txolops Chapter 16 The Great Principles of Trading
Chapter 16 The Great Principles of Trading
A few days later, Mu Chunfeng sat alone in the inner room, focusing on his cultivation.
Suddenly, a slight ripple appeared on the protective array outside the cave, and a bright white sound transmission talisman flew through the air and landed steadily in his hand.
Mu Chunfeng activated the communication talisman with a flick of his fingertip, and after listening to its contents, a smile appeared on his lips. He thought to himself: It's finally here.
Mu Chunfeng got up and stepped out of the cultivation room.
He raised his hand to release the array's restrictions, and a figure slowly walked over. It was Han Li, dressed in the robes of a Yellow Maple Valley disciple, with a handsome appearance.
Mu Chunfeng had already prepared in advance. He casually sat at the table, holding the "Great Evolution Manual" and flipping through it.
Seeing Han Li approach, he looked up and greeted him with a smile: "Junior Brother Han has finally arrived. Please have a seat, and I will brew you a pot of spiritual tea."
After saying that, Mu Chunfeng casually placed the book on the table, not even noticing that the pages were open.
Han Li cupped his hands in thanks and replied, "Thank you, Senior Brother."
While Mu Chunfeng went to fetch the tea set, his gaze inadvertently swept over the ancient book on the table. His eyes suddenly narrowed, his expression changed drastically, and he looked incredulous.
The pages of the book clearly state the profound effects of the "Great Evolution Technique": cultivation can strengthen one's divine sense and increase the chance of forming a core by 30%.
This passage was deliberately added by Mu Chunfeng, who also exaggerated its effects, all to entice Han Li to be moved.
Just as Han Li was reeling from the shock, Mu Chunfeng returned slowly with a complete tea set, her voice warm and friendly: "Junior Brother Han, my spiritual tea is brewed with top-quality spiritual leaves and spiritual spring water. It calms the mind and is very beneficial to cultivation. Why don't you try some?"
Han Li quickly averted his gaze, suppressed the turmoil in his heart, picked up the teacup, took a small sip, and nodded slightly: "Good tea, rich in spiritual energy, it certainly has a calming effect. Senior brother has quite the refined taste."
"It's just something I do to pass the time when I'm tired from daily cultivation," Mu Chunfeng said with a faint smile.
After the two chatted over tea for a while, Han Li finally took the initiative to ask why he had been summoned.
Upon hearing this, Mu Chunfeng took out several intermediate-level talismans from his storage bag and slowly said, "Junior Brother Han, my talisman-making skills have become increasingly proficient recently, and I can now draw intermediate-level talismans. The reason I invited you here today is to conduct some talisman transactions with you."
Han Li sighed, "Senior brother, your talent is extraordinary. You have made such great progress in talisman making. I am ashamed to say that I have been practicing talisman making for a long time, but my success rate is still less than 10%."
"Making talismans is inherently laborious, so I'll just study it for a few more years. In time, my junior brother will naturally become proficient."
The two chatted for over fifteen minutes before Han Li, unable to contain himself any longer, finally probed indirectly: "Senior Brother, I just happened to glance at this book, 'The Great Evolution Manual,' on the table. May I ask where you obtained it?"
Mu Chunfeng chuckled inwardly, knowing that Han Li had taken the bait, but his expression remained calm: "This book, 'The Great Evolution Manual,' was obtained from that Senior Brother Ye's storage bag. It contains the techniques for making and controlling puppets, as well as secret methods for cultivating divine sense."
"Puppetry techniques can also be used to cultivate divine sense?"
Han Li was shocked and instantly realized that this was the secret technique that Senior Brother Ye used to control puppets. His heart was filled with excitement.
His aptitude was poor, being a pseudo-spiritual root, making his cultivation path difficult at every step. Even with the Heavenly Bottle in his possession, he had no absolute certainty of breaking through to the Core Formation stage.
This secret technique, which could increase the chances of forming a core, is incredibly tempting to him. He is determined to obtain it no matter the cost.
Having made up his mind, Han Li looked up and said seriously, "Senior brother, may I have a look at this book? I am quite curious about the art of puppetry."
"Naturally, it's fine."
Mu Chunfeng casually picked up the book and handed it over; he had already sealed the contents beyond the first level of the secret technique with his magic.
This wasn't due to distrust of Han Li, but rather a deliberate omission to create a hazy sense of mystery and evoke a deeper desire in him.
As expected, after carefully reading the previous chapter and the first level of cultivation method, Han Li was instantly captivated by its profound mysteries and immediately recognized that the method was truly feasible and had endless uses.
After a long while, he reluctantly closed the book, handed it back to Mu Chunfeng, and said directly, "Senior brother, can I transfer this 'Great Evolution Technique' to you? I am willing to exchange it for a sufficient amount of spirit stones."
Mu Chunfeng picked up his teacup and took a sip, speaking calmly: "Junior brother, please forgive me. This method is extremely rare. The book says it can increase the success rate of Core Formation, which I also value highly. In the cultivation world, cultivation secrets are never easily passed on, after all, no one wants to expose their trump cards."
Han Li hurriedly assured him, "Senior brother, rest assured, I swear to cultivate this technique alone and never pass it on to anyone else, nor will I use it to make an enemy of you."
Mu Chunfeng gently shook his head: "Cultivators' methods are unpredictable. I've heard that Nascent Soul cultivators even have the ability to search souls. The more people who know about this secret technique, the greater the risk of it being leaked. Besides, this technique is extremely valuable, and I'm afraid you might not be able to offer an equivalent reward, lest it cause a rift between us in the future. I'll give you the first level of the technique for free. As for the subsequent cultivation methods... sigh."
Han Li instantly understood the unspoken meaning. All the previous remarks were just a prelude; the core message was simply: price.
He pondered for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Senior brother, you might as well state your price directly. Even if it's difficult to raise the money in a short time, it will give me a clear understanding and make me willing to make a choice."
Mu Chunfeng pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "I don't ask for much. Either twenty thousand-year-old spiritual herbs or two hundred bottles of Foundation Establishment stage enhancement pills."
He deliberately set this price, knowing that the thousand-year-old spiritual herbs were extremely rare. Although Han Li could gather them all, he would never dare to take them out.
These conditions seem harsh, but in reality, they are forcing him to choose the pill trade, with long-term delivery, which is safe and makes it difficult to expose the secret.
Han Li's expression changed drastically, his face filled with horror: "Twenty thousand-year-old spiritual herbs? Two hundred bottles of Foundation Establishment pills? These conditions are far too demanding; ordinary cultivators simply cannot afford them!"
Mu Chunfeng said calmly, "Junior Brother Han, this is a supreme secret technique that can help people break through to the Core Formation stage. Countless Foundation Establishment cultivators are stuck at the Core Formation bottleneck, spending their entire lives in this situation. This price is not excessive for someone who yearns to achieve Core Formation. I have already said that Junior Brother may not be able to afford it."
At this moment, Han Li's heart was in turmoil.
He could cultivate the thousand-year-old spiritual herb with the Palm Heaven Bottle, but if he took it out in large quantities, it would inevitably arouse Mu Chunfeng's suspicion. The little green bottle was his greatest secret in life and must not be exposed.
On the other hand, while two hundred bottles of pills are a large quantity, taking them out all at once would arouse suspicion. However, he could refine them slowly and deliver them monthly, making it less likely to arouse suspicion.
After weighing the pros and cons, Han Li looked up and said, "Senior brother, both conditions are difficult, but I really need this cultivation manual. I have some knowledge of alchemy, so how about this: I will provide you with three bottles of Foundation Establishment stage Qi Enhancement Pills every month until I have collected two hundred bottles. After all, it takes time to collect the medicinal materials for alchemy, so I hope you can give me some time."
Mu Chunfeng pondered for a moment before settling on the rules: "Monthly deliveries are too cumbersome, and I also need to prepare for the possibility of breaking through to the Pseudo-Core stage and no longer needing pills. How about this: three bottles of pills per month will remain the same, but if you have a thousand-year-old spiritual herb, you can use one herb to replace ten bottles of pills. What do you say?"
"Furthermore, Junior Brother Han had better prove to me that you have enough resources to complete a mission that takes such a long time."
Upon hearing this, Han Li secretly grumbled to himself, but could only calm down and weigh the pros and cons.
The two sat quietly at the table, leisurely sipping tea in the spring breeze, their expressions relaxed; Han Li, however, frowned, pondering gains and losses.
After about half an hour, Han Li finally gritted his teeth and made up his mind: "Alright, I'll do as Senior Brother says. I just happened to find a thousand-year-old spiritual herb recently, so I'll use it to offset ten bottles of pills."
Han Li then proposed that the two of them should jointly make a vow to their inner demons to guarantee the transaction.
Mu Chunfeng readily agreed, and the two did not delay. They immediately made a vow to keep the secret and fulfill their promise, thus officially completing the transaction.
Mu Chunfeng took out a blank jade slip and let Han Li copy the cultivation technique on his own, while also accepting the thousand-year-old spiritual herb.
After the technique was copied, Han Li got up to take his leave.
Mu Chunfeng smiled as she escorted Han Li to the cave entrance: "Take care, Junior Brother Han. If I come across any rare treasures or secret techniques in the future, I will trade with you again."
Han Li smiled bitterly, feigning heartache: "Junior brother has almost exhausted his savings this time, where would he find the strength to spare? I only hope that he can complete the pill delivery agreement on time."
Having said that, he urged the Divine Wind Boat to break through the air and depart.
Mu Chunfeng stood at the cave entrance, gazing in the direction Han Li had gone. A faint smile appeared on her lips as she thought to herself: Don't worry, I still have the "Three Revolutions Rejuvenation Technique" in my hand. Sooner or later, I'll make you willingly take the bait.
On the other side, Han Li appeared to be full of worry, but in reality, he was overjoyed.
The two lived less than a hundred miles apart, and within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Han Li returned to his own cave dwelling.
He walked straight in, activated the protective restrictions of the cave, arrived at the cultivation room, sat cross-legged, took out the jade slip, and immersed his divine sense into it to carefully study the "Great Evolution Manual".
After reading the entire article, Han Li could not hide his joy.
This method is incredibly profound. It not only strengthens one's divine sense but also provides secret techniques for controlling puppets. If one cultivates to the point of "divine sense transforming into a thousand," one can control hundreds or thousands of puppets. In this way, one will be invincible among those of the same Foundation Establishment level.
Unable to contain his excitement, Han Li immediately circulated his inner energy and began to cultivate diligently.