Chapter 132: Azure Dragon Gall, Barrier Breaking Pill
After Chen Shun’an cupped his hands, he took the Exchange Ledger and quickly scanned its contents.
He discovered that the treasures stored in the Wuqing Sticky Rod Bureau’s Treasury were far richer and more extraordinary than he had anticipated.
Categorized separately, including Pills, Cultivation Methods, Weapons, Precious Plants, Mysterious Items, Precious Fish, Precious Materials…
One could even spend Military Merit to hire first-rate experts, or even have Lu Jing personally spar and instruct in Martial Arts.
Of course, the Military Merit required was enormous.
“There is a seat over there, sit down and look carefully, no rush.”
The old man guarding the Treasury pointed to an elmwood stool nearby and also called the martial artist who had led the way earlier to bring Clear Tea for Chen Shun’an.
His attitude seemed quite amiable.
Clearly, he had recognized Chen Shun’an, this recently rising in reputation Elderly Heavenly Pride with the Three Refinements Martial Body.
Especially since he respected the elderly and loved the young, and had saved that fellow Hong Junxian.
Although the old man somewhat disapproved of Hong Junxian, it did not prevent him from showing a certain goodwill toward a quite reputable ‘good person’.
“Many thanks.”
Chen Shun’an did not decline, sat down calmly, and carefully examined the ledger.
The ledger paper was slightly yellowed, with a faint ink fragrance.
Perhaps due to its proximity to the Grand Canal, with abundant Water Marshes, many of the treasures listed in the Exchange Ledger were related to aquatic Precious Plants.
His gaze scanned line by line, then suddenly paused—
【Azure Dragon Gall】
【Cultivated by the Five Rivers River Affairs through reclaiming paddies and burying silt, fifty-nine years medicinal age. Bitter taste, cold nature, effects of Break Blood and Remove Stasis, clearing tongue coating, generating saliva, clearing heat and drying dampness; consuming it aids in slaying the Tongue Thief, with obvious effects】
【Exchange Requirement: Third-class Great Merit can exchange for five pieces】
【Note: Can be decocted with dragon gall and Coptis for gargling and swallowing, easier to absorb. Only four pieces can be taken consecutively per month, easily causes nausea, vomiting, and mental exhaustion】
Chen Shun’an saw the 【Azure Dragon Gall】 and his eyes lit up.
This 【Azure Dragon Gall】 was of course not the gall bladder of an azure dragon, but an aquatic precious plant.
But what concerned him most was that this item was actually cultivated by the Five Rivers River Affairs.
The Sacred Dynasty’s river officials system was extremely vast and intricate.
The highest official was the River Governor, commonly known as ‘River Platform’, rank of proper second grade, in charge of the Sacred Dynasty’s Water Transport, local dikes, and Dredging matters.
Below him were various River Administrators, River Prefectural Governors, River Judges…
Responsible for different waters and rivers, flood defense during seasons, managing river works affairs in their respective prefectures.
In reality, due to the complex underwater conditions, countless undercurrents and hidden rivers, and various Great Demons lurking, dangerous areas, even for Martial Dao Grandmasters, they were unfamiliar territories that made one sigh in despair.
Therefore, the duties of the Sacred Dynasty’s river courses were mainly focused on water control and Dredging, making it hard to achieve tangible outputs like the Ministry of Revenue’s agricultural encouragement, Ministry of War’s horse administration, or Imperial Physicians’ medical administration.
And this ‘Five Rivers River Affairs’ was an attempt by the Sacred Dynasty’s river courses.
The River Administrators near the Capital Region, relying on the Five Rivers such as Giant Horse, Unfixed, and Grand Canal, used native Precious Plants in the Water Marshes to select sites for Seedling Cultivation, artificially nurturing them, hoping to achieve stable production of aquatic Precious Plants.
However, over so many years, the results had been minimal.
【Azure Dragon Gall】 was already one of the most presentable aquatic products.
The Sacred Dynasty’s Officials did not all appear to be rice buckets who took money without doing work; there were still some who sincerely did real things…
Chen Shun’an silently sighed in his heart, pointed to the illustration of 【Azure Dragon Gall】 in the Exchange Ledger, and said,
“Senior, may I ask if there is any stock of Azure Dragon Gall?”
The old man glanced at the Exchange Ledger and said: “There is some, but…”
The old man’s voice paused, then he said: “If you want to use this to cultivate True Intent and slay the Tongue Thief, you would need at least two Third-class Great Merits,”
“Hm?” Chen Shun’an was stunned, his eyes showing confusion.
“Azure Dragon Gall is native to the Azure Dragon River, in some extremely deep sandy gravel riverbeds, guarded by ferocious fish; once mature, they are eaten by the ferocious fish, so very little circulates on the market… The Azure Dragon Gall cultivated by the Five Rivers River Affairs has increased in yield, but the medicinal effect is insufficient. Generally, ten pieces are needed to slay the Tongue Thief.”
The old man couldn’t help but chuckle: “Moreover, one root stalk bears five fruits, and due to the special nature of Azure Dragon Gall, from bottom to top, each fruit’s medicinal effect gradually increases; the third fruit is considered normal Azure Dragon Gall, and the two below… together, do not match the third.”
“So…”
The old man glanced at Chen Shun’an and said: “To slay the Tongue Thief, you need to exchange three times.”
Clearly, the old man mistakenly thought that the True Intent Chen Shun’an wanted to slay for the first time was the more difficult Tongue Thief.
Although proud and arrogant, with his Chong He Martial Tendon Body, it was not impossible.
What?
Chen Shun’an reacted immediately upon hearing this.
This was too much of a rip-off!!
Wasn’t this bundled sales, creating sunk costs so you could only keep exchanging Great Merits, completely draining your initiative?
The Five Rivers River Affairs was too useless, pouring so much effort and official resources, only to produce this thing?
Only doing flashy, empty affairs!
Chen Shun’an grumbled inwardly twice, but showed nothing on his face, only nodding slightly, his gaze calmly continuing downward, his finger subtly brushing the paper, silently turning to the next page.
【Stone Immortal Peach】
【Discovered by the Four Great Huo at Arrowhead Mountain, preserving three mu of peach grove with fifty-nine years tree age. The fruits produced have effects of subduing liver yang, resolving phlegm and Opening the Apertures; consuming aids in slaying the Mind Thief, with certain effects】
【Exchange Requirement: Second-class Great Merit can exchange for 1 piece】
【Note: Can be combined with Polygala, Cinnabar, raw iron filings, etc., for easier absorption. Only 1 piece can be taken consecutively per month, easily causes loss of appetite】
……
Chen Shun’an read line by line, his brows slightly furrowing imperceptibly, suddenly noticing an easily overlooked detail.
Cultivation Methods and weapons were one thing.
For Pills and Precious Plants made from Heaven and Earth essences…
The longest material age among them was only fifty-nine years.
Less than one Jiazi.
Chen Shun’an remembered that the 《Three Lives Thorough Assembly》 he had browsed recorded—
When the time reaches Jiazi, transformation births spirit, encountering wind and clouds, stepping alone on the moon palace.
Treasures of the world, those wet egg fetal types, once enduring one Jiazi, i.e., sixty years age, will produce various spiritual phenomena.
Ginseng grows hands and feet, Polygonatum shapes like a reclining dragon, then they are no longer ordinary things.
“Is it that they cannot be found, growing conditions too harsh… or that Precious Materials reaching Jiazi age are considered immortal treasures, all taken by Immortals?”
Chen Shun’an’s heart stirred, suppressing this thought.
During this time, several other martial artists came to exchange merits.
The old man impatiently waved his hand and said,
“Queue up! Don’t stand so close, stay farther away, don’t you know to avoid suspicion?”
Faced with the old man’s scolding, these few martial artists could only smile awkwardly, looking enviously at Chen Shun’an, who sat beside the old man, leisurely flipping through the Exchange Ledger.
Then they silently moved to the side, some squatting on the ground, some with hands clasped, obediently waiting.
Chen Shun’an continued looking down; actually, in the Exchange Ledger, most treasures corresponded to Fifth-Class Minor Merit, and one could even exchange Minor Merit for gold and silver, roughly five Fifth-Class Minor Merits for thirty Liang Jingping Silver.
Naturally, almost no one chose to directly exchange for gold and silver.
The Pills were also varied; Chen Shun’an even saw items like Yangqi Stone and Golden Lock Solid Leak Decoction for tonifying yin and yang.
If Scarred Liu saw these things, he would probably be overjoyed and exchange immediately…
Chen Shun’an’s mouth curved up slightly.
Perhaps noticing the change in Chen Shun’an’s expression, the old man timely spoke up and pointed out,
“Yangqi Stone, Golden Lock Solid Leak Decoction and such are all exchanged out; several flavors like tiger whip and Rehmannia are still being restocked. If you want to exchange, wait a bit more.”
Chen Shun’an honestly said: “I do not wish to exchange.”
“Heh…”
The old man had an ‘I saw through you long ago’ expression, with a strange smile on his lips.
Suddenly, Chen Shun’an seemed to see something, his gaze sharpening.
【Barrier Breaking Pill】
【Made by court Imperial Physicians based on Hibiscus Paste Fire, extracted and improved, supplemented with various tiger and wolf drugs. Can forcibly breakthrough, ignoring Passages, even including the four thieves of body, ear, nose, eye】
【Exchange Requirement: First-class Great Merit can exchange for one piece】
【Note: This Pill’s development is still early stage, extremely dangerous! Success rate of breakthrough only two or three in ten, and it will gradually and covertly damage the Foundation, Martial Path with flaws, no hope ahead, use with caution, use with caution!!】
This…
Chen Shun’an was stunned, his face showing shock.
As expected of my great Sacred Dynasty, able to play like this?
Hibiscus Paste Fire smuggled from Qianning Country, passing through hands, becomes Barrier Breaking Pill?
One can imagine, once this Pill is released, it would stir up huge waves in the entire Martial World.
Countless martial artists stuck at True Intent Bottlenecks would risk everything for this Pill, selling themselves into slavery.
What no hope ahead, I originally had no hope; able to break through once more is pure profit!
Moreover…
Chen Shun’an seemed to think of something, his gaze flickering.
If this thing were packaged, even deliberately concealing the ‘Martial Path damaged, no hope ahead’ Sequelae, named something like ‘Ascension Pill’ or ‘Thousand Gold Complete Formula’.
Then resold to overseas countries, like the origin of Hibiscus Paste Fire: Qianning Country.
Pulling the firewood from under the cauldron, throttling enemy countries’ massive elite martial artists.
Isn’t this using the barbarians’ skills to control the barbarians?
The more Chen Shun’an thought, the more possible it seemed.
Truly devious…
Chen Shun’an lightly exhaled a breath of Turbid Qi, simply scanning the Cultivation Methods and Martial Arts section of the Exchange Ledger.
He found most unremarkable; over a dozen superior Martial Arts recorded, few could match 《Flying Immortal Strength》 or 《Golden Snake Coiling Silk Hand》.
There were a few Martial World Mysterious Items that Chen Shun’an was quite interested in.
But the required Military Merit was considerable, and Chen Shun’an was still short.
“Then first exchange for Azure Dragon Gall; save that Fifth-Class Minor Merit for now.”
Chen Shun’an returned the Exchange Ledger, then casually asked,
“May I ask if turning in Cultivation Methods or treasures can also accumulate Military Merit.”
