Raise a sword!

In the blink of an eye, a month has passed.

Inside the cultivation room.

Jiang Peng lifted the lid of the alchemy furnace and looked at the four Qi Condensation Pills inside, a look of satisfaction on her face.

Over the past month, Jiang Peng has refined 15 batches of Qi Condensation Pills, averaging one batch every other day.

All 15 attempts at alchemy resulted in four pills.

"As expected, my actual alchemy skills far exceed my cultivation level. I can easily handle a mere first-grade low-level pill."

The pills were put away and placed in a bottle.

"I've just collected enough for three bottles; I'll set up a stall and sell them tomorrow."

Jiang Peng began cultivating on her own, and taking one Qi Condensation Pill every three days was sufficient.

Therefore, as long as four pills are successfully made, the profits will not only fully cover the needs of one's cultivation, but also leave some spirit stones for living expenses.

It was getting late.

Jiang Peng went to the kitchen, took a small handful of spirit rice, put it into a clay pot, and cooked porridge to satisfy her hunger.

White Corn: First-tier spiritual rice, nourishing, beneficial for cultivation.

Although the cheat code gave the entry that spirit rice was beneficial to cultivation, Jiang Peng ate it for several days in a row but did not feel that it was of much use.

I reckon it will take a year or two of consistent use before it starts to show results.

A pound of white corn costs only 2 spirit stones. Jiang Peng bought five pounds at once. He only needs a small handful each day to cook into a bowl of spirit rice porridge, which is enough to satisfy his hunger.

Although it was much more expensive than the Bigu Pill, Jiang Peng knew that one should not skimp on money when it came to cultivation.

Save where you can and spend where you can; just use your spirit stones wisely and don't be stingy.

"I'll pickle some vegetables another day." Putting down her porridge bowl, Jiang Peng felt her mouth was extremely bland.

...

Early morning, northeast corner of the market.

I arrived early today, and there are still some good seats available.

But Jiang Peng still found her own quiet corner with few people.

He only sells three bottles of Qi Condensation Pills, and he comes every seven days without fail, rain or shine, so he already has some regular customers who specifically wait for him.

However, since the guests hadn't arrived yet, Jiang Peng decided to chat with her colleagues.

"The young master of the Ouyang family has incurred debts at Chunhua Pavilion again... These are the most dangerous debts to incur! Yesterday, the madam of Chunhua Pavilion caused quite a scene at the Ouyang family's residence; it was quite a spectacle."

The stall owner next to Jiang Peng was named Qian Laosi, and he only had the cultivation level of the early stage of Qi Refining.

This person has lived in the market for over twenty years and is considered to be quite well-informed.

Qian Laosi looked around mysteriously, as if he were talking about something important that couldn't be made public.

"That madam is named Sister Liu. In her youth, she was a beauty in our market. I heard she also has some connections with the Upper Sect... Yesterday, she gathered a group of onlookers and caused a ruckus at the Ouyang family's residence. I heard she even angered Old Master Ouyang."

Jiang Peng originally only took this as a joke.

But when he heard it was about Old Master Ouyang, he immediately became interested.

"I heard that the patriarch of the Ouyang family is at the peak of Qi Refining. Would someone like him get involved in something so trivial?"

"He's at the peak of Qi Refining... but how many more years does a Qi Refining expert who's over a hundred years old have left? Brother Jiang, just you wait and see, the Ouyang family's downfall is only a matter of these next few years."

Jiang Peng smiled noncommittally.

When Qian Laosi mentioned the many unfilial sons of the Ouyang family, he didn't respond and just listened quietly.

In the marketplace, families often decline while others rise.

But the ups and downs are actually all within the control of the highest authority.

Even Jiang Peng, who had only been there for a little over a month, was not surprised by this.

"I wonder who will get their fortune after the Ouyang family falls... It's really tempting," Qian Laosi sighed.

"Anyway, it's none of my business." Jiang Peng didn't care at all.

"You're joking, brother. We're just small fry. Even if someone puts a treasure in front of us, we'd still have to think twice before taking it."

"Who says otherwise?" Jiang Peng replied.

...

Jiang Peng opened his shop less than an hour after chatting with Qian Laosi.

Qi Condensation Pills are a highly sought-after commodity among Qi Refining cultivators. The pills refined by Jiang Peng are now of slightly higher quality than those sold in shops, so there's no worry about them selling.

Of course, it's not that the shops couldn't get higher quality pills; it's just that the best quality pills were generally supplied directly to the Cangshan Sect.

After a while, a fragrant breeze wafted into Jiang Peng's nose.

Jiang Peng looked up and saw that it was the veiled female cultivator.

Over the past month, Jiang Peng has gotten to know this person quite well.

This woman's name is Lan Yingying, and she is a rogue talisman master at the fifth level of Qi Refining.

The reason for their familiarity was that this person was willing to pay a higher price to buy the Qi Condensation Pill, which was of better quality, from Jiang Peng.

Pills contain toxins, so cultivators with ample funds are not concerned about paying more to obtain better quality pills.

"Fellow Daoist Lan has arrived." Jiang Peng took out a bottle of high-quality Qi Condensation Pills from his storage bag.

These Qi Condensation Pills were the best quality ones that Jiang Peng refined, and he deliberately kept them. Usually, he would sell three pills in a bottle, which would earn him two more spirit stones.

As for what Jiang Peng took himself, it was naturally purified and refined.

"Greetings, Alchemist Jiang." Lan Yingying bowed slightly, then took out 11 spirit stones and handed them to Jiang Peng.

After the money and goods were settled, Lan Yingying did not rush to leave.

Jiang Peng sensed that she seemed to have something to say, but was also concerned about Qian Laosi beside her, so he stood up and said, "Fellow Daoist, do you have something to say? That place is secluded."

Lan Yingying nodded slightly.

This scene made Qian Laosi, who was standing next to him, laugh strangely.

...

Once they reached a corner and saw that no one was around, Lan Yingying took the initiative to say, "I have some connections in the Upper Sect. If you have some free time recently, it would be best if you could visit Cangshan Pavilion."

Jiang Peng looked puzzled.

Cangshan Pavilion never interferes in the affairs of the market. Jiang Peng's only connection with Cangshan Pavilion is that he goes to pay rent every three months.

"To Cangshan Pavilion?"

Lan Yingying simply looked at Jiang Peng quietly, her bright peach blossom eyes revealing a serious and earnest expression.

"Fellow Daoist, just go there once, and state your identity as a rogue cultivator and alchemist. Then someone will naturally make arrangements."

"This matter is still relatively confidential. I only offered this reminder because I see that you are also a rogue cultivator and I am interested in making your acquaintance... That's all I have to say. Farewell."

After saying that, Lan Yingying turned and left.

Jiang Peng returned to her stall.

Qian Laosi immediately asked curiously, "What did that fairy whisper to you?"

"She only said to let me..." Jiang Peng originally didn't think it was a big deal and was prepared to tell her everything, but when she thought of Lan Yingying's cautious and serious appearance just now, she finally shook her head.

"It's nothing... I just left her some higher-quality Qi Condensation Pills."

Qian Laosi's eyes darted around. He could tell that Jiang Peng was lying, but he didn't bother to investigate further.

They're just nodding acquaintances; asking about everything will only annoy them.

Qian Laosi deliberately chose a secluded spot next to Jiang Peng to set up his stall, hoping to make friends with her, and naturally he wouldn't want to offend Jiang Peng for no reason.

"Hehe, fellow Daoist, you're about to have some luck with women."

"You're joking," Jiang Peng chuckled.