12dz Chapter 6: [Cold Air]
Chapter 6: [Cold Air]
Li Wu stayed in the city for a whole day until his waist tag reminded him, at which point he reluctantly left Jianxiawu and returned to Pukoufang Market.
After Li Wu had cultivated for several days, Lu Sui came to his door.
Lu Sui was dressed in a green robe, carrying a long sword in his hand, and had a waist tag with the character "Zhao" written on it.
Li Wu was puzzled, so he asked:
"Brother Lu, what's going on?"
Lu Sui laughed heartily, took off his waist token, placed it on the table, and explained:
"A few days ago, a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator from the Zhao family of Xigu came to the market to recruit followers. He recruited ten people in total, including me."
Li Wu had recently made a deal with a member of the Zhao family in Xigu, so he was naturally familiar with the situation and said:
"Brother Lu, are all the retainers the Zhao family in Xigu have recently recruited sent to the spirit mines in Chishan?"
Lu Sui nodded and said:
"That's right. Although it's dangerous, the conditions offered by the Zhao family are not bad. Not only do they provide a monthly stipend of fifty catties of spirit rice, but they also provide a low-grade Qi-refining longsword."
"In addition, there are other rewards for slaying demonic beasts. Those who perform exceptionally well may even be sent to become weapon-refining apprentices."
Li Wu gasped in shock; the Zhao family's ambition was truly immense.
Not only was he generous, but he also recruited ten mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators in one go. Moreover, the Zhao family had previously ordered a large amount of beast-repelling powder from him.
"It seems the monster riots in Chishan are even more chaotic than I imagined. Perhaps even mid-stage Qi Refining monsters are starting to flee to the outskirts," Li Wu said thoughtfully.
"I've come here mainly to say goodbye to Brother Li," Lu Sui said, raising his wine cup.
Since the Zhao family's mines are located in Chishan, Lu Sui will naturally no longer reside in Pukoufang Market.
Li Wuduan raised his wine cup and said:
"Chishan is only a few dozen miles from the market town, so we will definitely meet again in the future."
"As for Brother Lu, you will be living on the outskirts of Chishan for a long time from now on, so you must be careful."
The two drank and chatted until late into the night.
…………
After learning some information from Lu Sui, Li Wu would occasionally go to the market to keep watch.
The purpose was to check the condition of the cultivators entering and leaving Chishan, and also to sound out He Yu.
When the topic of the monster in Chishan came up, He Yuxiu frowned slightly, her expression becoming serious.
"The number of demonic beasts on the outskirts of Chishan is indeed increasing. However, thanks to your beast-repelling powder, Fellow Daoist Li Wu, and by intentionally avoiding the demonic beast territories, we generally won't encounter any demonic beasts."
"However, the situation is not good for the other cultivators. Currently, more than 30% of the rogue cultivators in the market have been injured in attacks by demonic beasts while entering the mountains."
"Moreover, the prices of various spiritual items in the market have increased to varying degrees."
At this point, He Yu couldn't help but sigh, a look of sorrow appearing on his handsome face.
Although the prices of items in various shops have increased, the prices of elixirs and talismans have risen even faster.
This calculation shows that the cost of going into the mountains is actually higher than before, and the risks are also greater.
But not going into the mountains is not an option, otherwise we won't even be able to afford the spiritual rice needed to pay the rent.
"By the way, Fellow Daoist Li Wu, I've finished my bottle of beast-repelling powder. When will the batch of beast-repelling powder I ordered arrive?" He Yu asked, voicing his concerns.
Without the beast-repelling powder, she doesn't dare lead her team into Chishan anymore.
Li Wu calculated the time and said:
"Tomorrow, come to my place tomorrow to pick it up."
"Also, I need your help with something."
"What is it?"
"It's just to promote my beast-repelling powder."
Upon hearing this, He Yu immediately waved his hand and smiled nonchalantly:
"Oh, I thought it was something serious. Don't worry, I'll promote it for you."
"However, you must promise that you will always have the beast-repelling powder available."
"Don't worry about that," Li Wu nodded. "I'll always keep a bottle for you."
"That's a deal!"
After explaining the matters, Li Wu did not linger and returned to the courtyard.
…………
Jianxiawu.
As soon as Li Wu entered the area where the stalls were set up, he saw Ning Que standing there looking around, as if he was looking for someone.
"Looking for me?" Li Wu walked silently to his side.
Ning Que was overjoyed to see him appear and said:
"Brother Li, you've arrived!"
Li Wu didn't mind how he addressed him and nodded, saying:
Did you bring what I asked for?
"I brought it."
Ning Que took out a large wooden box, opened it, and inside lay seven bottles of beast-repelling powder.
"There are seven bottles in total, Brother Li, please count them."
Li Wu glanced at it, then accepted the wooden box. He then took out a half spirit stone from his sleeve, and used spirit rice to make up the rest.
"By the way, I'll need the beast-repelling powder from now on. I'll come to get it every two weeks."
Upon hearing that Li Wu would later use the Beast-Dispelling Powder, Ning Que nodded excitedly and quickly asked:
"Brother Li Wu, how much beast-repelling powder do you need?"
"How many do you have?" Li Wu asked calmly.
Ning Que thought for a moment: "Half a month...ten bottles shouldn't be a problem."
I want them all.
There are hundreds of independent cultivators in Pukoufang, and the demand is very high.
Once the reputation of the beast-repelling powder is established, people can easily consume dozens of bottles a month.
"it is good."
Although Ning Que didn't know why Li Wuwei wanted so many beast-repelling powders, he was happy as long as he could sell them and earn spirit stones.
After Li Wu left, he packed up his stall and, instead of leaving Jianxiawu, headed towards the inner city.
He walked to a medicine shop called "Qi Shu Dan Zhai".
Standing behind the counter was an old Taoist priest with graying temples.
The old Taoist priest, slightly surprised to see who had entered, said:
"Xiao Ning, it's been a while since I've seen you. Are you here to buy some pills today?"
Ning Que bowed and said, "Elder Qi, give me one [Radiant Flame Pill]."
Old Qi nodded, then took out a jade box from the counter and handed it to Ning Que.
Ning Que took it, opened it, and saw a crimson pill inside, emitting a scorching heat.
Looking at the [Ascension Flame Pill], Ning Que's eyes held a smile. With this pill, his sister's pain would be lessened.
Old Qi picked up a few pieces of medicinal herbs and put them into the jade mortar. As he ground them, he said:
"Xiao Ning, let me remind you, your sister's cold constitution cannot be suppressed by this [Xu Yan Dan]. As time goes by, the pill's effect will become weaker and weaker."
"If you want to completely save your sister, you need to let her cultivate the [Cold Qi] technique. Once she absorbs the corresponding spiritual energy of heaven and earth and breaks through to the Qi Refining stage, her cold body will not only stop causing her pain, but will also become an aid for her to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage."
Upon hearing this, Ning Que looked dejected and blamed himself:
"But... the cultivation technique for the [Cold Qi] path costs at least fifty or sixty spirit stones, which I simply cannot afford..."
Ning Que also wanted to find a Qi-refining technique for his sister, but the prices of techniques in the city related to the [Cold Qi] path were extremely high, often two or three times more expensive than other paths of the same grade.
His previous annual income was only about ten spirit stones, which he could only afford to buy pills to suppress his sister's cold constitution.
Old Qi stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and then said:
"Alright, I'll give you a technique for cultivating cold energy."