Chapter 173

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Protagonist:

Xu Zhangqing

Zhu Fuxian's house is quite special.

Others' are either wooden houses, stone houses, or earthen houses.

But his is actually a bamboo hut built from stalk after stalk of verdant green bamboo.

From the outside it appears to be only two stories, but each story has a height of four to five meters.

The roof also has large patches of verdant green bamboo leaves, which make a "rustling" sound when the wind blows.

Yet it doesn't seem abrupt or out of place at all; instead, it blends perfectly into this environment.

When Xu Zhangqing followed Zhu Fuxian into the house, almost everything in sight was related to bamboo.

Tables, chairs, benches, pots, bowls, ladles, basins — the vast majority of things were without exception all made of bamboo.

The air inside the house was even permeated with the fresh fragrance of bamboo.

Zhu Fuxian pointed at a stool made of green bamboo and said: "Junior Brother, sit."

"Good." Xu Zhangqing plopped down onto it.

Zhu Fuxian placed the Spirit Rice Wine on the bamboo table to the side, then asked with a smile: "This Chi Yang Shen belongs to Yang Extreme medicinal materials, the Profound Yin Lingzhi belongs to Yin Extreme medicinal materials; is Junior Brother helping a certain Alchemist find materials?"

Xu Zhangqing gave an affirmative answer: "Yes."

Of course, Yu Caiqing is not an ordinary Low-grade Alchemist.

She is a Senior Alchemist with quite a large reputation.

At this moment, Zhu Fuxian took out his Storage Item — a three-inch-long section of Bamboo Gourd tube, its surface emerging with silver cloud patterns, extremely good-looking.

Seeing this, Xu Zhangqing asked with considerable surprise: "What Storage Item is this?"

Zhu Fuxian replied: "Green Spirit Concealment Tube."

Xu Zhangqing carefully recalled the books he had read, yet discovered he had no impression of it at all.

This Storage Item surprisingly did not appear in any books.

Either he had read too few books.

Or this thing is extremely rare.

Seeing the doubtful look on the other's face, Zhu Fuxian explained: "A very niche Storage Item, unavailable on the market; I personally planted and cultivated it, then found someone to refine it."

Xu Zhangqing suddenly understood: "No wonder I have absolutely no impression of it."

Zhu Fuxian glanced at the Bamboo Gourd at his waist and smiled: "Junior Brother's isn't bad either."

Xu Zhangqing laughed "hehe" but didn't deliberately show off.

After all, he was the guest; he couldn't usurp the host's role.

Since the other recognized it, that was enough.

Zhu Fuxian used his right index finger to tap the surface of the 【Green Spirit Concealment Tube】, immediately emitting a very crisp "click-click" sound.

In the blink of an eye, a crack split open on the surface, and two medicinal herbs spat out from inside.

One left, one right, they landed precisely on the tabletop.

Xu Zhangqing swept them with his spiritual sense and instantly identified them.

On the left was the pale gold Chi Yang Shen.

On the right was the blue-gray Profound Yin Lingzhi.

Both had sufficient Spiritual Energy and were preserved intact.

They were precisely the medicinal herbs Yu Caiqing needed to refine the 【Yin-Yang Intersection Pill】.

Zhu Fuxian asked: "How many does Junior Brother want to buy?"

Xu Zhangqing replied: "One hundred of each."

Previously, Yu Caiqing had already said so.

If used for alchemy, the quantity definitely couldn't be too many, but also couldn't be too few.

Taking into account alchemy failure, accidental damage, and other reasons, one hundred was just right.

Zhu Fuxian nodded lightly and began estimating the price: "Chi Yang Shen, current market price is 3 Low-grade Spirit Stones per stalk; one hundred stalks is 3 Middle-grade Spirit Stones.

Profound Yin Lingzhi, current market price is 5 Low-grade Spirit Stones per stalk; one hundred stalks is 5 Middle-grade Spirit Stones.

Total 8 Middle-grade Spirit Stones; how about it?"

Xu Zhangqing had investigated the prices of these two Rare Spirit Plants with the Spirit Light Mirror, and they matched what the other party said without the slightest discrepancy — neither raised nor lowered.

Therefore, he decisively took out 8 Middle-grade Spirit Stones and handed them over.

Spirit Stones in hand, Zhu Fuxian didn't waste words either, swiftly spitting out one hundred stalks of Chi Yang Shen and one hundred stalks of Profound Yin Lingzhi from the Green Spirit Concealment Tube.

Transaction complete, the two looked at each other and smiled.

This was exactly the rhythm they wanted.

From this it could be seen that neither of them was a dilly-dallying person.

Zhu Fuxian's mood was excellent at this moment; he immediately stood up and walked to the other side, and not long after carried back a green bamboo tube, its surface still bearing fresh knife marks.

Besides the fragrance of bamboo, it also emitted a faint wine aroma.

"This is?" Xu Zhangqing revealed a curious look.

Zhu Fuxian introduced: "This is a Spirit Wine that this old man brewed to perfection using several decades of insights, experience, and techniques."

Xu Zhangqing's eyes brightened, and he asked further: "What name?"

Zhu Fuxian said rather proudly: "Green Bamboo Wine!"

Xu Zhangqing heard this and praised: "A good name."

Zhu Fuxian opened it, and an even stronger aroma spread out, then he poured a cup for Xu Zhangqing.

The wine liquid was the tender green of newly sprouted spring bamboo, and when light passed through it, a layer of silver halo rippled.

Judging by the color, it already belonged to the ranks of fine wine.

It contained faint Wood Spirit Qi.

Zhu Fuxian said with expectant eyes: "Junior Brother, taste it quickly, see how old man's Green Bamboo Wine tastes!"

Xu Zhangqing lifted the wine cup, first holding it under his nose to smell it.

The taste was like a bamboo grove after rain mixed with the clarity of a mountain spring, faintly carrying a sweet fragrance of honeyed plums.

Bringing it to his lips, he lightly took a sip.

The moment his tongue touched it, there was a coolness like a clear spring, then it transformed into a dense bamboo pulp sensation, but not at all sticky.

The wine water seemed cool and refreshing, but once swallowed, a line of warmth rose up.

Xu Zhangqing looked at the other party in surprise: "Was something added inside?"

Zhu Fuxian nodded: "Chi Yang Shen."

The initial version of Green Bamboo Wine had a cold and crisp taste.

Drinking it was like a snow blade splitting bamboo, cold through the whole body.

The quality was indeed higher, but he always felt something was lacking.

Later, after various attempts, he finally added honeyed plums and Chi Yang Shen inside.

The taste, flavor, and the state of melting in the belly immediately rose several levels.

Xu Zhangqing put down the wine cup and couldn't help but say: "Senior Brother's wine-brewing skill, in the entire Dongting Immortal Sect, even if not first, ranks among the top three."

Zhu Fuxian heard this, smiled meaningfully, then poured himself a bowl of Spirit Rice Wine.

The wine liquid was clear and bright, with spiritual light ripples spreading.

The taste had both the sweet fragrance of spirit rice and a hint of the freshness of earth after rain.

Upon entering the mouth, the tongue tip felt slightly numb, soft and gentle like cloud fluff turning to water, without the astringency of ordinary spirit rice wine, but instead carrying the natural sweetness of honey.

Sliding down the throat, without any burning sensation.

Instead, like drinking spirit spring, a line of warmth and moisture went straight down to the internal organs.

The aftertaste was long-lasting, fragrance lingered on teeth and cheeks, just like having just eaten a bowl of spirit rice meal.

The Wood Spirit Power in the Qi Sea even increased its circulation speed.

Zhu Fuxian blurted out: "Good wine!"

Merely spirit rice wine, actually having such taste, texture, and effect, made him involuntarily look at this Junior Brother Xu before him with new eyes.

This child's wine-brewing skill was absolutely not inferior to his own.

"Senior Brother's Green Bamboo Wine is also fine wine." Xu Zhangqing lifted the wine cup, the two clinked once, then drank it all in one gulp.

Next, they drank while chatting idly.

Not at all like people who had known each other for a few days, but rather like old drinking friends of many years.

Zhu Fuxian sighed: "It's been a long time since anyone has accompanied old man to drink, seeing Junior Brother Xu you, I can't help but think of that departed old friend."

Xu Zhangqing blinked his eyes: "From now on, Junior Brother will often come to accompany you in drinking."

Zhu Fuxian grinned: "That would be wonderful!"