Chapter 133: Pill Formula

The junction of Qingyu Domain, Union Domain, and Thick Earth Domain.

Just as when the Spirit Beast Sect and the Return to Origin Sect had friction and conflict, various marketplaces sprang up to profit from the war, a marketplace similarly emerged here.

The scope of this righteous-demonic war far exceeds the conflict between the Spirit Beast Sect and the Return to Origin Sect; it is a head-on clash between the Nine Sects of the Ten Domains of the Righteous Path and the Seven Sects of the Demonic Path, with the vast Union Domain almost completely reduced to ruins, and the forces and cultivators involved are too many to count.

Such a large-scale war naturally brings greater spoils of war, and who knows how many powers want to seize a share of the profit.

However, even though the righteous and demonic sides now maintain an extremely fragile balance and tacit understanding, such war profits are not something any power can casually dip into.

Even the Qingzong Sect cannot, by its own strength, establish a marketplace here.

Therefore, this marketplace was initiated by a supermajor sect called the Primordial Origin Sect and is jointly managed and operated by the Four Great Merchant Alliances.

Know that the Primordial Origin Sect is a genuine Yuan Ying great sect; it is said that at least three elders who have reached the Yuan Ying Stage reside within it, making it one of the foremost sects in the eastern border of the cultivation world.

And the Four Great Merchant Alliances are no simple matter either; they are an alliance formed by four major merchant guilds, and the alliance also venerates more than one Yuan Ying Cultivator.

A marketplace built by such forces naturally has unquestionable safety.

Even the people of the Primordial Origin Sect and the Four Great Merchant Alliances jointly decided that this marketplace is open not only to righteous cultivators but also to demonic sect cultivators.

However, upon entering the marketplace's bounds, one must not engage in combat; otherwise, it will be deemed a provocation against the Primordial Origin Sect and the Four Great Merchant Alliances, and will be jointly suppressed by the two powers.

Gradually, although the spiritual energy density here is not high, it has become the largest marketplace in the vicinity; saying it has everything one could need is not an exaggeration.

These are what Yunhe heard after leaving the Qingzong Sect, in the Qingshan City marketplace.

At the same time, he also learned that the marketplace holds a small auction every month and a large auction once a year.

Yunhe temporarily cannot make it to the large auction, which was just held less than two months ago, but he can still participate in the small auction.

So afterward, Yunhe set out from Qingshan City, detoured from Qingyu Domain into Thick Earth Domain, and then entered this region.

Although said to be the junction of the three domains, it originally belonged to the Union Domain, but a piece was forcibly carved out for the marketplace.

After paying three low-grade spirit stones and obtaining a token, Yunhe entered the marketplace.

"Senior, do you need hyacinth?"

Upon entering the marketplace, a Qi Refining Stage cultivator greeted him with a fawning smile.

"No need."

Wearing a wide robe and slightly altering his appearance, Yunhe spoke in a deep, muffled voice.

The so-called hyacinth guides are actually some marketplace guides who can help newcomers quickly familiarize themselves with the marketplace and swiftly find what they need.

But for Yunhe, it is indeed unnecessary.

Because his goal is the auction, and there are still three days until the monthly auction, he has plenty of time to wander the marketplace and search for and purchase what he needs.

Hearing that, the Qi Refining cultivator immediately gave an embarrassed laugh, performed a bow, and retreated.

And Yunhe began to wander within the marketplace.

It is clearly felt that the scale of this marketplace is larger than any marketplace Yunhe has visited before, and the level of goods involved is much higher.

Not only are there items needed by Foundation Establishment cultivators, but even things usable by Golden Core cultivators are not lacking.

After spending some time to gain a certain understanding of the situation and prices there, Yunhe headed straight for a tall building named the Bright Elixir Workshop.

Noticing that the entrant was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, the Bright Elixir Workshop immediately had a Foundation Establishment steward come forward to greet him.

"I am Xue Qin; I have met you, fellow Daoist. Is there anything I can help with?" After bowing, the Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivator Xue Qin smiled and asked.

Yunhe's disguise of his form and appearance was of no concern; courtesy remained as before.

Yunhe also returned the salute, speaking in a deep, muffled voice: "I am the Daoist known as Feng Daoren; I have met you, fellow Daoist. I wish to buy a pill furnace."

"So you are Fellow Daoist Feng."

Upon hearing Yunhe's wish to buy a pill furnace, Xue Qin was slightly startled, then raised his hand and said, "Please follow me up to the third floor, fellow Daoist."

While guiding Yunhe upstairs, he also did not forget to introduce:

"The first and second floors sell elixirs; the pill furnace you wish to buy is on the third floor."

Wafts of sandalwood incense permeated the air, making one feel refreshed and clear-headed.

Noticing Yunhe's change, Xue Qin smiled and said:

"This is Tranquil Heart Sandalwood; if you light a stick while refining pills, it also helps the success rate."

Through the act of buying a pill furnace, Xue Qin naturally understood that Yunhe is also a pill refiner.

However, his words made Yunhe's eyes slightly brighten.

This Tranquil Heart Sandalwood can calm the mind and spirit; not only does it aid in pill refining, but it also certainly provides some auxiliary effect when making talismans, forging artifacts, and even during cultivation.

Xue Qin led Yunhe to a quiet room to sit, had a servant bring up fragrant tea, and then finally asked: "I do not know what grade of pill furnace Fellow Daoist Feng requires."

"Top-grade spiritual artifact level."

Hearing that, Xue Qin narrowed his eyes imperceptibly, then nodded.

"I will have someone bring it over for you to take a look."

It must be said that the marketplace's scale is large, and the forces coming to set up shop are all quite formidable.

Yunhe originally thought buying a top-grade spiritual artifact level pill furnace would be troublesome, so his initial target was actually a medium-grade spiritual artifact.

Unexpectedly, the Bright Elixir Workshop actually has one.

Immediately, Yunhe's thoughts shifted; after a slight hesitation, he said:

"I would also like to purchase some pill formulas, those that can help Foundation Establishment cultivators increase their cultivation."

Xue Qin was startled.

"Pill formulas?"

He burst out laughing and said, "Fellow Daoist, you jest; our Bright Elixir Workshop does not sell pill formulas."

For forces that profit from selling elixirs, pill formulas are their foundation, their competitiveness against other elixir-selling forces, and cannot be casually sold.

Yunhe, however, leaned back in his chair, interlaced his fingers, and slowly said:

"It's not that we won't sell; it's merely that the price is not right."

He has a price for everything; the only difference is how high or low that price is.

Looking at the resolute Yunhe, Xue Qin pursed their lips, picked up the teacup and took a small sip.

Xue Qin revealed a helpless smile and shook their head.

"Don't hide it from you, fellow Daoist, our Bright Elixir Workshop's prescriptions are indeed not for sale, but"

He still tried to keep a secret, but Yunhe was completely unmoved, which made Xue Qin a little embarrassed.

He lightly coughed and continued: "However, we can sell the prescriptions we receive. I, Xue Qin, happened to obtain a prescription half a year ago; this prescription is somewhat special. If you, fellow Daoist, are interested, I can show it to you."

"Oh?" Yunhe sat up, becoming somewhat curious.

"How special can a prescription be?"

"I, for one, would like to see just how special it is."

Upon hearing that, Xue Qin said no more, took out a Jade Slip from their storage bag, and handed it to Yunhe.

Yunhe casually picked it up and swept his divine sense into it.

"Marrow Essence Elixir"

After looking for a while, Yunhe's expression gradually became somewhat strange.

The Jade Slip had been sealed with a restriction, so the detailed contents could not be seen, but some approximate materials needed and the elixir's efficacy were still available.

This "Marrow Essence Elixir" is indeed an elixir that advances the cultivation base of Foundation Establishment cultivators, and its effect is not small—it is exactly what Yunhe needs.

But the problem is, the main material required by this prescription is actually a demon beast's inner core!

Although Foundation Establishment elixirs can also be refined using second-tier beast inner cores, this shows that demon beast inner cores are not unusable for elixir refinement, and may even be superior to using some spiritual materials as the main ingredient.

But why are Foundation Establishment elixirs so expensive?

Isn't it just because second-tier beast inner cores are hard to obtain, and with demand outstripping supply, that causes Foundation Establishment elixir prices to stay high?

To be honest, if anyone possesses a second-tier beast inner core, who would first think of not using it to refine Foundation Establishment elixir?

Even if one cannot use it themselves, whether selling it or trading it for other items, it is extremely valuable.

Of course.

If a cultivator produces too many Foundation Establishment elixirs at once, even if they are a Foundation Establishment cultivator, they will inevitably attract attention.

Even if sold in small amounts multiple times, it remains very conspicuous.

However, speaking of which, although Foundation Establishment elixirs are precious, they are useless to Yunhe now, and the auxiliary materials for such elixirs are actually not cheap either.

But the auxiliary materials for this prescription turn out to be quite "simple".

The most important point is:

This prescription surprisingly does not clearly describe what grade the resulting elixir belongs to after refinement!

"Could it be that the elixir's formation is also related to the tier of the demon beast's inner core?"

This inevitably stirred some interest in Yunhe.

After all, obtaining demon beast inner cores is far easier for him than for other cultivators in the world of immortality.

On the Demon Beast Body side, there are still some second-tier beast inner cores stored, because no one knows how to handle them, they have just been kept until now.

Putting down the Jade Slip, Yunhe furrowed his brow.

"Fellow Daoist Xue, this prescription is really..."

Xue Qin obviously also understood this prescription's "problem", and smiled somewhat embarrassedly, saying:

"Sorry, Fellow Daoist Feng, our Bright Elixir Workshop's prescriptions are indeed not for external sale; if you truly want it, this is the only one available."

Yunhe took a deep breath, showing a hesitant expression.

Thud, thud, thud.

The index finger lightly tapped the tabletop.

Under Xue Qin's gaze, Yunhe pushed the Jade Slip to the side.

"Let's first look at the alchemy furnace, how about it?"

Xue Qin had no doubts, smiled as if relieved, and said: "Very good."

Soon, a servant brought up a deep-purple alchemy furnace.

"Fellow Daoist Feng, this is a high-grade spiritual artifact, the 'Purple Robe Clear Furnace'; not to mention using it to refine second-stage elixirs, even third-stage elixirs would be possible."

There seemed to be a hint of deeper meaning in Xue Qin's words.

However, Yunhe merely gave a low chuckle.

"Fellow Daoist Xue is joking; Feng has little confidence in refining second-stage middle-grade elixirs, and buying a better furnace is merely to hope for a higher success rate."

"Then this furnace is all the more suitable."

Xue Qin didn't think much of it, just blurted out another sentence; after all, for an alchemist, anything that increases the success rate is worth it.

After an hour.

Seeing off by Xue Qin, Yunhe left the Bright Elixir Workshop.

"Purple Robe Clear Furnace" he bought, spending four thousand low-grade spirit stones.

And that prescription for the Marrow Essence Elixir was obtained together with him as a bonus, priced at three hundred low-grade spirit stones under a half-sale, half-gift arrangement.

No need to think; Xue Qin certainly did not spend more than two hundred low-grade spirit stones to acquire this prescription.

However, this prescription is useless to others, but for Yunhe it's another matter.

"I guess I picked up a leak?" Yunhe couldn't help but laugh.

Over the next few days, he continued to gather all the needed materials in the market, spending a considerable amount of spirit stones.

Naturally, he also sold off many of the items he had accumulated.

For example, some demonic cultivator's spiritual artifacts and magical artifacts from Blood Phoenix Pavilion, Wu Ying, and Hei Mu, plus the magical artifacts he crafted while practicing artifact refinement, as well as the accumulated spirit nectar, spirit talismans, elixirs, and so on.

After the trip, he found that not only had his spirit stones not decreased, but they had actually increased considerably.

Could only sigh.

Killing and looting really does make money fast.

Waited until the third day.

The market's auction proceeded as usual.

And Yunhe wasn't purely just going to buy things.

He took out a Foundation Establishment Pill that had been stored for a long time and entrusted the auction house to sell it.

The auction house was very enthusiastic about it, so he obtained a fairly decent private room.

He had left two Foundation Establishment Pills and one inferior-quality Foundation Establishment Pill; now he is a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator, claiming he is not inferior when facing late-Foundation Establishment cultivators, so selling one Foundation Establishment Pill would not cause much trouble.

If at that time there is something he likes but lacks enough Spirit Stones to buy, he would have to trade various items, which is still quite troublesome.

(End of chapter)