Wanfa Daojun, starting from the Little Cloud and Rain Technique

Chapter 649 Exchanging Pill Recipes
Both sides received certain promised benefits and engaged in lively conversation and drinking.

Master Changqing finished his drink and said:

"Fellow Daoist possesses the Azure Lotus Heart-Burning Flame, making you exceptionally gifted in refining Golden Core pills. We would like to entrust you with the task of collecting materials and refining them for us. Would that be feasible?"

Ji An was more than happy to agree, "No problem, do you have any additional requirements?"

It doesn't matter who I refine it for, as long as I can get the benefits.

If more powerful forces commission him to refine Golden Core pills, he will not only gain fame but also reap tangible benefits.

"As is customary, we will take 40% of the pills that are theoretically capable of forming a pill, and the rest will belong to you, fellow Daoist."

"If you are willing to sell your surplus Golden Core pills to us, we can buy them back at 50% of the highest price ever paid at the auction house."

Ji An shook his head slightly and said:

"I agree to the price, but your shop needs to offset it with Ziyun Yuzhi Dan."

Auction houses charge a 20% fee on the final sale price, and the other party should also make a profit after working hard to collect the materials.

If someone tries to take all the benefits, they'll only end up in a dead end.

He has no shortage of spirit stones, only lack of elixirs.

Master Changqing originally thought the other party would try to negotiate, but he didn't expect the cooperation to be reached so easily.

"Alright, I agree to your request. I will have two batches of pills ready in six months and would like to ask you to help me."

Ji An's expression softened further. "Fellow Daoist, you can inform the shop or go to Blackstone Mountain to find me. Two days is enough time to refine two batches of Golden Core pills."

From now on, whoever commissions him to refine third-tier pills will be paid with Purple Cloud Jade Mushroom Pills.

If the supply of spiritual herbs is sufficient, the speed of his cultivation improvement will be at another level, which is what makes him happiest.

"It's so refreshing to talk to you, fellow Daoist. Let's drink this cup to the brim."

The atmosphere at the table became even more lively, and Master Changqing instructed his maid to bring several jars of mid-grade third-level spiritual wine, which everyone drank heartily.

The banquet lasted from early noon until late afternoon, and everyone was quite tipsy.

After settling the bill, Master Changqing transmitted his voice:

"Fellow Daoist Moyun found one of my friends and purchased a rare spiritual seed, thus obtaining the seed of the Star Soul Tree."

If this spirit tree can grow to a top-grade third rank, it can be used as a primary ingredient in refining the Divine Fire Spirit-Nourishing Pill.

Ji An bowed, smiling:
"Thank you, fellow Taoist, for informing me."

He killed two Tribulation Cultivators and obtained several Divine Fire Spirit-Nourishing Pills, which are pills used by late-stage Golden Core cultivators to improve their cultivation.

He had been struggling with which pill formula to exchange his contribution points for, but now he no longer needed to struggle with that.

After the banquet, Ji An and the other person returned to the quiet room in the shop and each practiced their cultivation techniques to refine the spiritual energy contained in the food and wine.

It took Ji An half an hour to complete the refining process, and another half an hour passed before Han Yan also completed hers.

"Senior brother, do you think today's verbal agreement is credible?"

"It should be credible, and we'll see soon enough."

If everything gets on track, there will be far fewer worries in the shop.

From now on, Ji An will no longer need to go out to exchange for spiritual herbs, and will have a few more days to cultivate.

That evening, Ji An stayed at the shop and took the time to guide Li Qingqiu in refining the Vermilion Bird Flame Grass Pill.

The next day, Ji An arrived at the Certification Association and easily found his way to the Alchemy Department.

"Fellow Daoist, I'm troubling you again."

Master Lieyang asked with a smile, "What is it? Let me make it clear beforehand, if you want more commissions to refine pills, then you don't need to ask."

Some alchemists had already questioned Ji An's ability to consistently receive high-quality commissions, so he couldn't openly support him.

Ji An shook his head, "Fellow Daoist doesn't understand me at all. How could I put you in a difficult position?"

"I've come here to decide which late-stage Golden Core pill formula I want to exchange for."

"I see. Tell me about it."

Ji An took out the alchemist's jade token and handed it to the other party, asking:
"Do you have enough contribution points to exchange for the Divine Fire Spirit-Nourishing Pill recipe?"

If that's not enough, I can always accumulate contribution points over a few more years.

As Master Lieyang placed the jade tablet on the spirit plate, he said:
"Are you sure? The Divine Fire Spirit-Nourishing Pill is a top-grade third-tier pill with powerful effects. Generally, it is reserved for Golden Core cultivators at the ninth level to improve their cultivation."

The refining process is very complex, and obtaining the main ingredients is quite difficult.

Especially the Star Soul Tree, which is the most important main ingredient and requires it to reach the third-tier top-grade level.

This level of elixir is too expensive; I think it would be better to use a high-grade third-tier pill formula instead.

"I want to leave the pill formula to the sect, so of course I'll choose the best one."

"I see. You can decide for now."

Hmm. You have enough contribution points in your jade token, but you'll have very few left after obtaining the pill recipe.

Let me confirm with you one last time: do you want to use contribution points to exchange for the Divine Fire Spirit-Nourishing Pill recipe?

"exchange."

Master Lieyang deducted the contribution points from the jade token and said:
"Fellow Daoist, please wait a moment while I personally retrieve the jade slip."

Within the Certification Association, ordinary maids are not permitted to access resources and cultivation techniques of the third rank or higher.

A moment later, Ji An received the jade slip. He quickly glanced through it, noted down the various medicinal herb seeds, and then inscribed them into a blank jade slip. He nodded in satisfaction.

After chatting for a while, Ji An took his leave.

Stepping out of the certification association's hall, Ji An immediately took to the clouds and flew towards the Cloud Sea Pharmacy. As the largest elixir shop in the Immortal City, it also boasted the most complete selection of spiritual seeds.

Upon entering the pharmacy, he explained his purpose to the maid who came to greet him, and she went upstairs to inform her.

Master Changqing descended the stairs, cupped his hands, and said:

"Fellow Daoist, please come into the living room to talk."

The two sat down in the living room, and Ji An, without beating around the bush, took out a jade slip:

"Fellow Daoist, I need to purchase a batch of spirit seeds. Do you see if you can gather enough?"

Master Changqing placed the jade slip on his forehead and smiled:
"Fellow Daoist is so fast! I didn't expect you to have already exchanged for the recipe for the Divine Fire Spirit Nourishing Pill."

He also knew how the certification association operated, and that the contribution points required to redeem such a formula were enormous.

But the fact that the other party could directly exchange such a huge number, which would make ordinary alchemists despair, truly shocked him.

"The contribution points I've accumulated over decades have been wiped out in one fell swoop. I don't know how long it will be before I can get a third-tier pill formula again."

Master Changqing nodded in agreement, "The prescription is priceless to those who need it, so it's understandable that it's expensive."

Besides the Star Soul Fruit, I have plenty of the medicinal herb seeds listed in the recipe. How many portions do you need?

Yunhai Pharmacy has been established for tens of thousands of years and possesses countless resources. While it is difficult to find spiritual herbs and medicines that require two thousand years of medicinal age, it has a very complete range of spiritual seeds.

"Fifty portions, I want the sect to plant more."

Fifty portions? Do you think these are ordinary cabbage seeds?

Master Changqing shook his head, "You've asked for too many portions. I can only give you twenty."

Ji An chuckled to himself, "Twenty portions are fine too, I don't mind if it's not enough."

“You,” Master Changqing chuckled, “…”

"Buying these spirit seeds now is probably just doing the work for someone else."

His implication was clear: by the time the elixir matured, Ji An would probably no longer need it.

"If the predecessors plant trees so that the successors can enjoy the shade, it doesn't matter if I can't use them. Using them to cultivate the next generation is also a way to achieve the goal."

Ji An spoke in a very open-minded tone, only he knew that if he wanted to, he could use up all of these spiritual herbs.

"Fellow Daoist has a truly admirable attitude," Xuanmu Zhenren called out. Hearing the commotion, a maidservant entered and bowed gracefully.

"What are your orders, Master?"

Master Xuanmu handed over the jade slip, saying, "Go to the storeroom and fetch twenty portions of spirit seeds."

About two hours later, Ji An obtained the seeds of various spiritual herbs. He carefully checked the vitality of the seeds to ensure that all of them could be planted.

"The spirit seeds are all of excellent quality, with vigorous vitality. They are indeed worthy of being products from Yunhai Pharmacy. How many spirit stones?"

Master Changqing nodded proudly, "Each portion of spirit seed is worth twenty high-grade spirit stones, so twenty portions would be worth four hundred high-grade spirit stones."

Although we have a very good relationship, personal matters are personal matters; business should be handled professionally.

Ji An did not haggle. He directly probed the Void Stone with his divine sense, counted out a sufficient number of high-grade spirit stones, and handed them over.

After leaving Yunhai Pharmacy, Ji An flew back to Black Stone Mountain on a cloud. He entered his cave, took out the gourd stone, and entered the small world.

The Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner, the Lidi Flame Banner, and the Azure Lotus Treasure Banner flew out of the dantian, leaving only the Blazing Sun Furnace floating in the primordial fire.

The Spirit Gourd enjoys the nourishment of the spiritual fire of heaven and earth, and the golden patterns on its surface periodically brighten and dim.

He let out a long roar, and several of his tamed beasts rushed over to gather.

"Whose turn is it to guard the cave today?"

As long as he is in the small world, he will always send out his tamed beasts to guard the cave and deliver messages.

"Squeak."

The golden retriever straightened up, supporting itself on its hind legs, and nodded in a human-like manner.

Ji An extended his hand, "Please."

The golden retriever and the blue water turtle left the small world one after the other and came to guard the cave.

Ji An strolled over to the Star Soul Tree, which was now three feet tall, with leaves resembling clusters of white five-pointed stars.

Seeing the flourishing growth of the spirit tree, Ji An's eyes were filled with satisfaction.

The small world has never disappointed him. All the spirit trees that are difficult to grow in the outside world and require special conditions can thrive here without him having to provide anything extra.

With the Daoist essence in his hand, Ji An wasn't worried about not being able to cultivate a top-grade third-tier Star Soul Tree; it would just take a little more time.

He categorized the spiritual seeds according to the five elements and planted them in different spiritual fields.

After finishing his planting, he flew back to the Soul-Nourishing Tree.

The puppet, which had been waiting there, immediately lit the sandalwood soul-nourishing incense and placed it in the three-legged bronze furnace with animal ears.

As wisps of smoke rose gently, Ji An felt a sense of peace and tranquility.

He sat down cross-legged, concentrated his mind and breath, and began to circulate the Five Elements Wheel.

As the cultivation technique was activated, the small world surged with wind and clouds, drawing in a large amount of spiritual energy, which formed a vortex several tens of feet in diameter above his head.

The shimmering light of the Five Elements spiritual energy was also drawn into the vortex, entering his body with each breath.

The surface of the Five Elements Divine Palace shimmered with light. As spiritual energy continuously poured in, it began to generate Five Elements Spiritual Liquid, emitting different divine intents.

Black is lustrous, blue is vibrant, red is bright and warm, yellow is heavy and soothing, and white is sharp and hard.

The spiritual liquid simultaneously enters the middle dantian, adheres to the golden core, and rapidly penetrates it, making the golden core's radiance brighter.

(End of this chapter)