Immortality and Cultivation: I Have Too Many Talents

Chapter 430 Taking Care of Old Friends (Seeking Subscriptions)

The cave dwelling serves as a reception room.

Shen Xuan personally served Tang Renhao and Zhu Jintang with Misty Shadow Spirit Tea.

After many years apart, the two had clearly aged, their faces showing more signs of wear and tear, and their temples gradually turning white.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, this place is truly a blessed land!"

After finishing the spiritual tea, Tang Renhao exclaimed in admiration.

His eyes were filled with envy.

Upon hearing this, Shen Xuan smiled and said softly, "Brother Tang, you're too kind."

"I'm not just being polite."

Tang Renhao's tone became heavy: "Which cultivator doesn't want to join a prestigious sect and possess wealth, companions, and magical land? Fellow Daoist Shen should understand. Among independent cultivators, only one in ten thousand can reach your level."

At this point, Tang Renhao couldn't help but show a hint of admiration on his face.

He knew Shen Xuan's background.

Back then, in the Immortal City of Cloud Abyss, above the East Sea.

When Shen Xuan first met him, he was just a rogue cultivator in the late stage of Qi Refining.

If it weren't for his close friend Wen Zijian's recommendation, Shen Xuan wouldn't even have the qualifications to associate with him.

Time passes.

In the blink of an eye, sixty years have passed.

Unexpectedly, the eighty-year-old tortoise talisman master who had not yet reached the Foundation Establishment stage was now a direct disciple of the Qingyun Sect's True Person, and even the kind of successor who carried on the mantle.

What a stroke of luck!
Tang Renhao rose through the ranks from a rogue demon hunter.

How could he not know how difficult it is for an ordinary rogue cultivator to reach this point?

For independent practitioners, they lack everything: wealth, companions, Dharma, and a suitable place.

If they had a choice, they would also like to join a sect.

They receive a regular stipend to meet their daily cultivation needs; they have access to superior cultivation techniques to continue practicing and strive for Core Formation; they have a spiritually rich cultivation ground and mentors and friends to guide their cultivation.

Most importantly, by attaching yourself to a powerful sect, you'll have their backing and be respected wherever you go, instead of having to live a life of constant danger.

"Just luck."

Shen Xuan smiled and said, "Brother Tang and Brother Zhu, I admire you both very much for your loyalty and cooperation."

After hearing Shen Xuan's words.

Tang Renhao and Zhu Jintang exchanged a smile, their expressions calm.

The two of them had known each other for many years.

It's truly remarkable that they've supported us all the way to where we are today.

They were as close as brothers.

Anyone who tries to take down one of them will face an attack from the other.

Through more than a century of trials and tribulations, the two faced them together.

Despite facing life and death several times, they never betrayed their initial vow.

"We two old folks are nothing special, just sticking together for warmth. Unlike Fellow Daoist Shen, who is exceptionally talented and has a limitless path to enlightenment!"

Zhu Jintang shook his head and said.

When the topic of the path came up, both of their expressions darkened.

Both of them were at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

Years of hunting demons and fighting have left his already mediocre Dao Foundation scarred and battered.

Currently, I'm stuck in the mid-Foundation Building stage, making it difficult to advance to the next level.

This is also the fate of most independent cultivators who attempt to establish their foundation.

His aptitude and skills were originally just average.

Furthermore, due to excessive battles, his Dao foundation and physical body were damaged.

Without the guidance of a master during spiritual practice, one takes many detours and leaves behind many hidden dangers.

Basically, one's cultivation level will stagnate at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

Even if they had a breakthrough pill, they wouldn't dare to try it easily.

If one fails to break through to the next level, the consequences of the backlash will far exceed those of a sect disciple.

A drop in realm and a regression in cultivation are still considered good.

He may succumb to his injuries and die.

Shen Xuan changed the subject: "By the way, do you have any news about Fellow Daoist Wen Zijian?"

"That's great. Fellow Daoist Wen has joined the Golden Hidden Sect, and his daughter has also established her Dao Foundation and married into a prestigious family within the Golden Hidden Sect. She can now enjoy her later years in peace!"

Zhu Jintang said with no small amount of envy.

“My old brother is much better than us two old guys. Last time, he even wrote to us, asking us to thank Fellow Daoist Shen for his help back then.”

Shen Xuan smiled slightly.

"Alright! Fellow Daoists, the three of us are a total of five hundred years old. There's no need for us to boast!"

After speaking, Shen Xuan took a sip of spiritual tea and cleared his throat.

Then, he said seriously, "Let's get down to business. How many second-tier demon cores did I ask you two to buy?

Upon hearing Shen Xuan discuss serious matters, Tang Renhao instinctively straightened his posture.

"Eighteen pieces. Fellow Daoist Shen, please take a look. Do they meet the requirements?"

Zhu Jintang took out eighteen jade boxes, each containing a freshly made second-tier demon core.

Shen Xuan glanced at it.

Of the eighteen demon cores, two do not quite meet the requirements.

One of them had an overly aggressive aura; it was probably a big-headed wolffish.

The other one, somewhat damaged, is a red-striped carp.

Shen Xuan pointed it out.

"These two won't do. In the future, don't collect Bighead Wolf Fish Demon Cores. Crimson-striped Carp Cores are acceptable. This one is so damaged that its spiritual energy has leaked out; it's unusable."

Zhu Jintang chuckled and complained, "Brother Ren Hao, I told you, these two won't do!"

“They’re all old brothers, let’s show them to Fellow Daoist Shen.”

A hint of embarrassment flashed in Tang Renhao's eyes.

"You know, Lao He and the others have it tough too."

Shen Xuan smiled.

"Fine, I'll take them all."

"This is not good!"

Tang Renhao looked ashamed.

"I plan to test the Foundation Establishment Pill. Such a breakthrough pill is not so easy to succeed with! I'll just use these two demon cores to test it out first, it's the same."

"Then thank you very much, Fellow Daoist Shen!"

Zhu Jintang said with a smile.

"We've known each other for sixty years, is there any need to be so polite?"

Even if the two demon cores were of slightly lower grade, Shen Xuan didn't take them seriously.

"How many spirit stones did it cost in total?"

"I have a detailed list here."

Tang Renhao took out a detailed list of acquisitions.

Sure enough, each demon core had a specific price tag.

Of the eighteen demon cores, seven belonged to the two of them, while the remaining eleven were acquired from other demon hunters.

Owned items are priced according to market value.

"Two hundred and eighty-seven thousand spirit stones. How about this, I'll pay you three hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones. Is that right?"

Shen Xuan did the math.

A second-tier low-grade demon core costs an average of 15,000 spirit stones, which is considered cheap.

This is also related to the fact that Lin Yuan Immortal City is located near the East Sea.

Water-attribute demon cores are the cheapest of the five elemental demon cores. Similarly, water-attribute foundation-building pills are the cheapest of the five elemental foundation-building pills.

"That's right!"

Zhu Jintang forced a smile and asked somewhat embarrassedly, "Fellow Daoist Shen, now that you've finished refining the Foundation Establishment Pills, could you share some with us?"

Shen Xuan did not answer, but frowned slightly.

He hasn't even started refining the Foundation Establishment Pill yet.

Several cultivation forces have already lined up to request the Foundation Establishment Pill.

The Tongxin Chamber of Commerce provides a variety of medicinal herbs.

The Zhou family, the beast tamers of Qingyang Prefecture.

There's also Lü Zhengying, who is about to establish a cultivation family and wants a few Foundation Establishment Pills as the foundation for his clan.

Now, Zhu Jintang has also brought it up.

Tang Renhao didn't say it.

However, his stance has always been consistent with that of Zhu Jintang.

"Brother Zhu, to be honest, the Foundation Establishment Pill has already been pre-ordered by some people before it was even refined."

"The chamber of commerce that provides medicinal materials, Shen's partner family, fellow disciples from the sect, and so on."

Zhu Jintang gave an awkward smile and nodded repeatedly.

"Zhu understands."

Nevertheless, Zhu Jintang's deep disappointment was palpable.

"No, you don't understand."

Shen Xuan chuckled and said, "What I mean is, if you want the Foundation Establishment Pill, it will be some time before you can."

"what!"

The situation took an unexpected turn, and Zhu Jintang didn't understand Shen Xuan's meaning for a moment.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, what do you mean by that?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Jintang asked, somewhat puzzled.

Tang Renhao asked in a deep voice, "Does Fellow Daoist Shen mean that we can have some Foundation Establishment Pills, but we'll have to wait a while?"

"But I wonder how long this will take?"

Shen Xuan looked at Tang Renhao and said, "It will take at least two years, and at most three to five years. I won't say more, but three to five pieces should be no problem."

Shen Xuan deliberately reduced the quantity.

Setting expectations too high can be counterproductive.

Actually, if everything goes smoothly.

We could easily sell a few more to the two of them.

As for the price, there's no need to elaborate.

The starting price for a Foundation Establishment Pill in a sect is 30,000 spirit stones.

Even so, there's no market for it.

Without a certain network of connections, you simply can't buy it.

Back then, Shen Xuan also prepared his own medicinal materials, and Qin Yuehan stepped forward to ask Master Ge, the alchemist of the sect, to refine a Foundation Building Pill for him.

"Alright! Thank you very much, Fellow Daoist Shen!"

Shen Xuan waved his hand.

"Don't rush! Brother Tang, let me finish speaking."

Shen Xuan took out 350,000 spirit stones and handed them to Zhu Jintang.

"I'll have to trouble you two fellow Daoists to acquire more suitable second-tier demon cores. The more demon cores you have, the better, for refining Foundation Establishment Pills."

"We understand."

Zhu Jintang accepted the spirit stones, slightly excited.

With the Foundation Establishment Pill, the two could confidently bid for a mid-grade second-tier spiritual vein island and establish their own cultivation families.

Of course, it would be best if the islands were adjacent to each other, so that they could look after each other.

"Alright! Be careful on the way back, don't let anyone target you. This is a huge sum of over 300,000 spirit stones!"

Shen Xuan joked.

In fact, both of them are experienced veteran demon hunters.

Ordinary cultivators wouldn't touch such a tough nut to crack.

"Don't worry, Fellow Daoist Shen, we will be careful."

Tang Renhao said with a smile.

He knew very well that Shen Xuan in front of him was always cautious and a prudent person.

If Shen Xuan had been more reckless and impulsive, he wouldn't have achieved what he has today.

Since he said he wanted to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill.

I'm sure I know what's going on.

The chances of success are high.

A master alchemist who can refine Foundation Establishment Pills will be respected wherever he goes.

Now, Shen Xuan can still treat them as equals.

It's entirely because of our past friendship.

Not to mention those two Foundation Establishment mid-stage rogue demon hunters.

Even if all the demon hunters in the entire Cloud Abyss Immortal City were gathered together, Shen Xuan might not even be interested in them.

Not an exaggeration.

Now, all they can do is run errands for Shen Xuan.

As for the second-tier water-attribute demon core.

All the immortal cities along the coast can be acquired.

As long as Shen Xuan is willing.

There are plenty of people who will serve him faithfully.

Shen Xuan's actions were intended to help the two of them.

They even did not refuse Zhu Jintang's request for some Foundation Establishment Pills.

It has to be said that Shen Xuan is an old friend who cherishes old friendships!

At this moment, Tang Renhao had no idea.

Shen Xuan didn't think that much about it at all.

He's just afraid of getting into trouble and doesn't want to leave the sect.

As for the Foundation Building Pill...

Shen Xuan was merely using it as a means to build connections.

I don't take it seriously at all.

After the seven kings of Song obtained the formula for the Cold Jade Elixir.

Within the territory of the Song Kingdom, the three main ingredients of the Cold Jade Pill were completely sold out.

Now, even if you have spirit stones, you can't buy them anymore.

Shen Xuan's stockpiled medicinal herbs were gradually running out.

A pill-making room worth three million should not be wasted.

Moreover.

Li Ruyi, the soul cultivator who owes a huge debt, is also going to start refining pills.

Otherwise, you'll never be able to pay off her debt in your entire life.

Shen Xuan personally escorted the two out of Hanyu Peak.

The next day, Shen Xuan was preparing to begin refining pills.

Lü Zhengying arrived in a hurry.

It brings amazing news.

(End of this chapter)