Food gives me an entry, I will be invincible if I stay alive

Chapter 378 An Unexpected Joy, Yet Within Reason

Chen Xu walked silently beside Ji Yang, looking up at the sky.

At the very center of the Hundred Battles Ruins, a huge flying ship hovers beneath the cracked sky.

This boat is named Unmoored Boat.

Beside the unmoored boat was another building, with its flying eaves and painted red walls, and long, dark talismans hanging from its four corners. Below, four strange beasts that resembled dragons but were not quite dragons were circling.

The pitch-black iron chains firmly bound the four monsters, which roared silently, yet could not break free from the chains' bindings no matter what they did.

The building is imposing from afar and majestic and dignified up close.

Above the main entrance of the building hangs a plaque with three characters:
Stealing the Heavens!
The ancient characters, as if sculpted by time, silently exude an indescribable and awe-inspiring aura.

Upon first glance, it evokes an indescribable sense of awe.

Ji Yang looked up at the sky and murmured to himself:
"I don't know why, but whenever I look at the Stealing Heaven Workshop from afar, I always feel as insignificant as a mosquito, while the world is like a spider web. I can't see the blue sky, and the blue sky can't see me either."

No one answered him, and Chen Xu remained silent.

Upon arriving here, although Chen Xu was confident in his special state, which was somewhere between reality and illusion, he still exercised a great deal of caution.

He now spends most of his time at the bottom and has no idea how strong the masters of this world really are. Therefore, he must learn to retreat at the right time to avoid accidentally capsizing.

Ji Yang was drawn to the words "Stealing Heaven Workshop" and stared at it intently for a long time without realizing it.

Chen Xu also noticed the words "Stealing Heaven Workshop," but he didn't look at them closely.

He remembered that Ding Chuan had once mentioned "Stealing Heaven Workshop".

The Stealing Heaven Workshop is very special. It is not an ordinary place for buying and selling. What it buys and sells are fortune and lifespan!

It's hard to imagine how unfathomable the existence behind the Stealing Heaven Workshop truly is, that such intangible things can be used for buying and selling.

It is said that the Stealing Heaven Pavilion was set up by a certain sect, with the aim of calculating the fortune and lifespan of all cultivators in the Xuan Tian Star Realm in order to achieve immortality.

But this is just a legend.

The identity of the force behind the Stealing Heaven Workshop remains a secret among ordinary cultivators.

The general public only knows that the Stealing Heaven Workshop is spread throughout tens of thousands of cities in the Xuan Tian Star Realm, and even exists in every immortal city.

The major sects in the cultivation world never interfere with their buying and selling of fortune and lifespan.

This unique entity has stood in this vast world for nearly ten thousand years.

Naturally mysterious and composed, overlooking the world and manipulating the mortal realm.

Ji Yang was lost in thought, gazing up at the Stealing Heaven Workshop, and for a moment he was completely mesmerized.

Suddenly, a figure strolled over from the side, and the newcomer leaned in and smiled at Ji Yang, saying:

"Young man, what are you looking at that Thief of Heaven Pavilion for? What, you don't happen to be thinking of going up there to buy or sell luck or lifespan, do you?"

Ji Yang was startled and instinctively shook his head hastily.

He turned to look and saw that the newcomer was dressed in a dark blue robe. The clothes looked simple at first glance, but in fact they were full of hidden treasures. Even the cloud patterns on the cuffs seemed to be glowing with spiritual light.

The other person had wrinkles around their eyes, but their hair was dark black.

He appears to be quite old, but his cultivation level is undetectable.

But he had a smile on his face, and he looked extremely friendly.

He was a slightly overweight, yet affable old man, who was luxurious and unassuming.

Seeing his friendly expression, Ji Yang quickly replied, "Senior is too kind. I'm only a few years old. How could I dare to go to that Stealing Heaven Workshop?"

He was only at the fifth level of Qi Refining, a minor cultivator in the middle stage of Qi Refining. His lifespan was no longer than that of ordinary people, only between eighty and one hundred years.

How can such a short lifespan of a mere century withstand the costs and transactions?
The old man immediately smiled and gave Ji Yang a thumbs up, praising him:
"Young brother, you are truly clear-headed, yet you don't realize that there are many people in this world who are willing to exchange their lifespan for good fortune. Look at the storefront of this Stealing Heaven Workshop; it's never deserted."

He pointed in that direction again.

Sure enough, every now and then, someone would fly towards the Stealing Heaven Workshop.

Whether young or old.

Strangely, middle-aged people were relatively rare; you could only find one in several groups.

Ji Yang looked up and was surprised.

He couldn't understand: "What are these people thinking? Going to the Stealing Heaven Workshop, whether it's exchanging fortune for lifespan, or lifespan for fortune..."

They will all suffer enormous losses.

Could it be that they can still make a profit?

Ji Yang's words made the old man look at him with new respect once again.

The old man exclaimed in surprise, "Young brother, you are so young, yet you have such profound understanding?"
Hehehe, but it makes sense. Young brother, you are a man of great talent and ambition. Since you do not have any delusions, you are invincible because you are without desires.

Since one is free from desires, one is invincible; naturally, one will not harbor any crooked thoughts or seek to take evil paths.

Ji Yang was almost stunned by the praise, and a blank expression appeared on his honest face, making him seem even more honest and sincere.

The young man just stared blankly at the old man opposite him.

Seeing his expression, the old man couldn't help but laugh again: "Young man, you can't understand why those people are like this, can you?"
So that you may know that there is no shortage of gamblers in this world.

There are always young people who feel that they are exceptionally talented but have not been given the opportunity to shine. Therefore, they are willing to sacrifice their lifespan to gain better fortune, hoping to defy fate and change their destiny within a limited time.

If one were to sacrifice thirty or fifty years of their lifespan, they could elevate their fortune by several levels, thus taking the opportunity to cultivate to a higher realm.

Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, even Nascent Soul... Hehehe, by then, lifespan will have increased, so what are the thirty to fifty years of lifespan sacrificed before?

However, there are also those in the world whose lifespan is nearing its end, who are unwilling to die, and therefore would rather sacrifice their fortune or even their cultivation, just to extend their lives by a few more years!

The old man sighed softly and smiled at Ji Yang, saying:
"Young man, do you really not understand people's gambling nature?"

If you can't understand people's gambling instincts, how could you have come up with such a brilliant idea as the Heavenly Secret Box?

As soon as he finished speaking, Ji Yang felt a shiver run through his body.

Only then did he suddenly realize that the reason why the old man in front of him took the initiative to talk to him, praising him in every way, and pointing out the mortal world and talking about the Stealing Heaven Workshop was all because of the Heavenly Secret Box!

Ji Yang felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck him from the blue.

The subtle sense of elation that had arisen from successfully selling numerous Heavenly Secret Boxes finally dissipated like smoke.

He looked at the old man nervously, his mind in turmoil.

Ji Yang wanted to ask that mysterious senior for help again, but now that he was face to face with the old man, how could he dare to call on the senior so easily?

dong dong dong-

That was the sound of Ji Yang's frantic heartbeat.

Suddenly, a hand, carrying a gentle force, slowly patted Ji Yang's shoulder.

It's that mysterious senior!
The senior was indeed always there, never leaving.

Ji Yang's mind immediately settled.

The one who lightly patted Ji Yang was naturally Chen Xu.

Chen Xu remained silent, but he had actually anticipated that someone would come looking for Ji Yang.

Ji Yang used the novel "Heavenly Secret Box" to sell goods in the Hundred Battles Ruins, transforming the mundane into the extraordinary in no time, selling a pile of ordinary, hard-to-sell items for high prices. Among them were spiritual foods contained within the box, whose fragrance wafted for miles.

The cultivators in the Hundred Battles Ruins aren't all fools; how could no one have noticed this commotion?
In fact, Chen Xu felt it was too late for someone to come looking for Ji Yang at this moment.

Ji Yang himself was unaware, but Chen Xu knew all too well.

Ever since Ji Yang closed his stall, he walked along the main streets of Baizhanxu, buying things as he went, and countless eyes were secretly watching him.

Chen Xu noted down all the gazes he received.

He didn't remind Ji Yang at the time simply because Ji Yang was naive, and Chen Xu didn't want to make Ji Yang nervous by revealing it too early.

This also serves to mislead those who are secretly observing.

Ji Yang remained oblivious and continued buying with great enthusiasm.

It wasn't until he arrived at the foot of the Sky Boat Merchant Guild's Unmoored Boat and looked up at the Sky Stealing Workshop next to it that someone finally emerged from the shadows.

The old man observed Ji Yang's behavior discreetly, and felt that the other party's nervousness did not seem fake.

This makes Ji Yang seem like a complete naive fool.

The old man was suspicious, fearing he had misjudged the other party's background, so he smiled and said:

"Young man, please don't be offended. I am also a businessman, so I am very interested in all kinds of new and interesting business methods."

It was only after seeing your ingenious method of creating the Heavenly Secret Box that I was so eager to learn and couldn't resist coming to ask for your guidance.

Of course, I know the rules and understand that it would be inappropriate to ask for such a wonderful method for nothing, so I have prepared a gift of thanks.

"If you, young brother, are willing to discuss matters with me and impart your extraordinary techniques, I am willing to offer you one hundred Qi Essence Pills as a reward."

The old man finished speaking slowly and deliberately.

Ji Yang was stunned once again.

He stood there dumbfounded. Even though he knew Chen Xu was right next to him, he couldn't calm down.

I'd like to ask him for guidance on obtaining a hundred Qi-Essence Pills.

What can I ask you?
To be honest, the method of the Heavenly Secret Box is indeed very ingenious.

However, no matter how ingenious such a clever trick is, once it has been used once and people know how it works, it can be easily imitated.

Today, Ji Yang can attract many customers through the magic of the Heavenly Secret Box.

In the future, the vendors next to him can easily follow suit and make a bunch of Heavenly Secret Boxes.

Or what if we don't call it the Heavenly Secret Box, but change the name to something like the Treasure Box or the Treasure Hunting Pouch...?

Who can control whom?
Ji Yang couldn't possibly stop everyone from imitating him.

Because he lacked the power to dominate the world.

He was as weak as an ant, and it was a miracle that he could survive in the cracks and not be torn apart by the jackals and tigers around him.

For Ji Yang, the real reason why the Heavenly Secret Box became so popular was not because of how ingenious and interesting its usage was.

In reality, the reason why the Heavenly Secret Box can be sold in large quantities is due to a portion of the spiritual food inside the box!

Only when buyers feel that a certain secret box is worth the price the moment they open it can the item truly be sought after.

Ji Yang was well aware of this.

He can be a bit silly at times, but he can also be very clear-headed at others.

Previously, when he was preparing the Heavenly Secret Box under the stall, he had secretly asked that mysterious senior:
"Senior, I sold the Heavenly Secret Box today. I'm afraid that in a couple of days, this street will be full of imitators. What should I do?"

Chen Xu replied to him at the time: "It's alright. This kind of method is only for accumulating initial capital and is not a long-term solution."

Ji Yang then said, "Senior, since this method can only be used once, why don't I go and buy some more boxes?"
"If we prepare more Heavenly Secret Boxes, we can earn more money, right?"

Chen Xu laughed and said:

"Wouldn't it be even more effective to utilize the Heavenly Secret Box's methods when you've achieved success in your cultivation, joined a sect, and gained power?"

Ji Yang was speechless for a moment.

He can't even get through the current difficulties, so what's the point of talking about the future?
Ji Yang knew that Chen Xu was trying to enlighten him, and he felt embarrassed but also somewhat moved.

In his mind, Chen Xu's strength was unfathomable, and he must have many ways to maximize the benefits of the Heavenly Secret Box.

But the senior chose him, an insignificant ant, to guide him, help him, and even expend such a secret technique for him.

This was all done at the expense of the seniors' own interests. Ji Yang had no way to repay such a great debt of gratitude.

He dared not say anything more, but secretly vowed in his heart that he must obediently follow his senior's instructions.

Ji Yang immediately understood all the reasons behind the Heavenly Secret Box.

At that time, he could never have imagined that the wonders of this item had now been revealed, and that someone would actually be willing to offer a hundred Qi Hua Pills to "learn from" him.
These are a hundred Qi Hua Dan pills.

Ji Yang could hardly resist the temptation and almost agreed immediately.

He agreed, and all one hundred Qi Hua Pills went to the senior, which made him very happy!
Fortunately, Ji Yang still had his senses. He understood that he wasn't the one in charge, so he could only look embarrassed.

"Sir, I...it's not that I'm unwilling, it's just that you...you..."

He stammered and hesitated.

He was very anxious and hoped that the senior could give him some instructions.

Fortunately, Chen Xu finally spoke.

He had just secretly observed the old man opposite him, and for the first time in this world, he used the Tide-Watching Technique to silently probe the other party's aura and cultivation level.

Under the influence of the Tide-Watching Technique, Chen Xu felt as if a faint golden light was reflected in his eyes.

The powerful energy was contained within that golden light. Chen Xu compared himself to it and suddenly realized that the other party was also at the Golden Core stage!

This was the first Golden Core cultivator Chen Xu had ever encountered in this world.

To be honest, Chen Xu was very curious about how the opponent's combat strength compared to his own.

Of course, Chen Xu is not at his peak right now.

But for some reason, Chen Xu had a feeling that although the other party's energy was very powerful, it seemed to be slightly weaker than his own.

Even though Chen Xu wasn't at his peak, the opponent's energy seemed to be no less than his own.

Chen Xu had a better understanding of the situation, so he secretly transmitted his voice to Ji Yang: "Agree to him, but one hundred Qi Hua Pills are not enough."

Ji Yang's heart skipped a beat.

One hundred Qi Hua Dan are not enough?

He was both delighted by Chen Xu's guidance and response, and also filled with trepidation, causing him to stammer even more:
"Sir, oh dear, I...I..."

The old man said humbly, "But one hundred Qi Hua Pills are not enough? That's true, they are indeed not enough."

What an ingenious strategy the Heavenly Secret Box is! If I were to learn about such a brilliant strategy, how could a hundred Qi Hua Pills possibly be enough?

Young brother, how about two hundred Qi Essence Pills then?

(End of this chapter)