Problematic Pills
"Lan Chang'an, how dare you even ask such a question?"
The girl in the yellow dress had a pair of bright, cold eyes that radiated an invisible pressure, befitting Foundation Establishment cultivator.
"You're absolutely right."
Lan Chang'an took deep breaths, neither arguing nor refuting.
In fact, old and weak Second-Order Spirit Beast have limited lifespans and are not of much value to the Zhou Family.
If enough benefits are exchanged, more spirit beasts can be cultivated, or resources can be used to create new Second-Order Spirit Beast, or even Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Moreover, the Maple Leaf Huang Family's annexation of the Mu Family is not in the Zhou Family's interest.
Lan Chang'an neither argued nor debated, appearing indifferent to success or failure.
Zhou Qingxuan was surprised and inexplicably annoyed:
"Lan Chang'an, you overestimate your status! A small favor from back then wasn't enough."
Her posture just now was actually an attempt to manipulate Lan Chang'an and force the Mu Family to pay a greater price.
"Senior Zhou, is this Talisman enough?"
Lan Chang'an took out a Talisman outlined with ice patterns.
"Second-Order Low-Grade Talisman, Ice Roar."
Zhou Qingxuan took the talisman into her hand, gave Lan Chang'an a deep look, and finally nodded:
That's enough.
A Second-Order Low-Grade Talisman isn't particularly valuable to Foundation Establishment cultivator.
However, the "Ice Roar" Talisman was an advanced version of the "Frostfall" talisman that Zhou Qingxuan asked Lan Chang'an to refine back then.
Lan Chang'an revealed the talisman.
Firstly, it demonstrates their skills, showing that their status is not so low, exceeding that of ordinary Qi Refining Ninth Layer.
Secondly, it serves as a reminder to Zhou Qingxuan that the favors she made back then do not diminish in value due to changes in her status.
"Take this token. After the auction, have someone from the Mu Family come to me."
Zhou Qingxuan flicked a beam of blue light from her jade-like finger.
A cyan jade pendant fell into Lan Chang'an's hand.
"Thank you, Senior Zhou." Lan Chang'an bowed gratefully.
"If there's nothing else, you can leave."
Zhou Qingxuan found it all rather dull.
Just as Lan Chang'an was about to take his leave, a sudden idea flashed into his mind.
Zhou Qingxuan owed him a favor, and this was a rare opportunity to finally meet and talk!
In the Beast Taming Zhou Family, Zhou Qingxuan was by no means an ordinary Foundation Establishment elder.
"Senior Zhou, my Earth Rock Rat has been stuck at the peak of the first tier for many years. Could you sell me a second-tier Earth Spirit Pill?"
Lan Chang'an said this, mentally preparing himself to be kicked out.
"Lan Chang'an, your skin is incredibly thick."
Zhou Qingxuan's expression turned slightly cold, her beautiful eyes darting around as she looked at him incredulously.
The favor had already been repaid, yet Lan Chang'an was actually pushing his luck?
"Please forgive me, Senior Zhou, I am --"
Lan Chang'an apologized and prepared to leave.
Zhou Qingxuan interrupted him:
"A second-tier low-grade Earth Spirit Pill can promote the growth of second-tier earth-type Demon Beast. It is helpful for peak first-tier earth-type Demon Beast to advance to the second tier, increasing the chance of Low Grade Bloodline by 0.5%, Middle Grade Bloodline by 10%, and High Grade Bloodline by 1.5%."
"At the auction, it sold for two thousand Spirit Stone each. I'll give you a special price, one thousand six hundred Spirit Stone."
She was very decisive and took out a brown medicine bottle.
"Thank you for your kindness, senior."
Lan Chang'an was secretly delighted. No wonder there's a saying, "Thick-skinned people get to eat their fill, thin-skinned people get nothing."
He took out a bag of Spirit Stone and bought Zhou Qingxuan's Earth Spirit Pill.
After the transaction is completed.
Zhou Qingxuan looked impatient and waved her hand, saying, "I don't want to see you again."
Stepping out of Zhou Qingxuan's quiet courtyard, Lan Chang'an was overjoyed, his wish fulfilled.
This trip not only successfully connected the Mu Family, but also secured an opportunity for the Earth Rock Rat to advance to the second tier.
Actually, he had never thought about helping the Earth Rock Rat advance its level before, and he had a "go with the flow" attitude.
Middle Grade Bloodline, neither high nor low quality.
If you can get promoted, great; if not, then fend for yourself.
Just now, a sudden inspiration struck me, and I thought I should squeeze as much of the favor Zhou Qingxuan owed me as possible.
Despite his shameless attempt, Zhou Qingxuan surprisingly agreed to sell the rare resources.
The second-tier low-grade Earth Spirit Pill is essentially a weakened version of the Foundation Establishment, designed for Demon Beast.
Aside from being less effective than the Foundation Establishment, the Earth Spirit Pill only benefits earth-type Demon Beast, which limits its effectiveness.
Therefore, its price is much lower than that of the Foundation Establishment.
Lan Chang'an walked out of the Zhou Family's mansion.
As I passed by the outer courtyard, I suddenly felt someone's gaze upon me.
He turned around and looked.
In the distance, a middle-aged woman in her forties or fifties was sweeping the yard, avoiding his gaze.
The woman, a cultivator at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, swept the floor with a broom instead of using Law Technique to clean it.
This is not surprising.
Many established cultivation sects have various rules and regulations, such as not using Law Technique when sweeping the floor, so as not to cause fluctuations in Law Power and disturb the seniors' meditation.
The woman turned her head away to avoid it.
He caught a glimpse of a middle-aged woman's face; she had a good figure, and one could vaguely see the oval face, willow-leaf eyebrows, and almond-shaped eyes she had in her youth.
Um?
Lan Chang'an felt the face looked familiar, but couldn't immediately recall where he had seen it before.
This was Zhou Family territory, so he didn't want to delve too deeply into it. He quickly adjusted his appearance and physique and left the mansion.
"Lan Chang'an..."
The woman sweeping the floor stared blankly at the departing figure, her hands gripping the broom tightly.
Decades have passed, yet that person's appearance remains unchanged, serene and tranquil.
Her memory seemed to return to the Jade Moon Mountain Villa decades ago, where the Eldest Miss had arranged a match between her and that boy from another family at the Weeping Willow Pavilion.
Lan Chang'an's figure completely disappeared from view.
The woman suddenly broke down, wailing and sobbing uncontrollably.
Back then, she seemed to be living a glamorous life, marrying the second son of the Zhou Family and becoming their legal wife, which was considered a step up for her.
She considers this the greatest pride of her life.
However, after marrying him, she discovered that she had not married the second son she had assumed to be the one.
It was another second son with hysteria!
Once inside the bridal chamber, one has no choice but to accept reality.
The first few years of their marriage were fine; the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Zhou Family used magic to stabilize her husband's hysteria.
As time went on, the husband became increasingly deranged, his condition worsened, and he frequently tormented and beat people.
She gave birth to children in the Zhou Family. Back then, she was burdened with a mission and had no face to return to her Lineage, so she had no choice but to compromise.
The greatest happiness is to avoid your husband as much as possible.
Even if it means coming to the Yellow Dragon Immortal City's residence to do some household servant work.
Her grief-stricken cries at this moment were not out of resentment towards Lan Chang'an, but rather out of regret for the wrong step she took back then, a step she could never take back.
"So it was her."
As Lan Chang'an walked out of the Zhou Family's residence, he suddenly remembered who the woman was.
He remembered that when Mu Yinglan returned to her Lineage to visit relatives, she made a point of circling around her own courtyard, displaying the demeanor of a noblewoman from a prominent family.
Why did she fall from a wealthy lady to a cleaning lady? What life changes did she experience?
Lan Chang'an had no interest in investigating.
This was Mu Yinglan's own life choice; the two were merely nodding acquaintances.
The other party deliberately avoided the topic, clearly not wanting to confront him directly.
Half a day later.
Lan Chang'an restored the place to its original state and returned to Water Moon Residence.
In the room, he took out a second-tier Earth Spirit Pill from the amber porcelain bottle.
The dark yellow, round pill, heavy as lead and mercury, has four lines on its surface, indicating that it is a second-grade, low-level medicine.
"Wrong!"
Lan Chang'an examined it carefully, and the smile on his face froze.
After careful examination, he discovered that the Earth Spirit Pill contained unusual medicinal properties, making it a different kind of erysipelas.
During the previous transaction, Zhou Qingxuan was in the Foundation Establishment Realm, showed impatience.
He didn't examine it closely, nor did he dare to easily use his Divine Sense in front of the Foundation Establishment Realm.
At that time, Lan Chang'an confirmed that it was a second-grade low-level pill with four Dao patterns, and was not an inferior product.
Based on its appearance, it exhibits characteristics of Earth Spirit Pill.
"This little brat! A Foundation Establishment expert, she actually tricked a Qi Refining Realm like me?"
Lan Chang'an was speechless.
No wonder Zhou Qingxuan offered such a "reasonable" price; it turns out this was a problematic Earth Spirit Pill that couldn't be sold at its normal price.