Chapter 13
Mid-stage Qi Refinement Realm
Most of the demonic beasts in the Cloud Mountain Swamp were poisonous, so the Poison Dispelling Pill had always been a popular medicinal pill in the Cloud Mountain Market. It sold even faster than Spirit Concentration Pills, Spirit Tempering Pills, Spirit Boosting Pills, and other medicinal pills that could increase spiritual energy. Previously, the entire market had been in a shortage.
In recent months, the Golden Sun Sect’s main sect sent over a large amount of materials for the Poison Dispelling Pill. Only then did the various shops replenish their stock. However, it was not easy to refine a high-grade Poison Dispelling Pill. It was available in small quantities.
On the other hand, the Spring Embroidery Pavilion shop was relatively small. It had only been open for a short period of time, and the supply did not exceed five bottles each time.
Shen Ping was just asking casually.
Indeed, Shopkeeper Chen shook his head. “High-grade Poison Dispelling Pills are sold too quickly. I haven’t even supplied them yet, but high-level cultivators have already reserved them. If Fellow Daoist Shen needs anything, you can go to the True Treasure Pavilion to take a look.”
He left the Spring Embroidery Pavilion. Shen Ping walked for two minutes before arriving at the True Treasure Pavilion on the east side of the market.
The streets here were very prosperous. More than 70% of the cultivators who came and went were at the late stage of Qi Refinement. Not far from it were expensive small courtyards. The concentration of spiritual energy was higher than in other areas.
He rarely came here when he was selling talismans because he often encountered Golden Sun Sect’s disciples here. Cultivators who could enter the Golden Sun Sect had to have at least three elemental spiritual roots. Moreover, once they became disciples, they would instantly have storage bags, immortal treasures, and robes.
If one’s talent was outstanding, they could even obtain a high-grade artifact.
Therefore, these disciples more or less had pride. If a rogue cultivator like him accidentally bumped into the other party or caused the other party to feel uncomfortable, the consequences would be very troublesome.
Now that he wanted to buy a high-rank Poison Dispelling Pill, he had no choice but to make a trip here. In the future, when he made high-grade talismans, he would probably have to come here often.
Soon, Shen Ping entered the True Treasure Pavilion.
“Fellow Daoist, what can I do for you?” A beautiful and sweet female cultivator came forward. To be able to serve other cultivators in the True Treasure Pavilion, her monthly income was probably higher than his hard work in making talismans.
“I want to buy a high-grade Poison Dispelling Pill.” He stated his needs.
“The high-grade Poison Dispelling Pill is on the second floor. Please follow me, Fellow Daoist.”
Shen Ping heaved a sigh of relief. Fortunately, there were still goods here. Otherwise, he would have to come to the market again in a few days. Thinking of the mid-stage cultivator who followed him today, his heart sank.
A moment later, the transaction was completed. He only had two medium-grade spirit stones and fifty-six low-grade spirit stones left. This amount of spirit stones was enough for two months of daily expenses.
Of course, if he were to be more economical, it could last for half a year. Moreover, there was half a month’s worth of spirit rice and meat at home.
He thought for a moment. Shen Ping bought another month’s worth of living expenses. When he was done, it was almost noon.
The scorching sun roasted the Cloud Mountain Market. He left the market, but when he returned to the alley, he hesitated. If he encountered another robber cultivator tailing him, he might not be lucky.
“Let’s wait a little longer. Perhaps I can encounter the cultivators near Red Willow Alley.”
There were not many cultivators like him who rarely went out in Red Willow Alley. Most of the cultivators were like their next-door neighbor, Yu Yan. They would usually come to the market or go to the wilderness every few days, as well as hunt in the periphery of the Cloud Mountain Swamp deeper in.
Alchemists, artifact masters, and talisman masters had a stable source of income, but many of them did not have the talent in this area and were unwilling to cultivate patiently. They could only constantly increase their combat strength and hunt demonic beasts to obtain materials to sell. Moreover, this could temper themselves and increase their chances of breaking through compared to cultivators who often stayed indoors.
Many powerful cultivators grew through such battles and tempering. As Shen Ping strolled around the stall, he glanced in the direction of the north street. After waiting for a full two hours, he saw a familiar figure. “Fellow Daoist Yu, what a coincidence!” He quickly went forward to greet her.
Yu Yan’s robe was still stained with blood, and her body emitted the smell of blood. She looked exhausted. “Fellow Daoist Shen, you’re actually willing to come out of your house?” She forced herself to stay awake and clicked her tongue in wonder.
Shen Ping laughed dryly. “There’s no more rice at home, so I came out to buy some. Fellow Daoist Yu, are you hunting demon beasts outside?”
It was very difficult for cultivators at the mid-stage of Qi Refinement to hunt demon beasts. Therefore, cultivators would form teams with each other. They could form teams in the recruitment hall of the market. This kind of team had restrictions. It was rare for them to fight internally unless they could break the restrictions.
Yu Yan said sarcastically, “I’m not a Talisman Master like Fellow Daoist Shen, who just needs to stay in the house and dote on his wife and concubine every day.”
Shen Ping looked embarrassed, but he still took the initiative to ask, “Fellow Daoist Yu, shall we go back together?”
Yu Yan immediately understood what Shen Ping meant. She waved her hand. “Let’s go.”
Recently, there were many unfamiliar cultivators in the streets and alleys outside the market. It was no longer as safe to go out as before. Even she had to be vigilant. There were no accidents along the way.
They reached Red Willow Alley safely, Shen Ping said gratefully, “Thank you for your care, Fellow Daoist Yu.” As he spoke, he took out a Freezing Talisman and handed it to Yu Yan. “Recently, I’ve made some progress in the Dao of Talismans. Fellow Daoist Yu, if you lack such talismans, you can buy them from me.”
Yu Yan didn’t stand on ceremony. Freezing talismans were very useful, but because the circuits of the spirit runes were complicated and the price was low, many talisman masters were more willing to make amulets, fire talismans, and so on.
Furthermore, the consumption of Freezing Talismans was far inferior to that of talismans. Fire Talismans were used by cultivators at critical moments, causing the price of Freezing Talismans to not increase.
“Fellow Daoist Shen’s talisman skills have improved. Congratulations.”
The two of them quickly separated. He walked into the house.
Shen Ping finally felt relieved. He was finally safe.
“Husband!” His wife and concubine surrounded him, and the worry on their faces disappeared. After all, there were many unfamiliar cultivators outside, and they were afraid that Shen Ping would not return.
One of them was a mortal, while the other was a cultivator at the first level of Qi Refinement. If Shen Ping died, it would be impossible for them to survive in Red Willow Alley. Shen Ping held his wife and concubine’s wrists and comforted them a little before eagerly entering the cubicle.
A few days later, there was only a little venom left in his body. In the cubicle, he calmed his mind, retracted his consciousness. Then, he carefully took out the brown high-grade Poison Dispelling Pill and swallowed it without hesitation.
The pill entered his stomach. It immediately turned into a rich medicinal power.
He quickly circulated his cultivation technique and circulated his spiritual energy through his meridians. The medicinal power of the Poison Dispelling Pill spread to his limbs and bones along with his spiritual energy.
Psst.
Almost instantly, Shen Ping’s entire body started to ache as if it was cramping. He gritted his teeth. This pain disappeared very quickly, but as soon as it disappeared, it came again. It completely disappeared after five or six times in a row.
Boom.
As the poison hidden in the depths of his body was completely eliminated, the spiritual energy that had been suppressing the poison and constantly seeping into the depths of his body seemed to have been released and erupted.
Shen Ping’s expression changed. He used all his strength to restrain this explosive spiritual energy and let it enter his meridians.
At this moment, the mid-grade spiritual roots of the metal and wood attributes took effect and increased the speed of the circulation of spiritual energy by several times, preventing the spiritual energy gathered in the meridians of the dantian from becoming violent.
Four hours passed.
The explosive spiritual energy was completely absorbed by his body.
Click.
Shen Ping did not even attempt to break through. His spiritual energy actually broke through the blocked meridians automatically, causing the circulation to increase. At the same time, the aura on his body suddenly increased.
Just like that, he broke through to the fourth level of Qi Refinement. He felt the increase in the total spiritual energy in his body.
Shen Ping could not help but cry tears of joy. He had been tortured by the demonic beast’s poison for so many years. Now that he had finally gotten rid of it completely, he no longer had to endure pain every day and night to suppress the poison.
He stabilized his spiritual energy. He got up and walked out of the cubicle. Looking at his beautiful wife and concubine, his excitement was obvious. “Yun’er, Ying’er…”
He picked up his wife and concubine and pressed them on the bed.
It was destined to be a sleepless night.