Cockscomb Fruit

Liang Qu picked up the exchange book; the first page was the catalog list.

Treasure Plant, precious materials, elixirs, Cultivation Method arts, weapons, armor, books—everything you could want is here.

The Record Keeper said, "Minor Merit can be saved up. If Lord Liang doesn't want to exchange them, he can take the Minor Merit Ledger back and take a closer look to see if there's anything he can use. This book isn't worth much."

Although the Small Merit Exchange Ledger has illustrations, it is not expensive, costing only a few dozen coins. Ordinary River Conservancy Office officials would pay for a copy.

Liang Qu came with Xu Yuelong's Waist Token, and the registration showed that he was only at the third level, not even Martial Master. Yet he earned five Minor Merit in one night, which clearly indicates that he has great abilities.

The Record Keeper wouldn't mind spending a few dozen coins to do Water Person.

Liang Qu didn't stand on ceremony. He grabbed the Minor Merit workbook, leaned it against the table, and started flipping through the pages.

Treasure Plant plant: [Cockscomb Fruit]

[This Treasure Plant, cultivated by the Grand Minister of Agriculture, grows submerged in water, ripens once a year, has a slightly sweet taste, and is believed to replenish Qi and Blood, benefit the kidneys and strengthen essence, invigorate the spleen and stop diarrhea, and eliminate dampness and stop leukorrhea. Consuming it can enhance martial arts cultivation.]

[Exchange Requirements: Two Minor Merit can be exchanged for three coins]

[Note: Consuming more than three pieces a day may cause bloating and halve the effect.]

"Does this still involve disassembling Minor Merit?"

Liang Qu pointed to the demand for exchanging Cockscomb Fruit, looking rather puzzled.

After glancing at it, the Record Keeper replied, "Lord Liang, you may not know this, but it is actually a benefit provided by the River Conservancy Office."

"Benefits? What do you mean?"

"Grand Minister of Agriculture has bred countless Treasure Plant, Cockscomb Fruit is just one of the better varieties to be bred."

Our River Conservancy Office is located near water, making it very convenient to cultivate this fruit. We have a large stockpile, so we have lowered the exchange requirements. Two Minor Merit can be exchanged for three fruits.

If it were the Demon Subduing Division, they would need to earn a small Minor Merit to exchange for the exact same Cockscomb Fruit. However, they also have some good things to offer. Please take a look at the Red Maple Flower Fruit, sir.

At the Demon Subduing Division and the Three Laws Department, you can exchange Red Maple Flower Fruit and Fruits for two to three!

Liang Qu followed the Record Keeper's gaze downwards.

[Red Maple Flower Fruit]

[The Treasure Plant cultivated by the Grand Minister of Agriculture ripens once every six seasons. It has the effects of nourishing and invigorating the blood, regulating menstruation and relieving pain, and moistening the intestines and promoting bowel movements. Consuming it can enhance martial arts cultivation.]

[Exchange requirement: One Minor Merit]

[Note: Consuming more than three pieces a day may cause bloating and halve the effect.]

Liang Qu understood.

The same Minor Merit, when exchanged at the River Conservancy Office and the Demon Subduing Division, will yield slightly different prices for the items.

The ability to exchange two Cockscomb Fruit for three is considered a job benefit, something other companies don't offer, though they might have other similar benefits.

The Record Keeper added, "They're all perks, but our Cockscomb Fruit is much better than the Red Maple Flower Fruit from the Demon Subduing Division!"

"Why is that? Is it because Cockscomb Fruit is more effective at enhancing cultivation?"

"No, the two methods have almost the same effect on improving martial arts."

The Record Keeper looked around and, seeing that no one was paying attention, gestured for Liang Qu to come closer.

Liang Qu lay on the table, and the Record Keeper leaned over and whispered, "It's for the kidneys and to strengthen essence! Red Maple Flower Fruit doesn't have this effect. In the past, people from the Demon Subduing Division and the Three Laws Department often came to exchange it. We could exchange two Cockscomb Fruit plus four or five taels of silver for three Red Maple Flower Fruit. It was definitely worth it, at least a tael or two cheaper! Some people who didn't like it would often go to exchange it, but this can't be done openly. Such strategic materials are usually not allowed to circulate on the market."

"It's just that we're exchanging people with the Demon Subduing Division and the Three Laws Department. It's an internal transaction, a transfer from one hand to the other. The higher-ups will turn a blind eye, so please don't tell anyone, Lord Liang."

Liang Qu nodded.

There are far more men than women in martial arts cultivation. Even before reaching the Four Gates Martial Master, men have the advantage at the same level, so it is not surprising that there is such a demand gap.

It's understandable that they're not allowed to sell the items to make money.

Da Shun provided a list of items for exchange, all priced below market value, which was done to strengthen his own forces.

You move into the market, but instead of improving your own capabilities, you enrich those outside.

One or two small-scale incidents in private are fine, but large-scale ones are absolutely forbidden. If investigated, you'll be charged with at least one crime of reselling military supplies, and according to the law, the most serious offense is execution.

However, exchanging two Cockscomb Fruit for four or five taels of silver for three Red Maple Flower Fruit would still yield a profit of one or two taels.

"So, a similar treasure fruit outside would be worth seven or eight taels of silver?"

The value of that Minor Merit was much higher than Liang Qu had imagined. Today, he earned five Minor Merit, which was equivalent to earning more than thirty taels of silver in a day! "It's about right. Sometimes it can be as low as ten taels. The things in our place are all specially supplied for military needs. The amount planted every year is quite large, and there are many places where they can be used."

"The River Conservancy Office, the Demon Subduing Division, the Three Laws Department, and the Western Army and the Northern Army —so many mouths to feed, yet they're still in short supply. Ordinary people can't get these positions; there's a catch. That's why Martial Artist all like to hold some kind of official post—it's definitely profitable, don't you think?"

"Okay, then give me three Cockscomb Fruit first."

It's not that I'm interested in the kidney-tonifying and sperm-strengthening properties; I mainly want to see if these Cockscomb Fruit have any Marsh Essence, and I'll try three of them.

The Record Keeper recorded what he heard.

"By the way, if we find Treasure Plant that can be grown in the water, would we also be credited for contributing some?"

"That's true, but Treasure Plant that can be grown in large quantities and have certain effects are hard to find, especially those underwater. If we can really find one, the contribution will be significant, Lord Liang."

Liang Qu did not speak, but shook his head slightly. The Record Keeper wisely did not ask any further questions.

As Liang Qu's strength improved, the healing effect of ordinary lotus root was not as good as before. It could still heal wounds, but it was not as effective as before, where the healing of wounds was visible to the naked eye.

However, in addition to the ordinary lotus root, with the Cannot Move of the Innate Skills of the Jiaomu Crocodile, the lotus root in the very center also contains the Marsh Essence, reaching the essence level of 0.5 or even 0.6. This one has the same effect as before.

Since contributing cultivable Treasure Plant also has its merits, we can give it a try.

All we need are a few sections of lotus root as samples. We can also use Da Shun's help to figure out how to cultivate lotus roots, including whether they can be combined with other ingredients to make more effective ointments or pills.

Liang Qu continued reading and found that, in addition to the Treasure Plant that could be obtained with one Minor Merit, there were also Treasure Plant plants like the Divine Spring Wood that could be obtained with Minor Merit, ten, or even one hundred Minor Merit Minor Merit. There were many different kinds of these plants.

There are hundreds of items in the Treasure Plant section alone, and many of their functions are repetitive. The Record Keeper also points out that only a few dozen items are actually redeemed frequently, and they are all at the top. If you want to redeem a rare item, there is no stock available, so you have to go to other places to get it.

There were even more precious materials and dozens of kinds of precious medicines, some of which could enhance cultivation, some could heal injuries, and some could boost one's condition. Liang Qu even saw one called the Clear Tiger Bear Whip Pill, which had a simple and direct effect.

There is a Flesh Generating White Bone Pill, which requires 160 Wolf Smoke Minor Merit. As long as one has not lost a limb, it can restore basic mobility within ten breaths, and there are no side effects. I'm quite tempted by it.

Liang Qu then turned to the section on Cultivation Method and martial arts.

The "Breath Holding Technique" Lower Vehicle, lesser-than- Dharma Gate, requiring only a Minor Merit.

Long Arm Fist Lower Vehicle -level martial art, consisting of five Minor Merit.

[Turtle Snake Force], Lower Vehicle inferior martial art, one of the Eight Minor Merit.

[Diving Water Steps], Lower Vehicle- middle level martial art, consisting of twelve Minor Merit.

[Water Containing Art], Lower Vehicle -middle level Cultivation Method, consisting of twenty-one Minor Merit.

[Wandering God Archery], Lower Vehicle -high level martial art, with one hundred Minor Merit.

[Primal Chaos Surging Water Art], a lower-level intermediate-level Cultivation Method, consisting of 360 Minor Merit.

Lower Vehicle Cultivation Method and skills are mostly below the level of fifty Minor Merit.

Mid-level Cultivation Method and skills cost between fifty and five hundred, with Cultivation Method techniques generally being more valuable than individual martial arts skills.

While many of the Cultivation Method taught at the River Conservancy Office Institute are certainly not as advanced as those taught by Master Yang, most of them are related to water and focus primarily on underwater maneuvering and combat, which are quite unique.

The "Breath Holding Technique," which is of Minor Merit value, is a method for prolonged underwater activities.

Surprisingly, the River Dolphin is also on the Small Merit Exchange Ledger. For just 100 Minor Merit, you can obtain another River Dolphin finless porpoise token and control one.

Thinking that Round Head's wife was still here, Liang Qu took it to heart, seeing that this would provide him with another avenue besides promotion.

"Let's start with three Cockscomb Fruit, and save the remaining three Minor Merit for later."

Liang Qu put away the booklet and took out three fruits the size of chicken heads. They were all black, with a ring of fleshy skin on the top, resembling a rooster's comb.

"No wonder it's called 'Cockscomb Fruit,' it really does look like a chicken's head."

Liang Qu returned to the small boat, looked around, and ate one.

[Marsh Essence +8]