200 Competition 3 (2/2)
Although a dry root would have lower effectiveness than a fresh one, for rare things like this root it was already impressive to own a dry one.
Of course, it was still nothing to experienced pill refiners such as Miss. Klein and Serene. But for people like Ivan and Serge, it was great material for refining lower-ranked pills which could increase cultivation speed. The 'Old Retient Galllow Root' was very useful to create pills, which could increase the absorption rate of energy by the cells. It was thus one of the main ingredients for many body refinement pills.
Going through the information he had on it, Ivan realized that he also had a pill recipe making use of the root. So for him, getting the root could be seen as something fortunate. The question now was if he had something of similar value for the bet.
Seeing his troubled look, the man once again snorted in disdain. But he didn't interrupt his thoughts. Clearly he was waiting for him to admit that he didn't have anything of similar value. Then he could once again mock him and take out something of a lower value. Once again striking his weak point.
But he was destined to be disappointed. Although Ivan truly wasn't rich, something like the 'Old Retient Galllow Root' was still within his means.
He carefully pulled out a fresh grass from his 'Herb Ring'. Although it wasn't possible for herbs to grow in this kind of ring, it would still keep the herbs stored inside fresh. This grass was a 'Blue Veined Snake Grass'. Something he had found by luck during his last adventure into the mountains. Although its value was below that of 'Old Retient Galllow Root', it was still fresh, so its value should be extremely similar to the dried root the other man had presented.
”Then I'll bet this fresh 'Blue Veined Snake Grass'.”, he announced. This grass was the most valuable herb he had in his possession and if not for his master's confidence in himself, there was no way he would have taken it out. Before they had come to this realm he hadn't known of its value and he had only assumed that it was a slightly mutated version of a more common grass. Only after reading through the information provided by the Rose Sect had he realized its true value.
While the 'Old Retient Galllow Root' was especially useful for the body refining stage, the 'Blue Veined Snake Grass' was more focused on the 'Qi Gathering' stage and above. It too was a herb that could be used as the main ingredient for a cultivation pill. But this pill would simply speed up the absorption of Qi from the surroundings. It was hard to say which pill was more useful but the one refined from the 'Blue Veined Snake Grass' could theoretically be used at any cultivation above 'Qi Gathering'. Of course, for those with higher cultivation, the increase in the absorption rate would be nothing more than a drop in a bucket or even lake. Completely negligible.
But this long term use made the pill at least as expensive as the on refined from the root, even though the effect was slightly weaker.
”This is a fair bet.”, Miss. Klein announced and Serene nodded in agreement. Although she didn't like Bea, she was at least an honest person, so she wouldn't lie about something like this.
Seeing Ivan pull out a herb of similar value and having his teacher and Miss. Klein agreed on that fact, the man had to swallow the scolding words he had already prepared. How had this country bumpkin gotten his hands on something this good?
”Then let's both give our herbs to my teacher and the one who gets the higher placing will get both of them.”, he proposed.
Ivan sneaked a glance at his master and seeing her nod he carefully gave the herb in his hands to Serene. Unlike what he had expected, she didn't directly put away the grass but instead carefully studied it first.
She then nodded, ”Not bad.” Turning towards Ivan she smiled at him. This was the first time she had shown him a friendly smile, surprising him, ”How about you become my disciple?”
He stared at her in surprise, as did the others. Everyone except Miss. Klein who seemed to instantly understand her thought process. She didn't say anything, instead, waiting for Ivan's response.