Chapter 82: The Brazen Guest

The Luying Stone is a magical artifact; it can record scenery like a camera, but its method of recording is completely different from cameras on Earth.

Because its scene recording has no blind spots, any event occurring within a range is captured, and there is no place the lens cannot see.

Its playback works the same way.

Viewing the recorded scene is like placing oneself inside the image at that moment; one can move freely within the scene, and the view from different points offers different perspectives—a true recreation of the scene.

The so‑called 3D movies on Earth are not even close—by at least eight streets—to the images of a Luying Stone.

Making a Luying Stone isn't very difficult; in the Cloud Hidden Sect, any forge master who has reached the Enlightenment stage or higher can basically craft one.

The main reason Luying Stones are rare is the scarcity of their two primary materials: spatial stone and seven‑colored crystal.

Spatial stone, also called "Jie Stone," is the main material for making spatial storage items; Jie Stone is already rare and precious, and if forced to choose, any sane leader would use it for crafting storage devices.

Seven‑colored crystal is a relatively rare ore, a scarce companion mineral of white crystal that emits a spontaneous rainbow glow; it is an exceptionally expensive ornament. Of course, unlike the priceless spatial stone, seven‑colored crystal can occasionally be seen even in mortal city markets.

To Wei Yuning, the Luying Stone represents the pinnacle of magical artifact technology in the spirit‑beast world's entertainment industry; the only regret is that it has not yet been put to use.

Having Earth life experience, he, upon first seeing a Luying Stone, immediately conceived many bold ideas and plans.

The first step of his plan is to acquire spatial stone and seven‑colored crystal.

To fellow disciples of the Cloud Hidden Sect, Qing Mo's actions are puzzling, but they have no idea that behind these deeds lies Wei Yuning's nostalgia for Earth life—and that it's a very profitable business.

Regarding spatial stone acquisition, limited finances force Wei Yuning to act within his means, but for seven‑colored crystal he goes all‑out.

Besides these two, he has a longer purchase list, all items with special uses.

Cultivators are all shrewd; Wei Yuning never intends to buy seven‑colored crystal or spatial stone from them—his main partners are mortals.

Mortals also possess seven‑colored crystal as well as spatial stone.

The main source of spatial stone is the outer walls of various worlds; only truly large immortal sects have the strength to mine it.

Spatial stone's output is actually not low; across the entire Great Primordial Realm, besides the myriad sentient worlds there are many unclaimed worlds and wastelands, yet the amount that drifts into medium and small worlds is far less.

Besides that, spatial stone also comes from meteorites.

When meteorites enter a world, they pass through the world's outer wall; larger, harder meteorites have a certain chance of carrying some spatial stone to the surface.

These beautiful stones usually flow into the hands of powerful mortal factions, and through various channels eventually reach the cultivators who truly need them.

Wei Yuning arrived in this world and entered a major sect like the Cloud Hidden Sect; at first he thought cultivators were everywhere, but gradually realized that in the spirit‑beast world, cultivators are actually very few.

The reasons are threefold: one limited by talent, the second by opportunity, the third by resources.

To ordinary mortals in the spirit‑beast world, every cultivation school, big or small, is called a 'Immortal Sect' in their mouths.

A cultivator who knows a bit of magic is a 'immortal' to them; most of the 'immortals' they speak of in the Cloud Hidden Sect are merely foundation‑building labor disciples.

Thus, the things within an immortal sect carry multiple weights in the eyes of mortals.

Wei Yuning exploits this, doing big business with mortal merchants.

Wei Yuning doesn't have much else; he has plenty of low‑grade pills and low‑grade artifacts, exactly what mortals need.

Whenever mortal merchants come to the Secret Medicine Pavilion to buy goods, the clerk tells them they can exchange seven‑colored crystal or spatial stone for 'immortal medicine' and 'immortal artifact'.

Having been baptized by Earth's commercial civilization, Wei Yuning's offerings are essentially marketed on longevity and anti‑aging, which mortals care about most.

Items such as necklaces, headpieces, earrings and bracelets that come with a spirit‑gathering array can extend a mortal whose average age is only fifty by at least twenty more years.

And basic pills like the Clear Cloud Pill that purge bodily impurities are especially popular with mortal merchants.

The health‑tea series supplied by Hong Le is beyond mention; its effects are astonishing.

Moreover, the Secret Medicine Pavilion's flagship product is Moon Beetle seasoning.

Thus, although the Secret Medicine Pavilion has not been open long, its reputation is sizable, and potential customers are growing rapidly.

Through word of mouth, not only mortal merchants but even cultivators know the Secret Medicine Pavilion is willing to pay high prices for spatial stone and seven‑colored crystal; more importantly, they also have the famed 'Ten‑Mile Fragrance' as a trade item.

After mixing with various spices, three Moon Beetles together produce three bottles of premium, six of superior, twelve of standard, and twenty‑four of economy‑grade cooking auxiliaries.

Each time a top‑grade auxiliary is made, the Moon Beetle content is halved while the bottle count doubles; by the time it reaches the economy version, the beetle content is almost invisible.

"That's way too profitable!" Even Wei Yuning, who is obsessed with making money, feels a bit guilty.

In terms of cost‑performance, the economy pack isn't at all economical, but because its price is low, it's actually the most popular.

Of course, the various newly developed additives Wei Yuning mixes in are indispensable; their flavor may not match the Moon Beetle, but blended they give a unique taste, and sprinkling them on food is far more delicious than the sect's main dining hall fare.

Carrying the finished products, Wei Yuning leaves Fenghe Garden and heads to the Secret Medicine Pavilion.

A few shops away from the Secret Medicine Pavilion, Wei Yuning hears a commotion coming from inside.

"Since I can afford it, why won't you sell it to me! Spatial stone, seven‑colored crystal, spirit stone, white crystal—whatever you want I have; is that not enough?"

From the voice, it's a young woman, but her brazen tone would embarrass even a true immortal.

White crystal is also a prized item in Wei Yuning's eyes; it serves as this world's glass substitute, widely used—though not scarce, it's not common either, and Wei Yuning adds it to his purchase list, albeit with a much lower priority.

"Miss, it really can't be done; these items have already been reserved! If you want to buy, you'll have to wait a bit longer!"—this is Hai Yan's voice.

"I can't wait any longer; my grandmother's birthday is tomorrow. If double price won't work, I'll pay triple, okay? If you still try to back out, I'll smash your shop today!"

Wei Yuning's eyes lit up; this is a big client—what could prompt a customer to spend heavily? Probably only the cooking auxiliaries, which he already has on hand.

Thinking this, Wei Yuning's voice arrived before his body: "Junior Sister Hai Yan, since the customer is so sincere, sell it to her at triple price!"