"Da Zhuang, this 'nine-ringed bamboo,' who sold it to you?" Zhou Donghuang picked out an herb that looked like a bamboo shoot from the pile of medicines that Da Zhuang had helped him buy. Its stalk was almost as long as two fingers, and it had nine intricately carved rings on its side that made it look extremely special.
The nine-ringed bamboo was the most valuable of the herbs which Zhou Donghuang had asked Da Zhuang to help him purchase. It was the main ingredient for the elixir he was producing. It was also the most expensive.
