Chapter 201 : Golden Core Insights
Chapter 201: Golden Core Insights
“Junior Brother Chen, how many contribution points for this half stalk of Millennial Marrow Ginseng?”
Out of instinct, Gu Yunsi deliberately added the word “half” when he asked, tactfully indicating that this treasure herb had already lost half its body, its value plummeting, so as to bargain.
“Senior Brother Gu, this ginseng is not for sale but only for trade, and I only accept item-for-item exchange.” Chen Beiwu shook his head on the surface, but his heart grew more confident.
“I have here a premium Foundation Establishment Pill. Junior Brother Chen, are you willing to trade for it?”
Chen Beiwu purposely put on a troubled look. “Senior Brother Gu, I have no interest in a Foundation Establishment Pill. I only want to exchange this item for a third-tier treasure herb that can aid my own cultivation.”
“Junior Brother, your Millennial Marrow Ginseng has lost half of it. Even for a third-tier mid-grade treasure herb, it would be difficult to trade for one of the same tier.”
Gu Yunsi’s brows furrowed slightly. He felt that Chen Zi’ang was asking sky-high, but he was unwilling to give up.
His cultivation method was highly compatible with Millennial Marrow Ginseng. With the medicinal power of this half stalk, Gu Yunsi had confidence to break through from late-stage Foundation Establishment to peak Foundation Establishment, solidifying his Dao Foundation, and seize first place in the Inner Sect Grand Competition in one stroke.
At that time, he would not only earn ten thousand contribution points, but might even rise to the heavens in one step, gain the favor of a Golden Core elder, be accepted under a Golden Core master, and compete with the sect’s prodigies for the position of True Inheritor.
Only, this junior brother was truly black-hearted, demanding an exorbitant price, as if he were slaughtering him like a disciple of the Blazing Flame Sect.
It was not as though there were no pills within the sect’s Hall of Mysteries with effects close to Millennial Marrow Ginseng.
For example, the [Crossing Spirit Pill], a second-tier high-grade spiritual pill costing only twelve thousand contribution points, could also allow a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator to break through a bottleneck.
But when he thought of the side effects of the Crossing Spirit Pill and the wondrous effects of Millennial Marrow Ginseng for cultivators with both ice and water dual roots, Gu Yunsi could not help but hesitate.
Chen Beiwu smiled slightly, opening the jade box to reveal the infant-shaped ginseng missing half its body. “Senior Brother Gu, you may look at the quality of this Millennial Marrow Ginseng. Even though half is missing, its medicinal power has hardly diminished.”
“Moreover, what the sect lacks least is cultivators with ice and water dual roots.
If Junior Brother happens to meet a destined buyer, you can sell it for far more than a second-tier high-grade spiritual pill. Trading it for a third-tier treasure herb is hardly an issue.”
Chen Beiwu was not exaggerating—demand determined value.
Among third-tier mid-grade treasure herbs, Millennial Marrow Ginseng was outstanding.
Had it not lost half, in the trading market of Uplifted Water Island, there truly would not be many Foundation Establishment cultivators who could afford this ginseng.
This showed just how terrifying the wealth of a third-tier high-grade alchemist truly was.
Chen Beiwu even suspected that Senior Sister Wan’er was already a Golden Core True Person, but seeing how Senior Sister Yun treated her did not seem to fit.
Gu Yunsi fell silent.
Chen Zi’ang’s words made some sense.
The sect had no shortage of noble-born cultivators, second-generation disciples who lacked nothing in resources.
Millennial Marrow Ginseng could consolidate foundations and raise the chance for ice and water root cultivators to pass the Golden Core condensation.
Even if only half remained, those second-generation cultivators would not hesitate to exchange a third-tier treasure herb at a premium.
The reason Gu Yunsi made an offer first was to seize the initiative, lest news of Millennial Marrow Ginseng spread and attract the covetous eyes of True Inheritors, who would bid at a price beyond his means.
After all, he was of ordinary birth and could not possibly compete with the sect’s second-generation elites.
“How can this half stalk of Millennial Marrow Ginseng be traded?”
A beautiful woman in a green palace gown with an extraordinary aura stopped in her tracks and asked curiously.
Gu Yunsi’s pupils shrank, instantly recognizing her as Zhuang Xinya, a current True Inheritor, a peak Foundation Establishment powerhouse ranked eighty-ninth on the Mirror Moon Rankings.
Yet Zhuang Xinya did not spare a single glance at the Illumination-Heart Lotus on his stall—her eyes were fixed only on the Millennial Marrow Ginseng.
‘Perfect timing.’ Chen Beiwu thought secretly.
Without a customer asking, it would have been difficult for him to keep pressing Gu Yunsi.
“I recently encountered a bottleneck cultivating Mirror Flower, Water Moon, and require a third-tier treasure herb that can enhance comprehension.” Chen Beiwu named his price.
Zhuang Xinya’s brows arched slightly in surprise.
There were two reasons:
First, this young junior brother was truly ambitious, daring to cultivate Mirror Flower, Water Moon, a technique that no one in the sect had ever reached the third level of.
Second, this young junior brother was bold indeed, daring to try fooling her.
Zhuang Xinya was no fool. Hearing Chen Beiwu’s answer and then noticing the Illumination-Heart Lotus on the neighboring stall, she immediately understood that his real target was not the ginseng, but the lotus.
Gu Yunsi also realized, his gaze flickering slightly.
Good heavens—so that was what Chen Zi’ang had been waiting for.
No wonder he had not sold the Millennial Marrow Ginseng earlier—it was because he had set his eyes on the Illumination-Heart Lotus.
Seeing the two men’s reactions, Chen Beiwu did not mind.
Few who reached Foundation Establishment were fools.
The reason he did not mention the lotus outright was simply to hold the initiative.
After all, there were quite a few third-tier treasure herbs that could enhance comprehension. As long as he did not speak, even if Gu Yunsi guessed, he could not be certain.
“Would one Awakening Mind Pill suffice for the trade?” Zhuang Xinya asked.
Though Awakening Mind Pill was a second-tier high-grade spiritual pill, it could immerse the user’s consciousness in a state like soaking in an icy spring, clearing all distractions. Within fifteen minutes, one could enter perfect clarity, greatly boosting comprehension. Its value was no less than a third-tier treasure herb.
In the Hall of Mysteries, its exchange price was as high as twenty thousand contribution points.
Chen Beiwu shook his head. “My apologies, Senior Sister.”
Zhuang Xinya smiled gently, turning her gaze to Gu Yunsi. “Junior Brother Gu, how much for this Illumination-Heart Lotus?”
After hesitating a moment, he named his price: “Thirty-five thousand contribution points, high-grade ice-attributed Earthly Sha Qi, or anything that benefits ice-attributed cultivators… any of these will do.”
“You two junior brothers are truly amusing.” Zhuang Xinya clapped her hands lightly and turned to leave.
In the Hall of Mysteries, Millennial Marrow Ginseng was priced at thirty-eight thousand contribution points.
Had this ginseng been intact, she would not have minded spending thirty-five thousand points to buy the Illumination-Heart Lotus, then trade it back.
Watching Zhuang Xinya’s figure disappear, Gu Yunsi turned to Chen Zi’ang. “Junior Brother Chen, let’s be frank. Half a Millennial Marrow Ginseng cannot possibly trade for an Illumination-Heart Lotus. But if you add ten thousand contribution points, then this lotus will be yours!”
Chen Beiwu’s brows furrowed.
He was determined to obtain the Illumination-Heart Lotus, but he could not delay his Flawless Qi Refining either.
After a moment of hesitation, Chen Beiwu transmitted through divine sense: “Senior Brother Gu, I cannot produce ten thousand contribution points, but I can exchange something else.”
“What thing?” Gu Yunsi’s eyelids twitched, thinking Chen Zi’ang was trying to bargain again.
‘A set of Golden Core Insights.’ Chen Beiwu’s intent rang out.
‘What did you say?’ Gu Yunsi’s heart thumped, and he involuntarily took a deep breath, suppressing the joy surging within. ‘Junior Brother Chen, are you sure you want to trade Golden Core Insights with me?’
Cultivation methods could not be lightly passed on.
In the Southern Wastes, insights into condensing a Golden Core were treasures of extreme value, far beyond ten thousand contribution points.
Seeing Gu Yunsi’s reaction, Chen Beiwu seized the chance to raise the stakes: ‘That’s right. I can trade the Millennial Marrow Ginseng along with a set of Golden Core Insights, in exchange for the Illumination-Heart Lotus and five thousand contribution points. What does Senior Brother Gu think?’
‘Agreed. If the Golden Core Insights are genuine, consider me owing you a favor!’ Gu Yunsi said without hesitation.