Chapter - 11

"Let's not even mention that a ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator once fought a bloody battle that shook the heavens and changed the course of fate!"

Gu Shengtian had truly tasted the sweetness of success this time.

In the past, he had only one product—Pigu Pills, a basic fasting pill. Customers would take a glance, make a quick decision, and either buy or leave. There was no room for bargaining, no upselling, no real profit.

"If you want it, buy it. If you don't, move along."

That was all he could say. He didn't even have the option to bundle products together to increase sales.

Unlike Old Chen, who sold Qi-Gathering Talismans at high prices, and when customers hesitated, he could still throw in an extra Cleaning Talisman to close the deal.

Gu Shengtian? He had nothing to offer as a bonus.

But now, that had finally changed.

He had a second product.

Granted, Zhongmiao Maru—a low-tier aphrodisiac pill—wasn't exactly the most dignified item to sell. Some might even find it embarrassing.

But sales were sales.

And the moment he successfully sold the first bottle, Gu Shengtian saw the light of opportunity.

His production cost? One low-grade spirit stone per bottle.

His selling price? Five spirit stones per bottle.

A bit of a markup? Sure. But across history—both ancient and modern, across all realms—anything related to aphrodisiacs had always been in demand.

Even in a world of immortal cultivation, where strength was supreme, some things never changed.

Why Was Zhongmiao Maru So Valuable?

The answer was simple.

Low-level cultivators, particularly those in the Qi Refining Stage, were still in the process of refining and absorbing Qi from the world. Their cultivation relied heavily on external resources—spiritual rice, monster meat, elixirs—all packed with spiritual energy to speed up their progress.

At the same time, because spiritual power coursed through their bodies, these lower-tier cultivators were prone to… certain impulses. A little provocation, and their spiritual energy would leak in ways that weren't ideal for cultivation.

To counter this, many sects had specific techniques designed to suppress such urges.

Ancient cultivation texts even had a term for this: "Mayinzangxiang"—the Art of Retaining Essence.

For many cultivators, there were only two solutions to this issue:

1. Reaching Foundation Establishment – Once a cultivator formed their Foundation, their spiritual sense would be born, allowing them to fully control the flow of Qi within their body.

2. Accepting Their Fate – Those who realized they would never reach Foundation Establishment often let go of their restraints, settling down, starting families, and embracing worldly pleasures.

This was why many of the old cultivators who spread their lineage and established clans were those who had already given up on ascending further.

They knew their limits. They knew they would never reach the next stage.

So why not enjoy life?

The Genius of Zhongmiao Maru

And this was where Zhongmiao Maru changed the game.

Its core ingredients—Scallops of Water and Fire Whip Grass—had unique properties that harmonized water and fire.

When consumed, a cultivator could activate its effects, allowing them to release pent-up energy without breaking their internal golden lock of essence!

It was a miracle pill for Qi Refining cultivators.

No wonder Gu Shengtian was determined to refine more of it!

It wasn't about personal need—absolutely not!

It was about the market!

Gu Shengtian had simply anticipated what cultivators needed before they even realized it themselves.

In another world, he would have been like Xiao Songjiang, the "Timely Rain", always appearing just when people needed him most.

Breaking Into the Market

The second bottle of Zhongmiao Maru sold just as easily as the first, again at five spirit stones.

At that moment, Old Chen, who had been watching quietly, couldn't help but frown.

He picked up one of his Qi-Gathering Talismans, a powerful charm infused with three-colored Earth Dragon blood and odorless spirit rats, comparing it with Gu Shengtian's small jade bottles.

Muttering to himself, he said:

"This doesn't make sense…"

"My Qi-Gathering Talisman costs at least three spirit stones to make… Could it be that the production cost of Zhongmiao Maru is even higher than mine?"

"Or… do men just care more about their 'performance' than saving their own lives in battle?"

Gu Shengtian, of course, said nothing.

Even after selling out of Pigu Pills, leaving only his Zhongmiao Maru on the stall, he remained where he was—determined to poach Old Chen's customers.

Whenever a cultivator approached to buy talismans, Gu Shengtian would lean in and whisper:

"Daoist friend, are you interested in learning about Zhongmiao Maru?"

Of course, not everyone took the bait.

Some, those who were truly devoted to the Dao, refused outright.

"What nonsense! How could I waste time on such worldly pleasures?"

Others, driven by pride, turned away with a cold snort.

"Do I look like someone who needs that kind of pill?"

But most… most showed clear interest.

Especially after Gu Shengtian once again spun the tale of Yun Zhonghe, the legendary master of the Hehuan Sect, who supposedly used this very pill to defeat a fourth-rank Beast Emperor.

Inspired by the story, they bought in droves, eager to emulate the grandmaster's legendary prowess.

By afternoon, every bottle of Zhongmiao Maru was sold out.

Counting the Profits

Squatting beside his stall, Gu Shengtian casually tossed a few pieces of spicy beef jerky to Old Chen before pulling out his ledger.

20 bottles of Pigu Pills – a stable product, bringing in 4 spirit stones.

10 bottles of Zhongmiao Maru – the real money-maker, selling for 46 spirit stones in total.

(He could've made 50, but he had offered discounts on a few bottles to attract early buyers.)

After settling his accounts, Gu Shengtian sighed in relief.

His savings were finally back above fifty spirit stones!

This meant he could refine another batch of Zhongmiao Maru.

However, without improving his proficiency in pill refinement, his production speed would remain limited.

His current earnings couldn't sustain his cultivation as a Five-Spirit-Root cultivator.

So, to truly scale up production, there was only one solution—

Expand the Business

But expansion required capital.

More spirit stones.

Where would he get them?

Convincing Old Chen

"Gu Daoyou," Old Chen finally asked, voice cautious. "What's the actual cost of your Zhongmiao Maru?"

Gu Shengtian didn't even look up. "You also know how to be polite, huh?"

Old Chen coughed awkwardly.

He had watched Gu Shengtian's entire operation today.

And what did he see?

Fifty spirit stones.

That was the equivalent of selling 250 bottles of Pigu Pills—something that normally took weeks.

He knew asking for trade secrets was improper. But before he could stop himself, Gu Shengtian leaned in.

"Uncle Chen…"

"Hm?"

"You've watched me grow up, haven't you?"

Old Chen sighed. "Get to the point."

"Lend me fifty spirit stones—just once! I'll pay you back in half a month!"

Old Chen hesitated, his left eye twitching involuntarily.

But Gu Shengtian gripped his sleeve, shaking it like a child begging for candy.

"Uncle, trust me! With this investment, I'll help you sell your talismans at high prices too!"

Old Chen swallowed hard.

"... Really?"

"Yes! Do you know what brand value is?"