Chapter 58: Chapter 57: Three Thousand Spirit Stones, Overnight Fortune!
Taoist Friend Fu, emotionally stirred, raised his voice:
"Master Five Thunders, I’ve waited for you so desperately!"
"Half a month ago, I was ambushed by an enemy... I barely escaped death, thanks to your Five Thunders saving me!"
"Since then, I’ve come to this black market every day, waiting for you... You’ve finally arrived!"
Among those nearby, some loose cultivators who were aware of the matter exclaimed:
"Taoist Friend Fu, are you referring to your duel with Cloud Soaring Taoist? I happened to witness your duel with him that day, only to hear a sudden thunderclap that even shook the ground..."
"I thought you had mastered powerful divine techniques, but it turned out to be the lost Five Thunders?"
Taoist Friend Fu nodded in response:
"Indeed! Thanks to Master’s Five Thunders, otherwise I would have been dead!"
"Unfortunately, the two Five Thunders I bought last time were used... This time, I must buy more!"
Upon hearing this, the cultivators nearby showed varied expressions.
An unexpected matter! Such a life-saving treasure... Can it really be bought?
Thus, a dozen cultivators surrounded Lin Chen, clamoring:
"Master, I want to buy Five Thunders!"
"Master... I beg of you, sell me one Five Thunder!"
Seeing the expressions of the surrounding cultivators, Lin Chen wore a peculiar look.
"Strange... I didn’t seem to hire any shills?"
"How are these two more effective than shills?"
Lin Chen looked at Taoist Friend Fu, surprised internally.
He did not expect that the Five Thunders he sold would be put to use so quickly, saving the life of Taoist Friend Fu.
Nor did he expect that someone else would witness this incident by chance...
As such, the reputation of his Five Thunders seemed to have been completely solidified.
Even if he really had hired shills, it wouldn’t be this effective, right?
Reflecting upon this, Lin Chen cleared his throat and said:
"Ahem, these Five Thunders are difficult to refine... I still have a few left from my previous endeavors."
"However, the quantity is limited, so those who wish to buy should act quickly..."
Lin Chen was quite savvy with sales.
Since the reputation of Five Thunders was established, the next step was "scarcity marketing," selling at an opportune moment.
"These Five Thunders are difficult to refine... After this batch, they may not be available again!"
"Master... I want to buy two!"
"I came first, Master sell to me first!"
Upon hearing Lin Chen’s words, the surrounding cultivators became anxious.
Seeing this, Lin Chen was inwardly delighted, knowing that Five Thunders could be produced in abundance.
However, on the surface, Lin Chen feigned hesitation and said:
"Ah well... I still have twenty Five Thunders here. Those interested, please state your numbers, so every Taoist friend can have a chance to purchase."
Almost all cultivators present wanted Five Thunders, but there were only twenty available.
This naturally left some without a chance.
Among them was Taoist Friend Fu.
Seeing himself about to miss out on Five Thunders, Taoist Friend Fu became anxious, quickly said:
"Master, I’ll pay more! I’ll offer a hundred Spirit Stones for one, and you sell me two more!"
Following this, the courtyard fell silent for a moment.
Soon after, those who missed out began raising their offers.
"I’ll offer a hundred and twenty Spirit Stones, Master sell me one!"
"I’ll offer a hundred and thirty..."
Lin Chen feigned a difficult expression but his hand moved swiftly.
Based on the highest offers, he quickly sold all twenty Five Thunders.
As he left the courtyard, Lin Chen was already inwardly smiling.
Twenty Five Thunders earned him more than two thousand five hundred Spirit Stones.
Enough to cover the cost of buying a Pill Shop!
"Everyone, the Five Thunders are sold out, I shall take my leave..."
Lin Chen bowed and prepared to leave the courtyard.
Behind him, those loose cultivators who didn’t manage to purchase Five Thunders became anxious and loudly asked:
"Master, when will you sell Five Thunders again?"
"Soonest in a month, longest in three months. Refining also takes time..."
Without slowing his pace, Lin Chen quickly left Huaman Building.
After Lin Chen left, the loose cultivators no longer had the heart for trading and found excuses to leave.
"Ahem, I have some business, I’ll be off first..."
"I’ll head off as well, I forgot to close the Spirit Gathering Array at my cave before heading out..."
Three or five cultivators watched Lin Chen’s departing back and spoke out.
Seeing this, how could Taoist Friend Fu not understand their intentions?
He sneered and said:
"Heh, you all intend to test that Master of Five Thunders, huh?"
Seeing the others tacitly agree, Taoist Friend Fu sneered even more.
"I advise you all to abandon such thoughts... Otherwise, you won’t even know how you died!"
Following these words, the cultivators who were about to leave looked at each other.
"Taoist Friend Fu, you mean to say?" one cultivator couldn’t help but ask.
"Hmph, everyone... Do you truly believe Master of Five Thunders is an ordinary loose cultivator? If he really were one... he wouldn’t have survived after the previous trade!"
"His true identity... is likely the Foundation Establishment Elder of Changchun Sect!"
Taoist Friend Fu’s words shocked the surrounding cultivators, who were seeing Lin Chen for the first time.
"What? He’s actually a Foundation Establishment Expert!" one cultivator exclaimed.
Taoist Friend Fu looked quite pleased and continued:
"Heh, more than that!"
"Think about it... Why does the Master repeatedly sell Five Thunders? Surely he’s short of money!"
"And when is one most short of money during the Foundation Establishment Stage?"
Taoist Friend Fu showed a meaningful look.
"Hiss~ Taoist Friend Fu, you mean..." someone showed a surprised expression.
"That’s right, I suspect Senior Master Five Thunders... wants to undergo Core Formation!"
Taoist Friend Fu spoke firmly and confidently.
"Precisely because Master is about to undergo Core Formation and is in dire need of Spirit Stones, he sold Five Thunders multiple times!"
...
Elsewhere, following the transaction, Lin Chen dared not let his guard down.
He extended his Divine Sense, carefully observing any movements within ten meters around him.
His hands were kept within the loose Taoist robe, always gripping two high explosive bombs.
Thus, even if ambushed by Foundation Establishment cultivators, he could quickly retaliate.
Currently, he carried a massive sum of three thousand Spirit Stones, coupled with the ill intent of those loose cultivators, he was forced to be cautious.
However, what puzzled Lin Chen was that nothing unexpected happened along the way.
Not even a feeling of being watched secretly...
"Strange, could it be those loose cultivators have no intention of ambushing halfway?"
Though puzzled, Lin Chen continued without slowing down, circling around the marketplace.
After confirming no one was following him, he changed into Changchun Sect disciple attire and ascended Changchun Mountain.
Upon entering the sect, he found a secluded spot and reverted to his original appearance.
Confirming no one noticed him, he returned directly to Pill Peak.
...
Only after safely returning to his disciple’s residence did Lin Chen let his excitement show.
"Holding three thousand two hundred Spirit Stones, an overnight fortune!"
"But, caution is key... Such transactions are indeed quick money but caution above all!"
Lin Chen repeatedly reminded himself internally.
Taking out two Spirit Stones, Lin Chen continued cultivating the Evergreen Technique.
Now, the Evergreen Technique had reached the Late Period of the Sixth Layer, not far from the Seventh Layer.
One night of cultivation.
Early the next morning, after breakfast, Lin Chen discussed buying the shop with his master.
"Master, about the Pill Shop I talked to you about earlier..."
Lin Chen briefly explained about the Fat Shopkeeper and the purchase of the shop.
After hearing this, Han Jihai pondered for a moment before handing over a Storage Bag.
"Chen’Er, all my savings are in here..."