"This slip records natural treasures capable of sprouting spirit roots. You can read through it after you return."
"Since you only need to sprout low-grade spirit roots, the items you'll need aren't overly precious natural treasures. You should be able to afford them."
Li Danyan flicked his right hand, sending a grey jade slip flying into Ye Hao's hand.
"The Five Elements Origin Method."
A second later, a green jade slip flew out as well.
"Thank you, Elder," Ye Hao hurriedly cupped his hands in gratitude.
"Alright. If you truly wish to thank me, then try your best to cultivate it successfully. I will be awaiting that day."
Li Danyan smiled as he looked at Ye Hao before him.
Looking at the Five Elements Origin Method in his hands alongside the other grey jade slip recording various natural treasures for enhancing spirit roots, Ye Hao vaguely felt that Li Danyan might have prepared all of this long ago.
Everything done today was merely to pass these items down.
And Ye Hao had simply become one of his targets.
"Then Elder Li, I shall take my leave now."
Ye Hao cupped his hands to leave.
He knew Li Danyan had other motives.
However, in his current state, he had no way to resist at all.
"Go on."
Li Danyan nodded.
He watched Ye Hao walk away.
As for the Five Elements Origin Method, one could only switch to a subsequent technique after successfully cultivating it.
When he had obtained this technique back then, he had already reached the Foundation Establishment realm and couldn't destroy his own foundation to restart his cultivation from scratch.
Therefore, he could only seek out others—namely Qi Refinement cultivators—to pass it on.
He wanted to see if anyone could truly cultivate it to completion and establish their foundation through it.
Yet over the past hundred-plus years, he had given away the Five Elements Origin Method over a dozen times.
Not a single person had succeeded.
However, he had a feeling that Ye Hao might actually succeed.
Among the dozen-plus times he had bestowed this opportunity, Ye Hao was the only handyman disciple.
...
"Sure enough, my Turtle Breath Technique is still too low-tier."
Only after putting some distance between himself and the Scripture Pavilion did Ye Hao's body slowly relax.
He unconsciously reached back to touch his back, which was already drenched in sweat.
Fortunately, Li Danyan had no interest in his secrets.
Otherwise, a Golden Core grand cultivator wouldn't need a single reason to imprison a minor Qi Refinement cultivator like him.
"Once I master the Five Elements Origin Method, I'll ask him for a technique that can conceal my aura."
Ye Hao muttered to himself.
Li Danyan was currently his only intermediary to access high-tier spells. Otherwise, he could only rely on finding leaked techniques at auctions, provided he got lucky enough to encounter one.
The only problem was that doing so would definitely attract unwanted attention.
As for why he hadn't asked just now, it was because he had not yet fulfilled the elder's condition.
Asking for an aura-concealing technique right now would most likely invite dissatisfaction.
...
After returning to his wooden hut, Ye Hao first committed the Five Elements Origin Method to memory.
Only then did he open the grey jade slip beside him to search for natural treasures that could help him shape low-grade gold and earth spirit roots.
Gold-Thread Iron Fern: First-Tier high-grade spirit plant.
A fern that grows in the crevices of low-grade iron mines. The edges of its leaves bear fine golden patterns, and its rhizomes absorb the metallic qi of the vein.
Has a twenty percent chance of successfully sprouting a low-grade gold spirit root.
Consuming it again after sprouting a low-grade gold spirit root will yield diminishing effects.
Golden Spike Millet Fruit: First-Tier supreme-grade spirit fruit.
A tiny golden grain produced by dwarf spirit grain plants, resembling millet in appearance, which grows on the surface of shallow gold spirit veins.
The fresh fruit must be crushed together with its ear, mixed with water, and consumed continuously for seven days.
Has a thirty percent chance of sprouting a low-grade gold spirit root.
Cave Mole Bone: First-Tier mid-grade demon beast.
The small spine of a subterranean First-Tier cave mole that feeds on spirit soil year-round, its bones infused with pure, heavy earth spiritual charm.
Calcined and ground into powder, then brewed into a soup with Sinking Earth Velvet Moss before consumption.
Has a twenty-two percent chance of sprouting a low-grade earth spirit root.
Yellow Soil Dust Essence: First-Tier mid-grade spirit dust.
Fine golden spirit dust formed from weathered spirit soil, floating above earth veins and barely visible to the naked eye.
Collected dust is dissolved into spirit spring water and drunk on an empty stomach every morning for twenty consecutive days.
Has a sixteen percent chance of sprouting a low-grade earth spirit root.
These four natural treasures were selected by Ye Hao after much deliberation as the easiest ones to acquire.
However, to know the specifics, he would have to check Duobao Pavilion at the market.
If Duobao Pavilion at the market didn't have them, he could only head to Baiyun City.
...
The next day, after washing up and grabbing a bite to eat, Ye Hao flew straight toward the market.
With a flying artifact, his speed was several times faster than before.
The market, Duobao Pavilion.
"Golden Spike Millet Fruits? We do have some in stock."
"Honored customer, how many do you require?"
Upon hearing what Ye Hao requested, the manager behind the jade counter hurriedly checked the inventory in the storehouse.
Only after confirming they indeed had stock did he respond.
"How much are they?"
Ye Hao inquired.
"The Golden Spike Millet Fruit is a First-Tier supreme-grade spirit fruit. Furthermore, it carries a chance of helping someone sprout a low-grade gold spirit root, so its price is relatively steep."
"A single Golden Spike Millet Fruit costs 350 low-grade spirit stones."
The manager looked at Ye Hao and said with a slight smile.
"That's actually not too expensive," Ye Hao muttered softly under his breath before looking back at the manager and nodding lightly. "In that case, bring out all your remaining Golden Spike Millet Fruits. I'll take them all."
"Customer, our pavilion has a total of six Golden Spike Millet Fruits. Are you sure you want all of them?"
The manager froze briefly in surprise.
Was this customer spending so much money buying Golden Spike Millet Fruits really just to sprout a low-grade gold spirit root?
With this many spirit stones, one could easily purchase better natural treasures to sprout a higher-grade mid-grade spirit root instead.
Or perhaps the customer had some other motive he was unaware of.
However, he was merely curious and did not actually press further.
"Bring them all out."
Ye Hao nodded.
"Very well. Please wait a moment, customer, I will be right back."
With that, the manager cupped his hands and stepped back into the rear area.
He then went to the storehouse in the back to retrieve the six Golden Spike Millet Fruits.
Soon, he walked out holding six jade boxes.
Inside each jade box lay a Golden Spike Millet Fruit.
"Let me see."
Ye Hao stepped forward to inspect the Golden Spike Millet Fruits inside the jade boxes. Upon confirming everything was correct, he nodded in satisfaction.
Ye Hao waved his right hand.
A mountain-like pile of low-grade spirit stones instantly appeared on top of the jade counter.
"2,100 low-grade spirit stones—the count is correct."
"These Golden Spike Millet Fruits are now yours, customer."
The manager looked at the spirit stones on the counter. After tallying them up, he gathered them with a smile.
He had originally thought the Golden Spike Millet Fruits would sit collecting dust in the storehouse forever.
Perhaps someone might occasionally buy one or two.
It would have taken several decades to sell them all off.
He never expected someone to buy them all at once today.
"By the way, could you keep an eye out for natural treasures that sprout earth spirit roots?"
"I don't need anything of too high quality—just items that sprout a low-grade earth spirit root will do."
Rate on N.U.
