Cultivation: Immunity to Negative Effects

"I’ll count these Puppets as fifteen hundred Middle Grade spirit stones, so you just need to give me forty-five hundred Middle Grade spirit stones."

Zhang Chi inspected the Puppets and said at once.

She might not have been concerned with the exact price, but he had to be precise to avoid any future disputes that could affect their relationship as sect members.

"Deal!"

Shangguan Hui found the price very fair and readily agreed with a nod.

At the same time, she couldn’t help but admire Zhang Chi. Not only did he have a good grasp of market prices, but he was also a straightforward person.

Doing business with someone like him was a very pleasant experience.

After that, Zhang Chi accepted the Spirit Stones and Puppets, while Shangguan Hui carefully put away the Element Condensing Fruit and her remaining Spirit Stones.

"Senior Sister, are you planning to take these back to the Sect and exchange them for a Dust Condensing Pill, or will you find a Pill Master to refine one for you? What’s the difference between having someone refine it versus exchanging for it directly?" Zhang Chi asked with a smile.

"I’m planning to exchange them directly with the Sect. These three ingredients are just enough to trade for one Dust Condensing Pill. If I were to have someone refine it, it would come down to luck, and I’d also have to gather the other supplementary Medicinal Materials."

"Given the skill of the Tier Three Alchemists in the Sect’s Pill Hall, a good run might yield two Pills, while a bad one could result in none at all. Of course, most of the time, you only get a single Pill. That’s why exchanging is the safer, more hassle-free option."

With the transaction complete, Shangguan Hui visibly relaxed and began to speak freely.

"By the way, Junior Brother, you mentioned in your letter that you could refine it yourself? This is no laughing matter. These materials are incredibly precious, and it takes a Tier Three Alchemist to guarantee any real chance of success."

"If it weren’t for that, I might have even let you try your hand with my materials!"

Shangguan Hui added, making sure to explain her reasoning.

"Heh. Senior Sister, there are some things you don’t know. I have a few tricks that allow me to temporarily refine Elixirs of a higher tier. So, if you’re willing to entrust these three materials to me, I can guarantee the production of at least one Pill, and its quality will be no worse than what the Sect provides."

"Furthermore, I actually have another Core Formation Spiritual Object. I was planning to keep it for my own future use, but if you need it, Senior Sister, I wouldn’t be against selling it to you as well," Zhang Chi added with a sudden smile after a moment’s thought.

’When he’d sent the letter, he had only planned on selling one Element Condensing Fruit, but her price was good, and now his smuggling business had been cut off anyway.’

’So, it wouldn’t hurt to sell one more item.’

’Of course, that was on the condition that she entrusted the Alchemy task to him.’

’That way, with his Alchemy skills, he could very likely produce an extra Dust Condensing Pill. He’d make a huge profit.’

’Even if he didn’t get an extra one, with his Spirit Fire, Pill Furnace, and the Divine Refining Technique, guaranteeing a baseline of one Pill was no problem.’

’In fact, he had his own materials and could just refine the pill himself, then trade the finished product with her directly.’

’But that would reveal too much. Besides, time was tight, and he hadn’t had a chance to refine one in advance.’

"Really?"

Shangguan Hui’s breathing quickened.

With a Dust Condensing Pill, added to the Blue Crystal Grass she had found, another Core Formation Spiritual Object provided by the Sect, and the Blood Jade Coral from Master Jian, her chances of forming a Middle Grade Golden Core were already very high.

But it wasn’t a one hundred percent guarantee. With one more item, however, it would be a sure thing.

She might even have a shot at an Upper Grade Golden Core!

The only problem was, if Zhang Chi failed in his refining attempt, her plans for Core Formation would be severely impacted.

"Of course. Take your time to think it over, Senior Sister. You don’t have to give me an answer right away," Zhang Chi said with a slight nod.

He knew how important this was, so he didn’t pressure her.

He, however, was quite relaxed. He had many Core Formation Spiritual Objects in his possession, and even more of the materials needed to refine the Dust Condensing Pill. Even after selling one Element Condensing Fruit, he still had several full sets remaining.

"I don’t need to think about it. I’ll trust you, Junior Brother. Since you’re the one proposing this plan, you must be confident you can pull it off. But first, can you tell me what the other Core Formation Spiritual Object is?"

Shangguan Hui had a decisive nature. Gritting her teeth, she quickly made up her mind to take the gamble.

After all, even if Zhang Chi’s Alchemy failed, by getting his other Spiritual Object, she would still end up with four of them.

That was only one less than she would have had in the first place.

But if he succeeded, she would have the Dust Condensing Pill *plus* four other Spiritual Objects. It would be a massive windfall.

"It’s a stalk of Blue Crystal Grass!" Zhang Chi was impressed by her decisiveness and looked at her in a new light as he continued.

’He had plenty of materials for refining the Dust Condensing Pill, but he only had one of most of his other Spiritual Objects.’

’Blue Crystal Grass was the exception. He had gotten one stalk from that Senior Brother Wen and another from the Secret Realm Medicinal Garden.’

As he spoke, he took out the Blue Crystal Grass and pushed it across the table to Shangguan Hui.

"This is wonderful! I already have a stalk of Blue Crystal Grass, but it’s more precious than the three main ingredients for the Dust Condensing Pill. I can trade this one directly with the Sect for another Spiritual Object."

"Junior Brother, you’re my lucky star! Right, how many Spirit Stones do you want for this Blue Crystal Grass?"

Shangguan Hui was ecstatic.

Then, she grew a little nervous.

She had already spent most of her Spirit Stones. She had only been able to afford the Element Condensing Fruit in the first place because she earned a good deal as a Puppet Master.

"Seven thousand Middle Grade spirit stones will do. Of course, if you don’t have them on you, Senior Sister, you can owe me!"

Zhang Chi stated the price with a small smile.

"That works. Thank you so much, Junior Brother!"

Shangguan Hui’s eyes reddened slightly as she nodded again and again.

Zhang Chi had quoted the market price, but for her, it was as good as a discount.

After all, buying such a rare Spiritual Object at market price required a long wait and a great deal of luck.

Even if Zhang Chi had demanded an exorbitant price, she would have had no choice but to accept. By being so fair, he was clearly doing her another huge favor.

’When I gave him that Tier Two Peak Puppet, I was a bit reluctant and mostly did it as a favor to Fourth Junior Sister. But now, I see it was the best decision I’ve ever made!’

Shangguan Hui silently congratulated herself.

’If I didn’t know this junior brother was only in his forties, and if I wasn’t worried about being called a cradle-robber, I’d almost consider offering myself to him in gratitude.’

Immediately after, she went to find Li Ruohai, borrowed seven thousand Middle Grade spirit stones from him, and completed the transaction with Zhang Chi.

Clearly, she would rather be indebted to Li Ruohai than to Zhang Chi.

The former seemed to be in desperate need of Spirit Stones, while the latter was a Golden Core cultivator.

While it was a large sum of Spirit Stones, it wasn’t a crippling amount for a Golden Core cultivator.

Of course, she only thought this way because she had no idea of Zhang Chi’s true net worth.

Zhang Chi didn’t object; in fact, he was more than happy with this arrangement.

After all, he truly did need Spirit Stones to sustain his Cultivation.

Afterward, Shangguan Hui handed over the Element Condensing Fruit she had just received, along with the Demon Companion Flower and Profound Light Grass she already possessed, to Zhang Chi.

Shangguan Hui and the others then went directly to Demon Suppression Peak to wait for Zhang Chi to finish his Alchemy, helping guard the Demon Abyss in the meantime.

Zhang Chi immediately fired up his furnace and began refining the Dust Condensing Pill.

He had already obtained many of the supplementary materials from the Secret Realm and had collected more over the years, so he was able to begin immediately.

In just three days, he finished preparing the Medicinal Materials. He then began adding the precious Spirit Medicines to the Pill Furnace one by one, subjecting each to Refinement and fusion.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Another three days passed. Suddenly, three golden, pigeon-egg-sized Pills shot out from the Magical Treasure Pill Furnace.