Chapter 286: Chapter 284: Perfect Grade Can’t Guarantee Quality_l

Translator: 549690339

The Hundred Herbs Hall.

The spacious hall was filled with a rich aroma of herbs.

More than a dozen attendants were intently processing various spirit plants. Among them, a slender elder stood out.

“Manager He, these Spirit Firefly Grasses were just purchased today. Can you help process them? A Pill Master needs them this afternoon.11

A middle-aged man brought a large bundle of Spirit Firefly Grass to the slender elder and thumped it down.

“Alright.”

The slender elder looked at the large quantity of Spirit Firefly Grass, grit his teeth, and agreed.

After bending over for nearly two hours to process the herbs, Manager He struggled to stand upright, his back aching.

Given his Qj Cultivation Fourth Layer physique, this should not usually happen.

However, his advanced age meant his body was no longer as hardy as during his youth. Coupled with several chronic illnesses and the strain of bending over to process spiritual medicine for so long, his pain was unbearable.

As the manager of the Hundred Herbs Hall, he technically shouldn’t be dealing with these trivial tasks. However, he was just a distant relative of the He Family. A few years ago, his backer lost power, which greatly affected his status in the hall.

Previously, he only had to collect spirit plants and check accounts, but now he also had to help process the herbs. His workload had increased considerably.

However, the slender elder was already quite satisfied with his current situation. Many old Loose Cultivators in the market whom he knew led destitute lives. He had a stable position where he was safe from harm and could earn some Spirit Stones for his family, which was quite good in comparison.

As he was thinking this, a teenager walking into the hall caught his attention. The boy, only at the Qi Cultivation First Level, looked timid. He held tightly to about a dozen stalks of Spirit Firefly Grass. The old man could see at a glance that the quality of the spirit grass was extremely standard thanks to his decades of experience.

The boy came to the counter, laid out his spirit plants, and asked the middle- aged cultivator if he could purchase the Spirit Firefly Grass.

“Go away, we don’t buy spirit plants from the likes of you.”

The middle-aged man impatiently rebuked and waved his hand, indicating the boy should leave.

“My friend, please, I can sell them a bit cheaper.”

A hint of pleading came from the boy’s tone.

“A bit cheaper? How about two Spirit Stones per stalk?”

A hint of mockery flashed in the middle-aged cultivator’s eyes.

“Two Spirit Stones?” The boy swayed a little. This was almost half lower than the regular purchase price and was far below his expectations.

He bit his lip tightly, caught in a dilemma. He wanted to sell the Spirit Grass to earn some Spirit Stones, but he couldn’t accept the price the middle-aged cultivator offered.

“Manager He Yong, the child looks quite pitiful. Why don’t you lower the price a bit and buy his Spirit Plants? Consider it as establishing a good karmic connection.”

The slender elder recognized a familiar figure in the boy. About ten years ago, a youth of a similar age and circumstance courageously and determinedly stood before him, persistently selling ordinary quality Spirit Firefly Grass again and again.

The two figures overlapped in a sudden illusion, creating a sense of time travel.

“Old He, we have so many spirit plant masters cooperating with the Hundred Herbs Hall. All varieties of spirit plants can be supplied in large and stable quantities. This man is just a small Loose Cultivator with unknown origins. The quality of the Spirit Firefly Grass he has can’t be guaranteed. Why do we need to buy these sporadic few Spirit Plants?”

The middle-aged man snorted coldly and disdainfully.

“Why not set the price based on quality and quantity? What’s wrong with buying them?”

When the slender elder heard what the middle-aged cultivator had to say, his anger flared.

“If you’re so generous, why don’t you buy them?”

“Alright, I’ll buy them. Boy, come here. Give me your Spirit Firefly Grass. I’ll buy it at the normal price.”

The slender elder called to the uneasy boy.

“Old He, let me tell you in advance. These Spirit Firefly Grasses haven’t received my approval. You can’t use the hall’s Spirit Stones.”

“I’ll buy them for personal use!”

The slender elder casually replied. His grandson had recently entered the hall and was trying to refine pills. Buying these Spirit Firefly Grasses would allow him to practice.

The boy handed over his Spirit Firefly Grass to the slender elder and took over thirty Spirit Stones from him.

“The quality of your Spirit Firefly Grass is mostly standard, and there are even one or two stalks that are almost inferior goods. I’m quoting this price. Do you have any objections?”

The slender elder arranged the spirit plants according to their qualities and asked the boy.

“No, not at all. I’m already grateful that you bought them.”

The boy put the Spirit Stones deep into his clothing, expressing his gratitude.

He knew the quality of the spirit plants he had cultivated. Getting these Spirit Stones was more than he could have hoped for. With them, he could continue to buy spiritual seeds and also had enough to live on and cultivate.

“Old man, you’re such a good person. I have a few stalks of Spirit Firefly Grass too. They are of perfect quality by serendipity. How about selling them to you?” At that moment, a gentle voice echoed in the hall.

An extraordinary, tall, and handsome youth walked into the Hundred Herbs Hall unhurriedly, holding a few luminous plants in his hand.

The plants were full of powerful spiritual energy, and their flickering glow seemed like countless stars scattered across the night sky.

“Perfect Quality Spirit Firefly Grass?”

The middle-aged cultivator immediately stood up, a pleasing smile appearing on his face.

“Please, friend, come this way. Our Hundred Herbs Hall has an excellent reputation in Linyang Market. As long as we confirm your Spirit Firefly Grass is of perfect quality, we will surely give you a satisfactory purchase price.”

He suppressed his excitement, respectfully brought a cup of steaming Spiritual Tea, and offered it to the handsome youth.

Perfect quality herbs, even lower-ranking ones, are extremely important to Alchemists. They can improve the success rate and quality of pill refining. Just one perfect quality plant from amongst all the spirit plant masters in the Hundred Herbs Hall would be a treasure.

If he could obtain all the Perfect Quality Spirit Firefly Grass from the youth, submit them to the hall’s Alchemist, and gain their favor, his status might have a chance to improve.

“Really?”

The handsome youth looked at the middle-aged cultivator with interest.

“However, I’m just a small Loose Cultivator of unknown origin. These sporadic few stalks of Spirit Firefly Grass of mine are of perfect quality, but their quality can’t be guaranteed.”

“Therefore, it’s better to sell it to this Elder.”

This handsome youth was Lu Xuan. He had seen what had happened in the Hundred Herbs Hall and that had inspired him to act this way.

As for the Perfect Quality Spirit Firefly Grass, even though he couldn’t get enough cultivation rewards, focusing on the second-grade Water Firefly Grass, the many spiritual seeds left before, and the Spirit Qj environment in the Inner Sect, he easily cultivated some Perfect Quality Spirit Firefly Grass.

“Lu…Lu Xuan?”

The slender elder barely managed to whisper, unable to believe his ears.

The last time they met was seven or eight years ago. Moreover, the vast changes in Lu Xuan’s cultivation level and temperament made the elder hesitate to recognize him at first.

“Yes, Old He, it’s me. I’ve come back to see you.”

Lu Xuan’s lips curled upwards into a smile as he gently said.