Cultivation: Start From Simplifying Martial Arts Techniques

“Do you sell Qi Rejuvenation Pill?”

In the black market, Chen Fei altered his appearance once again. He approached a stall and inquired cautiously about the price.

“Twenty-five taels,” the stall owner responded lazily, casting a casual glance at Chen Fei.

Chen Fei expressed surprise at the steep price. Just two days prior, he had conducted his investigations and found that the cost was still 20 taels per pill. The sudden and significant increase caught him off guard.

Prior to the arrival of the rebel army, the market price for the Qi Rejuvenation Pill had been a mere ten taels per pill. The current exorbitant price reflected the turbulent circumstances and the rising demand for such medicinal items.

“Don’t assume it’s too expensive. You’re aware of the current situation in Pingyin County. The majority of the pills have been requisitioned, and it’s already challenging to obtain even a small quantity,” the stall owner clarified, noticing Chen Fei’s sudden retreat before finishing his inquiry.

“Indeed,” Chen Fei agreed, a smile spreading across his face. He asked, “Do you accept Qi Rejuvenation pills?”

The stall owner raised an eyebrow in response. “You want to sell them?”

The stall owner, who had been reclining in his chair, suddenly sat up straight and regarded Chen Fei attentively. “What does it look like? Actually, the appearance doesn’t matter much. What quantity can you provide daily? If it’s a substantial amount, we can negotiate the price.”

“I can guarantee around twenty to thirty pills per day,” Chen Fei responded confidently.

“Good! If you can maintain that quantity, 1’11 offer you this price per pill,” the stall owner agreed, making a gesture to indicate his agreement.

Observing the gesture, Chen Fei shook his head slightly. “You were selling them for twenty-five taels, but you’re only willing to pay fifteen taels. That’s too low.”

Chen Fei recognized the disparity in the offered price and sought a more equitable agreement for his Qi Rejuvenation Pills.

“Fifteen taels may not be insignificant, but I also have my own expenses to bear,” the stall owner replied with a chuckle.

“Alright, I will take it into consideration,” Chen Fei responded without elaborating further. He smiled and began to walk away.

“Sigh, don’t go just yet. We can negotiate the price,” the stall owner called out, hoping to engage in further discussion and reach a more favorable agreement.

Seeing Chen Fei about to depart, the stall owner hastily halted him. In the current circumstances, pill refiners who could freely roam outside were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns. The opportunity to purchase twenty to thirty Qi Rejuvenation Pills each day would undoubtedly be significant.

Chen Fei paused and gazed at the stall owner without uttering a word.

“Name your price,” the stall owner conceded, feeling somewhat helpless.

“Twenty-three taels,” Chen Fei proposed.

The stall owner shook his head vigorously as if playing a rattle drum. “This price is too high.”

“The prices of pills fluctuate every few days. Perhaps in a few days, you might turn a profit,” Chen Fei suggested, hoping to negotiate a more favorable deal.

The stall owner responded skeptically, “How can prices keep increasing? There are very few people who can afford twenty-five taels. 1 only took them to provide a backup supply for my main family.”

“In that case, how much do you propose?” Chen Fei inquired.

“Sixteen taels. This price seems reasonable,” the stall owner suggested.

After some haggling, Chen Fei and the stall owner eventually agreed upon a purchase price of twenty taels per pill.

Although Chen Fei appeared somewhat regretful on the surface, he couldn’t hide his internal delight. Prior to the arrival of the rebel army, Chen Fei had sold Qi Rejuvenation Pills for less than eight taels each, and he had to personally procure the medicinal ingredients.

Now, with the Zhao Family providing the herbs and the soaring price of Qi Rejuvenation Pills in the market, Chen Fei was making a significant profit. Utilizing his refined method for producing Great Completion Qi Rejuvenation Pills, he could sell approximately twenty-five pills on the black market daily. This translated to a profit of five hundred taels of silver per day.

Comparing this to the past, it was an enormous leap and a considerable increase in income for Chen Fei.

“Take a look at these medicinal pills. There are approximately a hundred of them,” Chen Fei stated as he retrieved a medicine bottle from his bag. The stall owner dared not be careless. While appearance might not have been a priority earlier, having better-looking pills would certainly be more desirable.

As the cork was opened, a delightful medicinal fragrance wafted through the air. The stall owner meticulously poured out one pill and examined its smooth and round surface, eliciting a smile of satisfaction.

With the quality of the Qi Rejuvenation Pills at such a level, paying the agreed-upon price was not a loss. The stall owner anticipated receiving praise from his main family for having made such a shrewd purchase.

“Keep the money safe,” the stall owner advised Chen Fei. He checked the quantity of pills once more, ensuring that everything was in order. He then swiftly counted the silver and placed it in front of Chen Fei.

The weight of the two thousand taels of silver was substantial, resulting in a muffled sound as it landed on the counter. In the black market, transactions were typically conducted in cash, and the use of banknotes was rare. Due to the presence of the rebel army, people were apprehensive about employing banknotes.

Chen Fei shouldered the package of silver and gazed at the stall owner, inquiring, “Do you also accept the Light Spirit Pills?”

The stall owner’s eyes widened in astonishment. This was an unexpected revelation. In the past, the market price for Light Spirit Pills had been fifteen taels, but it had now skyrocketed. Consequently, very few martial artists chose to use Light Spirit Pills for cultivation. Even those in the Bone Tempering realm primarily relied on the Qi Rejuvenation Pills.

Despite the decreased demand for Light Spirit Pills among martial artists, the rebel army continued to seek them eagerly. Chen Fei realized that if he had a sufficient supply of Light Spirit Pills, he could potentially exchange some for Qi Rejuvenation Pills and Vitality Pills.

“I have the knowledge of how to refine Light Spirit Pills, although my proficiency is average, and 1 don’t produce a large quantity. If you’re willing to trust me, you can provide the herbs, and we can split the profits according to an agreed-upon ratio,” Chen Fei proposed.

Chen Fei had nearly exhausted his own stock of Light Spirit Pill ingredients. With no medicinal herbs available in Pingyin County and Chi Defeng unable to find any refugees to gather them, Chen Fei had no choice but to turn to the stall owners. Many of these individuals were affiliated with aristocratic families in Pingyin County and might have access to the necessary resources.

“One set of medicinal ingredients for one Light Spirit Pill. That’s the bottom line,” the stall owner asserted, contemplating the proposal.

After a moment of consideration, he proposed, “How about this? We will provide the medicinal ingredients in exchange for one Light Spirit Pill. Additionally, we will compensate you with three taels of silver for your efforts.”

Chen Fei smiled and replied, “It’s a little too low. How about six taels? I’m fond of that number.”

The stall owner thought for a moment and eventually agreed, saying, “Alright. Take it as I’m making friends with you.” He recognized that there were only a handful of pill refiners in Pingyin County capable of producing Light Spirit Pills. Moreover, attempting to cultivate new pill refiners was no longer a viable option due to the scarcity of medicinal herbs.

Exchanging a portion of medicinal herbs for a Light Spirit Pill was already a fair deal. In the past, this would have been considered a lucrative profit. However, with the current skyrocketing value of medicinal herbs, it could only be deemed as a decent trade.

“Give me three sets of medicinal herbs in advance. I’ll find you tomorrow,” Chen Fei requested.

“Alright, please wait a moment,” the stall owner replied. He then proceeded to the back hall and instructed his staff to gather the medicinal herbs. Simultaneously, he reported the transaction to the relevant parties.

Within the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the medicinal herbs were placed into Chen Fei’s hands. He examined the ingredients to ensure their quality, then politely bid farewell to the stall owner before leaving the black market.

As Chen Fei was halfway through his journey, he transferred all the silver taels into the interface, causing his burden to lighten. Surprisingly, the mysterious little tail did not appear this time, which was unexpected but also a relief for Chen Fei. It seemed that the aristocratic family backing the stall owner was genuinely interested in cooperating with him, or perhaps they were simply taking their time to observe.

Cautiously navigating the streets of Pingyin County a few times, Chen Fei eventually returned to his rented courtyard. Instead of immediately engaging in pill refinement, he decided to take a moment to rest. Retrieving a secret manual from his belongings, he began studying the Origin Returning Bow Technique.

Chen Fei had acquired a total of three books from Chi Defeng, and there were no more available copies. The art of archery was not widely practiced among martial artists, and it was even rarer to find manuals on the subject. In the military, more individuals used bows and arrows, but the secret manuals were heavily guarded and rarely found outside.

Chen Fei’s decision to practice archery was not due to a perceived weakness in his swordsmanship. Instead, he wanted to expand his repertoire and have a long-range method of engaging enemies. While hidden weapons were a viable option, their limited range posed a disadvantage. Given Chen Fei’s accomplished movement technique and the significant investment he had made in refining it, it made sense to explore long-range combat methods such as archery.

Chen Fei recognized that in close-quarter combat, his exceptional movement technique compensated for any deficiencies. However, when faced with opponents who were too strong or situations that required long-range engagement, he was reluctant to rely solely on close combat. This was where the bow and arrow would prove advantageous.

Another motivating factor for Chen Fei’s pursuit of archery was that he had recently reached the pinnacle of proficiency in all the techniques he had mastered. There was a limit to the time he could devote to cultivating his inner strength, and he couldn’t spend the entire day refining pills. Furthermore, even if he had an abundance of medicinal herbs, Chen Fei wouldn’t want to continue refining endlessly.

Earning money and accumulating wealth brought a sense of satisfaction and happiness, and the interface also required silver for various purposes. However, Chen Fei understood that these endeavors should not overshadow his primary goal of increasing his strength. It was crucial for him to maintain a balanced approach.

Chen Fei acknowledged that maintaining a steady progression in his proficiency and witnessing his strength grow incrementally had become an integral part of his life. He couldn’t afford to quit or become complacent. The pursuit of strength was a lifelong journey, and he was determined to continue pushing forward..