Chapter 8: Trade and Concealment

Kid, don't talk big! Being able to cultivate that kind of Pure Heart Grass is already a stroke of heavenly luck, and now you actually dare to spout crazy talk about cultivating something even better! Pure nonsense!

The girl in green clothes obviously didn't believe Wang Ping's words and deliberately spoke in a sarcastic, mocking tone.

"Xiao Yue! Don't be unreasonable; there are countless extraordinary people in the cultivation world, so it's not impossible that this young brother truly has real skill."

Ling Ruoxian saw her maid speaking rudely to Wang Ping and immediately shouted a reprimand.

However, as an unparalleled immortal maiden, even her reprimand carried a different kind of beauty.

The girl named Xiao Yue was quite unconvinced, muttering: "If she really had ability, how could she be assigned to this godforsaken place?"

Ling Ruoxian saw this and again softly scolded:

"Xiao Yue!"

Seeing that her young lady was truly angry, Xiao Yue pursed her lips and stopped speaking.

Ling Ruoxian, bowing, apologized: "Young master, please don't blame me; Xiao Yue has been spoiled by me, and her words were offensive—I hope you can forgive!"

Wang Ping's mouth twitched, looking at Xiao Yue with her mouth curled up nearby, and he suddenly said with a smile:

"It's fine; I won't quarrel with a little girl."

"You say who's a little girl?"

Xiao Yue jumped up three feet high, her originally delicate pretty face filling with anger.

Ling Ruoxian saw this, extended her jade hand and pointed; a faint blue spiritual light shot out, sealing Xiao Yue's mouth.

Then she apologetically smiled at Wang Ping, who didn't mind, but his favorability toward Ling Ruoxian surely rose steadily.

She's beautiful and kind-hearted—who wouldn't like her? At this point he also guessed the identity of the woman before him.

Number one on the Talent Ranking, Ling Ruoxian, at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, is said to be about to achieve Foundation Establishment.

No wonder they want Pure Heart Grass; the efficacy of Pure Heart Pill depends on Pure Heart Grass for half.

Thinking of the Pure Heart Grass in his own spiritual field, he felt a twinge of guilt.

The three walked leisurely toward the spiritual field; Wang Ping subconsciously walked side by side with Ling Ruoxian, an action that repeatedly drew her attention.

This isn't really Wang Ping's fault; having come from Earth, although he's now in the cultivation world, the education of over twenty years from his previous life is still etched deep in his soul.

Moreover, whether in his previous life or this one, he has never deliberately tried to please others.

So in this regard he didn't pay special attention.

While inhaling the immortal maiden's fragrance, Wang Ping kept his composure; although he unconsciously walked alongside the immortal, he knew deep down he must keep distance from this woman.

Thus the three arrived at the spiritual field managed by Wang Ping.

Looking at the scene before him, Wang Ping was somewhat dazed.

On the three-mu spiritual field, hundreds of Pure Heart Grass swayed in the wind.

Each stalk emitted specks of starlight; together, hundreds of them made it look like a starry sky at a glance.

The grass glowing with starlight—this is a phenomenon that only appears when the first grade is taken to its extreme!

To be frank, such Pure Heart Grass is even more precious than second-grade Pure Heart Grass.

No wonder Ling Ruoxian and the other had those expressions just now; also, there's the Fire Spirit Fruit.

Wang Ping shifted his gaze; on the fruit tree over two meters tall hung abundant Fire Spirit Fruit.

At a glance it looked like a mass of firelight.

"Just now, this young lady passed by overhead, noticed specks of starlight flashing below and also flickering firelight, and out of curiosity came down to take a look."

From behind, Ling Ruoxian's voice came; Wang Ping took a deep breath, already knowing why the Pure Heart Grass and Fire Spirit Fruit tree had become like this.

All of this is related to the Cloud Rain Technique he performed yesterday.

However, the Cloud Rain Technique doesn't have such a great effect; ultimately, it's due to his spiritual power.

Most of his spiritual power was broken through in the Spirit Realm, reaching utmost purity; when he broke through to the middle stage of Qi Refining, all the spiritual power in his dantian was stained with the Spirit Realm's aura.

That aura carried a lively spiritual power, full of vitality; combined with his cultivation of the Azure Wood Longevity Technique, it caused the power of the Cloud Rain Technique to undergo a qualitative change.

But this effect did not make Wang Ping feel delighted; instead, he felt an imminent threat.

Not everyone in the Azure Moon Sect is like Ling Ruoxian.

There are far more schemes and betrayals, life-and-death struggles.

He must turn this incident into an accidental occurrence; otherwise, judging by Ling Ruoxian's posture, she'll likely keep coming often.

Thinking of Ling Ruoxian's popularity within the sect gave him a headache.

When the time comes, not only will Ling Ruoxian arrive, but also disciples from the Talent Ranking and Merit Ranking.

Then this place will attract many eyes, which conflicts with his goal of cultivating discreetly.

Thinking of this, Wang Ping suddenly exclaimed:

"Ah! Why have they changed so much? Yesterday they weren't like this!"

Ling Ruoxian behind flashed her gaze, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, and asked aloud: "Could these not be what you, young master, have cultivated?"

The beauty spoke softly; her clear, spirited voice almost made Wang Ping unable to resist shouting: "These are what I cultivated!"

In order to make the immortal maiden look at him anew.

Fortunately he managed to hold back, instead revealing a hint of greed and saying:

"These are naturally what I cultivated; the immortal maiden has also seen the quality of these spiritual herbs. If you want to buy, is this the price?"

Wang Ping narrowed his eyes, gave a hehe laugh, resembling a greedy old landlord.

Behind, Yue'er saw this, her cheeks puffed up, her eyes wide open, as if about to spew anger.

Ling Ruoxian frowned again; seeing Wang Ping's appearance, she couldn't help but feel displeased.

At the same time she secretly wondered: could she have guessed wrong, that this person only managed to cultivate these spiritual herbs by sheer fluke?

"Immortal maiden! Immortal maiden!"

Wang Ping's shout brought her back from her reverie.

Seeing Wang Ping's appearance, she grew increasingly disgusted.

She immediately said lightly: "Top-grade spirit heart grass is equivalent to second-tier spirit grass; I'll calculate at twenty merit points for you. You have a total of one hundred ten plants in your spirit field, requiring a total of 2,200 merit points."

Moreover, there are forty-nine fire spirit fruits, each of top-grade quality; I'll calculate at thirty merit points each, totaling one thousand four hundred seventy.

In total, three thousand six hundred seventy; according to sect rules, you need to contribute thirty percent, so you ultimately obtain two thousand five hundred sixty-nine merit points, correct?

Wang Ping feigned impatience, nodding hastily, his whole body trembling, eyes gleaming, a greedy look on his face.

Ling Ruoxian, seeing this, disliked him even more, and coldly said: "Let's trade now."

Wang Ping said blankly: "I don't know if fairy, you can settle with low-grade spirit stones; I can give you a discount!"

Ling Ruoxian nodded and said: "That's fine; according to sect rules, twenty merit points exchange for one low-grade spirit stone. I still have a hundred low-grade spirit stones here, exchanging for two thousand merit points with you; the rest I can exchange with this, okay?"

After Ling Ruoxian finished speaking, she tossed a jade slip over; Wang Ping caught it and saw it was a technique jade slip. He glanced at both of them, then placed the jade slip on his forehead and began to examine its contents.

After the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, Wang Ping put down the jade slip, his face full of surprise; the jade slip actually contained an introduction to artifact refining, with nothing too profound theoretically, and it could only refine first-tier magic artifacts.

However, in terms of its value, it slightly exceeded five hundred sixty-nine merit points.

"Fairy, this price somewhat exceeds the value of these spirit herbs," Wang Ping asked embarrassedly.

Ling Ruoxian said indifferently: "Top-grade spirit medicines and herbs are harder to find; if sold outside, these herbs of yours would easily fetch three hundred spirit stones, so I'm actually getting a bargain."

Wang Ping secretly shook his head; Ling Ruoxian's words were naturally correct, but within the Azure Moon Sect, nobody would calculate using outside prices.

After all, Ling Ruoxian is kind-hearted, but such a personality doesn't fare well in the cultivation world!

Since the buyer doesn't mind, Wang Ping naturally won't say anything further.

After receiving the spirit stones, Wang Ping wrapped them in his clothes, while Ling Ruoxian walked to the spirit field, grabbed a handful, and placed each spirit heart grass into her carrying storage bag.

Seeing this, Wang Ping felt envious; storage bags are rare items in Zhao State, and few Qi Refining cultivators possess them.

It is said that even the lowest-grade one-cubic-meter storage bag costs at least five hundred spirit stones.

Soon after, Ling Ruoxian finished harvesting; Wang Ping wanted to greet her again, but she ignored him outright, directly flying up on her magic artifact and quickly disappearing into the horizon.

Wang Ping rubbed his nose; it was obvious that his performance had successfully left a bad impression on the fairy, and his goal had also been achieved.

He rubbed the spirit stones in his pocket; it was still the first time he possessed so many spirit stones.

One low-grade spirit stone can condense thirty strands of spiritual power; one hundred spirit stones can condense three thousand strands.

If all were used to expand the silver-white block, roughly three hundred cubic centimeters of space could be expanded.

After another glance at the horizon, Wang Ping regained his original demeanor.

Calm, tranquil, with a hint of resoluteness.

The familiar sound of wind rustling bamboo leaves rose; Wang Ping walked home accompanied by the breeze.

For now he lies in wait, only awaiting the day he soars to the heavens.

Late night, a hidden cave.

Wang Ping sat cross-legged, a jade slip placed entirely on his brow.

This is precisely that jade slip recording the Golden Body Technique.

The Golden Body is divided into five levels: Stone Body, Iron Body, Jade Body, Glazed Body, and Golden Body.

Among them, Stone Body, Iron Body, and Jade Body correspond respectively to the early, middle, and late stages of body refining.

Upon achieving great perfection in Jade Body, it equals great perfection in Qi Refining.

Moreover, the technique states that once Jade Body is cultivated to great perfection, it will aid in breaking through to Foundation Establishment.

As for the subsequent Glazed Body and Golden Body, they are the realm of a second-stage body refiner. Currently, Wang Ping lacks effective means of attack.

Therefore, the urgent task is to successfully cultivate the Stone Body stage of the Golden Body, thereby increasing his defensive capability.

Putting down the jade slip, Wang Ping muttered: "Two years!"

Now he is trapped by a family wager, daring not to cultivate Qi Refining techniques, and can only place his hopes on body refining.

Now he is a dragon in shallow water, waiting only two years until he returns to the great sea, free and unfettered.

Suppressing these thoughts, Wang Ping closed his eyes; with a thought, he drew a drop of spiritual liquid from the silver-white block and quickly swallowed it.

This is his new discovery: whatever is inside the silver-white block can be taken out merely by his intention.

One drop of spiritual liquid, once swallowed, instantly filled his body with a vast surge of spiritual energy.

Wang Ping immediately began cultivating according to the Golden Body cultivation method.