Chapter 49: Money-Making Plan

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

“Junior Brother, your progress is truly astounding,” Cheng Xu exclaimed, his admiration evident in his tone.

Miao Changsheng modestly replied, “I still have a long way to go compared to Senior Brother’s achievements.”

Curiosity piqued, Cheng Xu inquired about Miao Changsheng’s progress in comprehending the poison technique.

Miao Changsheng shifted uncomfortably and replied with a hint of embarrassment, “I must admit, I’m not doing as well in that aspect. My understanding is hindered by my limited knowledge of toxicity and pharmacology. After all, 1 am studying poisons specifically.”

“Have confidence, Senior Brother believes in you!” Cheng Xu reassured Miao Changsheng, patting his shoulder affectionately. With encouraging words shared, Cheng Xu set his focus on devising a plan to generate wealth.

His first order of business naturally involved pill refinement. True Essence Pills and Muscle Tendon Cleansing and Marrow Changing Pills were in high demand and needed to be prepared in abundance.

Upon arriving at the Spirit Herb Hall, Cheng Xu procured a batch of True Essence Pill materials from Martial Uncle Feng. Next, he inquired about the ingredients required for the Muscle Tendon Cleansing and Marrow Changing Pill.

“Unfortunately, these few rare medicinal herbs cannot be artificially cultivated. To obtain them, you will need to explore alternative avenues,” Martial Uncle Feng explained with a shake of his head. “Perhaps you can seek assistance from your Martial Uncle Ma. He possesses various means to acquire spiritual herbs.”

Cheng Xu expressed his gratitude to Martial Uncle Feng before swiftly making his way to the Merit Hall, where Martial Uncle Ma oversaw the sect’s business operations.

Martial Uncle Ma’s face lit up with a smile upon seeing Cheng Xu. “Ah, Martial Nephew, you’ve come at the perfect time. The initial batch of Foundation Establishment Pills, produced in larger quantities, has already been sold out. It seems that our Medicine Immortal Valley is on its way to great prosperity!”

“That’s excellent news,” Cheng Xu responded with a gentle smile before elaborating on his purpose. “I would like to inquire, Martial Uncle, if there are any avenues available for purchasing medicinal herbs and refining materials.”

“Medicinal herbs and refining materials?” Martial Uncle Ma appeared intrigued. “Are you in need of them for the short term or the long term?”

“Long-term,” Cheng Xu affirmed with determination, his eyes reflecting his unwavering resolve.

“In the long term, our best bet would be to explore the various large cultivation chambers of commerce,” Martial Uncle Ma contemplated before suggesting, “However, be cautious when dealing with them, as those in charge can be cunning, and it’s easy to suffer losses. How about this? Seek out Xiangxiang Bella and make contact with her family’s Chamber of Commerce. It can save you a substantial amount of spirit stones.”

“Senior Sister Jian?” Cheng Xu expressed his surprise. “Senior Sister Jian’s family operates a Chamber of Commerce?”

Martial Uncle Ma smiled and replied, “Oh, you didn’t know? The Jian Chamber of Commerce is quite renowned in our Mini Southern Heaven. They have a wide business network and are responsible for more than half of the medicinal pill sales in our Medicine Immortal Valley.”

“I was aware that Senior Sister Jian came from a cultivation aristocratic family, but I never imagined she would be involved in merchant activities,” Cheng Xu admitted with a hint of embarrassment. After bidding farewell to Martial Uncle Ma, he made his way to Senior Sister Jian’s abode.

Jian Yuxiang’s cave abode was conveniently located near the Merit Hall, and her surprise was evident upon seeing Cheng Xu’s visit.

“Junior Brother Cheng?” Jian Yuxiang greeted him with a puzzled expression.

“I have a small matter that 1 need to trouble Senior Sister with,” Cheng Xu said with a grin.

“Please, go ahead,” Jian Yuxiang responded, her smile sweet and inviting.

Without wasting any time, Cheng Xu handed over the list of materials he required and explained his purpose.

“Shidi, are you planning to purchase these materials?” Jian Yuxiang questioned, her confusion evident.

“Yes, I was wondering if your Jian Chamber of Commerce could assist me,” Cheng Xu replied.

Jian Yuxiang pondered for a moment before muttering to herself, “Some of the materials involving demonic beasts might be more challenging, but 1 should be able to acquire them. However, it may take a little longer than expected, and I apologize for the inconvenience, Junior Brother.”

“There’s no rush. As long as you can obtain them, it will suffice,” Cheng Xu reassured her.

The list provided by Cheng Xu contained essential ingredients for the Muscle and Marrow Changing Pill, as well as the substitute substitute for Xiao Bao. If he were to acquire all the materials at once, it might be a daunting financial burden.

“Very well, once everything is prepared, 1 will inform you immediately,” Jian Yuxiang promised, her commitment evident in her words.

“Thank you, Senior Sister,” Cheng Xu expressed his gratitude before taking his leave.

After departing from Jian Yuxiang’s cave abode, he returned to his own dwelling to refine several cauldrons of True Essence Pills. Once he completed this task, he left the Medicine Celestial Valley under the shroud of night and soared towards Floating Immortal City.

Returning to Floating Immortal City, he immediately noticed a stark contrast from his previous visits. This time, armed with newfound knowledge in refining, formations, and talismans from the Yuntai Immortal’s legacy, he was eager to test his skills and capitalize on his expertise.

Floating Immortal City bustled with activity, brimming with bustling businesses.

Before entering the city, Cheng Xu utilized a disguise technique to assume his previous life’s appearance and stowed away his Medicine Immortal Valley identity card.

Taking a leisurely stroll through Floating Immortal City, he eventually located the shop belonging to the Jian Chamber of Commerce.

Although he concealed his true identity, he felt a sense of responsibility towards his fellow sect members’ business affairs.

“Hey, is there anything I can assist you with?” The shopkeeper warmly greeted him.

“Do you have any talismans?” Cheng Xu inquired.

“Of course,” the shopkeeper replied with a smile. “May 1 ask which grade of talisman paper you prefer?”

“Naturally, the higher the quality, the better,” Cheng Xu responded.

“Come, come, please follow me,” the shopkeeper beckoned, leading Cheng Xu to the inner hall. With pride, he introduced, “The talisman papers available in our Jian Chamber of Commerce are all of high-grade quality. Among them, the highest-tier option is none other than the high-grade talisman papers secretly produced by the Mystic Arts Sect.”

“Talismans from the Wondrous Spell Sect?” Cheng Xu’s eyes lit up with anticipation. “What’s the price?”

“A stack of ten talismans costs 130 spirit stones. If you purchase a larger quantity, we can offer a more favorable price,” the shopkeeper explained.

Let’s start with a hundred stacks,” Cheng Xu decided.

Talisman paper may appear inexpensive, but the failure rate during the inscribing process was exceptionally high, leading to wastage. However, with the assistance of his cultivation computer, Cheng Xu could guarantee a high success rate.

The shopkeeper’s face beamed with joy. “Very well! For a hundred stacks, I’ll give you an additional twenty stacks. That will amount to a total of twelve hundred spirit stones. Little Liu, provide this customer with ten stacks of the Mystic Arts Sect’s secret talisman papers.”

Cheng Xu nodded in satisfaction, feeling that the Jian Chamber of Commerce had been quite accommodating.

“By the way, shopkeeper, do you happen to possess these materials?” Cheng Xu handed over a list.

The shopkeeper examined the list and replied awkwardly, “These are all common forging materials. If Fellow Daoist requires a substantial quantity, we can negotiate.”

Cheng Xu chuckled and presented 10,000 spiritual stones. “Considering the ratios listed, providing me with 10,000 spirit stones should be a fair deal, don’t you think?”

“Ten thousand spirit stones?” The shopkeeper’s eyes widened with surprise and delight. “Fellow Daoist, please wait a moment. 1 will immediately arrange for someone to fetch the goods for you.”

After a brief pause, ten stacks of talisman papers and an assortment of materials for crafting the array discs were swiftly delivered to Cheng Xu.

Being a valuable customer who had spent tens of thousands of spirit stones, Cheng Xu received courteous treatment from the shopkeeper throughout the entire transaction. The shopkeeper even personally escorted him to the door before bidding him farewell.

“By the way, shopkeeper, do you accept talismans and formation disks?” Cheng Xu halted just in front of the door.

“We certainly accept talismans, and our pricing is absolutely fair,” the shopkeeper replied confidently. However, he hesitated before continuing, “But as for formation disks, you may have noticed that my shop does not carry them.”

Cheng Xu glanced around the shop and confirmed the absence of array disks. “The profits from selling formation disks must be substantial, right? Why is your shop not involved in that business?”

“The profits are indeed enticing, but the level of technical expertise required is exceedingly high,” the shopkeeper explained with a touch of helplessness. “The Scorching Sun Sect has essentially monopolized all aspects of business in Floating Immortal City and Mini Southern Heaven. Other sects and chambers of commerce simply cannot compete.”

Cheng Xu nodded thoughtfully, a wicked smile curling on his lips. He was determined to seize this lucrative opportunity from the clutches of the Scorching Sun Sect.

“By the way, shopkeeper, could you enlighten me on the types of talismans that sell best here?”

“Among the first-grade talismans, the top-selling ones are undoubtedly protective talismans, sharp talismans, and speed-increasing talismans.”

“What about the second-grade talismans?”

The shopkeeper’s eyes widened with surprise at Cheng Xu’s question. “Fellow Daoist, are you also capable of crafting second-grade talismans?” he inquired.

Cheng Xu merely smiled in response, choosing not to divulge any further details.

“The most popular second-grade talismans include Armor Talismans, Earth

Escape Talismans, Fire Curse Talismans, and Ice Arrow Talismans.”

Cheng Xu expressed his gratitude and departed on his sword, leaving behind a curious shopkeeper who watched him with intrigue.

After returning to the familiar surroundings of the Medicine Immortal Valley, Cheng Xu wasted no time and immediately commenced the production process.

Given the complexity of crafting the versatile array discs, which necessitated extensive calculations and verifications from his trusty cultivation computer, there was no need to rush at this stage.

Within the confines of his cave abode, Cheng Xu positioned himself comfortably on the bed and quietly activated the talisman application.

[Enchanted Talisman]

[Enchanted Talisman Theory: Level 7]

[Talisman Creation Ability: Intermediate]

While his current proficiency in talisman craft may not have reached extraordinary heights, Cheng Xu possessed the capability to draw some second-grade talismans.

Ordinarily, when cultivators embarked on the task of drawing talismans, they needed to infuse their own magical energy into the delicate talisman paper during the process. A single moment of carelessness could result in the utter annihilation of their previous efforts.

Thus, it was a highly technical endeavor to engage in talisman creation.

However, Cheng Xu’s approach was distinctive. Once he accessed the drawing page, he opted for the charm style of the Light Talisman and carefully positioned a pristine talisman paper within it.

Upon confirming his selection, a notification window instantaneously materialized:

“The success rate for this drawing is 80%. Confirm the drawing?”

Cheng Xu’s brows knitted together in mild consternation. “Hmm, all this technological assistance, and yet it only yields an 80% success rate?”

Apparently, his current knowledge of Enchanted Talismans still had room for improvement. Even for Level 1 Enchanted Talismans, his success rate stood at a mere 80%.

Nevertheless, it was inconsequential. He would undoubtedly not suffer any monetary losses. It was merely a question of how much profit he would accumulate.

Having affirmed the drawing, the talisman swiftly enveloped itself in a resplendent golden aura, commencing the rhythmic extraction of magical energy from Cheng Xu’s being.

In a matter of moments, a Light Spirit Talisman emerged triumphant. The creation process consumed roughly 6% of Cheng Xu’s True Essence and magical energy. After all, it was only a Level 1 talisman.

Over the course of the subsequent days, Cheng Xu efficiently exhausted all 100 talismans in one fell swoop.

In the end, Cheng Xu successfully crafted a total of 30 protective talismans, 30 sharp blade talismans, and 23 light talismans.

Initially, he had contemplated drawing some Level Two talismans, but with a meager success rate of just 18%, the potential profits were overshadowed by those of Level One talismans.

it would be wiser to bide his time and await an improvement in his talisman expertise before delving into the creation of second-grade talismans.

Now, it was time to embark on the refinement of the array discs.

[Formation]

[Formation Theory: Level 8]

[Formation Ability: Advanced]

Although Cheng Xu’s level of proficiency in formations was not exceptionally high, refining array discs relied heavily on his forging and construction skills.

During his time in the treasure trove of Yuntai Zhenren, Cheng Xu had perused numerous commonplace array diagrams. Armed with this knowledge and the computational prowess of his Immortal Cultivation computer, he could obtain a comprehensive set of array disc architectures that were compatible with various first and second-order arrays.

Over twenty array diagrams interwove within his mind, causing the CPU to strain under the weight of the calculations.

“Damn, is the volume of computations truly this immense?”

Feeling an escalating discomfort within his sea of consciousness, Cheng Xu’s complexion paled in fright.

Soon, his head began to throb, and dizziness enveloped his senses.

When he finally regained consciousness, a whole day had elapsed.

It was evident that the sheer magnitude of calculations required to process over twenty formations simultaneously was staggering.

Thankfully, the outcome was favorable. At this juncture, he had successfully condensed a set of exquisite array disc structures within his mind, perfectly accommodating over 20 distinct types of first and second-tier array formations.

“Hiss- With so many intricate patterns, the difficulty of refining has undeniably increased!”

Naturally, given his current prowess in the art of refining, the task was not overly challenging.

He navigated to the [Equipment Refining] page and seamlessly imported the meticulously calculated array disc structure as a design into the equipment refining application. With that, Cheng Xu could rest assured, for the subsequent steps were in capable hands.

Three days elapsed, and within that span, Cheng Xu efficiently produced twenty of these array discs in one fell swoop. Utilizing the remaining inexpensive five-element materials, he fashioned an additional twenty sets of array needles.

The final step, as well as the most crucial one, lay before him.

That entailed painstakingly engraving a specially devised codename onto each array plate: Alpha Dog.

“If my memory serves me right, the most high-priced Level Two formation disc in the Scorching Sun Sect can only accommodate twenty standard formations, with over half of them being Tier 1 arrays.”

“Tsk, tsk. Once this groundbreaking product hits the market, what will befall the Scorching Sun Sect?”

Satisfied with his handiwork, Cheng Xu securely stored away the twenty sets of array discs and hurriedly departed from his cave abode, eagerly embarking on a journey to Floating Immortal City.

However, his haste led him to inadvertently collide with Miao Changsheng upon exiting.

“What’s got you in such high spirits?” Miao Changsheng inquired, taken aback.

“It’s nothing. I’ve managed to rake in a small fortune recently,” Cheng Xu replied nonchalantly.

Miao Changsheng paid little heed. “Oh, by the way, Master wishes to see you.”

“What for?” Cheng Xu queried.

“I’m uncertain about the specifics,” Miao Changsheng said, pulling Cheng Xu aside and speaking in hushed tones. “All I know is that Elder Hu from Yunzhong paid a visit this morning. Oh, and that Hu Jiaojiao was also in attendance..”