Xiao Fei had been in Black Flood Dragon City for several days, originally planning to sell some rare spiritual herbs to gather spirit stones.
After a few days of observation, he found it completely unnecessary.
At the Black Flood Dragon City trade fair, as long as one possessed a large quantity of third-tier elixirs, they were considered hard currency, even more useful than spirit stones.
During these past few days, Xiao Fei had exchanged his stock of third-tier elixirs from his spatial dimension for a large amount of raw materials, all at very low prices.
This included many of the materials he needed to refine the jade altar.
Additionally, whenever he had free time during these days, he would enter his spatial dimension to refine high-grade elixirs.
With years of accumulation, his success rate in refining third-tier elixirs had now reached over ninety percent, and the output rate of medium and high-grade elixirs had greatly increased.
The materials he had spent on purchasing during these days were all low-grade ordinary elixirs, and he still had many medium and high-grade elixirs left unused.
One day, as Xiao Fei was browsing the trade fair again, he suddenly noticed a new jade stall had appeared.
On the stall was a type of Azure Marrow Jade, precisely the material he needed to refine the jade altar.
He required a significant quantity of this material, enough to pave an entire plaza. He had been searching and inquiring everywhere for the past few days, but had not found this jade.
However, what attracted him more was a golden-furred great rat sitting behind the jade stall.
This golden-furred rat, at the Golden Core stage, reminded him of the senior with mung bean eyes he had met in Star Moon City.
That senior had always held such a golden rat in his arms. At that time, the golden-furred rat's cultivation was only at the seventh or eighth level of Qi Refining.
However, a rat could change greatly, and he couldn't be sure if the one behind the stall was the same golden-furred great rat from before.
"Fellow Daoist, how much are you selling this Azure Marrow Jade for?"
"One third-tier elixir for a piece of jade?"
The golden-furred rat pointed to a piece of jade in front of him and said.
"If you have high-quality healing elixirs, the price can be further discounted."
Xiao Fei picked up a piece of jade and examined it. It was indeed the type of jade he needed.
"Elixirs are easy to discuss. If I need a large quantity of jade, do you have more stock?"
"Oh? You have healing elixirs? Can I take a look?" The golden-furred rat's small eyes lit up, and he quickly inquired.
"I naturally have healing elixirs, but can you answer my question first?"
As Xiao Fei spoke, he took out a jade bottle and handed it to the golden-furred rat. He opened the lid, revealing a third-tier high-grade healing elixir within.
"Ah! You actually have a high-grade elixir!"
The golden-furred rat exclaimed in surprise and reached out to take it, only to find that Xiao Fei had already closed the bottle and put it away.
"Naturally, I have some Azure Marrow Jade. May I ask how much you specifically need?"
"About the same size as this piece, I need 2500 pieces."
Xiao Fei pointed to the piece of jade on the stall and said with a calm expression.
"2500 pieces? Are you sure you need that many?"
The golden-furred great rat almost thought he had misheard. This Azure Marrow Jade was already very expensive, requiring one third-tier elixir for each piece.
2500 pieces would require 2500 third-tier elixirs, which was an enormous sum.
Even among Golden Core cultivators of the Eastern Continent, where alchemy was relatively developed, they rarely consumed a single third-tier elixir per year on average.
2500 third-tier elixirs were simply not something a Golden Core cultivator could afford, and even Nascent Soul cultivators wouldn't handle such quantities.
Xiao Fei nodded very discreetly.
"Furthermore, I can trade entirely with third-tier high-grade elixirs."
The efficacy of medium-grade elixirs was three times that of low-grade elixirs, and high-grade elixirs were three times that of medium-grade elixirs.
Although the increase between each grade was only threefold, the retail price difference was at least tenfold, sometimes even several times more.
In other words, the price of one high-grade elixir was at least equivalent to 100 ordinary elixirs.
Even at such exorbitant prices, it was still difficult to obtain a single high-grade elixir.
Calculating this way, Xiao Fei would only need to pay at most 25 high-grade elixirs.
"Alright! No problem. When do you need the goods, fellow Daoist?"
The golden-furred great rat readily agreed. As long as this business could be completed, he would spare no effort to gather the jade within the timeframe Xiao Fei required.
"Just have them ready for me within three months. You can sell me all the jade you have on hand now."
Immediately, Xiao Fei paid one third-tier high-grade healing elixir and bought all the Azure Marrow Jade the golden-furred great rat had.
After completing the transaction with Xiao Fei, the golden-furred great rat hastily packed up his stall and hurried towards a small courtyard in the city.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, he heard violent coughing sounds from within.
"Father! I'm back!"
The golden-furred great rat activated the array in the courtyard before happily walking towards the inner rooms.
On a reclining chair in the inner room, a thin old man was leaning back, his mung bean-like eyes now cloudy and dull.
"Father! Look, I made a big deal today."
As the golden-furred great rat spoke, he took out the jade bottle he had just acquired and poured out a third-tier high-grade healing elixir.
"Oh? Third-tier high-grade! That's indeed very good!"
The mung bean-eyed old man picked up the elixir, examined it, and praised.
However, he knew in his heart that his injuries were unusual, not only affecting his physical body and meridians but also his soul.
One or two third-tier high-grade elixirs were still insufficient to heal him.
"Father, take this elixir first. This customer needs a large quantity of Azure Marrow Jade and can exchange for another 24 high-grade elixirs."
The golden-furred great rat said this, thinking of something.
"That customer today was a bit strange. I always have a feeling I've met him before."
"My son should be cautious. If you detect anything unusual, flee immediately."
The mung bean-eyed old man said, tossing the healing elixir into his mouth.
Black Flood Dragon City's trade fair center held an auction every day, selling various rare treasures.
Today, Xiao Fei had also purchased an auction entry ticket, preparing to attend.
This time, he was not interested in any particular rare treasures, but rather in a product description that had caught his attention.
According to the auction's introduction, they had successfully captured an alchemist from a highly renowned alchemy sect on the Eastern Continent.
Fellow demon cultivators could purchase this alchemist and keep him captive, allowing him to refine elixirs specifically for them in the future.