Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo' Chapter 1339 622: The Invaluable Treasure (2)

Li Banfeng laughed: "Who's looking to fight with you? I'm here to do business, didn't I make it clear just now? What I want is the contract book!"

Chu Shaoqiang pondered momentarily: "Meng Yuchun's contract book, the Inner State People have paid special attention to it."

"Why focus on her?"

"Because Meng Yuchun harbors deep resentment towards the Inner State. After leaving the Inner State, she hasn't responded to any tasks given by them, and there's always the possibility of her being punished by the Inner State. Obtaining her contract book is incredibly difficult."

"So you can't get it?"

"It's not that I can't get it, it's that the price is extremely high." Chu Shaoqiang raised two fingers, "It requires twenty Xuanyun Pills."

"Xuanyun Pills?" Li Banfeng was stunned, "Exchanging elixirs for a contract book?"

Chu Shaoqiang nodded: "Xuanyun Pills are the world's most precious elixirs. If Meng Yuchun hadn't been focused on by the Inner State, thirteen Xuanyun Pills could fetch her contract book.

The three Inner State People guarding the contract book require four pills each, with the remaining pill kept for myself as compensation.

But since Meng Yuchun has been focused on, each Inner State Person requires six pills, and I'm taking on a significant risk, needing at least two pills as compensation, which totals twenty."

Normally, a Local Deity would only need thirteen Xuanyun Pills to redeem their own contract book, which, to Li Banfeng, didn't seem like a lot, and there must be many people doing business with Chu Shaoqiang.

Li Banfeng said: "Had I known there was such a way with you, I should have used Xuanyun Pills to redeem the contract books of Qiu Luoye and Shui Yongquan initially, avoiding so many twists and turns."

Chu Shaoqiang shook his head: "Qiu Luoye and Shui Yongquan have always been restless; they are under far more focus from the Inner State than Meng Yuchun, and no matter how many elixirs you pay, their contract books cannot be bought back.

Moreover, I know Shui Yongquan once spent a fortune buying two Xuanyun Pills, which nearly bankrupted him. With the resources of him and Qiu Luoye, where can they find thirteen to twenty Xuanyun Pills to trade?"

Li Banfeng was aware of Shui Yongquan spending a fortune on Xuanyun Pills, but not about the bankruptcy part, which Shui Yongquan hadn't mentioned.

Chu Shaoqiang wasn't just blowing bubbles; he wasn't lying about it.

"Xuanyun Pills are that expensive?"

Chu Shaoqiang looked at Li Banfeng, somewhat disdainfully: "You don't even know the price of Xuanyun Pills and yet you're here talking business with me?

Let me tell you, numerous new lands in Puluo State can afford it, but you can count on one hand those who've bought back their contract books at that price.

Xuanyun Pills are the world's most precious elixirs. While other elixirs are meant to replace practice years, Xuanyun Pills enhance a cultivator's foundation, boosting their strength."

Li Banfeng couldn't understand the difference between the two.

Chu Shaoqiang explained simply: "The cultivators on Earth Skin calculate practice by years, ten years per layer; taking elixirs can replace years.

Once Above the Clouds, practice cannot be calculated by years; Snake Spot, Xuan Chi, Purple Rejuvenation, Golden Yuan, these elixirs that replace years become useless, only Xuanyun Pill remains usable.

Because Xuanyun Pills don't substitute years, they strengthen the foundation itself; only by solidifying the foundation can one continue on the cultivation path, making them invaluable treasures."

Li Banfeng wasn't clear on the concept of foundation: "How many Xuanyun Pills must someone consume to fully solidify their foundation?"

"It varies from person to person. I can't say specifically how many, with my physique, I estimate needing them all my life, until my physique reaches that of the Inner State Royal Family, then I can walk the path of Craftsman Cultivation to its end!"

Royal Family?

Three-headed?

"Is the physique of the Inner State Royal Family very strong?"

"The physique of the Royal Family is flawless, but Inner State doesn't understand the Taoist Sect, and Puluo State's medicinal powder can't let them Enter the Path. If they had the Taoist Sect, the Royal Family would've long unified Inner State, and Puluo State would've been conquered!"

Chu Shaoqiang felt he had said too much; no matter how much Li Banfeng asked, he didn't want to talk more about Inner State.

After smoking two cigarettes, Chu Shaoqiang stood up: "I've told you about the business, think it over carefully yourself. I suggest you inquire more about the price of Xuanyun Pills, and be mentally prepared. Three days later, same place and time, we'll discuss it further."

Chu Shaoqiang left, while Li Banfeng sat silently in the stone house.

Li Banfeng currently possessed seventeen Xuanyun Pills, having not really treasured them due to the quantity.

Thinking carefully now, seeing his wife count Xuanyun Pills one by one, he should have realized how rare they are.

His wife is someone frugal; she wouldn't normally consume such elixirs, and to bring out seventeen Xuanyun Pills would be like tearing out her heart.

No, business can't be done this way.

Better ask Red Lotus for advice.

Li Banfeng returned to the Portable Residence, went to Bafang, and gently caressed Red Lotus: "Ah Lian, what's the real difference between Xuanyun Pills and regular elixirs?"

"Not much difference," Red Lotus answered casually, "Better materials make better elixirs; the steps in alchemy are the same."

"That's not right, my wife told me that Xuanyun Pills are more precious than other elixirs."

Red Lotus extended a Lotus Leaf and gently tapped Li Banfeng's chin: "Then why don't you ask your wife? Why come to me?"

Li Banfeng chuckled honestly: "My wife isn't home, so I came to find you."

The phonograph indeed wasn't home, busy conducting experiments in the lab.

Red Lotus extended two Lotus Leaves, feeling Li Banfeng's cheeks: "Then hurry and ask whatever you want."