Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 176: Chapter 116: Three Choices! Blacksmith Riot!_2

Gu Sheng quickly nodded, feeling a surge of surprise in his heart. Though Ge Qing appeared to be quite old, with gray in his hair and beard, his face was astonishingly free of any wrinkles and well-maintained.

He stepped forward to take the small hoe from Ge Qing’s hand and said with a smile,

”Allow me to help you.”

Ge Qing smiled and nodded, and without any superfluous words, the two unexpectedly worked together in perfect harmony.

Before long,

Ge Qing stopped his movements and apologized,

”I’ve troubled you. Allow this old man to change into a fresh set of clothes.”

Gu Sheng waved his hand respectfully and replied,

”It is I who have interrupted the Pill Master’s elegant pastime.”

He vaguely felt that the Ge Qing before him was like an ancient mountain, unfathomable and inscrutable. Instinctively, he began to operate his Shapeshifting and Snake Breath Skills even more subtly.

Gu Sheng was invited into a quiet room, where calming incense rose softly in thin coils.

Ge Qing opened the door and entered. Now donning a long cyan robe, there was a kindness visible in his features. Even without intentionally displaying it, an extraordinary aura naturally emanated from him.

”Sorry to keep you waiting.”

After taking a seat, he seemed to size up Gu Sheng for a moment, with a trace of surprise flickering faintly in his eyes.

Gu Sheng said with a smile,

”I rudely came uninvited and disturbed the Pill Master’s elegant mood. It is Li Hu’s fault.”

Ge Qing shook his head and chuckled.

”This is merely a business arrangement. There’s no such thing as being disturbed or not. I heard from Ding An that you wish to purchase a Bone Protecting Pill?”

Gu Sheng’s expression immediately turned serious.

”Exactly. I humbly ask Master Ge to grant me this opportunity.”

Ge Qing took a sip of tea and said after some thought,

”I assume Ding An has already told you, buying a Bone Protecting Pill from me isn’t just about money.”

”Do tell me the conditions, Master Pill Master.”

Gu Sheng had already prepared himself mentally.

”Then I’ll be direct. If you want to purchase the Bone Protecting Pill, it’s not difficult. You have three options.”

”First, I will provide you continuous support until you cultivate to the Bone Refining Realm, with an unlimited supply of Bone Protecting Pills. However, you must serve as my guard for a decade. During this period, I shall ensure your salary is adequate.”

Seeing that Gu Sheng remained unmoved, Ge Qing smiled faintly and continued,

”The second option: The ingredients required to craft the Bone Protecting Pill are not easy to come by. If you can deliver a beast bone that meets my requirements, I can exchange it for a Bone Protecting Pill of equivalent value.”

”May I ask, Master Ge, what kind of beast bone meets your requirements?” Gu Sheng’s heart sank.

Ge Qing replied,

”Demon-blooded creatures have varying levels of strength. A beast with over half of its blood being demon blood would produce a suitable beast bone. However, these demon-blooded creatures tend to be remarkably powerful. Most possess strength above the Bone Refining Realm, while a rare few might be Perfect in the Blood Refining Realm.”

Gu Sheng shook his head helplessly.

Not to mention whether he could even find such a beast, even if he did, he might not be able to kill it. The task was exceedingly difficult.

Perhaps only the vampire Demon Fox that Liu Yuanhu hunted last year had bones that met the requirements. Even the demon wolf that the Gu’s Manor had hunted before wasn’t sufficient.

”What is the third option?”

Gu Sheng had already braced himself for leaving empty-handed.

But then, Ge Qing smiled and said,

”In truth, the vast majority of people choose the third option.”

”For this option, each Bone Protecting Pill costs three thousand taels. You may buy one pill every three months, with the condition that if my people encounter danger, you must come to my aid.”

Gu Sheng instantly understood Ge Qing’s intent. This was how Ge Qing gathered the martial elite of Canghe County to stand under his banner!

As long as someone wanted to buy a Bone Protecting Pill, they wouldn’t fail to keep their promise.

Ge Qing didn’t even need to deliberately spread the word. People would be eager to curry favor with him on their own accord.

”No wonder Ge Qing holds such a transcendent position in Canghe County. He positions himself as neutral while obtaining pledges from so many experts. If it were me, I wouldn’t offend him casually either. Perhaps... this only scratches the surface.”

Gu Sheng’s eyes flickered.

”Ge Qing himself is deeply unfathomable as well...”

To remain a stalwart presence in Canghe County for so long without being preyed upon, he must have solid foundations.

Although having access to just one pill every three months seemed limiting, and three thousand taels per pill was quite expensive, it was currently the only option available. Gu Sheng had no choice but to accept.

He cupped his fists toward Ge Qing and said,

”Master Ge, I choose the third option. If ever you need my assistance, I will undoubtedly arrive at once!”

In reality, it was merely a promise that would rarely need to be fulfilled. Thus, Gu Sheng didn’t hesitate. Besides, it wasn’t the kind of assistance that required him to give his life or go to extreme lengths to help.

Ge Qing stroked his beard and nodded with a satisfied smile.

”Very well. If that’s the case, please wait a moment.”

He turned and left, returning shortly with a black wooden box in his hands. Gu Sheng, in turn, retrieved a set of silver notes he had prepared in advance.

He carried four thousand taels on him, nearly all his liquid assets.

The ambush on Han Lu and his group had netted him over three thousand taels. Over time, he had also sold off some spoils of war, such as weapons and manuals, garnering additional silver coins.

The transaction was completed.

Gu Sheng tucked the small box into his robes, feeling a faint excitement in his heart.

One Bone Protecting Pill would protect his bones for a month, allowing him to focus fully on refining them. When the month was up, Gu Sheng could simply assume a new identity to purchase another pill. However, in the meantime, he needed to carefully consider ways to earn money quickly.

The cost of three thousand taels per pill was substantial.

Seeing Gu Sheng’s expression, Ge Qing seemed entirely unsurprised. He simply offered a subtle reminder,

”If you require additional Bone Protecting Pills, you’ll need to return in three months.”

Gu Sheng’s heart immediately tightened, sensing that there was a hidden meaning behind Ge Qing’s words.

Although he had altered his appearance, Ge Qing’s origins were extraordinary. It was possible that he had a special method for identifying others. The number of Martial Artists in Canghe County who had reached the Blood Refining Realm at the Perfect level was limited. If too many new faces kept appearing frequently, it would indeed arouse suspicion. Gu Sheng quickly suppressed the notion of repeatedly changing identities to purchase pills and decided to revisit the idea later.