"So there really is no way for me to serve as the resident alchemist for your esteemed pavilion," Lu Changsheng shook his head, voicing his refusal. He wasn’t averse to the notion of being a shop’s resident alchemist. If the shop were located in Red Leaf Valley Market or the markets around Qingzhu Mountain, he wouldn’t mind using an alias to serve as a resident alchemist. Not only would that provide an additional income, but it would also create another channel for selling elixir medicines. He could sell all the surplus elixirs that he had produced in the shop. However, his main base was at Qingzhu Mountain. After completing this purchasing trip, he would return and not stay long in Jiuxiao Immortal City. "Where does Elder Ye reside? As long as you are willing to become our ’Treasure Elixir Pavilion’ resident alchemist, you don’t have to come to the shop regularly," "Xingruo can visit you to discuss matters. You only need to take the trouble of coming over when there is a need," Li Xingruo was reluctant to give up and continued to speak. "Li fellow Taoist, I reside in the Qingyun Region, which is truly far from Jiuxiao Immortal City," Lu Changsheng said, shaking his head. From Qingzhu Mountain to Jiuxiao Immortal City, one would have to traverse half of Jiang Country Cultivation Realm. "Qingyun Region," Upon hearing this, Li Xingruo felt somewhat disheartened. She knew that with such a distance, the journey was indeed long. Even by riding a spirit boat, it would take several months. Biting her lip, she persisted, "May I ask when Elder Ye plans to leave?" Her family’s shop was facing not just a decline in business. There was another problem as well. In Jiuxiao Immortal City, there was a regulation. All pharmacy, talisman, and magic artifact shops in the Inner City District must have a Second Rank master in residence. Therefore, every three years, Jiuxiao Immortal City conducts a shop assessment. The resident Talisman Master of the shop is required to go to the ’Hundred Arts Hall’ in the city for assessment and registration. If they did not pass the assessment, the shop’s business license would be revoked. Now, there were only three months left until the assessment. If she could not secure a Second Rank alchemist who hadn’t registered in the city to pass the assessment within these three months, then her ’Treasure Elixir Pavilion’ would no longer be able to operate. "About two months," Lu Changsheng said after a moment of consideration. He planned to wait until the auction was over and then return home after exchanging the heads of the two robber cultivators from Red Leaf Valley. The reason he was not immediately collecting the reward was that Lu Changsheng had learned something. The rewards offered by the Heavenly Sword Sect could be exchanged for items of equivalent value. Spirit Stones, elixir medicines, magic artifacts, cultivation techniques, and rare treasures were all options. Therefore, he was not in a rush to claim the reward. He intended to wait until his purchases were complete to see which materials he still lacked. Only then would he use the heads of the two to select his reward, exchanging for the items he needed. "Two months..." Upon hearing this, a pleading look appeared in Li Xingruo’s eyes as she said, "I wish to request that Elder Ye act as the nominal resident alchemist for our ’Treasure Elixir Pavilion’ and participate in the annual assessment." "This assessment is in three months’ time, and it will not take up much of your time, Elder Ye," "As long as you are willing, Elder Ye, any conditions you have can be discussed," Li Xingruo said, full of hope as she looked at Lu Changsheng. Her sister Li Xingyu nodded along, looking at Lu Changsheng with hopeful eyes as well. "Any conditions can be discussed?" Lu Changsheng had not expected that an offer to be a mere shop’s resident alchemist could make the two women so determined and agreeable, willing to make such a significant commitment. He looked at the two sisters with a somewhat strange expression. The elder sister, Eighth Level Energy Refinement. The younger sister, Fourth Level Energy Refinement. At this age, with this cultivation level, it suggested that their Spiritual Root talents were quite impressive. If he were to marry them and have children, it seemed it would be quite good. However, he, Lu Changsheng, was not so desperate to propose that someone else’s young girl becomes his concubine over such a trifle. "In Jiuxiao Immortal City, there should be other Second Rank Alchemists among the surrounding family powers, right?" "Your pavilion manages to operate a shop here in the Inner City District of Jiuxiao Immortal City; it shouldn’t be that difficult to hire a Second Rank Alchemist, should it?" Lu Changsheng asked out loud. This store’s ability to operate in the Inner City District of Jiuxiao Immortal City indicated that it had some strength. Nowadays, not only was the business sluggish, but the shop was also manned by just two young girls. It seemed it wasn’t merely due to poor management. Therefore, Lu Changsheng speculated that there must be other reasons. "Senior..." Li Xingruo bit her lip and recounted the reasons. "So that’s how it is." After listening to Li Xingruo’s words, Lu Changsheng sighed softly in his heart. He thought to himself that the two sisters were pitiable. Otherwise, considering the original family situation of the two sisters, they were indeed better off than many others. But such was the Cultivation World, full of uncertainties. "Senior..." Li Xingyu’s eyes reddened with memories flooding back as her sister recounted their parents’ story, her face filled with sadness and misery. "If that’s the case, I can help you with the assessment three months from now." "But how do I know what you’ve told me is true and that I won’t offend the Li Family behind you?" Lu Changsheng spoke out. He, Lu Changsheng, was a father himself, with a heart full of love, always soft-hearted, and unable to bear seeing such things. If he could help, he was more than willing to lend a hand. As for the Li Family behind the two women, he was not afraid. According to what Li Xingruo had just described, the Li Family was only a Foundation Establishment Family. After the death of her parents, the family had a total of four Foundation Establishment Cultivators. But he could not simply believe whatever he was told. "The senior may inquire a bit in the Immortal City," "For example, the Hundred Dawn Chamber and Heaven Knowledge Tower within the city deal in all kinds of intelligence and news." "Senior may purchase information about our Li Family and our shop through the Hundred Dawn Chamber, and then you’ll know if it’s true." Li Xingruo said softly. Just recounting the past had made her feel somewhat depressed. "Alright, how about I give the two young ladies a response later tonight?" Lu Changsheng glanced at Li Xingruo and nodded. He had also realized that after this procurement trip, there would certainly be a need for future purchases in the Immortal City. If the young women were good, he could maintain this relationship and channel. In the future, through the two women, he could purchase and acquire some rare materials in Jiuxiao Immortal City. Then have Xiao Xiyue ask for the Spiritual Vessel from Qingyun Sect to bring them back. This way, he could avoid the trouble of running around himself. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶 "Thank you, Senior Ye!" "Thank you, Senior Ye!" Upon hearing Lu Changsheng’s words, the two sisters exchanged a look, their eyes filled with joy.