Chapter 534 - 445: Lava Cave Map
Ji An was referring to the map of the area four hundred miles south of the city, the Lava Cave, where the power of the fire element is particularly strong, a rarity in this icy region.
If it weren’t for the presence of a large amount of fire fiend and fire poison inside, it would have long been occupied by cultivators.
According to the records of the ancestors and the information he obtained, there are periodic eruptions in the cave every few years, at which time the power of the fire element is at its peak.
The ancestor Zhengyang comprehended the mystery of fire generating earth in the cave years ago, but the map left behind is no longer usable due to the passage of time.
The cave has a network of crisscrossing passages, and without a map, it is impossible to find a suitable location.
Ji An has stayed here for three years and attempted to draw the map himself, but the Lava Cave’s spiritual eruption cycle is imminent, leaving him insufficient time to complete the map.
Zhuang Jingcheng patted his chest loudly, "Fellow Daoist’s concerns are my concerns; how could I not be fully committed?"
He raised his hand, and a jade slip appeared in it:
"I spent a considerable sum to acquire this from a trusted friend. Please have a look, Fellow Daoist."
Ji An took the jade slip and chuckled, saying:
"Fellow Daoist, what’s the price?"
Lava Cave maps need to be updated after each spiritual eruption, and with enough time, one can create them independently.
He came at an inopportune time and couldn’t create a complete map; otherwise, he wouldn’t have chosen to purchase one.
"We are friends; it would be irrelevant to discuss the price."
"It’s better to state it; I don’t like owing personal favors."
Ji An said gently, knowing personal favors are hard to return, and even if he believes he has reciprocated, the other might not think so.
Might as well treat it as a transaction; once the money and goods are settled, it saves a lot of trouble, providing peace of mind.
"How could this be considered a personal favor?"
Zhuang Jingcheng wanted to say more but sighed inwardly upon seeing the firm expression on the opposite cultivator’s face.
He indeed intended to use this as a favor to ask the other to make more talismans, which is a profit!
If the other’s cultivation wasn’t far beyond his, he might have pressured him to create talismans daily to earn spirit stones.
Cultivators who can stand firm in the rugged land of the Far North are unlikely to be pure-hearted!
"A ten-piece middle-grade spirit stone item, Fellow Daoist, if you are willing to pay, then pay."
"Now that’s more like it; though we’re familiar, accounts still need to be clear."
Ji An said, then took out some talismans and placed them on the table, "Fellow Daoist, please check the quantity."
He placed the jade slip against his forehead, comparing it with his drawn map.
Zhuang Jingcheng happily began to inventory. High-quality talismans are never hard to sell, and they can be sold out within a month.
However, he’s planning to sell them gradually, holding onto them to sell in batches.
Ji An found no major discrepancies between the jade slip and his map, so he put away the jade slip and planned to check it on-site.
A moment later, Zhuang Jingcheng gathered the talismans by his hand and smiled:
"Fellow Daoist, you are selling 200 Tier One top-grade Bursting Talismans, each for fifty spirit stones, which totals to ten thousand spirit stones;
Twenty top-grade Earth Escape Talismans, each for three hundred and twenty spirit stones, totaling six thousand four hundred spirit stones;
One hundred top-grade Fire Dragon Talismans, each for three hundred spirit stones, all talismans together total forty-six thousand four hundred spirit stones.
Do you see any errors in the numbers or prices?"
Once these talismans are sold, he could easily earn nearly ten thousand spirit stones in profit.
"Fellow Daoist, your calculations are correct. As usual, exchange for three top-grade spirit stones, with the remainder in middle-grade spirit stones."
Ji An’s top-grade puppet, when driven by middle-grade spirit stones, cannot be sustained for long, so he needs as many top-grade spirit stones as possible.
"No problem, after deducting the thirty percent exchange fee, I need to pay you three top-grade spirit stones and seventy-four middle-grade spirit stones."
Zhuang Jingcheng readily paid the spirit stones and then put away the talismans. He sincerely advised:
"Fellow Daoist, allow me to say this: are you buying the map to enter during the Lava Cave’s spiritual explosion cycle for treasure hunting?
If you are, please consider carefully.
While the spiritual eruption yields more rewards, it’s fraught with danger.
Countless treasure-seeking cultivators never return, so we shouldn’t only focus on those who return safely and profit."
He knew his words might be too forward given their relationship, but he sincerely cared about the other’s safety.
Through the ratio of materials to finished products, he could estimate the other’s talisman-making success rate.
His own talisman-making skills were only slightly above average, and none of the talisman makers he worked with was as skilled.
Before their partnership, his shop was barely getting by and couldn’t be considered wealthy.
However, since starting the partnership two and a half years ago, he earned nearly three thousand middle-grade spirit stones in profit solely from this individual.
In the past, such success was beyond his dreams.
Ji An discerned the concern in the other’s tone and laughed:
"I wouldn’t gamble with my life, and I will definitely turn back at the first sign of danger."
He roughly guessed the other’s mentality; he once negotiated with various talisman shops for collaboration.
Unfamiliar with the place and people, being pressured on price was inevitable. He was clear about various talismans’ retail prices, and the other’s offer was the most sincere, leading to their partnership.
Over the years, the other earned significantly from him, so they were reluctant to let the "money tree" take a risk.
However, entering the Lava Cave meant he had to risk it.
If there is a place where the Power of Fire Element transforms into the Power of Earth Element, it must entail considerable danger.
His reliance is on Mastery of Escape Technique, along with having Talisman Treasure for protection.
Zhuang Jingcheng quietly sighed, and said no more.
He was perplexed as to why the other party was so fixated on seeking treasures, given their exceptional talisman-making skills, there was no need to risk it.
He never even considered that the other party might need to comprehend the Five Elements Mutual Generation, mainly because they were too young.
Not the type of youthful from good maintenance, but genuinely young where time hasn’t much settled within, from the inside out.
...
Ji An left the talisman shop, skillfully weaving through the streets, and finally arrived at a Pill Medicine Shop — Marvelous Pill Pavilion.
In these recent years, he has become proficient in refining the Fire Dragon Heart Refining Pill, and just recently, he purchased ingredients for two furnaces of Chao Origin Stage Pills from here.
The shop clerk immediately guided him to the living room, as he was one of the shop’s high-tier Alchemists, and the shopkeeper had repeatedly instructed not to show the slightest negligence.
"Master Ji, please wait a moment, I will go inform the shopkeeper."
Ji An nodded slightly, "Thank you."
The clerk was merely a Qi Refining Cultivator, rarely encountering a kind-hearted High-Tier Cultivator, and waved smilingly:
"Part of my duty."
He hurriedly left, fearing to delay any important matter.
Ji An stood with hands behind his back, admiring the Thousand Mountains in Search of the Hidden Map hanging in the central hall.
After a while, hurried footsteps came from outside, Li Wanqing laughed first without speaking:
"Sorry for the wait, Fellow Daoist, please have a seat!"
His beard and hair were white, his face lean, donned in an Eight Trigrams Yin Yang Fish Daoist Robe, fitting the image of a Daoist with an immortal manner.
"Haha, Fellow Daoist is too polite, I just arrived, how could I have been waiting long?"
After exchanging pleasantries, the two sat as host and guest, and Li Wanqing impatiently inquired:
"Fellow Daoist Ji, a month ago you purchased two furnaces’ worth of Vermilion Bird Flame Grass Pill ingredients. Have you already started refining them?"
The profit from Chao Origin Stage Pills is far superior compared to Fire Dragon Heart Refining Pills, not even in the same league.
Ji An nodded, sighing:
"Only one pill formed from two furnaces, and it’s just ordinary quality. My alchemy skills are still quite lacking."
The quantity of ingredients he bought, if all successfully refined, could produce six pills.
Li Wanqing clapped suddenly, excitedly said:
"Fellow Daoist is too modest! To form a pill on your first attempt at refining Vermilion Bird Flame Grass Pill is a rare alchemy talent not easily found in a century."
He rubbed his hands, chuckled:
"Fellow Daoist, could you take out the pill and let this old man have a look?"
Ji An chuckled lightly, thinking the other exaggerated.
As he knew, Senior Sister Han Yan formed three pills from two furnaces on her first attempt, although one pill was of inferior quality.
Such Alchemists were considered geniuses, while he was merely an ordinary cultivator with some talent.
He took out a crystalline red Jade Bottle, handed it to the other:
"This pill was meant to be sold to your pavilion; please, Fellow Daoist, appreciate and advise."
Li Wanqing solemnly accepted the Jade Bottle, pouring the pill into his hand.
A round red pill appeared, and its fragrance immediately dispersed, surrounded by a faint golden Pill Pattern.
He took out a porcelain plate and a small knife, scraped a little bit of powder to taste, and after a moment, smacked his lips and said:
"Genuine grade Vermilion Bird Flame Grass Pill, fully meets the selling standard, quite good!
Just this single pill is worth eighty pieces of Middle-grade Spirit Stone, and when Fellow Daoist refines more, making money will be no issue!"
His eyes glimmered golden, seemingly seeing Spirit Stones pouring in like a flood.
Ji An laughed, shook his head:
"The premise is having enough ingredients for me to use generously, may I ask if Fellow Daoist has more Vermilion Bird Flame Grass Pill ingredients here? I would like to purchase two more furnaces."
Li Wanqing shook his head, "I can only promise Fellow Daoist that once we purchase more ingredients, I’ll continue supplying them for your refining."
Had it not been because a long-term cooperating skilled Alchemist passed away, he wouldn’t have sold the ingredients.
Ji An jokingly said:
"Thanks for your trust, Fellow Daoist, I take it seriously.
By the way, does Fellow Daoist sell Pill Furnace here?
My Pill Furnace is merely a Tier One top-quality magic tool, I want to buy a Spiritual Artifact Pill Furnace of Tier Two Lower Grade or above."
Refining Chao Origin Stage Pills with the Cyan Lotus Fire Cloud Furnace is insufficient, eventually he would store this furnace away, and when he returns to the Sect, he might pass it on to a disciple.
Li Wanqing pondered for a moment, spoke softly:
"The shop actually has a Tier Two Middle Grade Pill Furnace called Fire Crane Dan Yang Furnace.
I will fetch it for Fellow Daoist to take a look, see if it’s suitable.
Spiritual Artifact Pill Furnaces are expensive, and those ’seasoned furnaces’ with years will be more pricey. I’m somewhat worried if you can afford it?