Chapter 18: Insulted by Management, Barter at the Herb Hall
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Yu Xian looked at the pile of so-called “refining materials” before him.
He slowly closed his eyes. In his mind, he began to visualize an alchemy furnace.
Then, suddenly, his hands started to move.
Piece by piece, the “materials” were tossed methodically into a circle he had drawn on the ground. While doing so, Yu Xian continuously applied various hand techniques, infusing each “ingredient” with varying intensities of spiritual energy to activate their medicinal properties. Eventually, dozens of piles of “materials” were all thrown together.
“Combine!”
With a low shout, Yu Xian flipped his palm, and the imagined furnace was sealed shut in his mind.
“So this is how minor spirit pills are refined, huh…”
Yu Xian opened his eyes and murmured to himself before shaking his head with a smile.
“Too naive. Gathering dry branches, rotten leaves, weeds, and stones, pretending they’re herbs, imagining a furnace—this is just a game. Real alchemy requires fire, and fire control is an extremely difficult skill to master…”
Sigh. “Like the old saying goes, ‘A thousand theories can’t match one real experience.’ Theory alone is useless—practice is everything.”
Scratching his head, Yu Xian stood up, hoisted his mining pick, and walked deeper into the cave.
“One more day of mining. Tomorrow, I’ll exchange for real herbs and try an actual refinement…”
The Next Morning
Yu Xian exited the cave and headed straight back to the miner lodgings near the teleportation array.
But before he arrived, the teleportation array ahead suddenly lit up—two figures appeared within the formation.
They were Liu Xue and Sun Bingwei.
The two had just returned from delivering the mining tribute to the sect’s mining hall, and happened to cross paths with Yu Xian.
Yu Xian spotted them first. His brow furrowed slightly, but he neither flinched nor avoided them—he simply stood calmly beside the formation, waiting for them to exit.
As the two stepped out of the teleportation array, they also immediately noticed Yu Xian.
Liu Xue froze in place.
Sun Bingwei’s eyes nearly popped out of his head as he shouted, “Ah!? You’re not dead!?”
After not seeing Yu Xian for nearly a month, they had assumed he’d already died in the wilderness, devoured by flame wolves.
Now, seeing him alive was like seeing a ghost.
Yu Xian harbored killing intent toward these two. They had tried to get him killed—there was no forgiveness for that. They were mortal enemies.
However, killing them openly in broad daylight would make life in Baiyun Sect impossible. It wasn’t worth it. So for now, he had chosen to ignore them.
But hearing Sun Bingwei’s words, a cold light flickered in Yu Xian’s eyes.
“Oh? Based on what Manager Sun just said, was I supposed to be dead?”
“Ah—hahaha, Manager Sun had some drinks this morning. He wasn’t talking about you.”
Liu Xue reacted quickly, waving his hands to smooth things over, making up a random excuse. Then, straightening up, he said seriously,
“But your timing is just right—it’s the end of the month. Your three Blazing Sun Essence Stones—”
Clink clink clink…
The sound of stones hitting the ground interrupted him. Yu Xian, expressionless, casually tossed three essence stones at their feet.
“You won’t miss your cut,” he said flatly.
Without sparing them another glance, he walked past and entered the teleportation array, vanishing in a flash of light.
“This… this brat…”
Sun Bingwei gritted his teeth. “He just insulted us, didn’t he!?”
“This kid… definitely not ordinary.”
Liu Xue’s eyelids twitched in rage, but he managed to keep his cool. He took a deep breath, bent down to collect the essence stones, and said in a low voice,
“He must have a rare treasure on him. We can’t handle him. We need to report this to Senior Brother Huang immediately!”
“Damn brat! Not even flame wolves could kill him!”
Sun Bingwei spat out the words and then looked to Liu Xue.
“Alright, I’m with you. Let Senior Brother Huang deal with him!”
“Let’s go, now!”
Without delay, the two turned and stepped back into the teleportation array.
Meanwhile, Yu Xian
Stepping out from the array, he made his way toward the Forging Hall. As for the unpleasant encounter with Liu Xue and Sun Bingwei, he had long pushed it to the back of his mind.
Hatred could be remembered—but not carried. Constant resentment would only cloud the heart, disrupting cultivation.
It was better to remember and wait. When the time was right, repay it. Whether it was kindness or enmity, pay it back when due.
That was Yu Xian’s mindset.
He soon arrived at the Forging Hall and once again entered the side chamber he was familiar with.
But the counter attendant wasn’t the middle-aged man from before.
Instead, it was Xu Haoming.
He looked dispirited, sitting there idly flipping through some spell scrolls.
Didn’t Xu Haoming go to attempt Foundation Establishment?
If an outer disciple succeeded, they would be promoted to the inner sect, become the disciple of a Golden Core elder, and truly begin their path as a cultivator.
But now… he was still here.
Yu Xian shook his head slightly and walked up.
“Senior Brother Xu,” he greeted, “long time no see. I’ve come to sell Blazing Sun Essence Stones.”
“Oh, Brother Yu—it’s you.”
Xu Haoming perked up slightly upon seeing him, forcing a smile.
“Yes, it has been a while.”
Yu Xian took out his storage pouch and said calmly, “Senior Brother Xu, if I may say something—I know I shouldn’t—but failure isn’t what’s frightening. What’s truly scary is losing your will to fight.”
“Heh… hehehe, isn’t that the truth?”
Xu Haoming nodded slightly, but his expression clearly showed indifference.
What does this kid know?
Sounds nice, but it’s just empty words.
He, Xu Haoming, had already attempted Foundation Establishment three times. He had taken six Foundation Establishment Pills in total—but failed each time! His body had developed resistance to the medicine.
On top of that, he was already thirty-nine years old. His age was catching up with him, his dantian was deteriorating, and his qi sea had become rigid. Going forward… what chance did he have left?
“How many did you dig up this time?”
Still, Xu Haoming was curious about how many Blazing Sun Essence Stones this youth had brought. After all, he had earned a Foundation Establishment Pill off him before.
As he asked, he passed over a storage pouch.
“Three hundred and twenty pieces.”
“What!?”
Xu Haoming jumped to his feet, eyes bulging at Yu Xian. “Three hundred and twenty!? Did you rob the mine administrators!?”
But as soon as he finished speaking, he quickly covered his mouth and lowered his voice in excitement.
“This much? You’re incredible! I’m impressed!”
This youth was full of surprises.
If this kind of trade continued regularly, it wouldn’t be long before he could afford another Foundation Establishment Pill!
Maybe he could even try one last time before turning forty!
Yu Xian smiled without responding. He casually took the storage pouch and began transferring the stones inside.
“Check them.”
Xu Haoming quickly grabbed the pouch and glanced inside. A wide grin immediately spread across his face, and he nodded repeatedly.
“Good, good! The count is perfect. Amazing—I’ll get you the spirit stones right away!”
“Please wait, Senior Brother Xu.”
Yu Xian suddenly grew serious. “This time, I want one stone for every fourteen.”
“What?”
Xu Haoming blinked in surprise. “Brother Yu, the going rate is twelve spirit stones per essence stone. You want fourteen? That’s too high!”
“Senior Brother Xu, I’ve done my homework.”
Yu Xian’s tone was calm as he shook his head. “If you’re going to shortchange me like that, then I really won’t be coming back next time.”
That middle-aged man from before had offered fourteen spirit stones per essence stone. Clearly, the real market rate was higher.
If Xu Haoming insisted on lowballing him with twelve, then this wasn’t a partnership—it was a scam.
“Brother…”
Xu Haoming’s face twisted with frustration. “Where did you hear about the market rate? I won’t lie to you. At the counters like this one, the standard rate really is twelve spirit stones. Only the workshop master himself pays thirteen or maybe fourteen per stone! But if I give you fourteen, what profit is left for me? I swear, I’m not cheating you!”
Yu Xian frowned slightly.
Xu Haoming didn’t sound like he was lying.
That middle-aged man… could he be the Forging Hall’s master?
Otherwise, why would he offer so much?
Seeing Yu Xian hesitate, Xu Haoming gave in with a sigh.
“Alright, alright—how about thirteen per piece? I really can’t give you fourteen. You’ve got to let me make a little profit!”
“…Alright.”
Yu Xian nodded without further argument.
That middle-aged man might or might not have been the Forging Hall master.
But Xu Haoming’s offer showed sincerity, and that was good enough.
Finally relieved, Xu Haoming collected the essence stones and handed over thirty-five mid-grade spirit stones. He forced a smile and said,
“Brother Yu, I’m barely making anything here. Business is tough these days. Here, check it.”
Yu Xian took the pouch, glanced inside, and then nodded.
“I work harder mining than you do at this counter.”
With that, he turned and walked away.
Xu Haoming let out a long sigh, frustrated. He’d only made about three hundred spirit stones this round.
Still, not a bad profit…
But far less than what he had expected!
Who told that kid a single Blazing Sun Essence Stone was worth fourteen spirit stones!?
Was it Lin Youmao during the days I was trying to reach Foundation Establishment?
That bastard… sabotaging my business! And after I always treated him well!
Xu Haoming was fuming inside, already plotting how to settle accounts with Lin Youmao.
As for Yu Xian, after leaving the Forging Hall, he turned and headed straight for the Herb Hall.
That was where the Outer Sect of White Cloud Sect grew spiritual herbs.
It was also the largest area of the Outer Sect—rich in spiritual energy and vast in scope.
