Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“There’s no issue with the Poison-repelling Pills. You can come and claim them in five days, Senior Brother Disciple. However, what are you going to give in exchange for these two Inner Strength Pills? I’m going to make myself clear in advance. These Inner Strength Pills are grade-1 pills with medium-grade quality, so they are quite costly,” said Fang Lin with a spurious smile. He procured two Inner Strength Pills from the bottle and toyed with them in his hand.
Zhang Wen smiled and patted his Nine Palaces Pouch to unleash a piece of white hide. “Take a look, Junior Brother Disciple. This should be enough in exchange for your Inner Strength Pills.”
Fang Lin opened the hide and found a pitch-black pearl wrapped inside. It was the size of an infant’s fist. His gaze became fixated for a moment before he said softly, “is that a Demon Neidan?”
Zhang Wen nodded and said, “You have discerning eyes, Junior Brother Disciple. This is truly a Demon Neidan. Moreover, it’s the Demon Neidan of a first form demon. Its value is definitely no lower than a Grade-1 elixir.”
Upon hearing that, Fang Lin picked up the black Demon Neidan and sniffed it. His brows furrowed ever so slightly for a moment before relaxing once again. “This is a first form level-9 demon tiger Neidan,” he declared.
Zhang Wen was instantly shocked. Fang Lin was actually capable of explaining the quality and origin of the Demon Neidan just by sniffing it. At first, Zhang Wen was about to take the matter seriously and explain the item to Fang Lin, but there was no need anymore.
Zhang Wen looked at him strangely and said, “Junior Brother Disciple Fang, you have discerning eyes just as I’ve mentioned. This Neidan of mine originated from a first form level-9 demon tiger. What a waste that the demon tiger didn’t manage to advance by one more step. Otherwise, I could’ve gotten a first form level-10 Neidan.”
A beast that was created by the power of heaven and earth could transform into a demon after consuming the spirits of other creatures. It regarded itself as a saint while mankind regarded it as a demon.
A demon could undergo nine transformations with the first being the weakest and the ninth transformation being the most powerful. A first form demon was equal to a martial arts cultivator of the primordial man realm.
However, the demons created by the power of heaven and earth mostly inherited pure lineage, bloodline, and natural talents. As a result, a martial arts cultivator of the same rank may be too weak to fight such a demon.
A first form level-9 demon was almost capable of defeating all martial arts cultivators. As a result, this particular first form level-9 demon’s Neidan came at an extremely high price and was more or less equal to a Grade-1 elixir.
Fang Lin was very pleased with the demon tiger’s Neidan because it was very useful. Even though it could not be consumed by a martial arts cultivator, it could be refined into elixirs.
Moreover, it could be directly consumed after the demon energy inside the Neidan was neutralized even if it was not refined into elixirs. In turn, it would elevate the martial arts cultivator’s realm rapidly.
However, not many martial arts cultivators would do this since the dawn of time. After all, a human being was different from a demon. Even if the demon energy was neutralized, the demon’s Neidan would still carry a wisp of demonic power after all.
Once upon a time, a martial arts cultivator yearned to be more powerful. He kept consuming demon’s Neidan continuously and eventually turned into a demon. It was a catastrophe.
Moreover, it would be a waste to ingest demon’s Neidan directly. The power contained in the demon’s Neidan could be fully utilized when it was refined into an elixir, hence the medicinal effect of the Neidan would be more prominent and beneficial when ingested directly.
“How is it, Junior Brother Disciple Fang? Are you pleased with this demon tiger’s Neidan here?” Zhang Wen noticed that Fang Lin did not speak, so he took the liberty to ask first.
Fang Lin answered, “I’m very pleased with the demon’s Neidan. However, there’s only one of it. I’m afraid it’s not enough to exchange for two of my Inner Strength Pills.”
Zhang Wen was stunned for a moment. Soon afterward, he spoke in a slightly displeased tone, “Junior Brother Disciple Fang, isn’t it enough that I’m exchanging one demon tiger’s Neidan for two of your Inner Strength Pills?”
Fang Lin shook his head because it was not enough. At the most, the corresponding value of a grade-1 elixir to a first form level-9 demon’s Neidan would render the exchange of one Inner Strength Pill.
“Senior Brother Disciple Zhang, the Inner Strength Pill is a grade-1 elixir. You can only offer one demon’s Neidan, so you can only have one pill in return,” Fang Lin responded persistently.
Zhang Wen felt rather compelled. At once, he hesitated for a moment before he procured a medicinal herb plant. “How about if I add this in? Is it enough now?” he said poignantly.
Fang Lin immediately smiled when he saw the medicinal herb. Even though it was not a precious medicinal herb, it was more superior given its age. There was a saying that anything old was precious, and the value of this medicinal herb was almost comparable to a pill.
“In that case, these two Inner Strength Pills are yours, Senior Brother Disciple Zhang.” Fang Lin then placed two Inner Strength Pills on Zhang Wen’s palm.
Zhang Wen passed the medicinal herb plant to Fang Lin before he stored the Inner Strength Pills carefully into his pouch with a fully contented expression on his face.
“Senior Brother Disciple Zhang, please tell your fellow Junior and Senior Brother Disciples at the martial arts sect about me,” said Fang Lin with a saccharine smile.
Zhang Wen was not a fool, so he understood the hidden meaning in Fang Lin’s words. He smiled and replied, “Of course. Don’t worry, Junior Brother Disciple Fang.”
Both of them chatted casually for a while more before Fang Wen bade farewell.
Fang Lin was in a jolly good mood after selling two Inner Strength Pills. He completed all his gardening work in the courtyard before he paid a visit to Xu Shangao to procure the medicinal herbs he needed to refine the Poison-repelling Pills.
The Poison-repelling Pills were refined after two days of hard work. It was not that difficult to refine the Poison-repelling Pills because it was not a grade-1 elixir. He produced a total of 12 high-grade pills. Fang Lin grinned widely as he looked at the dozen high-grade Poison-repelling Pills in the cauldron. The cauldron full of Poison-repelling Pills would certainly please Zhang Wen very much.
On the fifth day, Zhang Wen came in the afternoon. He could not stop himself from beaming when he saw the 12 high-grade Poison-repelling Pills. In the end, he offered a demon bear’s Neidan in exchange for the Poison-repelling Pills.
The Poison-repelling Pill was an unorthodox elixir, so it was naturally an adequate exchange. If one were to calculate in detail, Fang Lin even managed to gain a little.
After that incident, martial arts official disciples came to commission Fang Lin in succession. He seized the opportunity to sell the rest of his six Inner Strength Pills to them. In exchange, he gained a number of precious items. His Nine Palaces Pouch that was originally empty was filled up substantially at once.
Fang Lin’s fame grew exponentially when Zhang Wen and the other martial arts disciples spread the news about him. He grew widely recognized and was known in the entire martial arts sect.
Many people commissioned his help to refine elixirs, but he was not in a rush to engage them. On the contrary, he made the martial arts disciples wait patiently while he attended lessons in the alchemy academy for a month. Then, he would return to complete the commissions later.
The martial arts disciples did not seem to mind either. Fang Lin was supposed to enjoy the benefit of learning in the alchemy academy as he pleased for a year. Everyone knew that, so no one would think that he was intentionally procrastinating.
Fang Lin was genuinely planning to head over to the alchemy academy but not for learning purposes. He wanted to use it to evade the attention of the alchemy pavilion. He was well aware that the alchemy pavilion would notice him soon enough if he was too busy completing commissions for the martial arts disciples. In addition, too many voices complicated a situation.
Fang Lin wanted to hide out in the alchemy academy for a month so that he could prevent detection from the radar of the alchemy pavilion temporarily. Moreover, he wished to check out the alchemy academy. After all, so many official disciples yearned to study in the alchemy academy. He had to go there even if it was just once. Doing otherwise would be very inappropriate.
It was the beginning of the month when Fang Lin joined the other official disciples to head to the alchemy academy.
The official disciples were all given a chance to learn in the alchemy academy every month. Even though it was only for three days, the days were beyond precious to every single one of them. As a result, they would never miss a chance to enter the alchemy academy every month.
It was Fang Lin’s first time at the alchemy academy. Hence, he felt extra curious about everything there. He looked and explored everywhere, making him stand out amongst the numerous official disciples.