Cyan Cloud Immortal City, Merchant Flying Ship.

Daoist Master Zhengyang walked into the Business Alliance building, led by the steward into the VIP room, and said with a smile:

"After more than thirty years apart, Daoist Brother Cangwu, you remain as graceful as ever, truly enviable."

Cangwu Zhenren stood up and warmly replied:

"Fellow Daoist Zhengyang, you, as a sect leader, are the one I admire, please take the seat of honor."

He turned and instructed the maid, "Serve the best tea!"

The maid responded softly, gracefully leaving.

After a brief exchange of courtesies, Daoist Master Zhengyang explained his purpose:

"Fellow Daoist, I wonder if there has been any progress on the matter I entrusted to you last time?"

He had requested the private sale of two Gold Core Pills, to prepare for his disciples to break through to the Golden Core stage.

Although it wouldn’t be needed for some time, it was important to plan ahead, as the Central Continent Merchant Flying Ship only came once every thirty years. By the latest, they’d need to buy two more pills next time it arrived.

Cangwu Zhenren showed a troubled expression, shaking his head with a sigh:

"Alas, I have failed the task you entrusted to me, and I feel ashamed.

The Merchant Flying Ship hadn’t even left the Central Continent when all the Gold Core Pills were auctioned off; you’ll have to wait a bit longer, fellow Daoist."

He clearly meant that not only were they unable to keep any pills, but there also wouldn’t be any available at this auction.

Daoist Master Zhengyang felt disappointed but still smiled warmly and said:

"Waiting a bit longer is not a problem, but I would hope that your alliance could set aside two Gold Core Pills.

In your business alliance, you have always assessed clients’ capabilities, categorized by purchasing power and ability to sell Spiritual Objects.

Our sect’s capabilities in both areas are gradually improving, and we will engage in broader cooperation with your alliance in the future."

Every time the business alliance departed from a place, several major merchant associations would gather together to evaluate the local powers.

Their business only slightly overlapped, so information sharing among them was customary.

"Fellow Daoist, the ultimate authority in the business alliance is held by several Daoist Monarchs; I can only present your request to them.

How they choose to handle it is beyond my influence."

Daoist Master Zhengyang sighed deeply, knowing that the other party couldn’t make the final decision.

"In your opinion, fellow Daoist, how long might I need to wait to obtain two Gold Core Pills?"

Cangwu Zhenren was silent for a moment, then smiled with a hint of difficulty, "The next time the flying ship arrives in the Western Continent, there should be some Gold Core Pills available, but I can’t guarantee the quantity."

Thirty years ago, there was an auction of five Gold Core Pills in the Western Continent. The Merchant Flying Ship’s Nascent Soul Daoist Monarchs believed the Western Continent was growing stronger and not easy to control, so they decided to slow down the supply of Gold Core Pills.

The next time the flying ship comes, the number of Gold Core Pills will not be large, at most two as he estimated.

By then, he would no longer be responsible for the flying ship, and it wouldn’t be his concern.

After meaningless small talk, Daoist Master Zhengyang took his leave, departing without taking a sip of tea, hands clenching and unclenching inside his sleeves.

The taste of being at someone else’s mercy was too unsettling for him.

If he couldn’t obtain the Gold Core Pills soon, his disciples would waste precious time.

Cultivators vie against the heavens; stepping into a higher realm decades sooner could bring great benefits.

Thinking of this, he formed the idea of visiting the Central Continent, not just to purchase the Gold Core Pills but more so to acquire the pill formula.

Walking through the bustling streets, Daoist Master Zhengyang looked up at the sky. Though the sun was blazing, he felt a chill.

Orienting himself, he quickly set off for his next destination.

...

At 7:00 AM the next day.

Ji An was in the stone house drawing talismans. Before leaving the sect, he wanted to use up all his materials.

Tier Two Talismans would be kept for personal use, while Tier One Talismans would have thirty percent sold by the Wei Clan, and the rest sold in the Immortal City.

At this moment, two clouds of Auspicious Cloud sped in from outside Red Flame Peak, one yellow and one red.

Meng Yonghua gazed down at the land, watching the glow of Spirit Light flash across the mountains and valleys, his eyes showing a hint of shock.

"I never thought your sect’s mountain gate would have so many Tier Two Spirit Plants, truly a cause for celebration!"

A grandmaster of arrays from the Central Continent, he had undertaken numerous tasks to cultivate Spiritual Veins.

After a cursory inspection, he estimated the approximate value of the Spirit Plants here.

To him, the density of high-tier Spirit Plants in this Dao Field was comparable to the best Spirit Fields in Luofeng Valley.

’Reports had said the Golden Spirit Sect was not known for cultivating Spirit Medicine or Spirit Wood. Looks like the intelligence is outdated.’

The growth of Spirit Plants is primarily affected by two factors: the tier of the Spirit Field and the skills of a high-tier Spirit Farmer. A deficiency in either would prevent the large-scale cultivation of high-tier Spirit Plants.

From Daoist Master Zhengyang, he learned they aimed to cultivate the Spiritual Vein to Tier Three, meaning its current grade was only Tier Two Top Grade.

This allowed him to deduce the skill level of the Spirit Farmer managing the area, comparable to the cultivators in the Sacred Wood of the Central Continent.

Daoist Master Zhengyang smiled with satisfaction, his tone brimming with pride:

"Haha, I don’t deserve such praise from you, fellow Daoist; it’s the result of the united effort from all those in the sect’s Agricultural Hall."

As he spoke, they landed by the Cold Pool, and Daoist Master Zhengyang addressed the approaching Wei Songtao:

"Quickly invite Ji An out; I have invited Master Meng to survey the spiritual vein situation at Red Flame Peak."

"Please, ancestor, take tea in the guest hall; I will immediately fetch Elder Ji."

Meng Yonghua waved his hand, "Let’s get to work first; we can have tea later."

Surveying the Spirit Vein Node would take considerable time; he wanted to finish before evening, as he did not favor spending nights in unfamiliar places.

Daoist Master Zhengyang waved his hand, "Don’t just stand there, do as Master Meng says."

Ji An had already heard the voices outside. He put down the Talisman Brush and instructed the maid:

"Tidy up here."