Chapter 517: Chapter 517
As his closest friend, who has shared life-and-death situations with him, could Hou Ze just watch him freeze to death?
But where would the suitable spirit elixir come from? It’s really disturbing!
"How should I put it?" Hou Ze took out his communication stone, looked at Jiang Dao You’s marker, which he had thought about asking numerous times, and hesitated again, "We agreed at the beginning that he would keep an eye out for news about elixirs, but there’s been no contact, and I..."
The neighbor boy is easy-going and good at alchemy.
The problem is that asking him to concoct elixirs requires money!
No matter how he scrapes, he still doesn’t have enough money for another Nine-Flavor Red Flame Pill. How can he possibly reach out to him?
Ask for his compassion to cover the spirit medicine and precious time and energy to make another elixir, as saving a life is more meritorious than building a Level Seven pagoda?
"Ah, phew!" Hou Ze thought about it himself and found it hard to ask.
Leng Yutang watched him hesitantly troubled, holding the communication stone and constantly looking outward, vaguely guessing that his friend wanted to seek help from someone but couldn’t come up with enough compensation.
He could only hope that the person would come to the market so he could chat and inquire about the availability and value of elixirs...
These years, although the business of the small shop relied on his artifact refining and low-level magical treasures, most of the money he earned went to seeking medical treatment.
His good friend spent every day here making a loss, shouting to attract business, with no savings and no time for cultivation.
"I..." Leng Yutang opened his mouth, a deep bitterness welled up inside.
Ever since he inexplicably contracted cold poison, many people had been dragged down. Especially Hou Ze, who had saved his life on a whim and became good friends, investing almost all his time and energy.
Now, having been given a death sentence by an itinerant healer, Leng Yutang had no other extravagant hopes, thinking that alchemists could earn money, and if he could transfer the Earth Spirit Flame to the other party in exchange for a large number of spirit stones, at least he could leave some inheritance for his friend after his death.
Otherwise, wouldn’t Hou Ze’s persistent struggle over the years be in vain?
"If you have the contact information of that alchemist, you could arrange a time to invite him to the market or Red Ridge Mountain, the Earth Spirit Flame is of little use in my hands, perhaps he might need it..." He didn’t finish his sentence, thinking that selling it for more spirit stones was still something.
That was a treasure on the Spirit Fire List, and once the news leaked, it would certainly lead to a bloody scramble.
In the past, Leng Yutang would never have shown it openly, but now he wasn’t far from death.
What would a dying person fear?
Even if being killed for the treasure, it wouldn’t matter anymore.
If luck strikes and he encounters a gentleman, selling it to him would not only leave some spirit stone for his friend but also settle the treasure left by his master.
Otherwise, Hou Ze, unable to control the flame, upon his death, would result in the flame going out of control and causing harm to others, which would be a sin.
Actually, Hou Ze was also hesitant; now, between the two brothers, the only thing they could take out was the Earth Spirit Flame.
They felt like beggars guarding a mountain of gold.
The key was that this mountain of gold was too tempting. If it attracted covetous eyes, neither of them could stand a chance, and both would lose their lives because of it.
But if they didn’t use this mountain of gold, Leng Yutang would soon freeze to death! If he died, the Earth Spirit Flame wouldn’t be of use to him, and it’d still be a big problem then!
"Forget it, forget it, let’s gamble on luck. Hopefully, the neighbor boy is a righteous cultivator without evil intent. Otherwise... we’d have to accept our fate." Hou Ze gritted his teeth and sent a message for help to Jiang Yuan.
[Sub-quest: Genius Artifact Refiner]
[Task 2: Meet Hou Ze’s appointment within one incense time. Reward: Spirit Stone +10,000]
Jiang Yuan had just parted with the enthusiastic Sang siblings and left Ruiyun Palace, considering proactively going to the Golden Carp Lake Market to chat with the neighbor, wondering if he could exploit the system.
Sure enough, the sub-quest followed right up!
It’s a pity that the simple task had an average reward.
"Even a small mosquito is still meat; perhaps there will be a big gain later!" He cheerfully listened to the communication message, then responded, returning via the teleportation array to the small courtyard, and without hesitation used spirit stones to accelerate the completion of a batch of Star Flame Antitoxic Pills.
Fortunately, he caught the Candle Spirit’s fivefold acceleration buff, and the pill-making progress bar was already halfway, taking it down at the cost of 500,000 spirit stones.
Then he went to the warehouse, took the leftover Nine-Flavor Red Flame Pills from last time, intending to bring them along, regardless of any quests that might pop up after the meeting, knowing that they would eventually need the elixirs.
With them on hand, he could submit the quest directly without wasting time running back and forth.
He closed the Floating Market’s door, adjusted it to the Golden Carp Lake Market, and opened it again, revealing the shimmering lake surface. For more chapters visıt nοvelfire.net
The pointed small boats leisurely drifted across the lake, and the distant sound of shouting and haggling was heard; the moonlit, candle-lit Golden Carp Lake Market remained the same as always.
Jiang Yuan glanced around, noticing those "low-level monsters" with not much health, and couldn’t help but feel nostalgic.
In just a few short months, the Golden Carp Lake Market, which once brought him distress, had already become a thing of the past.
He didn’t know how Head Shopkeeper Du Yiyun was faring lately; his sacrifices seemed more frequent, and even through the whirlpool "screen," one could feel the anxiety in his prayers. Perhaps it was hard for a demon cultivator without a patron to endure the days lurking around.
In comparison, Pavilion Master Cang of the more capable, business-savvy, with connections everywhere Wo Hu Temple’s Treasure Pavilion stayed much calmer than him.
At least according to the gossip gathered from the little fox, she was charming and pursued by many cultivators with comprehensive power, developing numerous connections, seemingly untroubled about her identity being exposed.
The golden-haired little monkey, squatting and pawing at the fish in the water, looked up and saw the long-still store next door open, excitedly jumping and brandishing, cheerfully reminding inside.
Hou Ze, excited and nervous, kept rubbing his hands, thinking nothing else, the neighbor boy truly did have a ready-to-help attitude!
Right after he sent out the message for help, a reply came back immediately, stating that he would be there shortly.
The man was indeed a highly sought-after alchemist!
And to be so unassuming, much stronger than those pharmacists who would shove their noses up at people after concocting a few pills!
Oh, no, those folks couldn’t even be compared to him!
"Long time no see, Jiang Brother, I hope you have been well." He quickly straightened his clothes and went out, indeed seeing the person coming across the water.
Looking closely, the neighbor boy stepped on a large golden fish, wearing a robe that looked expensive, flowing in the wind—just over a month’s absence, and Jiang Dao You seemed quite ethereal!
Surely his cultivation had advanced again!
Hou Ze still couldn’t sense any spiritual power fluctuation from the other, and watched as he stepped ashore and the golden fish in the water vanished, most magically, not daring to say or ask more, and welcomed him into the shop to introduce to his friend.
[Sub-quest: Genius Artifact Refiner]
[Task 2: Met Hou Ze’s appointment within one incense time completed. Reward: Spirit Stone +10,000 issued]
[Task 3: Agree to Leng Yutang’s transaction request, deliver one Star Flame Antitoxic Pill within three days (1/1) Reward: Silver-footed Xueming Insect Capture Net (one-time use)]
As Jiang Yuan entered the small shop, a burst of scorching heat rushed towards him.
Fortunately, the clothing he had on was a magical robe gifted by Elder Lin, resistant to water and fire; even so, sweat instantly beaded on his forehead.
Darn, it’s really hot!