Cultivation begins with ice harvesters

Chapter 50: East Wind

"Unfortunately, although this ice python has a faint dragon-snake bloodline, it is of low rank, only a mid-grade first rank, and has not awakened the dragon-snake's love-devouring habit of collecting glittering spiritual objects."

Following the tracks left by the ice python, Tong Bingfeng quickly found the traces of its lair. Unfortunately, apart from three mid-grade first-tier snake-born spirit herbs that were about twenty years old, he did not find anything else.

The dragon-snake possesses a trace of the dragon's bloodline and also inherits the dragon's hobby of collecting spiritual objects. Therefore, after each hunt, the value of the various spiritual objects in its lair far exceeds that of the dragon-snake's corpse.

Of course, dragons and snakes are at least second-tier low-grade, equivalent to early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators. If he were to encounter one, he would only become its prey.

"It's a pity that this ice python's flesh and blood could effectively replenish the soil's fertility if buried in the spirit field and fermented."

Before leaving, Tong Bingfeng looked reluctantly at the remaining flesh and blood of the ice python, but unfortunately the storage bag was too small to carry it.

In addition, all the spirit fields on the Ice Spirit Island belong to the Foundation Establishment stage Chen family. The purchase price of these demon beast flesh and blood is extremely low. The hard work of transporting and selling them only yields one or two spirit stones. Therefore, they can only reluctantly leave them on this ice domain to serve as food for other demon beasts.

The seemingly substantial amount of ice python flesh and blood can be completely devoured overnight through fermentation. Even the ice python blood that has become one with the ice field and ice layer will disappear completely.

"Fellow Daoist Tong, you are truly diligent, hunting demonic beasts in the Ice Domain every day. Today you must have reaped a considerable harvest. If everyone were as diligent and hardworking as you, what would be there to worry about in advancing one's cultivation?"

Upon returning to the courtyard, a familiar figure was already lingering at the door, seemingly waiting for his return.

"I am merely struggling to survive. How can I compare to Fellow Daoist Liu, whose shop earns a fortune every day, and whose cultivation is deepening day by day? It is only natural that he will build a foundation for the Dao and achieve the great cultivation of the Foundation Establishment stage in the future."

The sedan chair was carried by many people, and Tong Bing showered her with compliments, not caring at all about wasting a little time.

"How difficult it is to forge the foundation of the Dao and become a Foundation Establishment Venerable! I have come here today to fulfill my original promise. According to my calculations, the crystal gourd will be ready in less than a month. We should set off tomorrow. Fellow Daoist Tong, are you ready?"

Changing the subject, the cultivator surnamed Liu explained the purpose of the trip and extended a formal invitation, which was based on Tong Bingfeng's successful advancement to the fifth level of Qi Refining.

"All preparations are complete. We are only awaiting your invitation, Fellow Daoist. When shall we depart? Please feel free to tell us, Fellow Daoist Liu."

Everything was ready except for the final push. The cultivators, who had been waiting for so long, would naturally not refuse this long-awaited invitation. No matter how many demons and monsters or how much deceit and treachery lay ahead, they would never give up.

"Fellow Daoist Tong is indeed a straightforward person. Tomorrow at noon, let's meet at the Ice Spirit Island pier and go together to pick crystal gourds."

The cultivator surnamed Liu immediately provided the time and place for one round. As for this location, it is highly likely that there is no connection between it and the location where the crystal gourd grows.

"It's a deal; I will certainly keep my appointment on time."

Tong Bingfeng agreed firmly, and the entire exchange was simple and straightforward.

A quarter of an hour later, Tong Bingfeng left the courtyard again, carrying the spoils he had collected from hunting the ice python that day, and headed towards the market.

These materials from the body of a mid-grade first-tier ice python are quite valuable, but they offer no assistance whatsoever for the journey that is about to begin. The only option is to exchange them for suitable spiritual items to maximize their usefulness.

"Young Master Tong, what kind of elixir are you here to buy today?"

In a shop located on the main street of the market, Miao Dan Ge, which specializes in selling various first-tier spirit pills suitable for Qi Refining stage cultivators, a burly man in the mid-stage of Qi Refining greeted them familiarly.

Miao Dan Pavilion is not affiliated with the Chen family, but it has a stable alchemy tradition and has lived and thrived on Ice Spirit Island for more than three hundred years. It can be considered an affiliated family of the Chen family. The spirit pills it sells are of excellent quality and are priced slightly lower than those of Chen Ling Pavilion.

"Fellow Daoist Wu, please take a look at the value of these spiritual materials."

Tong Bingfeng did not directly tell the visitors the type and quantity of elixirs they intended to buy. Instead, he took out all the ice python's yolk, skin, and tendons from his storage bag.

Although Miaodan Pavilion makes its living by selling elixirs, it also recognizes barter transactions. After all, the majority of cultivators, the independent cultivators, are usually penniless and can only buy elixirs after hunting monsters and obtaining spoils.

Moreover, in this trading method, one transaction in and one transaction out is equivalent to earning spirit stones twice, so the profit margin is naturally higher than simply selling first-tier spirit pills.

"It's actually a trophy taken from the body of a mid-grade first-tier ice python, and it's completely intact. Fellow Daoist Tong, you truly have impressive skills."

"How about Miao Dan Pavilion offering ninety-five spirit stones for a complete snake skin, a snake tendon, and a snake gall?"

The cultivator surnamed Wu had been running the Miaodan Pavilion for many years, so his expertise was undoubtedly exceptional. He was quite familiar with the types of demonic beasts that frequently appeared within a thousand miles of Ice Spirit Island, and he quoted a price that, while low, was still within the range that most independent cultivators could afford.

"A transaction of ninety-five spirit stones is acceptable, but the spirit pills sold by Miaodan Pavilion also require a 10% discount."

Tong Bingfeng had no objection to the price of the transaction, but he did propose an additional condition at the opportune moment.

"Deal made. What kind of elixir are you planning to buy today, Brother Tong?"

The cultivator surnamed Wu was naturally satisfied with this transaction, and was willing to agree to the reasonable price he had negotiated.

"One bottle of mid-grade Tier 1 antidote pills, one bottle of mid-grade Tier 1 miasma-dispelling pills, and two bottles of mid-grade Tier 1 wound-healing pills."

Tong Bingfeng decisively stated his needs, which were quite different from his usual focus on assisting cultivation.

Of course, the price of this type of auxiliary elixir is also slightly lower, and the quantity sold on a regular basis is relatively small.

"Four bottles of elixirs are on sale at a 10% discount. The attack costs 120 spirit stones. Brother Tong needs to pay an additional 25 spirit stones."

A bottle of elixir costing thirty spirit stones wasn't expensive, but when the cultivator surnamed Wu provided the elixir, he didn't forget to look him up and down with a curious gaze.

Usually, when a rogue cultivator makes such a large-scale purchase of elixirs for detoxification, dispelling miasma, and healing, it means that they have discovered a high-value opportunity guarded by a powerful demon beast, requiring them to risk their lives to have any chance of winning.

The victors naturally take the spoils back to nourish their cultivation, while the losers' only consequence is death, becoming food for the monsters. There is no other choice. Of course, as a qualified cultivator, he also has some curiosity about so-called opportunities.