Lin Yuan spoke up directly, without beating around the bush. “Guildmaster, you want me to refine a batch of Nine-Turn Golden Pills. What payment are you planning to offer?”
“Aren’t you curious first about how many Nine-Turn Golden Pills we want refined?” The Azure Dragon Guildmaster was a bit taken aback.
“I prefer to know the payment first. That’s what motivates me to refine pills,” Lin Yuan replied with a smile.
In truth, as long as the Azure Dragon Guildmaster could gather all the materials for the Nine-Turn Golden Pills, Lin Yuan could refine as many as they wanted.
“Here’s our proposal: Our Chamber of Commerce would like you, Master Yun Zhenzi, to refine twenty Nine-Turn Golden Pills. As for your payment, would one million top-grade Immortal Crystals suffice?”
The Azure Dragon Guildmaster pondered for a moment before speaking. One million top-grade Immortal Crystals was a colossal sum, equivalent to ten times the net worth of an ordinary Jade Immortal.
Five hundred years earlier, the many resources Yun Zhenzi had prepared for his own ‘resurrection’—which Lin Yuan ultimately appropriated—would have amounted to at most one hundred thousand top-grade Immortal Crystals in total.
“One million top-grade Immortal Crystals?” Lin Yuan gave the Azure Dragon Guildmaster a second look.
“It seems you’re not very sincere.”
If it had been tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of years ago, refining twenty Nine-Turn Golden Pills for one million top-grade Immortal Crystals might have been a fair offer. But now, with the Immortal-Demon War on the horizon, the value of various pills and resources is skyrocketing, and Nine-Turn Golden Pills are strategic-level elixirs.
“How much do you have in mind?” the Azure Dragon Guildmaster asked.
“One hundred million top-grade Immortal Crystals,” Lin Yuan replied without hesitation.
“One hundred million?” The Azure Dragon Guildmaster’s face darkened. Although the Nine Dragons Chamber of Commerce was large and wealthy enough to come up with that sum, he felt it was too high a price for refining just a batch of Nine-Turn Golden Pills.
“Or your Nine Dragons Chamber of Commerce can provide me with a piece of ‘Immortal Source.’ That would cover the cost of refining the Nine-Turn Golden Pills,” Lin Yuan suddenly added.
Immortal Source comes from the Immortal Realm’s origin and is said to be immensely beneficial for comprehending the rules. Only the Dao Ancestor of the Immortal Way and their disciples can enter the origin of the Immortal Realm, so very little Immortal Source ever flows out.
Lin Yuan, whether openly or secretly, had been unable to acquire even a single piece in the last five hundred years, so he was hoping to capitalize on refining Nine-Turn Golden Pills for the Nine Dragons Chamber of Commerce to get one.
The Nine Dragons Chamber of Commerce, with its significant influence across the Thirty-Three Immortal Domains, might have the means to obtain it.
“A piece of Immortal Source? Surely you realize its worth,” the Azure Dragon Guildmaster said.
“It should be worth my refining of these Nine-Turn Golden Pills,” Lin Yuan replied.
“I can’t provide Immortal Source,” the Azure Dragon Guildmaster declared, rising to his feet.
“It looks like we won’t be doing business with you after all.”
The Nine Dragons Chamber of Commerce might indeed possess Immortal Source, but from his perspective, Yun Zhenzi’s services weren’t valuable enough to justify parting with it.
“No problem. We can always work together some other time,” Lin Yuan said calmly, watching as the Azure Dragon Guildmaster left.
Elsewhere in Cangwu Immortal City, another cave dwelling—
The Azure Dragon Guildmaster reappeared, greeted by a white-haired elder, also a Jade Immortal, who had been the one to recommend Yun Zhenzi to him in the first place.
“How did it go? Did you strike a deal with Master Yun Zhenzi?”
“No,” the Azure Dragon Guildmaster answered with a frown.
“That Yun Zhenzi is shamelessly greedy! He asked for a hundred million Immortal Crystals or a piece of Immortal Source.”
“A hundred million Immortal Crystals?” The white-haired elder pondered aloud.
“That is pretty steep. Still, given the current situation, you know how it is. With the Immortal-Demon War looming, the cost for refining something like Nine-Turn Golden Pills is bound to rise.”
“But a hundred million is too high,” the Azure Dragon Guildmaster insisted.
“With that kind of money, I could easily hire the top-tier master alchemists. Before the last Immortal-Demon War, Yun Zhenzi’s pill-refining ability was only so-so. In the past few centuries, he has indeed produced some impressive elixirs, but that’s a recent development. He’s nowhere near those elite alchemists.”
After all, the success of a pill-refining master can be subject to luck or “form.” Perhaps at the moment Yun Zhenzi’s state is good enough to produce a few pills of decent quality.
But what if, in refining the Nine-Turn Golden Pills, he falters? He might end up failing to produce even a single finished pill—and the Nine Dragons Chamber of Commerce would have to swallow the loss of those materials. Master alchemists are generally not liable for ingredient losses if they fail; that cost falls on the client. From the Azure Dragon Guildmaster’s perspective, Yun Zhenzi simply wasn’t worth paying that price.
“I thought he’d be more humble, being a newly minted ‘master alchemist,’ but he’s just as greedy as the rest. All these alchemists, relying on the upcoming Immortal-Demon War, jacking up their prices—they all deserve to die,” the Azure Dragon Guildmaster grumbled coldly.
A strange look passed over the white-haired elder’s face. Exploiting the war to make huge profits—that was exactly what the Nine Dragons Chamber of Commerce itself was doing.
Lin Yuan, however, wasn’t bothered that the Azure Dragon Guildmaster had declined his offer. His reputation as an alchemist had spread widely enough that strong individuals and various factions would regularly seek out his services, and he had little need for the Nine Dragons Chamber of Commerce.
“Seems it’s really tough to get my hands on Immortal Source,” Lin Yuan muttered with a sigh.
Based on the Azure Dragon Guildmaster’s demeanor, Lin Yuan could see that even a hundred million top-grade Immortal Crystals was within the realm of discussion, but the notion of acquiring Immortal Source was never on the table.
“Must I really resort to seizing it by force?” Lin Yuan mused. He preferred not to create such a disturbance unless absolutely necessary. His strength still wasn’t sufficient to run amok in the Immortal Realm; he mainly needed to remain under the radar for now.
“Huh?”
While mulling this over, he suddenly picked up on something.
“Master,” Yun Zhenzi said, appearing at Lin Yuan’s side, “the Palace Master of Feixian Palace requests your presence.”
Feixian Palace is a key institution of Cangwu Immortal City, controlling the cave dwelling area. Its Palace Master is one of the city’s major powers, second only to the Lord of the City.
More importantly, while the Nine Dragons Chamber of Commerce is a Jade Immortal-level faction relying on nine dragon Jade Immortals, Feixian Palace belongs to Cangwu Immortal City, which was personally founded by the Dao Ancestor of the Immortal Way. The Chamber’s backers are Jade Immortals; Cangwu Immortal City’s backer is the Dao Ancestor.
Swoosh.
Soon, the Palace Master of Feixian Palace stood before Lin Yuan.
“Master Yun Zhenzi,” he said with a friendly smile.
“Palace Master,” Lin Yuan replied with a slight nod, more courteous than he’d been with the Azure Dragon Guildmaster. The Palace Master was a giant of Cangwu Immortal City, and Lin Yuan was living under this city’s jurisdiction. He had to show at least a little respect.
“I heard the Azure Dragon Guildmaster was here asking for a deal, Master Yun Zhenzi. Did you reach an agreement?” the Palace Master asked.
The Palace Master had caught wind that the Azure Dragon Guildmaster had inquired extensively about Yun Zhenzi before visiting him.
“No, we did not,” Lin Yuan said with a shake of his head.
“Hahaha, the Azure Dragon Guildmaster is known for his domineering ways—he’s never keen on compromising.” The Palace Master chuckled.
“Maybe he just wasn’t impressed by me,” Lin Yuan remarked blandly.
“Master Yun Zhenzi’s skill in refining pills is clearly not a matter of the Azure Dragon Guildmaster’s judgment,” the Palace Master said, smiling. He paused for a moment before continuing,
“Since things didn’t work out with the Azure Dragon Guildmaster, how about working with our Cangwu Immortal City?”
“You wish to collaborate with me?” Lin Yuan looked at him, not at all surprised. Such a high-ranking figure coming in person definitely had something to request.
“What do you want me to refine?” Lin Yuan asked.
“It’s the same request as the Azure Dragon Guildmaster’s, actually—a batch of Nine-Turn Golden Pills,” the Palace Master replied.
Nine-Turn Golden Pills are a strategic elixir. Not only does the Nine Dragons Chamber of Commerce regard them highly, but Cangwu Immortal City itself also has a massive demand. With the Immortal-Demon War on the horizon, the burden on the city will be enormous. Even one more Nine-Turn Golden Pill might save a Jade Immortal by instantly restoring them to fighting form.
“How many Nine-Turn Golden Pills?” Lin Yuan asked.
“For now, we require fifty,” the Palace Master answered.
“Fifty…” Lin Yuan considered this.
“What payment are you offering, Palace Master?”
“I heard from the Azure Dragon Guildmaster that you wanted Immortal Source. All right, for these fifty Nine-Turn Golden Pills, I will pay three pieces of Immortal Source.”
“Three pieces of Immortal Source?” Lin Yuan was genuinely surprised.
From the Azure Dragon Guildmaster’s attitude, Lin Yuan had already gleaned how valuable Immortal Source was. He wouldn’t even discuss it. Clearly, a sum like a hundred million top-grade Immortal Crystals was in play, but Immortal Source was not. So for the Palace Master to proactively offer Immortal Source as payment?
Lin Yuan did not doubt the Palace Master could easily afford a few hundred million top-grade Immortal Crystals if he wanted to, but he was instead voluntarily offering Immortal Source.
“I have a great deal of faith in Master Yun Zhenzi’s alchemical expertise. Besides, there will be plenty of chances for future collaboration between you and our city. I just hope that when the time comes, Master Yun Zhenzi won’t turn us down,” the Palace Master explained.
Lin Yuan immediately caught his meaning. By offering three pieces of Immortal Source, the Palace Master wasn’t just paying for this single transaction. He was securing a future relationship.
“You’re that optimistic about me?” Lin Yuan asked with a smile.
“I simply trust in Master Yun Zhenzi,” the Palace Master said.
“If you agree, I’ll apply for the Immortal Source right now. I can have it delivered within half a month.”
“Sure thing,” Lin Yuan agreed. There was no way he’d refuse Immortal Source delivered straight to his door.
Within a certain mysterious space in Feixian Palace—
The Palace Master arrived and got to work on transferring the Immortal Source.
“Palace Master,” spoke a shadowy figure who appeared beside him, disbelief filling their tone, “are we really giving three pieces of Immortal Source just for Yun Zhenzi to refine fifty Nine-Turn Golden Pills?”
Immortal Source is unimaginably precious, and three whole portions would be worth more than a hundred million top-grade Immortal Crystals on the open market, if such a market even existed.
There simply isn’t a channel where Immortal Source is openly sold. Even now, right before the Immortal-Demon War, it’d be incredible to pay that price for a mere fifty Nine-Turn Golden Pills. Even the most elite alchemists typically would never quote such a figure.
“Do you truly believe Yun Zhenzi is just any ordinary alchemist?” the Palace Master said, casting the figure a glance.
“Huh?” The figure seemed puzzled.
“If he’s not an ordinary master alchemist, then what is he?”
“You don’t understand,” the Palace Master replied with a shake of his head.
“Exchanging three pieces of Immortal Source to secure Master Yun Zhenzi’s favor for future cooperation with Cangwu Immortal City is a worthwhile deal.”
“Very well, I shall take my leave, then.” Seeing that the Palace Master had no further explanation, the shadowy figure, weighed down by curiosity, departed.
Alone, the Palace Master sat quietly, lost in his own thoughts.
“In the last four or five centuries, the number of high-grade elixirs in Cangwu Immortal City has shot up drastically. Even a top-tier alchemy master couldn’t sustainably produce so many high-quality elixirs without rest.
“And Master Yun Zhenzi… he was the one who moved into the city’s cave dwelling five hundred years ago.”
The Palace Master gazed into the distance, his eyes reflecting deep contemplation.
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