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Standing in front of Li Ping.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator surnamed Chen's expression shifted for a long time before he finally gritted his teeth and said, "I've heard that you are a third-tier alchemist, so I would like to ask you for a bottle of Essence Pills."

"A bottle of Essence Pills?" Li Ping looked up at him.

The Essence Pill is a kind of pill that helps cultivators break through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment. Judging from the aura emanating from the Foundation Establishment cultivator surnamed Chen, his cultivation level is about the peak of the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, and he does indeed have a rather urgent need for the Essence Pill.

However, a batch of twelve Essence Pills costs nearly 20,000 spirit stones, enough to buy a magic weapon of slightly lower quality.

The fact that someone surnamed Chen, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, wanted to exchange a bottle of Essence Pills for a half-destroyed magic weapon that could be considered junk is suspected of being an exorbitant demand.

Seeing Li Ping's ambiguous smile, the cultivator surnamed Chen felt uneasy and vaguely regretted asking for such a high price.

But the words had already been spoken, and although he regretted it in his heart, he could only put on a brave face.

He made up his mind: if Senior Li bargained, he would lower the price; if Senior Li didn't want it, he would lower the price even more.

He had had enough of this broken bronze cauldron.

"Young friend Chen, are you joking? You dare to ask for such a high price for a worthless magic weapon?" Li Ping glanced at him and shook his head slightly. "If it weren't for my love of collecting antiques, and the fact that this bronze cauldron is quite old and has some collectible value, I wouldn't even ask the price."

The Foundation Establishment cultivator surnamed Chen forced himself to explain, "Senior, as you know, such ancient artifacts are extremely rare in the Great Zhou Dynasty. Perhaps this is the only one of its kind in the entire Lingxiao City..."

"Alright." Li Ping interrupted him, a look of displeasure in his eyes: "I'll take this bronze cauldron. As for the price... I'll give you two choices: one, you go and collect all the spiritual herbs needed to refine a batch of Essence Pills, and I'll personally open the furnace and refine the pills for you; two, I'll give you two Essence Pills directly."

Upon hearing Li Ping's words, the Foundation Establishment cultivator surnamed Chen was taken aback, but he also knew that since Li Ping had spoken, this was the final offer.

He remained silent, but in his heart he was pondering the two choices.

When hiring an alchemist to refine pills, the general rule is to pay a deposit of about 10% of the pill's value upfront. If the pill is not refined successfully, the deposit is non-refundable; if the pill is successfully refined, the remaining 10% of the pill's value will be collected as the final payment.

In other words, for his first option, he would collect materials, and Li Ping would promise to refine them into pills for him free of charge, with the value being 20% ​​of a bottle of Essence Pills.

The second option, taking two Essence Pills directly, is slightly less valuable than the first option.

While the two choices may seem to have similar values, as a disciple of the Lingxiao lineage, the Foundation Establishment cultivator surnamed Chen clearly understood that the difference between the two choices was worlds apart!

because.

Alchemy is not 100% successful. The actual value of the Essence Pill takes into account the probability of failure. In fact, the spiritual herbs required for one batch of Essence Pills are worth no more than five thousand spirit stones!

In other words, with the second option, he could obtain two Essence Pills, worth approximately three thousand spirit stones.

The first option is to deduct the cost of the raw materials for alchemy, as well as the cost of Li Ping's alchemy services.

If the alchemy is successful, he can earn a profit of approximately 15,000 spirit stones!

Thinking of this, the Foundation Establishment cultivator surnamed Chen couldn't help but breathe more heavily.

However, the first option also carries risks.

If Li Ping fails to refine the pills and all the materials are destroyed, he will not only lose all his profits, but will also lose raw materials worth about five thousand spirit stones.

Should we safely accept the two Essence Pills, or take a gamble and double our assets?

The Foundation Establishment cultivator surnamed Chen showed a struggle on his face. After a long while, he made a difficult decision and slowly said, "Senior, I choose the first option. I hope you will refine an Essence Pill for me!"

In the end, he decided to take the gamble!

Senior Li is a third-tier alchemist, capable of refining even third-tier pills. He believed that Senior Li's success rate in refining second-tier high-grade essence pills wouldn't be too low.

Moreover, even if you only prepare two pills to help break through the bottleneck, it may not be enough!

"Okay." Li Ping smiled and nodded. "That's settled then. Come find me again once you've gathered all the materials!"

The Foundation Establishment cultivator surnamed Chen respectfully replied, "Thank you, senior. I will go back and gather the materials immediately."

Although it is believed that Senior Li, with his third-level alchemist skills, has a very high success rate in refining Essence Pills.

However, the Foundation Establishment cultivator surnamed Chen was determined to go back and gather several fellow disciples to participate in alchemy together, sharing the risk of failure.

……

Chu Xiu smiled and saw the Foundation Establishment cultivator surnamed Chen out, then respectfully returned to the courtyard to await Li Ping's instructions.

Li Ping toyed with the bronze cauldron in his hand, looking at him and said, "Young friend Chu, you did a very good job this time. I am very satisfied."

"As long as you satisfy the senior," Chu Xiu said obsequiously, as was his habit.

Li Ping nodded and said with a smile, "As I said before, as long as you can receive the spiritual items and second-hand goods I need, I will give you a 1% commission on the purchase price."

Upon hearing this, Chu Xiu couldn't help but feel excited, and an expectant look appeared on his face.

Li Ping continued, "The price for acquiring this damaged bronze cauldron magic weapon from Friend Chen is roughly between three and four thousand spirit stones. Friend Chu, you should have no doubt about that, right?"

Chu Xiu shook his head repeatedly. He was originally an old strategist and knew the price of pills very well. He knew that this was the price that Senior Li had quoted to his friend.

"So, as agreed, I should pay you a commission of forty spirit stones." After saying this, Li Ping looked up at Chu Xiu, whose breathing had become heavier, and said with a smile, "However... this bronze cauldron is the first item I needed that I received, so I don't mind taking a lucky break. How about this... I'll set your commission for this deal at an auspicious number, 'eighty-eight,' eighty-eight spirit stones!"

As he spoke, he flicked his sleeve, and a small pile of colorful low-grade spirit stones appeared on the table.

"Thank you for your kind words, senior!"

Upon hearing Li Ping's words and seeing the small pile of spirit stones on the table, Chu Xiu was overjoyed and thanked him profusely, his gratitude overflowing.

He had originally thought that Senior Li would deduct his commission, but he didn't expect him to be so generous. To bring good luck, he gave him eighty-eight spirit stones on the spot.

With this commission of eighty-eight spirit stones, plus this year's fixed salary of seventy spirit stones.

The precarious financial pressure on the Xianyun Sect can finally be eased a little.

A powerful fighting spirit rose within Chu Xiu: "With such excellent treatment, what does it matter that I'm over eighty? Eighty is the perfect age to strive!"

"Go ahead, and keep up the good work!"

"Yes, senior!"

……

Watching Chu Xiu's figure disappear, Li Ping finally couldn't help but reveal a satisfied smile.

He only refined pills once.

In return, he obtained a fourth-tier spirit brewing inheritance. This was not just a profit, but a huge, unbelievable profit!

As for the few dozen low-grade spirit stones given to Chu Xiu, Li Ping didn't care about them at all.

If he saw these spirit stones in the wild while traveling by flying boat, he wouldn't bother stopping to pick them up, as it would be a waste of time.

The reason he gave Chu Xiu extra spirit stones wasn't entirely out of happiness, but also to encourage him.

Li Ping remembered a famous saying from a large company before he transmigrated: "As long as you pay enough, even a mediocre person can become a talent."

He wasn't short of spirit stones; he only hoped to use them to motivate Chu Xiu and Chen Guang, so that they could fully utilize their initiative and acquire more useful items for him.

Carrying the broken bronze cauldron, Li Ping returned to the training room alone.

He gazed thoughtfully at the inscription above the bronze cauldron.

Although he easily obtained the brewing cauldron that contained fourth-tier skills, it did not mean that he could immediately become a fourth-tier spirit brewer.

Other nutrients besides the brewing cauldron include 1000 mid-grade spirit stones, three fourth-grade spirit fruits, and one liter of fourth-grade spirit liquid.

Mid-grade spirit stones are easy to find; a thousand mid-grade spirit stones are equivalent to a hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones. He had killed several Core Formation cultivators, so the spirit stones in his storage bag were more than enough.

The difficult ones are fourth-tier spiritual fruits and fourth-tier spiritual liquids. Although there are no restrictions on the types of spiritual fruits and liquids, fourth-tier items are generally in the hands of Nascent Soul cultivators, so it is not easy for him to obtain them.

Spirit fruits can be cultivated using the time flow rate of Gray Island, which is a thousand times faster.

However, Gray Island is currently mainly used for cultivating the Radiant Starwood, and Li Ping does not intend to waste any more time on it.

Ultimately, while the fourth-tier spirit brewing technique was impressive, it wasn't something he urgently needed. On the contrary, the sooner he could refine his natal magic weapon, the better...

After thinking for a moment, Li Ping realized that he had been happy for nothing. The fourth-tier spirit brewing technique might be very useful in the future, but there was no need to go to great lengths to master it now.

Ultimately, what he possessed was a fourth-tier spirit brewing technique, not a fourth-tier alchemy technique.

If it were a fourth-tier alchemy technique, he would spare no expense to master it, but as for spirit brewing techniques... to be honest, if it weren't for a stroke of luck, he wouldn't even consider learning it.

"Let it be. If I get the relevant materials, I'll take care of it. If I don't have the opportunity, I won't force it."

Coming back to his senses from the excitement of glimpsing a fourth-tier skill, Li Ping shook his head and put the broken bronze brewing cauldron into his storage bag. He would feed it to the Tree of Inheritance later when he had enough materials.

His consciousness looked toward the Yaoji Starry Sky Divine Tree on the gray island, which was tens of thousands of years old, and the Taiyin Cold Flame attached to it, which emitted a cold and eerie aura.

A slight smile appeared on Li Ping's lips, and then he closed his eyes and entered into deep meditation.

……

Lingxiao City is located in the northeast of Ningtai County, less than 100,000 li from the East China Sea coastline.

It was precisely because of its superior geographical environment, coupled with the presence of the three renowned Nascent Soul cultivators, the Three Elders of Lingxiao, that even the Demon Slaying Division of Ningtai County and the Immortal Alliance's Patrol Envoys dared not act recklessly within the city.

Many cultivators from the Great Zhou Dynasty who set off to explore and hunt demons in the East Sea habitually use Lingxiao City as a supply point. After adjusting their condition and preparing the necessary items here, they head straight into the East Sea.

After reaping the rewards, they will choose to come to Lingxiao City to exchange them for the resources they need.

Moreover, since fighting is prohibited within Lingxiao City, even Core Formation cultivators are instantly annihilated under the Ten Directions Locking Heaven Formation.

Some rogue cultivators who offend others may choose to hide in Lingxiao City and not come out.

As long as they don't offend any Nascent Soul level forces, they can stay within the city and their enemies can only watch helplessly.

Just as Li Ping was wholeheartedly cultivating himself.

In the vast sky near the East China Sea, a pale red flying boat was speeding along, with a green-clad female cultivator with a frosty expression at the bow propelling the boat forward with all her might.

She looked quite anxious.

Not far behind her, a woman who looked about the same age and had a similar appearance, but with softer facial features, was reclining inside the flying boat.

His face was as pale as wax paper, without a trace of blood. A wisp of black smoke swirled between his brows, and his breath was faint. He looked like he had suffered a serious injury and was very weak.

The female cultivator lying down struggled to open her eyes and weakly asked, "Sister Yiling, where are we?"

"We're almost at Lingxiao City, Xishuang. Just hang in there a little longer. Once we get back to Lingxiao City, I'll ask an alchemist to make you an antidote." The green-clad female cultivator's cold expression softened slightly when she saw that Xishuang had woken up, and she quickly comforted her.

"I..." The female cultivator, who was reclining inside the flying boat, finally remembered.

The two sisters went out to sea to hunt demons and together killed an extremely rare third-tier Silent Wind Sable. While they were collecting demon cores and other materials, someone suddenly attacked them.

He shielded Yi Ling from a vicious attack. Yi Ling was unharmed, but he himself was poisoned and fell into a coma due to serious injuries.

Fortunately, it seems that the two sisters have now escaped danger.

She breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't care about the materials and demon core on the Wind-Slaying Sable, as long as the person was safe.

Unlike her, the warmth on the green-clad female cultivator's face was fleeting.

Those three dared to ambush her and her sister; once she recovers, she'll make them pay.

……

Li Ping, who was in the midst of his ascetic practice, was awakened by Meng Wanjun.

He only learned from Meng Wanjun after leaving the training room that a Core Formation cultivator had commissioned Cai Baixuan's alchemists to refine pills, offering half a portion of Golden Dew as payment.

In normal circumstances, even if there are alchemy commissions, Meng Wanjun would put them aside and wait until the young master comes out of seclusion before refining them one by one.

However, the person who commissioned the alchemy this time was a Core Formation cultivator, and she was very anxious to refine the pills, so she also offered half of the materials that the young master urgently needed as payment for the alchemy.

Considering all the reasons, Meng Wanjun finally decided to wake the young master and tell him the whole story.

Having spent decades with the young master, she knew he had been searching for the Golden Dew. If he missed this material due to his seclusion, who knew when he would encounter it again? The young master might regret it when he emerged from seclusion.

"Golden Dew?" Li Ping glanced approvingly at Meng Wanjun. "You did the right thing. Where is that fellow Daoist? Bring her here now!"

I didn't have to wait long in the courtyard.

Meng Wanjun then led a girl in green into the room.

"Huh, it's you?"

Upon seeing Li Ping, the girl in green immediately showed a look of surprise and joy, seemingly not expecting to see Li Ping here.

Li Ping was even more surprised: "You actually broke through to the mid-stage of Core Formation?"

"What's so strange about me breaking through to the mid-stage of Core Formation? You've already cultivated from the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment to the Core Formation stage!" The girl in green gave Li Ping a reproachful look.

Her tone of voice made Meng Wanjun feel very uncomfortable. She now regretted waking the young master from his seclusion.