After advancing to the Medium Grade of First Order, Xiao Qing's physique also grew considerably.
Her body was already as thick as a bowl.
If fully stretched, she would be about one zhang long.
Compared to the physique of the Great Martial World Demon King Jiaolong, there was naturally a significant gap.
But Xiao Qing was still young and had room to grow.
Su Bai was now very much looking forward to Xiao Qing becoming a Second Order Spirit Beast.
By then, they could begin to Cultivate together!
Her own Cultivation speed could be further improved!
Moreover, she could even ride on Xiao Qing!
Just thinking about it felt majestic!
However, now that Xiao Qing's physique had grown so much, for the future, Su Bai needed to prepare a larger Spirit Beast Bag.
"Lu Hong, aren't there many auctions in the Xingluo Market recently? Come with me tomorrow to take a look."
"Ah! Really?! I want to go! I want to go!"
Lu Hong's face lit up with joy when she heard she could accompany her Aunt Xu out shopping.
"This time, we'll go to the auction to see, and you're already at Qi Refining Layer Nine, so it's time to start preparing for Foundation Establishment."
Lu Hong was now forty-three years old.
Her own Aptitude was not considered good, but she used the Taming Beast Art to Cultivate with her Spiritual Silkworm.
She was an Alchemist apprentice here with Su Bai.
She never lacked Medicinal Pills.
Her Cultivation speed was truly not slow.
She had hopes of attempting Foundation Establishment before the age of fifty.
Moreover, although Lu Hong had been constantly Cultivating and learning Alchemy, she hadn't gone through much tempering.
But the concentration and patience required for Alchemy allowed Lu Hong to also have the Opportunity to attempt Foundation Establishment.
Although her combat skills were slightly weaker, she had a High Grade First Order Spiritual Silkworm.
With one person and one pet combined, their true strength was not weak.
Hearing about Foundation Establishment, a hint of anticipation flashed in Lu Hong's eyes.
Her strength had long surpassed that of her elder brother, Lu Quan.
Back then, Lu Quan's Realm was two Realms higher than Lu Hong's.
Now, it was completely reversed.
Perhaps this was also an Opportunity.
Just as Su Bai and Lu Hong were chatting, a Fairy walked out of the backyard kitchen.
She held a plate of hot dishes and approached gracefully.
Her appearance was ninety percent similar to Yu Rou's, who was in front.
Only, her face was not as gentle, appearing slightly cold.
This was Yu Rou's younger sister, Yu Ying.
She nodded slightly when she saw Su Bai.
"Shopkeeper, you're back. It's dinner time. Would you like to join us?"
"Hmm, perfect. I'll try your cooking, Yu Ying."
The Dao of food also had great significance.
It was said that in the distant boundless outer seas, there were people who specialized in studying food to Cultivate Immortality and achieve longevity.
Su Bai only knew a little about cooking, and the food she made was not very exquisite.
It was edible.
That was all.
So she was very curious about how delicious the food made by those who took this as their Dao was.
In Xingluo Market, even at night, it was exceptionally lively.
There were not only street stalls but also many nighttime activities.
It was said that a very high-end "Xianghe Courtyard" had opened in the Inner City of the Market.
Inside, there were many beautiful female Fairies.
They were not only proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting but also understood pharmacology and regulation.
They could help Cultivators clear their meridians and resolve inner blockages.
It was the favorite place for male Cultivators to go.
Hmm, actually, Su Bai also wanted to go.
Unfortunately, she had tried.
When Xianghe Courtyard first opened, she wanted to sneak a peek inside.
As soon as she entered the door, she was shooed out like a child, which made Su Bai very regretful.
She hadn't seen that mysterious place with her own eyes to know what it was truly like inside.
However, besides entertainment venues like Xianghe Courtyard, String Sound Pavilion, one of the Six Upper Sects, also opened a music hall called "Qingyin Garden."
Inside, not only did Sect Disciples perform music, but there were also various rare flowers and exotic plants for visitors to admire.
There were even some cute Spirit Beasts provided by the Beast Controlling Sect that could be petted.
Many female Cultivators were attracted.
Male Cultivators were also drawn to it, and its business was as booming as Xianghe Courtyard.
Danfu Pavilion, like other shops, did not operate at night.
The few of them sat at the dining table.
"Tomorrow, Lu Hong and I will go to the auction. The shop will be temporarily left to the two of you to watch over, no problem, right?"
Su Bai asked Yu Rou.
For Yu Rou, who had previously run a shop, just looking after the shop was naturally no problem.
However, she did not answer immediately.
Instead, she thought about the recent business transactions.
"Recently, the number of purchases by Loose Cultivators in the shop hasn't been high, so my sister and I can handle it completely."
"However, the Yan family in the Outer City recently needs us to provide quite a few Medicinal Pills, and the timing is a bit tight."
The Yan family referred to Shan Xiao.
The Inner City and Outer City of Xingluo Market were strictly divided.
And that guy, after changing his name to Yan Lei, was doing very well in the Outer City.
He also had Alchemists working for him.
But how could the abilities of those low-level Cultivators compare to Su Bai's?
Even Lu Hong was stronger than the Alchemists in the Outer City; although her Alchemy talent was average, her foundation was very good.
Unless Lu Hong could refine Medicinal Pills of High Grade quality, Su Bai would not let her touch higher-order Medicinal Pills.
Under Su Bai's strict guidance, Lu Hong could already handle things independently.
Although her success rate for refining High Grade First Order Medicinal Pills was still a bit low, getting two edible Medicinal Pills from one furnace was considered good luck.
Besides Yan Lei's Night Sparrow Gang, several other businesses in the Outer City also had dealings with Su Bai's Danfu Pavilion.
However, they provided Talismans to them.
After all, they couldn't conflict with Yan Lei in business.
"It's fine. I'll start refining Medicinal Pills later. No rush."
"By the way, how are the teas I gave Yan Lei selling?"
Su Bai had made her own tea leaves when she was at Sea Corner Cliff.
Everyone who drank it said it was good.
Now that Xingluo Market was so big, Su Bai gave the tea leaves to Yan Lei.
Yan Lei not only had Medicinal Pill shops in the Outer City but also various pubs and tea houses.
If it sold well at Yan Lei's, Su Bai would consider selling the tea leaves in the Inner City as well.
And Yu Rou's answer was, "It's so-so. After all, your tea leaves are not only small in quantity, but compared to some well-known tea leaves, they don't have anything special about them."
"Few people order them."
"…"
Su Bai fell silent.
Seeing Su Bai looking a bit disappointed, Lu Hong reached out and pressed Su Bai's small hand.
"Aunt Xu, don't be sad. After all, those tea leaves were just something you tinkered with yourself. They naturally don't have much advantage compared to tea leaves that others have researched and passed down for thousands of years, but it's enough that we think they taste good, right?"
"Why don't you ask Aunt Xu later? She'll definitely think they taste good too."
Su Bai glanced at Lu Hong, who was comforting her.
The next moment, Lu Hong's hand was about to touch her head, but Su Bai tilted her body and dodged it.
"Heh heh, with Aunt Xu's personality, even if I replaced the tea leaves with rotten leaves, she'd still praise them."
She shook her head.
It seemed that this path of making tea leaves was not going to work out for her.
"By the way, Lu Hong, how's your family's silkworm silk and honey business?"
Fearing that Lu Hong would say something else, Su Bai quickly changed the subject.
At the same time, she pulled her small hand out of Lu Hong's hand.
This girl was so disrespectful!
I am an elder!
Hearing Su Bai's question, Lu Hong looked regretfully at her empty hand.
That soft, boneless, tender hand had escaped…
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