Anti-fraud manual for the cultivation world

Li Gu didn't look for fake drug dealers outside the store; instead, he went straight inside.

The waiter immediately came over, smiling obsequiously: "Sir, what kind of medicine would you like to buy? Medicine for mortals and medicine for cultivators, we have it all. A two-hundred-year-old brand, your satisfaction is guaranteed."

Li Gu shook out his chivalrous attire and chuckled, "Can't you even keep your eyes open? Do you think I'm here to buy medicine for mortals?"

"You're right, sir." The waiter smiled. "The medicines for cultivation aren't displayed outside. Please come this way."

He led Li Gu into a small room, then took out a row of porcelain bottles and placed them on the table, beginning to solemnly introduce them: "Qi Gathering Pill: Used by beginners in Qi Refining, to quickly absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth... Meridian Opening Pill: Nourishes and widens the meridians... Foundation Building Pill: Assists in foundation building breakthroughs."

When Li Gu heard the words "Tongmai Pill, which broadens the meridians," he was overjoyed. This was exactly what he wanted.

He asked slowly, "What are the prices of these pills: Qi Gathering Pill, Meridian Opening Pill, Foundation Building Pill...?"

Upon hearing the names of the medicines, the waiter immediately understood: "It seems you've reached the late stage of Qi Refining, and are about to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage. These medicines, when used together, will definitely help you establish your foundation as quickly as possible..."

"Each Qi Gathering Pill costs 5 low-grade spirit stones, each Meridian Opening Pill costs 10 low-grade spirit stones, and each Foundation Building Pill costs 800 low-grade spirit stones."

"Holy crap, that's expensive?" Li Gu jumped up abruptly. "Why don't you just rob us?"

The shop assistant quickly replied, "This price is really not expensive! You've asked around the market, and this is the lowest price we have."

Li Gu snorted, "I don't believe it. I have to go and compare prices at different places. I'll ask the pharmacies near Chuqimen; they're sure to have lower prices there."

Upon hearing the name Chu Qimen, the waiter's expression immediately soured, but not daring to offend the customer, he suppressed his temper and said, "Sir, you may not be familiar with the situation in Jiangzhou City. Chu Qimen is run by a local gang called the Thirteen Gang. Their alchemy skills are far inferior to our Hankou Gang. Taking their medicine will not only be ineffective, but may even harm your health. To be honest, eating a flour ball is better than taking the pills made by the Thirteen Gang. At least flour balls have no side effects."

Li Gu laughed: "You merchants are all like this, saying other people's things are bad and your own things are the best. Nobody believes you. I only buy from whichever is cheapest. I absolutely have to go to Chuqimen today."

The waiter was annoyed: "Fine, fine, take care, sir."

Li Gu stepped out of the pharmacy, and the clerk immediately opened the back window and said to a young man squatting below, "Hurry up and follow him. That fat sheep wants three kinds of medicine: Qi Gathering Pill, Meridian Opening Pill, and Foundation Building Pill."

The young man nodded, then quickly made his way through the alleyways to the roadside in front of Li Gu and sat down.

Li Gu whistled, pretending to walk out of the porcelain vase.

A young man who had been squatting on the street corner suddenly stood up and blocked his way, lowering his voice to say, "Sir, I saw you just came out of the pharmacy. Were you going to buy medicine? Hey, those damn Hankou pharmacists sell medicine for exorbitant prices. It's not worth buying medicine from them. Would you like to take a look at my medicine? Qi-gathering pills, meridian-opening pills, foundation-building pills, vital energy-cultivating pills, qi-stabilizing pills, gold-condensing pills... I have everything here... and the prices are less than half of that shabby shop's."

Li Gu feigned great joy: "Really?"

"Of course it's true."

"Why is it so cheap?"

"Shh! The stolen goods are gone..." the young man whispered. "Stolen goods are cheap, of course they're cheap."

The system in Li Gu's mind kept beeping, reminding him that not a single word the young man had said was true.

That's right!

Li Gu was secretly delighted: "I need three kinds of medicine: Qi Gathering Pill, Meridian Opening Pill, and Foundation Building Pill."

The young man took out a medicine bottle: "This is a Qi Gathering Pill. I'll sell it to you for 2 low-grade spirit stones per pill."

[The Cultivation World Anti-Fraud Handbook Lv.1 reminds you: Zhang San's statement just now, "This is a Qi Gathering Pill," is a lie. Do you want to force the lie to become true? Yes/No]

Did Li Gu choose no?

Then he said, "I want this bottle. Count how many pills there are. I want them all."

The young man was overjoyed and pulled out another bottle of medicine: "This is a Meridian Opening Pill. I'll sell it to you for 5 low-grade spirit stones per pill."

[The Cultivation World Anti-Fraud Handbook Lv.1 reminds you: Zhang San's statement "This is a Meridian Opening Pill" is a lie. Do you want to force the lie to become true? Yes/No]

Li Gu had been waiting for this, and immediately selected "yes".

"I want the whole bottle too!"

The young man then took out Foundation Establishment Pills: "These are Foundation Establishment Pills, I'll sell them to you for 400 low-grade spirit stones each."

[The Cultivation World Anti-Fraud Handbook Lv.1 reminds you: Zhang San's statement "This is a Foundation Establishment Pill" is a lie. Do you want to force the lie to become true? Yes/No]

Li Gu really wanted to choose yes, but this kind of pill was too expensive. The spirit stones he was carrying were all money squeezed out of the Jiangzhou government's budget, and he would definitely have to count and take them back afterward.

Li Gu could secretly keep some of the cheaper medicines.

But a pill costing 400 spirit stones is too much of a drain on my wallet. If I were to secretly slip it into my own pocket, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to fool anyone. So, I had no choice but to reluctantly give it up: "No."

When it comes to breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage, you'll have to rely on your own intelligence and wisdom!

"I'll take this one too, but only one."

The two quickly reached an agreement. Li Gu took out his money bag, which contained several mid-grade and low-grade spirit stones. One mid-grade spirit stone was worth 100 low-grade spirit stones. Li Gu took out several mid-grade spirit stones to buy the Qi Gathering Pill, Meridian Opening Pill, and Foundation Establishment Pill.

The young man was delighted; what a fat sheep he had been waiting for...

Li Gu was also very happy. He carefully put the three medicine bottles away from his body, but his expression suddenly turned serious: "Hankou Gang, you're finished now."

young people:"!"

He was startled, realized something was wrong, and turned to run away.

Li Gu suddenly grabbed his shoulder with a "smack" and shouted, "You dare to sell fake medicine? You have some nerve! Come with me to see the authorities!"

His shout immediately caused chaos in the street.

The residents of Jiangzhou City had honed their reflexes through centuries of gang warfare, and customers scrambled to hide in alleys, ditches, and behind millstones. In the blink of an eye, the streets were deserted.

Dozens of Hankou gang members, who were hiding in the crowd, did not retreat but instead rushed forward towards Li Gu.

One of the men rushed forward the fastest and instantly reached Li Gu, slapping him with his palm.

Li Gu held the young man selling medicine with his left hand, and swung his right palm forward to meet him.

With a "pop," the two fought to a draw.

Li Gu sensed that his opponent's cultivation was slightly stronger than his own. Logically, he should have been forced back a step or two, but unexpectedly, he managed to stand firm.

He immediately remembered the Liuwei Dihuang Pill he had taken a few days ago.

That pill greatly enhanced his cultivation level. Although Li Gu was unable to fully utilize all of that cultivation due to the limited space of his meridians, it was indeed already present in his body.

Although it cannot be used flexibly, the extra cultivation level will still serve as a foundation when exchanging blows.

So he should have been knocked back a step or two by the palm strike, but he is standing firmly now.