Longevity: Starting as a Sect Servant-Chapter 227 - 183: Fish Take the Bait, Waiting for the Hare (Extended - )
Zhou Libai brought back a cultivator in the early stage of True Core, named Han Diao, who is an Artifact Refiner.
After he arrived, he stayed on Lingdong Peak for three days and nights without coming down. It was on the fourth day that he came to visit Li An.
He was strong and sturdy, looking like a towering iron pagoda, seated opposite Li An, and said calmly:
"Fellow Daoist Lin, I heard from Libai that you seem to have some connections with her. But from now on, she is my wife, and all the past ends here. I just hope that from now on, we can stay out of each other’s affairs, how about that?"
With that, he handed over a gift: "A token of my regard."
Upon hearing this, Li An was immediately stunned.
What on earth did Zhou Libai say?
What did she mean by mutual disentanglement, when had he ever entangled with Zhou Libai?
Suddenly, he understood why Xiang Yuntian would want to kill Zhou Libai...
"Rest assured, Brother Han. Lin and Daoist Zhou have had not much dealings, and from now on, it will be as Brother Han desires, with all ties severed!"
He spoke solemnly.
Couldn’t wish for more.
Han Diao nodded and then left.
...
In the days that followed, Zhou Libai and Han Diao were much like she and Ba Jijian once were, showing no sign that she was a woman who had recently lost her husband.
Li An paid no attention to it.
In the blink of an eye, a month passed.
During this time, Li An closely watched the direction of Hundred Flowers Valley. Finally, one day, a butterfly flew out, fluttering at the edge of the valley.
Li An immediately deployed the Beast Taming Skill and easily controlled the Spirit Butterfly.
Then he took the Spirit Butterfly back to Spiritual Serenity Peak, and only released it on the third day.
It was exactly midday.
On Lingdong Peak, Han Diao had just walked out of Zhou Libai’s cave mansion. Even he, a man of iron, couldn’t help but feel a faint pain in his kidneys after the past few days and was planning to go down the mountain to buy some tonic herbs.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to endure it.
He opened the grand array of Lingdong Peak and was just about to leave. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, he noticed a Spirit Butterfly, flapping its broken wing, and landing on a nearby cluster of flowers.
As a True Core cultivator, he instantly sensed the extraordinary nature of this Spirit Butterfly.
He reached out to pick up the Spirit Butterfly and then returned to the cave mansion.
...
In the following days, Li An noted that Han Diao and Zhou Libai frequently went out, seemingly searching for something in the vicinity.
It worked!
The Spirit Butterfly reached Lingdong Peak, and they must have sensed its extraordinary aura.
Zhou Libai was eager to nurture the butterfly and would certainly trace the Spirit Butterfly’s origin.
This was the first step of his plan.
He estimated that it would take them another three to five days to find the rosebush he left in Hundred Flowers Valley...
Li An settled his mind and arranged the Second Grade Pill Furnace along with various medicinal materials.
Today, he was finally going to advance to a Second Grade Alchemist!
...
Seven days later.
Zhou Libai and Han Diao, uncharacteristically, no longer went out, yet the grand array of Lingdong Peak remained activated, preventing anyone from approaching.
Li An guessed that they should have already obtained the rosebush and were using it to nurture the butterfly.
Excellent!
On this day, Li An left Spiritual Serenity Peak.
He headed towards Celestial Evil City.
Upon arriving at Celestial Evil City, he didn’t rush to participate in the trade fair but first set up a watch.
...
After more than a dozen days, a small-scale True Core cultivator trade fair was held.
"I have a furnace of Third Grade Purifying Evil Pill, totaling three pills."
Li An announced.
He had successfully crafted a furnace of Second Grade Purifying Evil Pill, officially becoming a Second Grade Alchemist, but was still far from being able to craft Third Grade Pills.
What he was selling now was the spoils he acquired last time.
The reason for this was to cover his tracks, as in a while, he would submit Second Grade Purifying Evil Pill to Mountain Master Bai to earn contributions. If he sold Second Grade Purifying Evil Pill at the trade fair, someone scrutinizing might find clues.
Instantly, several other True Core cultivators displayed eager expressions, eagerly inquiring about the price.
A single Rank Three Purifying Evil Pill was quite valuable, selling for about one thousand Middle Grade Spirit Stones.
Li An sold them all, gaining over three thousand Middle Grade Spirit Stones, and then took a liking to two material sets of Exotic Metals for Artifact Refining, which he immediately purchased for more than seventeen hundred Spirit Stones.
"Might you be an Alchemist, fellow Daoist?"
The cultivator who sold him the Artifact Refining materials asked.
"I am."
Li An did not conceal it.
"Fellow Daoist, for these two sets of Artifact Refining materials, I only charge for one!"
This cultivator was very generous.
Li An remained calm, "Oh? Unjustly accepting favors is not my way..."
The cultivator just smiled, "Of course, I have a request too."
"In the future, if you have Purifying Evil Pills, how about attending our trade fair here?"
He valued Li An’s status as a Third Grade Alchemist.
It’s known that Purifying Evil Pills in the Celestial Killer Mountain range are essential items, and all the major Mountain Masters strictly control such resources, luring Alchemists who can craft them, ensuring pills do not flow outside, like Lady Shee.
Thus, most cultivators can only risk their lives, explore ruins or similar ventures to earn contributions, and then exchange with the Mountain Master.
The Purifying Evil Pills available in the market are scarce.
If they could draw an Alchemist into their circle, it would be excellent, providing a stable supply channel.
After all, why risk life if it can be bought with Spirit Stones? Everyone’s smart about that.
Li An pondered for a moment but still insisted on paying for both sets, saying: "Slow and steady, if I have more Third Grade Purifying Evil Pills in the future, I’ll prioritize trading here."
Offering no guarantees.
The cultivator nodded, understanding that Third Grade Alchemists have regular practices, fearing exposure and reprimand by the Mountain Master!
He promptly said, "Rest assured, fellow Daoist, regarding the transactions here, not a word will leak!"
