deftly opened the bottle, releasing a delicate fragrance that refreshed the mind and seemed to reach the very sea of consciousness.
He immediately felt invigorated and clear-headed.
“These are top-grade Essence Condensation Pills with double inscriptions! May I ask how many your esteemed master has refined? Would you be willing to sell more?”
Shopkeeper Qian closed the bottle with excitement, looking to Qu Yiqiu for an answer.
Qu Yiqiu thought to herself that she still had plenty of ingredients for refining these pills; selling all her current stock would be no loss.
“Not many—perhaps just over thirty bottles. I’d also like to see the Treasure Pavilion’s selection of offensive and defensive artifacts.”
Shopkeeper Qian’s face lit up with delight. “No problem! Our Treasure Pavilion still holds a few premium offensive and defensive artifacts in reserve. Allow me to send for them at once!”
Qu Yiqiu was not the least bit surprised by Shopkeeper Qian’s transparent delight.
Luo Yingying, on the other hand, was gaping in astonishment, still in shock from their earlier exchange.
Perhaps spurred on by Shopkeeper Qian’s eagerness, the serving girl returned swiftly with the treasures.
In no time, six ornate caskets were arrayed on the table.
Luo Yingying finally closed her mouth and exclaimed, “Who would’ve thought that Master Mo was so skilled in alchemy? Essence Condensation Pills are fetching quite a price these days.”
Whenever war threatened the cultivation world, the price of pills and artifacts needed by cultivators always soared by a tenth.
Thanks to Luo Yingying, however, Shopkeeper Qian was dealing with them at regular prices.
Qu Yiqiu smiled with relief. “Have you forgotten, Sister? My master wields the Nether Lotus Heartfire and is a Golden Core adept; refining double-inscribed pills is effortless for him.”
Whether Mo Qingli truly possessed such alchemy skills was unknown; outsiders certainly didn’t know. She could boast all she liked—no one would dare to trouble him anyway.
Luo Yingying suddenly remembered. Master Mo had been in closed-door cultivation at Little Peace Peak for so long that she had nearly forgotten his illustrious past.
The Nether Lotus Heartfire was renowned among the Ten Thousand Fires and coveted by all alchemists. With such a spiritual flame, refining double-inscribed pills was indeed a simple matter for Master Mo.
While she pondered this, Shopkeeper Qian opened five of the chests.
“My friend, the first three are all top-grade offensive artifacts. The other two are premium artifacts that combine offense and defense.”
Qu Yiqiu inspected them as he introduced each one.
The three offensive artifacts were a trio of small daggers, a rhino horn spike, and a delicate iron hammer. All were simple and sharp in appearance, lacking any ostentatious luster.
None caught her fancy.
The two combined offensive and defensive artifacts, however, immediately drew her attention.
Shopkeeper Qian did not miss the flash of interest in her eyes and quickly seized the opportunity to elaborate. “This piece is called the Iridescent Jade Sash. It balances strength and flexibility; infuse it with spiritual energy and it can become a supple shield or a razor-sharp blade. It’s one of the few artifacts in our Treasure Pavilion designed especially for women.”
He was about to introduce the other artifact but noticed Qu Yiqiu’s keen interest in the sash and paused, rephrasing his words. “If you like this artifact, you’re welcome to test it.”
Luo Yingying chimed in, “Yes, junior sister, give it a try! It might be just what you’re looking for.”
Qu Yiqiu smiled faintly. “Very well, I’ll try it.”
Shopkeeper Qian dispelled the restrictions around the casket and handed the Iridescent Jade Sash to her. “Just infuse it with a bit of spiritual energy—it can expand or contract at will.”
Obeying, Qu Yiqiu poured in her spiritual energy and willed it to transform.
Instantly, the sash shifted into a string of colorful dumbbells in her hands.
At another thought, it morphed into a pliant whip.
Luo Yingying silently watched Qu Yiqiu’s expression, noticing her growing fondness for the Iridescent Jade Sash. She thought to herself that whether or not Senior Brother Chi’s treasured artifact was given to her no longer mattered—Qu Yiqiu was wealthier than they had imagined!
After playing with the artifact for a while, Qu Yiqiu found it increasingly intuitive and decided she would purchase it.
Yet there was still one casket left unopened, and she was curious as to what Shopkeeper Qian was being so secretive about.
“Shopkeeper Qian, what’s in this last casket? Is it perhaps even better than the Jade Sash in my hands?”
At her words, he quickly opened the final casket, apologizing with a laugh, “This Cloudwoven Brocade is a pure defensive artifact. In terms of defense alone, it surpasses the Iridescent Jade Sash, but it possesses no offensive capabilities.”
Qu Yiqiu gave him a curious look.
She had expected some rare treasure, but it seemed ordinary enough.
Shopkeeper Qian, ever shrewd, could easily read her thoughts. He hastily explained, “I hadn’t opened it earlier because it’s a bit damaged—not a brand-new artifact, so it’s somewhat devalued. If you like it, consider it a bonus to go with the Jade Sash!”
Qu Yiqiu was slightly taken aback—such a stroke of luck?
She examined the Cloudwoven Brocade; it seemed perfectly fine to her—where was the damage?
Shopkeeper Qian quickly lifted the restrictions and handed the Cloudwoven Brocade to her, his face beaming. “Please try it, my friend. If you approve, I’ll add it to the Jade Sash as a complimentary bonus, no questions asked!”
Suppressing her odd feeling, Qu Yiqiu accepted the brocade and infused it with a trace of spiritual energy.
From the moment she received the brocade, Luo Yingying had been holding her breath, her pupils unconsciously dilating.
Senior Brother Chi, oh Senior Brother Chi! If you wanted to gift her a top-grade defensive artifact, you should have just handed it over directly. Now you’re trying to sell it off so cheaply—if this is discovered, I’ll be the one Qu Yiqiu blames!