Chapter 100: Trade (Four updates)_1
Translator: 549690339
Elder Yu had spent one hundred and fifty years to reach the Foundation Establishment Stage.
During these hundred years, he had dealings with all sorts of cultivators, which naturally included many Formation Masters.
Elder Yu mostly did not have a good opinion of Formation Masters.
Clan and sect-born Formation Masters looked down on Loose Cultivators. Some Loose Cultivator-born Formation Masters felt they had leaped over the dragon gate and were superior, showing even more disdain for Loose Cultivators than those from clans or sects did.
Since formations were difficult to learn and Formation Masters were scarce, they were always arrogant, with their noses in the air.
In the face of Foundation Building Cultivators, some Formation Masters would be superficially polite, but once you asked them to create a formation, they would demand an exorbitant fee.
If you tried to bargain, they’d take it as an affront, questioning if you thought their formations were not worth that many Spirit Stones. If you did not bargain, the exorbitant price in Spirit Stones was something these Loose Cultivators could hardly afford.
But with few Formation Masters in the world and many cultivators in need of formations, sometimes, despite their exorbitant demands, you had no choice but to pay.
Thus, while Elder Yu showed respect to Formation Masters on the surface, he held no fondness for them in his heart.
Mo Hua frowned, and Elder Yu guessed in his heart that this deal might not work out. Eight Spirit Stones was the most he could offer; he could not afford any more.
Though he was a Foundation Building Cultivist, having neither affiliated himself with a sect nor attached himself to a clan, he had to earn Spirit Stones on his own and deal with the trivial matters of being a Monster Hunter. He was not much wealthier than a cultivator in the Qi Refinement Realm.
Elder Yu felt some dissatisfaction toward Mo Hua. Although young and seemingly obedient, the moment Spirit Stones were involved, he probably became greedy, no different from other Formation Masters.
Indeed, Formation Masters were all cast from the same mold, none of them good news.
“How much do you want?” Elder Yu asked with an unfriendly tone. He was curious to see how much Mo Hua wanted.
Mo Hua calculated in his mind, then said, “Three would do.”
Elder Yu snorted coldly.
The room went quiet for a moment. Elder Yu hesitated and then asked in disbelief, “How many?”
Elder Yu raised an eyebrow; the Mo Hua in his eyes suddenly seemed much more adorable.
He then suspected in his heart that the kid might be a fool. Who ever heard of bargaining backward?
“Are you sure you only want three?”
“Mm, three Spirit Stones will do, but I have a small condition,” Mo Hua replied.
“A condition?” Elder Yu paused, “Let’s hear it.”
“I would like some Spiritual Ink, of all five elements – metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. I need it for practicing formations. It doesn’t have to be much; you can decide the amount, just consider it as extra remuneration.”
“That’s it,” Mo Hua nodded.
“That’s easy then,” Elder Yu immediately said.
Some Spiritual Ink, although it would cost some Spirit Stones, was nothing compared to the price of one hundred Iron Armor Formations. Besides, as a Foundation Building Cultivist, he naturally had his own connections and could get good quality Spiritual Ink without spending too many Spirit Stones. That would save him a considerable amount of Spirit Stones.
Elder Yu looked at Mo Hua and suddenly felt that the more he looked at the boy, the more handsome he seemed.
And he said he’d use the Spiritual Ink to practice formations?
“Excellent! Diligent and eager to learn – no wonder at such a young age, you can draw formations so well!” Elder Yu praised inwardly.
Elder Yu thought for a moment, then worried that Mo Hua might get a bad deal, said, “You’re only asking for three spirit stones, is that enough?”
“It’s fine, three spirit stones aren’t too few. Besides, we’re all loose cultivators, we should look out for one another. This is what my dad often tells me.” Mo Hua said in a childish voice.
These words struck a chord with Elder Yu, and he felt a warmth in his heart.
He himself came from a loose cultivator background, and it was not easy for him to reach the Foundation Establishment Stage. He had thought about moving to a higher-grade state boundary to seek opportunities, perhaps he could even make further progress in Tao cultivation.
But looking back, he saw the uncles and aunts who had taken care of him, his friends and older brothers, struggling to get by. Without the care of a Foundation Building Cultivator, they would surely be oppressed by the members of the big clans every day, living a hard life.
After a long consideration, he decided to stay.
The outside cultivation world was boundless, and even if he left, he would just be one of the countless cultivators with low cultivation and an uncertain future. However, in Tongxian City, he was a towering Foundation Building Cultivator who could ease many people’s suffering, protect many from harm, and allow most loose cultivators to have a slightly better life.
Now, hearing such words from a small child like Mo Hua, Elder Yu found it very heartening.
Elder Yu stared at Mo Hua, looking him over from left to right, growing fonder of the boy the more he looked.
Look at how well Mo Shan has raised his son!
Mo Hua, feeling a bit uneasy under Elder Yu’s intense gaze, couldn’t help but ask, “Elder Yu, is there something wrong?”
“No, no, everything’s right, very right!” Elder Yu said, “Tomorrow I’ll have someone send over the rattan armor, and I’ll help you look for the Spiritual Ink, the kind with the Five Elements attribute, right? I’ll send them to you once I’ve gathered them. Rest assured, you’ve done me a great favor this time, and I won’t let you suffer a loss. If you need anything in the future, you can also come to me.”
Mo Hua replied joyfully, “Thank you, Elder!”
“It’s nothing, just a trifle!” Elder Yu waved his hand, then added with concern, “You should rest now, don’t stay up too late at such a young age.”
“Right.” Mo Hua nodded.
Elder Yu then headed out, but after a few steps, he seemed to remember something and hesitated, eventually turning back.
Mo Hua looked puzzled and asked, “Elder Yu, is there anything else?”
Elder Yu coughed softly, and discreetly pulled out a storage bag, “I… cough, have two grandsons, and I need your help with their… formations.”
“Is this urgent?” Mo Hua asked.
“This… it’s a bit urgent, but not particularly so, you can make them when you have the time.”
Elder Yu’s two grandsons were with Da’hu’s group, becoming Monster Hunters who had already started hunting in the mountains.
It’s often said that grandparents are more affectionate toward their grandchildren: Elder Yu didn’t bother with his son, but had a soft spot for his two grandsons. Every time they returned from the mountain with injuries, he felt distressed.
Being a Foundation Building Cultivator, he could not simply go to the mountain.
If a Foundation Building Cultivator frequently ventured into the mountains, the monster beasts would take it as a provocation, attracting Second Grade Big Demons. In Tongxian City, a Second Grade Big Demon was practically without a natural enemy.
There weren’t many Foundation Building Cultivators in Tongxian City to begin with. To have Foundation Building Cultivators join forces for monster hunting was even rarer, and even if they did, they were unlikely to match a Second Grade monster beast.
And if they made a mistake, allowing a Second Grade monster beast to consume one or two Foundation Building Cultivators, that would be a major problem.
Therefore, unless necessary, Elder Yu, being in the Foundation Establishment Stage, generally wouldn’t enter Big Black Mountain. At most, he would roam the Outer Mountain. If he had to enter the Inner Mountain, he would try his best not to reveal his cultivation.
Because he could not go into the mountain at will, he was always concerned about the safety of his two grandsons. By adding an Iron Armor Formation to their rattan armors, it gave them a means of protection, and he could feel more at ease.
“Sure, I’ll help you make them when I have time!” Mo Hua promised.
Elder Yu nodded, and seeing that Mo Hua was about to return to his room, he warmly reminded, “Take your time with those formations. It doesn’t matter if there are more or fewer; just don’t overwork yourself.”
The usually stern Elder Yu spoke in a voice that was indescribably kind and friendly.