“I heard earlier that you used to escort caravans in Hundred Immortals Town, right?” Shen Zhaoxue opened the wooden box and took out three finger-joint-sized porcelain bottles.
“How much did you earn per job?”
“If it was within Hundred Immortals Town, about a hundred copper coins a day.” Lu Li thought for a moment.
“Come to think of it, it’s only been two months since I stopped escorting… time flies.”
“What a coincidence. A bottle of the scented dew meant for mortal women costs the same price.” Shen Zhaoxue gently twisted off the cork, and a faint medicinal fragrance spread through the room.
“Of course, it’s also a good choice for repelling insects.”
“This is the most popular scented dew sold at our Drunken Fragrance Pavilion. But the biggest problem, Lu Li, do you know what it is?” Shen Zhaoxue channeled strength into her palm, forcing the fragrance to diffuse.
“It’s too easy to replace.” Lu Li understood that much. For example, when escorting in the past, if there was a letter to deliver within a few streets, naturally they wouldn’t need someone skilled in sword arts.
Even some youths could handle it.
But that also meant anyone could do such work.
“Exactly. To stay in Hundred Immortals Town for the long term, a family must have at least one Golden Core True Person.” Shen Zhaoxue sighed.
“But that’s only for guarding. According to the town’s rules, those above Golden Core cannot engage in commerce; they can only offer advice.”
“So the Flower and Grass Dew I extracted earlier gave the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion a new direction, right?” Lu Li understood upon hearing this.
Ordinary scented dew can be imitated. But too high-grade a scented dew is unaffordable for mortals, leaving only cultivators to buy it.
Yet cultivators care more about their own cultivation. Scented dew is just icing on the cake.
“Yes. The Flower and Grass Dew you condensed can replenish spiritual power and provide a long-lasting fragrance.” Shen Zhaoxue said.
“And it’s closely related to the Charm Technique cultivation method. If things go smoothly in the future…”
“The Shen Family can forge closer ties with the Yin Yang Sect, and the sect’s disciples will also have a new way forward.” Lu Li carefully considered the changes this move would bring.
“For the sect, it means greater income, and it could even solve the funding problems of some Miscellaneous Service Disciples. Killing multiple birds with one stone.”
“And for you, Shen Zhaoxue, as the one who proposed this plan and as the Eldest Miss of the Shen Family, even if you can’t reach the Foundation Establishment Stage, you’ll gain a better position in the family. And with more money, Foundation Establishment becomes possible.” Lu Li lightly clapped his hands.
“As expected of the Eldest Miss of the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion.”
“You’re not bad either.” Shen Zhaoxue looked at Lu Li.
“I thought you were just a caravan escort, but you know quite a bit.”
“Many principles are the same.” Lu Li looked at the scented dews in the wooden box.
“Then if I gather the Flower and Grass Dew, how much do I get in the end?”
“Sixty percent is all yours.” Shen Zhaoxue said. “The remaining forty percent goes to the sect, the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion, myself, and as reserve funds.”
“What are the specific requirements?”
“Lu Li, you just need to deliver thirty drops of Flower and Grass Dew to us every month, by the end of the month. If you want to cancel the contract, inform me or the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion one month in advance, with no penalty.” Shen Zhaoxue took a contract out of her Storage Ring.
“And once you deliver, I’ll give you fifty-four Spirit Stones.”
“Then I’m curious—how many Spirit Stones does one Foundation Building Pill cost?” Lu Li asked.
“One hundred fifty. At your current rate, you can get a Foundation Building Pill in three months.” Shen Zhaoxue said.
“What do you think?”
“No problem.” Lu Li extended his hand and shook Shen Zhaoxue’s.
Then, he carefully read the contract, signed his name, and left a trace of his Divine Sense.
Counting the one pill Shen Zhaoxue had promised earlier, plus the one he would inevitably have in three months, and looking at the Seven Gates Trial, after this matter was finished, entering Foundation Establishment was as good as settled.
“Alright. Lu Li, wait a moment. I’ll go get the Foundation Building Pill I mentioned earlier.” Shen Zhaoxue held the thin contract, a relieved smile on her face.
“Also, this wooden box contains all our Drunken Fragrance Pavilion’s new products. I’m giving them all to you.”
“This…” Lu Li watched Shen Zhaoxue walk away quickly, then glanced again at the wooden box on the table.
Admittedly, he knew this was Shen Zhaoxue’s goodwill. From their conversation today, she had indeed been very sincere.
“But I have no use for these things…” Lu Li reached out and picked up a bottle from the box that looked like a jewel.
The scented dew inside was like flowing treasure, shimmering brilliantly in the sunlight.
“It’s certainly beautiful.” Lu Li gently unscrewed the cork and sniffed the faint fragrance.
“The smell is good too.”
“In that regard, I can understand why some people chase after these things.” Lu Li put the bottle back.
After a while, Shen Zhaoxue quietly entered the room, took a warm porcelain bottle from her bosom, and placed it on the table.
“Lu Li, this is the Foundation Building Pill I promised you earlier.” Shen Zhaoxue said.
“Before the Enthronement Ceremony, I’ll be busy in the family. If anything comes up, you can find me at the Market Square here. It’s still within the sect’s territory, so it doesn’t count as going down the mountain.”
“Then thank you very much.” Lu Li waved his hand and stored the Foundation Building Pill into his Jade Pendant.
“See you at the ceremony?”
“See you at the ceremony.” Shen Zhaoxue watched him put away the Foundation Building Pill and let out a long sigh of relief.
With that business concluded, Shen Zhaoxue escorted Lu Li back to the sect.
For Lu Li, he was already familiar with the basic procedures of the ceremony.
Now he could finally return to what he loved most and did best—cultivation.
But interestingly, thanks to Shen Zhaoxue’s promotion, a new wave of cultivation fever had swept through the sect.
The Yin Yang Sect had many female cultivators to begin with, and the Charm Technique was a main cultivation method.
Now they discovered they could communicate with plants and make them produce spiritual Flower and Grass Dew.
Gathering the dew, improving cultivation, tracing Spirit Patterns, and exchanging it all for money—there was nothing more efficient than this.
However, when some disciples became too immersed in the scented dew, causing minor disputes, a few Foundation Establishment Stewards in the sect objected.
But after Shen Zhaoxue sent the upper-grade scented dew made by Lu Li, and after she improved the sect’s cash flow, those stewards had nothing more to say.
Instead, they urged the disciples to practice and even suggested that during the Enthronement Ceremony, all disciples must use the scented dew produced by the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion.
Thus, as the Enthronement Ceremony approached, the entire Yin Yang Sect became even more lively than before.
Everyone’s cultivation also rose steadily.
“Lu Li, I finally reached the Qi Refining Eighth Layer!” Qing Luo beamed with joy as she pushed open Lu Li’s door.
“Have you entered Foundation Establishment yet?”
“I have a bigger crisis to face than Foundation Establishment.” Lu Li stood behind a folding screen, sighing repeatedly.
“What’s wrong?” Qing Luo walked around the screen and saw seven or eight different outfits hanging beside Lu Li.
“The Enthronement Ceremony is tomorrow.” Lu Li was sorting the clothes one by one.
“That’s the biggest test.”
“Senior Sister Lu, you’re naturally beautiful. It’ll be fine.” Qing Luo giggled as she sat down nearby.
“Senior Sister Jiang also said she’ll finish her morning cultivation and come help you.”
“Then I’m very grateful.” Lu Li looked at the girl in the bronze mirror, whose brows were slightly furrowed and whose eyes held a touch of charm.
“Once this is over, I can change back.”