Raise a sword!

A few days later, Jiang Peng received the spiritual materials she had pre-ordered from Hao Xue.

To his surprise, it wasn't Hao Xue who came this time, but Qian Laosi.

Upon seeing Jiang Peng, Qian Laosi immediately began to pour out his grievances.

"I'm still thinking about the discounted pills Brother Jiang offered! Now you stay at home all day and don't even go out to set up your stall anymore, where am I going to get my pills?"

Jiang Peng burst into laughter upon hearing this.

"Brother Qian, just come to my house. Didn't you already know quite a bit about my affairs?"

Hao Xue's provision of spiritual materials was facilitated by Qian Laosi.

However, Jiang Peng did not mention his predicament to Qian Laosi. He had never expected that Qian Laosi, who was only at the early stage of Qi Refining, would have the ability to help him solve this problem.

Regardless of the circumstances, Jiang Peng still owes Qian Laosi a favor.

After all, it was the other party who took the initiative to help, which solved the problem of the spiritual materials.

"Brother Jiang, are you blaming me for inquiring in private?" Qian Laosi followed Jiang Peng into the courtyard. "Actually, it was just a coincidence. The Song family also runs a business dealing in spiritual materials, so I'm fairly well-informed about this."

Jiang Peng invited the other person to sit down, poured tea, and then asked curiously, "Why don't you tell me more?"

Qian Laosi quickly gave a brief account of the whole story.

"The story begins a year ago when a member of the Li family was ambushed and killed outside the Ghost Market."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Peng's eyes widened slightly.

A year ago? Wasn't that the time Lan Yingying took him to the ghost market?

So that counterattack against the abductor not only exacerbated the conflict between the Jade Pavilion Sword Pavilion and the Cangshan Sect, but also affected the spiritual material market.

As Qian Laosi recounted the events, Jiang Peng gradually understood the whole story.

Ultimately, this matter is related to the Li family's lack of successors.

The Li family is currently enjoying unparalleled prominence in the market, boasting two Foundation Establishment cultivators: one who oversees the market and the other who is an elder of the Cangshan Sect.

However, the Li family, despite its great success, also faces a huge problem: no one to carry on the family line.

Hearing Qian Laosi's explanation, Jiang Peng realized that the Cangshan Sect disciple he had killed last time, who was at the mid-stage of Qi Refining, was actually the most outstanding person among his generation in the Li family.

"The Li family, with no successor, is already thinking about a way out... Foundation Establishment cultivators have a lifespan of over two hundred years, but both Li Ruyuan and Li Rufeng are already over a hundred years old."

"If you want to cultivate a qualified successor, even if you start now, it will take at least sixty or seventy years to ensure that the successor can hold his own."

At this point, Qian Laosi's face showed a mocking expression.

"Moreover, the Li family's heir has not yet been born."

"What does this have to do with the spiritual materials market?" Jiang Peng asked.

"The Li family plans to make a fortune and then withdraw from the market to protect themselves," Qian Laosi replied. "I heard that this opportunity was sought by Elder Li Rufeng, who is at the Foundation Establishment stage. The Li family is taking advantage of the beast tide to make a fortune and then giving up their current business in the market."

This was the first time Jiang Peng had heard of such a claim.

He learned for the first time that in order to continue their lineage, families in the cultivation world could start planning their escape routes a hundred years in advance, and actually choose to retire gracefully at the height of their power.

This concept of time really opened Jiang Peng's eyes.

"So, this price increase in spiritual materials and pills is tacitly approved by the upper sect?"

Qian Laosi nodded.

"The Li family has ultimately rendered meritorious service to the upper sect, and they are also so sensible as to know how to make way for those who come after them... Those families that are not sensible are still fighting desperately against the beast tide."

"Therefore, the upper sect gave the Li family this opportunity, since the Li family would bear the infamy and the losses would be borne by the rogue cultivators."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Peng remained silent for a long time and did not say anything more.

He simply asked, "So how long will this monopolistic price-hiking saga continue?"

"At least three to five years," Qian Laosi said nonchalantly. "Anyway, with the Song family's support, this matter certainly won't affect Brother Jiang, and therefore it won't affect me either."

At this point, Qian Laosi raised an eyebrow.

"Brother Jiang, I'd like to buy some pills from you..."

"Prices will be adjusted according to market conditions, but discounts will remain the same... Even if you take the pills you bought from me and resell them to make a profit, I won't say a word."

Upon hearing this, Qian Laosi's face lit up with joy, but then he couldn't help but sigh, "It seems you really did find a treasure back then."

Jiang Peng smiled but remained silent.

It's definitely a treasure, a second-tier spiritual material, the main ingredient for pills that aid in foundation building.

If Jiang Peng were to exchange the Fragrant King Wood he had salvaged from Qian Laosi for spirit stones, he estimated that Qian Laosi would have all the resources he needed to reach the late stage of Qi Refining.

After chatting for a while, Qian Laosi prepared to take his leave.

However, before leaving, he did leave a message saying that the Song family wanted to meet Jiang Peng.

Jiang Peng agreed without much thought.

The Song family probably wants to see him because of recruitment or something similar.

Jiang Peng has already partnered with Lan Yingying and Hao Xue, so she can simply decline when the time comes.

After all, Jiang Peng had Elder Qin as his guarantor and held the inner disciple's badge. Although he didn't receive a disciple's monthly salary, who would dare say that his disciple status was fake?

Therefore, Jiang Peng has actually reduced much of his fear and wariness of these aristocratic families.

...

Seven days later, in the cultivation room.

Jiang Peng carefully controlled the process with her divine sense and finally completed the step of condensing the elixir.

Upon opening the alchemy furnace, a perfectly round purple pill lay quietly at the bottom, with three cloud-like patterns appearing on its surface.

"A mid-grade first-tier pill, the Purple Jade Nourishing Essence Pill."

Jiang Peng picked up the pill, examined it carefully for a moment, and finally showed a satisfied expression.

"In terms of quality alone, it can only be considered average, much worse than when Elder Qin personally refined it that day. However, it was successful on the first attempt, and it will naturally improve as one becomes more skilled."

[Purple Jade Nourishing Essence Pill: First-tier, mid-grade, strengthens the foundation and nourishes the essence, subtly enhances spiritual roots]

Although she already knew the effects of this pill, and Jiang Peng had even taken the Purple Jade Nourishing Pill refined by Elder Qin.

However, when he saw the "enhance your spiritual root" entry provided by the cheat system, he couldn't help but marvel.

This is the true embodiment of Daoist alchemy.

The so-called Qi Condensation Pill is simply a mixture of spiritual energy from spiritual materials, with impurities removed.

What kind of Rejuvenation Pill is it? It just uses spiritual materials that can be used to heal injuries, and it simply amplifies the effects of the materials themselves.

Only now has this Purple Jade Nourishing Essence Pill finally revealed some of the wondrous mysteries of alchemy, which rivals the creation of heaven and earth.

However, the excitement quickly subsided, and Jiang Peng remembered Qin Yuan, who had taught him the elixir formula.

"Such a precious elixir, Elder Qin taught it to me without saying a word. Isn't that a bit too childish?"

Jiang Peng couldn't sense Elder Qin's hostility. Given the old man's status and position, dealing with him wouldn't require much effort; it would be a matter of a single word.

"So, Elder Qin truly recognized my talent for alchemy and, out of a love for talent, wished to impart all his knowledge to me?"

I never expected that just by showing a little bit of talent in alchemy, I would be noticed by someone with ulterior motives.

It seems I should restrain myself and keep a low profile in the future.