Chapter 68: Second-Tier Demon Beast, Pei Huoyu Heads North

A first-grade high-quality Five Elements Harmonizing Meridian Pill usually costs only two or three hundred lower-grade spirit stones, and even if it is rare and the price doubles, it would never reach a thousand. For a mere thousand spirit stones...

Without a second thought, Shen Lian refused. These people scurrying from one pill shop to another in the city were grasping at straws in their desperation.

“Go on with your work.” Watching the trio leave, Shen Lian waved his hand for Luo Yang to return to his tasks, while he himself settled back into the reclining chair.

If his guess was correct, the “Junior Sister Luo” they spoke of was likely someone from the Luo family he’d encountered on his journey here. Since she had caught the attention of a so-called “False Pill Master,” he saw no need to show off and court attention. He was no longer someone who would be troubled by the lack of a thousand spirit stones.

Before building his foundation, all unnecessary entanglements and distractions had to be avoided, lest they hinder his progress.

As noon approached, cultivators began streaming into the shop to purchase pills. By dusk, Shen Lian left the shop.

After almost half a year in Black Whale City, he had successfully blended in with the League of Shopkeepers.

The name was his own invention. At first, it was just a few shopkeepers gathering in private to share news and resources. Eventually, these meetings became a regular event, evolving into a bartering and networking session.

Not just any shopkeeper could join; at the very least, one needed to be in the late stage of Qi Refining.

“Manager Ding.” As soon as Shen Lian stepped outside, a chubby shopkeeper emerged from his own store.

“Manager Lin.” This Lin managed a talisman shop and hailed from a Foundation Establishment family in the Black Whale Sea region.

“After you.” After a round of polite exchanges, the two walked out of Hongfu Street together.

The gathering of shopkeepers was an open affair, held in the Seaview Moon Tavern on another street. By the time they arrived, quite a few shopkeepers were already inside, gathered and chatting in clusters.

Shopkeepers were always well informed.

“Fellow Daoist Ding, any big business today?”

Shen Lian’s identity as an alchemist had been public knowledge since his arrival in Black Whale City, and he had run his pill shop for nearly half a year. The sign of Tranquil Heart Pill Shop hung right on Hongfu Street.

Although there were no competing pill shops on Hongfu Street itself, there were four or five on the neighboring streets. Rivals they might be, and while hostilities were not shown openly, a bit of teasing or banter was quite common.

The speaker was Wang Qian, a first-grade high-quality alchemist, though it was said he rarely managed to refine high-grade pills—luck played a major role. Aside from family-run shops, most alchemists in Black Whale City were of intermediate first-grade, and their pill quality was generally low, with few able to produce even medium-quality pills.

Such alchemists might not be valued by sects, but at least they could earn some spirit stones from wandering cultivators. In any case, they had risen above the lowest rung of the cultivation world.

“There was a big deal, but alas, my skills are lacking and I couldn’t produce what was needed.” Shen Lian replied with a smile.

“The Five Elements Harmonizing Meridian Pill is far too rare. Not only in Black Whale City—even in the entire southern cultivation realm, it would be hard to find.”

“I’ve heard the Cloud Ascending Sect recently accepted a new female disciple who awakened a rare constitution, manifested five-colored spirit pupils, but her spiritual power became chaotic due to her spiritual body.”

“People thought they’d be able to curry favor with an upper sect, or at least gain recognition before a Golden Core elder, only to find themselves incapable of refining the needed pill.”

“Don’t kid yourself. The Harmonizing Meridian Pill is only a first-grade pill. I doubt it will be much help. If it fails, and the Golden Core elder gets angry, you’ll be in serious trouble.”

...

“This time, the Cloud Ascending Sect’s disciple recruitment in Black Whale City is on a far larger scale than before. Even the number of five-element root cultivators recruited from among the wanderers is much higher than ever.”

...

Shen Lian found a seat, half chatting, half listening to the conversations around him.

Half an hour passed, and the tavern’s first-floor hall was packed, with more than a hundred people present. After some initial mingling, the bartering session began.

The rules were simple: each person took turns to announce what they wished to sell or exchange, or what they wanted. Anyone interested could seek out the owner to negotiate afterward. The deals did not have to involve spirit stones—it all depended on what the owner desired in exchange.

“I’ll start the bidding.” The elderly manager of Seaview Moon Tavern spoke first.

“A second-tier demon beast, the Golden Swordscale Fish. No particular requirements, spirit stones, pills, talismans, or magic tools—all go to the highest bidder.”

With the opening bid, the other shopkeepers began to take their turns.

“Last month, I chanced upon a water-element cultivation method that can be practiced up to the third layer of Foundation Establishment. I’m looking to trade for an earth-element method.”

“A second-tier Water Scale Rhinoceros beast core, in exchange for a second-tier lower-grade Vitality Pill.”

“Profound Spirit Jade Marrow, seeking a Water Essence Fruit.”

...

“Foundation Establishment Pill ingredient: Golden Ginseng. Will trade for spirit stones.”

“Seeking a high-grade first-tier Blood Essence Fruit.”

...

“It’s good to be a shopkeeper,” Shen Lian thought, listening to the various spiritual items being offered—many of which he could use: beast cores, demon beasts, Foundation Establishment Pill ingredients, even Profound Spirit Jade Marrow, which was a key material for nurturing talismans.

When his turn came, Shen Lian rose and stated his need: he sought an Earth Dragon Vein Fruit, an earth-attribute spiritual fruit that would help Dahei advance his bloodline.

After everyone had made their offers, the shopkeepers began to interact, and Shen Lian headed for the manager of Seaview Moon Tavern, whose terms seemed the most flexible.

The second-tier demon beast would be quite useful to him—the beast core could be used in alchemy, the blood to prepare spiritual ink, or if nothing else, he could consume it himself to enhance his spiritual sense.

The transaction for the Golden Swordscale Fish went smoothly; Shen Lian bought it directly with spirit stones. This kind of demon fish was not especially dangerous—several ninth-layer Qi Refining cultivators working together could likely bring one down, though they were rare in the vast ocean.

The fish was acquired without trouble, but the Profound Spirit Jade Marrow proved elusive; the seller insisted on bartering only for a Water Essence Fruit.

With no other option, Shen Lian turned his attention to the Foundation Establishment Pill ingredient, Golden Ginseng. But this fellow was trying to fleece an alchemist—the price for this auxiliary herb was an outrageous three thousand spirit stones. Shen Lian turned on his heel and left; this man was clearly not sincere.

Foundation Establishment Pills were among the most unique in the cultivation world: only second-tier lower-grade in rank, yet their price far surpassed many third-tier pills. The ancestor who invented the Foundation Establishment Pill was, in the eyes of all cultivators, a true immortal.

In ancient times, Foundation Establishment Pills did not exist—anyone could establish a foundation. But times changed, and it became a major hurdle. It was only with the advent of the Foundation Establishment Pill that more cultivators among the human race could reach that stage.

The recipe for Foundation Establishment Pills was no secret and widely circulated, but few alchemists could actually refine them. Many experienced second-tier alchemists, capable of making a variety of pills, would still ruin their cauldrons attempting this one.

Over the years, two major branches of the Foundation Establishment Pill recipe have developed.

One uses Heavenly Spirit Fruit, Jade Marrow Ganoderma, and Purple Sunflower as its primary ingredients, supplemented by thirty-three auxiliary herbs such as Golden Ginseng.

The second uses a special kind of second-tier beast core as the main ingredient, along with over thirty auxiliary herbs. The so-called “special” beast core refers to one that is mild and pure, without the violent aura typical of demon beasts.

Many sects with their own alchemical traditions have refined their recipes further, making such details their closely guarded secrets.

Generally, the ingredients for Foundation Establishment Pills are not of high grade, but the main ones are extremely rare and difficult to cultivate artificially—only large sects and great clans have the resources to do so. Occasionally, cultivators discover some in the wild or in secret realms, prompting fierce competition.

As a result, the price of herbs for Foundation Establishment Pills has soared above all others of the same tier.

There is also a rumor: regardless of the alchemist’s skill, no more than three Foundation Establishment Pills can be produced from a single batch.

By the end of the trading session, Shen Lian had acquired only a second-tier demon fish; no one among the shopkeepers had an Earth Dragon Vein Fruit. Still, this was a decent gain—second-tier demon beasts were not easy to come by.

The next morning, Shen Lian left a storage pouch with Luo Yang and his sister, filled with pills for them to sell over the coming days. Then he departed Black Whale City.

Instead of heading straight for the sea, he slipped into a nearby forest and changed his appearance before piloting a standard spirit boat out of the area. He had bought this boat not long ago; it was so common that, outside Black Whale City, you could throw a stone and hit several identical ones.

After traveling three hundred li from the city and making sure no one was on the sea, he released the Flying Fish and sped away.

Sea Qiong Island.

Located thirteen hundred li from Black Whale Island, its southern plains were home to a mortal city under the jurisdiction of the Sea Spirit Sect. The sect had stationed a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator on the island.

Shen Lian circled Sea Qiong Island three times before slipping into the northern forests under cover of night.

“...Master.” In the lush forest, Dahei sensed Shen Lian’s presence and emerged.

“Master, this island isn’t suitable. Cultivators often pass by, and some even cultivate here.” Dahei led Shen Lian to several established cave residences on the island—some collapsed, others well-preserved, each showing clear signs of when they had been carved out.

“I was nearly discovered and had to build the ant nest three hundred zhang underground.”

Choosing a deserted cave at random, Shen Lian pulled out a map and crossed off Sea Qiong Island. He had hoped the presence of a Sea Spirit Sect cultivator would provide cover for a temporary hideout, but clearly other cultivators had the same idea.

He was not alone in his thinking.

After a night’s rest, at dawn the next day he and Dahei left Sea Qiong Island.

Their next destination: Black Rock Island.

...

Ten thousand li south of Black Whale Island, a fleet of three treasure ships sailed on.

The central ship boasted a tall tower. In one room, talismans lined the walls, blocking any trace of spiritual presence from escaping.

Pei Huoyu sat cross-legged on a mat, his aura surging. Five-colored energy intertwined, forming a small, five-colored sphere at his dantian.

As the small sphere materialized, all his spiritual power gathered at his dantian, and his face grew unnaturally pale.

“Condense!”

A moment later—“Pfft!”—the five-colored sphere surged up from Pei Huoyu’s dantian and was spat from his mouth, tinged with blood.

He quickly took out a jade vial, poured a pill into his mouth, then seized the five-colored sphere in his hand, a fierce light flashing in his eyes.