Chapter 49: Phoenix Yellow Dendrobium
Standing in the direction of the wind, even a pig could take flight.
Chen Beiwu now possessed the information gap of trade between two realms. Saying it was effortless for him to earn spirit stones to purchase cultivation methods was hardly an exaggeration.
However, his experience from his previous life had taught him that the shot strikes the bird that takes the lead.
In his past life, countless tycoons had spent immense sums to bribe media outlets just to avoid being featured on any wealth rankings and draw unwanted attention.
The same principle applied in the cultivation world.
There were many ways to earn spirit stones, but Chen Beiwu preferred stable and safe methods.
"Many thanks, Senior."
Wanwan showed a grateful expression as she received the spirit stones, though she was cursing inwardly.
At that moment, Chen Beiwu's gaze fell on a rogue cultivator who had just set up a stall on the street. His stall was laid out with dozens of medicinal herbs that had a slightly yellow surface and bamboo-like stems and leaves.
The stall owner appeared to be drowsy, yawned, and then picked up one of the stems to eat raw.
Noticing Chen Beiwuâs gaze, Wanwan asked curiously, "Senior, are you interested in Phoenix Yellow Dendrobium?"
Phoenix Yellow Dendrobium had the effects of regulating qi, calming the mind, dispelling false heat, and strengthening essence and yang. It could be used in alchemy, tea-making, cooking, or eaten raw, and was popular among early-stage Qi Refining cultivators.
However, this herb couldn't aid in Qi Refining, so it wasn't graded. It didnât even qualify as a First-Tier Exotic Herb.
In the depths of the back mountains behind Biyuan Market, Phoenix Yellow Dendrobium grew in abundance and was largely ignored. Only cultivators passing by might occasionally pick some to refresh themselves.
"I usually like brewing tea with Phoenix Yellow Dendrobium."
At this, Chen Beiwu seemed to grow interested. "I want to purchase a batch of Phoenix Yellow Dendrobium. Do you have any channels?"
"Well..." Wanwan looked troubled.
Because Phoenix Yellow Dendrobium was so common, rogue cultivators didnât even bother selling it. Only in mortal kingdoms would this herb be speculated up to a hundred gold per jin.
But in Biyuan Market, two spirit stones could buy a hundred jin of Phoenix Yellow Dendrobium.
There was once a foolish rogue cultivator in Biyuan Market.
To earn spirit stones, he had offered Golden Immortal Karma as a reward and hired a large number of mortals to gather Phoenix Yellow Dendrobium from the deep mountains.
Qi Refining cultivators wouldnât waste time collecting a hundred jin of Phoenix Yellow Dendrobium for one or two spirit stones, but mortals would.
As a result, the supply of the herb far exceeded demand, and its price dropped to one spirit stone per thousand jin, causing that rogue cultivator to lose everything and become a laughingstock.
This senior liked to brew tea with Phoenix Yellow Dendrobium. Could he not be from a cultivation family, but rather from a secular dynasty?
"You donât have any?" Chen Beiwu frowned slightly.
Though Phoenix Yellow Dendrobium wasn't graded, it could barely be considered a medicinal herb in the Earth Proliferation Territory of the Southern Wastes.
Even if it couldnât be bought in Biyuan Market, that didnât mean the nearby mortal kingdoms didnât have it.
"I do, I do. Senior, how much Phoenix Yellow Dendrobium do you need?" Wanwan responded hastily.
"Letâs start with a hundred jin," said Chen Beiwu.
"Four spirit stones for a hundred jin of Phoenix Yellow Dendrobium. What do you think, Senior?" Wanwan tested.
"Alright. How long will it take?" Chen Beiwu lifted his eyelids slightly.
"By noon tomorrow." Wanwan felt a jolt of joy and looked at Chen Beiwu with softened eyes.
She could earn at least three spirit stones from this deal. Though it still wasnât enough to rent a cultivation cave-dwelling, it could afford her nearly half a monthâs access to the market.
Chen Beiwu tossed out one spirit stone. "Good. This is the deposit."
...
Watching Chen Beiwuâs figure disappear, the sweet smile on Wanwanâs face gradually faded. She turned and walked into a remote alley.
Two rogue cultivators at street stalls exchanged glances and followed the young girl.
"Is todayâs lamb fat or lean?" one suddenly asked.
Wanwan replied emotionlessly, "Wandered around all day and bought nothing. Wasted this ladyâs time. What do you think?"
"Strange. That guy looked like someone important, dressed richly. Felt like he wasnât ordinary," said the narrow-faced rogue cultivator.
The rogue cultivator who had sold the Phoenix Yellow Dendrobium shook his head. "A cultivator scion with real status wouldnât drink that kind of low-grade stuff. I bet he doesnât have much on him. Not worth the risk."
"True. His cultivation level seems high. Tough target," the narrow-faced cultivator nodded slightly, glancing at Wanwan.
She looked alert and took two steps back.
"Relax. I wouldn't bother with someone carrying just two spirit stones," the narrow-faced cultivator said, shaking his head with a laugh. He looked at the other cultivator and raised a finger.
"I just spotted a plump lamb. He's got at least this much. Want to go for it?"
"Heh heh, of course."
Watching the two cultivators leave with arms around each otherâs shoulders, Wanwan let out a sigh of relief.
Being a tooth broker was a way to earn spirit stones, but it also meant frequently dealing with cultivators involved in gray areas.
If she wasnât careful and made the wrong enemies, she could end up dead in the wilderness the moment she left the market.
âSmart kid!â
Across the remote alley, a smile appeared on Chen Beiwuâs face.
Clearly, the conversation among the three in the alley hadnât escaped his divine sense.
Then Chen Beiwu turned and walked toward the center of the market, where a cluster of buildings stood.
After paying twenty spirit stones, Chen Beiwu obtained one weekâs usage of a lower-grade cave-dwelling in Biyuan Market.
The lower-grade cave-dwelling was extremely basic, with no extra decorations, only a repair-use cushion placed inside. What surprised Chen Beiwu was that the spiritual energy inside was richâthe spirit density was nearly equivalent to a Second-Tier upper-grade spiritual vein.
âIf the lower-grade cave-dwelling is already this luxurious, I wonder what the upper-grade ones are like?â Chen Beiwu sighed, then took out the golden egg from the spirit beast pouch.
"Gulu." A string of bubbles rose from the fish tank.
Chen Beiwu wasted no time and activated his divine sense, guiding the golden egg to circulate the Ten Thousand Beasts Manual for thirty-six grand cycles, slowly cleansing the demonic energy within it.
Demonic energy was turbid and domineering. Through the Companion Contract, it could gradually corrode a cultivatorâs mana and transform it into demonic energy.
Thus, after forming a Companion Contract, cultivators would immediately manifest the Companion Beastâs three meridians.
Then, they would purify the turbid into clarity, replacing blood with qi, cleansing the beastâs demonic energy into refined mana, and finally using the companion cultivation method and Beast Seal to construct the manaâs cyclic circulation.
Simply put, this cultivation method was like giving the cultivator a bloodline plug-in (originating from the Companion Beast), enhancing their cultivation speed while making it easier to sense and trigger the laws of Sky Abyss Star.
This was precisely the path of cultivation with beastsâa legacy of the Immortal Alliance that had long dominated the Beast Race.
Soon, as wisps of turbid aura dispersed into the world, a trace of fatigue surfaced in Chen Beiwuâs eyes.
Purifying the turbid into clarity was a massive undertaking.
Ordinary spirit beasts took about a month to convert their inner demonic energy into mana. But the golden egg, with its higher aptitude, could shorten this to half a month.
During this time, he couldnât advance his cultivation realm, but he could refine his manaâs purity and imprint his own qi upon the golden egg, stabilizing the Companion Contract further.
"Gulu!"
Sensing the hunger from the Companion Contract, Chen Beiwu took out his storage pouch and retrieved half a jin of gold and two pieces of Purple Coral Stone.
Upon seeing this, the golden eggâs eyes lit up and it eagerly opened its mouth.