43: One code at a time

He did not act impulsively right away. Instead, he first changed out of his old, dirty robe and put on a clean set of Inner Sect Disciple robes.

He stabilized his aura at Qi Refining Layer Four, keeping a low profile, yet fitting the image of an Inner Sect Disciple who had achieved a normal Breakthrough after two years of seclusion.

Only after everything was ready did he push open the stone door that had been sealed for two years.

Creak~

The heavy stone door slowly opened, and the dazzling sunlight shone in, causing Gu Changsheng, who had been in the darkness for years, to squint slightly.

He stepped out of the Immortal Cave, closing the stone door behind him. The seclusion was over; next came the time to enter the world and hunt for resources.

His first stop was neither Hundred Herbs Peak nor the Sect Market, but the Sect's Scripture Pavilion.

Knowledge was the core tool for transforming information asymmetry into wealth. To profit from the qing ling flower, the safest disguise was to become an Alchemist.

The Scripture Pavilion was located halfway up the Main Peak. It was an ancient, nine-story pagoda, and people constantly streamed in and out of the entrance, mostly Outer Sect Disciples coming to exchange for Cultivation Techniques and secret arts.

Gu Changsheng walked through the crowd and headed straight for the pavilion entrance.

“Stop! Show your token!”

Two Disciples guarding the pavilion stretched out their hands to stop him, their attitude stiff and strictly businesslike.

Gu Changsheng's expression was calm as he took out his Inner Sect Disciple token and handed it over.

The Disciple took the token, swept it with his Divine Sense, and his previously stiff face instantly filled with a humble smile, his waist unconsciously bending low.

“So it's Senior Brother Gu! This Junior Brother was blind, please! Senior Brother, please enter!”

The other Disciple also quickly bowed in salute and actively pushed open the heavy wooden door for Gu Changsheng.

The surrounding Outer Sect Disciples waiting in line were all dumbfounded. These were the Pavilion Guarding Disciples who usually looked down on everyone; when had they ever been so polite to someone?

Gu Changsheng was long accustomed to this change. He nodded lightly and stepped into the first floor of the Scripture Pavilion.

Inside the pavilion, the light was soft, and the air was filled with a faint scent of ink from old books and the aroma of spiritual wood. An old man with slightly gray hair and dressed in steward robes was sitting behind the counter, meditating with his eyes closed.

Gu Changsheng walked up to the counter and gently knocked on the tabletop.

The Old Steward didn't even lift his eyelids, only letting out a lazy response from his nose. “First floor Cultivation Techniques are ten contribution points each. Place your selection on the table and register it yourself.”

His attitude was full of impatience and indifference, clearly showing he was long since numb to the constant stream of Outer Sect Disciples.

Gu Changsheng didn't mind. He placed his Inner Sect token on the tabletop and gently pushed it forward.

“Disciple Gu Changsheng is here to exchange for an Alchemy technique.”

The token made a crisp, light sound as it touched the tabletop.

The Old Steward finally opened his eyes reluctantly. His cloudy gaze fell upon the token, and the next moment, his entire body shook violently, and he instantly sobered up.

An Inner Sect Disciple!

He subconsciously released his Divine Sense and swept it over Gu Changsheng.

Qi Refining Layer Four!

The laziness and indifference on the Old Steward's face instantly vanished, replaced by an almost fawning enthusiasm. He abruptly stood up, walked around the counter, his face crinkling into folds like chrysanthemums.

“So it's Nephew-Disciple Gu! Oh dear, this old man was blind, completely blind!”

Although he addressed him as Nephew-Disciple, his posture was lower than a Junior's. He himself was only at Qi Refining Layer Six, stuck in this cultivation base for decades, long having lost hope of promotion.

Yet the person before him was already at the Middle Stage of Qi Refining at such a young age, his future prospects limitless!

“May I ask which aspect of Alchemy technique Nephew-Disciple wishes to exchange for? Is it the General Principles of Medicinal Pills, or spiritual plant Analysis? This old man has been here for decades and is quite familiar with the ancient texts here; I can offer Nephew-Disciple some advice.”

This sudden burst of enthusiasm petrified the few Outer Sect Disciples nearby who were selecting Cultivation Technique Jade Slips.

Was this still the Ebenezer Steward who usually scolded them if they asked one extra question? Did the sun rise from the west today?

They looked at the excessively young Inner Sect Senior Brother, then looked at themselves, and a massive chasm called “class” made them feel suffocated.

Gu Changsheng laughed inwardly; this was the effect he wanted. To make money safely within the Sect, a “persona” that matched his status and discouraged others from easily provoking him was essential.

“Thank you, Steward. I am new to this Dao and wish to find a foundational Alchemy text for beginners, something simple and easy to understand.” He maintained a polite but distant demeanor.

“Simple and easy to understand?” The Old Steward's eyes darted, and he immediately understood.

This young Inner Sect Genius probably didn't genuinely want to become an Alchemist; he likely saw profit in Alchemy and just wanted a brief taste to earn some spending money. He had seen this kind of thing many times.

He immediately scurried to a row of bookshelves, diligently retrieved a Jade Slip that looked quite old, and presented it with both hands.

“Nephew-Disciple, please look, this 'compendium of one hundred herbs' is the most suitable! It details the medicinal properties, identification methods, and preliminary processing techniques for one hundred commonly used Tier One Spiritual Plants. It is simple and clear, perfect for beginners establishing a foundation!”

Gu Changsheng took the Jade Slip, inserted his Divine Sense, and quickly scanned through it.

The content was indeed shallow, but it happened to include a detailed introduction to the qing ling flower, covering everything from planting to preparation. For him, this was enough.

“I'll take this one.” He nodded. “How many contribution points?”

“Oh! Nephew-Disciple, you speak like a stranger!” The Old Steward thumped his chest loudly. “If a regular Disciple came, it would naturally be two hundred contribution points. But Nephew-Disciple is the future pillar of our Sect, how could this old man take your money? Consider this Jade Slip a gesture of goodwill from this old man to Nephew-Disciple; it's on the house!”

The surrounding Outer Sect Disciples gasped when they heard “two hundred contribution points.”

When they heard the three words, “it's on the house,” they felt their worldview had been completely overturned.

Gu Changsheng, however, shook his head.

His purpose in coming here was to create a “reasonable” consumption record. Taking something for free often hid a much higher price tag.

“A separate matter. Sect rules cannot be abandoned.”

He took out his token and directly deducted two hundred contribution points.

Seeing this, the Old Steward was not displeased. Instead, he felt even more strongly that Nephew-Disciple Gu was steady and understood the rules—a person destined for great things—and his desire to form a connection deepened.

“Nephew-Disciple is noble! Then this old man shall respectfully comply.” He quickly finished the procedure and added, “If Nephew-Disciple ever needs anything in the future, just come find this old man. As long as it concerns the Scripture Pavilion, I guarantee I'll handle it perfectly for you!”

Gu Changsheng exchanged a few polite words, then, under the gaze of the crowd, he took the 'compendium of one hundred herbs' Jade Slip and turned to leave the Scripture Pavilion.

Behind him, those Outer Sect Disciples watched his retreating figure, their eyes filled with envy, jealousy, and deep reverence.

Leaving the Scripture Pavilion, Gu Changsheng did not linger, heading straight toward the Sect Market down the mountain.

Although the starting capital was small, even a mosquito's leg is meat. His plan truly began now.

The Sect Market was still bustling. Gu Changsheng, familiar with the route, arrived at a shop specializing in selling various spiritual plant seeds.

The shop owner was a thin, middle-aged man. Seeing the Inner Sect Disciple robes Gu Changsheng wore, he immediately greeted him warmly.

“Senior Brother, what would you like to buy? Our small shop has all kinds of spiritual plant seeds and seedlings, guaranteed to be fully aged and rich in Spiritual Qi!”

Gu Changsheng looked around and finally spotted the qing ling flower seedlings, which resembled small blue stars, in an inconspicuous corner.

Without changing his expression, he first pointed to several common auxiliary Alchemy medicinal ingredients nearby and asked, “How much are these?”

After the owner quoted the prices one by one, Gu Changsheng pretended to casually point at the qing ling flower.

“What about this one? qing ling flower, isn't it the material used to refine spirit-calming incense?”

The owner smiled and nodded: “Senior Brother has good eyesight! It is indeed the qing ling flower. However, the demand for this item is small, and the price is cheap; three Spirit Stones can buy ten seedlings.”

Gu Changsheng displayed the curiosity of a beginner. “I recently obtained an Alchemy text and plan to try refining some things myself. I might as well start with the cheapest ones to practice.”

As he spoke, he took fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones from his Storage Pouch and placed them on the counter.

“Give me one hundred fifty plants first, just to test the waters.”

When the owner heard this, he immediately beamed with joy.

One hundred fifty plants!

Although the qing ling flower is the main ingredient for spirit-calming incense, because the refining technique is complex, most people, aside from highly skilled Alchemists, choose to buy the finished product directly.

It seemed he had encountered an Inner Sect “Sucker” who had just started and was practicing regardless of the cost.

“Alright!” Fearing he might change his mind, the owner quickly packaged the one hundred fifty qing ling flowers using spiritual soil and eagerly handed them over.

He thought for a moment, and in order to win over this seemingly not-too-bright long-term customer, he spoke up proactively.

“Since Senior Brother is visiting for the first time, I'll give you a discount. For these one hundred fifty plants, just give me forty Spirit Stones!”

He proactively conceded five Spirit Stones.

Gu Changsheng sneered inwardly, but on the surface, he feigned surprise. “In that case, thank you, Boss.”

He retrieved the five Spirit Stones, placed the large package of qing ling flower seedlings into his Storage Pouch, and turned to leave.

Watching Gu Changsheng's departing back, the shop owner rubbed his hands and smiled broadly, feeling he had stumbled upon a great bargain today.

Little did he know that what he had just missed was an immense fortune capable of changing his entire life.