Liu Yuanping

"Senior Brother, what kind of elixir pills are you looking to buy?"

As Zhao Huaian entered the Pill Refining Pavilion and glanced around, a young woman in a pale purple robe patterned with tiny flowers came up to greet him.

Zhao Huaian turned to look. The young woman had reached Qi Refining Layer Four, and was quite pretty.

"My name is Liu Yin'er, Junior Sister. I'm a sales attendant for the elixir pills on the first floor. I've received specialized training from the Pill Pavilion and know all the pills here very well. I'd be happy to tell you about them, Senior Brother."

Liu Yin'er smiled faintly under Zhao Huaian's scrutinizing gaze.

"I need some pills for cultivation!"

Zhao Huaian nodded and explained what he wanted. "Ideally, they should be a little better in quality and effect, suitable for cultivators at Qi Refining Mid-stage or above."

"For cultivation... The pill that best matches your needs is the first-grade lower-rank Qi Boosting Pill. It would be quite beneficial to your current cultivation."

"If you'd like something of higher quality, the first-grade middle-rank Yellow Dragon Pill is quite effective, though it costs a little more."

Liu Yin'er replied with a professional smile.

"Never mind the Qi Boosting Pill... Give me a bottle of Yellow Dragon Pills. I'll go back and see how well they work."

After a moment's thought, Zhao Huaian chose the Yellow Dragon Pills, which were higher in rank and quality.

He'd already used too many Qi Boosting Pills before. His body had developed a resistance to them, so they weren't suitable for him anymore.

"You have a good eye, Senior Brother. These first-grade middle-rank Yellow Dragon Pills are much more effective than Qi Boosting Pills, and they're just right for your current cultivation."

Liu Yin'er said with a smile, then took a bottle of Yellow Dragon Pills from behind the counter and handed it to Zhao Huaian.

Zhao Huaian nodded and accepted the pills. "If they work well, I'll definitely buy more. How much is a bottle?"

"Fifteen Low-grade Spirit Stones," Liu Yin'er replied with a bright smile.

Good. Not too expensive!

Zhao Huaian breathed a sigh of relief and took fifteen Low-grade Spirit Stones from his robe.

Once the transaction was complete, Liu Yin'er saw that Zhao Huaian wasn't interested in buying any other pills, so she went to greet other customers who had just entered the Pill Pavilion.

Zhao Huaian didn't linger in the Pill Pavilion either. After looking around, he disappeared through its bustling entrance.

After leaving the Pill Refining Pavilion, Zhao Huaian returned to West Street and wandered around for a while.

His proficiency as a Spirit Talisman Master was now maxed out. As long as he could get a second-grade Spirit Talisman guide and Drawing Method, he could become a second-grade Spirit Talisman Master at any time.

Unfortunately, forget a second-grade Spirit Talisman Drawing Method—even after wandering around, Zhao Huaian hadn't seen a Drawing Method for even a first-grade upper-rank or middle-rank Spirit Talisman.

"Alas... I'll have to leave this to luck. Right now, my main priority is to save up Spirit Stones. Perhaps when I'm better off, luck will come knocking."

Zhao Huaian shook his head. He regretted missing out, but wasn't too disappointed.

He believed that with enough Spirit Stones, he could easily learn more advanced Spirit Talisman Drawing Methods.

So aside from cultivation, his main goal now was to earn enough Spirit Stones.

Having settled on that, Zhao Huaian finished another lap around the market and was about to leave.

But after taking just a couple of steps, he spotted a familiar figure at a stall up ahead.

"Hm... Isn't that Brother Liu?"

Curious, Zhao Huaian headed toward the familiar figure.

It was Liu Bohu.

What puzzled Zhao Huaian was that he was running a stall here.

"Brother Zhao, you're back from your mission?" Liu Bohu greeted him warmly with a smile.

Zhao Huaian nodded and glanced at Liu Bohu's stall. "I just finished my mission today. After collecting the reward, I came here to buy some cultivation pills. But what are you doing here, Brother Liu?"

Liu Bohu chuckled. "I killed a few monster beasts during a mission, so I'm selling their meat here with my clansman."

As he spoke, Liu Bohu pointed to a Qi Refining late-stage cultivator beside him, sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, and introduced him. "Brother Zhao, this is the clansman I often tell you about, Liu Yuanping. He's at Qi Refining Layer Eight."

"I see..."

Zhao Huaian nodded in understanding, then hurriedly cupped his hands toward Liu Yuanping. "This junior greets you, Senior Brother Liu."

Liu Yuanping nodded slightly, the corners of his mouth turning up in a smile. "Bohu often tells me about you, too. Not bad—you're a promising talent!"

"You flatter me, Senior Brother Liu. I have matters to attend to, so I won't keep you from your business..."

Zhao Huaian cupped his hands and started to turn away.

"Junior Brother Zhao, wait. There's no need to rush off just yet!"

Before he could leave, Liu Yuanping called out to him.

Zhao Huaian turned back curiously and looked at Liu Yuanping. "What can I do for you, Senior Brother Liu?"

"Nothing in particular. Since you and Bohu are friends, and you both joined the Greenwood Sect in the same group, let me have Bohu cut you ten jin of Monster Beast Meat as a welcoming gift from your senior."

Liu Yuanping smiled and instructed Liu Bohu to cut out ten jin of Monster Beast Meat.

Liu Bohu was taken aback, but didn't hesitate. He quickly cut the ten jin of meat.

Faced with Liu Yuanping's warmth, Zhao Huaian stood there stunned for a moment.

Since joining the Greenwood Sect, he'd always been the one giving things to cultivators with higher cultivation. He hadn't expected Liu Yuanping, a cultivator at Qi Refining Layer Eight, to give him ten jin of Monster Beast Meat at their first meeting.

But when he saw Liu Bohu hand him the meat, Zhao Huaian quickly came to his senses and waved his hands. "I shouldn't accept something for nothing. How many Spirit Stones for this ten jin of Monster Beast Meat? I'll just buy it."

Zhao Huaian didn't know Liu Yuanping.

Given his cautious nature, he wouldn't accept a gift from Liu Yuanping without a second thought.

After all, there was no such thing as a free lunch. Accept the wrong thing, and you might have to pay it back many times over.

"It's no trouble. It's only first-grade middle-rank Black Wind Boar Meat; it's not worth many Spirit Stones. Just get along well with Bohu from now on."

Seeing Zhao Huaian reach into his robe for Spirit Stones, Liu Yuanping waved him off and put on a stern expression. "Of course, if you look down on Bohu, then you don't have to accept these ten jin of Black Wind Boar Meat."

"That's right, Brother Zhao!" Liu Bohu added with a smile. "Black Wind Boar Meat only costs one Low-grade Spirit Stone for five jin, and I've got well over a thousand jin here. I'm not worried about selling it."

"Well..."

Hearing the price, Zhao Huaian didn't hesitate for long. He nodded. "In that case, thank you, Senior Brother Liu."

At one Low-grade Spirit Stone for five jin, the meat was worth two Low-grade Spirit Stones. It really wasn't expensive.

It seemed Liu Yuanping truly had no ulterior motive. He was just showing the generosity expected of a senior brother.

Of course, if Liu Yuanping ever tried to use those ten jin of Black Wind Boar Meat to make him do something, then, sorry...

Zhao Huaian had never been the sort to let small favors hold him hostage.

"No need to thank me. If you have things to do, go ahead," Liu Yuanping said with a wave and a smile.

"Then I'll take my leave, Senior Brother."

Zhao Huaian nodded and left Greenwood Market carrying ten jin of Black Wind Boar Meat.

Watching Zhao Huaian's retreating figure, Liu Bohu couldn't help asking, "Clansman, it's true that Zhao Huaian and I are on good terms, but is he really worth all this courtesy?"

"His talent far surpasses yours. With no one helping him, he's already reached Qi Refining Layer Four. Breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm is only a matter of time. Think of this as my getting you closer to him in advance. If you need something in the future, he'll surely help you."

"Besides, this Black Wind Boar Meat isn't worth much. What's ten jin to me? It'll strengthen your relationship with him and show the generosity of your senior brother. Why wouldn't I?"

Liu Yuanping chuckled and stopped paying Liu Bohu any attention. He sat cross-legged on the ground again and continued cultivating with his eyes closed.