Chapter Ninety-Eight: Montaigne Village

Ren Jing handed over the Intermediate Space Stone, the Shapeshifting Stone, and the formula for the Qi Condensation Pill to Yang Xiao, who, in turn, paid her a generous amount of spirit stones.

“You’ve certainly made a grand gesture this time, Young Master Yang. We warmly welcome you to visit the Treasure Pavilion often in the future. When that happens, I’ll be sure to offer you some discounts,” Ren Jing said with a smile.

“That goes without saying. If I need anything, I will definitely trouble you at the Treasure Pavilion again. However, I have one more request. I wonder if you, Shopkeeper Ren, could fulfill it?” Yang Xiao asked.

“What request? Young Master Yang, please feel free to speak. I’ll see if it’s something I can do. If it is, I’ll do my utmost,” Ren Jing replied, her curiosity piqued.

“I wish to meet the person who sold the formula. Would it be possible for you to arrange that?” Yang Xiao said.

“That’s a bit difficult to decide on my own. Our Treasure Pavilion keeps all client information strictly confidential. If you want to meet the owner of the formula, I’ll have to contact them first. Once I get their consent, then you may meet,” Ren Jing explained.

“Very well, then I’ll leave it to you, Shopkeeper Ren. I also have over a thousand spirit stones here—please accept them as a token of my gratitude for your help in conveying my message,” Yang Xiao said, producing the pile of spirit stones and placing them before Ren Jing.

Seeing Yang Xiao’s generosity, Ren Jing accepted the stones without hesitation but said modestly, “I’m hardly deserving of such thanks; I’m just doing what I can. But since Young Master Yang is so generous, I will certainly do my best to help. Please wait here a moment for my news. With my persuasive skills, I believe the other party will agree to meet. Even if not, the Treasure Pavilion will treat Young Master Yang as a distinguished guest from now on, so your spirit stones will not have been spent in vain. Here is a high-level communication talisman. As long as the distance does not exceed a hundred thousand li, we can communicate both ways. Please keep it safe. From now on, it will make our interactions much easier and mark your formal status as a VIP of the Treasure Pavilion.”

Yang Xiao accepted the communication talisman graciously and expressed his thanks once again.

Ren Jing then temporarily left to confer with the one who had sold the formula. It was clear this person was also a VIP of the Treasure Pavilion and already possessed a communication talisman from Ren Jing, making their exchange much more convenient.

“Is this Mr. Cang? This is Ren Jing. I have something to discuss with you,” Ren Jing sent the message through the talisman, which flashed in her hand.

“Ah, Shopkeeper Ren, this is Cang Yuan speaking. Please, tell me your business,” came the deep, smooth voice of a middle-aged man in response.

“It’s like this. You sold a formula at our Treasure Pavilion auction, didn’t you? The cultivator who acquired it wishes to meet you. Would you be willing to see him?” Ren Jing asked with a gentle smile.

“You mean the young cultivator? I saw him at the auction. He was quite generous. If he wishes to meet, tell him to come to Montian Village outside the city to find me,” Cang Yuan replied promptly.

“That’s wonderful! I was worried you might refuse to meet this young brother. In that case, I’ll inform him to come to you,” Ren Jing said happily, pleased to have fulfilled Yang Xiao’s request. The spirit stones Yang Xiao had paid were not wasted. Ren Jing had been uncertain whether Cang Yuan would agree, but now that he had, she was relieved. If he hadn’t, she had no means to force him. After all, the Treasure Pavilion treats its VIPs with utmost respect and would never risk offending them. As a shrewd merchant, Ren Jing was well aware of these delicate matters.

Returning to the reception hall where Yang Xiao waited, Ren Jing conveyed Cang Yuan’s willingness to meet and informed him of the meeting place. Naturally, Yang Xiao expressed his gratitude once more.

With that, Yang Xiao took his leave and made his way to Montian Village to meet Cang Yuan.

Montian Village was a small settlement just outside Huayun City. Yang Xiao arrived swiftly and found Cang Yuan, who was currently residing there.

“You must be Brother Yang Xiao. Shopkeeper Ren has told me some of your story. My name is Cang Yuan. What brings you to me?” Cang Yuan greeted Yang Xiao with a respectful salute.

“I suppose you’ve guessed part of my purpose. Since I’ve come to see you, it’s naturally about the formula,” Yang Xiao said.

“Oh? Do you have doubts about the formula? Or do you think it might be fake?” Cang Yuan asked, puzzled.

Yang Xiao shook his head. “I have no doubts about the formula itself, but the spiritual herbs listed are quite difficult to find in full. That’s why your price for the formula is rather high.”

“If you think the price is too steep, why did you buy it at all? The auction was open bidding—if you felt it was too expensive, you shouldn’t have bid so high. Now that you’ve purchased it, are you regretting it? Even so, you should discuss such matters with Shopkeeper Ren, not come to me. After all, I haven’t even received the spirit stones you paid. Since the auction ended, I’ve returned to my residence here and haven’t gone to the Treasure Pavilion to collect what’s due me,” Cang Yuan said, somewhat baffled.

“If it’s about the price, I’m afraid I can’t help. Brother Yang, you should just go back,” Cang Yuan said, preparing to turn away and ignore Yang Xiao’s persistence.

“Wait, Brother Cang, don’t be so quick to leave. I believe you’re a clever man and understand my real purpose. Very well, I’ll be straightforward. Since you have the formula for the Qi Condensation Pill, you surely know where the various spiritual herbs listed can be found, right? If you’re willing to share those locations with me, I won’t trouble you any further—and I will be deeply grateful,” Yang Xiao said with a smile.

“So that’s why you came. Indeed, I’ve started searching for several of the herbs recorded in the formula and have made some progress, roughly knowing their whereabouts. But finding them won’t be easy and could even be dangerous. Tell me, Brother Yang, are you willing to take such risks?” Cang Yuan asked, gazing intently at Yang Xiao.