Chapter 8: Soul Master

They were two jade bottles, inside which lay a tranquil, emerald-green spiritual liquid.

"Mid-grade Qi Cultivation Fluid! It's mid-grade Qi Cultivation Fluid!"

Jiang Fan was overjoyed.

He knew his father would definitely leave him cultivation resources.

These two bottles of mid-grade Qi Cultivation Fluid solved his immediate problem!

He quickly picked up the Qi Cultivation Fluid and only then discovered a letter and a bamboo slip underneath.

Seeing the letter, his heart skipped a beat, and he tremblingly tore it open.

What met his eyes was indeed his father's handwriting.

"Xiao Fan, by the time you read this letter, your father will have been dead for three years, won't he?"

"Has your seed sprouted? Have you married Xu Yining? Are you healthy? What do you look like now?"

"Your father wishes he knew, but alas, I can no longer see."

"Your father hopes you opened this wooden box according to my instructions, because only when your seed has sprouted will its contents be useful to you."

"The two bottles of mid-grade Qi Cultivation Fluid are for you to break through your current realm."

"But most importantly is the bamboo slip underneath. Your father's talent was ordinary; he studied his entire life and only grasped a tiny bit, barely managing to become a two-star Soul Master."

"I hope my son can surpass his father and become a formidable Grand Soul Master. That way, you'll have the means to protect yourself."

"Finally, this wooden box was left to you by your mother. She once said that after becoming a five-star Soul Master, you could open the hidden compartment of the wooden box."

"Not being able to open the hidden compartment was your father's last regret."

"If one day you open it, remember to burn paper offerings and tell your father what's inside."

"Work hard, my son."

"Your life will have many twists and turns. Never give up, alright?"

Teardrops fell onto the letter.

Jiang Fan felt as if his father was standing before him, bidding his final farewell.

"Father..." he said, tears in his eyes, clenching his fists. "Your son will definitely strive to live! Definitely! Definitely!!"

After a long time, he wiped away his tears.

He carefully put away the letter, his heart tumultuous.

"So, Father was once a two-star Soul Master."

Soul Masters were the most esteemed profession in this world, without equal.

They possessed soul power that surpassed ordinary people, capable of performing various profound soul abilities, and could also refine spiritual pills used by cultivators.

Unlike ordinary medicine, the pills needed for cultivation were all refined from various aged heavenly treasures.

Such heavenly treasures, having existed in deep mountains and ancient forests for long periods, absorbed spiritual energy but also inevitably absorbed impurities.

To remove these impurities, one could only use powerful soul energy to strip them away.

Therefore, a Soul Master was not only a master with mysterious and unpredictable methods but also an irreplaceable alchemist.

The Qin family of Solitary Boat City was able to become the foremost alchemist family simply because each generation's head inherited the Qin family's heirloom, a treasure that could temporarily enhance one's soul power.

The level after enhancement was roughly that of a Soul Master apprentice.

Even so, it made the Qin family one of the top aristocratic families in Solitary Boat City; if they stamped their foot, the entire city would tremble.

The power of Soul Masters was evident.

Jiang Fan, dry-mouthed, unrolled the bamboo slip. If he could learn even a bit and become a two-star Soul Master like his father, wouldn't he be able to wield immense power?

On the bamboo slip were strange, twisted characters.

At first glance, they couldn't even be considered characters.

And as he continued to look, he felt dizzy.

"Upper Scroll of the Grand Unity Soul Art. Author: Eight-star Soul Master Grand Venerable Xiaoyao."

"Only those with strong souls can discern these characters. Others who read it will experience severe headaches at best, or soul destruction at worst. Proceed with caution."

Only then did Jiang Fan understand that the characters weren't meant to be read with the eyes, but recognized with the soul.

His ability to discern them indicated his soul was stronger than average, meaning he had the qualifications to become a Soul Master!

This made Jiang Fan greatly rejoice inwardly. He quickly continued reading until a headache began, and he could no longer look at the remaining chapters, then he stopped.

He quickly sat cross-legged before the grave, quietly digesting the content he had just seen.

Just as when he cultivated the Clear Wind True Scripture, he comprehended this content with remarkable ease.

In just half a day, he opened his eyes, a look of anticipation in them.

"Father, I think I've learned some ways to use my soul."

Looking at the two bottles of mid-grade Qi Cultivation Fluid before him, he drank one bottle and tucked the other into his embrace.

As the astonishingly potent Qi Cultivation Fluid entered his body, it emitted abundant spiritual energy.

Jiang Fan immediately cultivated, greedily absorbing the spiritual energy.

Soon after, his body trembled.

He joyfully opened his eyes: "I've broken through to the third layer of Qi Cultivation! Mid-grade Qi Cultivation Fluid has such an effect, I wonder what effects high-grade and supreme-grade fluids above it would have!"

He filled the pit in front of the grave, bowed to his father's tombstone, and then stood up to return to the city.

But he did not return to the Xu family. Instead, he went to a treasure pavilion with dwindling business.

The treasure pavilion was the shop of the Chen family, Solitary Boat City's second-ranked alchemist family.

The Chen family did not have the Qin family's good fortune of possessing a treasure that enhanced soul power, so they could only refine very crude medicines, and their business was far from as good as the Qin family's.

Jiang Fan had changed into a voluminous black robe and worn a mask when he arrived, as he entered the shop.

The shopkeeper of the treasure pavilion was tending the shop, lazily reclining in a chair. He asked, "What would the guest like to buy?"

Jiang Fan shook his head, a small pebble in his mouth making his voice indistinct.

"Nothing to buy."

The shopkeeper with the handlebar mustache looked at Jiang Fan in surprise. "Then do you have any heavenly treasures you wish to sell?"

It was not uncommon for some fortunate cultivators who stumbled upon valuable medicinal ingredients to sell them to reputable shops.

"Nothing to sell either."

The shopkeeper frowned upon hearing this. "This is a place of business. If you're not buying or selling, what are you doing here?"

Jiang Fan took out the mid-grade Qi Cultivation Fluid from his embrace and placed it on the counter.

"To exchange."

The shopkeeper frowned, his gaze sweeping over and landing on the mid-grade Qi Cultivation Fluid.

At first, he was slightly taken aback, a look of unfamiliarity in his eyes. Then, with a 'whoosh', he leaped from his recliner, walked over quickly, and exclaimed, "Is this... is this mid-grade Qi Cultivation Fluid?"

"It's been ten years! I've actually seen mid-grade Qi Cultivation Fluid again!"

His voice was somewhat agitated. He looked at Jiang Fan with reverence and cried out, "Quick! What are you all standing around for? Bring tea for this esteemed guest!"

"The best tea!"

Jiang Fan was slightly surprised. Ten years ago?

Could it be the Qi Cultivation Fluid his father refined?

He said expressionlessly, "No need for tea. I wish to exchange this for the following materials. How much can your esteemed shop provide?"

He picked up the pen from the counter and wrote down the materials.

"Materials for Qi Cultivation Fluid?"

The shopkeeper grew even more excited, his voice filled with awe. His straightened posture involuntarily bowed as he asked, "Sir, could you be a... Soul Master?"

In the entire Solitary Boat City, apart from Qin Changsheng, no one would require materials for Qi Cultivation Fluid.

Unless he was a Soul Master, preparing to refine Qi Cultivation Fluid.

Jiang Fan's tone grew cold. "Do you want to know?"

The shopkeeper jumped in fright. He quickly slapped his own mouth. "This humble one spoke out of turn, please forgive me, Sir."

"Less talk," Jiang Fan said. "How much can you exchange?"

The shopkeeper quickly replied, "According to market price, one bottle of mid-grade Qi Cultivation Fluid is ten thousand silver taels, and one portion of Qi Cultivation Fluid materials is one thousand silver taels. You can exchange it for ten portions of materials."

His eyes darted around. The shopkeeper rubbed his hands together and said, "However, if you have more Qi Cultivation Fluid to sell us, I can make the decision to give you eleven portions of materials."

Jiang Fan was stunned. Ten thousand silver taels?

Low-grade Qi Cultivation Fluid was only five thousand silver taels per bottle.

The price of mid-grade had doubled!

But thinking about its effect, which was double that of low-grade, he felt relieved.

After a brief thought, Jiang Fan nodded. "Alright."

The shopkeeper was overjoyed. He quickly retrieved eleven portions of materials, brought them before Jiang Fan, and said, rubbing his hands:

"To be honest with you, Sir, tomorrow is the Solitary Boat City Alchemist Families' exhibition. If you have any extra Qi Cultivation Fluid, could you sell it to us at the exhibition to bring some honor to my Chen family?"

Seeing his almost pleading expression, Jiang Fan nodded slightly. "I'll try."

He then left the treasure pavilion.

After confirming no one was following him, he found an alley to remove his disguise and calmly walked back onto the street.

He had only walked a few steps when he suddenly heard a cold laugh.

"Oh? Look who it is?"

Lu Zheng, a smug look on his face, was riding a horse, accompanied by Qin Changsheng. Upon seeing Jiang Fan, they reined in their horses and stopped.

Lu Zheng glanced at the treasure pavilion not far away and couldn't help but sneer:

"Patriarch Qin," he said, "some people are daydreaming, hoping to buy some low-grade Qi Cultivation Fluid, aren't they?"