Chapter 108: The Wealthy and Arrogant Patron

On Spirit Vulture Peak, a man and a woman descended leisurely.

Both were dressed in white. The man was tall and robust, exuding a fierce aura. The woman appeared delicate and gentle, no more than eighteen, with features so exquisite they stirred the heart from afar.

Li Youling trotted along like a young deer, delighted by everything she saw—even the flowers and grass beside the path.

Gu Changqing, however, cast cold glances at passing cultivators.

Occasionally, when cultivators emerged from their caves and saw Gu Changqing, they would pause thoughtfully before bowing politely and retreating inside.

Many had heard that a new arrival at Spirit Vulture Peak was ruthless and domineering, with formidable strength.

Upon seeing Gu Changqing, they immediately connected the dots.

They continued toward the rope bridge, but no one dared cause trouble, much to Gu Changqing’s regret.

As they walked, he patiently instructed, “I see you just touch the flowers and leave. If you like something, bring it back. Only what you hold in your own hands truly belongs to you. Here, who knows when someone else might pick it.”

“Things not your own are useless, no matter how beautiful. You must make them yours!”

Li Youling pondered briefly, then smiled brightly and said, “Understood, young master!”

By the time they reached halfway up Lotus Terrace Mountain, the crowd thickened.

Many couldn’t help but glance at the pair, especially at Li Youling—few cultivators possessed such delicate beauty and gentle aura.

However, upon noticing Gu Changqing beside her, they quickly kept their distance, leaving Gu Changqing no chance to pick a fight as he had hoped.

At the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, Gu Changqing took out the materials needed for the “Purple Qi Nourishing Truth Method” blood purification and replacement: “Can you gather everything?”

The male cultivator behind the counter glanced at the list and smiled, “This blood purification formula has three grades: high, middle, and low. Which do you need, fellow cultivator?”

“Top grade,” Gu Changqing replied with a smirk. “Isn’t that obvious?”

The drugs for blood purification, if low grade, barely worked. The top grade improved root bones and could increase cultivation speed by a significant margin, depending on one’s innate talent.

Typically, the poorer the talent, the greater the improvement.

“For the top grade, it costs 210 spirit stones. The dragon scale fruit and indigo flower must be eighty years old, so it will take two days to prepare.”

“Deliver it to my cave when ready.”

“Also, I need three Green Wood Profound Light talismans, three Gold Light Protection talismans, and three Wind Walk talismans,” Gu Changqing said, tossing an empty pouch filled with boxes containing spirit plants and herbs.

The clerk inspected each box and then pulled out one, staring intently at Gu Changqing. “This is a 150-year-old dragon scale fruit!”

The young man clearly didn’t recognize the dragon scale fruit, indicating the contents came from questionable sources.

Gu Changqing paid it no mind, merely noting the two fruits inside were covered in dragon scales and emitted an enticing fragrance upon opening.

After a moment, Gu Changqing and Li Youling left the pavilion.

Li Youling said nothing but tugged Gu Changqing’s sleeve, swinging it happily, clearly in high spirits.

Gu Changqing then visited the Refining Institute and inquired about renting a forge room.

There were several levels of fire for forging: the cheaper “earth fire,” stable and slightly stronger than ordinary flames; the more powerful “spirit fire,” commonly used by cultivators but harder to control; and two special fires—“wind-thunder fire” and “ice heart fire,” both extremely potent and reserved for crafting special magical tools.

Rental prices were steep: earth fire rooms cost 10 spirit stones a day, spirit fire 30, and wind-thunder and ice heart fires a whopping 200 spirit stones per day.

After some inquiry, Gu Changqing rented an ice heart fire forge room.

Wind-thunder fire reduced targets to ashes instantly, while ice heart fire burned at an extremely low temperature, capable of freezing ordinary flames and even freezing a person solid, potentially allowing further use.

Led by a staff member to the central courtyard, Gu Changqing entered the forge room, revealing an array with a bead at its center containing a blue sea of flames.

He instructed Li Youling to wait outside, then cast a spell, unleashing a blue flame from the bead that instantly chilled the room.

The biting cold was palpable even several meters away, enough to be lethal to a careless ninth-stage Qi Refining cultivator.

Gu Changqing summoned the Turtle-Snake Eight Trigrams Lantern to shield himself from the cold.

He then took out a Fire-Swallowing Gourd, opened its mouth, and began absorbing the blue flame like water.

After twenty minutes, the gourd’s surface was coated with a thin layer of ice, and Gu Changqing swiftly sealed it.

Continuing would risk breaking the gourd, and he would be the first to suffer.

Still, the gathered ice-blue flame was enough to bring him joy—it could serve as a trump card in critical moments.

Equipped with several high-grade protective talisman scripts, the Turtle-Snake Lantern, over a thousand spirit stones, and a gourd of ice heart fire, Gu Changqing was confident he could hold his own even against ninth-stage Qi Refining cultivators.

If strength lacked, spirit stones could make up the difference.

With preparations complete, exploring Dongyang Mountain in the Qingjiang battlefield world seemed a safe next step.

Exiting the forge room, he and Li Youling arrived at the Merit Reward Hall, immediately drawing many gazes.

Gu Changqing spotted the woman from yesterday.

Unable to recall her name, and unwilling to ponder further, he called out to her directly.

“Greetings, fellow cultivator!” The female cultivator’s eyes immediately fell on Li Youling, uncertain whether she was Gu Changqing’s servant or disciple.

She then looked at Gu Changqing. “May I ask what you need?”

“I want you to gather thirty skins from mature Shadow Snakes,” Gu Changqing said bluntly.

He knew the business well—looking for mercenaries.

Qiu Yan hesitated. She had assumed Gu Changqing took the mission himself yesterday, but now he was asking her.

“And you won’t go yourself?” she asked.

“No time. Name your price!” Gu Changqing replied.

“The snake caves at Tide Cliff are labyrinthine, and upper-level Shadow Snakes are hard to find. A party of at least five is needed, taking around half a month, plus antidote talismans must be prepared.

Thirty Shadow Snake skins will cost at least 300 spirit stones,” Qiu Yan said hesitantly.

Two hundred spirit stones would have been possible.

With five people, even 200 spirit stones meant 40 each, which seemed decent but considering the dangers and resources used, each would net only about 20 spirit stones.

Qiu Yan intended to bargain but was surprised by Gu Changqing’s generosity.

“Then it’s settled!” Gu Changqing decided immediately.

The only drawback was the half-month duration, which was acceptable.

Qiu Yan was genuinely amazed at his straightforwardness.

“Are you sure you won’t go? You could post the task here at the Merit Reward Hall. Once we finish, we’ll submit it here,” she said, smiling warmly.

She resolved to cultivate a good relationship with Gu Changqing—wealthy and generous patrons were rare.

Gu Changqing posted the task and deposited 300 spirit stones at the hall. Qiu Yan felt reassured and went to recruit friends.

Outside, Li Youling whispered, “You overpaid! From her expression, you could’ve offered half the price. If she refused, then raise it a bit.”

“I don’t have time to haggle over a few dozen spirit stones,” Gu Changqing scoffed.

“Besides, if you pay well, people will willingly work for you. Otherwise, they might resent you and cause trouble.”

Gu Changqing understood these matters clearly. Material wealth was trivial—profits came easily, like stones growing in the earth.

Getting things done efficiently and avoiding unnecessary troubles was what mattered most.

“Understood, Youling!” Li Youling promptly said.

Gu Changqing nodded in satisfaction. She was obedient, at least.

Back in his cave, Gu Changqing said to Li Youling, “The blood purification method is in the book. When the herbs arrive, you’ll do it yourself. Don’t disturb me unless I call you.”

“Rest assured, young master!” Li Youling bowed deeply, smiling.

She returned to her room, changed clothes, even stowing away her silver-threaded cloud-walking shoes, then with a thought, returned to Angang.

(End of chapter)