Concealed beneath a black robe, Zhou Luo revealed only his star-like eyes as he strode directly into a shop.
Inside, the shopkeeper was tallying his wares. Noticing a customer enter, he immediately greeted him with a warm smile. “Respected guest, what would you like to purchase?”
“I am here to sell,” a hoarse voice replied from beneath the dark cowl.
The shopkeeper’s smile faltered for a fraction of a second. A strange glint flashed in his eyes before his beaming expression quickly returned.
“Please, sit.”
He turned sideways, offering a welcoming gesture.
Zhou Luo brushed past him and took a seat in a jade-inlaid chair.
As soon as he sat down, the shopkeeper took the seat opposite him.
His shrewd eyes carefully studied the cloaked figure. “May I ask what you intend to sell, esteemed guest?”
Zhou Luo remained silent. He simply reached out, produced a jade bottle, and placed it upon the table.
The shopkeeper narrowed his eyes.
He noticed the hand was remarkably young.
Taking the jade bottle, he popped the cork. A faint pill fragrance instantly wafted through the air.
The shopkeeper took a sniff. “Good material.”
With that, he tipped the Spirit Pills out into his palm.
Five pills rolled out, varying in color and properties.
“Are these all first-grade High-Grade Spirit Pills?”
The shopkeeper was a man of the world. Though not an Alchemist himself, he possessed a keen eye for Spirit Pills. Furthermore, these specific varieties were common in the market, making them easy to identify.
Zhou Luo nodded.
The shopkeeper meticulously inspected the five Spirit Pills before carefully placing them back into the jade bottle.
“Ten Spirit Stones each.”
He finally stated his price.
The retail price for a first-grade High-Grade Spirit Pill was typically around fifteen Spirit Stones. Given the circumstances, this purchasing price was far from a lowball offer.
“Deal,” Zhou Luo said decisively.
At this moment, the shopkeeper spoke with underlying meaning, “I assume our guest has other Spirit Pills on hand?”
Zhou Luo remained silent.
The shopkeeper smiled warmly. “Rest assured, guest. Our shop’s prices are unswervingly fair, and we absolutely guarantee your privacy.”
After a long pause, Zhou Luo took out three more Spirit Pills and placed them on the table. They were also first-grade High-Grade.
The shopkeeper’s eyes lit up. He quickly gathered them and slipped them into the jade bottle.
“Please wait a moment.”
He rose and headed into the back room.
Zhou Luo swept his gaze over the Spirit Stones within. After confirming the count, he stood up, preparing to leave.
The shopkeeper suddenly called out, “Guest, if you ever possess Spirit Pills of such quality in the future, you are welcome at our humble shop anytime.”
“Mhm,” Zhou Luo grunted in acknowledgment and departed.
Shortly after he left, an old man clad in a green robe emerged from the back room.
The shopkeeper immediately bowed his head, asking respectfully, “Elder Yun, what do you make of him?”
“A youngster at the second layer of Qi Refining. He likely stumbled upon a lucky encounter,” the old man said calmly.
“Should we have someone tail him?” the shopkeeper inquired.
The old man pondered for a moment. “It would be best to follow him and see. Let us find out his true background.”
“Understood,” the shopkeeper nodded.
Meanwhile, Zhou Luo visited several other storefronts after leaving the first shop. Sticking to his original plan, he sold off all the Spirit Pills he had refined, one by one.
In the end, he obtained over two hundred ordinary Spirit Stones. Even after deducting his initial costs, he had made a pure profit of two hundred and three Spirit Stones.
It was no wonder Alchemists ranked at the very forefront among the hundred arts of Cultivation, receiving such widespread reverence.
This sheer speed of accumulating wealth was simply unmatched by any other craft.
However, before these two hundred-odd Spirit Stones could even warm his pockets, he was forced to spend a portion of them.
After all, while staying within the family estate, he had no access to first-grade Top-Grade medicinal herbs.
Given this rare opportunity to visit the city, he naturally had to purchase a batch.
Compared to first-grade High-Grade medicinal herbs, the price of Top-Grade herbs was easily twice as high.
But in order to secure more life-preserving methods, Zhou Luo gritted his teeth and spent over eighty Spirit Stones to acquire a batch of Top-Grade medicinal herbs.
With his current skill level, this batch of herbs could yield at least ten Spirit Pills.
Only after completing all these errands did Zhou Luo leave the market.
As he departed, he remained completely unaware that he had already drawn unwanted attention.
Figures hidden in the shadows trailed him silently all the way back to the Tianxia Tavern.
When they saw him head straight for the tenth floor, the stalkers instantly abandoned their pursuit.
Because everyone in the city knew the rule.
The tenth floor of the Tianxia Tavern was exclusively reserved for the Longevity Families.
Realizing that Zhou Luo belonged to a Longevity Family, these operatives decisively withdrew.
Upon returning to his room, Zhou Luo deposited the bag of medicinal herbs directly into the System’s backpack storage.
This was a newly discovered function of his.
He could utilize the backpack as a storage space, hiding items that could not be safely exposed and retrieving them only when needed.
He had successfully sold his first-grade High-Grade Spirit Pills and acquired the first-grade Top-Grade medicinal herbs he desired.
For the next several days, Zhou Luo did not step foot outside his room.
Fifteen days passed in the blink of an eye.
Early in the morning, Lin Zhishou appeared at their door. Zhou Luo and Lin Nian followed the elder out of the Tianxia Tavern.
This time, the Alchemy Gathering was being hosted within the Li Family’s estate.
Lin Zhishou led the two youths to the Li Family’s grand, jade-crafted main gates.
At the entrance, Li Family Cultivators were strictly inspecting everyone seeking entry.
Naturally, possessing the lofty status of a Longevity Family, the trio was exempt from this scrutiny and smoothly entered the Li Family compound.
“Right this way, please.”
As soon as they stepped inside, a Cultivator clad in Li Family robes stepped forward to politely guide them.
Much like the Lin Family estate, the Li Family’s architecture was equally magnificent and grandiose.
The three of them followed a paved stone path, traversed a long, winding corridor, and eventually arrived before a massive black pavilion.
This was the venue for the Alchemy Gathering.
Inside the pavilion lay an incredibly vast grand hall.
Zhou Luo glanced around; the space was enormous, easily half the size of a football field.
Gauze curtains fluttered lightly within the hall. Rows of crimson wooden tables lined both sides, laden with an array of spirit foods. Numerous Cultivators already sat at these tables, their expressions tense and constrained.
These Cultivators were all Alchemists hailing from various regions.
The fundamental purpose of the Alchemy Gathering was to scout out talented youths with potential from all over the realm, selecting them to enter an Immortal Sect for formal study.
For rogue Alchemists and those belonging to minor factions, this was an unparalleled opportunity.
If they could truly enter an Immortal Sect, the resulting benefits and prestige would be immeasurable.
Looking past these independent Alchemists toward the front of the hall, one could spot five distinct, cordoned-off areas.
These were the exclusive seating arrangements reserved for the five great Longevity Families.
By now, several figures had already taken their seats within those partitions.
Lin Zhishou strode proudly toward the center of the hall, instantly drawing the attention of countless onlookers.
Upon recognizing the crest of the Maple Leaf Lin Family, expressions of deep respect washed over the faces of the crowd.
Basking in those reverent gazes, Zhou Luo involuntarily puffed out his chest.
The three of them proceeded to the very front and took their seats within the Lin Family’s designated area.
“Brother Zhishou, it has been a long time.”
No sooner had they sat down than an elderly man at the adjacent table cupped his hands in greeting.
This man belonged to the Qingcheng Wang Family, another of the esteemed Longevity Families.
Lin Zhishou returned the salute. His gaze swept over the five juniors seated behind the elder as he smiled. “It seems the Wang Family is poised to shine brightly this year.”
“Brother Zhishou is far too kind,” the Wang Family elder replied modestly.
Yet it was plainly obvious that in terms of potential among the younger generation, the Wang Family maintained a considerable lead over the Lin Family.
At that moment, another group of people strode into the grand hall.
It was Lu Chen, leading the younger generation of the Lu Family.