I Can Copy Everything Without Limit Chapter 2

The scene unfolds at the counter on the first floor of Wei's Pharmacy.

“Boss, I have some medicinal herbs. Do you buy such things?” A middle-aged farmer, clad in a worn and patched outfit, approached Wei Lulin, who was patiently waiting for customers, and inquired hesitantly.

“Let me examine the herbs before I decide if I’ll make a purchase.” Wei Lulin responded with respect and a friendly demeanor, even considering the farmer's humble appearance.

“Certainly.” The farmer then presented a peculiar herb that bore a striking resemblance to human meridians.

“Meridian Grass!” Wei Lulin’s eyes gleamed with a spark of delight as he observed the herb in the farmer’s grasp, his voice laced with excitement.

Wei Lulin's meridians had suffered damage from lingering effects of past battles, which tragically halted his cultivation practice. This had been his most significant worry. Recovering his meridians and resuming cultivation would necessitate top-tier Celestial Materials And Earthly Treasures, along with Pills of at least Grade Six—resources far beyond his current means.

However, the world is often full of unexpected turns. Besides those revered materials and pills, certain rare medicinal herbs possessed the ability to mend damaged meridians.

Only aged herbs would be effective, and a substantial quantity would be required. Furthermore, such herbs were not readily available in the market.

Meridian Grass was one such elusive herb.

A solitary stalk of ten-thousand-year-old Meridian Grass could completely restore his meridians, or alternatively, several hundred stalks aged five years might also serve the purpose.

Nevertheless, Meridian Grass was exceptionally scarce.

“Uncle, this herb is quite rare. I am certainly interested. But precisely how much Meridian Grass do you possess?” Wei Lulin asked, striving to maintain his composure despite the burgeoning joy within him.

As a shop clerk, it was paramount to remain calm when encountering unexpected treasures to ensure maximum potential profit.

“I have eleven stalks. What price are you prepared to offer?” the farmer inquired, his earnest expression tinged with anxiety upon hearing Wei Lulin's expressed interest in his herbs.

“You only have eleven stalks?” Wei Lulin conveyed his disappointment upon hearing the middle-aged farmer's response.

Considering his current condition, he would require hundreds of five-year-old Meridian Grass to repair merely one percent of his damaged meridians. Moreover, these eleven stalks of Meridian Grass did not belong to him but were part of the Wei family's inventory.

“Not enough, and not mature enough,” Wei Lulin mused with a sigh of regret. “A single stalk of Meridian Grass commands fifteen copper coins, so for eleven, that amounts to one hundred and sixty-five copper coins. Does that price meet your approval?”

Typically, a five-year-old Meridian Grass would sell for around ten silver coins in the market, with one silver coin equivalent to one hundred copper coins. Consequently, the profit margin on this transaction was immense. Wei Lulin's decision to offer a lower price was not solely driven by business shrewdness but also by personal considerations.

“That is absolutely fine!” The middle-aged farmer was merely a humble cultivator from the outskirts of Lindorin Town, making a living through farming and occasionally trapping common wild beasts. Even so, three copper coins were sufficient to support his family for an entire day, and one hundred and sixty-five copper coins could cover their living expenses for nearly two months.

Most importantly, he had stumbled upon the eleven Meridian Grass by sheer chance while tending to his fields. In essence, this money was akin to found treasure.

“Uncle, since this is your first time here, I will round up the total for you.”

“Here are 170 copper coins. Please ensure you count them carefully!” Wei Lulin declared as he retrieved the coins from a cabinet and handed them to the middle-aged farmer. He added cordially, “Should you happen upon more herbs of this kind in the future, bring them directly to me. You will always receive a fair price.”

Although Wei Lulin was a peripheral member of the Wei family, his status somewhat diminished due to his lineage and physical condition, he was nonetheless a disciple of the Wei family and an employee at a shop in Lindorin Town. His monthly salary of ten gold coins, coupled with profit sharing and an annual bonus, ensured a quite respectable income.

To Wei Lulin, an extra five copper coins was insignificant, but to the middle-aged farmer, it represented a gesture of kindness and goodwill. This act of generosity would undoubtedly make Wei Lulin the farmer's first point of contact for any medicinal herbs he might discover in the future.

After completing a few more transactions, Wei Lulin noticed the day was drawing to a close and it was unlikely any more customers would arrive. He proceeded to take stock of the shop's inventory, locked up, and retired to his loft located in the backyard.

“Astonishing, Meridian Grass!” he exclaimed in admiration, examining the peculiar plant in his hand, which was as thick as chopsticks and shaped remarkably like the meridians within the human body.

Earlier that day, during the transaction for the Meridian Grass, Wei Lulin had deliberately understated its value. His intention was not born of malice; rather, he wished to secretly keep a single stalk for himself.

Wei Lulin, in his prior existence, was someone who cherished his quiet life at home, content with its simplicity. Even after his transmigration to this new world, he harbored no grand aspirations for dominance. All he truly desired was a tranquil existence. However, a freshly acquired collection of memories served to illuminate one critical truth: in this realm, power was the sole guarantor of security. The common populace were nothing more than fodder for the strong to prey upon. Thus, he became resolute in his pursuit of any method to enhance his cultivation and secure his footing in this world.

The Meridian Grass emitted a subtle, peculiar fragrance. Upon inhaling it, Wei Lulin experienced a surprising, faint sting coursing through his meridians. It was actually effective!

Yet, before he could fully savor this breakthrough, the sensation dissipated, leaving no trace.

“Ah, if only I possessed hundreds of Meridian Grass stalks,” Wei Lulin lamented, casting his gaze upon the solitary specimen before resolving to consume it.

Just then, an unexpected notion sparked within his consciousness, proposing the replication of the Meridian Grass. “How could that possibly be?” He vigorously shook his head, attempting to banish the preposterous idea.

During his former life as a programmer, the functions of copy and paste stood as the most fundamental yet potent tools he wielded. Any digital element could be duplicated; however, that belonged to the domain of virtual reality. The concept of such capabilities manifesting in the tangible world seemed utterly impossible.

Nevertheless, he paused, reconsidering the possibilities. If an event as extraordinary as transmigration, often depicted in online novels, could befall him, then perhaps it wasn't entirely far-fetched for a computer program to somehow bridge into his current reality.

Perhaps this was a form of divine compensation!

Having found a measure of mental tranquility, Wei Lulin wasted no time. He silently uttered the command, “First copy, then paste.” As he mentally executed this process, he observed a faint silhouette of a new Meridian Grass materializing beside the one held in his hand.

Concurrently, he perceived a distinct pulling sensation deep within his psyche, directed towards his blood, bones, and flesh. His body, already not particularly robust, began to feel drained as this force took hold. His naturally pale complexion grew even more ashen.