Immortality begin with Alchemy Grandmaster Chapter 3 Do you want it or not_1

Three cultivators dressed in snug mage robes clustered nearby, leaning down to scrutinize the goods arranged on the azure stone platforms.

"Oh, a Concealing Qi Talisman. Fine quality! What's the cost for one?"

"Five Spirit Stones apiece. Perfect for daily use or journeys, or venturing into the wilds. At a vital juncture, trigger this talisman and even a Thorny Wolf couldn't detect your scent!"

"That pricey? You're practically fleecing us."

"Just tell me if you're buying or not!"

"Can you drop the price a bit? We're heading to the mountains soon and must acquire plenty more talismans. We might even grab a full batch from you."

"Haven't you heard of my standing in the Great River District's bazaar, or the superior quality of my talismans? If I slash the price on my talisman, will it still ward off a demon beast's fangs?"

"Three Spirit Stones for the Concealing Qi Talisman, along with three Earth Thorn Talismans and six Fireball Talismans."

"Four! That's my limit. This Concealing Qi Talisman is unique to my shop, and I craft just one every month!"

Following a brief discussion, the three cultivators opted to buy the Concealing Qi Talisman.

With the payment complete, their focus shifted to the jade bottles tucked in the corner.

"The Fasting Elixir?"

Luo Chen's face lit up. "One pill fills you up, ten sustain you for three days and nights without a pang of hunger. How many bottles interest you?"

"What's the cost?"

"Listen, I brew this Fasting Elixir using top-grade first-order beef mixed with ginseng and dong quai... And to finish, it's tempered with the Medicine King Sect's famous Hundred Flowers Honey. Premium quality at bargain rates!"

"Is it truly that effective?"

"Here, sniff this fragrance—doesn't it tantalize? And check the hue, not a trace of flour. No better color around here, I guarantee!"

"Big brother, it smells richer than the Fasting Elixir we got earlier."

"Precisely. This fellow obviously has a keen sense. You've been cheated in the past, right? Did your previous Fasting Elixir taste like flour? That's bogus meat for sure."

"What's the price?"

"Four bottles for a single Spirit Stone!"

"You could just hold us up."

"Just say if you want it! Skip this stall and you'll miss such prime goods. Mark my words, I've got loyal buyers. Soon I'll be cleaned out and heading home."

"Could you cut it lower?"

"Given your genuine interest, you three, how about five bottles per Spirit Stone? Sound good? Think of it as building rapport, and for future brews, I'll offer you deals!"

"Fine, we'll take ten bottles. We've got leftovers from before, so we'll sample yours."

After finalizing the deal, Luo Chen and Elder Chen bid them farewell. "Have a secure trip to the mountains, and may your gains overflow."

Once the trio departed, the pair shared a knowing chuckle.

Elder Chen quietly added another Concealing Qi Talisman to the display.

Whatever happened to making only one monthly?

As daylight climbed higher, the southwest rogue cultivator zone buzzed with increasing energy.

Vendors hawked elixirs, cultivation manuals, demon beast flesh—everything imaginable.

Shoppers and seekers flowed endlessly, with rare sightings of Yu Ding Sword Sect disciples in their official garb.

The presence of sect folk energized the independents, causing their quoted prices to climb without thought.

Sect affiliates were prime targets for profit!

Yet Luo Chen remained unaffected by the buzz.

His Fasting Elixir ranked as the most ordinary staple; every sect stocked them.

The versions he produced sat at the base tier, scarcely qualifying as true elixirs—just Fasting Pills molded into elixir form.

No amount of skill in refining such basics could yield any real advantage.

By midday, Luo Chen's supply dwindled to almost nothing.

He began with just twenty bottles—hardly a surplus—and building that required six or seven days of effort.

It highlighted the grueling existence of a low-tier pill refiner!

Absent backing from a Sect or clan, a novice independent alchemist faced a brutally unforgiving path!

Skipping any wrapping, Luo Chen handed Elder Chen jerky from leftover beef scraps, preparing to depart.

As he turned to go, Elder Chen chewed the jerky with plain water and hailed him.

"Heading off to brew fresh elixirs? It isn't that flawed recipe you unearthed last year, is it?"

"Lad, don't chase pipe dreams. I've watched countless independent alchemists fiddle with novel formulas, only to go broke."

"It took effort to hoard those Spirit Stones. Why not visit the Spirit Medicine Hall for a few Qi Nurturing Pills to boost your cultivation somewhat."

Such candid counsel stood out from the typically thrifty, deal-hunting elder.

Luo Chen recognized the genuine concern.

In truth, the prior owner had sunk far more into that flawed formula than Elder Chen implied.

But Luo Chen pursued different aims, steering clear of such perilous ventures.

"Watch your chompers, elder. This jerky might snap them."

Elder Chen gnawed a piece of jerky with a scowl. It wedged between his teeth, causing mild discomfort, yet he swallowed it anyway.

He shot Luo Chen a fierce stare.

"Get lost!"

Luo Chen flashed a playful smile, swiftly blending into the throng and disappearing.

....

He lingered in the southwestern rogue zone, but now amid the herb trading section.

Years of familiarity here left him expert in negotiating various wares.

"Sister Wang, did your spouse gather these fresh from the peaks? They look insufficiently dried; sharp buyers will turn up their noses."

"Today, I'll perform a kindness. I'll grudgingly accept ten pounds!"

"This ho shou wu specimen—I doubt it's aged a decade! Discount it, and it's mine."

"Jade Mountain Medicine, sure, I'll take fifty pounds. I used to snag twenty per Spirit Stone, and now rates have doubled—you owe me a break!"

"No more haggling from me. Just toss in a Redwood Fruit, that sizable one there."

...

Luo Chen roamed the herb district through the afternoon, snapping up bulk quantities of required plants.

Since these were modest rogue setups, he judged quality by sight alone, and secured deals through shrewd talks.

His mouth parched from endless bartering, Luo Chen collected nearly all essentials.

Now, a venture to the Inner City's heart awaited.

The Spirit Medicine Hall, among the Great River market's premier six establishments, occupied the central plaza's prime spot.

Its five stories boasted soaring eaves, vibrant murals, ornate balustrades, and fine jade work— a visual delight.

Still, it traded solely in processed elixirs, beyond Luo Chen's current means.

His target lay beside it: the Hundred Herbs Pavilion.

Rumors held that the Medicine King Sect operated both the Spirit Medicine Hall and Hundred Herbs Pavilion, though reasons for separate facades remained unclear.

Beside the Hall's splendor, the Pavilion appeared far plainer.

A straight line of low-roofed structures stretched rearward, unremarkable in style.

Yet approaching brought an intense herbal scent wafting over.

Luo Chen inhaled deeply, feeling refreshed, and set his hefty sack by the entrance with care.

The plump shopkeeper glanced at the sack, narrowing his eyes and sniffing subtly, then shook his head.

Undeterred, Luo Chen stepped to the counter.

"Senior, got any Dendrobium or Fire Dog Tail in stock?"

At mention of those ingredients, the Fat Shopkeeper cast an entertained glance Luo Chen's way.