Chapter Fifty-One: The White-Haired Old Woman

  Ning Cheng walked out of Fei Yan Dan Medicine Pavilion, he didn't dare to take out the Golden Cicada Fruit. From that shopkeeper's mouth, he already knew that even if he had a Golden Cicada Fruit, it would be very difficult to get the Jue Qi Dan. Taking a step back, even if he could exchange the Golden Cicada Fruit for the Jue Qi Dan, he would have to go through Ming Xin College. Ning Cheng wasn't brainless, how could he do such a thing?

  Fei Yan's Dan Medicine Pavilion is like this, the rest of the Dan Pavilions don't even need to be visited, they're definitely the same. It seems that even if he has the Golden Cicada Fruit, getting the Jiqi Dan won't be an easy task.

  Due to the experience at Fei Yan Dan Yao Ge, Ning Cheng decided to look for a relatively ordinary alchemy pavilion. He didn't plan on taking out his Jiao Horn, he wanted to sell off the curved knife artifact in his hand and exchange it for a needle-shaped artifact.

  Ning Cheng obviously didn't know much about refining equipment, he searched for a whole half day, and by the time the sky was getting dark, he still hadn't found a place that specialized in refining equipment. At most, there were only some merchant buildings that sold weapons and low-grade magic equipment, these places could also refine equipment, but they were all ordinary fixed magic equipment, like the kind Ning Cheng required, it was absolutely impossible to refine.

  This made Ning City very disappointed, and he even thought of refining his own equipment. However, thinking about the Gathering Spirit Pill, he couldn't help but feel a bit frustrated. If everyone was like him, without pills to refine on their own and no magical artifacts to cultivate, then cultivation would be too easy. It wouldn't be that South Origin City couldn't find anyone to refine equipment for them.

  Because whether it is alchemy or equipment forging, neither can be easily learned, and even requires a lifetime of study, the number of alchemists and equipment forgers in Nanyuan City is so scarce. Even if there are a few who know how to practice alchemy or forge equipment, they will not stay in Pingzhou.

  Ning Cheng had already decided to give up on refining equipment, and after resting at the inn for a day, he would go to the Ming Xin Academy to see if he could meet An Yi. If he could meet An Yi ahead of time, he would leave Nan Yuan City early.

  "Friend, wait a moment." Just as he was about to return to the inn in Ningcheng, he was suddenly stopped by someone.

  Ning City stopped and turned around to see a short and thin middle-aged man with a sly face, but his cultivation was not weak, already at the third layer of Qi gathering.

  "Are you calling me?" Ning Cheng asked in a low voice, he seemed to have seen this guy before, but couldn't remember which store it was. He had run many shops looking for a place to refine his equipment.

  "My name is Ge Chang, are you friends looking for someone to customize a magic tool?" The thin and short middle-aged man clasped his fists together in greeting towards Ning Cheng, with a hint of inquiry in his tone.

  Although this guy's name and appearance were completely opposite, Ning Cheng didn't find it funny, instead he furrowed his brow and said in a cold voice, "So you're saying you've been following me?"

  "Friend, please don't misunderstand," Ge Chang hastily waved his hand and said. "I, Ge Chang, am a reputable person in Nan Yuan City, how could I possibly follow you? Recently, many cultivators have come to Nan Yuan City but can't find a place to refine their equipment. As it happens, I know a refining master. I've already helped many people out, and if you're willing, I can take you to that refining master."

  Ning Cheng finally understood that this guy was a business promoter who specialized in lurking outside some equipment rooms to wait for opportunities. At the same time, Ning Cheng's heart was also secretly on guard, having been followed by a fourth-layer cultivator for so long without even realizing it.

  The order of Nanyuan City was still reassuring, at least he hadn't seen the scenes of Mangguo City and Canglang City here yet.

  To think that this person's talent is only three layers of aura, and his cultivation is about the same as what he has shown. Thinking of this, Ning City nodded, "Alright, how much compensation do you need?"

  Ning Cheng came from the earth, of course, he knew that there was no free lunch in the world. Ge Chang took the initiative to find him, and he must be thinking of making some money. He would never come to do good deeds for no reason.

  Ge Chang listened to Ning Cheng's words and immediately gave a thumbs up, saying, "Brother, you're the most straightforward person I've ever met. You absolutely won't be taken advantage of. This master can be said to be the most powerful craftsman in the entire Nan Yuan City..."

  Ning Cheng directly cut off Ge Chang's words, "Name a price and take me there, as for the rest, it's not very important."

  Ning Cheng wouldn't believe what Ge Chang said, that the most powerful alchemy master would not need someone like Ge Chang to go around drumming up business. If there really was such a powerful alchemy master in Nan Yuan City, they would have long since bought the most luxurious alchemy tower.

  Fortunately, he only needs to refine one fine needle that meets his idea, and as for the quality, he doesn't care. In Nan Yuan City, wanting to refine a top-grade artifact is no easier than dreaming.

  Ge Chang saw that Ning Cheng was not interested in talking to him, and somewhat awkwardly said, "Because this alchemy master doesn't like being disturbed, and is a true high-ranking person, so the price I want may be higher, requiring two pieces of low-grade spiritual stones..."

  Ning Cheng sneered, "You want me to take you to find a place to refine equipment and it costs two pieces of low-grade spirit stone. In this one year, won't you become one of the richest people in Nan Yuan City? If spirit stones are so easy to earn, why do I need to risk my life in the Great Ancestor Forest? You go find customers who have two pieces of spirit stone, I'm a poor man, I don't have any."

  Ning Cheng finished speaking and turned to leave. Two pieces of spiritual stone were already a huge fortune in Nan Yuan City, even if Ning Cheng had taken out these two pieces of spiritual stone, he wouldn't have been so foolish. The core disciples of Ming Xin Academy, such as Lu Xue and Le Bo Hong, only received one piece of spiritual stone as a reward each month. If they wanted to obtain extra spiritual stones, they would have to go out and fight for them themselves.

  "Wait, or I'll give you ten Gathering Stones instead." Ge Chang saw that Ning Cheng was completely ignoring him and hastily called out to Ning Cheng, immediately lowering the price by several dozen times.

  Ning Cheng still had several dozen Gathering Spirit Stones on him, which were some spoils of war. These things didn't have much use for him, as they contained too many impurities. Moreover, Ning Cheng really wanted to find a Refining Master to refine a magic treasure, so this time he didn't bother with Ge Long. He took out ten Gathering Spirit Stones from his package and tossed them at Ge Long, "Lead the way."

  Ge Chang took over the Jiqi stone, his heart was greatly delighted. He had only casually asked for a high price and didn't think that Ning Cheng would actually give him ten Jiqi stones.

  "Follow me, friend." Ge's expression suddenly became extremely enthusiastic. He politely stretched out his hand and led the way first.

  Ning Cheng closely followed Ge Chang, while also being cautious of the surrounding situation.

  Ge Changqi walked with Ning Cheng for nearly half an hour, turning through dozens of big and small streets, entering a residential area. After arriving here, the people around had thinned out, and even the entire street could only see one or two ordinary pedestrians.

  Just as Ning Cheng was getting impatient, Ge Long led him into a small alley and stopped in front of a low and humble house. "This is it," he said. "The master has a bit of a strange temper, whether or not he's willing to help you refine your equipment, I don't know. I've already brought you here, you can go in yourself, I won't be going."

  After handing over the city of He Ning, Ge Chang also called out a sentence in this flat house, "Master Gong Sun, I've helped you find another business."

  After finishing this sentence, Ge Zong hurriedly turned around and escaped, and in the blink of an eye, he disappeared from this small alley.

  Ning Cheng realized he had probably been deceived, this small alley was just an ordinary place where common people lived, how could there be a master of alchemy? If there really was a master of alchemy, how could Ge Chang have escaped? Fortunately, he only gave ten pieces of Qi-gathering stones.

  Whether it was true or false, Ning Cheng still pushed open the door and walked in.

  The room was very dark, and even Ning Cheng's eyes could only vaguely see the things inside. The furnishings were simple, with only one table and two chairs, and nothing else besides.

  There was a room on either side of the house. The one on the right was closed, while the one on the left emitted a faint light.

  "Excuse me, is anyone there?" Ning Cheng called out.

  After a while, there was no answer. Ning Cheng walked to the door of the room on the left and pushed it with his hand, only to find that this room was actually just ajar.

  After entering the room, Ning Cheng only saw that there was actually someone inside. Not only was there someone, but it was also an old woman with a head full of white hair.

  The old woman had her back to him, and in front of her was a stove with flames on it. However, this stove was not some kind of refining furnace, but an ordinary household stove. On the stove was a round pot, and what was being boiled inside the pot was unknown.

  At this time, the old woman seemed to be completely unaware that Ning Cheng had entered the room. She lifted her hand and opened the lid of the pot, releasing a savory aroma that wafted up to his nose. Ning Cheng shook his head in speechlessness - this was simply an ordinary mortal's home, where people were cooking meals.

  "Sorry, grandma, I've come to the wrong place." After saying that, Ning Cheng quickly retreated a step and backed out.

  But Ning City soon re-entered the room, and found something wrong with it. This room didn't even have a window, and the old woman was burning a stove inside, yet he couldn't smell any smoke at all.

  Because he hadn't smelled any smoke, Ning Cheng suddenly realized that this stove seemed to be burning without fuel. This was absolutely unusual, and he didn't believe that an ordinary person could burn a stove without charcoal.

  As expected, when Ning Cheng re-entered the room, he saw even more clearly. This stove was indeed without fuel, and that flame still carried a hint of spirituality. Ning Cheng's senses were incredibly powerful, and with one glance, he knew that this flame wasn't ordinary firewood.

  "A junior has heard that the senior is a master of alchemy, and has come specifically to ask for help in refining a magical artifact. I apologize for disturbing your quiet cultivation, please forgive me." Ning City discovered that this flame was unusual, and then found that he couldn't see through this old woman's cultivation at all. In his heart, he immediately suspected that this old woman must be a recluse, and Ning City didn't dare to be careless with such a temperamental recluse.

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