Chapter Forty-Seven: Trading Elixirs for Treasures, Summoning Winds with the Mystic Banner

After Jiang Liunian finished explaining the rules of the exchange, everyone turned their gaze to Lin You.

This, too, was one of the rules of the gathering: the host speaks first, seeking items in priority, then the others follow in turn.

Seeing all eyes upon him, Lin You did not decline. He smiled and spoke, “I am in need of a cultivation method. If none are available, records on Daoist arts will suffice. I am willing to exchange pills or spiritual herbs.”

At these words, many were surprised. Previously, they had assumed this companion from Jade Dawn, with his refined demeanor and generous gestures, must have acquired some hidden legacy or inheritance.

But now, it seemed otherwise.

For no matter how small the inheritance, it would surely contain a cultivation method—this was the very essence of a legacy.

Take, for example, the secret spiritual treasures each possessed; every item had a corresponding cultivation method, including instructions for refining the treasure and building a Daoist foundation.

They did not wish to pry further, for such matters were personal secrets, and to inquire rashly would be a grave offense.

“May I ask, fellow Jade Dawn, what kind of method do you seek? And what price are you prepared to offer?” asked the burly man.

He himself possessed several methods, and even a spiritual treasure, all taken from those who had tried to prey upon him.

If the price was right, he was not opposed to selling.

Lin You, unfamiliar with the cultivation methods of this world, asked curiously, “What methods do you have available for trade?”

The burly man laughed heartily, “To be frank, I have three methods, but each requires a matching spiritual treasure or Dao seed to cultivate. I also have a spiritual treasure, called the Wind Summoning Banner. If you wish to acquire it, ten spiritual herbs aged a hundred years or more will suffice.”

At this price, those present all frowned.

One could say it was not expensive; one could also say it was outrageously so.

In the days when spiritual energy was abundant, even ten times the herbs would not buy half a spiritual treasure.

For then, herbs of a century’s age were common, but treasures forged from Dao seeds were exceedingly rare.

These treasures were not only formidable in battle, but could be passed down as heirlooms to disciples or descendants.

Yet now, with spiritual energy nearly vanished from the world, century-old herbs had become more sought after than spiritual treasures.

Without spiritual energy to activate, a treasure was little more than an ornament.

So, the burly man’s asking price caused many to secretly furrow their brows.

Jiang Liunian pondered for a moment and remarked, “Friend Shengchuan, your price is a bit high.”

The others nodded in agreement.

The burly man could only smile bitterly.

At prior gatherings, he had fought other cultivators and won, but his core essence had been severely depleted.

He had come to this meeting expressly to trade for herbs, hoping to find a pill master to refine them into elixirs and restore some of his source.

He knew well that ten century-old herbs was a steep price, one few could afford.

After hesitating, he revised his offer, “How about this? One spiritual treasure for eight herbs, and I’ll throw in the three methods as a bonus. What do you say?”

Lin You thought for a moment, then handed over a bottle of Nourishing Essence Pills, asking, “I don’t have century-old herbs at the moment, but I have a bottle of Nourishing Essence Pills that can replenish your source and even rebuild your foundation. Would you accept this in exchange?”

Over the past days, he had used herbs from the spring’s edge, along with spring water and moon blossom, to refine several batches of Nourishing Essence Pills.

These pills were even more potent than those previously made.

In this bottle were ten pills, and in terms of efficacy, they matched century-old herbs.

The burly man stared at the bottle, stunned. Could this Jade Dawn companion be a rare pill master?

With suspicion in his heart, he carefully uncorked the bottle and held it to his nose.

A rich, intoxicating scent instantly filled the air.

A cloud of emerald pill vapor gathered at the bottle’s mouth.

Just a whiff, and the burly man felt all his pores open, greedily absorbing the pill vapor.

“Spiritual pills!” someone exclaimed.

Pill vapor that gathered and lingered—this was the hallmark of spiritual pills!

Such pills were far more precious than century-old herbs.

At a gathering like this, spiritual pills would cause those with waning lifespans to scramble madly for them.

The burly man was overjoyed, quickly resealing the bottle for fear its potency might dissipate, and tucked it close to his chest, unwilling to let others see it.

Jiang Liunian coughed lightly, reminding him, “Friend Shengchuan, you haven’t delivered the goods yet.”

“Oh, right! Jade Dawn companion, here are your items. The deal is settled, nothing owed. Please inspect them!” the burly man said, smacking his forehead, and hurriedly produced several items, pushing them in front of Lin You lest he change his mind.

This time, he had struck gold!

Using a useless spiritual treasure to acquire a life-saving bottle of pills—who could say this was not a worthy trade?

Lin You took the items and saw three jade books and a small flag.

The jade books varied in color and age, clearly from different eras.

The small flag was covered in wind patterns, exuding a mysterious aura that made the little tree at his side stir restlessly.

From the tree’s reaction, the treasure seemed genuine.

He gladly accepted the items, thus ending the transaction.

After acquiring the pills, the burly man immediately withdrew to the edge, visibly wary, fearing his precious pills might be stolen.

In the mundane world, people turn against each other over a bit of gold or silver—let alone for life-saving spiritual pills.

Though those present had respectable character, caution was always wise.

The others watched the burly man’s behavior, feeling a bit uncomfortable but understanding well.

If any of them had obtained such pills, they would be even more cautious.

Such is human nature—nothing to fault.

With the first trade completed, the atmosphere grew lively.

Everyone looked at Lin You anew; their gazes had completely changed.

Who would have thought this Jade Dawn companion could refine spiritual pills?

The significance was extraordinary.

No one wished to offend a pill master; everyone hoped to befriend one; and more than anything, everyone longed to become one.

Especially in these waning days of the immortal Dao, having a pill master as a friend meant several extra chances at survival.

For some cultivation injuries could not be healed by mundane physicians or even masters of medical arts.

Only immortal pills from ancient formulas could help.

Take their current source wounds—without wondrous pills from ancient formulas, mere century-old herbs would only prolong life, never truly cure.

Thus, as the first trade ended, the gathering was abuzz with excitement.