Pill Pendant

"Just some small-time stuff, nothing worth showing off—don't laugh at me."

Dugu Ye said.

After that, he led the two of them to the Dugu Family Treasury.

Dugu Ye knew that the small auction his family ran might hold some appeal for late-stage Qi Cultivation rogue cultivators, but it would never catch the eye of disciples from major sects. So he only brought out the three most precious items.

The first was a massive ganoderma.

"This is a three-hundred-year-old Wood Ganoderma. Brother Xu, you can use it in medicine if you take it back."

Dugu Ye introduced.

This treasure could still be somewhat helpful even to Xu Chang, who had already reached Foundation Establishment.

"Brother Dugu, no need. I'm not someone who focuses on Qi Cultivation through Pills."

Xu Chang waved his hand.

So-called Qi Cultivation through Pills meant using elixirs to cultivate.

Although Xu Chang wasn't a pure Sword Cultivator and did consume some pills, he wouldn't go out of his way to rely on them for breakthroughs.

Besides, while it was very difficult for Dugu Ye to obtain such a large medicinal herb, Shu Mountain had its own channels for acquiring Spiritual Medicine.

Xu Chang could buy Premium Pills already made by his senior uncles at Shu Mountain, and the cost might even be less than what Dugu Ye spent to get this herb.

It was a lose-lose situation—or rather, Xu Chang would end up owing an extra favor on top of it.

Dugu Ye then looked at Lin Chan, but before he could speak, Lin Chan's voice rang out:

"Senior Dugu, I'm not worthy of such a Spiritual Medicine!"

"Alright!"

Dugu Ye helplessly closed the box and took out the second item.

This was a pair of Cloud-Treading Boots, a rare auxiliary magic tool that reached the level of a Mid-grade Magic Tool. It could double speed, making it quite useful for both combat and escape.

However, a Mid-grade Magic Tool was still too mediocre for a Foundation Establishment cultivator—better than nothing, but not worth wasting Talisman Coins on. Xu Chang only commented:

"This is worth at least two Spirit Talisman Coins."

Spirit Talisman Coins were second-grade Spirit Pivot Talisman Coins; two of them equaled two hundred Mortal Talisman Coins.

"Brother Xu has good eyes."

Dugu Ye laughed in agreement.

"But I already have a Flying Magic Tool. This would be a waste for me."

Xu Chang said with an awkward smile.

Lin Chan said nothing, but he did want it inside—he just didn't have enough Talisman Coins on him.

He hadn't brought many Talisman Coins when he left.

"Little Brother Lin, if you like it, just wear it away."

Seeing Lin Chan hesitate, Dugu Ye said generously.

Of course, he wasn't giving it away for free—he could let him owe the debt.

After all, the Dao Alliance and Shu Mountain were respectable organizations; they wouldn't renege on a debt.

"Senior Dugu, is there anything else?"

Lin Chan noticed that Dugu Ye still had one item left as the finale—that was the real highlight.

"Little Brother Lin, I didn't expect you to read my mind."

Dugu Ye put the item back on the original table, leaving the box open as if he was really saving it for Lin Chan, then went to fetch the last treasure.

The box holding this item was tiny, but it was the most exquisite one—not only was the wood extraordinary, but the jewels decorating it were also quite refined.

Dugu Ye brought it before the two, slowly opened the box, and inside lay a Talisman of Peace about an inch long.

The carving on the Talisman of Peace was also very ordinary—just the most common drifting clouds.

"You two, care to guess what this is and what it does?"

Dugu Ye said with a smile.

This was the true treasure he wanted to give to the two from Shu Mountain, to build or deepen their friendship.

Lin Chan's divine sense couldn't leave his body yet, and the Karma Eye couldn't see inanimate objects, so he couldn't figure out its use.

"Brother Dugu, may I take it out for a look? And scan it with my divine sense?"

Xu Chang asked very politely, not acting rashly.

"Brother Xu, please!"

Dugu Ye presented the wooden box to Xu Chang.

Xu Chang took out the Talisman of Peace, rubbed it, and sensed that there was a hidden world inside—it was a Spatial Magic Treasure.

Unfortunately, it could only hold five pills the size of broad beans.

"Brother Dugu, is this a Dharma artifact for storing pills?"

Xu Chang asked tentatively.

"It is."

Dugu Ye took the Talisman of Peace, slid his thumb across it, and a hidden space appeared within.

Then, he retrieved five pills from his Storage Bag and placed them into this concealed space.

"Quite an ingenious and amusing little trinket."

Xu Chang almost smiled—after all, a jade pendant capable of holding only five pills was far too modest for its purpose.

What could such a tiny space accomplish?

Then, he saw the Pill Pendant begin to emit a faint spiritual energy.

Xu Chang was momentarily stunned.

"Brother Xu, this Pill Pendant can block impurities and release medicinal power. Simply pressing it against the skin allows absorption of that power, though the efficiency is low—it takes several days to deplete the potency of a single first-grade pill. For higher-grade pills, the effect is much weaker, but it's better than nothing."

Dugu Ye handed the Pill Pendant to Xu Chang, letting him feel it.

Xu Chang sensed the faint medicinal power emanating from the Pill Pendant and stood frozen for a long while.

Afterward, he passed the Pill Pendant to Lin Chan.

"This Pill Pendant can isolate Pill Toxin, leaving only pure medicinal power."

Xu Chang said with a smile.

This treasure was indeed intriguing. Even if the medicinal power held little use for him now, it was still worth studying.

"Senior Dugu, how much is this Pill Pendant worth?"

Even if its effect wasn't exceptional, Lin Chan desperately wanted a treasure that could completely block Pill Toxin.

It was a treasure that could accelerate cultivation speed without any negative side effects.

Especially for Qi Cultivation disciples, its effect wasn't too shabby.

With this, one could consume nearly ten extra first-grade pills each month, boosting cultivation speed by at least ten to twenty percent.

Seeing their keen interest, Dugu Ye's smile widened.

He had originally intended this item as a family heirloom, so its value was obvious.

If not for wanting to win them over, he would never have brought out such a treasure.

"Though this treasure isn't high-grade, its effect is extraordinary. I truly hate to part with it, but since you two friends desire it, I'll reluctantly sell it at cost—just three Spirit Talisman Coins."

Dugu Ye said, his face twisting with reluctance.

'Three hundred Mortal Talisman Coins?'

Lin Chan knew he couldn't afford it.

Martial Brother Xu surely had enough Talisman Coins, but he himself had no hope.

"Junior Brother, if you want it, I'll yield it to you. Just lend it to me for a few days of study, and I'll be satisfied."

Xu Chang truly had no need for it, so he chose not to compete with Lin Chan.

Lin Chan's face lit up with joy, but figuring out how to pay became another problem.

"Senior Dugu, I don't have that many Talisman Coins right now."

Lin Chan said awkwardly.

"Young Brother Lin, no need to rush. Write an IOU—even if you repay it in ten or twenty years, it's no problem."

Dugu Ye valued this small sum of Talisman Coins less than the connection.

A chance to forge a bond with a future Foundation Establishment cultivator.

He had acquired this Pill Pendant for two hundred and ninety Mortal Talisman Coins, marking it up by only ten—essentially a loss.

If auctioned, this item could fetch five hundred Mortal Talisman Coins, and someone would likely pay that price.

His family's Foundation Establishment Ancestor was already old, his body beginning to reek. Every time Dugu Ye visited, he caught a faint smell of decay.

The ancestor had only a few years left, and no one among the younger generation, like himself, could step up in time.

Once the family's ancestor passed, the Dugu Family might cease to exist.

Now, building ties with righteous great cultivators was a way to prolong the family's life.

When the ancestor finally died, these bonds of goodwill might ensure someone would protect their family for a few decades.