Renting a shop
Su Bai was slightly taken aback.
These two female cultivators had only met him briefly at most, so why did they harbor such great hostility towards him?
"Sister Lin Wan, it's my good fortune to meet such a senior; please don't ruin my fortuitous opportunity!"
"Did you know that you are a high-level Alchemist capable of refining Golden Marrow Pill?"
For the previous four months, Lin Wan and Shen Shuangshuang had been constantly belittling Su Bai, believing that Zhang Ying had been brainwashed.
Zhang Ying couldn't argue with two people, so she simply ignored them.
The senior was right in front of her; this fortuitous opportunity was not to be jeopardized, even by her own sisters. Moreover, the rent for the cultivation courtyard this year had involved some unpleasantness between two people who were not related.
Lin Wan rolled her eyes upon hearing this. "Zhang Ying, do you know what it means to be Alchemist can refine Golden Marrow Pill?"
"Alchemist capable of refining Golden Marrow Pill already have enough capital to rent shops in Alchemy Street. Would they really play house with you here?"
Zhang Ying couldn't argue with Lin Wan, and her face turned pale with anger.
"Noisy."
Su Bai, however, found the conversation too tedious and, too lazy to argue, simply released the Foundation Establishment Cultivator aura he had been suppressing within him, enveloping the two women opposite him.
The Spiritual Power pressure of Foundation Establishment Cultivator is far beyond what two mere Qi Refining can withstand.
Lin Wan and Shen Shuangshuang's pupils were unfocused, and they both collapsed to the ground.
"Foundation... Foundation Establishment Cultivator..." Zhang Ying, who was not directly impacted, was also so shocked that she couldn't speak.
Although she had some suspicions before, Zhang Ying still found it somewhat unbelievable after Su Bai actually confirmed that he was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
"Come with me."
Su Bai started walking, Zhang Ying Su Bai, after a slight pause, followed in his footsteps.
As Zhang Ying passed by her two female companions who had collapsed on the ground, Zhang Ying recalled the scene from before, gritted her teeth, hardened her heart, and did not help them up. Instead, she jogged to catch up with Su Bai.
They quickly disappeared from the sight of the two female cultivators.
"I noticed a change in your attitude towards them. Has something happened?" Su Bai Divine Sense, clearly noticed the subtle changes between Zhang Ying and her two companions.
Zhang Ying sighed, a hint of frustration flashing across her round face. "I was helping my senior look after the courtyard for the past few months, so I didn't have time to go out and find work. Since I need Spirit Stone to support my daily cultivation, the rent was increased at the end of the year, leaving me with ten Spirit Stone less."
"Sister Lin Wan and the others got very angry and demanded that I immediately pay the ten Spirit Stone, otherwise they would not share the apartment with me next year."
"Later, I took on some odd jobs and quickly paid back the ten Spirit Stone."
"But I still couldn't escape their daily ridicule. Moreover, when I was short ten Spirit Stone, Sister Lin Wan really wanted to kick me out. If I hadn't begged and pleaded, I probably wouldn't have been able to wait for your return, Senior."
After this incident, Zhang Ying finally understood how fragile and easily broken the sisterhood led by Lin Wan truly was.
This is only ten Spirit Stone. If it involves thousands of Spirit Stone, wouldn't they resort to stabbing us in the back?
After today's public falling out, Zhang Ying will probably never be able to go back to being with Lin Wan and the others.
Su Bai nodded slightly, seemingly lost in thought.
The Cultivation World is inherently a dog-eat-dog world. Although Heavenly Star City appears orderly, it merely cleverly conceals its cruel reality.
Ultimately, while independent cultivators may become allies for short-term gains, they will eventually part ways if there are no long-term benefits.
Compared to the scheming and intrigue among independent cultivators, the sect traditions of major sects are far more precious.
"Senior, where are we going?" Zhang Ying asked, concealing her emotions.
"I'll teach you some tips for purchasing the ingredients for Golden Marrow Pill Spirit Medicine Ingredients, so you can avoid buying inferior products."
"Although you two sisters don't have great taste, you've reminded me that those who buy Golden Marrow Pill are mostly Cultivator at the Late Qi Refining or the Qi Refining Great Perfection. It'll probably be hard to find customers in the stalls that cater to lower-level Cultivator. I really should rent a shop," Su Bai said.
The reason why the rent for shops on Alchemy Street is high is because of the stable customer base.
The Cultivator throughout Heavenly Star City and even the Demon Star Sea all know that the Spirit Pills from the Alchemy Street are of the highest quality.
Every day, the Alchemy Street is bustling with customers.
Su Bai now has over 20,000 Spirit Stone he obtained from the Eight-Foot Madam Yu Zhao, enough to rent a somewhat secluded shop on Alchemy Street.
The remote location doesn't matter. Once Su Bai's Alchemy Talent comes into play and he refines the Golden Marrow Pill to the Top Grade quality, customers will naturally flock in and accumulate more and more.
"Huh? Open a shop? Does that mean you don't need me anymore, senior?" Zhang Ying didn't quite grasp the idea for a moment.
Su Bai smiled faintly, "With the opening of a new shop, we naturally need people to go out and attract customers and organize activities. We need manpower to arrange these things. I will make you the shop Manager so that you can attract customers and take good care of the shop's business."
Zhang Ying is not actually stupid; she's just too sincere with people.
When one is a wandering cultivator, such sincerity is easily taken advantage of.
However, if one has something to rely on, such as a shop backed by Su Bai, this sincerity can become a means of stabilizing customer base.
After all, sincerity is the key to success in interpersonal relationships.
Zhang Ying's performance over the past few months had also earned Su Bai's approval.
"This... Senior Lu Jiu, rest assured, I will definitely help you manage the shop with all my heart. Just give me your instructions!" Zhang Ying's face flushed slightly, knowing that she had successfully seized the fortuitous opportunity.
With the backing of the Foundation Establishment Realm Alchemist, becoming the Manager of a shop on Alchemy Street is like a meteoric rise for a rogue cultivator.
From this point on, his fate would be completely different from Lin Wan's and the others.
As they were talking, Su Bai led Zhang Ying into a shop selling spirit medicine.
Su Bai had previously purchased spirit medicine from this shop, so the shopkeeper naturally knew Su Bai's identity Alchemist and personally came out to greet Su Bai.
Su Bai pointed at Zhang Ying: "Today will be a bit troublesome. She'll be in charge of purchasing spirit medicine for me from now on, so I need to teach her properly today."
The shopkeeper waved his hands repeatedly, "No problem, no problem, Alchemist Lu, please teach me. I will cooperate fully."
As he spoke, he took out several portions of Yellow Dragon Pill Spirit Medicine Ingredients of different qualities.
Su Bai said, "I took the wrong Spirit Medicine Ingredients. For the time being, I will be refining Golden Marrow Pill."
The shopkeeper was slightly taken aback, then realized what was happening and quickly put away the Spirit Medicine Ingredients for the Yellow Dragon Pill.
"Congratulations, Alchemist Lu, your alchemy skills have made another breakthrough!"
"Congratulations!"
The shopkeeper then brought out several more portions of Golden Marrow Pill Spirit Medicine Ingredients of different qualities. Before Su Bai could speak, he personally explained to Zhang Ying how to distinguish between the different qualities of the Spirit Medicine Ingredients.
The Spirit Medicine Ingredients the Golden Marrow Pill are quite numerous, making it difficult to categorize them all at once, but Zhang Ying diligently memorized them.
Su Bai left Zhang Ying at the shop to identify the ingredients for the Golden Marrow Pill Spirit Medicine Ingredients.
He then went to the nearby Alchemy Street to find a suitable alchemy shop for himself.