A few days later, Bao Datong came to visit.
"Fellow Daoist Gu, I’ve already made contact with the owner of the Thousand-Year Lunar Clam Pearl."
This was the first thing he said upon meeting.
"And then?"
Gu Yuan asked calmly. Seeing Bao Datong’s expression, he knew that things might not have gone smoothly and there were probably some complications.
Bao Datong gave an awkward smile, "Fellow Daoist Gu, there was a slight mishap. But don’t worry, I didn’t meddle in this."
"Originally, the old cultivator didn’t agree to exchange because his Thousand-Year Lunar Clam Pearl is extraordinary. With a maturity of one thousand seven hundred years, it’s an excellent material for refining magical artifacts and even has the potential to be used for magical treasures. In terms of value, it surpasses your ’Luo Sha Scripture’ by far."
Gu Yuan nodded.
A Clam Demon is inherently a water-dwelling spiritual creature, and the pearl it nurtures is a treasure that gathers Aqua Essence, Essence of Water, Moonlight Power, and its own condensed essence.
Its texture is hard and has various uses.
Therefore, a clam pearl is a resource needed for cultivation and can be used to refine magical artifacts and treasures. In some places, it even serves as a currency in place of spirit stones.
When such a spiritual object reaches a thousand years, it becomes extraordinary, accumulating exceedingly rich Aqua Essence and Essence of Water.
With each additional hundred years over a millennium, the Aqua Essence and Essence of Water within increase by several percent.
A Thousand-Seven-Hundred-Year Lunar Clam Pearl likely has at least three to five times more Moonlight Power and Essence of Water compared to one with a thousand years!
As such, the ’Luo Sha Scripture’ naturally pales in comparison.
Seeing Gu Yuan’s expression, Bao Datong continued, "After some persuasion, the person changed his mind upon learning of your status, but he has one condition."
Gu Yuan wasn’t surprised, having already anticipated it: "What condition?"
"He has a grandson with a talent for Upper Grade root bones, Copper Skin, and Iron Bone. His aptitude is quite good, but he’s struggling to find a path, so he wants to ask you for an introduction."
"He wants to enter Medicine King Mountain?"
Gu Yuan immediately understood the intent and initially frowned, but his expression soon relaxed.
Although he’s currently only an inner sect disciple of Medicine King Mountain, with his status and dual spirit body talent, outsiders consider his future limitless.
Moreover, with He Ling True Master favoring him, as long as the rules are followed, adding another disciple slot is not difficult.
Seeing Gu Yuan frown, Bao Datong feared he was displeased and quickly explained, "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Gu. The old cultivator isn’t greedy and only asks for him to become an outer sect disciple. If that’s too difficult, a servant disciple would do."
"Forget about being a servant disciple. If he has Upper Grade root bones, then an outer sect disciple it shall be."
Gu Yuan waved his hand, understanding the other’s thoughts, and gaining a deeper understanding of his current status.
Even though he’s an inner sect disciple of Medicine King Mountain, he was not entirely aware of the actual position it holds.
Yet, observing Bao Datong’s reaction, Gu Yuan realized.
In the eyes of loose cultivators or ordinary cultivation families, a grand sect like Medicine King Mountain is an unattainable existence.
To enter Medicine King Mountain is undoubtedly a chance to bring honor to one’s ancestors and strengthen the family!
Even if not, one could still provide a protective charm for oneself.
With this identity, it would be much easier to conduct affairs in the future.
To ordinary loose cultivators, they may lack cultivation resources, but even more so the pathway to join a great immortal sect.
For instance, the old cultivator with a Thousand-Year Lunar Clam Pearl, despite having such a treasure, due to his low cultivation and ordinary status, lacked connections, making it difficult to reach the mid-to-high ranks of Medicine King Mountain.
Even if he wanted to give gifts or bribes, even if his grandson qualified as an outer sect disciple of Medicine King Mountain, he couldn’t find a way in.
But now, with the Thousand-Year Lunar Clam Pearl, he caught the attention of the recently rising young talent Gu Yuan of Medicine King Mountain and naturally seized this opportunity!
Gu Yuan didn’t mind.
For him, this task was not difficult. Considering how He Ling True Master valued him, all he had to do was mention it.
Moreover, it didn’t violate the rules of Medicine King Mountain.
"If his background is clean and he meets the requirements, I can indeed give him a chance to enter Medicine King Mountain as an outer sect disciple."
Gu Yuan didn’t make any absolute promises, saying only: "Whether this works out depends on his talent."
As he spoke, he felt a sense of life’s unpredictability.
Just half a year ago, he was merely a farm boy who struggled to get enough to eat, roaming the fields all day digging rat holes to fill his stomach.
But now, he has transformed, entering Medicine King Mountain, becoming an inner sect disciple, and apprenticing to a Golden Core Great Cultivator.
With his current status, he stands in a high position, holding a noble status, and has also gained a certain amount of power.
With higher status and power, naturally, people come to seek him.
"Good, good, that’s more than enough,"
Bao Datong hurriedly said, "Since Fellow Daoist Gu agrees, I’ll bring the old cultivator and his grandson over this afternoon for you to meet."
...
In the evening, in the training room of the Jade Cauldron Tower, Gu Yuan sat cross-legged.
In front of him, the flame within a Copper Lamp flickered faintly.
Gu Yuan took out a small palm-sized wooden box.
The box was carved from a type of spiritual wood, with a dark purple and delicate hue, and patterns of unusual beauty.
Once opened, a light and long-lasting fragrance filled the air, making one’s mind clear.
This was Snake Pattern Agarwood, a special spiritual wood with excellent sealing properties, suitable for storing spirit pills, spirit medicine, spiritual milk, and other items prone to losing spiritual energy.
Placing an ordinary spirit pill inside and nourishing it with the fragrance over time could even enhance its medicinal power.
On the surface of this Snake Pattern Agarwood box was a spirit talisman, with vermilion lines as red as blood flickering with faint spiritual light.
Unsealing the spirit talisman and opening the box revealed a single spirit pearl within.
The spirit pearl was pure and clear, exuding a gentle radiance about the size of an egg, perfectly round.
Upon taking it out, it emitted a clear brilliance, illuminating the entire training room with a watery glow, making it exceedingly bright.
Huala... Huala...
Listening closely, one could hear the faint sound of flowing water emanating from within the spirit pearl.
It gave a sense of a mighty river or a vast lake lurking within this small spirit pearl!
Gu Yuan slightly sensed it and detected the vast and abundant Aqua Essence, Essence of Water, and even Moonlight Power contained within.
Despite its small size, the spirit pearl felt exceedingly heavy to Gu Yuan, with a clear and spirited essence.
Even Gu Yuan’s Primordial True Qi became more lively and agitated upon the revelation of this spirit pearl.