Chapter 138: Chapter 139: Lingbi Mural Memories
The ancient room was exceptionally quiet at this moment, and there was an incense burner on the side still burning with an unknown sandalwood, which smelled exceptionally good.
This sandalwood permeated the air, giving a strong feeling of the mystic aura of an immortal family. It made Ye Jingcheng feel that the cultivator in front of him was even more mysterious.
The other person placed the pill bottle down after examining it for a long time and looked at Ye Jingcheng:
"Your alchemy skill is quite impressive. Now, you have two choices. One is that I recommend you to join the sect. With the sect’s secret techniques, even if your spirit root mismatch cannot be cured, there are some other secret methods!"
"The second option is that I have an artifact here that can improve your vitality, but it belongs to me personally, and you’ll need to compensate me with some spirit stones!"
"Senior, I still have a grandfather who is alive, so I choose the second option!" Ye Jingcheng hesitated for a long time and took out a storage bag from his bosom, always watching the other person’s arm as he did so.
He prepared two storage bags, one with a few hundred spirit stones, and the other was given to him by Ye Haiyi.
This transaction had no witnesses and no testimony, so he had to be extremely cautious.
"Take a look at the artifact first!" As if sensing Ye Jingcheng’s intense gaze, the cultivator took out a storage bag.
Ye Jingcheng was somewhat puzzled and took the storage bag, noticing that the Forbidden Array on the storage bag was identical to the one he held.
Only then did Ye Jingcheng relax a little.
But he didn’t immediately proceed with the exchange because the opponent’s arm didn’t emit any spiritual light, so he couldn’t fully trust them.
Instead, according to the method recorded by the family, he quickly broke the contents of the Forbidden Array, revealing a Tier Three Spirit Gathering Array Disc and a Tier Three Spirit-Attracting Stone.
Both artifacts were rich in spiritual light, and the spiritual pressure was so high that they couldn’t be fake. Moreover, he had seen them in jade talismans, so he was completely reassured.
He handed the storage bag to the other person.
The other person also paused for a while, clearly also breaking the Forbidden Array.
"Take back the elixir, as you refined it, it’s rightfully yours. Just consider the sect further, within ten years, I can recommend you!"
"Thank you, Senior!"
Putting away the jade bottle, Ye Jingcheng also stood up to start his farewell!
"Look at the mural more!" As Ye Jingcheng left, he heard a transmission in his ear, then was startled and nodded before leaving.
Soon, he returned to the hall.
All the surrounding cultivators sent envious glances his way.
Unlike another loose cultivator who directly joined the Taiyi Sect, Ye Jingcheng did not, so they were curious about what reward Ye Jingcheng had received.
"Daoist Tang, would you like to exchange artifacts now during the transaction meeting?"
"Artifacts can be bartered or priced for sale, and additionally, once matters are settled, Daoist Tang can paint on the Hidden Dragon Hall wall and leave a treasure diagram of a pill furnace!" Xu Haoyi, as the organizer, spoke again.
"Thank you, Senior Brother Xu, for informing me!" Ye Jingcheng’s face was full of joy.
However, in his heart, he was vigilant, as Xu Family cultivators were watching him at this moment.
Clearly, the opponent was suspicious, as this event was organized by Taiyi Magic Peak disciples, but the Foundation Establishment Steward was from Taiyi Illusion Peak.
Ye Jingcheng sat aside, showing a keen interest in every artifact others presented, although his enthusiasm waned when discussing prices.
He seemed a bit awkward, but overall, most loose cultivators were like this, rarely exchanging artifacts but instead selling many.
As for the clan cultivators, they were generous, taking many artifacts into their possession.
After all, for most cultivators, it’s important to leave enough spirit stones to purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill.
Ye Jingcheng only looked at the Xu Family cultivator when it was their turn to present an artifact, and the opponent’s doubt seemed to have greatly reduced.
It was understandable, though, as even with doubts, why would anyone pay much attention to a sickly person?
Nobody would think that for the Ye Family, plans were laid several years ago.
The plan wasn’t for the auction but for the alchemy conference.
The transaction ended after half an hour, with those clan cultivators leaving with glowing faces.
The loose cultivators, meanwhile, enthusiastically discussed the artifacts presented.
Ye Jingcheng still exchanged for a common alchemy material in the end.
Spirit stones were scarce, only sixty spirit stones, as a gesture to Xu Haoyi’s hosting.
This was almost the definition of the loose cultivators present.
Xu Haoyi was evidently a bit disappointed, but fortunately, the Li Family presented two good artifacts, which he purchased.
Feeling much better, he maintained his hospitable demeanor toward everyone.
Finally came the crucial mural segment.
Ye Jingcheng and two others approached the hall wall, noticing plenty of empty spaces there.
Along with them were many watching cultivators, including not just loose cultivators but also quite a few from clans.
"Everyone, don’t make the painting larger than the one in the middle. This is the honor of an alchemy master!" Ye Jingcheng listened to Xu Haoyi’s introduction.
But his ears recalled the words of the Foundation Establishment Senior just before, leaving him slightly helpless.
Creating these mural paintings naturally couldn’t be done like ordinary paintings, using a brush to draw; they needed to be crafted with spiritual power.
And having spiritual power left here by a cultivator poses a massive potential threat.
He intended to evade the mural but hinted at Xu Haoyi, only to be met with a headshake refusal.
This was evidently a rule of the Hidden Dragon Hall.
Ye Jingcheng reluctantly complied, but instead of using his own spiritual power, he controlled the Beast Communication Pattern within him to emit strands of spiritual power.
In this way, even if something goes wrong in the future, it’s not him who will be in trouble, but the Spirit Beast.
And to avoid the Xu Family and Li Family, he couldn’t utilize the spiritual power of the Red Flame Fox and the Golden Scale Beast.
Furthermore, the spiritual power of the Jade Qilin Snake was connected to the Jade Dragon Valley, so it couldn’t be used as well.
Fortunately, Ye Jingcheng had already communicated with the Jade Ring Rat beforehand, although after the communication, it didn’t bring much help to his cultivation.
He rarely absorbed the spiritual power of the Jade Ring Rat since its spiritual power wasn’t as pure as his own.
But at this moment, it just so happened to come in handy.
As the spiritual power of the Jade Ring Rat flowed into his hand, Ye Jingcheng quickly started to paint.
The cyan jade-like spiritual power constantly landed on the wall, and under Ye Jingcheng’s perception, this wall seemed like a magical treasure.
Moreover, as he carved, it kept absorbing his spiritual energy.
Ye Jingcheng glanced at the other three, noticing they all had the same expression.
This small exchange meeting had everyone take a Heart Demon Oath, so even the clan cultivators could not know more information.
However, the loose cultivators and cultivators watching from outside wore envious expressions.
The cultivators from the Li Family and Xu Family, seeing Ye Jingcheng’s spiritual power being cyan jade in color and of water attribute, stopped watching completely.
An Alchemy Master with both Fire and Water Spirit Roots, yet mainly cultivating a water attribute technique, no wonder the spiritual power was incompatible!
Other cultivators weren’t too surprised, just a bit disappointed.
For cultivators, many cultivation techniques are vastly different, and some even mimic powerful Spirit Beasts.
So the spiritual power he used wasn’t unusual.
But the intensity of spiritual energy disappointed them.
The mural quickly took shape; of course, it couldn’t take too long since they were all Qi Cultivation cultivators and couldn’t sustain spiritual power release for long.
The other three crafted exquisite pill furnaces, each with its own characteristics.
For example, Xu Haoshui from the Xu Family had a Golden Elephant Hoof Incense Burner, blending magnificence and luxury, extremely precious.
In contrast, Ye Jingcheng’s pill furnace was plain, like a mundane furnace.
"Don’t laugh at me, I’ve saved for three years of Spirit Stones to purchase this furnace, but it is because of this furnace that Tang became an Alchemy Master. I hold dear memories of it, so I keep it to inspire other loose cultivator Alchemy Masters!" Ye Jingcheng replied self-deprecatingly, amid others’ confusion.
Yet his words resonated with many loose cultivators, who cheered and exchanged sound transmission jade talismans with Ye Jingcheng for future rapport.
"This is the Hidden Dragon Order from the Hidden Dragon Hall, marked with ’Pill’. In the future, when purchasing treasures at the Soaring Dragon Pavilion, you will enjoy a five-percent discount below the second floor!" Xu Haoyi handed over the token to the four of them.
Ye Jingcheng looked at the token, nodded, and showed gratitude, though he didn’t feel much inside.
He just thought he should be more cautious in the future.
If he hadn’t been warned, using his spiritual power in this Hidden Dragon Wall today could have led to major problems.
He was not like the other loose cultivators whose lifespan capped at a hundred and twenty years.
"Senior Brother Xu, I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave first!" Ye Jingcheng said.
He had a good impression of Xu Haoyi, acknowledging that the overt plans of the Hidden Dragon Hall were beyond Xu Haoyi’s control.
Ye Jingcheng left the crowd and went to a nearby restaurant.
Next to the restaurant, Meng Xuan also rose expectantly and spoke.
"Haobo, how did it go?"
"Master Meng, Haobo had quite good luck this time!" Ye Jingcheng pulled out the Hidden Dragon Order.
It’s well-known that the Hidden Dragon Order would be reclaimed after participation.
The only way to have it returned was by winning first place!
"Good!" Meng Xuan grinned, his face muscles shaking, then slammed the table and called out in the distance.
"Waiter, bring the wine, and fetch Yu Lanshan!"
"Right away, Master!"
"Also, serve a plate of Cyan Flower Red Rice Spirit Cuisine. Today, I must have a few drinks with this grand-nephew of mine, to celebrate this beautiful radiant red sunset!"
"Master Meng, we have beautiful radiant red sunsets every day; drinking like this can’t be right!" Ye Jingcheng also smiled.
Meng Xuan laughed heartily, and when the wine came, Ye Jingcheng poured some for Meng Xuan.
This Yu Lanshan was a Tier One Middle Grade Spirit Wine, with spiritual energy slightly better than Cyan Bamboo Wine, though not by much.
However, its taste was significantly better.
Moreover, the wine was spicy and strong, evoking memories with just half a bowl.
"Back in the day, Master Meng also had a heart-wrenching love!" Meng Xuan, having drunk too much, started to mutter.
Perhaps since his alchemy and cultivation were trailing Ye Jingcheng’s, he began boasting about past loves.
He even reminisced about Ye Jingcheng’s childhood to Tang Haobo, which Ye Jingcheng had already heard about.
Ye Jingcheng felt a bit helpless but listened intently.
As the wine brought changes to the red sunset, Ye Jingcheng finally stood up, packed two bottles of Red Lanshan, and departed from the restaurant.
In his perception, the ones tracking him finally left!