Chapter 188 Big Businessman

Ji An caught the fruit seeds and put them into his storage bag. Since there were no more spiritual vein nodes to plant earth spirit fruit trees, these fruit seeds could be crushed and used as fertilizer, and their value could always be extracted.

He stepped into the deepest part of the cave, where four spirit trees, belonging only to him, were planted.

He placed the earthenware pot against the rock wall and then released a golden light spell.

He covered his hands with metal elemental energy and began digging. If others knew he was using a killing and self-protection technique for this, I wonder what they would think.

"Uncle-Master, the black soil has arrived. Where should we put it?"

Huang Xuan shouted. He had never been here before. The light was dim, and he felt a strange sense of gloom.

"Follow the small tunnel and be careful not to touch the spiritual plants."

Upon hearing the response, Huang Xuan realized there was another opening inside.

"Get to work."

He spoke softly, then used his telekinesis to lift three sacks and walk inside, with Li Cheng following closely behind.

Ji An had already dispelled the golden light spell. Seeing the two enter, he gave the following instructions:

"They were piled up against the wall."

Huang Xuan and the other man put down the sacks and each took out half a sack of black soil from their storage bags.

"Uncle-Master, do you think this is enough?"

"If you dig up so many bags, bring some mulberry leaves with you, about twenty or thirty catties will do."

Also, bring a bag of mulberry wood ash.

As more and more Jade Leaf Mulberry plants are cultivated to the highest quality, the initial density of these plants becomes inappropriate.

Some of the highest-grade spiritual trees would be felled and burned to ashes to be returned to the fields.

"Okay, we'll deliver it right away."

Huang Xuan agreed, and the two quickly walked outside.

After exiting the cave, Li Cheng whispered:

"I wonder what my uncle is planting. It seems so mysterious."

"Work hard, and don't ask our uncles unless they tell us."

"I'll go dig up some black soil, you go get some mulberry leaves and mulberry wood ash."

Ji An stopped digging after sensing the turbid air underground. By then, he had dug a well that was about ten feet deep and five feet in diameter.

Two bags were left as spares, and the rest of the black soil was poured in, filling the well halfway.

He used his object manipulation technique to throw the fire-toothed rabbits that the golden-haired man had caught into the pit, and then used his golden light technique to cut them apart.

Pour in mulberry wood ash, then pour a bag of black soil into the well, and dig a small hole in the middle.

He carefully smashed the earthenware pot and placed the clod of earth that wrapped the soul-nourishing wood into the cave.

He carefully sealed the soil around the sapling, scattered mulberry leaves around it, and covered it with the last bag of black soil.

Light flashed in the cave, and he unleashed three perfect-level spells: the Thick Earth Returning to Origin Mantra, the Azure Wood Transformation Technique, and the Spring Breeze Transforming into Rain Technique.

Soul-Nourishing Wood is not a Five Elements Spirit Wood; it belongs to Yin Wood in terms of Yin and Yang properties. Since the soul of a cultivator is Yin, wearing Soul-Nourishing Wood can enhance the soul and thus improve spiritual awareness.

"I don't know how many years it will take to cultivate one."

Ji An said softly, "The Soul-Nourishing Wood grows slowly. The Spirit Farming Inheritance given by my master only has a simple introduction and no corresponding secret methods. I can only explore how to cultivate it on my own."

After finishing all this, he called over the golden retriever and said:

"From now on, you'll stay here."

Given the rarity of the Soul-Nourishing Wood, it needs to be protected by tamed beasts to ensure its safety.

"Squeak squeak".

The golden retriever nodded, sensing a peculiar attraction to the small black tree.

After carefully observing its surroundings, it happily decided that it would henceforth lie between the Earth Spirit Fruit Tree and the small black tree and take a nap.

Ji An returned to the stone house by the cold pool and laughed:

"Junior brother, let's continue. Where were we?"

"Speaking of purchasing supplies, this time it cost a total of 3,500 spirit stones, and I need to give my senior brother 3,700 spirit stones."

Ji An nodded slightly, then turned and gave the instructions:

"Take out the talisman."

Xia Yuhan placed the talisman on the table and said:

"Uncle-Master, one thousand high-grade Explosive Flame Talismans, ten top-grade Explosive Talismans, twenty high-grade Rejuvenation Talismans, and five early-stage Foundation Establishment Talisman Soldiers."

"Senior brother can already draw healing talismans?"

Wei Songnian was overjoyed. As a large number of cultivators hunted demons in the wild, the demand for talismans such as the Rejuvenation Talisman and healing pills was increasing day by day.

Several sects are also quietly stockpiling these supplies, as market demand is high and supply is tight.

The Wei family of Xiaozhushan lacked healing talismans the most in their shops in Mingfengshan Immortal City.

"I've been secretly trying to draw rejuvenating talismans for the past few years, and I've finally achieved some results."

Ji An said that he had only started drawing the Rejuvenation Talisman in the last two months.

Due to material limitations, only high-grade talismans can be drawn at present.

He paused, then continued:

"From now on, I can give you fifty high-grade Rejuvenation Talismans for each transaction. If you can provide more Wood-elemental demon blood essence, I can draw more Rejuvenation Talismans."

The benefits of the Soul-Nourishing Wood that the other party gave him are already becoming apparent, and he will surely be able to obtain more resources from him in the future.

"Thank you for your support, Senior Brother. With these talismans, the family shops will be able to attract more business. I will try my best to acquire more wood-elemental demon beast essence blood."

Wei Songnian smiled happily, saying that the increase in the number of sought-after talismans would inevitably bring more foot traffic and increase the possibility of transactions.

"Are your family's alchemists capable of refining Jade Bee Pills?"

Ji An then asked, "Most of the high-quality honey produced by Crimson Flame Peak is handed over to the sect in exchange for contribution points. I've decided to support the other family by giving them some."

Wei Songnian gently shook his head:

"Due to the actual situation in Xiaozhushan, the family did not cultivate spirit bees, and in addition, there was no stable source of honey, so the family did not collect the Jade Bee Elixir Formula."

"If you can supply honey, senior brother, I can have my family collect the elixir formulas."

The Wei family has only four alchemists, and one of them is a hired rogue cultivator. Only one of the four is capable of refining pills for the early stage of Foundation Establishment.

Their family used to mainly deal in low-grade spirit grains, Qi Refining stage pills, and mid-to-high-grade talismans.

"Jade honey requires high-quality honey as raw material, but the amount of high-quality honey produced in Chiyan Peak will continue to decrease, while the amount of premium honey will increase."

You can collect the relevant Foundation Establishment stage pill formulas, and in a few years I will be able to reliably provide you with some top-quality honey.”

"It seems we are not fortunate enough to accept your kind offer, senior brother."

Wei Songnian grinned. Top-grade honey can be used to refine pills for the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. The family's alchemist is only at the second level of Foundation Establishment, and is very old and doesn't have much lifespan left. The family can no longer cultivate his experience in refining new pills.

Ji An remained silent. The other family could not be called a large family, and they lacked various traditions, which was the current situation of most small families.

It's better to have the sect's backing; anything they cultivate can be used.

"Senior brother, a superior-grade Explosive Flame Talisman costs 4 spirit stones, a superior-grade Rejuvenation Talisman costs 8 spirit stones, a top-grade Explosive Talisman costs 50 spirit stones, and a Talisman Soldier costs 200 spirit stones. That's 5660 spirit stones. Adding the 3700 spirit stones from before, I need to pay 9360 spirit stones."

Wei Songnian sighed inwardly, realizing that he had become a big merchant capable of handling the trading of spirit stones.

He was the only one in the entire family who had the connections to make such a huge deal.

There is no profit in selling top-grade explosive talismans and talisman soldiers; they are sold at almost the purchase price, with the aim of improving the shop's image in the minds of cultivators.

Ji An interrupted the other party's action of paying with spirit stones and asked:

Why are there so few blue lotuses this time?

He could only receive 18 of these mid-Foundation Establishment pills from the sect each year, and could also buy about 20 more from other alchemists through connections with Li Lingyu and others.

He is currently taking one pill every three days, and his pill shortage is around 80 pills, which is far from meeting his needs.

Wei Songnian smiled wryly:

"Senior brother, I have never seen any other mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator take pills as frequently as you."

The Zhen Dan Shop in Falling Maple Valley has many restrictions on the sale of high-level pills; they cannot be purchased solely with spirit stones.

Our family's reputation there only allows us to purchase this much.

Among the mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators he knew, many only took three or four pills per month.

"Would it be feasible to purchase it at a premium using spirit stones?"

Ji An asked, "Among the three sects, Falling Maple Valley has the most abundant supply of elixirs."

The main ingredient of the Azure Lotus Pill is a water-based spiritual plant, and the number of such plants cultivated within the sect is far less than that in Falling Maple Valley.

"If you want to buy it at a premium, Zhendanfang is asking for 80 spirit stones per stone, which is far higher than the normal price. In addition, you need to exchange for the qualification to sell second-tier spirit items."

Wei Songnian explained the rules of Zhendanfang in detail, saying:

"They collect second-tier spirit items in this way, and we can only follow their rules."

The Wei clan members and shops exchanged most of the second-tier spiritual items they acquired for purchase qualifications, which were used to support the clan's mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators and Senior Brother Ji.

"So that's how it is."

Ji An frowned slightly. He also sensed the troublesome nature of the situation. He was running out of second-tier spiritual items, and he needed to hand over the second-tier pine nuts to the secret vault to exchange for minor merits, which he could then use to refine more spiritual items.

He left behind five thousand spirit stones, saying:

"I'll leave these spirit stones to my junior brother so he can use them to buy second-tier spirit items that are worth more than the market price, and help me exchange them for the right to purchase the Azure Lotus Pill."

He could accept spending more spirit stones as long as it could sustain his cultivation. He didn't care much about how much the Wei family benefited from it, as long as it wasn't excessive, he could turn a blind eye.

After all, if you want a horse to run fast, you have to feed it grass.

"Senior brother, I cannot guarantee that I will be able to purchase the Azure Lotus Pill."

"Just do your best."

There's one more thing. When you bought the Soul-Nourishing Wood, did you inquire about the living environment around those rogue cultivators' spirit trees?

Ji An asked, "This is a very important reference, and it might give me some inspiration."

"Uh, no, I was afraid that if I asked too many questions, it would arouse their suspicion."

Senior brother, as you know, these people have been out there for a long time, they're incredibly shrewd. If they realize the true value of something, I'm afraid…

Ji An nodded slightly and changed the subject. The two chatted about their cultivation experiences, and soon it was noon.

Xia Yulian walked into the stone house and said:

"Uncle-Master, lunch is ready. Shall we serve the dishes now?"

"Serve the food."

Ji An stood up and said:

"Junior brother hasn't tasted the food of Crimson Flame Peak for months, so let's have a few drinks today."

"Yu Han, go and fetch a jar of second-grade pine nut wine."

"Yes," the maid replied and left.

Wei Songnian's eyes gleamed, and he laughed:

"I'm so lucky to have such a delicious meal!"

The two walked to the stone table by the cold pool, enjoying the delicious food and drinks, and the host and guests were in high spirits.

"Why haven't I seen Flying Tiger today? Did he go out on errands?"

Wei Songnian asked, "When I usually stay here for meals, Huang Feihu would sit down and have a few drinks with me."

"Feihu has also reached the Foundation Establishment stage. He should be at your Xiaozhushan now, keeping Old Huang company."

Ji An said softly, remembering that Old Huang was nearly 90 years old and theoretically had about ten more years to live.

"This is great news! Old Huang's wish has come true!"

If Junior Brother Huang leaves the sect in the future, he will be able to establish his own family and descendants.

Wei Songnian was very happy. His network of connections was expanding, and as long as he could weather the demon calamity safely, the future would be bright.

(End of this chapter)