Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Vermilion Fruit

Inside the pavilion, Li Ping looked at Master Hu with a hint of surprise. "A great opportunity?"

But Master Hu didn’t elaborate on the opportunity, instead changing the subject.

He looked at Li Ping and said, "Forgive my forwardness, Fellow Daoist Li, but since you come from a Loose Cultivator background, your own aptitude must not be very good."

A Cultivator’s personal aptitude wasn’t much of a secret, and Li Ping had no intention of hiding it. He sighed. "To be honest with you, Fellow Daoist, my aptitude is indeed only average. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have languished for so long as a Loose Cultivator."

Cultivators with Dual Spirit Roots or better could easily pass a Sect’s entrance trials and join. For instance, the master of the Immortal City, Fenglan Master, only accepted disciples with at least Dual Spirit Roots.

That was why Master Hu and Li Ping were having this conversation.

Master Hu nodded, then changed the subject again. "Fellow Daoist Li, did you know that my own aptitude isn’t very good? I only have Three Spirit Roots. My only saving grace was having some talent for the dao of Alchemy in my youth."

At this, the white-haired Master Hu let out an emotional sigh. "Back then, I was young and naive, thinking I could rely on my Alchemy skills to earn a large amount of Spirit Stones and advance bravely on the Immortal Dao."

"But I later came to understand that some things can’t be bought, no matter how many Spirit Stones you have." Master Hu’s voice was full of regret. "Even after I became a Tier Two Upper Grade Alchemist and refined more than one cauldron of Essence Origin Pills that could help Cultivators break through the Late-stage bottleneck..."

"I’ve refined so many, yet I couldn’t get a single one for myself. ’The one clad in fine silks is not the one who raises silkworms.’" Master Hu shook his head helplessly. "All the resources in this Cultivation Realm are controlled by those Core Formation powers. For Loose Cultivators like us, every single step forward is fraught with immense difficulty!"

Li Ping nodded, quite in agreement with Master Hu’s view.

If he hadn’t seen a hopeless future in the Jiang Kingdom, why would he have traveled such great distances to struggle in the Immortal City?

If resources for breaking through bottlenecks weren’t so precious, he wouldn’t be practicing a Cultivation Technique like the Wetland Water Nourishing Skill.

As Tier Two artisans, it was a simple matter for him and Master Hu to earn Spirit Stones.

But Treasures that could help Foundation Establishment Cultivators break through their bottlenecks? The great powers didn’t even have enough for their own people, so how could they possibly put them up for sale?

Would a Core Formation Cultivator lack Spirit Stones?

In the end, when it came to distributing such high-end resources, having a lot of Spirit Stones was useless. Only strength mattered.

Moreover, if a Cultivator’s strength didn’t match their wealth, they could become a target for rogue cultivators, inviting disaster out of nowhere.

However, Li Ping was also secretly suspicious of what Master Hu was saying. It was perfectly normal for him, a Talisman Maker, to be unable to obtain such a bottleneck-breaking Treasure.

But as a Tier Two Upper Grade Alchemist, Master Hu was a talent that all the major Core Formation powers would try their utmost to recruit. As long as he was willing to accept their offers and join one of their factions...

A Treasure to help break through to Core Formation might not fall into his hands.

But obtaining the resources to break through to the Late-stage of Foundation Establishment shouldn’t have been difficult.

...

"Fellow Daoist Li, with our aptitudes, if we don’t take a gamble in this life, I’m afraid we won’t even have a chance to attempt Core Formation," Master Hu said to Li Ping with a sigh.

’That applies to you,’ Li Ping thought. ’My path to Core Formation is already guaranteed.’

On the surface, however, he showed nothing, instead nodding in thoughtful agreement. "You’re right, Fellow Daoist Hu."

Seeing Li Ping nod, Master Hu immediately struck while the iron was hot. "Fellow Daoist Li, do you know what my greatest regret is?"

Without waiting for Li Ping to answer, Master Hu continued, "It’s that when I was young, I was too cautious, too afraid to take risks, and missed several opportunities!"

At this point, it seemed he felt the mood had been sufficiently set.

Master Hu leaned slightly closer to Li Ping and sent a voice transmission: "Over ten years ago, I discovered a Vermilion Fruit Tree in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, tens of thousands of miles from the Immortal City. The fruit wasn’t ripe at the time, so I simply noted the location. By my estimates, it should be close to ripening now."

He smiled. "The Vermilion Fruit is the key main ingredient for refining Essence Origin Pills. If we can obtain it and refine it into a Pill, with its help, Fellow Daoist Li, breaking through to Mid-stage Foundation Establishment in the future will be a piece of cake!"

After speaking, Master Hu watched Li Ping with a confident smile.

Li Ping, however, was slightly stunned by what he heard.

He knew of the Essence Origin Pill. It was another type of Tier Two Upper Grade Pill that helped Foundation Establishment Cultivators break through the Mid-stage and Late-stage bottlenecks.

Due to its special effects, it was highly sought after by Foundation Establishment Cultivators. It could be said to hold an immense temptation for them.

But Li Ping... he didn’t need it.

It wasn’t just that he didn’t need it; Li Ping was now also growing suspicious of Master Hu’s actions.

He hadn’t known Master Hu for long, and their relationship wasn’t particularly close, yet Master Hu was dangling an Essence Origin Pill to tempt him.

What Foundation Establishment Cultivator could withstand such a test?

’It’s not like I have some kind of succubus constitution, so why would Master Hu do this?’

’Is there some kind of conspiracy at play?’

...

At this thought, Li Ping instantly became vigilant. He asked impassively, "For such an opportunity, why did you think of me, Fellow Daoist Hu?"

"To be honest, there’s a Tier Two Late Stage Snake Demon near the Vermilion Fruit Tree. To pick the fruit, we must first deal with the demon. With my abilities, I can’t handle the Snake Demon alone, so I must find a partner."

Master Hu adopted a frank demeanor. "I am an Alchemist, and my Magical Combat abilities are not strong. If I were to seek help from another powerful Cultivator, I might have to give up the majority of the profits. Fellow Daoist Li, your strength is only at Early-stage Foundation Establishment. The two of us together should be enough to deal with the Snake Demon. Besides, I am confident I can overpower you and secure the bulk of the rewards from this venture."

"Therefore, I believe that you, Fellow Daoist Li, are my ideal partner for this. Of course, you can rest assured, Fellow Daoist Li. I will not go back on my word regarding your share of the profits."

...

Master Hu’s words were logical, and he sounded sincere.

Moreover, he was incredibly forthright, stating clearly that the majority of the profits would belong to him, and Li Ping might only get a single Essence Origin Pill.

Li Ping couldn’t find any obvious flaws in his words. On the surface, it just looked like an ordinary adventure.

’Is what this Master Hu saying true or false?’ Li Ping wondered.

Seeing him fall into thought, Master Hu calmly sipped his tea and said no more.

...

Li Ping pondered for a moment, then finally let out a wry laugh.

’What does it matter to me whether Master Hu’s story is true or false?’

To other Foundation Establishment Cultivators, an Essence Origin Pill might be an irresistible temptation, but to him, who practiced the Nourishing Life Skill, it was completely useless.

Even if Master Hu was telling the truth, the most he could do with an Essence Origin Pill was sell it for some Spirit Stones.

As a Tier Two Middle Grade Talisman Master and a Tier One Upper Grade Alchemist with a one hundred percent success rate in both Talisman making and Alchemy, he had no shortage of Spirit Stones.

’Is it worth traveling tens of thousands of miles for an adventure?’

He wasn’t going to leave the city.

As for pretending to agree to the adventure, then ambushing and killing Master Hu along the way to seize his Tier Two Upper Grade Alchemist legacy?

Master Hu was a veteran Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator and a Tier Two Upper Grade Alchemist with immense wealth.

Even if Li Ping had the desire, he lacked the power to deal with him.

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