Chapter 348: Century-Aged Spirit Liquor

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Purple loquat.

Purple loquat is a third-rank heavenly treasure, used in many third-rank elixirs.

It's precious, but by no means rare.

The Nan Chuan Guild doesn't have it; the Tian Nan Guild likely does.

So after leaving the Nan Chuan Guild, He Pingsheng headed straight for the Tian Nan Guild.

"Senior!"

The young female cultivator looked at He Pingsheng with deep respect.

He Pingsheng said: "Do you have any third-rank heavenly treasure—purple loquat?"

"We do, Senior!" the woman replied. "A batch just arrived this morning, but I don't have authority to sell third-rank herbs. Please wait—I'll call an Elder!"

Soon, the female Jin Dan cultivator in blue Dao robes reappeared before He Pingsheng.

One and a half years ago, when He Pingsheng came to buy materials for Guanyuan Elixir, he met this woman.

Back then, she suggested he go to Fuding Mountain to find Fuding True Person.

He Pingsheng naturally didn't go—he brewed the elixir himself.

"You?" the woman recognized him. "Has your Jin Dan been fully repaired?"

He Pingsheng smiled. "Heh… not yet."

No need to tell this woman the truth.

Last time, He Pingsheng had already sensed this woman had ill intentions.

"Oh?" she pressed. "So Fuding True Person didn't succeed in brewing for you? That's understandable—you bought only one set of materials when I told you to buy five!"

"Are you here to buy Guanyuan Elixir materials again?"

"Not now," He Pingsheng said. "I want to buy two pieces of third-rank spiritual fruit—purple loquat. Please prepare them for me."

"Purple loquat?" The woman glanced at him, then smiled. "Sorry, our guild doesn't have any right now."

Beside her, the young cultivator who had led He Pingsheng over opened his mouth—but the woman snapped: "Xiao Dong, go do your work! You have no right to speak before a Senior!"

"Yes!" The cultivator named Xiao Dong left.

He Pingsheng's brow twitched slightly.

That's odd.

Just now, Xiao Dong said a batch of purple loquat arrived this morning.

Now this woman says they don't have any.

Not selling?

That's impossible.

A guild runs a business—why wouldn't they sell purple loquat?

So this woman is deliberately lying.

"My apologies, Daoist," the woman asked. "May I ask your Dao name?"

He Pingsheng said: "I have no Dao name. I'm… surnamed Zhao."

He made up a surname.

"Daoist Zhao…" the woman said. "To be honest, we currently have no purple loquat available. If you're willing to wait, a new batch will arrive in half a month."

"If you don't want to wait, I know a place that has it."

He Pingsheng asked: "Where might I obtain this?"

The woman said: "Fuding Mountain."

"Fuding True Person is an old friend of mine—and a master alchemist. If you go to him, you'll get your purple loquat in a single day!"

He Pingsheng nearly vomited: Is this woman determined to send me to Fuding Mountain?

What the hell is wrong with her?

I'm not going.

"Fine," He Pingsheng bowed. "Then I'll return in half a month."

"Goodbye!" He Pingsheng rose and left.

He didn't know her intentions, but he could tell they weren't good.

Better not go at all.

Not worth risking over a single purple loquat.

He Pingsheng returned to his lodging, rested for three days, then went to the Nan Chuan Guild's auction.

He decided: after the auction ends, he'll leave Tian Nan City and head straight for Hongshi County.

As for the purple loquat he didn't buy—no matter.

Once back in Hongshi County, he could ask the Hongyue Guild's Elder Ling Zhiwang to get him two pieces—no big deal.

The Nan Chuan Guild's auction hall was unremarkable, similar to other guild halls.

Just a large hall with two levels of seating.

The lower level was for ordinary guests; the upper, for VIPs.

Actually, there wasn't much difference between ordinary and VIP seats.

A single auctioneer stood behind the counter, presenting items one by one.

Unlike other places, where auctioneers were usually beautiful women, this guild's auctioneer was an old man.

"Hehe… First lot—the favorite of everyone!" The old man pulled out a jar, sealed with red paper bearing a bold black character: "Spring."

"Ladies and gentlemen, Chunyu Fang's century-aged liquor has arrived again—only five hundred jars this time!"

"Authentic century-aged liquor—those who know, know. I won't elaborate."

"Auction begins!"

"Five hundred jars of century-aged liquor—starting bid: ten million lower-grade spirit stones. Minimum raise: five hundred thousand spirit stones…"

"Who bids?"

He Pingsheng's forehead darkened: I don't even know what this is, and you won't explain?

"Those who know, know"?

I don't know, okay?

Yet the moment the price was announced, hands shot up everywhere.

"Ten million!"

"Ten million five hundred thousand!"

"Eleven million!"

"Twelve million!"

"Thirteen million!"

He Pingsheng glanced at a white-robed female cultivator beside him, then bowed. "Daoist, may I ask—what is this Chunyu Fang century-aged liquor?"

The woman blushed slightly, then gave him a shy, reproachful look. "I don't know."

He Pingsheng:???

You clearly know!

You're deliberately hiding it?

The blushing woman shot him a furious glare, then swept him with her spiritual sense—only to discover his cultivation base surpassed hers.

She gasped. "P…Senior? You're a Jin Dan cultivator?"

He Pingsheng nodded. "Mm… Daoist, no need to be nervous. I'm from afar, so…"

"Er… could you enlighten me?"

The woman blushed even deeper but dared not glare at him anymore. She whispered: "It's a spiritual liquor brewed by Chunyu Fang from third-rank spiritual fruit. Rumor says it tastes exquisite."

"And it benefits cultivation."

"Moreover, legend says… this liquor has… has… certain effects…"

"????" He Pingsheng opened his mouth. "What kind of effects?"

The woman showed her teeth. "The kind—male vigor."

Pfft…

He Pingsheng nearly spat out his saliva.

This damn thing…

No wonder the auctioneer said "those who know, know."

Huh… He Pingsheng's eyes narrowed slightly: This is a good item—but why auction five hundred jars at once? Who could possibly use that much?