Joining Tiandao Company: Starting by mending a zombie world

"That's about it."

Chu Sheng turned around and went downstairs, pushed open the door of the storeroom, and came to the alchemy furnace, smelling the fragrance of the elixir inside.

He formed a hand seal and activated the fire inside the furnace.

A cluster of pale golden flames rose from the belly of the furnace, and the Bagua patterns lit up one by one. A wisp of smoke emerged from the mouth of the dragon on the furnace lid.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, when the third wisp of white smoke was exhaled from the mouth of the dragon on the lid of the incense burner, a very clear "ding" sound suddenly came from inside the incense burner.

A surge of joy filled him, and he formed another hand seal, uttering a low shout: "Open!"

The furnace lid popped open, and a pale blue beam of light shot into the sky, illuminating the warehouse.

As the beam of light dissipated, twelve emerald green pills, each the size of a pigeon egg, lay quietly at the bottom of the furnace. Their spiritual light shimmered, and each pill had a golden vein running through its core.

"The Ginseng Spirit Pill can greatly increase the cultivation speed of body-refining techniques. Within three days of taking it, the body-refining effect will double."

With a thought, Chu Sheng sent twelve emerald green pills spiraling up and landing in his palm. The pills were slightly warm to the touch, and when he brought them close to his nose, a clear, refreshing medicinal fragrance filled his senses.

After swallowing one, he put the remaining ginseng spirit pills into a jade bottle, then took out his phone and sent a message to Fatty Yu:

"Brother Yu, I need some materials. Can you help me see if you can get them?"

About two hours later, Fatty Yu sent a message: "I've asked around about the materials you requested."

"I've never even heard of Void Vine and Star Sand."

"However, I have heard of Shattered Moon Iron and Dark Wood Heart."

Chu Sheng asked excitedly, "Two hundred?"

It would be convenient if he were among the top 200.

Fatty Yu's voice message came through quickly: "Brother, Shattered Moon Iron, that meteorite stuff, is hard to get. Dark Wood Heart is even harder to get?"

Chu Sheng frowned slightly. He had heard of meteorites, and he had also heard of gloomy wood heartwood.

When he was a child, he even fantasized about finding these things and becoming rich overnight.

Fortunately, Fatty Yu was a reliable person and sent another message: "Brother, there's an appraisal event in Shanghai in half a month. Maybe they'll have the two things you're looking for."

"A treasure appraisal event?" Chu Sheng was overjoyed. Money didn't matter; finding out where the item was was the most important thing.

"Yes," Fatty Yu said, "It was a gathering organized by those people in the collecting world. The people who went were either rich or powerful, or they had valuable items they wanted to sell, or they wanted to find rare items."

Chu Sheng's heart stirred: "When should we start taking a look?"

On the other end of the phone, Fatty Yu chuckled twice. "These kinds of gatherings aren't open to the public; you need an invitation. Although I, Fatty, have some influence in the entertainment industry, I can't say anything at a gathering of this caliber."

"Who can speak up?" Chu Sheng's first thought was Shen Man, after all, she was very rich.

Unfortunately, he was wrong. This kind of event isn't something you can get into just by having money.

Fatty Yu was silent for a few seconds, as if he was choosing his words carefully: "Old Master Qin Bofu can definitely do it, but you also know that it's not easy to owe him a favor."

Chu Sheng nodded. The jade pendant the other party wanted was still in his possession, and he really didn't want to see him right now. He then asked, "Who else?"

Fatty Yu said, "Of course there's also the Xuanmen Society, but... you don't seem to like them, so that might not work."

Chu Sheng leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers lightly twice on the tea table.

He didn't even bother to think about the Xuanmen Association.

That old fox Jiang Tai, we should be grateful if he doesn't cause us trouble, let alone help us.

Qin Bofu... the old man can definitely get the invitations, but that would be a huge favor...

If he asks for the dragon-patterned jade pendant again, will I give it to him or not?

"Are there any other options?" Chu Sheng asked.

Fatty Yu thought for a long time and shook his head: "In the circles I know, only these two are qualified for this kind of gathering. Or... why don't you ask President Shen? Although she can't get in, she's in business and might know someone who can."

Chu Sheng's heart skipped a beat, and he dialed Shen Man's number.

On the other end of the phone, Shen Man listened for a few seconds, then said with a hint of apology, "My circle is mainly in industry and investment, and I really can't say anything about the antique circle."

She paused, then added, "However, I've heard that these kinds of events sometimes invite authoritative figures from the academic community as expert advisors."

"Don't you know a Professor Liu? Maybe he can help."

After hanging up the phone, Chu Sheng felt helpless. He knew Professor Liu well; he would never stoop to associating with those money-grubbing businessmen.

He picked up his phone, hesitated for a moment, and then dialed Professor Liu's number.

The phone rang a few times before he answered, his voice tinged with surprise: "It's rare for you to call me on your own initiative, buddy?"

"Professor Liu, there's something I'd like to ask you about." Chu Sheng briefly explained the Treasure Appraisal Meeting, and added at the end,

"The two materials I need, Broken Moon Iron and Dark Wood Heart, are very hard to find on the market. I heard that they might be available at this treasure appraisal event."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.

When Professor Liu's voice rang out again, it carried a hint of apology:

"I know about that appraisal event. It's a high-end private gathering in Shanghai's art collecting circle. I have an old classmate who goes there every year."

"But to be honest, I don't get along with that circle—they think I'm too old-fashioned, and I think they're too mercenary. We haven't been in touch for many years."

Chu Sheng's heart sank. Just as he was about to express his gratitude, Professor Liu suddenly changed the subject.

"However, if you really want to get invitations, there's someone much more useful than me."

"Who?"

"Dai Ran's grandfather, Dai Mingde," Professor Liu said with certainty. "In his early years, he worked as an appraiser in Shanghai and had connections with those old collectors. One of the organizers of that appraisal event was even his junior from back then."

Chu Sheng was taken aback.

Dai Mingde? That leisurely old man in his sixties, wearing a Tang suit, lying in a rocking chair listening to crosstalk?

"You and Dai Ran have a pretty good relationship, don't you? Just have her ask her grandfather for an invitation. It'll be easy," Professor Liu joked.

Chu Sheng gave an awkward smile. He had been quite busy lately and probably hadn't contacted Dai Ran for almost half a month.

That girl called a few times, but he hung up on her every time. Now... if he goes to see her, he'll probably get a scolding.

After hanging up the phone, Professor Liu picked up his water glass and said smugly:

"Ran, that's all I can do to help you, as your teacher."

In the hall

Chu Sheng had paced back and forth several times, picking up and putting down his phone repeatedly.

He couldn't bring himself to dial Dai Ran's number.

Seeing her husband's restless appearance, Su Xiaoyao asked in confusion:

"Sir, it's just a little girl. It's no big deal."

"What do you know?" Chu Sheng glared at her. "Seeing her is more troublesome than seeing the King of Hell."

Su Xiaoyao said in a muffled voice, "Master, if you really don't want to go, I'll go and invite that Miss Dai for you?"

"You?" Chu Sheng looked Su Xiaoyao up and down, then, imagining the image of it floating in front of Dai Ran, he pursed his lips.

"Never mind, I'm afraid you'll scare her."