The next day.
Qin Gengyun left home with thirty-eight bags of Clear Wind Powder.
In recent days of alchemy, three stalks of Clear Spirit Grass had yielded thirteen bags of Clear Wind Powder, while five stalks had yielded twenty-five bags, totaling thirty-eight bags.
At three Spirit Stones per bag, that's 114 Spirit Stones.
For Qin Gengyun, this was undoubtedly a huge sum of money!
However, for a low-level cultivator like him, suddenly possessing so many Spirit Stones would surely arouse envy, so it's best to stay discreet.
Qin Gengyun tightly held the thirty-eight bags of Clear Wind Powder in his arms and walked down the street calmly, trying not to reveal anything suspicious.
Leaving Narrow Rain Lane, he arrived at Caifeng Street, where the street gradually widened and became bustling with people.
Suddenly, a shrill whistling sound pierced the sky overhead.
People raised their heads, pointing at the dazzling streak of light in the sky and exclaiming:
"It's a flying sword! A middle-grade flying sword!"
Cultivators' travel tools include flying swords and flying boats.
Among them, flying swords are divided into upper, middle, and lower grades, with the lowest grade flying sword fetching at least a hundred Spirit Stones; most of the ordinary loose cultivators in Yunling Town naturally couldn't afford them.
The stunning and dazzling middle-grade flying sword in the sky was something the low-level cultivators dared not even dream of.
Thus, the crowd became so excited when they saw it.
Someone began to discuss:
"These days, we often see flying swords passing by. Isn't the annual Northern Wilderness Trial of the Three Great Sects about to begin?"
"I wish I could ride this middle-grade flying sword just once!"
The flying sword, like a meteor, soon disappeared into the distance, leaving a radiant and dramatic tail in the sky.
Qin Gengyun withdrew his gaze and continued forward.
Soon he arrived at the Spirit Pill Workshop; today the pavilion master was still absent, and it was uneventful in the workshop.
At 5 p.m., Qin Gengyun scattered his value and arrived at the Pill Talisman Tower.
The beard shopkeeper was attending to a group of guests who seemed to be from a treasure hunting team preparing to head to the Northern Wilderness, buying Pills and talismans from the Pill Talisman Tower before departing.
Once that group left, Qin Gengyun approached the beard shopkeeper and said:
"Shopkeeper, I've brought some high-grade Clear Wind Powder. Are you still interested?"
The beard shopkeeper was startled at first, then recognized him and cheerfully said:
"It's this Taoist friend! Of course, I'll take them, but if there are too few..."
Qin Gengyun stepped forward and whispered: "I have thirty-eight bags."
The beard shopkeeper was momentarily stunned and then showed a harmless smile:
"Taoist friend, do you really have that much?"
Qin Gengyun nodded and took out the cloth bag containing Clear Wind Powder from his chest, opening it in front of the shopkeeper.
The beard shopkeeper leaned forward to inspect it and, after a moment, bowed to Qin Gengyun:
"I have yet to ask for your name, Taoist friend?"
The tone became much more courteous.
Qin Gengyun also bowed and said: "My family name is Qin."
The beard shopkeeper laughed heartily: "So, Taoist Friend Qin, I am Tong. You may call me Shopkeeper Tong. I will take all the Clear Wind Powder at three Spirit Stones per bag; what do you say?"
Qin Gengyun was just about to agree when a familiar crisp voice sounded from behind:
"Taoist friend, may I have a word with you?"
Qin Gengyun turned and saw Mo Xiaolan in plain robes, who discreetly blinked at him and understood, bowing:
"Taoist friend, what can I do for you?"
Mo Xiaolan smiled and said to Qin Gengyun:
"Taoist friend, my master is also looking for high-grade Clear Spirit Grass recently. Could you sell yours to my master? As for the price..."
Mo Xiaolan paused, glanced so casually at Shopkeeper Tong, and said clearly:
"It can be negotiated."
"This..." Qin Gengyun hesitated, looking at Shopkeeper Tong and then Mo Xiaolan:
"The price could be higher?"
"Of course." Mo Xiaolan smiled dazzlingly:
"Taoist friend, you might not know, but recently the disciples of the Zhenyang Sect have gone to the Northern Wilderness Trial, and it seems that the Demon Sect Saint Master left a treasure in Celestial Ridge Mountain. Your Clear Wind Powder is the best for dispelling the black miasma there, in short supply, and my master is certainly willing to pay more."
Upon hearing Mo Xiaolan's words, Shopkeeper Tong's expression finally changed, quickly saying:
"Taoist Friend Qin, Pill Talisman Tower has always been honest; selling to us is naturally more appropriate, and the price can be discussed."
Qin Gengyun pretended to be torn, and Shopkeeper Tong pulled him aside, whispering:
"One bag for three Spirit Stones and 50 spirit coins, how about it?"
Qin Gengyun thought for a moment, finally saying:
"Alright, Shopkeeper Tong, I trust the credibility of Pill Talisman Tower."
He turned to Mo Xiaolan and said: "Taoist friend, I'm sorry, but I have a prior agreement with Shopkeeper Tong and cannot sell it to your master."
Mo Xiaolan bowed, disappointedly saying: "If that's the case, I won't disturb you. Taoist friend, if you have any more high-grade Clear Wind Powder in the future, feel free to find me."
She then left regretfully.
Shopkeeper Tong seemed worried about complications and quickly had someone bring 133 Spirit Stones to purchase all of Qin Gengyun's Clear Wind Powder.
"Thank you, Shopkeeper Tong, goodbye."
Due to the many eyes in the Pill Talisman Tower, Qin Gengyun was worried about being watched, so he planned to leave right after securing the Spirit Stones.
"Taoist Friend Qin, wait a moment."
Shopkeeper Tong called him, smiling:
"I have something to discuss; could we move to the inner hall?"
Qin Gengyun looked around, thought for a moment, and nodded.
Shopkeeper Tong led him to the inner hall, invited him to sit down, and then said:
"I wonder if Taoist Friend Qin has more of the same grade Clear Wind Powder?"
Qin Gengyun asked: "Shopkeeper Tong, how much do you need?"
Shopkeeper Tong stretched out two fingers: "Two hundred bags, the price is still three Spirit Stones and 50 spirit coins per bag."
Qin Gengyun nearly fell out of his chair but managed to steady himself and said solemnly:
"Shopkeeper Tong, two hundred bags aren't a small number. Can you give me time to think about it and respond to you tomorrow?"
Shopkeeper Tong smiled and nodded: "Of course, but I must remind you, Taoist friend, if you agree, you must deliver within ten days."
Qin Gengyun was shocked in his heart. He could only produce less than forty bags in five days, and to produce two hundred bags in ten days seemed too difficult.
But if it could be done, two hundred bags would be seven hundred Spirit Stones!
With so many Spirit Stones, he could buy most of the Spirit Pill Workshop!
However, does Taoist Friend Qiu have that much Clear Spirit Grass?
Even if she can provide it, can I reach a rate of two hundred bags in ten days?
When Qin Gengyun left the Pill Talisman Tower, he was still a bit bewildered.
His fortune had suddenly transformed from less than ten Spirit Stones to over a hundred.
Moreover, a giant opportunity was still right in front of him.
The rapid changes in life's circumstances really left one a bit overwhelmed.
"Taoist Friend Qin, congratulations!"
Exiting Caifeng Street, a tall and agile silhouette appeared before him, with an energetic face and a radiant, clear smile.
Qin Gengyun quickly bowed: "Taoist Friend Mo, thank you so much for earlier!"
Just now, if Mo Xiaolan hadn't helped him raise the price, he would have earned almost 20 fewer Spirit Stones!
Mo Xiaolan waved her hand cheerfully: "I occasionally stop by the Pill Talisman Tower to check prices for talisman paper and materials. I ran into you today, and it's surprising that in just a few days, you've managed to produce such high-quality Clear Wind Powder."
Though she acted casually, Qin Gengyun knew that if Mo Xiaolan helped him like that, once Shopkeeper Tong realized, she might have a hard time returning to the Pill Talisman Tower.
When the two hundred bags of Clear Wind Powder are done, he must find a way to properly repay her.
Today Mo Xiaolan wasn't going to the night market, so the two walked toward Narrow Rain Lane together, and Qin Gengyun asked:
"Taoist Friend Mo, though there's the sect trial and Demon Sect Saint Master's treasure, as I understand, high-grade Clear Wind Powder is barely worth three Spirit Stones; why would Shopkeeper Tong be willing to offer more?"