Chapter 92

Chapter 92: Transaction

"The message I want to tell you is about the fourth floor of the pavilion."

Wang Yu Wei stared at Zhou Luo and said in a gentle voice.

Hearing the words "fourth floor," Zhou Luo’s eyebrows raised slightly.

Previously, when Wang Yu Wei narrated the situation here, she had already informed him and Lin Xin about the fourth floor.

Could there be other secrets on the fourth floor?

"Tell me about it," Zhou Luo said with a curious expression.

Wang Yu Wei took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Apart from high-level alchemy knowledge, the ancient texts on the fourth floor also contain clues about various natural treasures."

"Natural treasures?"

Zhou Luo’s face showed a contemplative expression.

In this world, natural treasures were the most indispensable important resources; whether it was rare medicinal herbs, thousand-year spiritual wood, miraculous ores, and so on, they could all have a huge impact on cultivators.

Previously, when Zhou Luo tempered his body, he used many natural treasures, and that was only with low-level ones; if natural treasures appeared in the Immortal Sect, their value was self-evident.

This aroused some interest in Zhou Luo.

But with some confusion, he said, "Why are there these clues on the fourth floor?"

"Because this is a way the Immortal Sect trains its disciples," Wang Yu Wei explained.

On the fourth and fifth floors of the pavilion, apart from a large number of ancient texts on alchemy, various clues were also hidden, waiting to be uncovered by others.

This not only tested whether the disciples were clever and attentive enough but also allowed them to train themselves when they went out to search for the clues.

It was a win-win situation.

According to Wang Yu Wei, she had been to the fourth floor many times, which was why she knew this information.

This caused a look of slight surprise to appear on Zhou Luo’s face.

Originally, he had thought that the black pavilion was just a "library," but unexpectedly, these peculiarities were present on the upper two floors.

If he could enter the fourth floor and study it well, he might uncover many clues and obtain a large number of natural treasures.

However, Zhou Luo was not overwhelmed by this surprise; he looked at the expectant Wang Yu Wei and shook his head, saying, "This isn’t enough; logically, this should be common knowledge. I would find out even if you didn’t tell me."

Regardless of whether the other party told him or not, once he entered the fourth floor, he would know about this message.

Wang Yu Wei’s expression froze, and then her face showed a troubled look.

After struggling for a moment, she said hesitantly, "This is the message I meant…"

Zhou Luo was angered to the point of laughing out loud.

"I thought it was some big secret, but that’s it?!"

"Is this girl a bit off in the head?!"

"If it’s like this, then there’s no need for any cooperation!"

Zhou Luo’s gaze turned cold, and he immediately stood up.

"Isn’t this just playing a trick on someone?"

Wang Yu Wei also felt somewhat ashamed, for this news truly wasn’t something to brag about.

But back then, she had been forced to resort to this to move Zhou Luo.

However, she hadn’t deliberately deceived him.

Because she still possessed something that could truly sway Zhou Luo!

Watching Zhou Luo walk toward the door, seemingly about to abandon the deal…

Wang Yu Wei abruptly stood up, her eyes filled with determination as she declared firmly, “I can trade you a top-level first-level magical artifact!”

Hearing this, Zhou Luo, who had intended to leave, turned to her in surprise. “A top-level magical artifact?”

Wang Yu Wei nodded.

“I find that hard to believe,” Zhou Luo expressed doubt, yet he walked back and sat down again.

If it really was a top-level magical artifact, then it might be acceptable.

Seeing him return, Wang Yu Wei breathed an inward sigh of relief. With a reluctant tone, she said, “This is my family heirloom.”

Then, she lifted a red cord from her snow-white neck; hanging from it was a white jade ring.

A ruby was set into the ring, flickering with faint crimson light.

Hesitation crossed Wang Yu Wei’s face as she looked at the ring in her hand. Remembering her mother’s plight, she hardened her heart and passed it to him.

“This is a top-level first-level magical artifact, given to me by my mother. It can accelerate cultivation.” When she spoke the word “mother,” a hint of redness tinged her previously bright eyes.

Upon hearing it was a top-level first-level magical artifact, Zhou Luo’s interest was immediately piqued.

He took the ring and examined it closely, noticing the characters “Fire Spirit” engraved on the inner band.

He hadn’t expected such a small ring to be of the same grade as Spirit Xiyu.

Pity he wasn’t a weapon refiner, so he couldn’t authenticate its validity.

Though quite intrigued by the magical artifact, Zhou Luo placed it back on the table and pushed it toward her. “I’m no weapon refiner. How would anyone know if it’s genuine?”

Using such a valuable treasure to trade for a bottle of Bi Shui Dan seemed utterly unreasonable.

“No, no! You can test it!” Wang Yu Wei shook her head repeatedly.

The only way to confirm if it was a top-level first-level magical artifact was to try it on.

But Zhou Luo’s focus clearly wasn’t on that.

What baffled him far more was why she would offer a top-level first-level magical artifact for a bottle of Bi Shui Dan. It made no sense.

Zhou Luo studied her intently and asked earnestly, “So, what exactly do you need the Bi Shui Dan for?”

Wang Yu Wei stiffened. Meeting the gaze of those starry eyes, she pressed her lips together, slowly lowered her head, and finally told him about her mother.

After speaking, she slumped weakly back into her seat, her spirits sinking visibly.

Hearing of her plight, Zhou Luo realized the little bottle of Bi Shui Dan was meant to save another person’s mother.

No wonder she was so desperate, even willing to part with a family heirloom like this.

This dissolved the last of Zhou Luo’s suspicions.

After all, there was really no reason for her to lie about such a matter, especially since he could verify its authenticity with the Third Young Lady or easily inquire about such past events.

Indeed, even descendants of long-life families were constrained.

Gazing at Wang Yu Wei with reddened eyes and a sorrowful expression.

Zhou Luo silently took out the handkerchief Lin Yi Yi had stuffed into the storage bag and handed it over.

"Thank you," Wang Yu Wei bowed her head, her voice choked.

"Don’t thank me, it was just an equal trade," he said.

Having said that, Zhou Luo got up, came to the door, and opened it. "If there’s nothing else, then that’s it," he said.

The trade was completed, and he intended to later thoroughly test the function of this magical artifact.

Seeing the other party preparing to send guests away.

Wang Yu Wei couldn’t help but recall the clue she had learned about.

This transaction made her feel he was still trustworthy, and given her relationship with Lin Xin, cooperating with him might be a good idea.

A new plan emerged in her mind.

Therefore, Wang Yu Wei did not rise; instead, after some thought, she said, "I have another clue about the main ingredient of Foundation Establishment Dan!"

Zhou Luo was stunned, his testing intention vanishing completely. He glanced outside and swiftly shut the door.

He came before her and earnestly asked, "Which main ingredient?"

"It’s about a clue to Dragon Blood Grass," Wang Yu Wei stated directly.

"Dragon Blood Grass?" Zhou Luo’s voice lifted.

Dragon Blood Grass, it was one of the crucial materials for refining Foundation Establishment Dan.

As a vital spiritual potion for breaking through the ninth level of Qi Refinement to enter Foundation Establishment, Foundation Establishment Dan was what an unknown number of people longed for.

As a cultivator, if one wanted to keep advancing cultivation, Foundation Establishment Dan was an essential existence.

But because it was a Second Level spiritual potion with scarce main ingredients, it often had a price but no market.

If one Foundation Establishment Dan appeared on the market, it would surely lure countless forces of the secular world and long-life families to compete over it.

Once, a long-life family by chance obtained a Foundation Establishment Dan, but after the news leaked, they were madly targeted by other forces.

Ultimately, the entire family was slaughtered and vanished entirely from history.

One could thus imagine the importance of Foundation Establishment Dan.

Dragon Blood Grass, as one of the main ingredients for refining Foundation Establishment Dan, though not causing such horror, was also coveted by countless people.

Because it itself boosted both cultivation and constitution, plus it was a main ingredient of Foundation Establishment Dan, it had been driven to sky-high prices in the market.

Numerous people wished to buy it but couldn’t.

Such scarce medicine, if truly gained, would bring huge value.

Zhou Luo was truly tempted.

Because with the lottery function of the system, who knew one day he might win the Second Level alchemy skill.

If he prepared the main ingredients of Foundation Establishment Dan early, it could save him much trouble.

"That’s right, I can share this clue with you, but you must keep providing me with potions afterward."

"Rest assured, I’ll find a way to trade you equivalent treasures or spiritual stones for those potions."

Wang Yu Wei looked up, her expression utterly sincere.

Zhou Luo was quite moved by this.

But soon, another concern surfaced: "You should know I’m an outsider who married in—I can’t leave the family."

"And you, under your family’s surveillance, probably can’t leave either."

Seeking Dragon Blood Grass would require leaving the family. While this might be easy for others, their special status made cooperation difficult.

"We could find Lin Xin," Wang Yu Wei said instantly.

As the Third Young Lady of the Lin Family, she could bring an outsider out without obstruction.

As for Wang Yu Wei—not only was her mother from the Wang Family, but she was also soon marrying into it. Inviting her out likely wouldn’t raise objections.

Hearing these words, Zhou Luo pondered.

Indeed, Lin Xin was the most suitable choice—but would she truly agree?

He studied Wang Yu Wei: "If the Third Young Lady learns of this, she’ll demand full details. Surely she won’t approve?"

He meant the matter of Bi Shui Dan.

Her preference for seeking him over Lin Xin proved Lin Xin must have opposed this arrangement.

Wouldn’t Lin Xin intervene if their deal was exposed?

"Don’t worry. I know what to say. She won’t learn of our trade," Wang Yu Wei seemed to have prepared her explanation.

"Then I foresee no issues."

With his final hesitation gone, Zhou Luo agreed.

A flicker of joy crossed Wang Yu Wei’s face: "Don’t forget our agreement. Next year at the Spiritual Pill Conference, I expect to see you."

"Of course. Pleasure doing business," Zhou Luo reflexively extended his right hand.

Wang Yu Wei paused, unfamiliar with the gesture.

Yet she reached out and grasped it.

Feeling the warmth from his palm, and knowing her mother would live, the lingering distress vanished from her brow.

…

In Lin Xin’s guest chamber,

dressed in a beige gauzy skirt, Lin Xin hugged her knees, revealing snow-white and plump calves as she sat on the bed wondering what the neighbors discussed.

Earlier, at the Wang Family’s Spiritual Pill Conference, she’d talked to her confidante Wang Yu Wei about Zhou Luo.

Back then, Lin Xin viewed him with scorn and disdain.

To her, Zhou Luo—though possessing some talent in alchemy—was merely an outsider. How had he earned the Sixth Elder’s high regard, even becoming his direct disciple?

Also a middle first-level Pill Master, she believed she could surpass him.

She’d spent recent years focused on cultivation and sect entry, neglecting to hone her alchemy skill.

Now that she too was the Sixth Elder’s disciple, she refused to fall behind.

However, Wang Yu Wei told her that this son-in-law was not as simple as imagined.

The reason she gave was also very simple.

A person who could get first place in the written examination definitely wouldn’t be a mediocre person, and must have been diligent and hardworking enough.

Regarding this, Lin Xin was only half convinced.

She felt that Zhou Luo might just have been lucky.

But when she participated in the written examination of the Spiritual Pill Conference and looked at the questions above, she was completely bewildered.

Could these questions really all be answered correctly?

Lin Xin remembered that Wang Yu Wei had said that Zhou Luo scored ninety-seven points in the written examination, only losing points on the essay questions.

But from where exactly did he know the answers to so many obscure questions?

Lin Xin couldn’t understand.

At that moment, there was a slight change in her opinion of Zhou Luo.

After all, when a person displayed sufficient talent and aptitude, his status didn’t seem so important anymore.

Lin Xin, who had never taken Zhou Luo seriously, had underestimated this son-in-law after all.

Even so, she only held him in higher regard; it wasn’t enough to put him on an equal footing with herself.

Later, during chats with Wang Yu Wei, she discovered that her close friend seemed to have great interest in that person.

This couldn’t help but make her curious whether something had happened between the two during the Spiritual Pill Conference.

And now, with this man and woman alone in a room, Lin Xin’s curiosity reached its peak.

When she suddenly heard movements from the next-door room, she quickly pulled open her door like a startled rabbit.

Seeing Wang Yu Wei passing by, she pulled her into the room.

"What were you two doing in the room just now?" Lin Xin looked at Wang Yu Wei with a scrutinizing gaze as Wang Yu Wei was smiling.

"Nothing much, he just had some questions he hoped I would answer," Wang Yu Wei blinked her eyes, looking innocent.

"What questions?" Lin Xin questioned suspiciously.

"They’re all minor questions, why are you so curious?" Wang Yu Wei looked her up and down, revealing a meaningful smile: "Could it be that you like him?"

"Hmph, don’t change the subject, I actually think you like him," Lin Xin said with her chin up.

Wang Yu Wei smiled dismissively: "What reason?"

"You seem like you’re having a crush now," Lin Xin said sharply.

"What do you mean having a crush? I was just in a good mood," Wang Yu Wei said with her head up, her delicate and fair face wearing a sweet smile.

The thought that her mother could survive made her rejoice inside.

Unwilling to give up, Lin Xin insisted on pestering her to tell what had happened between the two in the room.

Wang Yu Wei, however, was like playing Tai Chi, persistently saying that nothing had happened, making Lin Xin extremely frustrated.

Just as she was thinking hard about how to punish this little girl, Wang Yu Wei’s lowered voice could be heard beside her:

"By the way, I have something important to say to you…"