Zeng Wen, a ninth-level Qi refinement cultivator, is an old resident of the Inner City.
Originally, he had hoped to embark on the path of Foundation Establishment, but unfortunately, he had injured his foundation during a fight years ago, forever extinguishing his hopes of Foundation Establishment.
Even though his foundation was injured, his combat prowess was still intact. In the prime of his life, he never lacked spending money.
Even if he had spent all his Spirit Stones, it was enough for him to go into the Million Mountains once. As long as he didn't venture deep into the mountains and stayed merely on the outskirts, killing one or two First Order Demonic Beasts would garner him enough Spirit Stones.
What did he do with the money he earned?
Of course, it was spent on food, wine, and women!
Recently, he had been feeling tight on cash and planned to venture into the mountains.
So, he was at a roadside stall, picking out a few talismans, buying a few bottles of elixirs, and purchasing a couple of handy magic tools.
It has to be said, though the Mountain trips typically yielded quite a lot of earnings, they also resulted in large expenses.
The Demonic Beasts were incredibly brutish, having rough, thick skins, which often damaged his magic tools.
This was unlike the beauties from Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion, who always polished his magic tools until they gleam.
However, he was lucky today. He had come across a Concealing Qi Talisman. He had never paid much attention to that lad Luo Chen's Fasting Elixir, but this time, he felt its quality was no less than those from the Spirit Medicine Hall.
Thus, he bought five bottles, planning to try them out.
However, just as he was about to leave, the lad stopped him.
"Friend, are you interested in learning about the Allure Pill?"
"Allure Pill, what is that?"
In a very low voice, Luo Chen said, "The way can be spoken of, but it isn't the eternal way; the name can be named, but it isn't the eternal name. Without name, it is the beginning of heaven and earth; with a name, it is the mother of all things."
The fat cultivator Zeng Wen was confused. What was this?
Are you trying to make him play a tongue-twister here?
Luo Chen took a deep breath. With a tone, as if revealing a secret, said, "Therefore, often without desire to observe its subtlety; often with desire to observe its boundary. These two emerge together but differ in name; the unity is said to be mysterious, mysterious and more mysterious, the gate of all subtleties."
After saying this, he stared at Zeng Wen, "Friend, do you understand the meaning of these sentences?"
Zeng Wen hesitated a bit, then cleared his throat, finally shaking his head, "I don't understand, but it feels profound."
Luo Chen couldn't help but give a big thumbs-up.
"As expected of a ninth-level Qi Refinement Great Cultivator who far surpasses my realm, understanding the profundity of these phrases in just one listen."
Zeng Wen blinked his eyes. Is it so?
Indeed, this kid is only at the third level of Qi Refinement, where could he possibly comprehend these profound phrases.
"However, what does this have to do with your Allure Pill?"
Luo Chen moistened his lips, and continued speaking in a low voice: "Friend, do you know the story of Ascendant Master Yun Zhonghe, a venerable figure of the Hehuan Sect?"
"Ah, you mean Ascendant Master Yun He?!"
"No, it's Yun Zhonghe!"
"Uh?"
"Ascendant Masters' names should not be directly mentioned, not be lightly insulted. Just call him Yun Zhonghe"
"Understood, go on!"
"He once practiced the core cultivation technique of the Hehuan Sect. By pushing it to the highest level, he, who was at the early stage of Golden Core, overpowered a Fourth Order Beast Emperor. I suppose you already know this story?"
Zeng Wen nodded. Who wouldn't know this?
Especially for an old lothario like him, who frequented the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion, he would occasionally engage in such dialogues during his conversations with the ladies there.
"Where are you from?"
"From the external sect of the Hehuan Sect?"
"I know it there, your sect has an Ascendant Master Yun He. Quite impressive, he is acclaimed as the number one below the Nascent Soul stage!"
"Even though he is powerful, the Hehuan Sect is not a good place after all. Miss, you are trapped in a difficult situation, why not escape from this sea of suffering sooner?"
Among other things, when sentimental feelings ran deep, one could not help but clutch their head in sorrow and lament the hardships of Immortal Cultivation.
Luo Chen was unaware of the range of emotions running through Zeng Wen's mind, and continued his pitch.
"With a Golden Core body overpowering a Fourth Order Beast Emperor, such a glorious combat record. It can be seen that he had comprehended an earth-shaking divine power from the core cultivation technique of the Hehuan Sect!"
"Ah yes, I, Zeng Wen, have always longed to witness such grandeur. If only I was not born two hundred years late." Zeng Wen shook his head and sighed, his tone melancholic.
"Although you can't witness the grace of Ascendant Master Yun He in his prime, you can still sense a bit of it."
"Oh, how so?"
"The marvelous, yet mysteriously powerful discourse I just shared is said to be one of Ascendant Master Yun He's epiphanies."
"Real or Fake?"
"I cannot confirm its authenticity either. But, years ago, I gathered a fragmented pill formula from a market—it's rumored to have originated from Sky Blade Peak!"
Zeng Wen's eyes widened, his lips trembling, "Is that where the nest of the Fourth Level Demon Crane Emperor was located?"
"Perhaps. It's just a shame that the pill formula was so fragmented that it vanished as I looked through it. In my haste, I only managed to record a small part of it, from which I developed a formula for a first-order pill." Luo Chen said with a touch of regret, his face unable to conceal his disappointment.
Zeng Wen was slightly stirred, "If it's true, even a glimpse of its magic would be extraordinary. What effects does the Allure Pill have?"
Luo Chen lowered his head slightly, a touch of shyness on his face.
"I'm ashamed to say, the Allure Pill doesn't serve much of a purpose beyond some minor fortification and invigoration benefits, and the ability to solidify the foundation and cultivate the origin."
So, it can invigorate and solidify the foundation, AND cultivate the origin?
Is there such an elixir in the world?
Lately, he had begun to feel somewhat insufficient in his several battles.
Zeng Wen felt his hopes heightened by the golden elixir. Unable to reach the Foundation Establishment stage, perhaps the Allure Pill may still offer him a sliver of hope in the rest of his life.
"Is this it?"
Zeng Wen pointed to the most intricate jade bottle laying deep inside the stall.
Luo Chen nodded, "With my limited skills, I barely managed to refine a single bottle throughout my life. If you wish to get a taste of Ascendant Master Yun He's profound principles, I am willing to sell it to you at a low price. Eight lower-grade spirit stones, no, since we have become fast friends, make it five."
Without hesitation, Zeng Wen picked up the jade bottle and removed the cork.
A heartwarming fragrance drifted out. At the first whiff, he felt stirrings in his belly.
On the second inhalation, a wave of pure spirit power rushed towards him, creating an illusion of a raging sea with waves crashing ashore, fiercely defying the blazing sun.
On closer inspection, the dark red pill, the size of a longan, rolled around like a piece of jelly within the bottle.
"A perfect blend of yin and yang, harmony of water and fire – it truly resonates with what Lady Yuxiang from the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion said, the Hehuan Sect's core cultivation technique that reaches the Golden Core Period, invoking a sense of the union of the dragon and the tiger."
"Alright, brother, we feel a connection at first sight, I'll take this bottle!"
"Five spirit stones, right? Here you go!"
Luo Chen was pleasantly surprised and quickly stuffed the spirit stones into his pocket.
"Take care, sir. I'll be here next month. Please come find me if you need anything. And, should you find anything unsatisfactory with the Allure Pill, please inform me directly. I promise to make every effort to improve it for you."
A pair of affectionate eyes watched as Zeng Wen, the Ninth Level Great Cultivator faded into the distance until he had disappeared completely.
Luo Chen released a long breath.
The first order for the new batch of goods had finally been sold.
After the first successful transaction, the next one surely wouldn't be far away.
He rotated his neck, feeling a slight stiffness in his shoulders. Casting a sideways glance, he caught Elder Chen Xiuping staring at him, dumbfounded.
With his beard twitching, his lips mumbling, he finally managed to grind out a sentence through gritted teeth.
"I've never seen anyone so audaciously shameless!"
Hehe!
Luo Chen bowed, and pulled out another exquisite jade bottle from his pocket, placing it among the remaining fifteen Fasting Elixir bottles.
Elder Chen, sounding like he had a toothache, said, "Didn't you say you only made one bottle?"
"It is one bottle! One bottle contains ten pills, and I sold them as ten bottles. This is what we call volume over profit!"
That's...!
His jaw set!
Elder Chen Xiuping felt he had met a rare match in his life!
...
At noon the same day, Zeng Wen used the Wind Riding Technique, transforming into a green rainbow, and headed straight for the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion.
A Foundation Establishment Stage Female Cultivator blocked him, saying the ladies were resting, and were not receiving guests for now.
Zeng Wen, with the prominence of his Ninth Level Qi Refinement cultivation, stared down at the Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator and roared, "I am Zeng Wen, and today I wish to christen ten of them!"