Chapter 788 - 617: Treasure Flower Pill (Part 2)

"Black Stone Mountain, which Spirit Mountain is the senior referring to?" The steward indicated that he hadn’t heard of it.

Ji An replied:

"Black Stone Mountain is located at the northern foot of Red Ridge Mountain. Search it on the map, I’ve already reported the renaming, yet you still don’t know. That’s quite unprofessional."

He wanted to establish the name of Black Stone Mountain in the future, so he wasn’t pleased with such an attitude.

Moreover, in a few years, Zhenyue Daoist Master would come looking for him, and it would be embarrassing if Black Stone Mountain could not be found.

The steward’s face showed embarrassment and immediately said:

"Please calm down, senior. It’s my dereliction. I will certainly inform all stewards of this news in the future, so everyone is clear about the location of Black Stone Mountain."

He began searching the map and finally found a grotto mansion about a hundred miles away from Black Stone Mountain:

"This grotto mansion is slightly remote, it became vacant three years ago. The annual rent is three hundred pieces of top-grade Spirit Stones, and a deposit of one hundred pieces of top-grade Spirit Stones is also required.

If the senior has a Tier Two or higher Certification Jade Token, some Spirit Stones may be waived annually."

Lin Jiuxiao shook his head and said, "Let’s go with this grotto mansion. I haven’t learned the Hundred Skills of Cultivation and can’t enjoy the discount.

I originally leased a grotto mansion and need to vacate it; how should I proceed?"

"We will send someone to accompany the senior to the grotto mansion that needs to be vacated. If the Magic Array is intact, it can be processed on the spot."

"Good, I’ll rent the grotto mansion directly after vacating."

"Please wait, senior, I will inform others."

The steward left the hall and went to the loft, and moments later, a Golden Core Daoist Master appeared. Ji An thought they feared insecurity, hence they dispatched a Golden Core Cultivator.

...

Three days later, at the Black Stone Grotto Mansion.

Ji An handed over a Jade Slip, saying:

"This is the list of medicinal ingredients. You can go to the Immortal City to purchase them. I know a broker who is quite handy and can introduce him to you, which should save you some Spirit Stones."

Lin Jiuxiao accepted the Jade Slip, "Okay, how should I contact him?"

"I will inform him of your physical characteristics and have him wait at the entrance of Tripod Fragrance Pavilion, at which point you can add his Magical Mark."

The Magical Mark contains the soul’s fluctuation, which is a unique marker for each cultivator, and Ji An could not forward Zhang Jun’s Magical Mark.

Placing the Jade Slip on his forehead, Lin Jiuxiao nodded and said:

"Understood, senior brother, tell him I’ll be at Tripod Fragrance Pavilion punctually at double hour tomorrow."

Upon ’seeing’ the quantities of the medicinal ingredients in the Jade Slip, he couldn’t help but exclaim:

"That’s a lot of ingredients, how many furnaces will be needed?"

"Eighty furnaces. I previously didn’t expect my breakthrough to be so rapid. Tier Three Red Cloud Pines aren’t commonly seen in Immortal City, so when I stumbled upon an opportunity, I purchased as many as possible."

Ji An explained, and in fact, the number eighty was a rough estimation he made after assessing the value of the resources he had.

Of course, the Sect would gain some advantage, as the number of Pills refined and the high-quality Pills produced would exceed the estimated quantity by roughly five percent.

"Senior brother, how many pills do you expect to form?"

"Each batch can form five pills, given my current skill level, I expect to form about three hundred and sixty pills, with a high-quality rate close to seventy percent."

Lin Jiuxiao gasped, baring his teeth, even though he wasn’t an alchemist, he understood the staggering nature of these figures.

"If all alchemists had your capability, senior brother, the Cultivation Realm might be able to support double the number of cultivators."

"You’re praising me to the skies," Ji An laughed, "though the tier and quantity of Spiritual Veins are the foundation of the Cultivation Realm, the role of alchemists is crucial, but not quite to such an exaggerated extent."

While they were talking, a highly penetrating wave of magical power entered the grotto mansion.

Ji An performed an incantation to open the Dharma Prohibition, and a Communication Golden Sword flew into the grotto mansion, trembling nonstop beside him.

Taking the Golden Sword in hand, he extended his Divine Sense to read the message; it was from Master Qingfeng, inviting him to visit the Certification Association these days.

The message mentioned that Master Lie Yang, the Alchemy Department’s steward appointed a few years ago, wanted to meet him.

Lin Jiuxiao noticed his expression and asked:

"Senior brother, do you have something to attend to?"

Ji An nodded, "Two Daoist Masters have invited me, so I must visit the Immortal City. Is there anything else you need, junior brother?"

"No, but I intend to go to the Immortal City today as well, to purchase the ingredients and bring them to you tomorrow."

"Alright, let’s go together."

The two exited the grotto mansion, riding the clouds, reaching the Immortal City in less than half an hour.

Ji An took out the Communication Golden Sword, recorded a message, and activated it to Zhang Jun, as his Flying Escape was faster than the Golden Sword.

"Senior brother, you may go to the Tripod Fragrance Pavilion to get a pot of wine and wait; the person should always be around in the Immortal City and will likely arrive shortly."

Lin Jiuxiao clasped his hands, "Senior brother, let’s part ways here, see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

After their farewell, Ji An flew to the Certification Association and found Master Qingfeng.

Upon meeting him, he heard the other’s jovial words:

"You should have informed me, my friend, upon your return to the Immortal City, so we could welcome and celebrate you immediately."

Ji An replied earnestly, "Haha, now there’s a chance as well."

"Please have a seat and wait a moment, I will send someone to invite Master Lie Yang, and after discussing business, let’s have some drinks and music at the Tripod Fragrance Pavilion tonight."

Master Qingfeng instructed a disciple to fetch the person, and the two sat down to chat, talking about the current situation at Wulan Mountain.

A moment later, Master Lie Yang hurried in, and Master Qingfeng made the introductions, saying:

"You two have a discussion, I’ll go supervise the others."

Not knowing whether the meeting involved confidential matters, it was better for him to step back.

After he left, the remaining two began their business conversation.

"The day I knew of your great talents from Feiyun Zhenren’s handover, I wished to meet you sooner, and today that wish is finally fulfilled."

"For you to become the steward of the Immortal City’s Alchemy Department, you must be an expert in your own right. Those are kind words."

After some mutual flattery, Master Lie Yang brought up the main topic:

"You’ve acknowledged the omens regarding the dangers of the Demon Fog and are aware that when conflicts break out fully, Golden Core Daoist Masters and Nascent Soul Daoist Monarchs may have to be engaged in long-term combat outside.

In such cases, the issue of clearing Demon Fog pollution arises.

We now need to refine a batch of Tier Three Pills, Treasure Flower Pill, and hope that you can take on this task."

The Cyan Lotus Heart-Burning Fire has purifying properties, making it most suitable for refining Vajra Pill, Treasure Flower Pill, and other pollution-purifying pills.

Ji An saw no reason to decline, as he also needed to stockpile such Pills, and by taking on the task, he could turn in fewer, sparing himself the effort of collecting the medicinal materials.

The Central Continent is resource-rich, and many Tier Three Pill ingredients can be purchased in full sets, but not so with Vajra Pills; these are strategic resources across the Cultivation Realm, obtainable only through proper channels.

"You’re straightforward, my friend; here’s the Pill Formula."

Ji An took the Jade Slip, placed it on his forehead, and frowned slightly:

"This is a Tier Three Upper Grade Pill, and it’s my first time refining it. I’m afraid the success rate might be low."

Actually, he was now a Golden Core Middle Stage Cultivator with a strong Spirit Soul, so even for Tier Three Upper Grade Pills, after gaining proficiency in refining, his success rate should be quite high.

Normally, he was being truthful, but by taking on the task and turning in fewer pills, he could stockpile more.

Although a bit unethical, as a Loose Cultivator seeking to accumulate strategic materials, this was his only option.

Master Lie Yang nodded, "The association has considered this, so the first batch of materials will provide you with ten furnaces, each yielding three pills, and only a success rate of twenty percent is required.

If you meet this requirement, we can further collaborate by providing another ten furnaces of materials with a thirty percent success rate requirement.

For future Treasure Flower Pill tasks, a forty percent success rate will be required."

"My friend, aren’t these terms a bit stringent?"

"This type of Pill is highly significant. To be frank, with the help of the Heaven and Earth Spirit Fire, the quality of pills you refine will be higher than others, making me hopeful for a long-term partnership with you.

However, a forty percent success rate is the client’s lowest acceptable requirement, and I’m unable to alter it."

In the future, there will surely be a vast demand for Treasure Flower Pills. Though the quality of your refined Pills is superior, if not backed by sufficient quantities, you will no longer be assigned Pill refining tasks.

Ji An pondered and said:

"Thank you for valuing me, my friend, I will give it my best shot."