The Hundred Treasures Pavilion does not belong to any of the Four Great Clans of Red Leaf Square.
Yet its scale is not at all inferior to any of the Pill Treasure Pavilion or Miaofu Pavilion.
It is rumored that a True Pill Cultivator is stationed behind the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
True Pill is the great realm after Foundation Establishment, with a lifespan reaching 500 years.
Before long, Zhou Xun arrived at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
The pavilion occupies an area of more than sixty zhang, with seven floors, more of a high tower than a pavilion.
A high tower storing countless treasures.
On either side of the main entrance on the first floor, there are two guards clad in Spirit Armor, wielding a Long Halberd.
A slight sense revealed them to be Middle-Stage Qi Refining experts.
Only a power like the Hundred Treasures Pavilion could afford to employ Middle-Stage Qi Refining Cultivators as guards.
Zhou Xun entered calmly and unhurriedly.
Inside, there was a hall, over ten zhang wide.
Shelves filled with treasures lined the walls, all separated by Restrictions.
Magical Artifacts, Talismans, Elixirs, Arrays, Flying Ships, Cultivation Techniques.....
Everything was available.
Truly worthy of the name Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
Many cultivators were selecting treasures nearby, each accompanied by a servant explaining things.
"Honored guest, what do you wish to purchase?" A servant in blue clothing came forward, greeting with cupped fists.
"I'm here to look at the Pill Recipes!" Zhou Xun replied succinctly.
"Pill Recipes?"
At these words, the servant's expression became much more respectful, but he didn't ask anything further.
"Please rest in the inner room; our shopkeeper will personally attend to you shortly," the servant said, leading Zhou Xun into an inner room.
"This is our store's new 'Bright Fragrance Tea,' esteemed guest may sample it first, our shopkeeper will arrive shortly!"
The servant brewed a cup of Spirit Tea for Zhou Xun and then respectfully withdrew.
Zhou Xun sat in the chair, picked up the Spirit Tea, and took a sip.
As the tea entered his mouth, a faint Spiritual Qi surged between his lips and teeth, leaving a lingering fragrance.
Zhou Xun slightly activated the Nourishing Essence Technique, refining it immediately; just one sip was equivalent to several hours of arduous cultivation.
"Good tea!" Zhou Xun secretly praised, planning to purchase some to take back.
"Thank you for waiting, fellow Daoist!" At this moment, a middle-aged man dressed like a squire, with a cheerful face and Middle-Stage Qi Refining Cultivation, entered from outside the door.
"I just sat down not long ago!" Zhou Xun responded politely.
"I heard that fellow Daoist wants to purchase a Pill Recipe, may I ask which Elixir are you seeking?" The middle-aged man sat to Zhou Xun's right.
"How much is the Energy-Introducing Pill?" Zhou Xun asked directly without hesitation.
"Energy-Introducing Pill, so fellow Daoist is an Entry Tier Alchemist, I have long admired!" The middle-aged man gave a slight compliment and continued:
"We have several kinds of Energy-Introducing Pill Recipes, the most basic version, only with the formula, costs just ten Spirit Essence."
"A more detailed version, including the entire refining process of the Energy-Introducing Pill, is priced at fifty Spirit Essence!"
"As for the complete version, it not only includes all the refining processes but also describes in detail possible problems and solutions encountered during refining,"
"I believe if fellow Daoist buys it, you will soon master the refining of the Energy-Introducing Pill, this is not expensive either, priced at three Spirit Stones!"
Zhou Xun nodded upon hearing this.
The price was fair, as the Energy-Introducing Pill is a common Elixir, and its Pill Recipe would be in the collection of almost every Alchemist.
If it were an exclusive Elixir, even thousands of Spirit Stones wouldn't make people sell it.
Every exclusive Elixir could create a Cultivation Clan that flourishes for hundreds of years.
"I'll buy the complete version!" Zhou Xun thought for a moment before deciding.
"Our Hundred Treasures Pavilion recently acquired some Pill Furnaces, is fellow Daoist interested in evaluating them?" The middle-aged shopkeeper, in a good mood after the transaction, continued to promote.
"Pill Furnaces, I do have some interest!"
Zhou Xun was intrigued, showing interest.
"Please wait a moment!"
The middle-aged man smiled slightly, got up, and left the inner room.
After half a cup of tea, the middle-aged man returned.
He was followed by two servants, each carrying a tray.
One tray held a thick booklet, presumably the Energy-Introducing Pill Recipe.
The other tray held a small Pill Furnace, about a foot in size.
"Please evaluate, fellow Daoist!" The middle-aged shopkeeper placed the Pill Furnace on the table beside Zhou Xun.
Zhou Xun waved his hand, and the Pill Furnace was lightly lifted; he tapped it gently with his finger.
"Buzz—"
A clear, low humming sound resonated.
Then Zhou Xun slowly injected Mana.
The Pill Furnace instantly emitted a layer of serene radiance.
"Not bad, an excellent Pill Furnace!"
Zhou Xun was fond of it; it was much better than the one in his Alchemy Room.
Seeing Zhou Xun's interest, the middle-aged shopkeeper introduced with a smile:
"This Pill Furnace is called 'Qingming,' crafted from Tier One High-Grade Cyan Nether Copper and Spirit Bone of a Tier Two Fire-Breathing Beast, offered at eighty Spirit Stones!"
"Eighty..."
Upon hearing the number eighty Spirit Stones, Zhou Xun instantly lost the thought of purchase.
That's eighty Spirit Stones, over eight thousand Spirit Essence.
With Zhou Xun's current income, he would have to save for seven or eight years without spending a penny to afford it.
Zhou Xun gently placed the Pill Furnace back.
"It's too expensive for me to afford right now!" Zhou Xun shook his head.
Hearing this, the middle-aged shopkeeper wasn't fazed; instead, he comforted:
"As an Alchemist like yourself, you'll surely earn this Spirit Stone amount soon!"
"By the way, if fellow Daoist concocts any Elixirs, we at the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion also purchase them!"
The middle-aged shopkeeper's sincere tone left a good impression on Zhou Xun.
Selling to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion could indeed be a viable option.
Having witnessed many cases of channel-driven pressure on manufacturers in his previous life,
a wider outlet would allow him to act more freely.
"At that time, I'll trouble the shopkeeper!"
Saying this, Zhou Xun took out three hundred Spirit Essence and handed it to the shopkeeper.
He took the Energy-Introducing Pill Recipe and left the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.
Outside, Zhou Xun went to other shops to purchase the other materials needed to refine the Energy-Introducing Pill.
The main medicine, Spirit-Attracting Grass, was gifted to him by Shan Xionghai's second uncle, so there was no need to buy it again.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to gather enough materials for a single batch of Energy-Introducing Pill.
After making several rounds and ensuring no one was following him, Zhou Xun found a corner to change his outfit and returned home.
...
Upon returning, Zhou Xun took out the Spirit-Attracting Grass and, following the Energy-Introducing Pill Recipe, familiarized himself with its pharmacology.
"If I weren't already of Middle-Grade Spirit Root, I would have refined you completely!"
Gazing at the Spirit-Attracting Grass, Zhou Xun shook his head.
According to the Spring Condensation Scripture, the higher the aptitude, the higher the Spirit Plant level needed to enhance it.
"However, the essence condensed by the Spring Condensation Scripture can only perfect the foundation and enhance aptitude?" Zhou Xun had a sudden inspiration.
Zhou Xun is a man of swift action; he immediately sought out a neighbor who was a Spirit Farmer, using the guise of studying Spirit Plant pharmacology, to obtain a few Spirit Grain Seedlings.
Preparing to begin experimentation.