2: First pot of gold, Quasi-Immortal Certificate

In the Chicken Coop, after that Jade Marrow Chicken evolved, it suddenly sat steadily in its nest, motionless.

The other nine Mortal Chickens followed suit one after another.

Lu Xian was feeling surprised when, before long, the chickens began to "cluck, cluck, cluck" again, standing up one by one, and a series of eggs appeared in the nests.

His gaze fell upon the one under the Jade Marrow Chicken.

It was slightly larger than the others, and its shell displayed a strange emerald green color, emitting a unique ripple of Spiritual Qi.

"A spirit egg! It definitely contains Spiritual Qi. So that's what a 100% daily egg-laying rate means..." He was incredibly excited.

He hurriedly reached out to take the egg, but his fingertip was pecked hard by the Jade Marrow Chicken, and a bloody hole appeared instantly.

Lu Xian hissed in pain. If he were scratched by those jade claws, wouldn't that be even worse?

He might really be unable to win a fight against a chicken right now.

"I'll cook you in a few days!" Lu Xian clutched his finger and returned to the house to cook.

He lit a fire to boil the jade marrow egg. Peeling away the emerald shell, the egg white was as translucent as jade, and the yolk was full and runny.

The taste was exceptionally delicious. Lu Xian felt full after eating only half of it. A warm current washed through his body, sweeping away the fatigue from a day of chopping wood, and he could even feel a faint strength growing within him.

As expected of a spirit egg, it was indeed worlds apart from mundane food.

It possessed the effects of both inedia and body strengthening.

Lu Xian closed his eyes in contemplation. He estimated that a single jade marrow egg could be sold for over 50 spirit fragments, but if he wanted to save enough Spirit Stones by selling these, who knew how long it would take? Moreover, frequent selling carried too much risk.

Selling several Jade Marrow Chickens separately also had hidden dangers.

Being able to sell them all at once to the Drunken Immortal Tower was undoubtedly the safest choice.

As everyone knew, aside from the regular cultivation Ranks, the cultivation world was divided into three realms: Ant, Fellow Daoist (Little Friend), and Senior.

Of course, in the Qianyuan Immortal Dynasty, one might have to add a "Official Realm."

He was currently a pure Mortal, not even reaching the Ant Realm—practically a nobody on the side of the road—so he had to be careful.

A 5% daily probability was much higher than the gacha rates in his previous life.

He would wait a few more days and make his move once he had gathered enough.

Thus, Lu Xian spent his days feeding the chickens and feasting on a jade marrow egg every day. Since he didn't have to go to work anymore, his life became leisurely.

Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, ten days had gone by.

During this period, two more Mortal Chickens evolved into Jade Marrow Chickens.

Lu Xian went to the backyard, took a deep breath, drew his prepared common iron sword, and precisely and neatly pierced the necks of the three Jade Marrow Chickens. After quickly stopping the bleeding, he put them into a gunny sack.

For Spirit Bird used in cooking, the fresher the better, naturally.

He changed into his best clothes, tidied himself up a bit, and rushed to Qingyun City without stopping.

The journey from the Shantytown to the city was the most grueling because official management was weak, making accidents very likely.

Fortunately, most people nearby were also Mortals and didn't have the sharp eyes to see what was in his bag.

Upon entering the city, Lu Xian went straight to the Drunken Immortal Tower.

This building was five stories tall, with gray bricks and jade tiles, and upturned eaves. It was quite grand; no wonder Cultivators were constantly coming and going.

Lu Xian entered. There were no customers on the first floor, and a maidservant dressed in thin gauze came forward to greet him.

After scanning him and realizing he was a Mortal, her smile faded slightly.

If it weren't for Lu Xian's decent attire and handsome appearance, she might have driven him out.

"I wonder what the guest needs? Birds, beasts, delicacies from land and sea—the Drunken Immortal Tower will surely satisfy you!" The maidservant's tone was flat.

Lu Xian didn't show it on his face and said confidently, "Fellow Daoist, the elders at home are busy and sent me to sell a few Jade Marrow Chickens. I wonder how your establishment purchases them?"

When away from home, your identity is whatever you give yourself!

"Jade Marrow Chickens?"

The maidservant noticed the sack in Lu Xian's right hand, and her face changed at light speed, her smile instantly becoming sincere. "Could the guest allow this humble girl to inspect them?"

Lu Xian untied the bag, and the maidservant's eyes flickered.

"Young Master, please wait a moment. This matter must be decided by Shopkeeper Kong." After saying that, she turned and went upstairs.

After a short while, she returned and said, "Young Master, the shopkeeper invites you."

Lu Xian followed her into a small room with a platform inside.

The maidservant casually cast a hand seal, and the platform hummed and rose slowly.

I didn't expect an elevator... no, driven by spiritual power, it should be called a spirit-vator. This cultivation world is quite advanced.

Lu Xian observed everything.

The maidservant led him into an elegant room where a middle-aged Cultivator with a kind smile and a slightly plump build was sitting. This was presumably Shopkeeper Kong.

"Little friend, come, sit and have some tea," Kong Shan said warmly.

Lu Xian's mind was steady. The other party's cultivation was profound, but he showed no fear at all.

He sat down as told, picked up the teacup, and took a sip. A sliver of warmth flashed through his body, but the effect was not as good as the jade marrow egg.

Kong Shan picked up the sack from the floor, pulled out a Jade Marrow Chicken, and a faint light appeared on his fingertips. He carefully examined its claws, beak, and feathers, and then leaned in to sniff it.

"Your Jade Marrow Chickens are of good quality. They were freshly killed this morning, weren't they?"

Lu Xian nodded. "Indeed. After the elders at home finished killing them, they had urgent business and left, so they handed them over to me to handle."

"The quality is excellent, and the essence blood is full, but the claws are only slightly jade-like. They are perfect for making Jade Marrow Drunken Phoenix. I'll give you 35 Spirit Stones per chicken, totaling 105..."

Hearing this, Lu Xian was secretly delighted; this price was 5 stones higher than expected.

"Alright, Shopkeeper Kong is fair!"

"Haha, straightforward! If your family has any more rare Spirit Bird or spirit livestock, you are welcome to come to my Drunken Immortal Tower."

Lu Xian took the small bag of Spirit Stones handed to him and cupped his hands. "Many thanks, Shopkeeper Kong. I will certainly come often."

He stood up to leave.

As he reached the door, Kong Shan suddenly asked, "May I know your name, little friend?"

"This Junior's surname is Han, and my name is Feiyu." Lu Xian didn't look back as he pushed the door and left.

Inside the elegant room, Kong Shan stroked his beard and pondered.

Han Feiyu? In the territory of Qingyun County, the only Foundation Establishment Family surnamed Han is the one at the Seven Profound Mountains, but he is sixteen and hasn't yet been initiated into Qi; that's a bit strange.

Perhaps it's some small Qi Refining clan with the same surname.

Kong Shan would never have guessed that Lu Xian was a pure Mortal... "Was the Young Master's transaction successful? Is there anything this humble girl can arrange? Our establishment's services have everything you need~"

As soon as he came out, the maidservant's gaze swept over the bulging bag of Spirit Stones at his waist, and her body leaned a bit closer intentionally or unintentionally.

"There's business at home, I can't stay long. Next time for sure!" Lu Xian walked hurriedly.

"Young Master, you must come next time~"

Come? Like hell I will... A single dish costs over a dozen Spirit Stones; is this a place I can afford to come to?

Lu Xian walked out of the Drunken Immortal Tower, grumbling inwardly.

Walking on the street and looking up at the blue sky, he just wanted to sing a song at the top of his lungs.

The Spirit Stones were in hand!

Once I get a Quasi-Immortal Certificate, the future looks promising!

I'm one step closer to the dream of "watching the seas change into mulberry fields while I roam freely and laugh at eternal life."

Let's get it all done today.

It's really not safe to be carrying these Spirit Stones around.

The black market in Qingyun City, the Wujian Workshop, has existed for a long time. Lu Xian had heard much about it when he was a handyman at the Hundred Elixirs Hall.

Transactions there don't ask about origins or Karma; they only recognize Spirit Stones.

Basic safety is maintained by the Immortal Dynasty's rules and the market itself, so it's somewhat guaranteed.

At the hour of the Dog, the sun returned to the mountains.

Lu Xian put on a peachwood mask and ducked into a remote alley. After twisting and turning, he reached the end where stone steps descended into the ground—that was the entrance to the Wujian Workshop.

Outside the entrance stood a tall dark figure with a blurred face, obscured by a Spell.

"Fellow Daoist, the rules." Lu Xian handed over two Spirit Stones.

Since he dared to come, he had naturally figured out the ropes in advance.

The dark figure took them and said with a playful tone, "Kid, you've got guts. A mere Mortal body and you dare to sneak in here? If your family found out, wouldn't they hang you up and beat you?"

"Fellow Daoist must be joking."

Ordinary Mortals would avoid this place like the plague, so the dark figure's reaction was normal.

"Go on in. The market closes today at the hour of the Ox."

Lu Xian walked underground, feeling as if he had passed through a barrier, likely a Formation.

At the end of the stone steps, the view suddenly opened up. The underground space was far larger than imagined, with a long street that seemed endless and a ceiling twenty zhang high.

The main part was a wide street. The first half consisted of over a hundred mobile stalls, while the back had more than ten pavilions of various styles scattered around.

No wonder it was called a "Workshop."

"Qi Condensation Pills, Qi Condensation Pills, selling cheap."

"Heart-Clearing Talismans, Wind-Riding Talismans, Dust-Cleansing Talismans, one Spirit Stone each."

"Sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, salty... Inedia Pills in all flavors!"

Some stall owners were shouting, but most remained silent.

Lu Xian walked through the street. What he was looking for wasn't these; the government's certificate-issuing channel in the black market certainly wouldn't be at a mobile stall.

Before long, he stopped at a pavilion with a plaque that read: "Qingyun City Household Registration Office, Wujian Workshop Branch."

Outside the door, a wooden sign was thoughtfully placed, guiding the entire registration process.

"This is really..." Lu Xian was somewhat speechless.