Chapter 11: Blood Refining Core, Bug Exploit Method

Inside the Refining Furnace Shop, before the Quenching Essence Lock stone pedestal.

"Senior, are you satisfied?" the shopkeeper asked, bowing slightly deeper.

"Mm," Li Yinsheng nodded. He didn't ask for the price, but instead turned his head to look at another stone pedestal not far away.

This pedestal was the same size as the one holding the Quenching Essence Locks. The difference was that while several Quenching Essence Locks were crammed onto the former, the latter was entirely occupied by a single crimson orb of light the size of a watermelon.

"What is that? Observing it with my Divine Sense, the Restrictions within seem somewhat similar to the Quenching Essence Lock, yet far superior," Li Yinsheng asked.

"You truly have a discerning eye, Senior!" the shopkeeper praised. "This item indeed shares a deep origin with the Quenching Essence Lock; both are the handiwork of an Artifact Refining Master from our temple. The Quenching Essence Lock circulates Earth Qi throughout the body, applying an Invisible Power to temper the Physique. It is intended for those whose Cultivation is still low."

Mu Xiaoyu, munching on tea pastries, suddenly felt that something wasn't quite right upon hearing this.

The shopkeeper, not noticing Mu Xiaoyu, continued her explanation. "And this Magical Artifact before you is called the 'Blood Refining Core.' It was forged using C Fire Qi.

"Among the five viscera, the heart belongs to the fire element. This item can harmonize with the heart, using C Fire Qi to refine and strengthen Qi Blood. Furthermore, no matter what Cultivation Technique you practice, it will automatically refine your Qi Blood while you meditate and circulate your energy. It is equivalent to having it cultivate your Qi Blood for you while you cultivate your Magical Power.

"Although in terms of sheer effect, it certainly can't compare to a Body Cultivator who single-mindedly refines their Qi Blood. However, using C Fire Qi to refine Qi Blood is still highly effective. It at least makes you half a Body Cultivator."

"And the price of this item is..." Li Yinsheng asked tentatively.

"If you are interested, Senior, it will be a mere ten thousand talismanic coins," the shopkeeper said, pursing her lips into a smile.

Li Yinsheng was somewhat surprised. "Oh? The path of a Body Cultivator is extremely difficult. This Magical Artifact can grant a person the equivalent results of half a Body Cultivator, yet it only sells for ten thousand talismanic coins? That sounds a bit too good to be true."

"You are absolutely right, Senior. Even if you hadn't asked just now, I would have reminded you," the shopkeeper nodded candidly, making no attempt to hide anything.

The shopkeeper went on, "While its advantages are great, its flaws are equally significant. First, because it uses C Fire Qi to refine Qi Blood, your blood will carry fire during cultivation. This inevitably causes a searing pain throughout your entire body, much like a mortal placed in a burning room. Therefore, it will massively drain your Heart and Spirit.

"Second, just like the Quenching Essence Lock, its C Fire Qi will continuously dissipate regardless of whether it is in use. Although this Blood Refining Core is more than ten times the size of a Quenching Essence Lock, it dissipates much faster. It can be used for six or seven years at most.

"If it is enveloped in Magical Power like you did earlier, Senior, it could temporarily halt the dissipation." At this point, the shopkeeper paused and shook her head again. "But even if you persist in wrapping it with Magical Power for several hours every day, it would only extend its lifespan by another two or three years. It still drains your Heart and Spirit and affects your cultivation, making it not truly worthwhile."

Li Yinsheng suddenly understood.

This item's flaws were indeed substantial.

Costing ten thousand talismanic coins for only four or five years of use was a secondary issue. Most importantly, cultivation itself already heavily consumed one's Heart and Spirit. Coupled with the constant searing heat this item inflicted, the drain on the Heart and Spirit would be drastically worsened. This essentially meant a Cultivator's actual available cultivation time would be shortened.

It was like a person who could originally walk a hundred miles a day; if you strapped a heavy boulder to their back, they might not even manage fifty miles a day.

But for him, neither of these two flaws mattered at all.

Whether it was the agonizing burning sensation or the need to wrap it in Magical Power, it all ultimately amounted to a drain on the Heart and Spirit. But when he claimed his rewards in that Ghost Realm, his Heart and Spirit would never be depleted!

As long as he could endure the searing pain and persist in multitasking—enveloping the Blood Refining Core with Magical Power while cultivating—then this item essentially had no flaws!

"How great is the drain on the Heart and Spirit?" Li Yinsheng asked.

The shopkeeper replied, "Most people cannot adapt to it at first. When they initially use this item, their daily cultivation time is almost halved, or even reduced by more than sixty percent.

"Later on, depending on individual pain tolerance, some still see their time halved, some see a thirty to forty percent reduction, and others only lose twenty to thirty percent, though people in the last category are extremely rare."

"That doesn't sound like a very good deal," Li Yinsheng said, attempting to haggle.

"Which is why very few people buy it," the shopkeeper laughed. "It initially sold for twenty thousand talismanic coins. The price dropped again and again until it was slashed in half. Now, we are simply looking to clear out this unwanted burden."

The implication was clear: she was refusing any further haggling.

"Can't it be any cheaper?" Li Yinsheng cut straight to the chase.

It wasn't that he couldn't afford ten thousand talismanic coins, but if he actually paid that much, he would only have five or six thousand talismanic coins left.

"Since you have asked, Senior, how could I refuse?" The shopkeeper had already intended to build a connection, so she spoke plainly. "If you don't mind, I will only charge nine thousand talismanic coins for this item.

"Please understand, Senior, the price has already been lowered time and time again. It is practically at cost right now. Any cheaper, and we would be taking a loss."

The shopkeeper abruptly shifted her tone, adding, "However, if you are truly interested in this item, Senior, I can make an executive decision. It will still be nine thousand talismanic coins, but I will throw in that Quenching Essence Lock as a freebie."

"Then can I just take the freebie?" Li Yinsheng asked.

"HEHEHE... You are truly humorous, Senior," the shopkeeper giggled, covering her mouth.

Li Yinsheng sighed.

He knew that the shopkeepers of these stores from Baoguang Temple held a certain degree of pricing power. The reason she had readily offered him a discount twice in a row was simply because he had revealed his Cultivation.

Logically speaking, this treatment wasn't bad at all. And since she could so easily drop the price twice, he could probably shave off another few hundred talismanic coins if he haggled a bit more.

But he wanted an even steeper discount, and he didn't want to go through too much trouble.

"Shopkeeper," Li Yinsheng touched his Conical Hat. "Could we speak in a private room?"

"Of course, Senior," the shopkeeper smiled. "Please follow me.

"Ms. Mei, take good care of this little junior sister. Serve our best tea and finest pastries!"

Inside the private room.

Li Yinsheng sat across from the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper looked at him with a polite smile.

From their casual chats and interactions thus far, she had deduced that although the other party spoke and acted quite thoroughly, he wasn't particularly seasoned. This was likely due to a cautious personality coupled with a lack of experience in haggling.

This was perfectly normal. After all, besides professional merchants, who would practice bargaining on a daily basis?

She already had a plan in mind. When he started haggling shortly, she would concede another seven or eight hundred talismanic coins. She would put on a conflicted expression, pretending that she was "only reluctantly making an exception for such an important guest," leaving him feeling thoroughly satisfied.

Besides, this price was indeed quite a bit lower than the market rate. Since her main goal this time was to build a connection, earning a little less wasn't an issue.

"Shopkeeper..." Li Yinsheng began.

"Here it comes! Now is the time to show off my acting skills!" the shopkeeper thought to herself.

Li Yinsheng didn't continue speaking; instead, he took off his Conical Hat.

The shopkeeper stiffened entirely.

The face before her looked barely over twenty, which wasn't actually that shocking.

After all, for someone with such profound Cultivation, as long as their Cultivation Technique had some slight youth-retaining and life-extending effects, it was perfectly normal for someone in their thirties to look twenty.

She froze purely because of the appearance of that face.

The moment Li Yinsheng revealed his face, she felt as though the private room had darkened slightly.

Or rather, because all her attention was completely captivated by that face, she mistakenly perceived her surroundings as dim.

"Shopkeeper..."

The shopkeeper saw a measure of sincerity on the young face before her, along with an apologetic expression that seemed to say, "I know what I'm doing isn't quite right, but I truly have my difficulties."

"I know you've already given me the most preferential price possible, but I'm truly tight on talismanic coins recently," Li Yinsheng said earnestly. "Could we discuss this further? I hope we can reach an agreement that satisfies us both..."

A voice subconsciously slipped from the shopkeeper's mouth: "Okay..."

Nearly half an hour later.

Wearing his Conical Hat once more, Li Yinsheng led Mu Xiaoyu out of the Zulu Temple's shop. Behind them stood the shopkeeper, her expression incredibly complex.

"Senior Brother?" Mu Xiaoyu asked in a low voice. "How much did we actually spend?"

"Seven thousand five hundred talismanic coins," Li Yinsheng replied.

"You're amazing, Senior Brother! You used seven thousand five hundred talismanic coins to buy a Quenching Essence Lock that originally cost one thousand, and a Blood Refining Core that cost ten thousand! Hmm... if we calculate it like that, doesn't that mean we saved three thousand five hundred talismanic coins?"

Mu Xiaoyu's face was filled with admiration.

Li Yinsheng shook his head. "No."

"Hmm... did the seven thousand five hundred only buy the Blood Refining Core? Even then, you're amazing, Senior Brother. That's still saving two thousand five hundred talismanic coins!" Mu Xiaoyu remained deeply impressed.

Furthermore, due to a vague instinct, she felt that not buying the Quenching Essence Lock might not actually be a bad thing.

"No, the Quenching Essence Lock was included," Li Yinsheng shook his head.

"Then why did you say 'no,' Senior Brother?" Mu Xiaoyu was puzzled. "That really means you saved three thousand five hundred talismanic coins. Or is it that your math isn't very good, Senior Brother?"

Li Yinsheng took out an empty Qiankun Bag, handed it to the baffled Mu Xiaoyu, and explained:

"The seven thousand five hundred talismanic coins paid for the Quenching Essence Lock, the Blood Refining Core, and an additional Qiankun Bag."