Pukou Market.
Lu Family Pill Shop.
"Fellow Daoist Li, this is the prescription. Just go into the mountains to collect the herbs listed on it."
Behind the counter, a young Daoist boy of about thirteen or fourteen years old handed over a prescription.
Outside the counter, Li Wu took the prescription and glanced at it. He saw a line of tiny characters on it
: Ten Aconitum flowers, one pound of magnetite, ten stalks of autumn water grass.
These were all common herbs.
"Fellow Daoist Li, as usual, deliver the herbs within a month. If you are late, we will hire someone else," the young boy reminded him.
Li Wu nodded, folded the prescription in half and put it in his belt, cupping his hands and saying,
"Then I'll be going now."
Their profession was called "mountain herders." They would pick up the herbs needed by the market's pill shops and then go into the mountains to collect them, making a living and earning meager cultivation resources.
It wasn't just pill shops that needed them.
Magic artifact shops need spirit ore, talisman shops need demon beast blood… both will hire independent cultivators to search for it in the mountains.
Therefore, the demand is huge.
Most independent cultivators in the market make a living this way.
These "mountain walkers" trek to a mountain called [Chi Mountain], a famous demon mountain. It's rich in spiritual resources, but teeming with demons, including many Foundation Establishment level demons. For Qi Refining independent cultivators, it's fraught with danger.
After accepting the assignment, Li Wu didn't go into the mountain like other independent cultivators, but instead returned to his residence.
On the outskirts of the market, in Zone B, number twelve.
This was a courtyard with white walls and black tiles, containing a small pavilion with a stone table and chairs for visiting friends.
Except for the thin spiritual energy, everything was fine.
In the cultivation world, only things related to cultivation have value. For cultivators, even a palace in the mortal world couldn't compare to a dimly lit cave dwelling.
Therefore, most of those living here were poor independent cultivators.
After returning home, Li Wu went to the rice jar and scooped out about fifty catties of spirit rice.
The rice jar was almost empty.
Then, a thought struck Li Wu.
...
Li Wu looked around at the surrounding mountains and fields; they were now in another territory.
This place is the Yue Kingdom, another world of cultivation.
It follows a path called the "Purple Mansion Golden Elixir Path." One must gather a breath of spiritual energy from heaven and earth to build a foundation for immortality, achieve the Purple Mansion Divine Power, forge a trace of golden nature, and thus attain the Dao fruit.
This is vastly different from Li Wu's original path of Qi Chain Foundation Building and Golden Elixir/Nascent Soul.
In the Pukou Market, cultivators, after obtaining a cultivation technique, would draw Qi into their bodies and directly chain it.
But in this world, before chaining Qi, one must open the six orifices, form a circulation, and then swallow a breath of innate spiritual energy to become a chain-qi cultivator.
Li Wu transmigrated to this world half a month ago. He doesn't yet have the cultivation techniques here, so he hasn't opened the six orifices.
However, he still found an opportunity to scavenge:
reselling spiritual items!
In this world, the inheritance of various cultivation arts is sealed by aristocratic families and sects, preventing its circulation to the outside world. They continuously harvest cheap materials and then process them into talismans, pills, and other finished products for sale.
This made the prices of medicinal herbs and other spiritual items sold by independent cultivators exceptionally cheap.
Li Wu had calculated that most medicinal herbs here were about 50% cheaper than in the Pukou market.
This instantly sparked Li Wu's idea of trading between the two worlds.
"I'll make the price difference and then buy a cultivation technique here."
Although Li Wu was already a Qi Refining Stage 3 cultivator, he believed that the cultivation path in this world was significantly stronger.
With this in mind, Li Wu walked along the long-abandoned path towards Jianxiawu.
Jianxiawu was a trading place for cultivators, where they could purchase the medicinal herbs they needed for the day.
After walking for a while, Li Wu saw a gathering place appear on the previously deserted mountain path.
The crowd was bustling, and the sounds of conversation were incessant.
Li Wu walked in quickly without attracting any attention.
Being new to the area, he wasn't in a hurry to trade, but instead wandered around the streets for a bit, seeing all sorts of techniques and spiritual items. Most were medicinal herbs, spiritual ores, and talismans.
Occasionally, he could also see magical artifacts and talismans, but they were rare, and he didn't know where they came from.
Li Wu randomly stopped in front of a stall selling medicinal herbs. The veiled stall owner asked,
"Fellow Daoist, what kind of medicinal herbs do you need?"
Li Wu picked and chose, finally picking up a dark, woody lump and asking:
"How much is this medicinal herb?"
"Aconite, fifty spirit stones for one piece."
Upon hearing this, Li Wu thought to himself, 'So this world calls aconite flowers "Aconite Wood"?'
Li Wu didn't dwell on the name for long and asked,
"How about one piece for two catties of spirit rice?"
Whether in Pukou Market or in this world, spirit stones are rare for rogue cultivators.
Bartering is more common.
The stall owner was silent for a moment, then said,
"May I see what kind of spirit rice it is?"
Li Wu then presented a handful of spirit rice.
The stall owner examined it for a moment: "The grains are plump and rich in spiritual energy; it's a good spiritual item. We can trade."
"Okay, then give me ten pieces of Aconite Wood."
Soon, the transaction was completed.
Li Wu gave twenty catties of spirit rice and received ten pieces of Aconite flowers.
Next were magnetite and autumn water grass.
The price of autumn water grass was the same as that of aconite flowers, two catties of spirit rice per plant.
As for magnetite, it has the effects of absorbing qi and calming the mind, and can be used to refine [Spirit Gathering Pill]. Therefore, the price was quite high; one pound of lodestone required ten pounds of spirit rice.
It took Li Wu about two hours to complete the transaction.
But Li Wu wasn't in a hurry to leave. Instead, he stopped at a stall selling cultivation techniques.
He picked up a manual.
"Fellow Daoist, how much is this 'Huiyuan Tongqiao Jue'?"
The stall owner glanced at Li Wu before answering,
"Three spirit stones."
He added,
"That's the price for everything."
Li Wu smiled and nodded, then turned and left.
Afterward, Li Wu left Jianxiawu, found a dense forest, and left this world.
...
Pukou Market.
Although he had purchased all the medicinal herbs, Li Wu wasn't in a hurry to deliver them. He didn't want to be too hasty and attract attention.
"It's not too late to go in a few days."
After carefully storing the medicinal herbs, Li Wu sat cross-legged on the bed, pondering:
"Although the stall owner said the *Huiyuan Tongqiao Jue* costs three spirit stones, judging from his appearance, there should be room for negotiation."
"All the spiritual items I have on me now, when combined, are roughly worth two spirit stones."
"After delivering this batch of medicinal herbs, I can get back a hundred catties of spirit rice, which can be converted into one spirit stone. So, that's three spirit stones."
This is almost Li Wu's income for a year and a half before.
If it were before, he would definitely buy a few Spirit Gathering Pills. But now he would definitely buy the *Huiyuan Tongqiao Jue*.
But three spirit stones are too expensive.
"Two and a half spirit stones shouldn't be a problem." Li Wu seemed to understand.
As the initial stage of cultivation, the corresponding cultivation method for opening the acupoints shouldn't be too expensive.
After all, it needs to be affordable for all rogue cultivators.
Otherwise, if there are fewer rogue cultivators, how can those aristocratic immortal sects exploit them?
"Hmm, that makes sense."
Ten days later,
Li Wu finally brought the medicinal herbs to the Lu family's pharmacy.
The young Daoist took the box from Li Wu, opened it, and took out a single aconite flower.
"Not bad, excellent quality, and the quantity is correct."
After saying this, he tapped on his abacus and asked,
"Fellow Daoist, would you like spirit rice or spirit stones?"
"Spirit stones."
Li Wu was going to buy the "Huiyuan Tongqiao Jue" later, and spirit stones were easier to carry; otherwise, carrying a hundred catties of spirit rice would be quite inconvenient.
"By the way, Fellow Daoist, are there any errands left in the shop?" Li Wu asked again.
The young Daoist shook his head:
"The recent needs have all been dispatched out. Fellow Daoist can come back in a few days to inquire."
The Lu family dispatched errands in this way both to obtain more medicinal herbs for refining pills and to provide a livelihood for the rogue cultivators.
Otherwise, if these rogue cultivators were penniless, who would they sell their pills to?
Hearing this, Li Wu did not linger, turned around, and went out to another shop.
Pukou Market was a hub for independent cultivators and powerful forces from thousands of miles around.
Dozens of shops operated within the market, offering services in alchemy, weapon crafting, talismans, and magic arrays.
Almost every shop sent out orders.
Li Wu inquired at over ten shops before finally receiving an order from a talisman shop.
"Two catties of demon beast blood, remember, it must be water-attribute," the shopkeeper instructed.
"Understood," Li Wu nodded.
...
Jianxia Dock.
Li Wu walked around again, then returned to the stall selling magic manuals.
He picked up the *Huiyuan Tongqiao Jue* (Gathering Origin Aperture Opening Technique) and proactively said,
"Fellow Daoist, how about two spirit stones for this technique?"
"Not enough,"
the stall owner shook his head.
Li Wu pressed further, "Your *Huiyuan Tongqiao Jue* is only a technique for opening apertures, not a method for circulating qi. How about two and a half spirit stones?"
The stall owner pondered for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said,
"Alright, but you must swear not to reveal it to anyone."
"Alright."
Li Wu nodded and then swore an oath.
For cultivators, oaths are quite important.
If one breaks an oath, they will be suppressed by the Heavenly Dao rules of this place.
"Wouldn't it be better if I just didn't pass it on to the cultivators here?" Li Wu thought to himself.
Then, he spent two and a half spirit stones.
After putting the "Huiyuan Tongqiao Technique" into his clothes, Li Wu got up and went to find a stall selling beast blood.
"Fellow Daoist, do you have the essence blood of aquatic demon beasts?"
The stall owner looked about seventeen or eighteen years old, dressed in animal skin clothing, with animal bone tools hanging from his forehead, neck, and waist.
"Of course I do, but which one do you want, fellow Daoist?"
The stall owner said, taking out three gourds,
"These gourds contain the essence blood of the Azure Scaled Fish, the Ba Water Snake, and the White Jade Turtle, respectively."
"I'll take the cheapest one." Li Wu said.
"Then it's the Azure Scaled Fish, only half a spirit stone."
Two catties of essence blood, half a spirit stone.
Li Wu did the math in his mind; it was about 20% cheaper than the Pukou Market.
There was still a profit to be made.
"Fellow Daoist, I'll pay fifty catties of spirit rice. Is that acceptable?"
Li Wu said, handing a bag of spirit rice to the stall owner.
The stall owner took it and, before he could speak, a palm-sized turtle crawled out of Li Wu's clothes.
Its shell was white jade-colored and divided into eight pieces.
The turtle fell into the rice bag and began to eat voraciously. Seeing this,
the stall owner couldn't help but smile wryly:
"Looks like I have no choice but to accept it."
He then handed Li Wu a gourd containing the essence blood of a green-scaled fish.
"I find you unfamiliar, fellow Daoist. May I ask your name?"
Li Wu took the gourd and said,
"My name is Li Wu."
"My name is Qi Yu. If you have any more of this spirit rice in the future, please come to me to trade," Qi Yu said, bowing.
Hearing this, Li Wu raised an eyebrow. Judging from the other party's words, he seemed quite interested in the spirit rice.
"What do you need this spirit rice for, friend?" Li Wu keenly sensed a business opportunity.
"Ah, my family makes a living by raising spirit beasts. I noticed this white jade turtle seems to like your spirit rice, so I'd like some."
"I see." Li Wu nodded slightly, seemingly lost in thought.
"If I am fortunate enough to obtain it, I will certainly come here to trade with you, Fellow Daoist Qi." "
Then I'll be waiting for you, Fellow Daoist." Qi Yu nodded with a smile.
...
Back at Pukou Market.
Li Wu looked at the *Huiyuan Tongqiao Jue* in his hand and nodded,
"Not bad. This time, I not only obtained the technique but also secured a long-term client."
"Qi Yu... the Beast Taming Family... worth befriending."
"However, before that, I'll first practice this technique."
Immediately, Li Wu sat cross-legged, circulated the technique, and attempted to open his acupoints.
After a night of practice, Li Wu discovered that opening acupoints was not so simple.
Opening acupoints not only depends on spiritual energy but also on blood and qi.
This is precisely what Li Wu is lacking, or rather, what all the cultivators here lack.
"It seems that if I want to open my acupoints quickly, I'll need spiritual items related to qi and blood."
In Pukou Market, most of the pills related to qi and blood are replenishing pills like the [Qi-Returning Pill], which don't offer much benefit in increasing qi and blood.
"Demonic beast blood seems to work."
The *Huiyuan Tongqiao Jue* records that qi and blood can be replenished through demonic beast blood.
"However, I've almost run out of resources. I can only wait until the Azure Scale Fish blood is delivered."
To avoid attracting attention, Li Wu waited for half a month.
He bought two catties of Azure Scale Fish blood for fifty catties of spirit rice, and resold it for sixty catties of spirit rice.
He easily made a small profit of ten catties of spirit rice.
Afterward, Li Wu wandered around the market but didn't get any good jobs.
Not only that, he noticed that the "mountain walkers" in the market were starting to gather one by one.
"Fellow Daoist Li Wu!"
Li Wu heard a shout from behind and turned around.
He saw a young woman in a green robe, at the third level of Qi Refining cultivation, wielding a fine longbow; her strength was quite impressive.
Li Wu smiled and bowed, "Fellow Daoist He Yu, what brings you here?"
He Yu approached, lingering on Li Wu's handsome face for a few moments before slowly speaking:
"These past few days, the demonic beasts of Chi Mountain seem to have gone mad, many starting to flee to the outer areas. Many cultivators have been injured, and it's said that some have even seen mid-stage Qi Refining demonic beasts on the outskirts." "
Therefore, everyone is now forming teams to enter the mountain. I've also found a few people; why don't you join us?"
Li Wu glanced behind her; not far away, three cultivators were looking over.
Two men and one woman, two at the second level of Qi Refining, and one at the third level.
If he joined, this five-person team would have three at the third level of Qi Refining and two at the second level.
With such combat power, they could basically roam freely on the outskirts of Chi Mountain.
Even if he encountered a mid-stage Qi Refining demon beast, he could escape unscathed.
However, Li Wu shook his head:
"Fellow Daoist He Yu, I sincerely thank you for your invitation, but I must apologize that I cannot join."
"Why?" He Yu frowned slightly, quite puzzled.
Li Wu shook his head and casually made up an excuse:
"I am currently preparing to go into seclusion to break through to the mid-stage Qi Refining realm, so I really don't have the time."
He was currently trading between the two realms, which was very safe, so naturally he didn't want to take the risk at Chishan.
"Then I wish Fellow Daoist Li a speedy breakthrough to the mid-stage Qi Refining realm."
He Yu cupped her hands in greeting and did not press the matter.
Back in the courtyard, Li Wu pondered He Yu's words.
"I didn't expect such a big thing to happen in Chishan," Li Wu thought to himself.
"However, this matter has both advantages and disadvantages for me."
"The advantage is that with more demonic beasts in Chishan, the risks of entering the mountain will increase, and the prices that shops offer for recycling spiritual items might rise." "
The disadvantage is that it might be more difficult for individuals to take on jobs."
Shops can hire more cultivators for the same amount of spirit stones. Although the number of spiritual items remains the same, the efficiency is much higher.
Previously, it would take a month to find the required spiritual items; now it can be found in ten days to half a month. Moreover, the failure rate for team
orders
is lower than for individuals.
Therefore, taking on orders alone is truly disadvantageous.
"I'll open my first acupoint first,"
Li Wu said silently, then headed towards Jianxia Dock.
He found Qi Yu and bought two catties of the essence blood of the Green-Scaled Fish.
Then he returned.
Li Wu sat cross-legged, a gourd beside him, emanating a strong, fishy stench.
Li Wu picked it up and took a sip; the intense bloody taste almost made him vomit, but he forced it down.
Then, he made a hand seal, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth converged on him. Instantly, a burning sensation erupted in his perineum, causing him excruciating pain.
The next day, Qingming Festival.
Li Wu slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air.
"Hoo... It took a whole night to barely refine this mouthful of beast blood. This demon beast blood is truly domineering!"
Li Wu felt that the demon beasts in Jianxiawu were much stronger than those here.
Otherwise, this mouthful of beast blood, which was not even at the Qi Refining stage, wouldn't have taken him, a Qi Refining Stage 3 cultivator, so long to refine.
"However, the effect is also very obvious. Although I haven't opened the first acupoint yet, I can feel that my blood and qi have improved significantly compared to before." "
There are about ten mouthfuls of beast blood left, which should be enough for me to open the first acupoint."
Li Wu first cooked some spirit rice to fill his stomach, and then continued to cultivate the "Huiyuan Tongqiao Jue".
...
A month passed in the blink of an eye.
Li Wu remained seated cross-legged on the bed, eyes closed, mobilizing the surging blood and qi and all his spiritual power.
He precisely targeted the perineum acupoint, opening a gap before forcefully pouring in his blood and spiritual power.
The next second, the perineum acupoint was open!
Li Wu felt a surge of comfort; not only had his strength increased, but he also felt his five senses improve, his dantian expand, and the flow of spiritual power within his body accelerate.
"Is this what it means to open acupoints? I feel that I can now even defeat a fourth-level Qi Refining cultivator! As for a third-level Qi Refining cultivator, even two of them wouldn't be a match for me."
"The Purple Mansion Golden Core Path... truly the right path to immortality!"
Li Wu was completely conquered and decided to cultivate only the Purple Mansion Golden Core Path from now on.
"However, I used up all the beast blood just by opening the first acupoint. There are still five more acupoints to go: Tailbone, Spine, Jade Pillow, Baihui, and Magpie Bridge. The amount of beast blood needed will only increase. I might even need blood-qi pills."
"This will require a lot of spirit stones."
Li Wu had a headache; he didn't have many cultivation resources left. He
only had five catties of spirit rice on him.
"Sigh, I'll go to the market and see if I can find a job."
Li Wu entered the market and saw that most of the independent cultivators were standing in twos and threes, and some teams were even openly recruiting.
"Hunting Qi-Chain Level 2 beasts! Fellow Daoists above Qi-Chain Level 2 are welcome to join!"
"Mining refined iron ore, the team is still two people short!"
"Searching for Aconitum Flower, fellow Daoists familiar with the Chishan ley lines are welcome to join!"
Hearing these shouts like those from a marketplace, Li Wu thought he had come to the wrong place.
"I've only been in seclusion for a little over a month, and there are already offline teams in the market?"
Li Wu shook his head and walked into the Lu family's pill shop, which he frequented.
The shopkeeper was still the same young Taoist boy.
"Fellow Daoist, do you have any errands to run?"
The boy, who was arranging medicinal herbs, looked up and chuckled.
"It's you. How many of you are here together? And what are your cultivation levels?"
Li Wu frowned and said, "Just me."
The young Taoist priest was taken aback, looking Li Wu up and down with a hint of pity in his eyes. He shook his head and said,
"Fellow Daoist, the monsters in Chishan are currently swarming. To be on the safe side, our shop doesn't hire individuals."
What kind of ridiculous rule was this?
Li Wu was a little angry, but there was nothing he could do. Don't
underestimate this young Taoist priest just because he was only at the first level of Qi Refining; behind him stood the Lu family!
A genuine Foundation Establishment family.
"Isn't there any job that someone can take on?" Li Wu asked, unwilling to give up.
"If you are at the mid-stage of Qi Refining, then you can," the young Taoist priest smiled slightly.
Helpless, Li Wu could only leave and turn to other shops to inquire, but the answers he received were almost the same.
Early-stage Qi Refining cultivators could only take on tasks in pairs, while only those at the mid-stage of Qi Refining or above could take on tasks alone.
"It seems that the Pukou Market is a dead end."
Li Wu frowned slightly, pondering what to do next.
He really didn't want to go into dangerous places with unfamiliar people, otherwise he might not even know how he died.
"With so many cultivators entering and leaving Chishan, they must need spiritual items like pills and talismans to protect themselves."
"Perhaps I could go to Jianxiawu to buy some practical items that aren't available in Pukou Market and sell them to the cultivators entering the mountain." "
However, I only have five catties of spiritual rice on me right now, which is really too little."
"I'll have to borrow some."
...
District B, No. 8.
This is the small courtyard rented by Lu Sui.
In Pukou Market, Li Wu didn't know many fellow cultivators, but Lu Sui was one of them.
The two met on their journey to seek immortality. Lu Sui was a martial artist who, while riding his horse, saw Li Wu almost starving to death by the roadside and rescued him out of kindness.
Afterward, the two traveled together, and even after arriving in Pukou Market, they often communicated.
However, in recent months, Lu Sui had been in seclusion breaking through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining, so he hadn't come to see Li Wu.
"Judging by the time, it should be time for him to come out of seclusion."
Li Wu wandered through the streets and alleys and soon arrived at the small courtyard at No. 8 in District B.
"Knock, knock, knock."
After knocking on the courtyard gate, Li Wu waited a moment before the gate slowly opened.
A young man of about twenty-five or twenty-six years old opened the door, dressed in simple robes, his long hair tied back, quite handsome.
Lu Sui, recognizing the visitor, was overjoyed and exclaimed,
"Brother Li! I was just thinking of coming to see you!"
Li Wu smiled, then suddenly sensed the fluctuations of spiritual energy emanating from Lu Sui. Raising an eyebrow, he quickly congratulated him,
"Brother Lu has broken through to the mid-stage of Qi Chain!"
"Hahaha, it was just a natural progression."
Breaking through to the fourth level of Qi Chain meant becoming a mid-stage Qi Chain cultivator, placing him among the upper echelons of the independent cultivators in Pukou Market.
Unlike early-stage Qi Chain cultivators, mid-stage Qi Chain cultivators even had the opportunity to join a prestigious family or sect within the market, becoming retainers.
It was equivalent to going from a part-time job to a full-time one.
Inside the pavilion,
Li Wuduan picked up a cup of wine, took a sip, and asked, "Brother Lu, would you like to
become
a retainer of a powerful immortal clan?"
Lu Sui shook his head and sighed,
"Of course I would, but I haven't decided yet. Alchemy, talismans, Qi cultivation... I want to learn them all."
Besides the good treatment, the biggest temptation of joining a powerful clan as a retainer is the opportunity to learn the various arts of immortal cultivation.
If he could master any one of these arts, even if he only knew how to refine one type of pill or draw one type of talisman, he wouldn't have to worry about cultivation resources in the future.
"Alchemy requires talent, weapon crafting requires a large initial investment, and talismans rely heavily on spiritual awareness. Sigh, what should I choose..."
Li Wu: "..."
"By the way, Brother Li, you've been at the third level of Qi Chain for three or four years now, haven't you? When are you planning to break through to the middle stage of Qi Chain?"
Hearing this, Li Wu immediately looked hesitant and sighed repeatedly:
"Sigh, I do want to break through to the middle stage of Qi Chain, but I don't have enough spirit stones to buy [Spirit-Nourishing Jade], so Brother Lu, could you..."
Lu Sui understood perfectly, so he raised his hand to stop Li Wu from continuing, and said:
"Brother Li, there's no need to say more. It's just that my breakthrough to the middle stage of Qi Chain has almost exhausted all my spirit stones. Now I only have half a spirit stone left. I can lend it to you temporarily."
Li Wu immediately stood up and bowed, saying:
"Then thank you, Brother Lu. I promise to return this half spirit stone to you within a month."
"Brother Li, just take it and use it, no need to rush to return it!"
Lu Sui waved his hand generously.
As a man of the martial world, he possessed a naturally heroic spirit. He always readily helped his brothers and friends without hesitation.
This was why Li Wu had come to him to borrow spirit stones.
The two chatted until late at night, after which Li Wu declined Lu Sui's request to stay the night and returned to his own courtyard.
...
Jianxiawu.
The market was still bustling with activity at night, though the cultivators setting up stalls had changed somewhat.
Li Wu wandered aimlessly, taking in all the spiritual items displayed at each stall. At the same time, he pondered what to buy.
He only had half a spirit stone on him, so he had to spend it wisely.
"The biggest source of demand in the market right now is definitely those mountain hikers heading to Chishan in groups."
"The biggest danger in Chishan is undoubtedly those demonic beasts..."
"Spirit silkworms! They can spin silk, two for only one spirit stone!"
"Aperture Opening Realm magic artifacts, 99% new, only three spirit stones!"
"Take a look! [Beast Repellent Powder]! It can keep Aperture Opening Realm demonic beasts away."
At this moment, Li Wu heard a hawker's cry.
He turned around and saw a boy of about thirteen or fourteen years old enthusiastically soliciting passing cultivators with bottles and jars.
Li Wu walked over and asked, "What is this beast-repelling powder?"
The young man's face beamed with enthusiasm, and his smile widened even more upon seeing someone inquire. He explained,
"This beast-repelling powder is made from the bones of Qi-Chain Realm demonic beasts ground into powder. Simply sprinkle it on your body or the ground, and within a ten-mile radius, Qi-Opening Realm demonic beasts will absolutely not dare approach."
Qi-Chain Realm demonic beast bones?
Li Wu raised an eyebrow, carefully examining the young man before him. The other was merely a Qi-Opening Realm cultivator; where would he
get Qi-Chain Realm demonic beast bones? His attire was extremely simple, without any jade pendants or ornaments, unlike someone from a noble immortal sect.
Li Wu asked suspiciously, "Are you trying to deceive me?"
The young man shook his head repeatedly, "I swear on my oath."
Li Wu was largely convinced.
If this beast-repelling powder could truly repel Qi-Opening Realm demonic beasts, perhaps it could also repel early-stage Qi-Chain Realm demonic beasts.
Currently, there are many early-stage Qi Refining demonic beasts on the outskirts of Chishan. If this beast-repelling powder really works, it will undoubtedly have a large market.
It's worth a try.
Thinking this, Li Wu looked up at the stall owner and asked,
"How much is this beast-repelling powder in spirit stones?"
"Three bottles for one spirit stone,"
Li Wu shook his head, his expression calm.
"Too expensive. If it were half a spirit stone for two bottles, I'd take it."
A conflicted look flashed in the young man's eyes. Seeing that Li Wu was about to turn and leave, he panicked and quickly said:
"Alright, alright, I'll go with your price."
'Heh heh, young.'
Li Wu smiled smugly to himself.
...
Early morning.
Li Wu set up a stall in the Pukou market, with two bottles and a sign on it.
It read: "Beast-repelling powder, can repel early-stage Qi Refining demonic beasts."
Passing cultivators stopped to inquire:
"Fellow Daoist, can your beast-repelling powder really repel early-stage Qi Refining demonic beasts?"
"Really."
"How much?"
"One bottle and half a spirit stone."
"Too expensive."
The cultivators who had initially shown some interest turned and left upon hearing the price.
Li Wu wasn't discouraged and continued to sit patiently.
After some time, a pair of long legs appeared in Li Wu's field of vision.
"Fellow Daoist Li Wu."
Li Wu looked up following the footsteps of the newcomer and saw it was He Yu.
"Fellow Daoist He Yu."
He glanced back and saw He Yu's three teammates, all looking somewhat disheveled, one of them injured.
"Looks like they ran into a demonic beast," Li Wu thought to himself.
He Yu's gaze shifted from Li Wu's face to the sign, his eyebrows slightly raised.
"Fellow Daoist Li Wu, is your Beast-Repelling Powder truly effective?"
he asked. "I've used it myself, of course it works," Li Wu replied blatantly.
"How many spirit stones?"
"One bottle and half a spirit stone."
He Yu's face immediately showed a conflicted expression.
The price was a bit high…
but now there were more and more demonic beasts on the outskirts of Chi Mountain. This time, they had taken on a mission to find spirit mines. They encountered two Qi-chain level three demonic beasts, and it took several talismans to escape.
Seeing that He Yu seemed genuinely interested in buying, Li Wu immediately had a plan. The
reason this Beast-Repelling Powder hadn't sold was because it had never appeared in the Pukou market before, and the price was quite high for independent cultivators, so not many were willing to buy it.
Now, if there was a real-life example to prove it, naturally some cultivator teams would be willing to buy it.
Thinking of this, Li Wu chuckled,
"How about this? If you're truly interested, I won't charge you spirit stones for now. After you've used it and find it satisfactory, you can buy both bottles."
Hearing this, He Yu's eyes lit up, and he nodded,
"Okay."
So, Li Wu handed one bottle of Beast-Repelling Powder to He Yu.
Afterwards, Li Wu packed up his stall and prepared to go home.
Next, he would wait for He Yu's return and receive feedback.
...
A month passed in the blink of an eye.
Li Wu sat cross-legged on his bed, circulating his cultivation technique, constantly trying to open the second acupoint.
Without external assistance, the progress wasn't fast; it was estimated that it would take about half a year to open the second acupoint.
Li Wu opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air.
"Judging by the time, He Yu should be back by now."
Li Wu got up, steamed a bowl of spirit rice, and then waited patiently in the pavilion in the courtyard.
"Fellow Daoist Li Wu! Are you home?"