"Let's not talk about money, talking about money is too tacky."

Isle Master Tie Chui waved his hand.

"Then what should we talk about?"

Ji Yuan couldn't help but feel a little pleased, could it be this Foundation Establishment senior won't charge Spirit Stones, and is just going to give it to him for free?

"Let's talk about fate." Isle Master Tie Chui chuckled.

"Fate?"

"Yeah, sincere price—three hundred pieces of fate." Isle Master Tie Chui said with a grin, "All the materials were handpicked by me. Altogether, it set me back around two hundred and fifty mid-grade Spirit Stones. Not even charging you much, just give me three hundred mid-grade Spirit Stones and we're good."

Ji Yuan: "..."

Honestly, that price really couldn't be called expensive.

Compared to other mid-grade Spiritual Artifacts, Elixir Cauldrons are pricier to begin with.

Mid-grade Spiritual Artifacts usually go for around three hundred Spirit Stones, let alone an Elixir Cauldron.

Xu Fugui on the side didn't try to bargain anymore—because this really was the friends-and-family price from Isle Master Tie Chui. If this thing went out to the market, it'd easily fetch four hundred mid-grade Spirit Stones at least.

And coming from Isle Master Tie Chui, his Elixir Cauldrons basically sell themselves—all those Alchemists out there fight over them like rabid dogs.

This price... Ji Yuan could afford it.

But shelling it all out in one go would be a bit over the top.

Plenty of early Foundation Establishment cultivators can't cough up three hundred Spirit Stones at once, but here he was at the peak of Qi Refining, ready to drop it... He mulled it over, and tried probing:

"Price is a little steep. I'll pay two hundred mid-grade Spirit Stones up front, and I'll owe you the rest for now, how's that?"

If Isle Master Tie Chui agreed, that'd be perfect.

If not, Ji Yuan could just stall by saying he'd go gather the rest, put down a deposit, and swing by in a few days to settle up.

Can always say he borrowed them, same difference.

"Hmm?"

Isle Master Tie Chui stared at Ji Yuan in shock; even that two hundred mid-grade Spirit Stones was enough to surprise him.

Xu Fugui next to him looked even more gobsmacked.

He nearly dislocated his jaw out of shock at Ji Yuan's words.

"How... how much did you say?"

Isle Master Tie Chui figured he must've misheard.

"Two hundred,"

Ji Yuan laid it out honestly.

For him, those two hundred Spirit Stones weren't even half his assets, but judging from these two's reactions, he might've overshot a bit.

But what was said couldn't be taken back—raise the price, live with it.

Isle Master Tie Chui turned to Xu Fugui, glared, "How many Spirit Stones you got on you right now?"

Xu Fugui was also a peak Qi Cultivation cultivator—he didn't hesitate for a second, blurting out, "Sixteen mid-grade Spirit Stones, thirty-four low-grade Spirit Stones, and four Broken Spirits."

Ji Yuan: "..."

Wait, are you guys actually that broke?!

Bro!

Ji Yuan just tossed out a random figure and it was already more than ten times what these guys could scrape together; what else could he do but explain... Ji Yuan just shrugged, grinning.

"I've done a lot of alchemy, plus I go out hunting Demon Beasts all the time. But mostly, it's just saving up—Grandmaster Xu knows, I've always been frugal."

"Besides, being a Body Cultivator, there's always a few more ways to make money."

"Body Cultivator should be forging iron, what's the point of alchemy? Alchemy gets you nowhere." Isle Master Tie Chui waved a big hand.

"Alright, brat, since you've got the skills, why shouldn't I sell you this Elixir Cauldron?!"

So Ji Yuan threw down two hundred mid-grade Spirit Stones, and took the Elixir Cauldron for now; he'd bring the remainder in a few months, and just claim he made a killing with the cauldron in the meantime.

Elixir Cauldron in hand, Ji Yuan hung around and traded some punches with Isle Master Tie Chui.

The two started out neck and neck, each blow landing solid. After half an hour, Ji Yuan slipped up and got played by Isle Master Tie Chui, who floored him with a punch—couldn't get up after a couple tries, so he had to concede defeat.

Isle Master Tie Chui, looking all black-and-blue, still threw his hands on his hips and laughed his ass off.

"Not bad, not bad! If you can beat my Liu Tiezhu up this badly, you've got some skills, kid!"

Liu Tiezhu... Isle Master Tie Chui, your real name really is badass.

After that whole emotional rollercoaster, Isle Master Tie Chui started setting tables for a feast.

Ji Yuan, being the only young'un there, naturally took on the grilling and cooking duties.

Hmm...

Activating the [Kitchen] cheat, plus pulling out some Spirit Wine aged for months in the [Wine Cellar], instantly made the two old geezers forget all their troubles.

"Ji, you know what? Screw alchemy, I'll bankroll you—open a tavern on All Things Island! I swear I'll eat at your place every day, bring you a steady stream of customers."

Isle Master Tie Chui was eating and drinking so much he nearly swallowed his tongue.

This grilled Spirit Pig meat—nothing special about it, but once Ji Yuan's hands got ahold of it, the taste instantly transformed.

The Spirit Wine too—Isle Master Tie Chui, being a proper old drunkard, easily recognized it was just regular Crimson Glow Brew.

Goes for only ten low-grade Spirit Stones a bottle.

Normally, someone brought this stuff out and he'd turn up his nose.

But today, the Crimson Glow Brew Ji Yuan brought tasted outrageously good.

Ji Yuan ate and drank along, quite pleased with his own cooking skills.

"Figures, even if I grow old, at least I'll have a livelihood."

"Really, Ji, your cooking's just unbeatable—next time I come visit my master, I'll definitely drag you along."

Xu Fugui mumbled with his mouth full.

Then next time I'm definitely hiding out on Mist Island... Ji Yuan kept nodding, "No need for Elder Xu to say, I'll come on my own."

After a hearty round of wining and dining, a tipsy Ji Yuan took a little nap and woke up all recharged.

A while later.

On the Flying Boat heading back to Thousand Mechanism Island, Ji Yuan was lost in thought.

From the bout just now with Isle Master Tie Chui, this old senior had already started refining his apertures—who knows what method he used, but he was definitely on the road to Body Foundation Establishment.

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