Chapter 19: Purchasing Spirit Herbs

Inside the Hundred Treasures Pavilion!

Hearing Ye Qingxuan's request, the clerk of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion led him to the elixir section.

On the light wall of the elixir section, the prices of various elixirs were recorded, allowing customers to view them at any time.

After taking a look, Ye Qingxuan focused on the prices of First-Rank elixirs.

As expected, in the market of the Xuantian Sect, the most expensive First-Rank elixir was one that aided cultivation, and it was the Spirit-Enhancing Elixir that Ye Qingxuan was familiar with.

The Spirit-Enhancing Elixir could be exchanged for ten contribution points at the Ten Thousand Things Hall of the Xuantian Sect, while purchasing it with spirit stones at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion cost twelve low-grade spirit stones per pill.

The price had risen by a full twenty percent!

Of course, as contribution points served as the internal currency of the sect, disciples were naturally allowed to trade them privately.

Therefore, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion also allowed elixirs to be exchanged for contribution points, and the price was the same as the sect's exchange rate: ten contribution points per pill.

Looking at the Spirit-Enhancing Elixir, which had the highest price among First-Rank elixirs, Ye Qingxuan asked:

"Do you have the formula for the First-Rank Spirit-Enhancing Elixir here?"

For this relatively special elixir, the Ye family's alchemy inheritance did not include the corresponding formula.

Hearing Ye Qingxuan's question, the clerk beside him looked at him in surprise and said:

"Young Master, yes. The formula for the First-Rank Spirit-Enhancing Elixir costs one thousand contribution points, or twelve hundred low-grade spirit stones. Furthermore, after purchase, a restriction must be established to prevent it from being passed on."

Hearing this, Ye Qingxuan nodded and pondered in his mind.

He currently had only one hundred contribution points left, and his monthly stipend was only thirty contribution points. Without undertaking missions, it would take him at least two years to gather one thousand contribution points.

After weighing the options for a moment, he ultimately chose to purchase with spirit stones.

"Bring me a copy of the Spirit-Enhancing Elixir formula. I will pay with spirit stones."

In a little over two years, Ye Qingxuan was confident he could earn back the two hundred spirit stone difference.

Hearing that Ye Qingxuan chose to buy, the clerk hesitated for a moment. Seeing that Ye Qingxuan only possessed the cultivation base of early Qi Refining, he kindly advised:

"Young Master, the difficulty of refining the Spirit-Enhancing Elixir is not low. If you are just beginning to learn alchemy and wish to practice, I suggest choosing an elixir with lower difficulty."

Facing the clerk's kind advice, Ye Qingxuan immediately felt grateful, but he had his own plans, so he could only refuse:

"It is no trouble. Thank you, Senior Brother, for your concern."

The clerk was a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Although no age difference was visible on the surface, the other party was likely older than him, so addressing him as Senior Brother was at least correct.

Seeing that Ye Qingxuan was insistent, the clerk said no more, retrieved the formula for the Spirit-Enhancing Elixir for him, and completed the transaction.

After securing the Spirit-Enhancing Elixir formula, Ye Qingxuan looked at the clerk and asked:

"Senior Brother, what is your name? Are you also a disciple of the Xuantian Sect?"

Hearing Ye Qingxuan address him as Senior Brother, the clerk became even more enthusiastic, and his tone was no longer so rigid:

"My name is Bai Wenyang. I am an outer sect disciple of the Xuantian Sect."

Confirming that Bai Wenyang was also a disciple of the Xuantian Sect, Ye Qingxuan could not help but sigh in his heart:

"Although the Xuantian Sect is a single sect, it resembles a nation. Its disciples are spread throughout every aspect of the Xuantian Sect."

Looking at Bai Wenyang, Ye Qingxuan smiled:

"In that case, Senior Brother, please address me as Junior Brother from now on! Hahaha!"

"Then this Senior Brother will respectfully accept your command. Hahaha!" Bai Wenyang did not refuse either, but agreed with a smile.

Instantly, the relationship between the two grew much closer.

Afterwards, Ye Qingxuan continued to ask:

"Senior Brother, how much is the medicinal herbs for the Spirit-Enhancing Elixir per portion in spirit stones? Also, does the Hundred Treasures Pavilion accept Spirit-Enhancing Elixirs for purchase?"

Through their conversation, Bai Wenyang had already guessed Ye Qingxuan's plan.

Seeing Ye Qingxuan so confident, he did not speak to discourage him; perhaps Ye Qingxuan could truly refine the Spirit-Enhancing Elixir?

So Bai Wenyang began to introduce:

"Junior Brother, the medicinal herbs for the Spirit-Enhancing Elixir cost ten low-grade spirit stones per portion. As your Senior Brother, I can authorize a five percent discount for you.

As for the purchase price of the Spirit-Enhancing Elixir, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion uniformly pays nine low-grade spirit stones per pill. This is something your Senior Brother cannot change."

Knowing the price of the medicinal herbs for one portion and the purchase price of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, Ye Qingxuan nodded silently.

With one portion of herbs, if he could refine one Spirit-Enhancing Elixir, he would roughly break even.

If he could refine two Spirit-Enhancing Elixirs from one portion of herbs, he would make a huge profit.

Having made his decision, Ye Qingxuan looked at Bai Wenyang and said:

"Then thank you, Senior Brother! Please bring me three thousand three hundred portions of medicinal herbs for the Spirit-Enhancing Elixir!"

"Very well, Junior Brother, please wait a moment!"

After speaking, Bai Wenyang walked inside the counter.

While waiting for Bai Wenyang, Ye Qingxuan once again turned his gaze to the elixir prices on the light wall.

Looking upward, Ye Qingxuan discovered that for elixirs of Fourth-Rank and above, the prices of various wound-healing, spiritual energy-replenishing, and poison-curing elixirs rose sharply.

They were almost comparable to the prices of elixirs that increased cultivation speed.

Noticing this contrast, Ye Qingxuan felt confused and puzzled.

There seemed to be no major wars breaking out within the territory of the Xuantian Sect. Who would buy such expensive wound-healing, replenishing, and poison-curing elixirs?

Just as Ye Qingxuan was puzzled, Bai Wenyang came out holding a storage bag and handed it to Ye Qingxuan, saying:

"Junior Brother, these are the medicinal herbs you requested. This storage bag is a gift from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion."

Taking the storage bag, Ye Qingxuan instinctively voiced his confusion about the change in elixir prices:

"Senior Brother, why are the prices of wound-healing, replenishing, and poison-curing elixirs of Fourth-Rank and above so high?"

This time, hearing Ye Qingxuan's question, Bai Wenyang did not answer. Instead, he looked at Ye Qingxuan meaningfully and said:

"Junior Brother, what you need to know, you will naturally know once your cultivation base rises."

Seeing Bai Wenyang acting mysteriously, Ye Qingxuan asked curiously:

"Does Senior Brother know?"

"Senior Brother is currently only at the Foundation Establishment realm, so I do not know either!" Bai Wenyang replied with a straight face.

"Eh?"

Hearing Bai Wenyang's answer, Ye Qingxuan was left speechless.

Seeing Bai Wenyang speak so mysteriously, Ye Qingxuan had thought he actually knew!

And that's it?

Unable to help but roll his eyes at Bai Wenyang, Ye Qingxuan, after inspecting the medicinal herbs for the Spirit-Enhancing Elixir, placed a pile of spirit stones on the counter and exchanged sound-transmission marks with Bai Wenyang.

After the transaction was complete, Ye Qingxuan prepared to leave the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, so he clasped his fists toward Bai Wenyang and said:

"Thank you again for your care, Senior Brother. This junior brother will take his leave now!"

Upon hearing this, Bai Wenyang put away Ye Qingxuan's spirit stones and clasped his fists in return, saying:

"No need to be polite, Junior Brother. I wish you success in refining the Spirit-Enhancing Elixir soon!"

As a shopkeeper of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, Bai Wenyang had certain business requirements, and purchasing the Spirit-Enhancing Elixir was one of them.

However, he did not hold high hopes for the junior brother he had just met today, Ye Qingxuan.

After all, alchemy is something that, without talent, basically has no future.

He had tried it himself back in the day; the result, well, no need to mention it!

After some small talk with Bai Wenyang!

Ye Qingxuan left the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. Since his pockets were light, he did not linger in the market town but instead used the teleportation array to depart.

His purchases this trip included materials for thirty batches of Qi-Inducing Elixirs costing 75 lower-grade spirit stones, the formula for the Spirit-Enhancing Elixir costing 1,200 lower-grade spirit stones, and materials for 3,300 batches of Spirit-Enhancing Elixir, which received a five-percent discount, costing 31,350 lower-grade spirit stones.

A total of 32,625 lower-grade spirit stones!

Now, Ye Qingxuan's storage ring contained only 375 spirit stones remaining.

If he did not return immediately to devote time to studying alchemy, he would go bankrupt.

However, on the way back, Ye Qingxuan stopped by the Menial Servants' Courtyard to visit Ye Qingxiao.

Upon seeing Ye Qingxuan, Ye Qingxiao appeared very happy and constantly complained to Ye Qingxuan about the strict constraints placed on menial disciples.

They were assigned daily menial tasks, leaving no time to wander out and play freely.

Fortunately, Mo Tian was the manager of the Menial Servants' Courtyard. Considering the face of their ancestor Ye Zhaoyang, the tasks assigned to Ye Qingxiao were not difficult.

Even so, with fewer resources and less cultivation time than Ye Qingxuan, Ye Qingxiao's cultivation base had surpassed Ye Qingxuan's, reaching the fifth layer of the Qi Refining realm.

To this, Ye Qingxuan could not help but sigh:

"Indeed, cultivation still depends on aptitude. Those without aptitude who try to defy the heavens are merely dreaming!"

Of course, he himself was the exception!

Stimulated by Ye Qingxiao's cultivation progress, Ye Qingxuan prepared to return to his small courtyard to enter seclusion and cultivate hard, while also studying alchemy to lay the groundwork for developing a blessed land in the future!

Before leaving, Ye Qingxuan and Ye Qingxiao exchanged sound-transmission marks with each other!

(End of this chapter)