My Master Knows It All

44: Chapter 40 Why Haven’t You Gone Bankrupt Yet?

44: Chapter 40 Why Haven’t You Gone Bankrupt Yet?

Cao Zhen, with Ling Xi in tow, left the Many Treasures Pavilion and wandered the streets in search of a medicine shop, planning to procure the alchemy herbs needed by both Yan Yourong and himself.

Lan Pili, looking utterly dispirited and confused, was led out of the Many Treasures Pavilion by his disciples, still in a daze, when he heard a voice that was not altogether unfamiliar.

“Peak Master Lan, what a coincidence?

You’ve come out too?” Cao Zhen, having circled around without finding a medicine shop, hurried over enthusiastically upon seeing Lan Pili and said, “It’s my first time in the Ascending Immortal Bazaar, and I don’t know where the medicine shops are.

Do you happen to know?”

Upon recognizing Cao Zhen, Lan Pili started to mentally grumble: What’s the meaning of this?

Was it not satisfying enough for you to buy four high-quality items to my one in the Many Treasures Pavilion and slap my face?

Do you want to continue humiliating me?

Do you think I don’t have money?

Afraid to go to a medicine shop?

You spent eight thousand liang, how much money could you possibly have left?

You want me to show you the way because you think I wouldn’t dare to go?

Is this just another round of showing off?

“Quite the coincidence indeed, I do happen to know, so just follow me,” Lan Pili said, forcibly rallying his spirits, plotting to lead Cao Zhen to the most expensive Precious Medicinal Herb House, where the medicines were anything but cheap.

He intended to reclaim the face he had lost!

Seeing Lan Pili’s enthusiasm, Cao Zhen’s previous poor impression of him lessened a bit as he said, “Alright then, I’m in your debt, Peak Master Lan.

Since both of us are heading to the Guardian Immortal Imperial Dynasty, I guess that counts as quite the connection…”

Lan Pili, upon hearing the word ‘connection,’ had already started internally cursing: Who the hell has a deep connection with you?

Who wants to be connected with you?

“So, there’s no need for us to address ourselves as ‘this seat’ anymore,” Cao Zhen said, walking shoulder to shoulder with Lan Pili.

“We can just call each other ‘senior brother’ and ‘junior brother.’ The term ‘this seat’ is better saved for when trying to impress someone.”

The corner of Lan Pili’s eye twitched uncontrollably; he felt Cao Zhen was doing this on purpose!

Deliberately saying he was showing off!

Deliberately reminding him of the face-slapping incident at the Many Treasures Pavilion!

“Heh heh…

You’re right, junior brother,” Lan Pili chuckled dryly, secretly deciding that once he had guided Cao Zhen to the Precious Medicinal Herb House, he would definitely recommend some expensive medicines for him to buy!

If Cao Zhen didn’t buy them at that time, he would mock him!

He wanted to see how Cao Zhen would show off then?

This time, he was determined to slap Cao Zhen’s face hard!

At this moment, Lan Pili stopped thinking about showing off his wealth to dismay Ling Xi; all he could think of was making Cao Zhen lose face as well.

“I wonder, what are you planning to buy this time, junior brother Cao?” Lan Pili asked, leading the way as if casually mentioning, “The medicinal ingredients at Precious Medicinal Herb House are quite pricey.

If you haven’t brought enough money, perhaps we should switch to a smaller shop.”

“I’m looking to buy some hundred-year Earth Gall…

a hundred-year-old Great Immortal…,” Cao Zhen frowned, recalling the alchemy ingredients he needed and continued, “a hundred-year-old Volcanic Egg, and…”

Lan Pili couldn’t help but laugh inwardly; weren’t all of these medicinal ingredients treasures?

Especially the Earth Gall and Volcanic Egg, which were classified as rare treasures that normal medicine shops simply wouldn’t possess!

Besides, the combined price of these items was likely to exceed ten thousand liang of spirit stones.

So casually mentioning such medicinal materials?

Obviously, he thought the Precious Medicinal Herb House wouldn’t have them, hence the bluster?

The corner of Lan Pili’s lips couldn’t help but curl into a smirk; he had to admit that the Peak Master from Four Treasures Peak knew how to flaunt.

If this act were put on elsewhere, in front of other people, it would certainly hit the mark!

But what a pity!

Today, you’ve bitten off more than you can chew!

The Precious Medicinal Herb House is no ordinary medicine shop; let alone treasures!

Even spiritual medicines!

Even thousand-year-old spiritual medicines!

As long as you have enough spirit stones, you can buy them all here!

Lan Pili, leading the way, hastened his steps…

The Precious Medicinal Herb House was situated in a secluded corner of the Ascending Immortal Market; its sign, although old, was still spotlessly clean.

“Is your shopkeeper here?” Lan Pili entered the Precious Medicinal Herb House, caught a waiter, and called out loudly, “The Peak Master of Four Treasures Peak wishes to buy hundred-year-old Great Immortal, Earth Gall, and Volcanic Egg…”

The short, plump shopkeeper, who was fiddling with an abacus behind the counter, quickly lifted his head, his eyes small as mung beans shining brightly.

Using a spell that shrank distance to mere inches, he instantly appeared before Lan Pili, displaying a grin that suggested wealth comes from congeniality.

“This Peak Master,” began the plump shopkeeper with a bow, “I am Mai Buqi, the humble proprietor of the Precious Medicinal Herb House located beneath the Mount of Oblivion.

The very items you require happen to be available in my store.”

Lan Pili quickly stepped aside and pointed to Cao Zhen, saying, “This is the actual Peak Master of Four Treasures Peak.”

As the proprietor of the Precious Medicinal Herb House, Mai Buqi had seen his share of Peak Masters, but in Cao Zhen’s Peak Master attire, he detected a hint of poverty.

Although the attire of a Peak Master was the same in form, the fabric was chosen and tailored by the Peak Masters themselves, with different materials.

Cao Zhen’s gear, still worn by his master years before, was made of nothing more than plain cotton.

“Do you really wish to purchase?” Mai Buqi’s eyes betrayed a flicker of doubt, but he dared not let it show too much, given the status of the person before him as a Peak Master.

Cao Zhen extracted a list filled with the names of medicinal herbs from his sleeve and handed it over saying, “Prepare the medicine according to this prescription and dosage.”

Mai Buqi glanced over the list and quickly calculated that if he provided the full amount of each item, the cost would not fall below 15,000 Spirit Stones.

He hurriedly instructed his staff to fetch the medicines while saying, “The total won’t come cheap…

it’s about fifteen-thousand-and-some Spirit Stones.”

Lan Pili’s entire being was tingling with excitement, barely able to contain himself, “15,000 Spirit Stones!

Let’s see if you can produce that!

How did you slap my face just now!

I am now waiting for the moment you admit you can’t afford it, to sarcastically slap you right back!”

“Then let’s settle on fifteen thousand Spirit Stones,” Cao Zhen said calmly, pulling out a Spiritual Stone Ticket from his sleeve, “if it exceeds fifteen thousand, consider the rest as a discount from your store.

Bring me the other medicines; the Volcanic Egg can be delivered directly to Four Treasures Peak.”

Mai Buqi’s professional smile turned into one of genuine happiness upon receiving the Spiritual Stone Ticket, and he nodded eagerly, his look filled with apology.

He even lightly slapped his own cheek while smiling and said, “When I first saw the Peak Master, I actually thought you lacked funds.

I was truly blind; please, do not take my mistake to heart.”

This?

He just bought it?

Lan Pili stood rooted to the spot, looking at Mai Buqi, desperately wanting to suggest checking if the Spiritual Stone Ticket in his hand was fake.

15,000 Spirit Stones, just handed over so easily?

Have I really become a mere guide?

Cao Zhen paid no mind to Mai Buqi’s previous expression, his focus having been entirely on the various medicine boxes in the shop.

He had found that the selection of medicines here far exceeded his expectations, almost enough to concoct a batch of Dragon Tiger Pills for Core Formation.

Of course, even though the selection was extensive, acquiring the full set of ingredients for the Dragon Tiger Pills would require an amount starting in the six figures of Spirit Stones, and his current funds were insufficient.

Seeing that Cao Zhen did not respond, Mai Buqi cast a stealthy glance at the affluent Peak Master while quickly recalling the batch of herbs he’d just considered, feeling that they must be intended for Alchemy.

What Pill would require such an abundant variety of medicinal herbs?

As a proprietor of a herb store, Mai Buqi considered himself somewhat knowledgeable in both medicinal theory and the Alchemy Dao.

He was also aware of the increased difficulty in Alchemy; every additional treasured herb could multiply the complexity by several or even tenfold, and the same was true for the addition of a dozen common herbs.

These three treasured herbs plus dozens of others would at the very least require an Alchemy Grandmaster to manage.

However, rising to the status of an Alchemy Grandmaster was no easy feat!

Within the entire Hundred Peaks Sect, there were only a few Alchemy Grandmasters.

Four Treasures Peak?

Wasn’t that the sect with the lowest ranking?

If this Peak Master were an Alchemy Grandmaster, how could Four Treasures Peak possibly be at the bottom of the rankings?

Mai Buqi was curious which esteemed figure within the sect Cao Zhen could be associated with.

No wonder the rumors spoke of his Ten Heavenly Platforms with a perfect Dragon Tiger Tao Base, and his ownership of Five Dragon Tiger Immortal Bridges!

It seemed likely that his backer was indeed an Alchemy Grandmaster!

From this perspective, with the upcoming re-ranking of Hundred Peaks, using his own strength, he might very well raise the rank of his disciples, even if they were of little worth.

As soon as Cao Zhen received all the medicinal herbs, he turned to Lan Pili and said, “I’ve inspected these medicines; they are all of high quality.

Since we’re already here, won’t you buy some?”

Buy, buy, buy!

Buy your sister!

Lan Pili really wanted to retort, his role as a guide was not intended to watch a display of wealth, but to witness Cao Zhen’s inability to purchase and his failure to impress!

With so many Spirit Stones spent, how have you not gone bankrupt yet?