Wanfa Daojun, starting from the Little Cloud and Rain Technique

Chapter 447 Fire Cave Map
Ji An was referring to the area on the map, which was the lava cave four hundred miles south of the city. The fire elemental energy there was extremely strong, which was especially rare in this icy and snowy region.

If it weren't for the large amount of fire evil and fire poison it contained, it would probably have been occupied by cultivators long ago.

According to the ancestor's records and the information he received, the underground cave experiences periodic upheavals every ten years or so, which is when the fire elemental energy is at its most intense.

The ancestor Zhengyang comprehended the profound mystery of fire generating earth in the underground cave. Due to the passage of time, the map left by the ancestor is no longer usable.

The underground passages are crisscrossed, and without a map, it's impossible to find a suitable place.

Ji An had stayed here for three years and had tried to draw a map himself, but the Lava Cavern was about to enter the period of spiritual burst, and he did not have enough time to draw a complete map.

Zhuang Jingcheng patted his chest loudly, "Fellow Daoist's affairs are my affairs, how could I not do my best!"

He raised his hand, revealing a jade slip inside:

"I purchased it from a trusted friend at a high price. Fellow Daoist, please take a look."

Ji An took the jade slip, smiled knowingly, and said:
"Fellow Daoist, please state the price."

The map of the Lava Cavern needs to be updated after each Spirit Burst, and it can be drawn up given enough time.

His timing was unfortunate, so he couldn't draw a complete map; otherwise, he wouldn't have chosen to ask someone to buy it for him.

"We're friends, it would be too formal to talk about prices."

"It's better to say it outright; I don't like owing favors."

Ji An said gently, "It's not easy to repay favors. Even if you think you've repaid someone's favor, others may not think so."

It's better to treat it as a direct transaction, which avoids many problems once the money and goods are exchanged, and saves a lot of trouble.

"How can this be considered a debt of gratitude!"

Zhuang Jingcheng was about to say something more, but seeing the determined expression on the cultivator's face, he sighed inwardly.

He actually intended to use this as a favor to ask the other party to draw more talismans, since that would generate a lot of profit!

If the other party's cultivation level hadn't far surpassed his, he might have used his power to coerce them into drawing talismans every day to earn spirit stones.

What kind of cultivator could possibly be kind-hearted in the fierce and unruly far north?

"If you're willing to give me something worth ten mid-grade spirit stones, then so be it."

"That's right. Even if we're familiar with each other, it's still good to keep the accounts straight."

As Ji An spoke, he took out several stacks of talismans and placed them on the table, saying, "Fellow Daoist, please count the quantity."

He placed the jade slip on his forehead and compared it with the map he had drawn.

Zhuang Jingcheng chuckled as he counted the items. High-quality talismans were easy to sell; they would sell out in less than a month.

However, he plans to hold back the sales and sell them in batches.

Ji An discovered that the overlapping parts of the jade slip and his own map were largely the same, so he put the jade slip away and went to the site to compare them.

A moment later, Zhuang Jingcheng gathered the talismans in his hand and smiled:
"Fellow Daoist, you have sold a total of two hundred first-grade top-quality explosive talismans this time. Each talisman is worth fifty spirit stones, so you can get ten thousand spirit stones."

Twenty top-grade Earth Escape Talismans, each worth 320 spirit stones, yielding a total of 6,400 spirit stones;
One hundred top-grade Fire Dragon Talismans, each worth three hundred spirit stones, can be obtained in total forty-six thousand four hundred spirit stones.

"Please check if there are any errors in the quantity and price?"

After selling these talismans, he could easily earn a profit of nearly ten thousand spirit stones.

“Fellow Daoist’s calculations are correct. As usual, exchange them for three high-grade spirit stones, and give me the rest as mid-grade spirit stones.”

If Ji An uses mid-grade spirit stones to power his top-grade puppet, it won't last long at all. He needs to stockpile as many high-grade spirit stones as possible.

“No problem. After deducting the 30% exchange fee, I need to pay you three high-grade spirit stones and seventy-four mid-grade spirit stones.”

Zhuang Jingcheng readily paid the spirit stones, then put away the talisman and said earnestly:

"Fellow Daoist, if I may be so bold as to ask a question, did you buy the map to take advantage of the period when the fire element spirituality of the underground caves is at its peak to search for treasure?"

If so, please consider it carefully.

Although each time the underground spirits erupt, there are more gains, it is also fraught with danger.

Many cultivators who went treasure hunting never returned; we can't just focus on those who escaped unscathed and made a fortune.

He knew his words were somewhat presumptuous, but he genuinely cared about the other person's safety.

By calculating the ratio of materials to finished product, he can roughly estimate the success rate of the other party's talisman-making.

His own talisman-making skills can only be considered above average, and the talisman makers he collaborates with are not as skilled as him.

So his shop had previously provided enough for basic needs, but he was far from wealthy.

However, since cooperating with the other party for two and a half years, he has earned a profit of nearly three thousand mid-grade spirit stones, and this is only the profit he obtained from the other party alone.

This was something he never dared to dream of before.

Ji An sensed the concern in the other person's tone and smiled:

"I would never risk my life or property. If I discover any danger, I will leave without looking back."

He roughly guessed the other party's mindset, having previously negotiated cooperation with various talisman shops.

Being unfamiliar with the area, it was inevitable that he would be pressured to lower the price. He knew the retail prices of various talismans, and the other party's offer was the most reasonable, which is why they agreed to cooperate. The other party had made a lot of money off him over the years, so he was reluctant to risk his "cash cow."

However, entering the lava cavern would inevitably involve danger.

If there is a place where the power of fire transforms into the power of earth, it is bound to be quite dangerous.

His strengths lie in his mastery of escape techniques and the protection of talismans.

Zhuang Jingcheng sighed softly and said nothing more.

He couldn't understand why the other person was so obsessed with treasure hunting. With such excellent talisman-making skills, there was no need for them to take any risks.

He didn't even consider that the other person needed to understand the mutual generation of the five elements, because the other person was just too young.

It's not the kind of youthfulness that comes from good maintenance, but the kind of youthfulness that comes from within, where you don't look your age due to the passage of time.

Ji An left the talisman shop and navigated the streets with practiced ease, eventually arriving at a pill shop—Miaodan Pavilion.

In recent years, he has become proficient in refining the Fire Dragon Heart Refining Pill, and recently purchased the medicinal materials for two batches of the Chaoyuan stage pills from here.

The shop assistants immediately took him to the living room. This was one of the high-level alchemists the shop partnered with, and the shopkeeper had repeatedly instructed them not to be negligent in the slightest.

"Master Ji, please wait a moment, I will go and inform the manager."

Ji An nodded slightly. "Thank you."

The shopkeeper was only a Qi Refining stage cultivator and rarely encountered kind high-level cultivators, so he waved his hand with a smile and said:
"It's your job."

He left in a hurry, afraid of delaying important matters.

Ji An stood with his hands behind his back, admiring the painting "Seeking Hermitage in a Thousand Mountains" hanging in the central hall.

After a while, hurried footsteps came from outside. Li Wanqing smiled before speaking:
"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, fellow Daoist. Please have a seat!"

He had white hair and beard, a thin face, and wore a Taoist robe with a yin-yang symbol, giving him a very venerable and otherworldly appearance.

"Haha, fellow Daoist, you're too kind. I just arrived and haven't been waiting for you for a long time."

After exchanging pleasantries, the two took their seats as host and guest, and Li Wanqing eagerly asked:
"Fellow Daoist Ji, you purchased the ingredients for two batches of Vermilion Bird Flame Grass Pills a month ago. I wonder if you have already started refining them?"

The profit margin of Chaoyuan stage pills is much better than that of Fire Dragon Heart Refining Pills; they're not even in the same league.

Ji An nodded and sighed:
"Two batches of pills only produced one pill, and it was only of ordinary quality. My pill-refining skills are still too poor."

If all the medicinal materials he purchased are successfully refined, six pills can be made.

Li Wanqing clapped his hands suddenly and said excitedly:
"Fellow Daoist is too modest. You succeeded in refining the Vermilion Bird Flame Grass Pill on your first attempt. Even if your talent is not top-notch, you are still a rare alchemy genius."

He rubbed his hands together and chuckled:

"Fellow Daoist, may I have a look at the pills?"

Ji An chuckled, feeling that the other party was exaggerating.

As far as he knew, when Senior Sister Han Yan first refined the Vermilion Bird Flame Grass Pill, two batches of pills were used to produce three pills, although one of them was of inferior quality.

Only alchemists like that can be considered geniuses; he was just an ordinary cultivator with some talent.

He took out a crystal-clear red jade bottle and handed it to the other person, saying:

"This pill was originally intended for sale to your esteemed establishment. Please examine and offer your guidance."

Li Wanqing solemnly accepted the jade bottle and poured the pill into his palm.

A round, red pill appeared, its fragrance immediately wafting out, surrounded by a faint golden pill pattern.

He took out a porcelain plate and a small knife, gently scraped off some powder, tasted it, and after a moment smacked his lips, said:
"The Vermilion Bird Flame Grass Pill is genuine and fully meets the standards for sale. It's really good!"
This single pill is worth eighty mid-grade spirit stones. Once you gain more experience in refining it, earning a fortune daily will be no problem!

Golden light shone in his eyes, as if a torrent of spiritual stones were surging forth.

Ji An chuckled and shook his head, saying:

"The premise is that I have enough medicinal herbs to squander. May I ask if you have any more herbs for the Vermilion Bird Flame Grass Pill? I would like to purchase two more batches."

Li Wanqing shook his head, "I can only promise you that I will continue to entrust you with the refining of medicinal herbs after I acquire them next time."

He wouldn't have sold the medicinal herbs if it weren't for the passing of a senior alchemist with whom he had worked for a long time.

Ji An joked:
"Thank you for your trust, fellow Daoist. I take it very seriously."

By the way, do you have any alchemy furnaces for sale here, fellow Daoist?
My alchemy furnace is only a first-tier top-grade magic weapon; I want to purchase a second-tier low-grade or higher spiritual weapon alchemy furnace.

He was unable to fully master the art of refining pills for the Chaoyuan stage using the Azure Lotus Fire Cloud Furnace. He would seal the furnace away and pass it on to his disciples when he returned to the sect.

Li Wannian pondered for a moment and said softly:

"There is a mid-grade second-tier alchemy furnace in the shop, called the Fire Crane Alchemy Furnace."

I'll now show it to you, fellow Daoist, so you can see if it's suitable."

Spiritual alchemy furnaces are expensive, and older, well-used furnaces are even more expensive. He was a little worried that the other party might not be able to afford the price.

(End of this chapter)