A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

She said nothing, only glancing away toward the Changchun Valley True Inheritance disciple in front of her.

Seeing that the man was ignoring her, the female cultivator’s expression soured, and she shot Lü Zhong a venomous glare.

’It’s always the ugly ones who make the most fuss,’ Lü Zhong sneered inwardly.

If an opportunity arose later, he wouldn’t mind teaching her a lesson.

Lü Zhong then retracted his gaze and waited quietly for the exchange meet to begin.

At the same time, he began to calculate what he should offer for trade.

The piece of Silver Essence and three pieces of Iron Essence were being saved to forge his Lifebound Treasure later. He shouldn’t trade them unless absolutely necessary.

As for the Spirit Medicine in his bag and the refined Creation Liquid, he had no intention of taking those out either. The medicine had been painstakingly collected, and he wasn’t about to let someone else get it on the cheap. The liquid, on the other hand, involved the Creation Spirit Liquid Secret Technique. If someone with a discerning eye saw it, it could attract immense trouble, so that was also off the table.

After much deliberation, Lü Zhong took out a Pill. It was vermilion and had a jade-like luster.

It came from the Sea Slave. Apart from the Pills suitable for Core Formation Cultivators to advance their cultivation, this Small Soul Nourishing Pill was the most valuable.

Its effect, naturally, was to strengthen the Divine Soul, and it only worked once.

There had originally been three. Lü Zhong had consumed one himself and given another to Yu Feng’Er.

The effects after taking it could only be described as average.

For him especially, the increase in his Divine Soul’s strength wasn’t obvious. It only extended the range of his Divine Sense by three inches.

Even so, the Small Soul Nourishing Pill was still incredibly valuable.

If consigned at an auction, it would fetch a starting bid of at least thirty to fifty thousand Spirit Stones.

Before long, the hall was full. Jiang Mengsun had taken his seat at the head of the hall, and beside him sat a stunningly beautiful and elegant female cultivator. Compared to her, the woman next to Lü Zhong was like a mangy chicken next to a white swan.

The True Inheritance disciple from Changchun Valley, who had originally been staring straight ahead, was now frequently glancing toward the beautiful female cultivator.

This caused the female cultivator in the Feather Robe to become consumed with jealousy. She glared at the beautiful woman with open hostility, but the latter’s attention was entirely on Jiang Mengsun, and she paid the other woman no mind at all.

Watching this scene unfold, Lü Zhong thought, ’Coming here today was really worth it.’

Jiang Mengsun, at the center of this vortex of drama, cleared his throat twice to hide his embarrassment, then looked out at the crowd.

”I’d like to thank the eighteen fellow daoists present. I am deeply honored that you could all participate in this Dongbu House exchange meet! I won’t waste any more of your time with pleasantries. We’ll follow the old rules: starting with the daoist closest to the hall entrance, introduce the item you wish to trade and state your ideal price. Whether you want Spirit Stones or a specific Spiritual Object is up to you. As long as both parties agree, the deal is made.”

After saying this, Jiang Mengsun smiled and nodded at the cultivator at the very end of the right row.

This person was a gaunt old man who had the air of an otherworldly master. He was busy groping the maidservant in his arms, but when he saw all eyes turn to him, he calmly withdrew his hands. He then reverently took out a jade bottle from his robes, saying with a look of reluctance:

”Flaming Dragon Tiger Pills. They are suitable for Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators looking to increase their cultivation, and are especially effective for those with Fire Element Techniques. The side effect is that it generates fire qi in the body, which must be worn down through arduous cultivation or dispelled by other means. There are three Pills in this bottle. I wish to trade them, plus nine thousand Spirit Stones, for a single High-grade Wood Spirit Stone.”

Many of the cultivators present were visibly moved upon hearing that these were Pills that could increase one’s cultivation.

But High-grade spirit stones were rare, let alone a specific High-grade Wood Spirit Stone.

”Mr. Long, can Mid-grade Spirit Stones be used as a substitute?” someone asked, unwilling to miss the opportunity and hoping for a bit of luck.

”My apologies, but I only want a High-grade spirit stone,” the old man surnamed Long said, shaking his head.

Seeing that no one was making a move, Lü Zhong stood up and said, ”I have a High-grade Wood Spirit Stone. However, Mr. Long, you’ll need to trade that bottle of Flaming Dragon Tiger Pills plus one hundred and ten Mid-grade Spirit Stones for it. Otherwise, I’d be taking too great a loss. I hope you understand.”

High-grade spirit stones contained a massive amount of Spiritual Qi. They could only be produced in large-scale Spirit Stone Veins, and even then, their quantity was extremely low.

The exchange rate with Mid-grade Spirit Stones was usually around one to one hundred and twenty or one hundred and thirty.

Hearing this, the old man surnamed Long hesitated for a moment but still agreed to the exchange.

”Haha, congratulations, Fellow Daoist Lü, on making the first successful trade!” Jiang Mengsun said, raising his cup in a toast.

”It’s all thanks to you, Fellow Daoist Jiang,” Lü Zhong replied with a smile.

After he returned to his seat, the next cultivator stood up.

It was five stalks of three-hundred-year-old Spirit Medicine that could be refined into Pills for increasing cultivation. The asking price was three thousand Spirit Stones.

Having already acquired the Flaming Dragon Tiger Pills, Lü Zhong felt it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to participate again so soon.

A short while later, the Spirit Medicine was bought by a scholarly-looking cultivator across the hall.

One by one, the cultivators took out their items. Some offered rare Pills seldom seen in the outside world. Others had precious spiritual materials of great age, or even newly excavated, uncommon Spirit Ores. Only at an exchange meet of this caliber would such things appear in large numbers.

Lü Zhong made a move whenever an opportunity presented itself. He acquired another two bottles of Pills for increasing cultivation, as well as a full set of the main ingredients for the Grass Spirit Pill.

When his turn came, he took out the Small Soul Nourishing Pill.

As expected, the appearance of this Pill caused an uproar among the cultivators in the hall.

Even the people in the front seats—including Jiang Mengsun at the head of the hall and the beautiful female cultivator—cast surprised glances his way. It seemed that Pills for strengthening the Divine Soul were extremely rare; any cultivator with serious ambitions on their Immortal Path would do whatever it took to obtain one.

In truth, if the Small Soul Nourishing Pill could be taken more than once, Lü Zhong wouldn’t be selling it.

Seeing everyone’s fiery gazes fixed on him, with some unable to even hide their craving, all of them were eagerly waiting for him to name his price.

Lü Zhong smiled, stood up, and said:

”The value of this Small Soul Nourishing Pill needs no further explanation. However, I don’t wish to trade it for other Pills or Spiritual Objects. Instead, I want to trade it for a piece of information. If the information you provide is to my satisfaction, then not only will this Small Soul Nourishing Pill be yours, but I will also present a generous gift afterward!”