Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World
Chapter 89: Choosing Merits

Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Choosing Merits

Zheng Fa received his Life Plate and followed Han Qi out of the Affairs Hall, heading towards the Scripture Pavilion.

He looked at Han Qi, whose expression remained complex, with confusion in his eyes.

Ever since hearing that Zheng Fa was receiving a hundred talisman papers and two pieces of Spirit Ink every month, this man had been acting somewhat oddly.

It seemed as if he thought the extra reward was too generous.

"Zheng, you probably haven’t truly realized what I mean when I say spiritual materials are expensive," Han Qi explained, seeming to understand what he was about to ask.

Zheng Fa nodded.

"In our Jiushan Sect, one piece of Spirit Ink costs at least one Spirit Stone, and a hundred talisman papers are also worth about one Spirit Stone."

Zheng Fa did some quick math and realized that he was receiving materials equivalent to three Spirit Stones every month—three times the usual monthly salary.

"How much gold is one Spirit Stone worth?" asked Zheng Fa.

"The Affairs Hall’s purchasing ratio for Spirit Stones is two hundred taels of gold for one Spirit Stone..."

Zheng Fa quickly calculated.

The materials he received every month were roughly equivalent to four Spirit Stones, or eight hundred taels of gold.

Was he actually this wealthy?

"The Affairs Hall is scamming fools! Two hundred taels of gold, that’s the price from a thousand years ago. Now, in the market, it’s down to luck whether you can exchange four hundred taels of gold for one stone!" Han Qi said with a cold laugh.

"Is it that expensive?"

Coming from poverty, Zheng Fa had to admit that he was shocked by the price.

"It will only get pricier! Spirit Stones are always in short supply in the markets, " Han Qi explained. "Any slightly high-end spiritual materials or treasures are almost exclusively purchased with Spirit Stones, and gold is just a reluctant choice for us low-level cultivators because there aren’t enough Spirit Stones."

Zheng Fa pondered for a moment and understood Han Qi’s point.

It seemed like the Immortal Sect operated on a dual currency system—

The Immortal Sect probably used to trade exclusively in Spirit Stones, but due to the decline in Spiritual Energy, they couldn’t be produced in large quantities, leading to a currency shortage in the market, and they had to compensate with gold.

But spiritual materials were also scarce—wasn’t this an inconvenient coincidence?

Therefore, the prices of Spirit Stones and spiritual materials skyrocketed hand in hand, and whether or not the disciples of the Immortal Sect could afford them was of no concern to them.

Today, high-end spiritual materials in the Immortal Sect are still only traded for Spirit Stones.

The things gold can buy are limited, and with Spirit Stones becoming rarer, the exchange rate between the two grows increasingly absurd.

...

The Scripture Pavilion was not far from the Affairs Hall, and after walking the distance of half an incense stick, they arrived.

The place was more modest than Zheng Fa had imagined—a three-story building that was neither tall nor splendid, looking dusty and unremarkable.

However, there were quite a few people coming and going.

"Take out your Life Plate," Han Qi instructed Zheng Fa. "With the Life Plate of an Outer Disciple, you can receive one Qi Refinement Cultivation Technique for free."

Zheng Fa’s spirits lifted, and he followed Han Qi into the building.

At the entrance on the first floor, there was a wooden table, with a man in his twenties or thirties sitting behind it. He seemed quite enthusiastic upon seeing them enter.

"New disciple?" The man came out from behind the wooden table and asked, "Here to collect a Cultivation Technique?"

"Yes," answered Zheng Fa.

"I can tell at a glance, brother, you have exceptional talent and excellent Spirit Roots. With a good Cultivation Technique, you will surely become a pillar of our Jiushan Sect in the future!"

The brother looked at Zheng Fa with approval in his expression.

"You flatter me too much..."

Zheng Fa always felt like this man was eyeing him as if he were a fat sheep.

"But..." The brother furrowed his brows, appearing worried for Zheng Fa: "There are numerous Cultivation Techniques in our Jiushan Sect, and if you can’t pick a suitable one, it may affect your path, brother!"

"So what does brother suggest?"

"I have been working in the Scripture Pavilion for over three years and am well-versed in the characteristics of the Cultivation Techniques here... As long as brother is willing to make friends with me, I will definitely find the most suitable Cultivation Technique for you!"

"..." Zheng Fa glanced at Han Qi, who was looking out at a white cloud in the sky, as if the shape of the cloud was filled with insights, giving him a sudden revelation.

Understood, it’s customary!

"So brother, how much is this friendship worth?"

"Fifty taels of gold."

"Pah!" Before Zheng Fa could speak, Han Qi, who had just been contemplating the Dao, jumped up in rage: "Do you have no honor at all? Fifty taels, and you have the gall to ask for that much?"

"...Who might this be?"

"Like I haven’t worked in the Scripture Pavilion before! It used to be just ten taels of gold, and now you’re asking for fifty? I thought I was being extortionate asking for fifteen taels before, but seems there’s always someone greedier!"

Zheng Fa gave him a glance.

"So it’s you, brother!" Once he said that, the brother from the Scripture Pavilion got the message and his smile faded a bit: "That old rate of ten taels is outdated, you know that as well as I do with the current prices!"

"Alright, we’ll choose ourselves!"

Han Qi waved his hand and pulled Zheng Fa into the Scripture Pavilion.

"Thank you, brother Han."

Zheng Fa had seen it clearly just now, this person didn’t want to offend anyone—until they asked for an outrageous price.

"Sister Zhang asked me to take care of you, how could I let you be taken advantage of like this?" Han Qi snorted: "These new guys are too greedy, breaking all the rules! The atmosphere in the Sect is getting worse day by day!"

"?"

Isn’t... this atmosphere partly your doing?

To Zheng Fa’s surprise, the first floor of the Scripture Pavilion was filled with paper books instead of jade tubes—soon he understood that someone like him wouldn’t be able to read from the jade tubes.

Previously, the Jiushan Ancestor had given him the Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Method and the Spirit Mountain Technique recorded in jade tubes.

He had tried them, with no response.

"What’s your Spirit Root?"

"Fire and Wood Dual Spirit Roots."

"Then come over here." Han Qi led him to a row of bookshelves and said: "For Qi Refinement Realm Cultivation Techniques, aside from special Spirit Roots, practitioners typically cultivate Five Elements techniques. You have Fire and Wood Dual Spirit Roots; Wood feeds Fire, which makes your combination a superior one among Dual Spirit Roots. It’s best to cultivate a Fire Element Qi Cultivation method."

"Brother, do you have any recommendations?"

"There are many Fire Element techniques in our Jiushan Sect; it depends on what kind you want." Han Qi spoke as if he were very familiar with the Scripture Pavilion: "The best for Alchemy is ’Flame Sun Skills,’ the best for Artifact Refining is ’Fire Refining Scripture,’ the best for fighting is ’True Fire Refining Magic.’ This technique has the most power and is chosen by many..."

He went on and on, listing five or six, while Zheng Fa felt quite dizzy listening.

"Brother, I don’t care about power... Is there one that’s quick and safe to cultivate?"

"..."

Han Qi silently stared at him.

"What’s wrong?"

"...Your temperament is miles apart from Sister Zhang’s." Han Qi looked puzzled: "How could she take a fancy to you?"

Zheng Fa understood—he was being subtly mocked for being a coward.

"...Is there such a technique?"

"Chi Xiao Technique!"

Zheng Fa thought for a moment, picked up the books Han Qi had mentioned earlier to review them, and found that his descriptions were indeed very detailed.

These Fire Attribute techniques indeed each had their own characteristics.

Only the "Chi Xiao Technique," among the Fire Element techniques, was the most balanced and moderate. Although it lacked any extra bonuses, it had a low chance of deviation.

And the speed of cultivation was above average.

"I’ll take this one!"

Zheng Fa satisfactorily packed away the "Chi Xiao Technique."

He fished in his pocket and pulled out ten taels of gold to hand over to Han Qi standing by.

"What’s this?"

"Customary!"

"Brother, you really are endearing!" Han Qi snatched the ten taels of gold: "Sister Zhang sure has an eye for people!"

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