Chao Chen muttered softly, “My cultivation is actually higher than yours.”
He was supposed to be the one protecting Wu Bufan, yet in truth, throughout the entire journey he felt like the one being shielded at every turn.
Wu Bufan chuckled. “Would you still leak your spiritual aura when you transform into a sparrow now?”
Chao Chen lifted his brows with a bright little smile. “Of course not. Now, whatever I choose to become, I become. No one can see through my disguise anymore.”
“Good.” Wu Bufan extended a hand toward him, palm facing upward. “Come here.”
Chao Chen blinked. “Oh.”
Transforming was no problem. Before Wu Bufan was even his partner, he had dared to transform in front of him. Now that Wu Bufan was officially his Dao companion, what reason could he possibly have to hesitate?
Feeling completely at ease, he turned into a small sparrow and settled comfortably in Wu Bufan’s palm. Wu Bufan curled his fingers gently around him, stroking the soft feathers of his back with his fingertips.
Chao Chen twisted his round little head and pecked Wu Bufan’s hand with his tiny beak, answering his touch with his own quiet affection.
Wu Bufan, cloaked in black, entered the Heavenly Spirit Treasure Pavilion. “I want to see your steward.”
The attendant could not sense Wu Bufan’s cultivation and dared not show any disrespect. “May I ask what business you have?”
Wu Bufan lowered his voice. “I want to sell pills.”
The attendant’s expression shifted slightly. “Are they perhaps of the profound grade?”
Only pills of that level were enough to warrant calling the steward out.
“The finest of the yellow grade,” Wu Bufan said. With so many people around, he did not want to utter the words peak grade.
The attendant hesitated. Peak grade pills were extremely rare, and high grade yellow pills could be considered the best within their grade.
However, ordinary high grade yellow pills still were not enough to trouble the steward.
Wu Bufan’s tone cooled. “If you do not want them, then forget it.”
He turned to leave immediately, and the attendant rushed to block his way. “Please, this way.”
Yellow grade pills might not be worth much to the pavilion, but a high grade yellow grade alchemist was not someone they could afford to offend.
Anyone able to refine high grade yellow grade pills often possessed excellent potential and could one day advance into a profound grade alchemist.
The attendant led Wu Bufan to a dimly lit chamber, murmured for him to wait, and hurried off to summon the steward.
Chao Chen, still in sparrow form, poked his head out between Wu Bufan’s fingers. His fluffy round head swayed left and right as his tiny black eyes took in everything curiously. The little creature looked unbearably adorable.
Wu Bufan watched him quietly, the corner of his lips curving upward, his gaze soft as warm water.
When the steward entered, he first saw the tiny sparrow Chao Chen. Only afterward did he notice Wu Bufan sitting opposite him, wrapped from head to toe in a black robe, even the lower half of his face hidden within the wide collar.
The steward took his seat and asked cautiously, “Sir, are you a high grade yellow grade alchemist?”
He emphasized the words high grade. Wu Bufan shook his head.
The steward’s expression immediately cooled. “The Heavenly Spirit Treasure Pavilion does not lack yellow grade pills.”
The pavilion was the greatest merchant organization in the entire Northern Continent, with branches spread across nearly every corner. The number of yellow grade alchemists affiliated with them was countless, so they naturally did not concern themselves with low level pills.
Wu Bufan retrieved a small jade bottle from his sleeve and pushed it across the table.
The steward, thinking that he was already here, might as well take a look. He caught the bottle and removed the stopper.
A wave of spiritual fragrance rushed out, refreshing his mind and easing even the tightness in his chest.
He swallowed hard. His hands trembled as he poured the pills from the bottle.
Three smooth, glossy, snow white pills rolled across his palm. The steward’s breath froze.
Break Affliction Pills. Peak grade Break Affliction Pills. One of the most difficult yellow grade pills to refine.
A low grade Break Affliction Pill could heal the inner injuries of Qi Refinement cultivators. A mid grade one could treat the hidden wounds of Foundation Establishment cultivators.
A high grade one could heal inner injuries of early Core Formation cultivators. But a peak grade pill could mend the deep internal wounds of even mid to late Core Formation cultivators.
Most Break Affliction Pills circulating in the market were low or mid grade. While those could help repair damage for Core Formation cultivators, they could never heal them completely.
Cultivators battled the heavens and contended with others. Injuries were inevitable, and hidden wounds were like cracks buried in the body. For a short time they caused no significant harm, but over many years these wounds eroded one’s foundation and could eventually halt all future growth.
Thus, the longer one cultivated and the higher their realm, the more desperately they needed pills capable of mending inner injuries. But peak grade Break Affliction Pills were so difficult to refine that even profound grade alchemists failed more often than they succeeded, making them impossibly rare.
The steward carefully tipped the pills back into the bottle and stilled his expression with effort. “Sir, may I ask how we should address you?”
Wu Bufan looked at the tiny sparrow nestled in his palm and a faint smile flickered through his eyes. “Sparrow.”
The little sparrow shivered, pecked at Wu Bufan’s fingertip in protest, and then buried his head deep in his fluffy chest in embarrassment.
The steward blinked. “Sir Sparrow, the Heavenly Spirit Treasure Pavilion will soon be hosting an auction. These pills can be entered as auction items, and the pavilion will take a small…”
“One percent as the handling fee. If you do not wish to put it up for auction, I can purchase it directly from you at the price of one hundred spirit pearls for each Breaking Calamity Pill. What do you think?”
One hundred gold coins equaled a single spirit pearl. A single supreme grade Breaking Calamity Pill was equivalent to fifty supreme grade Fasting Pills. Rarity indeed determines value. Something so scarce naturally commanded an extraordinary price.
Wu Bufan hesitated for a brief moment, then reached into his sleeve and produced yet another small porcelain bottle.
Inside this bottle were ten supreme grade Healing Recovery Pills.
Within the category of yellow tier pills, the Healing Recovery Pill was considered of moderate difficulty to refine. Yet no matter what type of pill it was, the moment it carried the words supreme grade, it instantly became something extremely rare and hard to obtain.
The steward forcibly suppressed the excitement rising in his chest and offered a price of fifty spirit pearls for the bottle.
Healing Recovery Pills were capable of swiftly treating non-fatal injuries. The better the quality, the stronger and faster the healing effect. If one were to consume a supreme grade Healing Recovery Pill during a competition, it was almost no different from having an extra life.
Wu Bufan spoke succinctly, “The Breaking Calamity Pills will be auctioned.”
With that one simple line, the steward immediately understood that these Healing Recovery Pills were meant to be sold directly to the Treasure Pavilion.
Ten pills amounted to a total of five hundred spirit pearls. The steward handed Wu Bufan an orange money card, similarly unregistered and untraceable.
A red card could store ten thousand gold coins at most. An orange card, on the other hand, could hold up to ten thousand spirit pearls.
“The spirit pearls gained from the auction will also be deposited into this card,” the steward added carefully. Then, noticing the young man’s black robe, he immediately understood that the guest clearly did not want to reveal his identity.
He presented another yellow card made of lightweight paper. “This is an invitation to the auction. With this, you may enter any of the yellow tier private rooms.”
He chose to offer a yellow tier room because there were many of them. Even if the master known as Sparrow entered one of those rooms, the steward himself would have no idea which one it was.
Wu Bufan accepted the entry token, secretly acknowledging that the steward had indeed shown excellent judgment. If the steward had handed him an entry card above the yellow tier, he might not have used it at all.
Higher tier rooms were too few and far too conspicuous. They would only draw unwanted attention.
Seeing Wu Bufan put the cards away, the steward knew he had made the correct decision. He personally and respectfully escorted Wu Bufan out of the Treasure Pavilion.
The moment Wu Bufan disappeared through the doors, an elderly man silently emerged behind the steward. “Do you intend to follow him?”
The steward shot the old man a glare and lowered his voice. “How dare you even think of tailing a supreme grade alchemist? I am certain there must be a powerful force behind him.”
Talented alchemists being hoarded by great clans had long become the norm. Judging from how the so-called Master Sparrow had deliberately concealed his identity, he was most likely sneaking out behind his faction’s back to earn a bit of extra money in secret.
The old man’s expression shifted. “A profound tier alchemist?”
The steward shook his head. “Yellow tier.”
The old man was unimpressed. “The pavilion already has supreme grade yellow tier alchemists. Why should we be so cautious?”
The steward gave him a look that was almost a smile yet not quite one. “The pavilion does not have any supreme grade alchemist capable of refining supreme grade Breaking Calamity Pills.”
The old man paled, shocked beyond belief. He moved closer, eyes wide, his tone urgent and pleading. “You are telling me they are genuine supreme grade Breaking Calamity Pills? Old friend, you know my body carries countless hidden injuries…”
✦ ✧ ✦
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
The Realm’s ancient scrolls mention something called… “buy them a coffee.”
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
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ChaptersChapter 1 · Dream to RealityChapter 2 · Those who survive a great calamity are destined for good fortuneChapter 3 · Retrieve the tokenChapter 4 · Top-tier alchemistChapter 5 · A cooperative treasure hunt?Chapter 6 · Thousand mile Thundercloud LeopardChapter 7 · Chaotic Strange EntityChapter 8 · Back to Xichuan TownChapter 9 · How could Wu Bufan be stronger than him!Chapter 10 · Wu Bufan possess so many top-grade pills?Chapter 11 · This time, she will not let anyone take what is hers away againChapter 12 · Seize the luckChapter 13 · Mutant Purple Thunder BeastChapter 14 · I’m afraid he’ll get angryChapter 15 · PumiceChapter 16 · Enemies meet on a narrow roadChapter 17 · Becoming Daoist CouplesChapter 18 · Top-grade Calamity-Breaking PillChapter 19 · The amazing effects of top-grade pillsChapter 20 · Basic Body ForgingChapter 21 · One world cannot contain two chosen ones.Chapter 22 · PuppetChapter 23 · AuctionChapter 24 · Space FoundationChapter 25 · Top-grade Foundation Building PillChapter 26 · Increased space areaChapter 27 · The competition BeginChapter 28 · RobbedChapter 29 · Turn Defeat into Victory!Chapter 30 · The Death of Wu KeyuanChapter 31 · BetChapter 32 · Even the way Chao Chen talks is so cuteChapter 33 · Avenge Wu KeyuanChapter 34 · Finding Bodhi Wood at a BargainChapter 35 · Little PuppetChapter 36 · Explosive PillsChapter 37 · I’ll concedeChapter 38 · You are a genius, so your Daoist partner must also be a genius.Chapter 39 · The Third Elder was refused a disciple.Chapter 40 · Has the floating marrow stone secret been exposed?Chapter 41 · How Could There Be Such a Sinister Human!Chapter 42 · The Mutated Mugwort FoxChapter 43 · Wandering the JianghuChapter 44 · Ancient ElixirChapter 45 · I feel like I’m about to be struck by lightning!Chapter 46 · Earth-level Secret RealmChapter 47 · The spot is practically yours.Chapter 48 · His Daoist partner is truly amazing!Chapter 49 · The legacy in the libraryChapter 50 · Dual cultivation techniquesChapter 51 · First genius Ji Pu RanChapter 52 · Shifting the blame eastwardChapter 53 · The little puppet went to run errandsChapter 54 · The Explosive Pill once again demonstrated its power.Chapter 55 · Chao Lingyue’s cultivation levelChapter 56 · Little Money-GrubberChapter 57 · What a venomous mouth!Chapter 58 · Enter the secret realmChapter 59 · A huge windfall fell from the sky.Chapter 60 · The birth of a rare treasureChapter 61 · This alchemy furnace is quite uniqueChapter 62 · The alchemy furnace that walked right into the trapChapter 63 · Xiao Zi’s Self-Rescue GuideChapter 64 · Spirit Field Micro RealmChapter 65 · Someone Planning to Reap the Benefits?Chapter 66 · Are You Lost?Chapter 67 · Chao Chen, Corrupted by the Big Handsome PotChapter 68 · Is Your phoenix Fish Sect Collecting Trash?Chapter 69 · The Death of Hui SipingChapter 70 · No, Junior Brother Chao, Where’s Your Backbone…Chapter 71 · Has His Identity Been Exposed?Chapter 72 · This Child Is Far Too ShrewdChapter 73 · Young people are wonderful. They fall asleep the moment they lie downChapter 74 · Sparrow Alchemist Chao Lingyue?Chapter 75 · The Silver Tongued Chao ChenChapter 76 · What’s the rush? I have moreChapter 77 · Leave the sectChapter 78 · Showing Off on a Grand ScaleChapter 79 · The Sparrow Alchemist Returns to the Martial WorldChapter 80 · Does Junior Brother Chao know about this?Chapter 81 · The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole BehindChapter 82 · So FierceChapter 83 · They’ve been targeted by the local bulliesChapter 84 · The Kid Is Missing?Chapter 85 · A Thing from the Void: SilkChapter 86 · Chao Chen became famousChapter 87 · The Devil MentorChapter 88 · The four little ones went out to gain experienceChapter 89 · The Students Who Were Truly ConvincedChapter 90 · What a Bountiful Harvest!Chapter 91 · No Random KissingChapter 92 · Detoxification PillChapter 93 · Master Wu, your Daoist partner has disappearedChapter 94 · The Demonic ThiefChapter 95 · Fellow Daoist, are you selling this sparrow?Chapter 96 · Unexpected disaster, nothing moreChapter 97 · My Daoist partner was born in the Year of the PigChapter 98 · The Undying Devil ChildChapter 99 · Exotic Treasure! Buddha Flame Glazed Light!Chapter 100 · We stole the Beast Taming Sect’s treasure vaultChapter 101 · Waaaaah… Why is this strange fire so gay?Chapter 102 · The Mysterious Pill – Flower in the MirrorChapter 103 Part 1 · As Expected, You Can’t Produce Different Dreams from the Same Bed…Chapter 103 Part 2 · As Expected, You Can’t Produce Different Dreams from the Same Bed…Chapter 104 Part 1 · Separation and ReunionChapter 104 Part 2 · Separation and ReunionChapter 105 Part 1 · Renowned throughout the continent!Chapter 105 Part 2 · Renowned throughout the continent!Chapter 106 · Chao Chen’s RevengeChapter 107 · The Death of Chao LingyueChapter 108 · A Narcissistic Man or a Great Beauty?Chapter 109 · This Person Has No MannersChapter 110 · The Ancient Spirit Botanical GardenChapter 111 · Thousand-Thread Poison WomanChapter 112 · I am not kindChapter 113 · Are you the most handsome man here?Chapter 114 Part 1 · ReunionChapter 114 Part 2 · ReunionChapter 115 Part 1 · Diandian said that you got it into someone’s stomach yourselfChapter 115 Part 2 · Diandian said that you got it into someone’s stomach yourselfChapter 116 · Central ContinentChapter 116 Part 1 · Central ContinentChapter 117 Part 1 · The Ancient Dao Companion ContractChapter 117 Part 2 · The Ancient Dao Companion ContractChapter 118 · Heaven Above, Dust BelowChapter 118 Part 1 · Heaven Above, Dust BelowChapter 119 · Xiao Chen will also be embarrassedChapter 120 · The moon is so bright tonightChapter 121 Part 1 · Treasure ArrayChapter 121 Part 2 · Treasure ArrayChapter 122 Part 1 · Poisonous MushroomChapter 122 Part 2 · Poisonous MushroomChapter 123 Part 1 · Turmoil at the AuctionChapter 123 Part 2 · Turmoil at the AuctionChapter 124 Part 1 · Advancement! A Nascent Soul Cultivator Reaches the Divine Transformation Realm!…Chapter 124 Part 2 · Advancement! A Nascent Soul Cultivator Reaches the Divine Transformation Realm!…Chapter 125 Part 1 · Xiao Chen Displays His Great Divine Might: Wu Bufan…Chapter 125 Part 2 · Xiao Chen Displays His Great Divine Might: Wu Bufan…Chapter 126 · Ice spirit tower has explodedChapter 127 Part 1 · Meeting an Old Acquaintance AgainChapter 127 Part 2 · Meeting an Old Acquaintance AgainChapter 127 Part 3 · Meeting an Old Acquaintance AgainChapter 128 Part 1 · Being Followed?Chapter 128 Part 2 · Being Followed?Chapter 129 · Magical ArtifactChapter 131 · A Declaration of WarChapter 132 · A chaotic war of words: Friend or foe indistinguishable…Chapter 133 Part 1 · The Royal Grand CompetitionChapter 133 Part 2 · The Royal Grand CompetitionChapter 134 Part 1 · Adults Don’t Make Choices, I’ll Take Them All…Chapter 134 Part 2 · Adults Don’t Make Choices, I’ll Take Them All…Chapter 135 Part 1 · Little Daddy Takes a Bite, Big Daddy’s Form…Chapter 135 Part 2 · Little Daddy Takes a Bite, Big Daddy’s Form…Chapter 136 Part 1 · Where the Wild Geese Fly, Not a Single Feather Left BehindChapter 136 Part 2 · Where the Wild Geese Fly, Not a Single Feather Left BehindChapter 136 Part 3 · Where the Wild Geese Fly, Not a Single Feather Left Behind