"Of course, they sell them at the Myriad Treasure Pavilion. Wu Dafei has all sorts of treasures," Zi Lin said with a giggle. "It's just a bit expensive."
"How much?"
"A Xuan-grade puppet is over three hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones, I think," Zi Lin said after some thought.
"How much?" Zhang Ergou raised his voice. "Three hundred thousand? What's the difference between that and robbery? Besides, where would I get that much money?"
Zhang Ergou shook his head, his interest in puppets waning.
Zi Lin gave him a helpless look and remained silent.
The chubby Xiong Bao, however, became anxious. "Ai ya, Zhang Ergou, are you stupid? As an alchemist, you say you have no money? You're a disgrace to alchemists."
"Go ask your Master Qiao. Making money is like playing for you alchemists. Tomorrow is the outer sect grand competition, isn't it? Why not seize this opportunity to make a fortune?" the chubby Xiong Bao urged.
Zhang Ergou heard this and thought it made sense. Tomorrow was indeed the outer sect grand competition.
Medicines to restore spiritual energy would definitely be in high demand. Selling even a few thousand spirit stones per pill, he had several hundred pills of Hui Qi Dan and Ning Qi Dan, if not a thousand.
He didn't need that many himself. Selling some to earn money, wouldn't that be great?
Zhang Ergou couldn't help but hug the chubby Xiong Bao and kiss him.
But seeing the guy's chubby, greasy physique, he suppressed the impulse.
He decided to act immediately, grabbing the chubby Xiong Bao and Zi Lin and leaving the spirit fruit orchard for the registration hall.
All the disciples were registering there today. Not many people would have left by now. He should seize the chance to make money while the crowd was still large.
The three of them ran all the way, arriving at the entrance of the registration hall in less than fifteen minutes. However, they didn't enter.
The chubby Xiong Bao, from who knows where, had acquired a sign with large characters written on it: "Selling Spirit Recovery Pills."
Looking at the disciples coming and going, the three breathed a sigh of relief. They hadn't arrived too late.
"Come, come, don't miss out! High-quality Ning Qi Dan and Hui Qi Dan for sale in large quantities, prices are fair and honest," the chubby Xiong Bao shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Medicines refined by Elder Qiao's direct disciple. They take effect on the spot. Limited quantity, first come, first served!"
Sure enough, the passing disciples were quickly attracted, and a large group of them gathered around.
"Isn't that Zhang Ergou? Why is he selling medicine?"
"Haven't you heard? Elder Qiao, the Pavilion Master of the Myriad Treasure Pavilion, took him as a disciple not long ago. I didn't expect this kid to be able to refine medicine so quickly."
"How are others supposed to live? This guy's cultivation is already extraordinary, and now he can refine medicine too."
Discussions echoed from the surroundings, but no one came forward to inquire about the price of Zhang Ergou's pills.
This left Zhang Ergou and the others confused.
"Hmph, anyone can dare to sell medicine now? Aren't you afraid of talking too big? You claim it takes effect immediately? If you're so capable, why don't you fly to the heavens?"
Suddenly, a sharp voice rang out. Looking closely, it was a group of disciples from Xia Yang Peak and Qiu Yang Peak.
The one speaking was none other than Zhang Ergou's old acquaintance, Wei Chen.
"Wei Chen, you little punk, why are you everywhere? Just because you say it's ineffective, does that mean it is?" the chubby Xiong Bao yelled angrily at Wei Chen.
"Look, everyone, look. They're getting anxious, which means their medicine is ineffective!" Wei Chen said smugly to the surrounding disciples, putting on a triumphant air.
"Yes, I think Senior Brother Wei is right. If the medicine were effective, why would they care about others slandering it?"
"Right, right, Senior Brother Wei is indeed right. I was just about to buy a couple to keep as backup for tomorrow, but thanks to Senior Brother Wei's reminder, I almost got scammed."
"Let's go, let's go. We'll buy from Elder Wu's Myriad Treasure Pavilion. The medicine there is a bit expensive, but at least the quality is guaranteed."
As a chorus of agreement with Wei Chen's words rose, the crowd began to disperse.
The onlookers also started to retreat.
In a short while, most of the crowd had dispersed.
Wei Chen and his group looked triumphantly at Zhang Ergou and the other two, their heads held high, laughing at them.
Zhang Ergou and the other two were dumbfounded. Their plan to make money had been ruined before it even began.
This was unbearable.
"Wei Chen, you scumbag, how dare you slander my medicine as ineffective!" Zhang Ergou cursed Wei Chen angrily. He had no good feelings for this defeated opponent.
"You say the medicine I refined is ineffective, huh? Dare to make a bet with me?" Zhang Ergou glared at Wei Chen.
Seeing the two arguing, the disciples who had just scattered rushed back to watch the spectacle.
Wei Chen's face flashed with anger at Zhang Ergou's scolding, but he felt a pang of fear when he heard Zhang Ergou wanted to bet.
He instinctively looked at Lu Yan and Yu Heng beside him.
"You're a wimp if you need to look at others' faces to make a bet. Wei Chen, I advise you to stop cultivating and go home to farm. Otherwise, you might get sold one day without even knowing it."
Seeing Wei Chen's demeanor, Zhang Ergou knew that Lu Yan and the others must have instigated Wei Chen to stir up trouble.
"A bet is a bet, who's afraid of whom? Zhang Ergou, I refuse to believe that a disciple who entered the sect less than half a year ago can refine effective medicine," Wei Chen said firmly, after receiving a confident look from Lu Yan.
"Could it be that you just mixed the medicinal ingredients together into a pill? Then it's not impossible for people to die," Wei Chen added with a sly grin.
"Senior Brother Wei Chen speaks wisely. Even if Zhang Ergou is a prodigy, it's impossible for him to have learned alchemy and achieved such rapid cultivation breakthroughs in just half a year."
In the common understanding, cultivation and alchemy were two separate paths.
If one focused on one, the other would inevitably be neglected.
A prodigy like Zhang Ergou exceeded everyone's understanding. Therefore, including Wei Chen and the others, the disciples did not believe that Zhang Ergou could both refine medicine and have such a significant cultivation breakthrough.
Zhang Ergou's cultivation was undeniably at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, which was apparent to everyone. Therefore, Wei Chen was convinced that Zhang Ergou was lying about his alchemy skills.
"Go ahead, how do we bet?" Wei Chen said calmly, confident of victory.
Zhang Ergou was just asking for trouble.
"Alright, if we're betting, it naturally has to be with my medicine," Zhang Ergou said, taking out a white jade bottle.
"This bottle contains the medicine I refined. Since you all don't believe me, Zhang Ergou, why don't we have someone take this medicine on the spot?" Zhang Ergou said, looking directly at Wei Chen.
"I think Zhang Ergou has a point. Whether it's effective or not will be known immediately."
"This time, I'm on Zhang Ergou's side."
"It's acceptable, but we must choose a neutral person to take the medicine," Wei Chen agreed to Zhang Ergou's proposal, having no objections.
"Junior Brother Ergou, how about I take it to try?" At this moment, Xiao Qingyu walked out from the crowd.
"No way, who knows if you're in cahoots?" Lu Yan immediately retorted.
"Lu Yan, go to hell!" Xiao Qingyu cursed directly at Lu Yan. How dare this guy suspect him and Zhang Ergou of colluding?
Wasn't this damaging his reputation?
Lu Yan ignored him.
"How about I be the witness?" a faint voice suddenly sounded.