Chapter 449: Exchange Pill Formula

End of month.

Yan Buji returned from overseas, smiling broadly.

He found the ruins of an ancient martial artist's sect, unearthing many ancient mystic arts and Dao martial techniques; few suited his taste, but enough for Yan Buji to decide to break through to late Golden Core.

"Boss! Great news, your Heavy Spirit Pill sold—this is this month's income!!"

"Oh?"

Someone actually knows the goods.

Yan Buji smiled and tossed each of them a hundred Spiritual Stones: "Here's your reward."

"Boss is generous!"

"Thanks, boss, thanks, boss, wishing you great wealth!"

"Oh right, boss, those two said they'd visit at month's end. We checked—one is the city's Fourturn Alchemist Chen Zhen, the other is the proprietor of Welcoming Guest, Fairy Huaxuan, also a Threeturn Alchemist!"

Hearing the clerk's words, Yan Buji pondered, then nodded: "Fine, you take these days off; I'll wait for them to arrive before deciding."

"Yes!"

The clerks who got the bonus were overjoyed and immediately ran out.

There are many alchemists in the city, but Yan Buji hasn't visited any, so he doesn't know their skill.

But since they're coming, he naturally needs to prepare.

Yan Buji rubbed the gourd at his waist and nodded: "Should be fine."

The Demon-Refining Gourd Yan Buji had remodeled into a Wine-Brewing Gourd holds about a thousand catties, filled with his own Gentleman's Liquor.

After a series of improvements and a century of aging, that Gentleman's Liquor counts as Spiritual Wine.

He waited two days.

On the last day of the month, Yan Buji finally met the visitors.

Chen Zhen and Fairy Huaxuan arrived and saw Yan Buji cloaked in black robes.

"May I ask, fellow Daoist, are you the shop owner?"

"I am Yan Buji, indeed the owner here. I've heard the situation from the clerks; if you don't mind, may we go upstairs to talk?"

They nodded; though first-time meeting strangers who hide their identities, since he is the owner with ability and skill, they naturally wouldn't dwell on it.

The three went upstairs, and Chen Zhen and Fairy Huaxuan said:

"I haven't introduced myself yet—I am Chen Zhen."

"I am Fairy Huaxuan, pleased to meet you, fellow Daoist."

Yan Buji smiled, producing the gourd: "Fellow Daoists, you've come far; I have little to offer. This liquor I personally brewed a hundred years ago; I've just opened it today. Honored to meet you both—please try it."

Yan Buji opened the gourd; a rich, mellow wine aroma drifted out. Chen Zhen and Fairy Huaxuan's eyes lit up: "The fragrance is soft and penetrating."

Yan Buji pointed with his finger, drawing forth the liquor like a white dragon drifting, sending it before them.

Chen Zhen and Fairy Huaxuan raised their hands, grasping as if holding a wine cup, the liquor clean, and drank it down.

"Marvelous!" Chen Zhen laughed.

"This liquor is mellow yet hints at spiciness—bitter at first, then a sweet aftertaste... Could it be brewed using bitter bamboo as the vessel, then blended with the other three liquors?" Fairy Huaxuan smiled.

Yan Buji stared, then laughed loudly: "Haha, Fairy, you truly know liquor. If I keep explaining, I'll have to reveal my brewing method."

Fairy Huaxuan smiled, quite satisfied.

Afterwards, Yan Buji poured out a pot of liquor, divided it into several cups, and the three drank together.

"Tsk—ah! Not bad; though I don't understand liquor, Fellow Daoist Yan's liquor is indeed fragrant and wonderful, with distinct layers. Does it have a name?"

"I would call it Gentleman's Liquor."

"Gentleman's Liquor... ah, plum, orchid, bamboo, chrysanthemum—unique, fitting for a gentleman's name." Fairy Huaxuan smiled.

"You flatter me."

Seeing they'd drunk enough, Chen Zhen asked: "Fellow Daoist, are you a Threeturn Alchemist?"

"I figured it out myself, luckily passed the assessment—sorry to disappoint you two." Yan Buji bowed.

Fairy Huaxuan smiled: "Not at all, not at all; Fellow Daoist, your alchemy is extraordinary—I admit we are quite interested in your Heavy Spirit Pill."

"Interest... Fellow Daoists, what do you mean by that?" Yan Buji raised his brow and asked.

"Fellow Daoist, no need to overthink; we wish to exchange your Heavy Spirit Pill formula for our Fourturn Pill formula. If you're willing, you can first examine this pill." Chen Zhen said.

Yan Buji saw Chen Zhen push over a pill bottle, opened it, sniffed, then poured out its contents to examine closely.

"This must be a lightning-resisting pill, right?"

"Correct. This pill is called the Lightning-Avoiding Pill. Fellow Daoist, know that when refining Fourturn Pills, if the pill patterns are of supreme grade, they may attract Pill Tribulation; this pill can alter a cultivator's spiritual power to help the alchemist resolve the pill-forming tribulation." Chen Zhen said solemnly.

Pill Tribulation!

This is a term among alchemists: when a Fourturn Pill is completed, if the pill's quality is too high it easily draws Pill Tribulation; alchemists believe such fine pills shouldn't exist in the world, just as heavenly treasures inevitably invite heavenly tribulation. Though Pill Tribulation easily destroys pills, surviving it guarantees a supreme-grade pill!

And the Lightning-Avoiding Pill Yan Buji holds is a supreme-grade Fourturn Pill, while the pills that undergo Pill Tribulation are almost always Fourturn or higher.

This is also one reason Yan Buji hasn't rushed to improve his alchemy—he considers the Pill Tribulation issue.

Thinking ahead, if he wishes to excel in alchemy, he must consider Pill Tribulation; this is also the best way to acquire resources, so preparing measures in advance is feasible.

With that thought, Yan Buji nodded:

"If so, then the Heavy Spirit Pill formula can be traded."

"Yan Fellow Daoist, straightforward!" Chen Zhen laughed.

"That said, though my Heavy Spirit Pill isn't as specialized as the Lightning-Avoiding Pill, its effect is too strong; a single formula might not suffice."

Chen Zhen frowned: "This Lightning-Avoiding Pill could also serve as a trade condition."

"No, no." Yan Buji waved, smiling: "This pill is currently useless to me; I just want to ask you two about spiritual materials."

"What kind of spiritual material?"

When the two heard that, just asking for news was nothing; they even thought this guy was planning to ask for a lion's share.

I'm seeking the red, blue, and green qi; do you two have any clues?

Huh?

Chen Zhen looked puzzled: "Fellow Daoist, you surely aren't thinking of refining the Heavenly Origin Grand Pill, are you?"

"No, I just happened to obtain an ancient pill formula that requires those three qi as the main ingredients, so I only need news of any one or two of them." Yan Buji said with a smile.

Huaxuan Xianzi frowned, thought for a long time, then shook her head: "There's currently no news about that on the market."

"Yeah, fellow Daoist, if you have connections, why not ask True Lord Longxuan? He can go to the Heavenly Spirit Realm, so he might be able to find it." Chen Zhen sighed, indicating he had no news.

Yan Buji nodded, sighed: "Alright, this is the formula for the Important Spirit Pill."

"Thanks, fellow Daoist, this is the formula for the Lightning-Avoiding Pill; take a look."

They exchanged formulas, with no clear winner or loser; anyway, Yan Buji isn't short on resources now, doesn't need to go out and grab market share, so his interests aren't really tangled with theirs.

Afterwards, they parted satisfied, saying they would inform Yan Buji immediately if any news came up.