Immortality begins with upgrading buildings

Chapter 31 Salvation [Please continue reading]

Shops with "甲" in their name are usually in the best locations and have the highest rents in Zengtou City.

However, shop number 18 was somewhat of an exception, as it was located at the corner between the two rows of houses.

Unless you come here intentionally, you wouldn't notice this place if you were just passing by.

Ji Yuan was the same; if he hadn't come specifically to look for it, he wouldn't have even known that there was a shop hidden inside.

His first impression upon entering the room was that it was dark.

Moreover, the room did not have shelves like a typical shop; instead, it consisted of three separate, non-interconnected cubicles enclosed by black cloth.

Besides that, there was an old man sitting outside the cubicle smoking a pipe.

He glanced up at Ji Yuan, then lowered his head again.

"There are people waiting."

Ji Yuan didn't understand what it meant, so he had no choice but to do as he was told.

He stood there and waited for about half an incense stick's time before the black cloth of one of the cubicles was lifted, and a young man dressed in a magnificent white robe walked out, his brows slightly furrowed.

He also subconsciously looked up at Ji Yuan.

"It's you?!"

The two exchanged glances, both somewhat surprised.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Wu."

Ji Yuan hadn't expected to see Wu Yan here, but then he thought about it and realized that given the seclusion and nature of this place, it probably served the wealthy class in the surrounding markets of Yunyuzhe.

Given Wu Yan's status and position, he was naturally the one they served.

Indeed, it was pretty much as Ji Yuan had guessed, which is why Wu Yan was so surprised to see Ji Yuan there.

Ever since Ji Yuan first appeared beside Lu Wan, he had already found out Ji Yuan's background.

An ordinary fisherman.

But now this fisherman actually knows the secret of shop number 18... something that even Lu Wan didn't know.

It seems that this plan is far more complicated than I imagined.

"What are you standing there for? If you want to chat, go outside!"

The old man guarding the gate frowned and reprimanded him.

Ji Yuan quickly apologized, and when he turned around, Wu Yan had already left... This attitude was completely different from before.

This was the first time Ji Yuan had seen Wu Yan since their parting at Baibaolou.

Looking back now, it's probably mostly because of Lu Wan; otherwise, Ji Yuan wouldn't have imagined that he had any connection with the Wu family.

In the past three months, Ji Yuan had seen Lu Wan a few times. It wasn't that they were destined to meet, but rather that Lu Wan had opened her own small shop selling talismans.

That is to say, they set up a stall in Zengtou City.

Ji Yuan saw it several times when he passed by.

It is said that when she first started setting up her stall, the Wu family tried to persuade her to stop. Later, they even made a scene in the street. Feeling that they had lost face, the Wu family ignored Lu Wan again.

With a thought flashing through his mind, Ji Yuan finally stepped into the black-clothed partition room with the curtain lifted.

Inside the cubicle, there was only a table and two bamboo chairs facing each other. Sitting in the innermost seat was a cultivator shrouded in a black robe, whose gender was indistinguishable.

As soon as Ji Yuan entered, he felt as if everything outside was irrelevant to him. There was no noise at all, and even the curtain closed by itself.

He subconsciously turned around and glanced back.

The black-robed cultivator slightly raised his head and glanced at the scene, followed by a hoarse voice.

"Is this your first time here?"

Ji Yuan turned around, sat down in front of him, and said calmly, "Yes."

"Has Zengtou City produced a new elite? How did you find out about our place?" the black-robed monk asked with a slight smile.

Ji Yuan was silent for a moment, then asked, "Do I need to ask about these things when buying things?"

"No need for that, it's just my personal curiosity." The black-robed cultivator nodded slightly. "Alright, if you don't want to talk about it, then don't. You're a guest, so tell me, what do you want?"

"Five catties of cold iron sand, four plants of bone-rotting flowers."

What Ji Yuan needs most right now is the items to upgrade the [Fish Pond] and [Pigpen].

"Hold on."

After the black-robed cultivator finished speaking, he fell silent, as if he was discussing something with the two people in the adjacent cubicles. Ji Yuan was not in a hurry.

After waiting for a while, the black-robed cultivator spoke again.

"Regarding the Bone-Rotting Flower, we will give you news next month whether it succeeds or not. Cold Iron Sand is currently a key immortal resource that the Water Dragon Sect is acquiring, and we dare not interfere. If you need it, we suggest you buy it piecemeal on your own or go and mine it yourself."

"If you're going to make the acquisition, I suggest you don't be too blatant, lest you get killed by the Water Dragon Sect."

"What?" Ji Yuan exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise at the answer, especially the last part. "That strict?"

The black-robed cultivator chuckled, "You wanted Cold Iron Sand, so you must have gone to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion to ask, right?"

"Yes."

Ji Yuan nodded in agreement.

"Then you'll naturally know how desperately the Water Dragon Sect is for this stuff. And you're still competing with them for immortal resources... You probably don't even know what Zengtou City is all about anymore."

After the black-robed cultivator finished explaining, Ji Yuan broke out in a cold sweat.

Admittedly, he has been quite blatant in collecting cold iron sand lately.

Not only did he ask around, but he also intercepted a shipment of cold iron sand in front of Baibaolou once.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to collect a pound in just three months.

Looking back now, I realize I almost died without even realizing it.

Ji Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and stood up to bow deeply to the black-robed cultivator... The news of his life-saving intervention deserved a great return gift.

"Cheng Hui, ten spirit stones."

Ji Yuan's smile froze on his face the moment he stood up.

Damn it, he didn't give me anything but still charged me spirit stones, and so many of them... Ji Yuan hesitated for a moment before sensing a heavy aura emanating from the black-robed cultivator.

He's at least in the late stage of Qi Refining!

Ji Yuan smiled and handed over ten spirit stones.

After accepting the gift, the black-robed cultivator concealed his aura and said, "We don't have any Cold Iron Sand, so we won't charge you. This is the money from the Bone-Corroding Flower. This stuff is extremely rare... but we know where to find it."

"I'm not sure if I can get it. If I can, this is the deposit. If I can't, I'll refund it to you next month."

Ji Yuan breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

"Thank you for your trouble, senior." He bowed again and left the cubicle.

There was finally news about the Corpse Flower, and Ji Yuan had another worry put to rest.

Regardless, let's wait a month first. If those people in Jia 18 can't handle it by then, I can buy a spot from them and figure out a solution when I reach the late stage of Qi Refining.

After returning home, Ji Yuan didn't dare to collect any more cold iron sand.

Even when two cultivators came to his door asking, he said he no longer needed them... He was worried that the Water Dragon Sect was setting a trap for him, and he was also worried that he would be targeted if he gathered too many followers.

Ten days later.

A flying boat descended from mid-air and arrived before a small island shrouded in black mist. The people on board did not disembark but remained floating on the water, and then slowly said:

"Old Ghost, someone has finally come to inquire about the Bone-Rotting Flower that you've been longing for."

(End of this chapter)