Rat Taoist's abilities greatly satisfied Su Ping.
However, Su Ping wasn't too fond of the title "Rat Taoist."
Because he had already decided.
He would take this title for himself!
When he returned to reality, he intended to use the abilities of the Spiritual Rat, White and Grey, to create a transcendent alter ego called Rat Taoist!
Rat Taoist had no knowledge of this and thought it was just one of Su Ping's eccentricities.
Having celebrated his 70th birthday, the aging Rat Taoist no longer cared about such vain titles and quickly nodded in agreement.
Old Master Hong of Chishao Town, who had thought he would spend the rest of his life there, wouldn't pass up the opportunity to move to Golden Sparrow City.
Big cities hold big opportunities.
And although the Immortal Sect disciples might categorize Su Ping, the Inspector, as one of the failed ones,
in the eyes of Loose Cultivators and those from Side Sects not part of the formal paths, he was a hugely valuable supporter!
Su Ping allowed Rat Taoist, now renamed Taoist Hong, to celebrate his 70th birthday before bringing his family over to Golden Sparrow City.
Su Ping once again took a detour on his way to Nine Leaf Workshop.
He had the convoy stop outside the mountain and followed the same route to see the small workshop once more.
Su Ping found the old cultivator in Yunbao Tower within the workshop.
"Hmm?"
"Taoist Friend, you actually have ways to get so much sugar!"
The old cultivator recognized Su Ping as the fellow cultivator who bought waste pills.
This time, he had thought Su Ping would finally come to buy Magic Artifacts or talismans.
But instead, he came to sell sugar.
However, the sugar Su Ping wanted to sell still caught the old cultivator's attention.
The territory governed by the Chi Yuan Immortal Sect had no land suitable for the cultivation of sugar-producing crops.
Most of the sugar and similar commodities usually came from merchant caravans from places like the Southern Desolate or East Sea.
These caravans often followed immense Immortal Boats and traveled between various regions.
They generally only stopped in the most bustling major cities of the Immortal Sects.
The old cultivator speculated that Su Ping may have some relation to certain caravan traders, thus managing to acquire a batch of sugar to resell for a profit.
"Taoist Friend, I've inspected your batch of sugar, and the quality is very good, though the ingredients seem to have lacked Spiritual Energy, regrettably... I can only pay the mid-grade price for it."
"It can't match top-grade sugar that can be used as an ingredient for Qi Blood Pills."
"However, according to the last price our Yun Family paid for mid-grade sugar at the Immortal Sect Main Workshop,"
"Yunbao Tower is willing to take all your sugar at one Spirit Stone per hundred catties."
"And... if in the future you can bring more sugar of no lesser quality than this batch, Yunbao Tower will also buy them at market price!"
The old cultivator calculated and offered what he believed was a fair price.
With this price, the Yun Family saved on transportation costs and the entry fee to the Main Workshop.
And since Su Ping could bring out so much sugar to sell, he must be making a profit margin.
Moreover, the Yun Family had their own Alchemists, and sugar could not only be used to satisfy cultivators' cravings for sweets,
but it could also be used as an ingredient for low-tier pills like Fasting Pills and Primordial Qi Pills.
No matter how you look at it, the deal was a win-win!
Therefore, he offered this fair price, also hoping for a long-term trading relationship.
As for Su Ping,
this transaction was just a test of the waters; the fact that sugar could be traded for Spirit Stones was enough incentive for him to continue the trade.
After all, the production of sugar in this territory was limited.
On Water Blue Star, however, sugar was abundantly available!
Su Ping, while listening to the old cultivator's words, silently mused to himself whether Yunbao Tower's old cultivator would still dare to claim he could take it all if Su Ping suddenly brought tens of thousands of tons of sugar!
Of course, Su Ping just kept these thoughts to himself.
He understood the principle that rarity determines value, and having too much of something would lead to underselling it.
Besides, given his current level of cultivation and status... a deal involving a few dozen Spirit Stones was still manageable.
But if it involved too many Spirit Stones, who knows what kind of trouble it might stir up!
Steady! Don't be careless!
He exchanged the sugar for Spirit Stones.
Su Ping engaged in conversation with the old cultivator about the methods of Body Cultivation.
"Do you intend to practice Body Cultivation, Taoist Friend?"
"This is a tough job, and Body Cultivation becomes increasingly costly in Spirit Stones as one progresses."
"However, if you just grit your teeth and get through the introductory phase, it's indeed greatly beneficial for the body, at least those who practice Body Cultivation won't be leaving Immortal Miao Building leaning on the walls."
The old cultivator seemed to see through Su Ping's true reason for wanting to practice Body Cultivation and chuckled as he retrieved a Jade Scroll from behind the counter.
"Ten Directions Strong Body Skill!"
"A Qi Cultivation Stage Body Cultivation Method originated from an ancient and significant sect of the Southern Desolate region, the Ten Directions Sect."
"It doesn't require any special Spirit Root; even those with inferior Spirit Roots can practice it as long as they are willing to endure the hardships to make an entry."
"Of course, if you don't plan on breaking through, you can also quickly progress by relying on Qi Blood Pills and demon beast meat."
At this point, the old cultivator paused then said:
"However… I suggest you, Taoist Friend, not to take shortcuts. If there's a chance for you to achieve something in Body Cultivation, it will benefit your breakthroughs in the Great Realm later."
"And after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage in this Strong Body Skill, you can seamlessly transition to the Foundation Establishment Technique Ten Directions Undying Body."
"That is considered one of the top Body Cultivation Methods in both Southern Desolate and our Central Spirit Domain!"
The old cultivator's eyes showed a hint of longing as he spoke about this.
"Only the most elite Body Cultivation geniuses have a slight chance of practicing the Ten Directions Undying Body."
"You think too highly of me, Taoist Friend!"
Upon hearing this, Su Ping quickly laughed and humbly shook his head.
In his heart, he had already decided to take the old cultivator's advice and practice the Ten Directions Strong Body Skill.
Su Ping had heard of this method before when he was in the Outer Sect of the Immortal Sect, and it closely matched the old cultivator's introduction.
Chi Yuan Immortal Sect had inner sect geniuses who practiced this Body Cultivation Method and became famous for years because of it.
Additionally, Su Ping was very fond of the setup that just taking medicine could speed up the progress.
He was quite aware of his own talents.
He didn't believe he could be an exception in the more difficult field of Body Cultivation.
So... when it came to cultivation, he could only rely on Purification Spirit Medicine and waste pills for an edge!
Su Ping spent five Spirit Stones to purchase the Skill Transmission Jade Scroll.
The old cultivator then gave away various Secret Medicine formulas suitable for Body Refinement as a bonus.
Afterward, not wanting to draw too much attention, Su Ping, who didn't continue purchasing waste pills and Mortal Beasts there, painted a rosy picture to the old cultivator of continuing to trade in sugar, and then gracefully left the workshop.
"Shopkeeper."
"The old ancestors from the Immortal Sect have sent a portrait over, and this Taoist seems to be the Inspector who was recently sent down to Golden Sparrow City."
"Inspector?"
Upon hearing this, the old cultivator's heart stirred but he quickly shook his head:
"Not worth it, not worth it!"
"There's no chance he could come into contact with the Immortal Boat's trade association through the sugar business; flipping it would yield at most a ten percent profit margin."
"Even if he expands the business, a hundred or so Spirit Stones in a year would be the limit."
"Moreover, having access to this business means he has some friends in key positions."
"Our Yun Family is too small to get involved in these matters, it's better to focus on maintaining good relations."
The old cultivator took a gentle sip of tea and reached a decision.
In the midst of Nine Leaf Mountain.
Su Ping hid in a large tree, confirmed that no cultivators were following him, and then emerged to meet up with the caravan outside Nine Leaf Mountain.
After returning to Golden Sparrow City, Su Ping deliberately let slip the news that he was preparing to practice Body Cultivation.
Indeed, he released the news in the afternoon.
By evening, various families had already sent gifts to Frost Moon Villa.
The gifts were mostly related to the medicinal materials needed for Body Cultivation; Su Ping didn't need to send people out to purchase them as he had already gathered the necessary components for several Body Cultivation Secret Medicines.
This once again made Su Ping appreciate the delightful aspects of power.
Even if that power was only effective against the noble families comprising ordinary humans!