CHAPTER 148: CHAPTER 148: GROCERY STORE SELLING ELIXIRS! (THIRD UPDATE)

"Let’s see how many Spirit Stones a Foundation Establishment Pill can fetch." Jiang Yuan placed the small bottle in an empty spot in the Floating Market’s display window. A halo of light enveloped the bottle and the Elixir, making them shine and look alluring. The transaction number below surged rapidly, finally stopping at a price of eighty-five thousand Spirit Stones.

Having refined all the Ores from Eagle Twenty-One’s Storage Bag, coupled with the sporadically acquired Spirit Stones from before, this balance of eighty-five thousand would push the total past the one hundred thousand mark.

Jiang Yuan contemplated whether he could achieve a wealth accumulation achievement reward from the system, so he opened the wooden window to sell the Foundation Establishment Pill.

By this time, the Cyan Fish Mountain Market had already passed its bustling peak, and in a little over an hour, the Wilderness Ascension Market would be closing.

Miss Hu Jiu, holding a newly replaced gem-encrusted pipe, was energetically strolling down the not-so-long street. She hadn’t found a single clue relating to the important task her third sister had assigned, but she did hear at the pharmacy that the human lad she’d noticed at the Auction House had come to the Market!

They said he hurriedly bought Hemostatic Medicine and supplements for energy and blood, and also bizarrely purchased an incense burner before leaving in a rush.

"Could he be injured? Oh dear, I hope he didn’t mar his looks! But why buy an incense burner? Logically, after buying medicine for injuries, one should hurry back to heal, so why an incense burner?" Bored, her mind idly wondered as she took a puff and blew a thick, round smoke ring, playfully scattering it with her pipe stem.

While playing around, Miss Hu Jiu suddenly noticed the Cloud Grocery Store, which she had familiarized every brick and tile with, opening its display window!

"Wow! The sun’s risen from the west today!" Excitedly, she jumped up, took two steps towards the store, then remembered her third sister’s comments about her Transformation Technique issues. She hesitantly touched her furry cheeks, wondering if she should wear a veil before visiting the lad’s shop again?

"Tomorrow for sure, no! After today’s market closes, I’ll diligently Cultivate. I will be lazy no more!"

Eager to find a suitable Dual Cultivation partner, Miss Hu Jiu was ready to go all out, deciding to jog over to sneak a peek at the lad’s appearance.

But as she rushed to the display window, her fox eyes were captivated by the Foundation Establishment Pill, growing wider as even the smart fur on her large, furry ears stood—riches were at hand!

A single Foundation Establishment Pill worth eighty-five thousand Spirit Stones, she was hitting it big!

What price did the last Auction House sell their Foundation Establishment Pill for?

Oh right, it was bartered for a Cloak Treasure plus an additional twenty to thirty thousand Spirit Stones, it definitely wasn’t something eighty-five thousand could buy.

Of course, Auction Houses excel in business, with many professionals taking turns to create ambiance, the price was certainly inflated.

But the rarity of Elixirs couldn’t be overlooked!

How often does a Foundation Establishment Pill appear in the Cyan Fish Mountain Market?

Meeting it in such a manner proves our fated connection, my little lad!

He must be a tall, handsome, gentle yet dominating Cultivator who falls head over heels for me once my Transformation Technique perfects my beauty.

Hehe, together we’ll be blissful, you’ll focus on diligent Cultivation, while I look as beautiful as a flower, sharing a bed with mutual Ascension, envying only mandarin ducks, not immortals!

"My, you’re truly my celestial blessing, presenting such a pristine Foundation Establishment Pill in the display window precisely when I needed it most," Miss Hu Jiu was overwhelmed with excitement, belatedly realizing, "Oh no! Could he be an Alchemist? I’ve truly stumbled upon a Supreme Treasure!"

Tantalized for a while, she touched her Storage Bag to find only the five thousand Spirit Stones her third sister had given her. Reluctantly casting one last glance at the shiny Foundation Establishment Pill, she lifted her long skirt and dashed toward her store.

"Xiao Ba, open the cupboard and get me some money! Quickly!" Even before stepping into the store, Hu Jiu’s crisp voice had already pierced through.

Xiao Ba peeked out from behind the embroidered curtain with a charming face in twin maid pigtails, "What’s got Miss Jiu in such a hurry?"

Her lower body was a massive spider form, adorned in specially tailored embroidered garments. One hand wielding scissors, another an iron, one gripping a spray bottle, another holding a teacup, two hands maneuvering fabric on the workbench, while yet two more parted the curtain.

"Stop yammering, hurry and open the cupboard!" Hu Jiu hoisted her skirt upstairs, while Xiao Ba, inquisitive yet obedient, released the curtain and deftly pulled a specific colored rope among many, as instructed.

With a muted thud from the upstairs, a secret compartment opened, and Hu Jiu delved in to stuff her Storage Bag with money.

Once filled to her satisfaction, skirt still clutched, she hurried downstairs and outside.

"What on earth’s got you so flustered?" Xiao Ba released the rope to close the cupboard, maneuvering skillfully to the shop entrance to peer out.

Hu Jiu sprinted swiftly, only to spot a figure in a red cloak, bear-like in stature, standing at the Clouds Grocery Store’s display window, an ominous feeling washing over her. Disregarding decorum, she shouted, "Get away! That’s what I saw first!"

But to no avail, the figure swiftly retracted a paw from the window, disappeared into the bluestone path as a shadow, and within a few brisk steps vanished altogether.

"That was supposed to be mine, my little lad prepared it for me..." Miss Hu Jiu was near tears, yet held her breath, hoping that greedy lad lacked enough Spirit Stones.

But to her despair, by the time she panted to the display, it was already empty.

The one and only Foundation Establishment Pill was sold!

With the transaction completed and nothing else in the display, the previously open wooden window shut with a "bang," only allowing the store’s soft illumination to faintly seep through the white paper window.

"Wah!" Her pent-up grievances burst forth, and Hu Jiu plopped down at the store entrance, bawling.

She had seen it first; it was so close within reach!

She detested her own foolishness, always carrying ample Spirit Stones to the Auction House for a spectacle, why had she slacked today with only a paltry amount! She abhorred the one who suddenly snatched the Foundation Establishment Pill—how dastardly!

The indulgent Cyan Fish Mountain Market’s top beauty cried unrestrained by the roadside, instantly becoming Market’s sensational tidbit.

But when shopkeepers heard rumors she almost procured an eight-five-thousand Spirit Stone priced Foundation Establishment Pill from the Clouds Grocery Store, every gaze burned towards the still unopened enigmatic shop.

"Who told you? The Cloud Grocery Store actually sells Elixirs, and at such a low price?!" The Auction House Shopkeeper turned pale at the news.

Eighty-five thousand seemed fair outside, but the point was none of the Cyan Fish Mountain Market shops had Elixir supply channels. The Auction House could completely monopolize them, selling at any desired price. With such pricing now, how could their profitable business continue?

This was blatantly undermining the Auction House!

Running a shop, especially a well-loved Auction House, required not only rare resources but also the skill to hype up prices. Thus, he employed professional Auctioneers, craftily arranging plants to inflate prices at every event, inclusive of auction strategies.

Only through meticulous planning and harmonious collaboration could an item bought for one Spirit Stone fetch a hundred Spirit Stone price, ensuring ample profit.