Cooperation with the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion?
At Shopkeeper Xu's words, Chen Changming's breath caught. The scene before him felt like a dream.
The mighty Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion actually wanted to work with a minor cultivator at the first level of Qi Refining?
It was simply unbelievable!
Taking a deep breath, Chen Changming asked slowly, "How would we cooperate?"
Shopkeeper Xu seemed to think highly of his Cloud Rain Art. Did he want Chen Changming to water the Spirit Rice grown by the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion?
If all he had to do was water it, then he could agree.
"To be honest, my Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion has a medicinal field where the plants are growing slowly. We'd like to have you water it ten times each month. In return, we'll pay you fifty Low-grade Spirit Gathering Pills a month."
Shopkeeper Xu explained.
After he finished, he fixed his eyes on the young man, watching his reaction.
For a minor cultivator at the first level of Qi Refining, earning fifty Spirit Gathering Pills in a month was already an astronomical sum.
"Fifty pills..."
Chen Changming blinked, then stared right back at Shopkeeper Xu.
Fifty Spirit Gathering Pills a month for watering the field ten times was a good deal. If he watered it for half a year, he would earn three hundred pills—far more than he could make growing Spirit Rice.
He didn't agree right away. Instead, he deliberately stalled, testing the other man's reaction.
Seeing Chen Changming hesitate, Shopkeeper Xu thought that although this Lingxiao Sect servant disciple was very young, he was quite shrewd. Remembering his young mistress's instructions, he gritted his teeth and said, "If you think that's too little, then let's make it a hundred Spirit Gathering Pills a month. That's the greatest sincerity my Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion can offer."
In truth, a hundred Low-grade Spirit Gathering Pills meant very little to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. Once the medicinal field matured, the profits it brought in would far exceed the initial investment in pills.
"Deal."
Chen Changming quickly agreed.
With terms this good, he would have to be out of his mind to refuse.
Like Spirit Rice, the medicinal field at the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion needed to be watered constantly before its plants matured. It was a long-term arrangement. If Chen Changming could keep it going, he would never have to worry about getting the Spirit Gathering Pills he needed to cultivate.
Overjoyed that the young man had agreed, Shopkeeper Xu hurriedly said, "Fellow Daoist, please come with me."
Chen Changming followed him.
"Miss, he's here."
At the top of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion,
Shopkeeper Xu led Chen Changming into a private room. Looking toward the White-Clad Woman by the window, he spoke with deep respect.
"Good. You may go."
The White-Clad Woman turned around, now wearing a white veil that concealed her true appearance.
Her eyes, however, were exceptionally beautiful—bright and limpid, full of life. One look was enough to make them unforgettable.
"Chen Changming, here are a hundred Low-grade Spirit Gathering Pills."
The White-Clad Woman pointed at a white porcelain bottle on the table and suddenly said something startling.
"You..."
Chen Changming's eyes widened. He stared at the White-Clad Woman in disbelief, his heart turning uneasy.
This young servant disciple of the Lingxiao Sect, who had carefully disguised himself, had been recognized at a glance by the young mistress of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion!
The White-Clad Woman parted her lips in a smile. "There's no need to be surprised. You're only a servant disciple, and you've just begun cultivating. Naturally, you don't yet understand how to use spiritual sense. I only had to sweep you with mine to see your true appearance..."
Spiritual sense!
At her words, Chen Changming finally realized where he had gone wrong.
He really was too weak, and he knew nothing about many of the basics of the cultivation world. Thinking that a cloak alone could keep others from recognizing him was laughable before a true powerhouse.
"If you don't want people probing you with their spiritual sense, my Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion can give you a cloak treasure that blocks spiritual sense."
The White-Clad Woman smiled brightly.
As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, she had never before spoken this way with a little fellow at the first level of Qi Refining. Seeing him repeatedly stunned, she found herself feeling an inexplicable sense of delight.
It was a curious feeling.
So she decided to give the little cultivator a cloak treasure, just to keep surprising him.
A cloak treasure?
Chen Changming was delighted. It was exactly what he had been hoping for. But he had heard that magical treasures were always extremely expensive. Even if she gave it to him for free, he couldn't afford to accept it.
"Y-Young Miss, I can't accept a gift without earning it."
Chen Changming sighed softly.
He had taken off his cloak by now, and his speech had returned to normal.
The Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion had investigated every detail about him. There was no need to keep hiding things anymore.
After a moment's thought, the White-Clad Woman smiled. "How about this? This medicinal field is extremely important to my Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. Can you swear not to reveal anything about it?"
"Of course."
Chen Changming nodded, then solemnly swore an oath.
"Take this cloak. Your cultivation is still low, so you can bind it to yourself with a drop of your blood."
The White-Clad Woman took out a black cloak, set it on the table as well, and gently instructed him.
"Thank you."
Chen Changming thanked her at once, then put both the white porcelain bottle and the black cloak into his Storage Bag.
"Come with me."
The White-Clad Woman turned and walked out. Chen Changming hurried after her. After a few steps, they reached a platform. A black Azure Eagle, a zhang long, stood there quietly, radiating a powerful aura.
Chen Changming's breathing grew labored.
"Little Black is a Beast at the Foundation Establishment Realm. Your cultivation is still low, so you can barely withstand its presence..."
The White-Clad Woman waved a hand lightly. An invisible force encircled Chen Changming, blocking out the pressure.
A Beast at the Foundation Establishment Realm!
Chen Changming was startled. This Beast was so powerful that its mere aura nearly crushed him to death.
A beam of light appeared out of nowhere, carrying them onto the eagle's back.
The black Azure Eagle beat its wings and shot into the sky. Chen Changming looked down at Lingyun City, now far below, and was even more astonished.
This Beast at the Foundation Establishment Realm was actually a flying mount.
And what cultivation level did the young mistress of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion have, to afford a Beast of such strength?
The black Azure Eagle soared through the air.
The wind howled past, but the protective force kept it from reaching Chen Changming. He kept his mouth shut and said nothing, waiting quietly.
He could see by now how important this medicinal field was to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.
They probably hadn't been able to find anyone skilled in the Cloud Rain Art, and only out of desperation had they sought out a minor cultivator like him, at the first level of Qi Refining.
Half an hour later,
the black Azure Eagle folded its wings and landed atop a mountain.
Chen Changming looked closely and saw what seemed to be a ruin, with broken walls everywhere and weeds growing wild. But the area outside a certain cave had been tidied up neatly, and dozens of people stood guard there.
"We're here."
The White-Clad Woman grabbed the young man and flew straight to the cave entrance.
"Greetings, Miss."
Everyone hurriedly bowed in respect.
"Mm, there's no need for formalities."
The White-Clad Woman smiled faintly. Standing at the cave entrance, she gazed into it and said, "The space in the Ziyuan Secret Realm has been fairly stable lately. I hope it holds until the spirit herbs mature..."
A black-robed old man walked up and looked at Chen Changming with a frown. "Miss, can this man really do it?"
"Mm. He grew Mid-grade Spirit Rice and has some skill in the Cloud Rain Art."
The White-Clad Woman nodded.
Hiss!
The black-robed old man sucked in a sharp breath, deeply astonished.
Such talent at the first level of Qi Refining was truly rare!
Ignoring the old man's shock, the White-Clad Woman smiled faintly and waved her hand. "Someone, take Fellow Daoist Chen into the secret realm."
"Yes."
A young man came up to Chen Changming, gave him a meaningful glance, then headed toward the cave.
Chen Changming hurried after him.
They walked side by side and stepped through the entrance almost simultaneously. At the same moment, a layer of rippling water suddenly appeared at the cave mouth. It didn't impede them, and they passed through without trouble.