Cultivation: Immunity to Negative Effects

Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Advancing to Alchemy Master

Half an hour later, Zhang Chi had arrived at the Marketplace. On the way, he put on a mask and a Conical Hat and used the Divine Concealment Technique to alter his Cultivation and aura.

This was his second time visiting, so he knew his way around.

The last time, he had also come alone and in disguise, for the express purpose of purchasing Spirit Awakening Pills.

While his attire might seem strange, it was actually a common sight in the Marketplace.

Many of the Cultivators who came here had secrets they wished to keep.

——

The Marketplace was established in a valley. It was massive, with numerous shops and a great number of street stalls.

The shops were mostly run by Sect affiliates and allied Immortal Cultivation Influences, and some were even secretly controlled by the Sect’s own leadership.

The street stalls were mostly run by Sect Disciples.

Of course, the Sect Hall also handled the buying and selling of Cultivation Materials.

But some items weren’t bought or sold by the Hall, and some Cultivators were unhappy with the prices or simply didn’t want to leave a transaction record.

Thus, the Sect Marketplace became their alternative.

The Sect didn’t prohibit this; in fact, it offered some support.

After all, the Marketplace belonged to the Sect.

It was a good thing for the Sect when its Disciples grew stronger through trade.

Of course, items like Tier One Discarded Pills and Demon Techniques were strictly prohibited.

"That will be four hundred Low Grade Spirit Stones in total. Is that acceptable, sir?"

"Fine."

Zhang Chi had compared prices at a few shops and found them to be similar, so he simply picked one and completed the transaction without a hitch.

Afterward, he visited two other shops, buying three hundred Spirit Stones’ worth of Medicinal Materials for Alchemy and an additional one hundred Spirit Awakening Pills.

With that, he had spent all his recent earnings.

However, since joining the Sect, he had received various rewards and benefits. He still had ninety Contribution Points and over thirty Low Grade Spirit Stones on him, so he wasn’t completely penniless.

"Hm?"

Just as Zhang Chi was about to leave the Marketplace, his attention was caught by a small, streetside stall selling talismans.

It turned out the people running the stall were none other than Qin Susu, He Shi, and He Yan.

The three of them had a clear division of labor.

Qin Susu did the hawking, He Shi answered the technical questions, and He Yan simply stood guard.

On their stall were just a few types of Tier One Low Grade Spirit Talismans, the very same common ones recorded in the Talisman Making inheritance they’d received.

Apparently, the three of them—or more accurately, He Shi—had managed to become a Tier One Low Grade Talisman Master.

Furthermore, it had been nearly a hundred days since they’d joined the Sect.

Not only had Zhang Chi reached the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer, but the three of them had also reached the Qi Cultivation Second Layer.

’They do have some talent.’

Zhang Chi was somewhat surprised.

After all, even with his stronger Divine Thought, he himself was only just approaching the Entry Level in Alchemy.

Of course, this was also because Alchemy was generally more complex than Talisman Making.

Besides, he hadn’t been dedicating himself to it to the point of forgoing food and sleep.

He didn’t buy any Spirit Talismans, however, as they were too low-level for him to have any use for.

"Senior Brother, please wait. Are you interested in a private trade meet? It’s organized by Disciples of our Sect. Dozens have already joined, and we’ve already held one successful event."

"You can sell or acquire things at the meet that you wouldn’t want to show in public."

Just then, Qin Susu noticed Zhang Chi. Her eyes lit up, and she took the initiative to question him via voice transmission.

As it happened, Zhang Chi was emerging from one of the larger shops, and his Cultivation was unreadable, so Qin Susu immediately pegged him as a big spender.

Moreover, although he wore a Sect Disciple’s uniform, he was so thoroughly concealed—his aura even transformed into a cold chill—that he didn’t resemble a Fire Cultivator at all.

Because of this, she had no idea that the man standing before her was the same Zhang Chi she saw so often.

"No need, thank you." Zhang Chi decisively refused via voice transmission and quickly walked away.

’There she goes with that trick again. It seems Qin Susu really has a head for business, and she’s bold, too.’

’At this rate, in a few years, the three of them might actually have a shot at reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage!’

’Perhaps in the future, if I have things to sell, I can entrust them to handle it. That would save me from wasting my own time.’

With these thoughts, Zhang Chi returned directly to the Earth Fire Hall, removing his disguise on the way.

It was very safe within the Sect, so no one followed him, much less tried to ambush and kill him on his way back.

However, Zhang Chi knew that two people had been secretly watching him for some time.

Fortunately, Zhang Chi was cautious enough, and his pursuers were only at the Qi Cultivation Middle Stage with Divine Thought far weaker than his own.

As a result, he was always able to shake them without a trace and had even managed to secretly learn about them.

They were Outer Disciples named Jia Liang and Meng Shan.

They had likely been sent by Xie Yu or Xie Huaiyuan. The Red-armored Rats from before had probably been their doing as well.

Zhang Chi wanted to capture them for interrogation and disposal, but he knew the Xie Family’s Foundation Establishment Cultivators would only send more dangerous minions—or even come themselves—afterward.

So, Zhang Chi decided to let them live for now and kill them when the time was right.

As for Xie Yu and Xie Huaiyuan, one was the Foundation Establishment middle-aged man from the entrance test, and the other was the Steward from the Inheritance Hall who had tried to set him up.

Zhang Chi had already asked Qin Susu to secretly gather information on them, and he now knew their situations clearly.

Both men were at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage.

The Immortal Cultivation Xie Family was a Foundation Establishment Clan, considered merely average among the many Immortal Cultivation Influences under the Sect.

However, the Xie Family had six Foundation Establishment Cultivators in total, and its Patriarch was at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

To an ordinary Outer Disciple, such a clan was an absolute behemoth.

Zhang Chi, however, was not afraid.

Once he reached Foundation Establishment, he could wipe out the insignificant Xie Family with a wave of his hand, though the one at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage might prove a little troublesome.

But besides the Xie Family, Zhang Chi had also used Qin Susu’s connections to secretly inquire about another Immortal Cultivation Clan: the Song Family.

This was the family Zhang Chi was truly wary of.

Because the Song Family was a Golden Core Clan.

Furthermore, the one who really wanted him dealt with was actually the Song Family’s Foundation Establishment Peak Cultivator, Song Youdao.

Xie Yu and Xie Huaiyuan were nothing more than his accomplices and lackeys.

But despite his hatred for the Song Family, Zhang Chi didn’t show a hint of it.

Whenever someone tried to probe him about it indirectly, he would be evasive, pretending he didn’t know the Song Family were the true masterminds.

The reason was simple: what was done, was done. frёeωebɳovel.com

Protesting and revealing the truth now would only draw the attention of the Golden Core Clan, who would then crush him with ease.

But he secretly swore that one day, he would exterminate the Song Family and get his revenge for this obstruction of his cultivation path!

——

After returning to the Earth Fire Hall, Zhang Chi resumed his Cultivation in Seclusion.

During this period, Qin Susu and her companions invited him to their private trade meet.

But he paid them no mind.

After a while, Qin Susu and the others stopped asking.

However, this didn’t cause them to drift apart; they still often attended lectures with him.

He Shi even gave him a few Communication Talismans.

Of course, they were only Tier One Low Grade Communication Talismans—you could buy ten for a single Spirit Stone.

Their function, of course, was communication, but their range was limited—nothing like the one Xiao Yunhong had given him before.

「Half a month passed quickly.」

BANG!

On this day, Zhang Chi was refining another cauldron of pills. The moment he opened the furnace, a medicinal aroma wafted out.

Then, a shimmering Rhythm Spirit Pill flew out, spinning, and he snatched it from mid-air.

"Excellent! I finally refined a successful pill!"

Zhang Chi looked at it closely, his heart filled with joy.

A single Spirit-Storage Pill was insignificant, but its creation signified that he had now become a true Alchemy Master.

With this, he could finally begin to set his future plans in motion.