Chapter 135: Blood Wood Treasure Wine, True Person Jiao Fei

Chen Ci felt somewhat heartbroken; was there really no expert of the He Mountain Sect, no senior of the He Mountain Sect, who would come to curb this unhealthy trend?

Upon further thought, this Liangjiang Sea Market was the territory of Longhu Mountain; it was uncertain who would be curbing whose unhealthy trend, so it was better to let it be.

Revitalizing the He Mountain Sect's style was a heavy responsibility and a long road ahead.

"Daoist Chen, in truth, being an alchemist for this chamber of commerce is not easy."

At the dining table in the eatery, perhaps because he had drunk a little wine, or perhaps because he saw that Chen Ci had no opportunity to be a fire-stoking boy for him, Zhuang Liang looked somewhat wistful and couldn't help but complain to Chen Ci: "The craftsmanship is too heavy, I don't look like an alchemist at all. Every day there are only one or two types of pills, and they won't teach you anything else. It is truly a thousand difficulties to get ahead."

After speaking, Zhuang Liang sighed: "A chamber of commerce is a chamber of commerce; when talking business, it is still far inferior to the master-disciple inheritance of a sect."

Chen Ci poured him a cup of wine and comforted him: "Actually, it is all the same. In the He Mountain Sect, apart from teaching the craft of killing and soul-extracting, they don't care about anything else either."

Zhuang Liang: "." What do you mean by that?

Zhuang Liang forced a smile, raised his wine cup, and took a sheepish sip.

"By the way, Daoist Zhuang, how do you usually practice alchemy? Is there a teacher to guide you?"

Chen Ci raised his cup to toast and asked: "If I want to find someone to ask for advice on alchemy knowledge, is there a way within the chamber of commerce?"

"How else can one practice? You practice while working: gathering herbs, controlling fire, observing Qi, and condensing pills. If there is a loss, you have to pay for it out of your own pocket. However, if you do well, you will be granted merit points, which can be exchanged for spiritual items in the chamber of commerce, or you can ask a proper alchemist of the chamber of commerce to guide your cultivation."

Zhuang Liang thought for a moment and replied: "But there is one good thing: as long as you don't sign a long-term contract with the chamber of commerce, although you have to bear the cost of studying alchemy yourself, you are free to come and go. In the future, if you achieve success in alchemy, you will have more room to choose. As for asking for advice on alchemy, Daoist Chen, you either have to spend a lot of money or find someone to mediate. I am only an apprentice alchemist, so I cannot help much."

Chen Ci's expression was a bit strange; why did this routine look so familiar?

However, major orthodox sects do not easily accept rogue cultivators. This path of selling one's skills through a chamber of commerce is somewhat equivalent to outsourcing, then temporary, then formal; it still gives low-level rogue cultivators a little chance to progress, though not much.

After the meal, Zhuang Liang did not stay long. The chamber of commerce does not keep idlers, and it is not easy to get a day off. Since he could not recruit Chen Ci to help, he had to go do other things.

As for Chen Ci's identity as a He Mountain Sect disciple, considering the cost-effectiveness, he tacitly threw it to the back of his mind.

Having fallen to the point of cooking in the back kitchen of an eatery, such a He Mountain Sect disciple, he thought, was not a heinous villain, so it was not a big problem.

Qingyun Workshop, residence.

Chen Ci gently rubbed the outer wall of the teacup, looking at the strange phenomenon of the tea in his hand, and felt quite amazed. Mainly, this Purple Bamboo Flowing Cloud Tea was indeed extraordinary after being brewed. Although the spiritual energy was slightly thin, the tea leaves stood up in the cup like spiritual bamboo shoots, full of vitality, carrying the meaning of "the New Year is coming, rising step by step." The steam on the teacup was rising, and it looked like flowing clouds that condensed but did not disperse, drifting and ethereal; calling it immortal tea was no exaggeration.

The taste was clear and cold, leaving a lingering fragrance on the lips and teeth. Such good tea was naturally not cheap.

This small cluster of Purple Bamboo Flowing Cloud came from an overseas immortal mountain. One cluster weighed no more than one tael and cost two Spirit Pearls. Chen Ci thought for a moment and bought two portions, spending four Spirit Pearls; good things come in pairs.

"One must spend when one should."

Chen Ci put down the teacup and pondered slightly.

Spiritual tea is something that relies on "elegance"; sending too much is counterproductive. Moreover, what has a Golden Core True Person not enjoyed? This small cluster of Purple Bamboo Flowing Cloud just had a very good appearance and could bring good luck.

As for the wine, it was not very smooth. Chen Ci originally wanted to buy some spiritual wine to pair with Foundation-Nourishing Spirit-Nurturing Wine to brew a top-quality vintage, but he failed. The somewhat eerie, fishy sweetness of "Snow-Refining Red" did not match the spiritual energy in the spiritual wine. Mixing them together was actually a bit cloying; at least, Chen Ci frowned when he drank it.

No matter what kind of wine it is, its essence is just the concentration of alcohol and the fragrant substances within. As for spiritual wine, it just has more changes in spiritual energy during brewing. After all, cultivators consume Qi and practice methods, and their Qi meridians are connected; drinking simple wine does not have much effect. More spiritual energy just means more changes and more efficacy.

But it must taste good.

However, Chen Ci was not without gains. He discovered a strange wine called Blood Wood Wine that had a similar style and taste to Peiyuan Yangshen Wine. This wine was not a spiritual wine but just a mundane wine. During the brewing process, a red wood core needed to be used, and it was soaked in the wine vat for over a month. The resulting wine had a unique flavor, a slightly reddish color, and tasted spicy like fire when entering the mouth. A dou of wine could be sold for two taels of silver. The porters at the Sea Market wharf liked to drink a bowl after work, and their whole bodies' muscles and bones could be relaxed quite a bit.

Chen Ci used a distillation method to increase the concentration of this wine, and after soaking the Peiyuan Yangshen Wine into it, its color was as red as red jade, and its texture was thick. Taking a sip could make the pores slightly open, as if heat was rising to the head. Although it could not be described simply as good or bad, the taste was really unique, more impressive than the previous Peiyuan Yangshen Wine.

At least Chen Ci filled a small yellow-skinned gourd with it, and taking a sip occasionally could refresh his spirit.

But this Blood Wood Wine was truly a bit unpresentable. Chen Ci was worried that giving this as a gift would be counterproductive.

"People who really like good wine shouldn't care about these things, right?"

Chen Ci touched his chin: "What if that Jiao Zhenren is used to elegant things, and suddenly comes across something vulgar, and tastes the flavor instead? I'll just give this Blood Wood Treasure Wine. Don't ask; if you ask, it's equivalent in value to the small cluster of Purple Bamboo Flowing Cloud."

Besides, he was just a small fry. The things he brought to the door might be put in some corner; why think so much? Just do his best.

"Swallowing the Golden Core into the belly, one is like a person of Longevity. With Jiao Zhenren's momentum of brave advancement, perhaps the He Mountain Primordial Spirit path will start from him. If he can complete the 'He Mountain Scripture', then we junior disciples will be happy."

Chen Ci smacked his lips, suddenly feeling that his prospects as the He Mountain Light had increased a bit more.

One month later.

Qingyun Workshop, Yin hour.

Chen Ci slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a white mist. The temperature in the room dropped sharply, and the chill was biting. He subconsciously clicked on his Gold Finger panel to take a look.

Five Elements Yin Demon Method (Fragmented): 43/100

Although he knew it was just participating and there was no progress, bitter cultivation every night could temper his Dao Heart. Chen Ci was not disappointed and looked down quite relieved.

Five Ghosts Transportation Method: Great Success/96/100

Five Ghosts Possession Method: Not yet entered

It was only four or five days of bitter cultivation away from the Great Success and Perfection of the Transportation Method. If it were before, Chen Ci might have pushed everything aside to focus on the breakthrough. But today would not do; it was the day to visit Jiao Zhenren with Lin Qinhu. Speaking of which, he still didn't know the True Person's full name after so long; it was a bit impolite.

"I've been in the Sea Market for more than three months. For the past few years, I spent the New Year at Sanyin Temple. Although I was alone, at least it was my own property. This year, I have to rent a house outside."

Chen Ci smiled dumbly: "However, the New Year is coming, and everything begins anew. Before meeting Jiao Zhenren, the Five Ghosts Transportation Method was not perfected. Although it's a bit of a pity, the plan for the year lies in the spring. At the beginning of the year, I can practice the Five Ghosts Possession Great Method to improve my cultivation. This omen is much more festive."

After bathing and burning incense, Chen Ci carried the small cluster of Purple Bamboo Flowing Cloud he had prepared early, as well as two jars of carefully brewed Blood Wood Treasure Wine, and headed towards Changsheng Fang. He had also asked people to drink this Blood Wood Treasure Wine in the eatery several times. The reputation was mixed; those who loved it loved it dearly, but there were also many who did not like it. The unique taste of this wine was a bit extreme, and the audience could not be broadened.

When he arrived at Changsheng Fang, the sky was still dark. Chen Ci waited outside the foot of the mountain for a while. After the Mao hour had passed a little, he heard a whistling sound from mid-air. A black cloud of smoke fell. This time, the momentum of Lin Qinhu's landing was not great. He walked out of it very elegantly, glanced at Chen Ci, signaled him to follow, and walked towards the Sea Market.

Hmm... Old Lin, you're going empty-handed; that's not very good, is it?

You've drifted; you've really drifted.

Chen Ci shook his head, looked at the tea and wine in his hand, and snorted softly. Although this person had profound cultivation, his desire for progress was insufficient; he was not worth worrying about.

Following Lin Laohu for a long time, seeing that they were about to leave the scope of the Sea Market, Chen Ci thought for a moment and asked: "Lin Shixiong, Junior Brother still doesn't know the True Person's name. Could you please bestow it, so as to avoid being impolite and causing punishment?"

"Teacher's surname is Jiao, given name Fei."

Lin Laohu paused slightly when he heard Chen Ci's question, and rarely instructed seriously: "Teacher Jiao does not care much about etiquette. As long as your words and deeds are not too outrageous, everything will be fine. However, there are no restrictions under Teacher Jiao's sect. If someone provokes you, you can endure it; otherwise, if you are provoked into a sword fight and killed, no one will care about you. Do you remember?"

Chen Ci: "."

No, aren't we going to pay a New Year's call?

You talk about provocation and sword fighting; the feelings between fellow disciples are too wild, aren't they?

No wonder the He Mountain Sect's style was ruined like this!

(End of chapter)