102: Upper Feather Cloud Crane Alchemy Furnace

A Spiritual Artifact would cost at least four thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, and that’s for the lowest grade.

Did Shopkeeper Han earn so many Spirit Stones in just two months of opening?

The Spirit Stones she earned in over a month were barely this much; could it be that she hadn't been ruthless enough in her earnings?

Mo Ningxin began to doubt her life choices.

“Reporting to Senior, Junior needs a second-tier Pill Furnace,” Lu Ming stated his requirement.

He definitely couldn't earn that many Spirit Stones from the Talismans shop alone.

However, his accumulated savings from his journey were not insignificant.

Lu Ming wasn't worried that running out of money would cause him to miss the Foundation Establishment Pill.

There was still over a year until the auction, and the Talismans shop's income would be enough for him to secure it.

Even if he didn't have enough money, he could always moonlight as a rogue Cultivator again.

“Oh? I didn’t expect Shopkeeper Han to also be a second-tier Alchemist.”

Mo Ningxin’s eyes lit up at the words.

Alchemists were not common, especially Alchemists who originated as Loose Cultivators.

Their Cloud Thunder Pavilion was renowned for its elixirs and artifacts, so seeing a fellow Daoist naturally increased her good impression.

“I merely have a slight understanding; it’s not worth mentioning.”

Lu Ming was very humble; in reality, he truly only had a slight understanding.

But Mo Ningxin didn’t think so, only assuming he was unwilling to say more.

She didn’t ask further either, as one’s Legacy was personal privacy and not convenient to inquire about.

However, she decided to pay more attention to this person in the future; if he truly was a second-tier Alchemist, then his value would be immense.

She could try to win him over; becoming a Guest Elder of Yunding Tower wouldn’t be bad.

Without further words, Mo Ningxin’s slender finger, adorned with a ring, flashed with spiritual light.

A beautifully crafted Pill Furnace appeared before her, suspended in mid-air.

Pointing to the silver-white, six-sided Pill Furnace embroidered with cranes, Mo Ningxin introduced it.

“This Pill Furnace is named ‘shang yu cloud crane furnace’, a second-tier Low Grade Spiritual Artifact.

Crafted from cloud spirit copper, its material is indestructible, and it functions as both a Pill Furnace and a defensive Spiritual Artifact.

It naturally generates spiritual fire; without relying on earth fire, refining first-tier Medicinal Pills poses no problem.

Although it’s only a second-tier Low Grade, the ‘shang yu cloud crane furnace’ has already developed sentience, possessing high affinity for magical power, which slightly influences the success rate of pills.

In fact, it’s not much worse than a typical second-tier Medium Grade Spiritual Artifact.”

It was clear that Mo Ningxin had chosen it carefully; although she hadn’t investigated Shopkeeper Han’s cultivation, he was definitely at the Qi Refinement Stage.

For a Qi Refinement Cultivator to activate a second-tier Spiritual Artifact, the spiritual energy consumed would be enormous.

That’s why she chose this Pill Furnace; at least for a Late-Stage Qi Refinement Cultivator, activating it wouldn’t be as troublesome.

Lu Ming also took a liking to this ‘shang yu cloud crane furnace’.

Not only could it better assist him in Alchemy, but it was also a defensive Spiritual Artifact.

This Pill Furnace was originally for his main body’s use, greatly enhancing his personal safety.

“How many Spirit Stones does it cost?”

Mo Ningxin smiled and made a gesture.

“Eight thousand Spirit Stones?”

Lu Ming was shocked; this price already exceeded the cost of a second-tier Low Grade Spiritual Artifact!

“Shopkeeper Han, don’t rush; you can choose our store’s pre-payment plan.”

“Depositing eight thousand Spirit Stones will grant you two thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, meaning you only need to spend six thousand Spirit Stones to acquire this Pill Furnace.”

‘Nonsense! Little girl, you’re twisting the concept!’

Lu Ming wanted to curse; the bullet he fired two months ago hit him right between the eyebrows, and he himself had fallen into the trap.

Storing so many Spirit Stones wasn’t of much use to him, and he might not even come to buy anything later.

“Giggle, giggle…”

Mo Ningxin watched Lu Ming’s long-standing awkwardness, letting out a bell-like laugh.

“Alright, I won’t tease you anymore. Spiritual Artifacts are usually purchased with Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, and buying them with Low-Grade Spirit Stones will be slightly more expensive.

Normally, this ‘shang yu cloud crane furnace’ only costs seventy Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.”

Lu Ming then understood.

The cultivation world’s currency system is roughly divided into Spirit Crystals, Low-Grade Spirit Stones, Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, and High-Grade Spirit Stones.

Aside from Spirit Crystals, the exchange rate for Spirit Stones is one to one hundred.

One Mid-Grade Spirit Stone is worth one hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones; similarly, one High-Grade Spirit Stone is worth one hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, or ten thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

However, people are often unwilling to exchange them in this manner.

Therefore, the purchasing power of Mid-Grade Spirit Stones far surpasses that of Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

Mo Ningxin continued, “I benefited from you and earned quite a few Spirit Stones recently. Consider it me owing you a favor; with the discount, you only need to pay six thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones.”

Lu Ming didn’t feign politeness either; although owing a favor wasn’t ideal, who could blame her when she was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator? It was hard to say who would truly lose out.

This is a truly understanding big sister!

Lu Ming took out a Storage Pouch, counted the Spirit Stones, and successfully acquired the ‘shang yu cloud crane furnace’.

Mo Ningxin didn’t check the quantity of Spirit Stones.

The prestige of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was evident; she didn’t believe anyone would dare to deceive her.

However, she was still surprised by Lu Ming’s lavishness.

Six thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones—these weren’t just six thousand rocks; the other party produced them instantly.

Was he truly not afraid of her having malicious intentions?

Heh, Lu Ming really wasn't afraid.

His Divine Thought had been monitoring the area; once the other party developed greed, he would be the first to know.

He might suffer a huge loss of Spirit Stones, but exchanging it for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator on the list, he would still not lose out.

Mo Ningxin, of course, didn’t know any of this, but her good impression of Lu Ming increased significantly.

What was this?

This was trust!

She didn’t believe that someone capable of devising a discount method to attract customers would be a foolish person without schemes.

Such a shrewd person displaying wealth in front of her was a sign of trust.

With the transaction complete, Lu Ming intended to take his leave.

He always felt that this mature big sister was looking at him strangely.

It made him a little uncomfortable.

Just as he was about to exit the door, Mo Ningxin called out to him.

She tossed a token to Lu Ming, explaining, “This is our Yunding Tower’s VIP token. Shopkeeper Han, any Medicinal Pills you refine in the future can be sold here at a fair price, and you’ll also receive a certain discount on purchases.

If Shopkeeper Han can refine second-tier Spirit Pills, you might consider becoming a Guest Elder of my Yunding Tower.”

Lu Ming took the token, paused for two seconds, then respectfully thanked her.

“Thank you, Senior!”

“Don’t keep calling me Senior. My name is Mo Ningxin; you can just call me Pavilion Master Mo.”

“Yes, Pavilion Master Mo. May I ask if there are any other instructions? If not, then Junior will take his leave.”

Mo Ningxin rolled her eyes. She was, after all, one of Cloud Thunder Pavilion’s foremost beauties, with numerous admirers.

If not for her high cultivation, her admirers would stretch from the Immortal City to the Cloud Mist Mountain Range.

She didn’t know why this person was in such a hurry to leave; she wasn’t going to eat him.

Losing interest, she waved her hand, dismissing Lu Ming.

After Lu Ming left, another female Cultivator entered from outside the door.

This woman’s appearance was in no way inferior to Mo Ningxin’s, but she lacked a certain mature and charming temperament, possessing more purity and gentleness.

“Senior Sister, you actually gave this person a VIP token? Isn’t it only obtainable by Foundation Establishment Cultivators?”

The woman asked with a puzzled expression.

Mo Ningxin stood up, walked in front of the woman, and gently pinched her cheek with her jade hand, saying with a smile, “Junior Sister, don’t underestimate this person. I always feel he’s not simple, and giving him a VIP token was just a matter of convenience, consider it an investment.”

She then sighed, her delicate brows slightly furrowed.

“Our Cloud Thunder Pavilion has been experiencing a shortage of talent in recent years. If we can win over a second-tier Alchemist, it would be greatly beneficial to us.”

“Senior Sister thinks so highly of him?”

“I don’t know. We’ll see how he fares in the future. Right now, he has quite a few troubles.”

“…”