"Taoist Friend Luo, you're going to concoct the 'Dragon Spirit Pill' yourself?"
Zhou Chun was slightly taken aback and blurted out, "But didn't you say last time, Taoist Friend Luo, that the 'Dragon Spirit Pill' is Master Ge Yun's exclusive elixir?"
"That's correct, but who said exclusive elixirs can't be traded? After all, the 'Dragon Spirit Pill' is just an elixir suitable for Purple Mansion Phase Cultivators. Qingni just needs to offer an alchemy recipe of equivalent value to exchange with Master Ge Yun, and he would certainly not mind gaining one more recipe!"
Luo Qingni calmly smiled and addressed Zhou Chun's doubts.
Upon hearing her explanation, Zhou Chun fell silent.
Luo Qingni's point was indeed valid. Alchemy recipes like the "Dragon Spirit Pill" that improve mana cultivation level were actually not considered top-secret.
After all, Luo Qingni herself also possessed recipes for elixirs like the "Origin Increase Pill" and "Yellow Crystal Pill."
Master Ge Yun's previous refusal to trade these recipes was more likely due to a wish to monopolize the market, forcing Cultivators with Dragon Descendant Demon Beast inner cores to seek him out for concocting "Dragon Spirit Pills." Otherwise, he wouldn't have openly disclosed that the pill was made from Third Order Dragon Descendant Demon Beast inner cores.
But over the years, Master Ge Yun must have already mastered the art of concocting the "Dragon Spirit Pill" and no longer needed to practice using materials.
If, at this juncture, Luo Qingni was willing to offer another recipe he did not possess, it was likely that he would agree to the exchange.
The rationale was simple; mastering the methods to concoct more challenging elixirs would help these Alchemy Masters aim for the Grandmaster Realm.
The main reason Luo Qingni likely wished to exchange for the "Dragon Spirit Pill" recipe was due to this, not because of him, Zhou Chun.
Zhou Chun knew his own worth and wasn't deluded enough to imagine Luo Qingni wanted to make the exchange just for him.
However, new problems arose. If Luo Qingni managed to obtain the "Dragon Spirit Pill" recipe, given it's an elixir she hadn't concocted before and one of considerable difficulty, her initial yield of pills would definitely not match up to Master Ge Yun's expertise, not to mention the potential risk of concoction failure.
Asking her to concoct the "Dragon Spirit Pill" would undoubtedly be a matter of high risk, with little reward for Zhou Chun.
Even if Luo Qingni was willing to compensate for failed pills or a low yield in terms of materials with Spirit Coins, Zhou Chun was not in need of such petty sums.
Thus, after much hesitation, Zhou Chun bowed to Luo Qingni and said, "Please don't take offense, Taoist Friend Luo, I really do need an elixir that can advance my mana cultivation right now. So let's put the 'Dragon Spirit Pill' matter on hold, and I will make a decision in a few years."
Hearing this, Luo Qingni did not become discontent but simply smiled and said, "Qingni understands. Since that's the case, Qingni will take one Green Bodhi Fruit for now, and if I later acquire something Taoist Friend Zhang requires, we can exchange the remaining two Spirit Fruits then."
"There's no need for that, I trust in Taoist Friend Luo's reputation, and I believe you wouldn't take something without fulfilling your part," Zhou Chun replied, shaking his head and promptly handed over the three Spirit Fruits to Luo Qingni.
Seeing this gesture, Luo Qingni thought for a moment and then beamed a smile, saying, "Then, many thanks to Taoist Friend Zhang for your trust."
Saying so, she openly collected the three Green Bodhi Fruits.
At this moment, Zhou Chun took out two jade boxes, one large and one small, from his Storage Pouch and placed them on the table beside him.
He began, "Inside this larger jade box is a congratulatory gift I'm presenting to Taoist Friend Luo for the Golden Elixir Great Achievement. Due to unavoidable reasons, I couldn't attend your Golden Core ceremony, so I can only send my gift in advance. Please forgive me, Taoist Friend Luo."
"As for the smaller jade box, it contains a millennium-old Treasure Medicine that, initially the Tianzhi Hermit was willing to trade for with a 'Mountain Soul Pearl.'"
Luo Qingni didn't think much upon hearing this and just nodded gently, "Qingni understands your concerns, Taoist Friend Zhang. Since it's inconvenient for you to attend, there's no need for further invitations."
She then nonchalantly opened both jade boxes, wanting to see what was inside.
Yet, upon opening them, she saw the contents and was instantly dumbfounded.
"This, this is the Core Formation congratulatory gift you're giving to Qingni?"
She looked at the Spirit Wood Core inside the box with an astonished face, her eyes full of surprise.
Indeed, as a congratulatory gift for a Golden Core Stage Cultivator's ceremony, it certainly had to be substantial, and it wouldn't be surprising if it were a Dharma Treasure or Spirit Materials.
However, Spirit Wood Cores, such treasured top-grade Dharma Treasure Spirit Materials, were generally not given away as gifts unless between very close friends or relatives.
Zhou Chun was pleased with her reaction and smiled slightly, "It just so happens my family has such an item, and it's estimated that no one in my family will need it for a few hundred years. Hence, on learning that I obtained the Five Elements Spirit Fruit thanks to Taoist Friend Luo, my elders specially asked me to bring this as a congratulatory gift. I hope Taoist Friend Luo will accept it!"
Upon hearing his explanation, Luo Qingni went speechless for a moment before sighing, "But your gift is far too valuable, Taoist Friend Zhang!"
"Compared to the Five Elements Spirit Fruit," Zhou Chun replied earnestly, "this item can hardly be called valuable, so please don't hold back, otherwise it would be difficult for me to explain to my elders when I go back!"