Chapter 31

The next day, nearing noon, the two arrived at Lübai City.

Lübai City was a medium-sized city in southern Mangzhou, closest to Li City.

The two had already inquired beforehand: the most renowned herbal merchant in Lübai City was Qianyun Hall.

So upon arriving in Lübai City, Xia Daoming headed straight for the largest Qianyun Hall.

In Lübai City, Xia Daoming naturally had no need to conceal his martial energy.

Moreover, to ensure the shopkeeper did not doubt his purchasing power, Xia Daoming deliberately released his Fifth-Rank Great Martial Master’s martial energy as he entered Qianyun Hall.

In Lübai City, a Fifth-Rank Great Martial Master was already considered a formidable force.

Xia Daoming’s casual release of his Great Martial Master’s energy immediately alerted the shopkeeper, who came out personally to greet him.

Xia Daoming got straight to the point, telling the shopkeeper he wanted the best pills to strengthen blood and martial energy.

A big sale had walked in, and the customer was a Fifth-Rank Great Martial Master—the shopkeeper was overjoyed, immediately turning to instruct his clerks.

Soon, a clerk brought over two antique-style boxes.

“These are Qianyun Pills—our Qianyun Hall was founded and grew because of this pill. Made from multiple rare herbs through a secret method, this pill offers significant nourishment even to a Sixth-Rank Great Martial Master taking it for the first time. Of course, the price is steep: one hundred and twenty taels per pill.” The shopkeeper opened one box, pointing to a pill the size of a dragon’s eye, smooth and lustrous, and extolled its virtues.

Xia Daoming had been taking many pills lately and often consulted Ji Wenyue; in identifying pills, he was barely considered half an expert.

He picked up the Qianyun Pill, examined it closely, sniffed its aroma, and knew its initial effect would certainly be inferior to Ji Family’s Sanyuan Guixue Pills.

Yet he had already developed considerable tolerance to Ji Family’s pills; even if Qianyun Pill’s potency was weaker, its first-time effect would still surpass what he now gained from Sanyuan Guixue Pills.

The market price of Sanyuan Guixue Pills was two hundred taels per pill; Ji Wenyue had given him “special supply” grade—had he sold them openly, they might fetch three hundred taels each.

Precisely because of this, Xia Daoming felt continuing to take Ji Family’s pills was wasteful; he preferred to travel far.

After all, one may eat off others’ wealth, but one must not squander it—better to conserve resources for the long haul.

“This pill is passable. I’ll take ten.” Xia Daoming said.

“Ten?!” The shopkeeper’s voice trembled.

Ten pills meant twelve hundred taels—an absolute big order!

“You don’t have them?” Xia Daoming raised an eyebrow.

“We do! Of course we do!” the shopkeeper hurriedly replied.

Xia Daoming nodded, his gaze falling on the other box.

The shopkeeper, quick to understand, immediately opened the second box.

The pills inside were small, no larger than silkworm beans, mediocre in appearance, with chaotic energy.

“These are Baiyun Pills—slightly inferior to Qianyun Pills, but still beneficial for a Fifth-Rank Great Martial Master, and much cheaper: only ten taels per pill.” The shopkeeper explained.

“Forget it.” Xia Daoming waved his hand without hesitation.

Joking—he had, including his recent windfall and pills he carried, the equivalent of eighty thousand taels in silver; in Lübai City, he was unquestionably a wealthy man.

He normally consumed pills worth over a hundred taels each—how could ten-tael Baiyun Pills possibly catch his eye?

Seeing Xia Daoming reject it outright with clear disdain, the shopkeeper felt disappointed yet stirred, saying: “We do have one flagship herb at Qianyun Hall: a three-hundred-year-old Lie Lin Shen. This herb can be consumed directly for nourishment.”

“But its potency is extremely fierce: a Fifth-Rank Great Martial Master must consume only one segment at a time, and his meridians will feel as if slashed by knives—he needs at least a month’s rest to recover, and must wait three months before taking another dose.”

“A Sixth-Rank Great Martial Master fares slightly better, but still requires ten to fifteen days’ rest after each dose, and must wait a month before the next.”

“Oh? Its potency is this fierce? How much is this herb?” Xia Daoming’s heart leapt with joy, though he feigned a frown.

“Eight thousand taels!” The shopkeeper held up one hand.

“So expensive!” Xia Daoming frowned again.

“Compared to its effect, it’s not expensive at all—it’s just too potent.” The shopkeeper said.

“Hah!” Xia Daoming smirked. “You can only take one segment at a time. A Fifth-Rank Great Martial Master must rest a month after each dose, and wait three months before the next—who among Fifth-Rank martial masters can afford such time?

What if an enemy shows up during that period? Do you tell him, ‘I just took a potent herb—I’ll fight you later when I’ve recovered’?”

“This…” The shopkeeper was momentarily speechless under Xia Daoming’s pressure.

In truth, that was precisely why it remained unsold—otherwise, such a direct-acting tonic would have been sold long ago, or consumed by the owner himself.

“Still, since you mentioned it, I’ve never seen a three-hundred-year-old Lie Lin Shen before. Could I take a look?” Xia Daoming changed his tone.

The shopkeeper, shrewd and experienced, immediately understood: this man wanted to haggle, not lose interest. He perked up and went personally to fetch the Lie Lin Shen.

The Lie Lin Shen was thick and long, like a child’s forearm, entirely crimson, as if burning with flame, shaped like a qilin horn, with five nodal markings.

As soon as the shopkeeper brought it out, Xia Daoming felt a violent energy surge toward him, causing his blood to ripple slightly.

“Its potency is indeed fierce! The shopkeeper probably didn’t tell the full truth—only someone with my aberrant meridians would dare consider consuming it; otherwise, only a Seventh-Rank Great Martial Master could handle it.” Xia Daoming narrowed his eyes, his thoughts turning.

“Sir, please observe: this Lie Lin Shen has five nodal markings, each representing a full sixty-year cycle. Each dose must be one entire segment—five doses total—or the effect will be greatly diminished.” The shopkeeper explained in detail.

Seeing the shopkeeper explain the dosage so carefully, Xia Daoming knew the old man had seen through him—he dropped all pretense and said directly: “Four thousand taels. I’ll take the Lie Lin Shen.”

“Sir, you’re joking! This is a three-hundred-year-old Lie Lin Shen! Only elderly Seventh-Rank Great Martial Masters dare consume it lightly—and Lübai City has no young Seventh-Rank Great Martial Masters! How could this herb still be sitting here?” The shopkeeper was both delighted and anxious.

Delighted because Xia Daoming clearly intended to buy.

Anxious because the price cut was brutal.

“Young Seventh-Rank Great Martial Masters? Those are prodigies with potential to become Masters—rarer than your Lie Lin Shen. Finding such a buyer would be extremely difficult.” Xia Daoming said.

“Sir, that’s true. Our owner originally planned to send this Lie Lin Shen to the nearest major city for sale, but first, the journey is long and risks theft; second, even if we reached a major city, we’d be strangers in unfamiliar territory, and the buyer would surely be a local dignitary—if he used his power to bully us, we’d have no recourse.”

“So our owner ultimately decided to keep it here as a flagship treasure. If a buyer happens to pass through and wants it, even at a lower price, it’s better than risking those dangers. But four thousand taels? That’s simply outrageous.”

“To be honest, if this three-hundred-year-old Lie Lin Shen were sold in a major city, a conservative estimate would be ten thousand taels minimum. How about this: seven thousand five hundred taels. If you still refuse, we’ll have to ask our owner to speak with you personally.” The shopkeeper said.

Xia Daoming agreed with the shopkeeper: for a genius like Xu Shixiong, ten thousand taels meant nothing if it boosted cultivation.

Yet though he’d earned money quickly lately, saving where possible was always better.

Especially for such a “luxury”—a simple word could save hundreds or even thousands of taels. Why not?

So while he agreed, Xia Daoming immediately asked the shopkeeper to summon the owner.

The owner arrived quickly and warmly received Xia Daoming.

After friendly haggling, Xia Daoming paid eight thousand taels total, including the ten Qianyun Pills—which effectively became a gift.

After paying, Xia Daoming immediately left Lübai City with Liu Qiaolian, not lingering a moment.

Outside the city, they galloped on horseback until thirty to forty li away, then slowed their pace.

They were outsiders; having spent eight thousand taels in one transaction, if they lingered in Lübai City, word might spread—and someone might grow greedy.

Though Xia Daoming had confidence in his strength, when traveling, avoiding trouble was always better than inviting it.