Chapter 46: Chapter 44: Buying Hope "Go away, I don’t know you well." Wei Songnian’s face looked extremely displeased, and he impatiently waved his hand to shoo people away. "Hehe." Lin Antai took no offense and continued with a cheerful tone: "I do the same business as Old Wei, if Junior Brother has any needs, you can find me at the little marketplace under Red Copper Mountain." Seeing Wei Songnian’s increasingly sullen face, he stopped stoking the fire and backed away with a smile. Wei Songnian gritted his teeth, lowered his voice, and said: "Lin is from the Lin Clan of Great Bamboo Mountain, neighboring our Wei Clan of Little Bamboo Mountain, often clashing due to some interest-related issues. After the disciples of the two clans enter the sect, relations remain tense. The Lin Clan has some connections with a steward of the Artifact Refining Hall, Lin Antai mainly does business in ores and artifact refining." How could he not know that the other party simply came to disgust him, seeing him bring a newcomer along, and he did the same. Ji An shook his head slightly, wherever there are people, there are disputes; this is human nature. Most times it’s due to interests, sometimes because of other miscellaneous reasons. As a Spirit Farmer, he has always honestly stayed at Jade Water Lake cultivating Spirit Fields, and has never encountered such nonsense. As his cultivation continues to improve, he is destined to interact with various parties, inevitably forming connections or encountering conflicts. Sometimes, it’s not you seeking trouble, but trouble seeking you. I heard a Demon Hunting Squad found a hundred-year-old Profound Leaf Ginseng, which is a main ingredient for the Foundation Establishment Pill. The Demon Hunting Squad sold the Spirit Medicine to a sect Alchemist, resulting in the squad receiving ’attention’ from the Alchemist’s rival. For such matters, whom can you reason with? The two sat down in a corner, Wei Songnian smiled and said: "Please wait a moment, Junior Brother, the trade meeting will start soon." After a while, a cultivator with a gaunt figure, with dark red flame patterns embroidered around his sleeves, walked in, sat cross-legged at one corner of the high platform in the hall, and closed his eyes to rest. The buzzing voices of discussion immediately quieted down considerably, and Wei Songnian lowered his voice and said: "This is Junior Martial Uncle Chen Shiping, from the Artifact Refining Hall, a regular late-stage Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator at this trade meeting, particularly skilled in appraising minerals and Magical Artifacts." The Cui Disciple who had been guarding the door walked in, ascended the high platform, and bowed to greet: "Junior Martial Uncle Chen, shall we begin the trade meeting?" "Yes." Junior Martial Uncle Chen didn’t bat an eyelid, responding indifferently. "All willing have arrived, let’s begin now. I am Cui Yuan, and I’ll offer the first sample. Here is the Lower Grade Magical Artifact, Cyan Scorpion Sword, forged from Purple Heart Copper and Profound Fire Essence Iron sword embryo, and refined with the tailbone and spine of a Fire Attribute Scorpion Demon Beast, layered with twelve Dharma Prohibitions, it cuts iron like mud. If not for a mishap during refining, this Sword Artifact would have been a Middle-Grade Magical Artifact. Priced at fifty-four Spirit Stones, accepting barter, minerals, Fire Element Essence, Tier One Middle Grade Cyan Steel Bamboo can be used as trade items." Cui Yuan took out a two-foot-long dark red Flying Sword, injected with magical power to activate it, rippling with a crimson Spirit Light, spreading outward hot waves. Wei Songnian quietly introduced: "Senior Brother Cui has quite a talent in the Artifact Refining Dao, able to refine Magical Artifacts independently for several years; he also has a notable skill in repairing Magical Artifacts, though the price is a bit steep. A common Tier One Lower Grade Magical Artifact costs twenty Spirit Stones." Ji An nodded slightly, thinking it would take a long time to gather a set of Demon Hunting equipment at such cost, again feeling his poverty, needing to earn Crystal Stone fiercely! Immediately, a tall, bald-headed cultivator stood up: "Everyone knows Junior Brother Cui’s craftsmanship, and our squad members’ Magical Artifacts are severely damaged; we’ll trade them to Junior Brother Cui, add some minerals, and exchange for this Artifact." The bald-headed cultivator rolled up his Daoist Robe sleeve, exposing his knotty, strong muscles, his bronze skin faintly shimmering with a metallic glow. "So, it’s Senior Brother Yang, please come up to trade," Cui Yuan said with a smile. Wei Songnian continued introducing: "This is Senior Brother Yang Lie from Pagoda Peak, mainly practicing Body Refining, reportedly preparing for Foundation Establishment." The two quickly completed their trade and walked down the high platform together. Afterward, cultivators went on stage for transactions one after another, some sold Spirit Medicines and minerals, some returned regretful, Wei Songnian also went on stage, successfully exchanging a Ginseng Essence Pill for a Spiritual Object. During this period, some asked Chen Shiping for appraisals, and the other party charged a fee of one to three Spirit Stones for appraisal, making Ji An sigh at how easily Foundation Establishment cultivators earn Crystal Stone. After about a double hour, the trade meeting concluded. Cui Yuan handed a pile of Spirit Crystal to Chen Shiping, while Foundation Establishment cultivators left first, and everyone else dispersed. "Senior Sister Li, please wait." Wei Songnian stepped forward to stop two female cultivators about to leave the hall, complimenting: "Senior Sister looks like her Spiritual Pressure has increased significantly, seems it’s not far from Foundation Establishment." "Junior Brother Wei, speak your mind." The woman in the white Daoist Robe covered her mouth and laughed, a rice-sized birthmark at the corner of her right eyebrow. "Senior Sister belongs to the line at Ningcui Cliff, does she happen to have Spiritual Peach seeds? This is Junior Brother Ji who wishes to purchase." Wei Songnian introduced Ji An to the two women; Ningcui Cliff is the Dao Field of the sect’s late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, Ge Ying. Elder Ge excels in alchemy and cultivation techniques. The sect has a Tier Two Top-grade Spiritual Peach tree nurtured by him. Li Lingyu glanced at Ji An and a slight smile danced on her brow: "I wonder if Junior Brother Ji wants to buy ordinary Tier One Spiritual Peach seeds or Tier Two seeds, the price difference is quite significant." The cultivation cycle of Spirit Fruit Trees is relatively long, requiring certain tiered Spirit Fields and planting techniques, making the seeds quite difficult to sell. The seeds were useless to her, so being able to exchange them for Crystal Stone naturally pleased her. "Does Senior Sister happen to have seeds of the sect’s cultivated Spiritual Peach tree?" Wei Songnian asked somewhat excitedly, obtaining Tier Two Top-grade Spiritual Peach seeds would undoubtedly be the best choice. "You’re dreaming quite grandly; Tier Two Top-grade Spiritual Peach blooms and bears fruit in thirty-six years, then accumulates for another thirty-six years before blooming again, enjoyed only by Chao Origin Stage High Cultivators and ancestors, where would I get its seeds? What I have are Tier Two Lower Grade Spiritual Peach seeds, just one, cultivated privately in my master’s medicine field." Li Lingyu casually flicked a slightly reddish peach seed in front of the group. Ji An bowed and smiled: "I wonder how many Crystal Stones for a Tier Two Lower Grade Spiritual Peach seed?" The higher the grade of Mother Tree seeds, the easier it is to cultivate seedlings to high tiers, so naturally, one should purchase higher-grade seeds if possible. Ji An is confident in going further in the Cultivation Realm, breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage alone offers two hundred years of lifespan, enough to enjoy. If upgrading after Foundation Establishment, and further cultivating a main Cultivation Technique of Wood and Water Elements and saving Spirit Stones to purchase Lifespan Extension Pills, securing two hundred fifty years of lifespan is no trouble. "Three Spirit Stones, Tier Two Lower Grade Spiritual Peach seeds, once cultivated to fruit stage, will inevitably reach Tier One Lower Grade, possibly even Tier One Upper Grade. Then, a Spiritual Peach Tree becomes a Money Tree." She extended her jade hand showing three fingers, Li Lingyu winked cunningly. "Senior Sister is right, but..." During the bargaining phase, Wei Songnian stepped forward assertively, speaking eloquently: "The results of the Spiritual Peach have little to do with the seed seller, right? Senior Sister only sells the seeds and doesn’t partake in cultivation. Moreover, cultivating a Spiritual Peach Tree to the fruit stage takes many years, needing constant attention during this period. If we buy a Tier One Lower Grade peach seed, it only requires 10 Spirit Crystals, and we can enjoy Spiritual Peaches sooner." Wei Songnian held out one finger, firmly stating: "One Spirit Stone, at most; we’re buying hope."