"Apologies for the wait, esteemed guest, apologies. I am Qiu Zhen, the proprietor of this Treasure Pavilion. I've heard you wish to sell a Rank Four Spirit Pill formula. May I have a look?" Upon seeing Li Xuan, Qiu Zhen cupped his hands and bowed slightly.
"Little Yu, prepare ink and brush," Li Xuan replied with a slight nod, then turned his gaze to Xiao Yu.
"Guest, please," Xiao Yu curtsied and quickly spread out a piece of Xuan paper, preparing the ink and brush. Li Xuan wasted no time, picking up his brush and writing down the formula for the Gold-Silver Blood Condensing Pill that Yi Qin had told him. Naturally, Li Xuan omitted two herbs. Prudence was necessary; Li Xuan wasn't foolish enough to reveal everything. Control always needed to remain in one's own hands.
"Gold-Silver Blood Condensing Pill… I haven't heard of this pill before. Esteemed guest, please don't mind me. I am not an alchemist, so I might be unaware. Please wait a moment while I make an inquiry," Qiu Zhen said, looking at Li Xuan. After Li Xuan nodded, Qiu Zhen took out a communication stone and infused it with spiritual energy. Li Xuan watched as Qiu Zhen's lips moved. After more than ten breaths, the communication stone dimmed.
Seeing this, Li Xuan felt a knot of tension. After all, this formula came from Yi Qin. If it couldn't be refined in this world, he might be in trouble today. However, Li Xuan soon relaxed. Qiu Zhen's face was flushed red after the communication stone dimmed, and a glint of excitement shone in his eyes. It seemed the formula was most likely viable.
"Esteemed guest, how many spirit stones are you asking for this formula?" Qiu Zhen's voice trembled slightly as he asked Li Xuan.
Li Xuan blinked in surprise. He had no idea of the formula's value. Furthermore, if he named a price, wouldn't he reveal himself? With this thought, Li Xuan slowly replied, " Pavilion Master Qiu, I believe you have already verified the authenticity of this formula. As for the price, please name it directly, Pavilion Master Qiu. As long as I am satisfied, we can certainly continue to cooperate in the future."
Continue to cooperate!
As Li Xuan finished speaking, Qiu Zhen's eyes lit up. Could there be other formulas besides the Gold-Silver Blood Condensing Pill? Qiu Zhen knew very well that the person he had just inquired with was a Rank Six Alchemist from the main branch. That individual was always aloof, but after hearing the entire formula, while confirming its authenticity, Qiu Zhen distinctly heard a change in the tone of their voice. Considering how casually Li Xuan had written the formula, Qiu Zhen became even more convinced that Li Xuan possessed many more formulas.
"Esteemed guest, coming to our Treasure Pavilion, you must value our reputation. You likely know that a Rank Four Spirit Pill typically sells for around twenty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones. However, a formula is different from a pill. I can authorize a price of five hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones for you, and this transaction will be free of any handling fees. What do you think?" Qiu Zhen said, looking at Li Xuan.
A formula selling for twenty-five times the price of a pill?
Upon hearing Qiu Zhen's words, Li Xuan was astonished. No wonder alchemists and artifact refiners were said to be the wealthiest. A mere Rank Four formula was so valuable; how much would Rank Five or Rank Six formulas fetch?
"Esteemed guest, how about this, I'll increase the price by another fifty thousand. This price is my absolute limit," seeing Li Xuan remain silent, Qiu Zhen said nervously, gritting his teeth.
Li Xuan blinked. He had merely been lost in thought and hadn't agreed, yet the price had increased by fifty thousand? Meanwhile, Xiao Yu, standing beside them, had turned to stone. The guest she was attending was able to sell a formula for five hundred and fifty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones! And judging by the Pavilion Master's demeanor, he wouldn't rest until he obtained the complete formula.
"Pavilion Master Qiu is so forthright and enthusiastic, I shall accept your offer," Li Xuan, seeing the opportunity, nodded in agreement. A Low-Grade Spirit Sword only cost fifty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones; five hundred and fifty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones was equivalent to eleven Low-Grade Spirit Swords.
"Excellent, excellent, please wait a moment. I will prepare the spirit stones immediately. It will only take a few minutes," Qiu Zhen said happily.
Li Xuan waved his hand, stopping Qiu Zhen, and asked, "Pavilion Master Qiu, does your pavilion sell Low-Grade Spirit Swords?"
"Low-Grade Spirit Swords? Yes, how many do you need?" Qiu Zhen asked, slightly surprised.
"How many spirit stones for a Low-Grade Spirit Sword?" Li Xuan inquired.
"If sold at the marked price, a Low-Grade Spirit Sword is fifty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones. If you purchase a larger quantity, we can offer a discount," Qiu Zhen replied.
"In that case, please give me ten of them," Li Xuan said after a moment's thought.
"Ten? Very well. Xiao Yu, go fetch ten Low-Grade Spirit Swords and tell the shopkeeper that I said to sell them at forty-five thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones each," Qiu Zhen instructed Xiao Yu.
"Yes," Xiao Yu curtsied and turned to leave.
"Pavilion Master Qiu's generosity is overwhelming; I shall not refuse. Should I require anything in the future, I will prioritize your pavilion," Li Xuan said, feeling a touch of surprise. Ten Low-Grade Spirit Swords at a discount of fifty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones meant the Rank Four Spirit Pill formula was indeed exceptionally valuable.
"You are too kind, esteemed guest," Qiu Zhen replied, overjoyed. This was exactly what he wanted to hear. While selling these ten Low-Grade Spirit Swords at a loss, gaining the favor of this individual was more than enough. If he returned just once more, his performance would surely soar.
"Shopkeeper, the esteemed guest requires ten Low-Grade Spirit Swords. The price is forty-five thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones each," Xiao Yu said to an elder in the storeroom after bowing.
"Ten Low-Grade Spirit Swords? What's gotten into Pavilion Master Qiu, offering them at forty-five thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones? Still, not many customers buy Low-Grade Spirit Swords; they'd just sit here if unsold," the elder said with some surprise but proceeded into the storeroom. Moments later, he emerged, holding out a ring and saying, "Here are ten Low-Grade Spirit Swords. Take them."
"Young Master Qian, this is the storeroom. You can find any Low-Grade Spirit Arms you need here," Xiao Yu said, just as she received the ring and was about to leave, Xu Qian and Qian Duoduo approached. Xiao Yu moved aside, bowed to the elder, and then departed.
"What is this girl doing here? Didn't I tell her to attend to the person selling something?" Xu Qian's eyes flickered with confusion as she saw Xiao Yu leave, then she turned her enthusiastic gaze back to Qian Duoduo.
"Hmm, I've heard that swords are the kings of spirit arms. Then give me a Low-Grade Spirit Sword," Qian Duoduo said after some thought.
"Shopkeeper, this Young Master Qian wishes to purchase a Low-Grade Spirit Sword," Xu Qian said, her heart leaping. A Low-Grade Spirit Sword sold for fifty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones. At a three-thousandths commission rate, she would earn one hundred and fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
"Low-Grade Spirit Sword? Hmm, they've just been sold out. Young Master Qian, perhaps you'd like to try another spirit arm?" the elder said, looking behind him and shaking his head.
"Just sold out? Shopkeeper, did Xiao Yu's guest buy them?" Xu Qian exclaimed, startled. Only Xiao Yu had left here just now.
The elder's expression turned cold. "Xu Qian, have you forgotten that you are not allowed to pry into guests' privacy?"
"I know I was wrong, please forgive me, Shopkeeper Sun," Xu Qian's expression changed, and she quickly knelt.
"Shopkeeper Sun, Xiao Qian merely spoke impulsively. Please do not take offense. Since there are no spirit swords, let me have a spear then," Qian Duoduo said to the elder after bowing.
"Since Young Master Qian pleads for you, let this matter rest. Young Master Qian, please wait a moment," the elder said, then turned and headed towards the storeroom.
Xu Qian stood up, a hint of annoyance in her eyes. That Xiao Yu had attended to a guest who could afford a Low-Grade Spirit Sword. That guest was originally supposed to be hers! With this thought, she began to resent Li Xuan as well.
Didn't you say you were here to sell things? Then why are you buying things? And why buy a Low-Grade Spirit Sword of all things!