Free Web NovelChapter 226: Chapter 217: Chixia Trading Team (Part 2)
The other small packet of Hemostatic Powder was wrapped in linen, giving off a faint herbal scent.
Ian gestured for his subordinates to take the items and distribute them.
A wave of suppressed cheers immediately rippled through the group, accompanied by the sound of swallowing saliva.
A few children stared longingly at the jerky before being quickly pulled into their parents’ arms.
The bald man watched this scene and suddenly spoke up. "Kid, are you headed to Blue Cave Mountain?"
"Yes."
"That place isn’t easy to get into." The bald man used a short knife to clean the dirt from under his fingernails.
"Blue Cave Mountain is the territory of the Chixia Business Alliance. You have to pay a tax to enter or leave. For refugees like you, you either need a skill or a sponsor. Otherwise, you won’t even get through the city gates."
Ian’s eyes shifted slightly. "The Chixia Business Alliance?"
"Yup." The bald man jutted his chin toward the horse-drawn carriage.
"The person in that carriage is Elder Chen, our Business Alliance’s Steward for the eastern region. This shipment is heading back to the Blue Cave Mountain branch."
’So that’s how it is.’
Ian pondered for a moment, then suddenly pulled a small cloth pouch from his clothes.
When he opened it, six milky-white, hexagonal crystalline prisms were revealed. They glowed with a soft, warm light under the dim red sky.
Beside the crystals were several dozen fingernail-sized fragments of a slightly paler color.
The bald man’s eyes went wide.
"Elemental Crystals? And Standard Crystals at that!"
His voice rose an octave. A few nearby guards couldn’t help but gather around, their eyes filled with greed and astonishment.
In this wasteland, Elemental Crystals were the ultimate hard currency.
They were produced from Earth Vein nodes in the relatively safe Purification Domains or purified from the Energy Cores of powerful Mutants, and they contained pure Elemental Energy.
Awakeners could directly absorb them to accelerate their Cultivation. Rune Masters could draw upon their Energy to power Magical Artifacts. They were also an essential power source for maintaining Purification Barriers and forging High-Tier equipment.
A single Standard Crystal was enough to last an Awakener at the Awakening Initial Stage for more than half a month.
Ian’s six crystals, plus those Dust Crystal Fragments, were an absolutely considerable fortune for this small trading team.
"What do you want to trade for?" The bald man’s voice became much more serious, the disdain in his eyes completely gone.
Ian put the pouch away, but kept five Elemental Crystals in his palm for the transaction.
"I want to trade for... knowledge."
He paused, then uttered two words: "Potion formulas."
The bald man paused, stunned. Then, as if understanding something, a meaningful expression crossed his face. "You want to learn Alchemy?"
"Yes." Ian nodded. "A formula for a Purification Potion, or an Anti-pollution Potion. Do you have one?"
The surroundings suddenly fell silent.
Even the guards cooking in the distance stopped what they were doing, their gazes turning strange as they looked at Ian.
Purification Potions.
In this world polluted by the Abyss, it was one of the best-selling and most precious potions.
Capable of temporarily resisting or slowly purifying minor corrosive Erosion, it was a life-saving item for exploring the Wilderness and fighting Mutants.
And the "Purification Masters" who could refine such potions held a respected status and were honored guests wherever they went.
The bald man stared at Ian for several seconds, then suddenly turned and strode toward the carriage.
He leaned close to the carriage window and whispered a few words.
A moment later, an old but resonant voice came from inside the carriage.
"Have him come over."
The bald man turned back and waved Ian over.
Ian signaled for his group to wait where they were and walked over alone.
A corner of the carriage window’s curtain was lifted, and a withered hand reached out, followed by a face full of wrinkles.
The old man was about sixty-something with graying hair, but his eyes were bright, like two polished obsidians.
He sized Ian up and down, his gaze lingering on the Standard Crystals for a moment.
"Young man, what’s your name?"
"Li Xing."
"Li Xing..." the old man repeated, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes. "Were you once of noble blood?"
Ian’s heart jolted, but his expression remained unchanged. "Yes."
"No wonder." The old man nodded, seeming to recall something as he fell into a brief reverie.
"Back then, the noble bloodlines... Ah, forget it. Let’s not dwell on the past."
He paused, then cut straight to the point. "You want the formula for a Purification Potion?"
"Yes."
"Do you know how much something like that is worth?" the old man asked.
"No," Ian said honestly. "But this is all I have."
He opened his hand. Five Standard Elemental Crystals shimmered in his palm.
The old man smiled, a hint of amusement in his expression.
"Five Standard Elemental Crystals for a Purification Potion formula? Young man, the price you’re offering... it’s like you’re trying to take advantage of an old man who doesn’t know the market."
Ian remained silent.
He truly didn’t know the market rate, but this was all he could offer at the moment.
"However..." The old man’s tone shifted.
"I’ve taken a liking to you. A descendant of a noble bloodline, able to escape with so many people after the city fell, and you even killed an Earth-Burrowing Beast... You’ve got some skill."
He extended his withered hand, pulled a dark yellow Leather Scroll from inside the carriage, and passed it through the window.
"This is the formula for a Basic Level Purification Potion. I copied it from some ruins in my younger days. The ingredients aren’t too hard to find. As for the success rate of Refining... that depends on your personal Talent."
Ian took the Scroll. It was cool to the touch, its leather fine and clearly well-preserved.
"Thank you." He handed over the Elemental Crystals.
The old man took them, but then suddenly asked, "You’re going to Blue Cave Mountain?"
"Yes."
"We’re headed the same way." The old man lowered the curtain, his voice drifting from inside the carriage.
"Travel with us. The road will be safer. When we get to Blue Cave Mountain, I can even act as your sponsor and get you into the city."
Ian’s eyes flickered. "The conditions?"
"Smart boy." The old man laughed.
"Once you’re in the city, if you can really refine a Purification Potion, thirty percent of your first month’s earnings go to me.
Also, when my Business Alliance needs Potions, you must prioritize our orders."
Ian barely hesitated. "Deal."
"Decisive." The old man seemed very pleased. "Go get ready. We leave in the time it takes an incense stick to burn."
Ian turned and walked back to his group.
Li Yao immediately came over. "Brother, how did it go?"
"We have an agreement." Ian carefully tucked the formula Scroll into his clothes.
"We’re traveling with the trading team. They’ll guarantee our entry into Blue Cave Mountain."
A collective sigh of relief went through the group.
Being able to follow such a well-equipped trading team, one that even had a Condensation Tier expert watching over it, increased their safety by more than just a single notch.
Ian walked up to the white-bearded elder and gave a quiet instruction.
"Keep a close watch on the road, especially on the trading team’s guards. Don’t let our people cause any trouble."
"This old one understands," the elder nodded firmly.
「An incense stick’s time later」, the group set off once more.
The Chixia Trading Team’s Camel Beasts walked ahead, their heavy hooves hitting the ground with a muffled THUD, THUD.
Ian’s group followed behind, maintaining a distance of about fifty meters.
The bald man, riding a Camel Beast, glanced back at Ian and suddenly grinned.
"Kid, you sure know how to ride on someone’s coattails."
Ian didn’t respond, just walked on in silence.
His Starlight Perception remained on high alert at its maximum range, while a part of his consciousness had already sunk into his Sea of Spirit.
The formula scroll was being rapidly analyzed by the panel.
[New Knowledge Source Detected: "Basic Level Purification Potion"]
[Analyzing...]
[Analysis Complete]
[Formula Contents: 500ml Purified Water, 3 Blazing Flame Grass stalks, 5g Bright Moonflower Petals, 1g Pure Starlight Dust, 10ml Basic Stabilizer]
[Refining Steps: 1. Bring the Purified Water to a boil, add the Blazing Flame Grass, and simmer on low heat for 10 minutes until the liquid turns light red.
2. Add the Bright Moonflower Petals and stir until completely dissolved.
3. Remove from heat. When the temperature drops below 40 degrees, add the Starlight Dust, stir clockwise...
4. Add the Stabilizer drop by drop, and continue stirring until the liquid becomes clear and faintly blue...]
[Key Refining Points: The timing of adding the Starlight Dust must be precise. If the temperature is too high, Energy will dissipate; if too low, it will not fuse completely. The stirring speed must be steady; too fast or too slow will affect the potion’s efficacy.]
[Estimated Practice Attempts to Master: 3 (with panel assistance)]
Ian opened his eyes, a glint of gold flashing in their depths.
’Why was that so simple? Of course, it was because his original self was a Master of Magic Potions, allowing him to grasp basic potions with incredible speed.’
This was only because the Rules of the two worlds were different. In the Wizard World, Ian could innovate and improve basic potions at will.
As long as he had all the ingredients, he would fail twice at most. On the third try, he could refine a satisfactory Purification Potion.
And after one success... his success rate would be 100%.
In this world polluted by the Abyss, a Purification Master was a walking gold mine.
He touched the Starfall Core on his chest, feeling its warm and ancient resonance.
Blue Cave Mountain.
’Once I get there, I’ll find a place to settle down first, break through to the Condensation realm, and further awaken my Star Attractor bloodline.’
’Then, perhaps I can glimpse a fragment of the mystery of "Star Gravity" from this bloodline.’
’That is the true goal of this projection.’
In the distance, gray clouds churned.
Cracks of dark red light squirmed through the clouds like blood vessels, casting a desolate glow upon the Wilderness.
The camel bells jingled as the procession moved forward in silence.
Ian raised his head and looked toward the horizon.
There, he could faintly make out a sprawling black silhouette, like a great beast prostrate upon the Earth.
Blue Cave Mountain.
They had arrived.
