Chapter 21: Niu Bin's Business Savvy

Su Yuan waited for three days. New immortal seedlings began joining the various peaks in large numbers. Su Yuan finally swaggered out of his cave dwelling at this time. Whenever he encountered unfamiliar disciples on the road, he'd greet them with "Hello, senior brother" or "Hello, senior sister." The older disciples didn't suspect anything, assuming Su Yuan was a new disciple, and would respond with "Hello, junior brother." Meanwhile, the new disciples would proactively greet Su Yuan with "Hello, senior brother!" Having never seen Su Yuan before, they naturally took him for an older disciple, and Su Yuan would amiably respond with "Hello, junior brother!" In short, Su Yuan perfectly blended into the Mysterious Extremes Peak's disciples without anyone noticing anything unusual about him. Su Yuan asked an older disciple: "Senior brother, do you know where to apply for recommending an outer sect disciple?" "Eh? Junior brother, you have a superior spiritual root? Ah, I'm familiar with this! Let me take you there, it's right over here!" "Hahaha, thank you, thank you senior brother!" "What's your name, junior brother?" "You can call me Little Su!" "Haha, you're so polite. I'm Niu Bin! If you need anything in the future, come find me at Cave 9527!" "Understood! Many thanks for your guidance, Senior Brother Niu!" "Don't mention it! Hahaha!" Senior Brother Niu pulled Su Yuan toward a great hall, pushed him inside, and waited outside. After entering, Su Yuan saw several young immortal seedlings already going through the process. He calmly joined the end of the line. After observing for a while, he understood the procedure. When his turn came, he said: "I recommend outer sect disciple Zhou Wuyou!" "Which peak's outer sect disciple?" "I didn't pay attention!" "Really... you new disciples are so careless. Let me check for you! See if he's completed registration." "Alright!" After a while, the clerk sighed in relief: "Pill Extremes Peak. Done, your token!" "Here!" The clerk glanced at the token, confirmed it was an inner sect disciple token, and without even looking at Su Yuan's name, slapped it onto a magical device. The device emitted a green light, indicating approval. The clerk then returned the token to Su Yuan without looking up. Su Yuan scratched his head: "That's it?" "What else did you expect?" The clerk waved him off dismissively. Su Yuan shrugged and left the hall. Outside, he saw Niu Bin was still waiting for him! "Hey, Brother Yuan, all settled?" "All settled!" "Come on, you must be tired of Immortal Seed Valley! Let me treat you to a delicious meal!" Niu Bin said enthusiastically. Su Yuan's mouth twitched, but at the mention of good food, he couldn't refuse: "Alright! But I don't have any spirit stones." "Tch, no big deal! It's my treat!" Niu Bin patted his thick chest. Arm in arm, they arrived at a street within Mysterious Extremes Peak. Su Yuan saw some disciples setting up stalls and exclaimed in surprise: "Disciples can set up stalls here?" "Perfectly normal. Outer sect disciples and outer sect disciples often go on missions outside the sect. Sometimes they bring back things they don't need. Since turning them in to the sect gives poor contribution points, they naturally set up stalls. Some skilled disciples also sell their creations here at much cheaper prices than outside." Niu Bin explained knowledgeably. "Hey, Brother Niu, just back from outside?" "Haha, that's right! Brother Xue, selling talismans? These look much better than last time!" "Made some improvements!" "Hey, Junior Brother Niu, tricking new junior brothers again?" "Humph! Wu the Third, what nonsense! I'm treating our new junior brother to a meal! Understand? The bond between fellow disciples!" "I don't believe you!" Niu Bin knew quite a few people along the way. Su Yuan was speechless, but unexpectedly heard system notifications: [Ding, reputation points +1] [Ding, reputation points +1] [Ding, reputation points +1] Three in a row! Su Yuan was amused—apparently Niu Bin was quite famous, and just by associating with him, Su Yuan could gain reputation points. Niu Bin took Su Yuan to the second floor of a restaurant. He boisterously introduced: "This place is owned by a core disciple. They often get premium-grade Yellow-tier monster meat. The food here is excellent!" "Won't it be expensive?" Su Yuan asked. "Tch, expensive? You're an inner sect disciple now with many benefits and opportunities to earn spirit stones. Don't worry!" Niu Bin called out: "Bring the food! What meat today?" An outer sect disciple quickly came over. "Today we have premium-grade Snowscale Boar meat! And superior-grade Greenvine Snake meat!" "Bring a pound of each! Unlimited spiritual rice! And three side dishes!" "Right away, senior brothers! Coming right up!" Niu Bin ordered generously. Su Yuan was surprised: "Can we finish two pounds?" "Don't worry, I have a big appetite. You're at a lower cultivation level, so you might not eat much. If you can't finish, just stop and refine it!" Niu Bin patted his chest. Su Yuan looked enlightened. Niu Bin smiled knowingly. Though he was generous, how much could a newly emerged disciple eat? Most would end up in his stomach anyway—not much loss! Soon. "Here you go!" Dish after dish arrived! The pork was golden brown from braising, the snake meat stewed fragrantly, and the three vegetable dishes were vibrant with spiritual energy, along with a bowl of purple-green spiritual rice that made Su Yuan's mouth water. Niu Bin laughed heartily: "Dig in!" "Then I won't stand on ceremony!" Su Yuan said. In the next moment, Su Yuan's chopsticks flashed down. In the blink of an eye, a piece of braised pork disappeared, Su Yuan's cheeks bulging as he chewed rapidly. His eyes lit up, and with a mouthful of purple rice, he let out a satisfied sigh. "Delicious! So good!" Su Yuan swallowed and praised sincerely. Niu Bin's eyes widened in shock. He knew disciples from Immortal Seed Valley hadn't tasted meat in three months and would eat voraciously, but Su Yuan acted like he hadn't eaten meat in a year! While Niu Bin was stunned, Su Yuan had already eaten a piece of snake meat and drank some soup. "Mmm, tender, smooth, with a refreshing bamboo-like flavor. Fantastic!" Su Yuan feasted like a whirlwind, trying all three vegetable dishes. As spiritual vegetables, they were rich in energy that automatically released in his stomach. Su Yuan's "Spirit Tempering Technique" automatically circulated, drawing the energy into his meridians and rapidly converting it into Mystic Truth Qi. "Wait, slow down!" Niu Bin grabbed Su Yuan's hand. "Ah, sorry! It's been so long since I ate something this good!" Su Yuan said awkwardly, thinking he was eating too fast for Niu Bin. "No, you're only at early Qi Refining stage! Eating too much premium monster meat could make you explode! Don't you feel heat rising inside and chaotic spiritual energy?" "No..." Su Yuan said. "No?" Niu Bin glared. "Impossible! I'm at fifth-layer Qi Refining and need to slowly refine this meat!" "Really don't feel anything?" Su Yuan ate two more pieces. "Nothing? Is the meat spoiled?" Niu Bin ate a piece and immediately felt energy surging to his dantian and meridians—not much quantity but strong impact, requiring focus to refine. "Perfectly fine!" Niu Bin was stunned. Then he saw Su Yuan going for his fourth piece of pork! Niu Bin suddenly grew worried Su Yuan might "pop" from overeating! But his fears were unfounded. Su Yuan kept eating braised meat and stew smoothly, polishing off the rice and vegetables. Niu Bin stared dumbfounded. Until the table was empty. "Full?" Niu Bin asked numbly. "About thirty percent full!" Su Yuan patted his stomach. Niu Bin's mouth twitched. "Server! Same order again!" The waiter peeked, shocked to see empty plates so quickly, and smiled: "Right away!" Soon, another feast arrived. This time, Niu Bin stopped being surprised and competed with Su Yuan for the food. After finishing, Niu Bin felt thirty percent full. Because seventy percent went to Su Yuan. Niu Bin found himself slightly outperformed in grabbing food—utterly unbelievable! Moreover, Su Yuan seemed to need no refining of the meat, which astonished Niu Bin. If not for knowing supreme spiritual roots went to Spiritual Extremes Peak, he'd think Su Yuan had one, though he guessed Su Yuan must have a special physique. Actually, Su Yuan was holding back—otherwise Niu Bin wouldn't get a bite. "You're incredible!" Niu Bin gave Su Yuan a thumbs-up. "My humble skills!" Su Yuan said. "Next time I'll treat you!" "Tch, your 'next time' might be far off!" Niu Bin suddenly sighed. "Do you know how much that meal cost?" "How much?" Su Yuan asked curiously. "130 spirit stones! The meat alone was 120!" Niu Bin said. "That much!" Su Yuan's eyes widened. Niu Bin waved it off: "My treat, don't worry!" But his eye twitched slightly, clearly pained. "Senior Brother Niu, how can I earn spirit stones?" Su Yuan asked. Niu Bin perked up: "You asked the right person! Inner sect disciples get thirty spirit stones monthly, but that's not enough. Know what I do?" "What?" "Artifact forging!" Niu Bin said. Su Yuan was surprised: "Wouldn't have guessed! Thought you hunted monsters!" "Tch, too vulgar!" Niu Bin said. Actually, he was afraid of dying. "Oh." "Lately, my forging skills improved. Planning to open a shop in an external market!" Niu Bin said. "Sounds good, but can't you sell here?" Su Yuan asked. "Can't get good prices here, and sales are slow. Unlike pills, most fellow disciples already have artifacts. But external markets are different—many rogue cultivators lack artifacts and pay well. Easier to get materials too." Niu Bin explained. Su Yuan puzzled: "You'll teach me forging?" "No, no, no." Niu Bin lowered his voice. "Opening shops isn't simple—rent, taxes, reputation all cost money. But Seven Extremes Sect inner disciples get hidden privileges: cheap market rents and fifty percent tax reduction just by lending your name! Our sect's name carries weight with rogue cultivators, get it?" Niu Bin gave Su Yuan a meaningful look. Su Yuan looked oddly at Niu Bin: "But I'm not really late-stage Qi Refining!" "Tch, unimportant! How would rogue cultivators know?" Niu Bin waved. Then he smiled: "Lend your name, and I'll give you ten percent shares. Do nothing and earn twenty percent profit—easily 200 spirit stones monthly!" Su Yuan looked speechlessly at Niu Bin—this seemed shady. "Well... maybe other methods?" Su Yuan said. Niu Bin sighed: "Guess I'll have to manage alone. With such high rent and taxes, what can I do? Just spent over 100 spirit stones too." Su Yuan's mouth twitched: "Senior brother, you're quite the schemer! I'm a brand-new disciple!" "Just say—want free 200 monthly spirit stones?" Niu Bin stared. "Well... okay, but just my name!" Su Yuan said. "Then let's register!" Niu Bin dragged Su Yuan out, tossing 130 spirit stones and leaving quickly. "Wait! Register what? Explain!" Su Yuan said exasperatedly.