The Spirit Treasure Pavilion.
Once again, it was Miao Rou who received Li Ping.
Lately, he had been trying to sell his Spirit Talismans for a better price.
Li Ping had sold the Spirit Talismans he made through several different shops, becoming a familiar face to their shopkeepers in the process.
When buying supplies, however, he still habitually came to the Spirit Treasure Pavilion.
This was not because Shopkeeper Miao had such an ample bosom. It was simply a habit of his.
Men's habits were strange things.
For instance, for a stretch of time in his previous life, he had eaten a bowl of beef noodles every day after work. That habit had lasted a full six months, until he transferred his affections to the Colonel.
The owner of that beef noodle shop had even wondered for a while whether something had happened to him.
Li Ping had originally thought that buying talisman ink and spiritwood would be easy enough, provided he had sufficient spirit stones.
To his surprise, however, once he listed what he wanted to buy, Miao Rou looked troubled.
"Second-tier mid-grade talisman ink is no problem. Our stock is more than sufficient to meet your needs, fellow Daoist." Miao Rou gave a wry smile. "But as for second-tier mid-grade spiritwood... although we have a small quantity of such spiritual materials, I cannot sell them to you."
Li Ping was puzzled. "Why is that?"
Miao Rou explained, "I imagine you know that the Spirit Treasure Pavilion is backed by the Sword-Washing Pool of the Chi Kingdom. I myself am one of its stewards. Our sect is renowned throughout the neighboring kingdoms for its artifact refining. We opened this Spirit Treasure Pavilion in the Immortal City for two reasons: first, to sell finished products such as the magic artifacts our sect produces, and second, to purchase raw materials gathered from the Cloudmist Mountains."
"All the raw materials we purchase must be sent back to the sect, where our artifact refiners turn them into magic artifacts to sell. I have no authority whatsoever to dispose of them myself." Miao Rou looked at Li Ping. "As far as I know, this is not just true of the Spirit Treasure Pavilion. Others, such as the Ten Thousand Arts Pavilion and the Thousand Stars Pavilion, operate the same way."
Now Li Ping understood.
It was not that the Spirit Treasure Pavilion lacked second-tier spiritwood. Rather, they intended to refine it into magic artifacts before selling it, maximizing their profits.
For example, the second-tier mid-grade spiritwood Li Ping needed could be used to refine second-tier mid-grade magic artifacts or talisman paper of the corresponding grade. Its value would increase by far more than a few times.
Naturally, then, they were unwilling to sell the spiritwood directly.
Once he understood this, Li Ping felt a headache coming on.
It seemed that if he wanted spiritwood, he could only try buying it directly from rogue cultivators.
Rogue cultivators lacked the ability to process spiritwood further. Even if they were unwilling, they could only sell it cheaply. If Li Ping offered a little more than the trading associations did, those rogue cultivators would presumably have no reason to refuse him.
The problem was that second-tier mid-grade spiritwood was exceedingly rare even in the Cloudmist Mountains, and he needed a section three feet long.
Spirit Materials like that did not turn up often. He might have to wait a very long time.
And when one did appear, he would still have to bid against the major trading associations.
Alternatively, if he offered twice the price or even more, willingly letting those major trading associations take a knife to his purse, they might agree to sell him the spiritwood.
In other words, if Li Ping wanted second-tier mid-grade spiritwood now, he would have to spend either time or spirit stones.
At that thought, his brows drew together involuntarily.
Seeing Li Ping frown, Miao Rou suddenly said, "Fellow Daoist Li, if you truly need second-tier mid-grade spiritwood urgently, I do have a solution."
"Oh?" Li Ping raised his brows. "I would like to hear the details."
Meeting Li Ping's gaze, she deliberately stretched, displaying her abundant bosom and slender waist in full before him.
Only then did she sigh and say softly, "We recently purchased a shipment of spiritual materials that needs to be sent back to the Chi Kingdom. I was supposed to escort it myself, but my cultivation of a secret technique has reached a critical stage, and I truly cannot get away. If you could make the trip in my place, Fellow Daoist Li, I would risk punishment and sell you a piece of second-tier mid-grade spiritwood at our purchase price."
After saying this, she looked at Li Ping with eyes as limpid as autumn waters.
Her gaze seemed to hint that if Li Ping agreed to her request, he would be doing her a tremendous favor, and perhaps their relationship might develop into something more intimate.
In Miao Rou's view, her offer was extraordinarily generous.
Li Ping only needed to escort a shipment to buy a piece of second-tier mid-grade spiritwood cheaply, saving several hundred spirit stones. He would also win the favor of a graceful Foundation Establishment female cultivator like her, with a chance to grow closer to her in the future.
What reason could Li Ping possibly have to refuse?
Little did she know that the instant she finished speaking, Li Ping became alert.
Previously, after suspecting that he might have inadvertently become entangled in a dispute between Core Formation powers, Li Ping had resolved never to leave the Immortal City.
That concern had even made him abandon his plan to return to the Jiang Kingdom and see his master one last time.
And now Miao Rou wanted to offer spiritwood as payment for a trip to the Chi Kingdom?
Was this unintentional, or was she deliberately trying to lure him out of the city?
Could the earlier incident involving Lin Yue have been connected to the Sword-Washing Pool?
As doubts flashed through his mind, Li Ping inwardly shook his head. Whatever she was planning, he would not take a single step outside the Immortal City until the time was right.
And when would that time come?
In Li Ping's view, either of two situations would change his circumstances. Once that happened, no one would care about his movements anymore, and he would be safe.
The first was for Dai Sangyu to kill the mysterious person who had harmed Lin Yue, perfect her state of mind, and attempt to reach Core Formation.
The second was for that mysterious person to remain undiscovered, leaving Dai Sangyu unable to perfect her state of mind and ultimately forcing her to pass away in meditation, burdened by regret.
As far as Li Ping knew, Dai Sangyu was already over 170 years old. Even in the worst-case second scenario, he would only need to lie low for another thirty years or so.
As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he could afford to stay cooped up for that long.
After all, the Immortal City had no shortage of resources. Staying here would not hinder his cultivation during the Foundation Establishment stage.
As he considered this, Li Ping looked at Miao Rou and shook his head. "I am afraid I must disappoint you, Fairy. I have been busy with various matters lately and likely have no time to make the trip for you."
At Li Ping's words, surprise appeared in Miao Rou's eyes, as though she had never expected him to refuse so decisively.
She was about to try persuading him again, but Li Ping had already taken 300 spirit stones from his Storage Bag. "Never mind the spiritwood. These are the spirit stones for the talisman ink. Please check them, Fairy. As for escorting the shipment, you should find someone more capable."
Miao Rou opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing more. Instead, she accepted the spirit stones with a smile and brought Li Ping three liters of second-tier mid-grade talisman ink.
After checking that everything was in order, Li Ping put the talisman ink into his Storage Bag.
He cupped his hands, then promptly turned and left.