I cultivate immortality on the Sky Island

Chapter 31 Plotting to Refine Pills

Seven days later.

On Zhao Family Island, in Huang Jing's cave, the three scavengers reunite.

"How have you two fared?"

"I only got one piece of Xuan Iron from that knife; the other miscellaneous items were exchanged for a little over three hundred contribution points."

Huang Jing gave the two of them a wry smile.

"I was luckier and managed to salvage a few immortal materials from the miscellaneous items, which earned me over 500 contribution points. I also extracted two portions of black iron from the treasured sword."

Chu Qinghe also spoke softly.

After several days of sorting and digesting, the gains from the last trip to Wanshihai have been transformed into contribution points.

Although three to five hundred contribution points is a considerable amount, enough for them to cultivate for quite some time, it is ultimately lower than expected.

Fortunately, the treasured sword can extract black iron.

If handed over to the Zhao family, the Xuan Tie could be exchanged for at least a thousand contribution points.

"I also have around three hundred."

Ji Yun spoke truthfully.

Apart from the plaque and incense burner, that's really all the other items that were changed.

However, after careful study...

He discovered that the plaque appeared to be of the Foundation Establishment grade.

This item did not originate from the Night Sea, but rather from the Primordial Spirit Realm above the Night Sea.

The cave's owner was likely a cultivator at the eighth or ninth level of Qi Refining during his lifetime, residing in the upper layer of the Night Sea, just a step away from the Initial Spirit Realm.

This plaque was mostly obtained by chance, and it was one of the greatest opportunities he encountered in his life.

Unfortunately, too many of the plaques are damaged.

Its rank far exceeds its current cultivation level.

Ji Yun was unable to repair it, so he could only take out the depleted spiritual materials, nourish them in the cave for a period of time, and then recast them into other magical artifacts.

As for that half-burnt incense stick...

Even now, I still cannot understand it.

They only knew that it was harmless to cultivators, but they didn't know its grade or purpose.

The two cultivation worlds in this life and the next are not the same. Many immortal materials are unique to this world, and Ji Yun cannot understand everything.

We can only try lighting it on a later date.

Only then can one know the function of this thing.

"It's time to get going." Chu Qinghe stood up.

"I'm going to change my clothes," Huang Jing nodded.

They had agreed to disguise themselves and head to the market on the third floor of the Night Sea today.

Huang Jing and Chu Qinghe both extracted black iron from the treasured swords, intending to ask a weapon refiner to tailor-make a magical artifact for them.

Ji Yun went to take a look on the way.

Check out the three-story market in Yehai.

……

Half a day later.

The three arrived at the market.

Looking out into the depths of the night sea, hundreds of floating islands are scattered like stars, their lights as bright as day, appearing like a galaxy stretching across the night sky.

Qianyu Market.

There is no owner in the market.

The Zhao, Zheng, and Hu families all operate businesses in the market, keeping each other in check. However, half of the shops in the market are run by independent practitioners.

The three landed on the main island of the market.

Huang Jing and Chu Qinghe went to find a rogue weapon-cultivating master to discuss the matter.

Ji Yun wandered around alone.

In terms of scale, this market is almost the same as the Zhao Family Market on the second floor of Yehai.

The reality is completely different.

The shops along the street are more luxurious and grand, and the storefronts are also very well decorated.

The goods on the lower level are more abundant and more valuable than those on the lower level.

There are cultivators at the second level of Qi Refining on the street.

However, most of them were scions of nearby families, dressed in luxurious clothes and with extraordinary bearing.

"Setting up a talisman shop on the lower level to sell exclusive talismans was indeed the right choice."

"This move was not a mistake."

Ji Yun visited the talisman shop and the pharmacy, gaining a general understanding of the market.

The various talisman shops on the third floor of the Night Sea all have a large number of talisman masters under their command. They are famous, have stable quality, and face fierce competition.

If a talisman vendor wants to sell talismans, he must squeeze his profit margin.

Let's do a rough calculation.

Whether it's a mid-grade or high-grade talisman, the income of a stall talisman master is not as high as that of a talisman master working at the Zhao family's talisman shop.

At least the talisman masters of the Zhao family can buy the immortal materials produced by the Zhao family at a discount.

Only unique talismans can make money.

Same cost, but higher premium.

However, selling unique talismans on the third floor of the Night Sea is tantamount to walking into a trap.

Therefore, selling unique talismans at the lower levels is the best way to maximize profits.

"Alchemy has great potential."

"The medicinal herbs in the three layers of the Night Sea are quite abundant, but the prices are extremely high."

"The resources required to become an alchemist are far greater than those required to become a talisman master."

"Only families can afford to train them, and most alchemists are from major families."

"Random alchemists are rare, but extremely sought after, and their earnings are very high."

Ji Yun thought to himself.

Spiritual herbs cannot be found in places like the Myriad Stone Sea; they must be carefully cultivated by cultivators, and it can take decades or even centuries for them to mature.

The price is shockingly high.

The cost of trial and error for alchemists is extremely high.

His advantage is that he possesses memories of his past life, so he doesn't need to invest in any training.

Among the myriad arts of cultivating immortality.

He was most skilled at alchemy.

Given the local alchemy skills, he could easily produce pills of the same quality.

"But this matter cannot be rushed."

"It still needs careful consideration."

Ji Yun shook his head slightly. Alchemy and talisman drawing are different, and he could not cooperate with the Zhao family.

The Zhao family will not train alchemists from outside the family.

Even if the Zhao family is willing to train him, he would have to start as an apprentice and not immediately become a master pill refiner, otherwise his secret would be exposed.

But even if he plays a genius, it would still take him one or two years to go from an apprentice to a master alchemist.

That's a huge waste of time.

However, selling pills at a stall is too dangerous, as it would easily attract the attention of various powerful families.

The best option would be to change his name and identity, and directly find a talisman shop to cooperate with as a senior alchemist.

I'll practice a disguise technique first.

Let's wait until we're absolutely certain before making a decision.

……

Not long after.

Ji Yun and the other two reunited.

Things are going smoothly on their end. They've already handed the black iron over to the weapon refiner, and it should be ready to be forged into a magic weapon within a month.

But only Huang Jing chose to refine weapons.

After inquiring about the price, Chu Qinghe felt it was too expensive and decided to keep the resources for cultivation, so she did not take out the Xuan Iron.

To celebrate this, Huang Jing hosted a dinner party.

The three of them went to a medium-sized restaurant and ordered a table of fine wines and delicacies.

"Forging weapons is indeed very expensive."

"This has completely emptied my savings of several years."

Huang Jing sighed, his face beaming with satisfaction.

"Fellow Daoist Huang has quite the ambition, having forged a first-grade high-quality magic weapon."

Chu Qinghe explained to Ji Yun.

"Since I'll have to break through to the third level of Qi Refining sooner or later anyway, and I'll have to replace the first-grade mid-level magic weapon eventually, I might as well go straight for the top one."

Huang Jing laughed loudly, picked up his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp, then continued:

"By the way, have you two asked the Zhao family about the Immortal Trial of the Qingxuan Sect?"

"no."

Ji Yun shook his head slightly.

He has memories of his past life, and he has no shortage of cultivation techniques or inheritances. Moreover, the cultivation techniques and inheritances of the Qingxuan Sect could not possibly be stronger than those of the major sects in his past life.

Now all he lacks are resources.

Being a free spirit is more liberating.

"I did ask, but the Zhao family's condition was that if I failed the Immortal Trial, I would have to marry into the Zhao family."

I haven't agreed yet.

Chu Qinghe frowned.

Although she was only nineteen years old and at the second level of Qi Refining, she was not entirely confident that she would pass the Immortal Trial.

Upon hearing this, Ji Yun used his divine sense to scan Chu Qinghe's dantian.

The results were unexpected.

She actually possesses a mid-grade spiritual root, with both metal and water elements, making her aptitude exceptionally good.

They might be descendants of high-ranking cultivators, left behind in the lower levels of the Night Sea.

At least for Ji Yun, this was the first time he had encountered a mid-grade spiritual root in the lower layers of the Night Sea.

If she were placed in the spiritually rich world of cultivation in her previous life, her path to immortality would have been smooth sailing, and she would have surely broken through to the Foundation Establishment realm before the age of one hundred.

If all goes well.

The Golden Elixir may also be formed.

However, given the unique environment of the night sea, Ji Yun couldn't predict how far she could go in the future.

"Fellow Daoist Chu, you haven't had your aptitude tested?"

Ji Yun casually asked, "With her aptitude, passing the Immortal Trial shouldn't be difficult."

"No, the Zhao family offered to test me, but I refused."

"Furthermore, the Immortal Trial of the Qingxuan Sect is not only related to aptitude, but also includes many other tests."

Chu Qinghe looked at Ji Yun, her tone somewhat uncertain, and she hesitated several times before speaking.

"Um."

Ji Yun did not say much.

This matter is none of his business; at most, he might offer Chu Qinghe a suggestion before the Immortal Trial.

Whether she listens or not is her own business.