Chapter 241: Difficulty

"What's the price?"

He Pingsheng asked.

He still wanted this item.

Moreover, it was a rare object, not easily seen in ordinary times.

After all, each wisp of eldritch flame meant the death of a Golden Core cultivator.

"Name your price..." The fat cultivator crossed his arms and looked at He Pingsheng: "You know my eldritch flame is a grade-three terrestrial material. If you can offer me something grade-three that moves me, I'll give it to you..."

"If not, heh... sorry!"

"I don't take spirit stones!"

Under normal circumstances, a Foundation Establishment cultivator could not possess a grade-three item.

Thus, the fat cultivator's eyes held a hint of disdain.

He Pingsheng smiled, then pulled out a pill vial and said: "Brother, what do you think of this?"

The fat cultivator reached out, took the vial, and opened the lid!

His spiritual sense swept inside, and his expression shifted slightly. "This is a grade-three pill?"

"And of superior quality?"

Grade-three pills were already precious; superior quality made them even rarer.

"And... this... this is the Soul-Returning Pill? The one that repairs spiritual sense?"

The fat cultivator's voice trembled with excitement.

He Pingsheng had originally refined twenty-four Soul-Returning Pills for Zi Lan.

He gave her two.

The remaining twenty-two, he refined into twelve supreme-grade and ten high-quality ones.

The supreme-grade ones were reserved for himself or his close relatives; the high-quality ones were intended for trade.

"Correct!" He Pingsheng said: "Even if you one day reach the Golden Core realm, taking this pill after spiritual damage will restore you fully within days!"

"This pill can save your life in a critical moment!"

"Excellent!" The fat cultivator quickly capped the vial. "Did you refine this yourself?"

He Pingsheng did not answer, offering him a foolish yet polite smile.

The fat cultivator chuckled awkwardly. "Heh... of course you didn't refine it yourself. Still, this pill is good..."

"But..."

"It's just too few!"

"If you had two, I'd agree to the exchange!"

He Pingsheng smiled calmly. "Brother, you're joking. Such an item—even one—is already the limit for a Foundation Establishment disciple like me. How could I possibly obtain two?"

"If you feel its value is insufficient, I understand."

"Sorry."

If you're not willing, then fine.

He Pingsheng felt his superior Soul-Returning Pills were slightly undervalued, but still exchangeable.

If he gave this fat man two, he'd suffer a great loss.

"Fine..." The fat cultivator gritted his teeth. "Exchange..."

As He Pingsheng said, having this pill on hand when your spiritual sense is damaged meant an extra layer of safety.

Barter has no absolute loss or gain.

It depends only on one's mindset and need.

"Here..." He personally handed He Pingsheng the bottle burning with flame. "Young brother, you must refine it quickly!"

"This item is hard to preserve—after half a year at most, the eldritch flame will vanish!"

"Understood!" He Pingsheng nodded.

Half a year?

No need. He Pingsheng decided to refine it immediately upon returning.

The method to refine this eldritch flame was simple—similar to refining a magic treasure; just control its nature.

"Collect..." He Pingsheng placed the flame and the bottle together into a separate supreme-grade storage pouch.

"You have a supreme-grade storage pouch? How enviable!" The fat cultivator gazed with admiration.

He Pingsheng smiled, then took Qiao Hui Zhu's hand and left.

After he was far away, the fat cultivator sighed again, muttering softly: "Having such a beautiful cultivation partner... even more enviable... sigh... I have no such fortune!"

"Herbs..."

"All kinds of herbs!"

"Spiritual Herb Villa is selling herbs..."

Not far ahead stood a massive stall.

It was piled high with various alchemical materials.

Or materials for talisman crafting.

He Pingsheng pulled Qiao Hui Zhu over quickly.

"Hello!" He Pingsheng addressed the three Foundation Establishment disciples behind the stall. "Brothers, do you have grade-two herb 【Ku Ma Zi】?"

Ku Ma was a grade-two spiritual herb.

Its seeds were called Ku Ma Zi.

One of the main ingredients for the Spirit-Enriching Pill—each pill required over ten Ku Ma Zi seeds.

"Ku Ma Zi?"

One female cultivator shook her head. "Sorry, we don't have any."

"Ku Ma is hard to sell. Our Spiritual Herb Villa hasn't grown it in years!"

"No profit in it."

The other's logic was sound.

Ku Ma Zi had limited uses.

How many people casually dabble in dispersing Qi?

"But..." the woman added, "it's not a rare or precious item—growing it is quite easy. If you wander around, you'll likely find some. If not, visit our Spiritual Herb Villa—we probably still have seeds stored."

"Understood!" He Pingsheng said. "Thank you."

Ku Ma Zi, at least, had a lead.

"By the way..." He Pingsheng continued. "Do you have grade-two material 【Tian Xiang Dou Kou】?"

"Tian Xiang Dou Kou?" The woman shook her head. "We don't have it."

"Though it's grade-two, Tian Xiang Dou Kou is extremely precious!"

"Because it's exceptionally hard to cultivate!"

"This plant thrives only atop snowy mountain peaks, bathed in icy qi!"

"Extremely difficult to grow!"

"And demand is even lower!"

"You rarely see this item!"

He Pingsheng's expression darkened. "Then... do you know where one might purchase Tian Xiang Dou Kou?"

"This..." the woman shook her head. "I don't know. Honestly, I've never even seen it."

"Too rare—and most people have no use for it!"

"Alright, thank you, brother!" He Pingsheng's face grew grim.

Could Tian Xiang Dou Kou truly not be found?

He Pingsheng pulled Qiao Hui Zhu away again.

Both remained silent, lost in thought.

After walking a while, He Pingsheng suddenly said: "Sister, if you see something you like, feel free to buy it."

"Mm..." Qiao Hui Zhu nodded. "Brother, some things are destined... don't let this become your mental obstacle."

"I truly don't care."

"I've never even dreamed of reaching the Nascent Soul realm in my life."

"Nascent Soul is too distant for us!"

He Pingsheng shook his head.

Without the Treasure Basin, reaching Nascent Soul might indeed be distant.

But now that he had it, as long as his cultivation path proceeds smoothly, reaching Nascent Soul is certain.

Isn't it just pushing forward with supreme-grade pills?

What's the problem?

Yet now, with the Treasure Basin, yet...

"No rush!" He Pingsheng's gaze swept the square. "We've barely covered one-tenth of the stalls. There's plenty of time!"

"Keep looking!"