Chapter 24: Decisive Action! (Seeking Followers! Seeking Favorites!)

The behavior of selling a jar or two at one shop, then waiting a while, making a round, changing clothes, and then selling two jars at another shop, is truly.

Extremely troublesome.

But there's no way around it.

Compared to trouble, safety is still more important.

Moreover, it has already attracted the attention of some shopkeepers. Next time, either we wait a long time before coming again, or we simply have to change locations to sell.

With low cultivation base, one must be careful in everything one does.

Actually, even if Yunhe's cultivation base is not weak, in the world of cultivation one still needs to be cautious and discreet when conducting oneself.

He arrived at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion once again.

The attendant was no longer the previous steward, nor the earlier host; moreover, the other party obviously did not recognize this cultivator who had just sold two jars of Red Pattern Spirit Honey in the shop a few hours earlier.

This is the disadvantage of a Qi Refining cultivator.

Without special techniques and with the spirit sense unable to project outward, it is difficult to identify a cultivator who frequently changes attire.

This is also why wandering rogue cultivators in the black market mostly choose to conceal their appearance and features.

"Fellow Daoist," the steward greeted him.

"Do you have any Spirit Insect Bags?"

A low, hoarse voice came from beneath the mask.

This is natural!

Upon hearing that someone needed a Spirit Insect Bag, the steward's eyes lit up and he hurriedly replied.

"Spirit Insect Bags don't come cheap."

"Please take a look, Fellow Daoist."

Soon, the steward brought out several cloth bags of various appearances and placed them before Yunhe.

At first glance, those who didn't know might think they were storage bags.

Actually, Spirit Insect Bags and storage bags share some similarities; both can store items.

The difference is merely that storage bags can only hold dead things.

If one tries to put a living thing into a storage bag, either the creature dies outright, or the bag splits apart.

Spirit Insect Bags, however, are different.

They can store living things, limited to some insects or slightly larger small pets; otherwise, Spirit Insect Bags also risk rupturing.

The eyes beneath the mask scanned the several Spirit Insect Bags before him—some new, some old, some ornate, some plain.

He spoke up and asked:

"What differences do these Spirit Insect Bags have?"

The steward smiled and said:

"Fellow Daoist, don't rush; please listen as I explain in detail."

"This bag contains one space and is equipped with the Flame Fire Array and the Attract Spirit Array, suitable for fire-loving spirit insects. That bag contains two spaces and is equipped with the Wood Grain Array."

After the steward's explanation and Yunhe's indirect probing, he understood which spirit insects each bag was suited for, as well as the functions of the various large and small formations.

Formations such as the Flame Fire Array and Wood Grain Array, etc., are meant to provide a better resting environment for the spirit insects dwelling within, aiding their growth.

Meanwhile, the Attract Spirit Array is almost a mandatory formation for all Spirit Insect Bags.

Its purpose is to allow the Spirit Insect Bag to exchange spiritual energy with the outside world, so that the insects inside do not suffocate.

After a moment.

Fellow Daoist, take your leave slowly!

The jovial steward watched Yunhe walk out of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.

"Spirit Insect Bags are actually this expensive.."

Yunhe, having left the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, lightly touched the gray cloth bag at his waist and muttered to himself.

A Spirit Insect Bag with one space and only the Attract Spirit Array actually costs twenty-five low-grade spirit stones!

It is nearly one-fourth more expensive than a storage bag of the same size.

Originally he had wanted to buy a half-space Spirit Insect Bag.

But considering that if the number of Red Pattern Spirit Bees were later replenished, he would have to replace it anyway, he might as well directly buy a one-space bag, solving it in one step.

By then, even if the Red Pattern Spirit Bees increased to a hundred, it should still barely suffice.

Following custom, after strolling around the black market and adjusting the filling and physique, he entered a shop called the Elixir Workshop.

"Spirit Nourishing Pills: ten low-grade spirit stones per bottle."

Unlike the stewards of all the shops Yunhe had visited before, the attendant at the Elixir Workshop had an extremely cold demeanor.

"Those who refine pills are just tough."

Yunhe instantly extinguished the thought of haggling.

Seeing his attitude, if Yunhe tried to haggle, he would probably get an eye-roll.

Someone wants three bottles.

The steward casually waved his hand, and three small bottles of white jade appeared on the counter, each containing ten Spirit Nourishing Pills.

Spirit Nourishing Pills are elixirs suitable for early and mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators to increase their cultivation base, while also slightly stimulating breakthroughs of the bottleneck; they are a relatively common first-grade elixir.

Yunhe took out thirty low-grade spirit stones with a twinge of pain.

He put away the three bottles of Spirit Nourishing Pills.

The more money one has, the more one feels that spirit stones are insufficient.

Having bought just these two items, his savings of sixty-three low-grade spirit stones plummeted straight away.

"Anything else?"

Seeing Yunhe take the elixir but not leave immediately, the steward raised an eyebrow and asked.

"Do you have any introductory books on the Dao of Alchemy?"

Among the hundred arts of cultivation, the four foremost are alchemy, artifact forging, formation arrays, and talisman script.

Most cultivators, upon reaching a certain level of their Cultivation Base, will dabble in one or two of these arts to make their path smoother.

Actually, Yunhe has always had the idea of mastering a skill to rely on.

But due to lack of funds and no channels, it came to nothing.

But now, with earning Spirit Stones from harvesting honey from Red Pattern Spirit Bees, his thoughts have become active again.

Hearing this, the steward was slightly startled, then gave a light chuckle and pointed to a corner inside the door.

There stood a rack holding many Jade Slips and a sign.

"Introduction to the Dao of Alchemy, price: fifty Low-grade Ling Stones!"

Yunhe's eyes narrowed slightly, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

He bowed to the steward.

"Sorry for the disturbance."

"Earn in the black market, spend in the black market, never bring a single cent home."

Leaving the black market, Yunhe weaved through the winding, complex passages of River Gully Mountain and muttered self-mockingly.

Besides the Spirit Insect Pouch and three bottles of Spirit Nourishing Pills, he also bought one first-rank intermediate-grade Diamond Talisman and four Swift Travel Talismans, totaling three Low-grade Ling Stones.

The Diamond Talisman is an upgraded version of the first-rank low-grade Protective Talisman, offering stronger defensive ability.

The Swift Travel Talisman is a commonly used first-rank low-grade talisman; when affixed to the leg, it increases a cultivator's speed.

"Four Low-grade Spirit Stones remain, enough for daily living expenses."

Naturally, the earned Spirit Stones must be spent to realize their value.

Still somewhat shaken, he wiped the sweat from his forehead.

He walked forward a few steps.

He gave a light wave.

A Red Pattern Spirit Bee flew down from the treetops.

It landed in his hand.

Seeing him lightly wave his palm, the Red Pattern Spirit Bee vanished instantly.

"The Spirit Insect Pouch is indeed convenient."

He lifted his foot and hurried down the mountain.

Along the way, occasional Red Pattern Spirit Bees resting on trees, under his control, flew back one by one into the Spirit Insect Pouch.

"Huh?"

At the mountain's base, Yunhe's motion of waving to retrieve a Red Pattern Spirit Bee hesitated slightly.

"Anyone there?"

His wrist twitched.

That Red Pattern Spirit Bee slipped into his sleeve.

At the same time, he quickened his steps.

After walking a distance, Yunhe simply took out a Swift Travel Talisman.

He infused Spiritual Power into it and affixed it to his foot.

Soon he became as swift as flying, and in a moment disappeared from sight.

When the effect of the Swift Travel Talisman faded,

Yunhe's steps then slowed down.

Still somewhat shaken, he wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Was the person crouching in the thicket just now a bandit cultivator?"

Fortunately, before entering the black market, he had hidden some Red Pattern Spirit Bees in the mountains as a precaution.

"But it probably wasn't because he revealed his wealth."

Although the Red Pattern Spirit Bee can convey only limited information, Yunhe still gathered from its intermittent signals that, shortly after he entered the black market, that person had been crouching there, likely seeking "prey" rather than specifically waiting for him.

He then rushed another stretch of road.

"Fellow Daoist, please wait!"

A sudden voice came from behind.

He saw a cultivator wearing a light blue robe, with a ruddy complexion appearing quite capable, chase up.

Upon seeing this person,

Feeling a slight agitation within his sleeve, Yunhe drew a light breath.

"Qi Refining mid-stage."

Seeing him stop, the visitor showed a smile.

Before even approaching Yunhe, he clasped his hands in a friendly greeting and introduced himself:

"Fellow Daoist, I am Situ Jianhe of Hongye City, newly arrived here; may I ask."

Speaking, he stepped closer.

Just then.

Before he could finish speaking, Yunhe swept his hand fiercely, the Golden Killing Sword rose on the wind, turning into a golden blade of light, unleashed without reservation toward the visitor.

"A magical artifact! Fellow Daoist, what are you doing?!"

The cultivator who called himself Situ Jianhe's face changed drastically; he shouted a stern question while, as if prepared, he slapped a Diamond Talisman onto himself, and a layer of golden light instantly enveloped his whole body.

Ding!!

A sword strike struck the golden light of the Diamond Talisman, emitting a metallic bee-like buzz.

Yunhe pressed his lips, brows furrowed, spiritual power surging within him.

He formed hand seals with both hands.

"Fellow Daoist! Is there some misunderstanding? I harbor no ill will toward the spirit bees?!"

Buzz——

As he spoke, Yunhe's spirit insect pouch at his waist opened, and a large swarm of Red Pattern Spirit Bees surged out.

One also crawled out from his sleeve, joining the swarm.

Dense Red Pattern Spirit Bees gathered together, like a scarlet cloud, surging toward Situ Jianhe.

Seeing this, Situ Jianhe's face turned suddenly ashen.

He swept his hand over his waist, and a magical artifact fan appeared in his hand.

He swung it fiercely.

In an instant, flames rose.

A pillar of fire appeared out of nowhere.

The blazing fire posed a great threat to spirit insects like the spirit bees.

"How did you discover this?" Situ Jianhe demanded, suppressing his anger.

Yunhe did not answer.

He merely changed the hand seal in his hand.

Buzz, buzz——

Then the swarm of Red Pattern Spirit Bees split from the middle into two, avoiding the fire pillar while lunging from both sides toward Situ Jianhe.

"Insect formation?"

Only at this moment did a hint of panic finally appear in Situ Jianhe's voice.

But the next second.

His panic turned to terror.

"A demon-beast-level bee queen?!"

Only see that the golden light transformed from a middle-grade first-rank Diamond Talisman was covered by the dense Red Pattern Spirit Bees.

Accompanied by a harsh, grating "creak," the golden light quickly dimmed.

"No! Fellow Daoist! It's a misunderstanding! I have not—"

Crack!!

Yunhe increased his spiritual power output, and the faintly arrayed Red Pattern Spirit Bee stingers fell almost simultaneously, the golden light shattering like a mirror.

The defensive golden light of a middle-grade first-rank Diamond Talisman couldn't even block this swarm of spirit bees for a breath?!

Ah!!!

Dozens of Red Pattern Spirit Bee stingers pierced his body, the intense pain causing Situ Jianhe to roll his eyes back.

At the same moment, as the golden light dissipated, Yunhe turned his fingers into a sword and pointed from afar.

"Golden Slaughter Sword, go!"

A flash of blade.

Pierced through the skull!

Thus, the cultivator who called himself Situ Jianhe was completely still.

Yunhe waved his hand.

The Red Pattern Spirit Bees lying on his body then flew back.

They coiled behind him.

Like a red cloud, sometimes round, sometimes square, orderly shifting position.

The Red Pattern Spirit Bee Queen at the center had a cold gaze; her hind legs lightly rubbed her thick dark-red stinger, dropping several drops of conspicuous crimson that fell to the ground, splattering into bloody blossoms.

Yunhe stepped forward and picked up the magical artifact fan from the ground.

Looking at his pitted, miserable appearance.

If he didn't recall the Red Pattern Spirit Bees, at most two breaths, this person would become a skeleton.

He crouched, enduring discomfort as he searched the bandit cultivator's body.

"Good thing I kept a wary heart."

He felt somewhat relieved that he hadn't stored the discovered Red Pattern Spirit Bees of the opponent into his spirit insect pouch.

Thus, actually when the opponent appeared and tried to approach under disguise, the Red Pattern Spirit Bees gave the first warning.

The honey-gathering Red Pattern Spirit Bees are still quite sensitive to aura.

Originally Yunhe didn't want to provoke trouble, so upon discovering the opponent he chose to flee immediately, even using a Swift Travel Talisman.

But he never expected the opponent wouldn't let him go and pursued him.

Knowing he couldn't escape, Yunhe seized the moment the opponent tried to close the distance and struck decisively!

"Fortunately he wasn't at the late Qi Refining stage, otherwise it would have been truly dangerous."

"Who walks by the river often and doesn't get wet shoes?"

After three trips to the black market, he eventually still encountered a bandit cultivator.

"Indeed, it's best to avoid the black market."

"Still, it also served to test the strength of my bee swarm."

(End of chapter)