CHAPTER 225: A Heavenly Treasure

The shopkeeper was an old, but tall and strong orc. Even in the heart of the cruel winter, he wore only a thin shirt. Thick hair covered his rough skin as he rested lazily in his shop.

The shop was filled with exotic plants. These strange flowers and grasses came in vivid colours, and the shop was filled with a refreshing scent.

Han Shuo only glanced at the old orc as he walked in and began to search through the plants himself, identifying them and looking for what he needed.

In Chu Cang Lan's memories, he'd spent a lot of time researching the methods of pill refinement. He'd even refined a few pills himself.

However, apart from a Pill Cauldron and a recipe, which were the most important things in Pill Refining, the next most important thing was the ingredients. The more valuable the pill, the rarer the ingredients. Most of them were heavenly treasures, and they were needed in sufficient quantities to refine the pills.

This time, the golden glittering leaves in front of the old orc shop with rock-like roots had caught Han Shuo's attention.

Using the methods from his memories, he began to examine the fauna in order to identify it. After careful examination, he was able to confirm that these strange plants were those that only grew in caves with stalactites. It was Goldmarrow Grass, which had formed after absorbing the rock essence and the Yin Qi of the heavens in the caves for a hundred years.

Goldmarrow Grass was a heavenly treasure of great yin. Combined with a few other ingredients, it could be used to refine the Transformative Reforming Pill - a pill that would thoroughly reform all of a mortal's bones and meridians, completely transforming their body and making it suitable for demonic and magical cultivation.

There was also a small ruby-coloured tree with several red fruits on its branches. The flaming fruits were round and translucent, sparkling with a faint crimson light under the sunlight. Each of them seemed to be a miniature sun.

As Han Shuo looked at them more closely, he became even more certain that these were the Fire Attribute Treasures, the Sunblaze Fruits. If someone cultivating the fire attribute ate these fruits, their strength would increase immensely for a short period of time as the power of the sun filtered down to them.

On the other hand, if someone who didn't have the Fire attribute ate the fruit, they wouldn't be able to withstand the fiery power within them and would be burnt to a crisp by the fruit. As he turned to ash, the fruit's spiritual power would slowly dissipate into the sky.

Aside from the Goldmarrow Grass and Sunblaze Fruit, Han Shuo also discovered other treasures such as Dragonfly Fruit, Hundred Year Vine Heart, and Extreme Frost Grass in this shop. These were all precious materials needed by Pill Refiners. Of course, Han Shuo wouldn't let them out of his sight now that he had discovered them. After a while, Han Shuo laid out all the exotic spirit plants he knew on the counter in front of the old orc. He smiled, "Elder, how much do these go for?"

The old orc had been watching Han Shuo's movements for a long time as he sat lazily. He finally stood up when Han Shuo placed the items in front of him.

Contrary to Han Shuo's expectation, the stocky old orc didn't immediately quote a price. Instead, he looked at Han Shuo with interest and asked, "Do you recognise these items and know what they are used for?"

The old orc's voice was raspy and resonant, seemingly a little awkward as he formed the syllables of human speech. His two nostrils flared with air as he spoke, making him look a little strange.

"No, I just think they're a bit strange and wanted to take them home for further study." Han Shuo smiled. The old orc was a little disappointed when he heard that Han Shuo didn't recognise them. He muttered to himself, "Of course. So many apothecaries had no idea what they were, how could you know what they were?"

Pointing at the Sunblaze Fruit, the old orc said to Han Shuo, "Curious human youth, these things aren't funny at all. They grew in an area of poor soil in our home, and no one dares to play with them. This red fruit, for example? Even if some wild beasts ate them, they'd be burned to death by the poisonous flame.

"And these strange flowering grasses. You'll feel a bone-deep chill when you put your hand on their leaves. Those who eat them freeze to ice cubes. You're not a pharmacist, so don't try to mix them up. As far as I know, some apothecaries have suffered great harm when they tried to mix them.

It was obvious that the old orc didn't know the wonderful effects of these heavenly treasures, and treated them as if they were scary poisonous weeds. Sunblaze Fruit and Extreme Frost Grass were treasures of extreme heat and cold. Ordinary people would actually be injured if they ate them, as they couldn't digest the spiritual energy they contained. It was normal for him to have such a misconception.

With a light laugh, Han Shuo smiled, "Don't worry, I don't use them myself. It's just that I know a good pharmacist who is good with exotic plants. I just want to give them to him. Of course, I'll remember your instructions and tell him about the peculiarities of these plants.

"All right then. It was very difficult for my children to bring them from the far, barren wastes. Give me a hundred gold coins for all of them. That is a fair price. Some apothecaries would be very interested in them and would be willing to spend a lot of money to buy them. It was obvious that the old orc had no idea what these items could be used for in the hands of someone like Han Shuo. A hundred gold coins wouldn't even buy one of their leaves.

In consideration of the orc's kind reminder, as well as the possibility of obtaining more of these plants in the future, Han Shuo generously threw down five hundred gold coins. "Thank you for your reminder, elder. Your kindness was worth four hundred gold coins. Otherwise, my friend might have gotten into trouble. Mm, if you have more of these plants, please bring them from the barren lands. I'll come over when I'm free and buy them at a good price.

"Oh, honoured guest, your generosity will be rewarded. Thank you!" The old orc emotionally accepted a bag containing five hundred gold coins. His look at Han Shuo was quite different as he spoke happily.

"Wait a second." A clear cry suddenly came from outside the door as a beautiful girl who made all three of them sigh sashayed in.

She had a tall, slender body covered in a light purple dress. Her brown hair flowed like a waterfall, while a pair of clear eyes lay gently beneath her delicately arched eyebrows. She had a charming nose and small red lips that dotted her face. Her flawless, delicate skin and oval face rounded off all the elements that beauty should have.

She only looked to be in her early twenties, but she had the air of someone who was used to power and had weathered many a disaster. Though she didn't consciously show it, there was a natural gravitas to her demeanour, as if she could easily decide someone's life or death.

"Hello, beautiful, are you talking to me?" Gilbert gave a sharp whistle and looked at the lady with excitement as he flirted with her.

"Not you!" She glanced at Gilbert and replied calmly without looking at him again. She walked over to Han Shuo and raised a slender finger to point at the Extreme Frost Grass. Her clear eyes looked at Han Shuo as she said, "Can you sell me this poison grass?"

Shaking his head, Han Shuo smiled, "Sorry, no!"

The beauty looked at Han Shuo questioningly after hearing his refusal. She had not thought that Han Shuo would reject her so decisively. Her pretty eyebrows knit together as she asked again, "I can pay one hundred gold coins just for this blade of grass!"

He shook his head again and confirmed, "Sorry, not for sale!"

After being refused twice, she knew there was no chance of her getting the grass. She looked meaningfully at Han Shuo and said contemptuously, "A man without chivalry. It looks like Emily's words weren't so true." It was Han Shuo's turn to be surprised after hearing those words, "Are you Mistress Cecilia?"

Nodding her head coldly, Cecilia threw her head back and looked at Han Shuo, speaking proudly, "I am. Mr Bryan, what will it take for you to give me the grass?

"Nothing!" Han Shuo replied and smiled, "It is very nice to meet you, Mistress Cecilia. Good day!"

Han Shuo didn't even look at Cecilia after he finished speaking, but walked past her and out of the shop at a leisurely pace.