A Skill Transmission Jade Slip was made by a cultivator pouring their insights into practicing a cultivation technique or spell into a jade slip. Others could then obtain those insights through the slip, deepening their understanding of spells and speeding up their cultivation.
It was a shortcut straight up the mountain to success.
A little excited, Chen Lin blurted out, "How many spirit stones for an Object Manipulation Art Skill Transmission Jade Slip?"
As the saying went, any problem money could solve was no problem at all. He still had some spirit stones left, and to leave this bizarre place as soon as possible, he could no longer afford to worry about waste.
"Two thousand spirit stones!"
The price the woman quoted left Chen Lin utterly speechless.
That was not expensive. That was robbery.
If a mere Object Manipulation Art cost that much, what about other spells? How outrageously expensive would higher-level ones be?
Noticing the change in Chen Lin's expression, the woman smiled faintly. "Do you think it's expensive? But you should know that making an Inheritance Jade Slip requires at least foundation establishment realm cultivation. Do you still think it's expensive now?"
It required a foundation establishment cultivator?
Now Chen Lin was truly astonished.
Even a mere Object Manipulation Art required a foundation establishment expert's involvement. These Skill Transmission Jade Slips really were no ordinary items.
If a foundation establishment cultivator had to make it, two thousand spirit stones really was not expensive. Given their status, anything less would hardly catch their eye.
Besides, even a blank jade slip was a valuable item.
Wait!
Something stirred in Chen Lin's mind.
Did her words mean that the Shuiyue Pavilion had a foundation establishment cultivator backing it?
He had always thought it was just an ordinary shop. Now it seemed its depths were well concealed.
Whether she was telling the truth or not, he could not afford it. Looking helpless, Chen Lin left the Shuiyue Pavilion and began asking around the Market about the prices of Enlightenment Pills and Skill Transmission Jade Slips.
Just as the woman had said, there were no Skill Transmission Jade Slips for low-level spells like the Object Manipulation Art.
Such low-level spells did not warrant such an extravagant setup.
As for Enlightenment Pills, their price was an outrageous six thousand spirit stones. Worse, they were priced but unavailable-there were none to buy!
They were relatively high-grade pills that allowed someone to enter a state of sudden enlightenment for a time. Using one to practice the Object Manipulation Art would be a wanton squandering of a heavenly treasure.
In fact, it was not just Enlightenment Pills. Apart from common Qi Replenishing Pills and Hemostatic Pills, no pills related to cultivation were sold openly. The major factions controlled them all.
After learning this, Chen Lin could not help inwardly cursing that swindler. She had wasted ten of his low-grade spirit stones for nothing.
The woman at the Shuiyue Pavilion had seemingly given him two choices, but in reality, only the second was available.
Do I really have to spend two thousand spirit stones on one of their Skill Transmission Jade Slips?
Chen Lin pondered silently as he walked.
Of course, pondering was all he could do. He knew it was unrealistic.
He had no idea how long it would take to save two thousand spirit stones. Even if he saved enough and mastered the Object Manipulation Art, what about the other spells? He could not keep relying on this forever, could he?
"If nothing else works, I'll just have to grind away until I learn the Object Manipulation Art and Wind-Walking Art. I'll figure out the rest later!"
Chen Lin muttered helplessly.
It was not as though he had never considered refining Enlightenment Pills himself. With his special ability, he would certainly be able to make them.
But even setting aside the cost of the ingredients, there was no way to obtain the pill formula.
Never mind an Enlightenment Pill formula-not a single shop in the entire Market sold any pill formulas at all!
Depressed, Chen Lin lost all desire to keep browsing and prepared to head home.
Just then, a middle-aged man wearing a Reversible Fur Coat sidled furtively toward him.
The man had triangular eyes, a pointed chin, and a thin mustache that slanted down on either side. He looked every bit the villain from a novel.
Chen Lin grew wary, secretly closing one hand around the Xiaoyao Sword in his bundle while gripping a stack of Fireball Talismans with the other.
"Fellow Daoist, interested in a pill formula?"
Once he approached, the man suddenly pulled open his roomy fur coat. Several pockets were sewn into either side of its lining, each holding a yellowed paper scroll that looked ancient.
This truly caught Chen Lin off guard.
The scene looked strangely familiar.
It stirred memories of his previous life.
On a dimly lit street at night, a sleazy middle-aged man had stopped him and asked mysteriously, "Want some discs?"
The same scene, the same gesture.
"Not interested!"
Chen Lin answered coldly and was about to walk past him.
But the man's next words stopped him.
"An Enlightenment Pill formula, just three hundred spirit stones. Guaranteed copied from an authentic formula, without a single word out of place!"
The man had actually brought up an Enlightenment Pill formula outright!
Chen Lin's expression immediately chilled. He looked at the man. "Were you following me?"
"Heh."
The sleazy man gave a dry chuckle. "I wouldn't call it following you. I just happened to see you looking for an Enlightenment Pill formula in a shop."
Then he added, "To be frank, pill formulas are an Alchemist's most treasured possessions. No Alchemist would put one up for sale. Trying to buy one through legitimate channels is nothing but a fool's dream!"
"Oh? If pill formulas are so precious, how do you have so many? Don't tell me you're a master Alchemist?"
Chen Lin looked at him mockingly as he spoke.
The sleazy man paid no mind to Chen Lin's mockery. He even puffed out his chest, looking rather proud. "Snakes have their paths, and rats have theirs. You don't need to know where my pill formulas came from. All you need to know is that if you miss your chance with me today, you won't find an Enlightenment Pill formula anywhere else."
After speaking, he cautiously glanced around. Seeing that no one was paying attention, he urged impatiently, "Well, do you want it or not? If you do, hurry up. If not, I'm leaving!"
Chen Lin frowned. He had intended to turn and leave, but after thinking it over, he casually asked, "How can I be sure your formula is genuine?"
"I can swear an Inner Demon Oath. If there is the slightest falsehood in any pill formula I sell, may my soul scatter and perish!"
The sleazy man's expression turned solemn, and he pointed one hand toward the sky as he swore.
Chen Lin froze.
The man actually dared to swear an Inner Demon Oath!
Oaths in this world were not something to make lightly. The Heavenly Dao truly existed in the unseen, and Inner Demon Oaths in particular almost invariably took effect. At least, he knew of no way to circumvent one.
Could the pill formula he's selling really be genuine?
Chen Lin could not help feeling tempted.
It did not matter where the man's goods came from, whether stolen or seized by force, as long as they were real.
Besides, he was in disguise now. Once he left, no one would be able to find him.
"Can I take a look?"
Chen Lin hesitated, wanting to inspect the goods first.
Unexpectedly, the man waved his hands repeatedly. "Absolutely not. There's hardly any text in this formula. Wouldn't you memorize the whole thing after one look? Are you buying it or not? Forget it, I'm done wasting words on you!"
Seemingly annoyed, the sleazy man turned to leave.
"Wait!"
Chen Lin hurriedly called him back.
The man's reasoning was sound. A pill formula really was difficult to inspect before buying.
After a moment's thought, he stopped beating around the bush. "I won't inspect it, then. But can you lower the price? I don't have that many spirit stones on me!"
He truly was desperate for this Enlightenment Pill formula now. Even knowing there was a very good chance the man was a swindler, he still intended to gamble once.
But there was no way he would gamble three hundred spirit stones. He might consider it if the price were lower.
"Ugh, a grown man, and you dither this much. Tell me, how much cheaper do you want it?"
The sleazy man turned back, his face full of impatience.
"Ten spirit stones."
Chen Lin spoke very quietly. Even he felt the price was a little outrageous.
Sure enough, the sleazy man flew into a rage. "Ten spirit stones? Are you joking? This is a pill formula, not a cabbage!"
Chen Lin also felt he had bargained a little too ruthlessly. After thinking it over, he took a small coin pouch from his bundle and shook it. "There are twenty spirit stones in here. That's all the money I have on me. If you agree, we have a deal. If not, forget it!"
To be honest, Chen Lin was certain this transaction would fall through.
Twenty low-grade spirit stones could not possibly equal the value of an Enlightenment Pill formula.
Even if it had been stolen, the price ought to cover the risk!
But to his great surprise, the man snatched out one of the paper scrolls with an exasperated expression, hurried over, and stuffed it into his hand. Then he grabbed the pouch of spirit stones.
"You're getting a bargain today. If I hadn't gone all day without a sale, you could forget about getting this price!"
With that, the man closed his fur coat and sped across the snow like the wind, vanishing from sight.
Damn it, I've been scammed!
Seeing this, even if Chen Lin had been the slowest of wits, he would have known his spirit stones had gone down the drain.
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