Cultivation Begins with Skill Points
Chapter 295 - 294 Red Treasure Gold

Chapter 295: Chapter 294 Red Treasure Gold

"Greetings, Senior Brother Xu."

Gu Chen cupped his hands in greeting towards the chubby Xu Youde before him.

"Gu Chen! What brings you here today? Where’s Elder Zhong?"

Upon seeing Gu Chen’s arrival, Xu Youde quickly approached him. Although Gu Chen was only at the Innate Realm, Xu Youde did not show any neglect.

A smile instantly appeared on his face, complementing his plump figure, giving him a resemblance to the laughing Buddha, with his eyes narrowing into slits.

"Master is still concocting pills at Fire Cloud Palace. I was getting a bit restless and decided to go out for a walk."

Seeing Xu Youde’s warm welcome, Gu Chen became even more appreciative of having someone influential to rely on.

After all, Xu was a person of the Transcendent Realm, while Gu Chen had just broken through to the Innate. Without his master, it would be difficult to even get a glimpse of such a distinguished figure, let alone be treated with such respect.

"Concocting pills?"

Xu Youde’s breathing suddenly became more rapid, and his eyes filled with a certain heat.

"Is Elder Zhong refining Purple Mansion Pills?"

"Indeed."

"Hiss! Elder Zhong truly is a prodigious talent, with such incomparable alchemy skills. If the Purple Mansion Pill is successfully refined, our Purple Cloud Sect... no, the entire Luoxing Islands will witness the rise of a second Sixth Grade Alchemist."

Xu Youde’s face flushed with excitement. A Sixth Grade Alchemist, indeed! There were only two on the entire Luoxing Islands, and one of them belonged to the Seven Stars Sect.

The Seven Stars Sect had a prestigious status as the strongest sect on Luoxing Islands, and even the only Secret Realm on the islands was named after it.

Yet, Purple Cloud Sect was just an ordinary sect, merely ranking above average among the 108 islands, and only rose due to Elder Zhong. Previously, it had been at the bottom.

Now, however, Purple Cloud Sect was about to witness the emergence of the second Sixth Grade Alchemist on the entire Luoxing Islands. How could he not be excited?

It’s worth noting that Xu Youde was the first to discover Elder Zhong and invite him to the mountain, and now he was basking in immeasurable wealth and prestige.

Seeing Xu Youde’s expression, Gu Chen secretly chuckled in his heart.

Sixth Grade Alchemist?

His master had long been one.

Gu Chen still remembered the scent of the Purple Mansion Pill from the cliff behind the Spirit Medicine Peak of Sword Cauldron Sect; it was merely a display of power to the outside world now.

"Oh! Look at me, come, quickly, have a seat."

Xu Youde slapped his forehead and hurriedly pulled Gu Chen to sit down, instructing the servants to serve tea.

"Gu Chen, is there anything you need today?"

Without beating around the bush, Gu Chen said directly, "I’ve been practicing a swordsmanship technique recently and need some metal ores for sharpening my sword. After much searching, I have almost all the ores, except for a piece of Red Treasure Gold. I heard you have one in the auction, so I came to ask for it."

"I see, Red Treasure Gold. Although it’s a metal, it actually forms inside sea beasts, a type of stone within a sea beast called the Red Treasure Whale, which accumulates in the body after long-term consumption of sea sand. It’s somewhat similar to bezoar, but while it has no medicinal value, it’s incredibly hard and has rare toughness, suitable for forging weapons.

You’re in luck. Just a few days ago, someone brought me a piece of Red Treasure Gold, intending to auction it off. Come, fetch the Red Treasure Gold from the storeroom."

Xu Youde called out to the door, and soon a manager brought in a wooden box.

Opening the box revealed a fist-sized metal that was neither gold nor stone.

The Red Treasure Gold emitted a unique metal glow, but there was a hidden blood-red hue within it. Holding it provided a warm sensation and faint fragrance, quite peculiar.

Upon seeing the Red Treasure Gold, Gu Chen also appeared pleased. With this, he finally completed the collection of eight types of metal, allowing him to start practicing the "Tai Bai Jinyao Sword Technique."

Recently, Gu Chen had been transforming his Innate True Qi from the "Flying Spirit Sword Scripture" into the "Golden Chest Relic Map" True Qi every day, and using the rest of his time practicing the "Tai Bai Jinyao Sword Technique."

The "Seven Luminaries Great Freedom Sword Scripture" was deservedly an Earth Level Top Grade Martial Arts; even the golden attribute "Tai Bai Jinyao Sword Technique" was extremely mysterious. Despite pondering for days, Gu Chen couldn’t grasp it, and finally resorted to a different approach of using eight types of metallic ores for "sharpening the sword."

The so-called sharpening means tempering the sword qi, using the "Gold Qi" within the ores to hone his own sword qi, thereby gaining insights into the "Tai Bai Jinyao Sword Technique."

Gu Chen restrained his inner excitement and said, "Thank you, Senior Brother Xu, this Red Treasure Gold is of great help to me. How much in Spirit Stones?"

"What Spirit Stones? It’s just a piece of Red Treasure Gold, take it as you please."

Xu Youde waved his hand in feigned annoyance.

Shaking his head, Gu Chen said, "That won’t do. The Purple Cloud Auction House is part of the sect, and you’re merely managing it. If I take the Red Treasure Gold, wouldn’t it mean you’ll have to cover the cost? No, that won’t do."

Gu Chen knew that his master planned to re-establish the Sword Cauldron Sect on Luoxing Islands and did not wish to entangle too deeply in interests with the people of Purple Cloud Sect.

Besides, the Red Treasure Gold, though rare, wasn’t particularly precious, nor was it something he couldn’t afford. There’s no need to owe such a favor; favors are always the hardest to repay.

While speaking, Gu Chen took out a piece of deadwood from his Storage Bracelet.

"Senior Brother Xu, take a look at this item. Can it replace the Red Treasure Gold for auction and compensate for the loss?"

Instinctively, Xu Youde glanced at it and was immediately captivated by the entire appearance.

He picked up the deadwood and examined it closely; it felt heavy in his hands, akin to metal.

About palm-sized, gnarled and twisted, resembling a humanoid shape, somewhat like ginseng but without roots. It had a purple-black wood texture, similar to rosewood, but not quite.

"This deadwood... it’s interesting. Junior Brother, please wait a moment. Someone, bring some Six Yang Water from the storeroom."

Soon, a manager brought in a Jade Bottle, which contained Six Yang Water.

"Junior Brother, this is Six Yang Water, refined from water essence gathered from six extreme yang locations, and it excels in cleaning filth.

It’s known that divine objects often hide their true nature, and many treasures lose their original luster due to improper care and time, but Six Yang Water can cleanse away the impurities."

While speaking, Xu Youde took a drop of Six Yang Water and dripped it onto the deadwood.

With a series of explosive sounds, the entire piece of deadwood began to vibrate, and with each tremor, specks of grime fell from its surface.

After applying a few more drops, the deadwood finally revealed its true appearance. It was a piece of dark green wood, no longer dry and withered as before.

"Senior Brother Xu, what’s this?"

Gu Chen was surprised by the transformation of the deadwood, especially because he could sense a rich Wood Attribute aura from the green wood.

"It’s Heavenly Soul Wood! Junior Brother Gu, where did you get it from?"