Longevity through Upgrading Buildings

Chapter 155: Chapter 123: [Pigsty: Level 3] (Double-length)

After handling the matter, Ji Yuan inquired at the transaction center on Thousand Mechanism Island nearby.

To see if there was any Earth Core Lava for upgrading the Pigsty.

There was.

However, the price wasn’t cheap, with just one pound of Earth Core Lava costing 250 merit points.

Ji Yuan needed 5 pounds, and simply using merit points wouldn’t be enough.

So he exchanged merit points for 2 pounds, and the missing portion could only be purchased at Hundred Treasures Tower.

As for why he only submitted two jars of Spirit Wine… there was no particular reason; it was simply because Ji Yuan only brought two jars back to the sect this time, while the rest remained stored in the Wine Cellar.

He would have to bring some more next time he comes.

At the end, Ji Yuan arrived at All Things Island and ascended the Hundred Treasures Tower.

The Hundred Treasures Tower also sells Earth Core Lava, but the price was even higher.

On Thousand Mechanism Island, it was roughly 500 low-grade Spirit Stones per pound, whereas at Hundred Treasures Tower, it was 550 Spirit Stones.

Ji Yuan had no choice but to accept and bought 3 more pounds, gathering enough materials needed to upgrade the Pigsty.

Next was the Illusion Heart Flower and Earth Vein Spirit Marrow needed for upgrading the Enlightenment Room.

Earth Vein Spirit Marrow was available for purchase, but the price was exorbitant.

A one-ounce jug of Earth Vein Spirit Marrow cost 10 mid-grade Spirit Stones.

Converted to low-grade Spirit Stones, that would be 1000 pieces!

Yet, compared to the Illusion Heart Flower, this extremely expensive Earth Vein Spirit Marrow was still considered good news.

Because Hundred Treasures Tower didn’t have Illusion Heart Flowers for sale.

Furthermore, the attractive female cultivator on duty very kindly informed Ji Yuan.

“Not only do we at Hundred Treasures Tower not have it, even Thousand Mechanism Hall is without Illusion Heart Flowers.”

That was difficult… Ji Yuan frowned slightly.

He didn’t expect to be stuck here when everything seemed to be going smoothly.

“May I ask, beautiful senior sister, why is the Illusion Heart Flower so scarce that even Hundred Treasures Tower doesn’t have it?”

Ji Yuan bowed slightly towards her.

The female cultivator heard and covered her mouth with a laugh: “You have quite a sweet mouth.”

There’s no way I can bribe you in public, so to seek information, I have to sweeten my words a bit… Ji Yuan laughed and added quickly.

“That’s because senior sister herself is good-looking, and I’m just speaking the truth.”

These words made the female cultivator unable to contain her laughter.

“The Illusion Heart Flower merely has the function of honing one’s mental faculties. Incidentally, some unscrupulous cultivators at Joy Palace use it to indulge in an ethereal state… But recently, Medicine King Valley suddenly started purchasing Illusion Heart Flowers in large quantities.”

The female cultivator, after enjoying the exchange, finally shared the truth with Ji Yuan.

Medicine King Valley’s massive acquisition of Illusion Heart Flowers instantly reminded Ji Yuan of the Water Dragon Sect’s large purchases of Cold Iron Sand… Could there possibly be a connection between the two?

“If Medicine King Valley needs this, why is even our Water Dragon Sect running short?”

Ji Yuan was a bit puzzled.

The female cultivator looked at Ji Yuan and blinked silently.

Ji Yuan pondered for a moment, then suddenly realized… if Medicine King Valley really needs this, the Water Dragon Sect would definitely curb sales to avoid having opportunistic disciples trade them over.

Otherwise, wouldn’t it be aiding the enemy?

Or perhaps the Water Dragon Sect discovered some other use for the Illusion Heart Flower and decided to keep it for themselves?

In any case, holding onto it was the right move for the Water Dragon Sect.

Just when Ji Yuan thought he needed to rethink his approach, the female cultivator kindly suggested a method.

“If junior brother really needs this item, you could publish a task at Thousand Mechanism Hall — spending a few more Spirit Stones wouldn’t be too much — and I think there might be some fellow disciples who possess it. How much do you need anyway?”

After speaking, the female cultivator gave Ji Yuan a quick look-over.

If he needed a lot… He might need reporting then and there.

“Not much; I need only 3 flowers for alchemy.” Ji Yuan quickly replied.

“Then there’s no problem. Junior can go ahead and publish the task.”

“Alright, thank you, beautiful senior sister.”

Ji Yuan bowed once more before taking his leave.

Indeed, posting a task at Thousand Mechanism Hall was currently the most hassle-free solution, just as the female cultivator suggested — paying a little more Spirit Stones would be no trouble at all.

Besides, he had already gathered the materials necessary for upgrading the Pigsty, so the critical focus should be on going back to upgrade the Pigsty, raising pigs, and then using the Quenching Acupoint Pearl to enhance the physical body.

Aiming for the Body Foundation Establishment eventually.

Upgrading the Enlightenment Room was considered a secondary goal.

Not long after, Ji Yuan returned to Thousand Mechanism Hall and went to the task publication area.

“Fill out the details of the task you want to publish at the side.”

The cultivator on duty guessed Ji Yuan was a newcomer when he saw him sitting still.

Only then did Ji Yuan take up the pen and paper from the side, and, looking at the content, filled it out line by line:

“Task description: Purchase 3 Illusion Heart Flowers.”

For the task duration, Ji Yuan thoughtfully set it for “3 months.”

Regarding the task reward, Ji Yuan wasn’t stingy and generously placed it at 600 merit points… equivalent to the price of 12 mid-grade Spirit Stones. Generally, this 3 Illusion Heart Flowers should cost about 9 mid-grade Spirit Stones.

But given the special circumstances now, the price would naturally be higher.

Besides, it’s using merit points — 600 merit points would roughly equate to 3 jars of Spirit Wine that he would bring next time.

The cultivator on duty reviewed Ji Yuan’s task form and, after checking his information, couldn’t help but chuckle: “Daoist Ji, are you not just toying with us here?”

“Hmm?”

Ji Yuan didn’t immediately understand.

“You only have 100 merit points, so where are you getting 600 to publish the task?”