A commission

In the end, Wu Bai obtained an Earth-tier soul Dou Technique from his teacher: Shattered Soul Finger.

Compared with ordinary Dou Techniques, this soul Dou Technique was much easier to cultivate, provided one met the threshold.

Conversely, if one's soul power fell short of that threshold, there was no point even thinking about it.

Although using it repeatedly within a short span would place a heavy burden on Wu Bai's currently transforming soul,

in Wu Bai's eyes, using it just once at a critical moment would be enough to turn the tables from the brink of defeat.

When it came to soul power, aside from alchemists, almost no one below Dou Sheng possessed a Spirit Realm soul.

Some magical beasts failed to reach the Spirit Realm in soul power even after advancing to the ninth rank.

That meant this soul Dou Technique could prove immensely effective against the vast majority of experts. It could even decide the outcome of a fight to the death.

The next day.

At the Spirit Medicine Vault, the largest and best-stocked medicinal herb shop in Jia Nan City.

"...That will be all."

"My lord, the total comes to seven million one hundred and fifty thousand gold coins. Seven million will do."

The amiable-looking, plump shopkeeper spotted the badge on the young man's chest that marked him as a Fifth-Rank Alchemist. His small eyes crinkled as he cheerfully rounded down the price.

"Mm, I don't have that many gold coins on hand. I'll pay with medicinal pills."

Wu Bai checked the only gold coin card he had. It had originally held the five million gold coins Han Yue's father had given him, but over the past few years, he had purchased plenty of medicinal herbs at the academy. Even at cost price, they had consumed a considerable sum.

There should have been around three million gold coins left on the card now.

Extending his consciousness into his Storage Ring, Wu Bai swept his hand over the counter, and a small jade bottle appeared out of thin air.

At his signal, the plump shopkeeper carefully pulled out the stopper, revealing a glimmer of bluish green.

The shopkeeper's eyes widened, and his voice began to tremble. "This is... a Dou Ling Pill!"

"Good, you recognize it. How much can it cover?"

The plump shopkeeper swallowed, hesitated, and glanced at the young man before him.

"May I ask whether you are Young Master Wu Bai?"

Wu Bai raised his eyebrows, somewhat surprised.

"You know me?"

"Oh, young master, who in all of Jia Nan City hasn't heard your illustrious name?"

A broad smile filled the shopkeeper's plump face, and he launched straight into the legendary tales Wu Bai had left behind.

Once he started, there was no stopping him. Had he not noticed the impatience creeping onto Wu Bai's face, he might have gone on for an hour or two.

"Young master, how about this? I'll value this Dou Ling Pill at five million gold coins and give you another thirty percent off those medicinal herbs. I'd still be getting a slight advantage, so you can simply take all these herbs. What do you think?"

As he spoke, the plump shopkeeper gestured toward the medicinal herbs that nearly covered the entire counter, all stored in tightly sealed Cold Jade Boxes.

The moment he finished speaking, his small eyes drifted irresistibly back to the little jade bottle, as though drawn to it.

"Won't you lose money calculating it that way?" Wu Bai asked curiously.

"Not at all, not at all!"

The plump shopkeeper shook his head with a smile. He glanced left and right, then, seeing no third person nearby, quietly explained to Wu Bai, "You may not know this, young master. Everyone says a Dou Ling Pill is only worth three million and change..."

"But if you actually tried buying one with four million gold coins, you wouldn't find one. Not even five million would be enough. If you really work it out, I'm still getting a slight advantage."

"Heh, you're quite honest."

A faint smile appeared on Wu Bai's face. He had a good impression of this plump shopkeeper.

"Hehe, this is Jia Nan Academy! Even if I had a hundred times the nerve, I wouldn't dare deceive you, young master!"

The plump shopkeeper chuckled. Others might not understand, but how could a medicinal herb merchant like him fail to grasp the terrifying influence of a Tier 6 Alchemist?

Just how much counterfeit liquor would someone have to drink to dare cheat a Tier 6 Alchemist...?

"You know what's good for you, and I'm very satisfied. So I'm going to give you a reward."

Wu Bai waved his hand and stored away the medicinal herbs, leaving the entire counter much more spacious.

"Tell me, does your Spirit Medicine Vault have connections with medicinal herb shops elsewhere?"

The smile had yet to fade from the shopkeeper's face when he heard the question. He was suddenly unsure whether he should answer "yes" or "no."

"What do you mean, young master?"

"I still need a great deal of these high-grade medicinal herbs, but I also have to cultivate. I don't have much energy to spare on gathering them."

At that, the plump shopkeeper seemed to realize something. It was as though he could see a sky-filling fortune about to come crashing down onto his head.

"So, until I graduate from the academy, I'm commissioning you to gather high-grade medicinal herbs from outside for me. I'll take as many as you can find. Payment will work the same way as this time: I'll settle the bill with medicinal pills."

"Of course, you can also ask me to refine certain special medicinal pills. I trust you know the rules for alchemists."

"Well? Are you willing to accept this commission?"

Wu Bai raised his chin slightly, his gaze carrying a hint of appraisal.

The plump shopkeeper gritted his teeth and nodded emphatically.

"Yes, absolutely! Rest assured, young master. We will make sure you're satisfied!"

"Good resolve. Then I'll await your good news."

Light and shadow flickered before the counter. Drenched in sweat, the plump shopkeeper let out a long breath of relief. A dazzling light shone in his small eyes.

The little jade bottle filled his entire field of vision.

In his eyes, this Dou Ling Pill was no longer merely a small medicinal pill. It was a favor, a bargaining chip that could persuade a Dou Wang expert to act.

He could never have too many such trump cards tucked away!

After buying the medicinal herbs, Wu Bai did not hurry back to the Inner Academy. Instead, he wandered around Jia Nan City.

Though the Inner Academy was small, it had all its vital organs. But that only applied to cultivation; in other respects, it fell far short.

Take food, for example. Only the Inner Academy's fish soup was reasonably good. Its other dishes simply could not compete with the delicacies available in Jia Nan City.

Wu Bai feasted at the finest restaurant in Jia Nan City, thoroughly satisfying his cravings.

After eating, he did not forget Han Yue, who was still in the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower, and ordered a table's worth of food packed up for her as well.

Wait, one table's worth might not be enough. I need to eat too.

"Waiter, pack up another table's worth!"

The Yellow Springs Demon Saint could hardly bear to watch. His disciple must have been a glutton in his previous life, surely?

When Han Yue returned that evening, she was delighted to find a table laden with delicious food.

After constantly eating Bigu Pills during cultivation, her mouth had grown so bland a bird could have hatched in it. She abandoned all concern for appearances and dug into the feast.

Cultivation was cultivation, and life was life. The two were inseparable.

No matter what realm cultivators reached, their own emotions and desires would not change.

Especially with a simple craving for good food, a desire that did not affect cultivation, there was no need to deliberately give it up.

Better to let nature take its course. Surely cultivation did not mean making oneself less and less human, gradually departing from the bounds of humanity?

That approach to cultivation was a little too extreme.

Aside from a very few individuals, most people would never take that path.