"Fine, it's good to chat since I have nothing else to do."
Ji Shan began by explaining, "You know about the ninth level of Qi Refining, right? Once nine vortexes of Qi are condensed within the body, one is considered to have reached the ninth level of Qi Refining.
However, there are differences between the ninth level and the ninth level. The distinction lies in the expansion of the Qi Sea!
The larger the Qi Sea, the more spiritual energy it can hold, and the larger the condensed vortexes. But the most crucial aspect is... potential!"
"Potential?"
Yun Ze's eyes lit up. This was precisely what he cared about the most!
He wanted to know how far he could go on the immortal path.
But he didn't yet know his spiritual root. Hearing that potential could be judged by the expansion of the Qi Sea, he was naturally eager to learn more.
"Isn't it potential?"
Ji Shan casually found a chair and sat down, continuing, "Ordinary Qi Refining cultivators, at the first level of Qi Refining, can only accommodate the spiritual energy of one Grade 1 spirit stone at most.
If they wish to break through, they only need to absorb one Grade 1 spirit stone, and this constitutes one realm.
The so-called second realm is to double the volume of the Qi Sea. Doesn't the difficulty of cultivation instantly skyrocket?"
"Think about it, a Qi Refining cultivator with a first-realm Qi Sea and one with a second-realm Qi Sea, at the same cultivation level, who has higher potential?"
"Naturally, the second realm," Yun Ze replied without hesitation.
"Exactly!"
Ji Shan nodded with a smile, "The volume of a second-realm Qi Sea is twice that of a first-realm, a third-realm is twice that of a second-realm, and so on.
Little Yun, what realm is your Qi Sea currently?"
"It should be the third realm."
Yun Ze answered truthfully.
His current Qi Sea was four times its original size, naturally making it the third realm.
"Third realm? Not bad, not bad!"
Ji Shan patted his shoulder, "How are the preparations for the subsequent spiritual items?"
"Spiritual items? What spiritual items?"
Yun Ze was startled. He hadn't said he wanted to continue expanding his spiritual sea.
"Spiritual items for expanding the Qi Sea! You can't expand the Qi Sea solely through cultivation. And you... you'll probably need at least the fifth realm, right?"
"Brother Shan, why do you say that?" Yun Ze forced himself to calm down and asked.
The fifth realm!
How was that possible!
If it weren't for Yu Xian's cup of ascension, he wouldn't have been able to break through to the third realm Qi Sea.
That was a spiritual wine that could help one become a ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator with just one cup!
If he still wanted to strive for a higher realm Qi Sea, who knew how much he would have to pay.
As a rogue cultivator?
A fifth-realm Qi Sea? He might as well dream about it at the fifth watch of the night!
"Earthly Path Foundation Establishment!"
Ji Shan looked at him with confusion, "You're not going to tell me you don't even know this?"
Yun Ze remained silent.
He just looked at Ji Shan, his expression saying it all.
"Alright..."
Ji Shan spoke again, "Besides needing Earthly Milk Jade Marrow and nine types of spiritual items for Earthly Path Foundation Establishment, there's a fundamental requirement: a fifth-realm Qi Sea!
Now that you have Earthly Soul Liquid, aren't you going to give it a shot?"
Yun Ze was momentarily lost in thought.
A fifth-realm Qi Sea!
This meant he needed to expand his current Qi Sea volume by another four times!
Who knew how many spiritual items that would require!
Right!
Brother Yu mentioned last time that as long as he survived for half a month, he would guarantee him Earthly Path Foundation Establishment. He wondered if the fifth-realm Qi Sea was included in that guarantee...
"Guide! Where is the guide?"
A voice called out from nearby. Yun Ze snapped back to attention and turned towards the sound.
He saw a group of cultivators approaching, carrying lanterns from the stalls, seemingly looking for him.
"Alright, get back to work. If you have any more questions about cultivation, ask me privately later."
As soon as he finished speaking, before Yun Ze could reply, Ji Shan vanished from the spot, leaving him alone.
And at this moment, the group of cultivators had spotted him!
"There he is!"
"Quick! Surround him, don't let him escape!"
What kind of talk was that!
Yun Ze regained his senses, his eyebrows furrowed beneath his grey cloak, and he glared at them.
I'm an auxiliary staff member of the Immortal Mansion now!
And you dare to surround me?
Are you tired of living!
Seeing this, Yun Ze took a step forward and retorted, "What business do you have with me?"
"Refund!"
The leader shouted, extending one arm and handing over a lantern from a stall, "We're not setting up stalls anymore, we want a refund for the stall fees!"
I'm already worried about not having enough spirit stones, and you dare ask for a refund?
If you want to dream, do it when you're asleep!
"Refund stall fees?"
Yun Ze asked back, then sneered, "Hmph, the Immortal Gathering has no such rule!
Since you've taken the stall, it belongs to you for the day, unless... you've returned to the underworld. Then I might reluctantly consider giving you a refund?"
Refund only upon returning to the underworld?
Then who would get the refund? Ghost cultivators?
Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted in a clamor!
For some cultivators with family backgrounds, five spirit stones were insignificant, just the cost of acquiring information.
But for these rogue cultivators, let alone five spirit stones, didn't you see the black-robed person from the inn, who treasured three spirit stones as if they were priceless, afraid of being discovered?
This showed how desperate these rogue cultivators were, who had intended to get rich by snatching the Earthly Soul Liquid but ended up losing five spirit stones!
When the crowd heard Yun Ze's firm stance, they didn't dare to resort to force.
One person stepped forward, a forced smile on his face, and asked Yun Ze, "Senior, we don't ask for a full refund, just refund us three... no, two spirit stones!
If the stall is returned, won't you be able to rent it out again?"
"Young man, your idea is quite good, but..."
"Senior, is there any difficulty?"
That person quickly stepped forward, "Perhaps you can tell us, and we can all help Senior resolve it!"
"I'm old, I just don't want to move."
Yun Ze feigned a sigh, "The task of finding someone to take over the stall again, I don't want to do it."
"This..."
"I can do it on behalf of Senior!"
The person who had spoken earlier hesitated, while another quickly stepped forward, "Senior, if I rent out my stall, then my spirit stones..."
"Then I'll refund you two."
Yun Ze agreed without hesitation.
This way, a stall that originally could only be rented for five spirit stones would now fetch him eight, earning an extra three!
But it was strange, if these people could think of subletting, why didn't they sublet it themselves?
This way, they might have been able to recover all their losses and wouldn't have to lose three spirit stones!
Yun Ze pondered for a few moments and quickly understood.
The color of the candlelight!
Most of their stalls had ordinary candlelight, which only allowed them to sell cultivation techniques!
If they were to resell, at least eighty percent wouldn't be sold.
So, finding Yun Ze to help was their only option.
Yun Ze hadn't expected that his initial decision to save trouble, by directly setting them up with ordinary candlelight without even asking, would actually bring him additional income.
The original ticket revenue of two thousand two hundred and fifty spirit stones, due to people subletting stalls, had directly soared to three thousand!
Now, just from stall fees, he alone could take three hundred!
By the end of the Immortal Gathering, combined with ticket sales and commissions from stall sales, his income would exceed five hundred spirit stones!
However, this was only for the first day.
For the next two days, his income was only around two to three hundred spirit stones.
Three days, one thousand spirit stones!
If this were in the past, he would have considered it a fortune.
After all, that amount was enough for him to buy a Grade 1 low-rank spiritual weapon.
But when he heard a piece of news brought by Ji Shan, he had only one thought in his mind.
He was still too poor!
Ever since he learned that Earthly Path Foundation Establishment required reaching the fifth realm Qi Sea, Yun Ze had asked Ji Shan to help him keep an eye out for spiritual items that could expand the Qi Sea!
On this third day, Ji Shan brought both good news and bad news!
The good news was that in three days, there would be a spiritual pill in the Immortal Gathering auction that could expand the Qi Sea!
The bad news was...
The starting bid was three thousand spirit stones!
According to Fu Yue's estimation, the final price was likely to be around eight thousand!
Yun Ze thought for a day and decided not to miss this opportunity!
However, besides seeking help from Yu Xian, he could only think of one way to gather a large amount of spirit stones in a short period!
That was... selling himself!