Free Web NovelChapter 31: Chapter 31: Treasure Exchange Conference
Xiao Chen looked up and saw Gu Yun, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. "Brother Gu, long time no see!"
Xiao Chen observed Gu Yun’s aura. It was unfathomable and truly extraordinary. ’A master who ranked sixteenth in the Outer Sect Grand Competition six months ago... just how strong is he now?’
Soon after, the new Inner Sect Disciples’ Treasure Exchange Conference officially began.
For instance, Chen Wansen from the Celestial Wood Dao Peak had a considerable amount of Spirit Materials, which he traded with others for Spirit Medicine.
After a few successful trades had been made,
Xiao Chen of the Flame Fire Dao Peak finally stood up and spoke. "I am currently trying to break through to Human Tier Advanced Artifact Refiner, and I need a Celestial Thunder Stone.
I wonder if any of my fellow Daoists have a spare Celestial Thunder Stone. You can name your price; I am willing to trade some treasures for it."
A Human Tier Advanced Artifact Refiner was someone capable of crafting Human Tier Upper Grade Magical Artifacts.
To be able to craft Human Tier Upper Grade Magical Artifacts at such a young age, on top of possessing immense combat power, made him a true Child of Destiny.
Celestial Thunder Stone?
Upon hearing this, Gu Yun’s eyes shifted.
A Cultivator in the crowd immediately spoke up. "Fellow Daoist Xiao, I’m afraid none of us possess a Celestial Thunder Stone. We are powerless to help you in this matter."
Chen Wansen of the Celestial Wood Dao Peak also shook his head helplessly.
The surrounding Cultivators glanced at one another before all shaking their heads.
’Gu Yun did have a Celestial Thunder Stone. He’d found it in the lair of a Demon Thunder Beast the last time he was out.’
’Perhaps Celestial Thunder Dao Peak also had them, but he just hadn’t found any yet.’
’His own plan had been simple: use the Celestial Thunder Stone during a storm to draw down lightning for Thunder Body Refining.’
’He’d never considered that a Celestial Thunder Stone could also be used for Artifact Refining. Could it be that Magical Artifacts struck by celestial thunder become more powerful?’
Seeing everyone exchange uncertain glances, Xiao Chen sighed to himself and prepared to sit back down.
But just then, Gu Yun stood up, immediately drawing everyone’s attention.
"Brother Xiao, I recently came across a Celestial Thunder Stone on Celestial Thunder Dao Peak."
As he spoke, Gu Yun took out a light-blue, palm-sized, prismatic crystal and placed it on the table. Faint blue arcs of electricity flickered out from the Celestial Thunder Stone.
When Xiao Chen heard this, his eyes instantly lit up. He focused his gaze and confirmed that it was indeed a Celestial Thunder Stone.
Xiao Chen’s expression softened, and a hint of excitement entered his voice as he asked Gu Yun, "I’ll take this Celestial Thunder Stone. What does Brother Gu want in return?"
Gu Yun thought for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "I wonder if Brother Xiao has any Alchemy Foundation Scrolls? I’ve recently become quite interested in Alchemy and would like to try my hand at it."
Gu Yun’s desire to become an Alchemist was no random whim. Alchemy was one of the Hundred Skills of Cultivation. Once he mastered it, he could trade his crafted Elixirs for any resources he needed, be it other Elixirs or different Cultivation materials.
With more cultivation resources at his disposal, his own Cultivation would advance much more quickly.
’Besides, I have the Heaven Rewards Diligence Skill Level panel. No matter what I do, as long as I persist, I’m guaranteed to succeed. That gives me a huge advantage in Alchemy.’
Xiao Chen was surprised that Gu Yun wanted Alchemy Foundation Scrolls instead of Magical Artifacts, Elixirs, Cultivation and Martial Techniques, or other Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.
Xiao Chen then took out a rather ancient-looking Scroll from his Storage Ring and handed it to Gu Yun.
He said in a deep voice, "This Alchemy Scroll is an Alchemy Foundation Scroll left behind by an ancient Alchemist. It contains enough knowledge to refine Human Tier Elixirs. I believe it should meet Brother Gu’s needs."
’Gu Yun had only asked on a whim. If Xiao Chen didn’t have one, Gu Yun had planned to use his Contribution Points to get one from the Sect.’
’He never expected Xiao Chen to actually have one—and an Alchemy Foundation Scroll from an ancient Alchemist at that! He couldn’t help but feel a little shocked.’
’As expected of the protagonist type, a true Child of Destiny. He’s loaded with fortuitous encounters and treasures.’
"Then I must thank Brother Xiao," Gu Yun replied with a faint smile.
Xiao Chen smiled back. "Don’t mention it. We’re both getting what we want, so why wouldn’t we be happy?"
Next, it was the others’ turn to trade.
Li Xingyue traded a Human Tier Top Grade Fist Martial Technique he had obtained by chance for a Human Tier Top Grade Sword Technique: Hundred Swords Return to the Sect.
After that, Gu Yun traded some of his other Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures with Chen Wansen of the Celestial Wood Dao Peak for some Spirit Medicine.
...
By the end of the new Inner Sect Disciples’ Treasure Exchange Conference, everyone had gotten what they wanted.
During the event, Gu Yun, Chen Wansen, and Xiao Chen exchanged Communication Talismans with one another so they could help each other out in the future if needed.
...
Afterward, Gu Yun went to the Inner Sect Marketplace and spent over a hundred Spirit Stones on a Human Tier Middle Grade Pill Furnace to practice with.
After returning to his cave residence, Gu Yun decided not to go out for a while. He stayed inside and studied the ancient Alchemy Foundation Scroll from Xiao Chen.
After memorizing the principles and key points for various basic elixirs, Gu Yun prepared to light his furnace for the first time, starting with the simplest recipe in the Alchemy foundation: the Qi-Introducing Pill formula.
This ordinary Elixir wasn’t even considered Entry-Level. Its only function was to slightly increase a mortal’s chances of successfully guiding qi into their body, thus allowing them to enter the Spiritual Martial Realm First Layer more quickly.
For example, consuming a Low Tier Spirit Medicine by itself might give a mortal a single, fate-dependent chance to successfully guide qi.
However, by refining that same Low Tier Spirit Medicine with other ingredients into a Qi-Introducing Pill, that single chance becomes several, greatly increasing the success rate of guiding qi into the body.
Furthermore, the Qi-Introducing Pill was one of the simplest foundational elixirs in ancient Alchemy. This was because its creation relied on reasonably utilizing the inherent traits of the primary Spirit Medicine, without needing to consider complex issues like conflicting medicinal properties or the fusion of different ingredients.
And so, Gu Yun would begin his journey into Alchemy by mastering the Qi-Introducing Pill.
...
「One month later.」
Gu Yun had already mastered the method for refining Qi-Introducing Pills and had even learned to create several other basic elixirs.
Although he’d blown up his furnace a few times, everything was proceeding smoothly overall.
Gu Yun had now completed his self-taught Introduction to Alchemy.
With a thought, Gu Yun brought up the Skill Level panel before his eyes.
Name: Gu Yun
Realm: True Martial Realm First Layer Early Stage
Cultivation Technique: Nine Tribulations Thunder Gang Decision (First Tribulation: Wind and Thunder Tribulation 4%)
Martial Techniques: Thunder Gang Body (Beginner 5%), Wind and Thunder Saber Technique (Perfection), Mountain-Breaking Fist (Perfection), Wandering Dragon Step (Perfection)
Techniques: Three Thousand Thunder Flashes (Beginner 5%), Earth-Bursting Heaven-Shaking (Minor Success 40%), Breath Concealment Technique (Minor Success 60%), Celestial Thunder Technique (Great Success 10%)
Sword Momentum: Minor Success Blade Momentum (82%)
Alchemy: Low Tier Human Tier (5%)
The panel now included a new entry for Alchemy—the fruit of his month-long efforts.
Even though his natural aptitude was only above average, Gu Yun could see and feel the continuous rise in his Alchemy skill.
Furthermore, with the aid of his Heaven Rewards Diligence cheat, he could correct his mistakes in real-time, allowing him to progress at a rapid pace.
This also allowed him to use his resources with maximum efficiency, drastically reducing the costs of learning Alchemy compared to a typical Alchemist.
Ordinary Alchemists had to learn through trial and error, a process that inevitably consumed vast amounts of resources before they finally grasped the correct methods.
Once his Alchemy skills were developed, he would have a steady source of sufficient resources.
He could then pour those resources back into his own Cultivation.
As long as he had enough resources, put in enough effort, and had enough time, he could grow continuously stronger. He wouldn’t get stuck at a bottleneck for decades or even centuries like an ordinary Cultivator, unable to advance.
「Three days later.」
A message arrived via Communication Talisman from Xiao Chen of the Flame Fire Dao Peak. He was requesting a meeting and had a favor to ask.
