A Deal

Time passed quickly, and before long, a year had gone by.

Throughout that year, Long Chen spent one week each month in intensive training.

After all those days of grueling training, his progress was obvious.

His body had grown tougher, and his movements more agile.

Climbing mountains was no longer a challenge for him. Instead, he enjoyed the joy of surpassing himself as he climbed.

His steps were light and steady, and he could scale even steep mountain paths with ease.

He could dart nimbly between the branches, moving as fast as a monkey in the forest.

Ye Tianming trained Long Chen's physical abilities to prepare him for future battles with soul beasts.

Except during his training in the Soul Beast Forest, Long Chen spent all his time cultivating and studying medicinal herbs.

He had made considerable progress in both Soul Power and medical theory.

During his intensive training in the Soul Beast Forest, Long Chen gathered quite a few rare medicinal herbs.

One day, he went to a medical clinic on the street called Guang'an Hall.

Guang'an Hall treated patients and had its own pharmacy.

It wasn't very large, but it had a good reputation, making it an ideal place for Long Chen to learn.

Long Chen entered the pharmacy at Guang'an Hall.

The distinctive fragrance of medicinal herbs filled the pharmacy.

Various medicinal herbs were neatly arranged on rows of wooden medicine cabinets, while several assistants busily measured and packaged them.

Long Chen walked up to the counter and asked softly:

"Excuse me, is the manager here?"

An assistant looked up at Long Chen. Seeing that he was just a child, he couldn't help showing a hint of disdain. Thinking the boy had come to cause trouble, he answered casually:

"What do you want with our manager?"

Then he lowered his head and continued sorting the medicinal herbs in his hands.

Long Chen paid no mind to the assistant's attitude. He slowly took a jade box from inside his robe and gently opened it. A Ghost Orchid Spiritual Grass, glowing faintly green, came into view.

The assistant caught sight of it out of the corner of his eye. He jerked his head up, surprise flashing in his eyes.

Ghost Orchid Spiritual Grass was an extremely rare medicinal herb, usually found only in places where soul beasts often roamed.

What's more, this was a fresh Ghost Orchid Spiritual Grass, something an ordinary person would rarely get to see.

"Th-this is Ghost Orchid Spiritual Grass?"

The assistant's voice trembled. He couldn't believe his eyes.

Long Chen nodded calmly.

"Yes. I'd like to use it to negotiate a deal with your manager."

Though Long Chen's voice was soft, it carried a composure beyond his years.

Seeing this, the assistant's attitude changed at once. He hurriedly put down his work and said with a broad smile:

"Little brother, please wait a moment. I'll go get the manager right away."

With that, he hurried toward the Back Hall, glancing back as he went, afraid Long Chen might suddenly change his mind.

Before long, an old man in his sixties, dressed in a long robe, emerged from the Back Hall.

His steps were steady, and his eyes held a hint of wisdom.

He came before Long Chen and cupped his hands in greeting.

"I am Manager Wang of Guang'an Hall. I heard you have Ghost Orchid Spiritual Grass. May I take a look?"

"Of course."

Long Chen readily handed him the jade box.

The old man took the box and examined the Ghost Orchid Spiritual Grass carefully. A satisfied smile appeared on his face.

"Little brother, this Ghost Orchid Spiritual Grass is of excellent quality. It's truly a rare find. What would you like to trade it for?"

Long Chen had already made up his mind.

"I'd like to exchange it for the chance to study medicinal herbs and learn to make pills at your establishment."

"What?"

Manager Wang frowned, thinking he must have misheard.

After all, this was an exceptionally rare medicinal herb, yet Long Chen's request was so simple.

Manager Wang studied Long Chen carefully.

Keeping Ghost Orchid Spiritual Grass fresh required a jade container. The fact that this young boy knew that at such a tender age meant he was no ordinary person.

"Little brother, who are you, exactly? You didn't sneak this Ghost Orchid Spiritual Grass out of your family's home, did you? If your parents are soul masters, I don't want to offend them."

Long Chen shook his head and smiled.

"Don't worry, Manager Wang. To be honest, I'm a soul master. I dug up this Ghost Orchid Spiritual Grass in Sunset Forest."

Hearing this, Manager Wang was even more puzzled.

"If you're a soul master, why waste your time learning about herbs and pill-making?"

"It's purely a personal interest. I've been studying medicinal herbs for over a year, and I hope to put what I've learned into practice."

Manager Wang was taken aback for a moment, then laughed heartily.

"What an ambitious young man! My Guang'an Hall may not be large, but it's fairly well known in Heaven Dou City. If you're willing, you're welcome to come and study. I'll personally teach you about medicinal herbs and how to make pills."

Long Chen was delighted to hear this.

"Thank you, Manager. By the way, I have another rare medicinal herb here. Please take a look."

As he spoke, Long Chen took a small Iron Box from inside his robe and gently opened it.

Inside lay a bright red medicinal herb, shaped like a lotus and giving off a faint fragrance—the Fire Lotus Fruit.

The Fire Lotus Fruit was also an exceptionally rare medicinal herb, indispensable for making certain specific pills.

Manager Wang was even more surprised. He took the Iron Box and examined the Fire Lotus Fruit closely, marveling aloud:

"The Fire Lotus Fruit! This is an unexpected surprise. Little brother, where did you find this?"

Long Chen smiled and explained:

"I found it by chance on a cliff in Sunset Forest."

After hearing this, Manager Wang secretly admired Long Chen's courage and strength.

"By the way, little brother, what's your name?"

"My name is Long Chen. You can call me Xiao Chen."

"Xiao Chen, would you sell me this Fire Lotus Fruit?"

"Of course! I'd like to trade it for something."

Manager Wang looked delighted.

"Xiao Chen, what would you like to trade it for?"

"Two pieces of good-quality Whale Rubber, at least a thousand years old."

"What?"

Manager Wang was once again stunned by Long Chen's words.

Whale Rubber was an aphrodisiac used only among the nobility.

As an old physician, Manager Wang knew exactly what it did.

He just couldn't understand why a child would want it.

"Xiao Chen, what do you want Whale Rubber for?"

"Don't worry, Manager Wang. I know it's an aphrodisiac. I only want to study it alongside other medicines, nothing else."

Manager Wang nodded, though he still had his doubts.

This rare Fire Lotus Fruit was more than enough to trade for two pieces of thousand-year-quality Whale Rubber.

And with the Ghost Orchid Spiritual Grass on top, it was an incredible bargain.

"Xiao Chen, I have Whale Rubber in my pharmacy, but it isn't up to your standards. How about this? I'll make some arrangements. Come back in a couple of days to pick it up."

"No problem. You can keep the Fire Lotus Fruit for now. If I find any more rare medicinal herbs in the future, I'll sell them to you for less than the market price."

"Good. From now on, whatever you want to learn, I'll teach you without holding anything back."

Seeing how straightforward and eager to learn Long Chen was, Manager Wang was delighted too and promised to teach him everything he knew.