Chapter 46: Fierce Strengthening

Low-grade, medium-grade, high-grade, and supreme-grade—these are the four tiers of spirit stones.

As for why the spirit stones he strengthened were only medium-grade and not supreme-grade, He Pingsheng had no idea.

Let’s keep looking—what are these spirit stones used for?

He buried himself in reading again.

About half a stick of incense later, He Pingsheng lifted his head in shock.

He finally understood why his Treasure Basin hadn’t produced supreme-grade spirit stones.

Because: it’s too outrageous.

Ordinary low-grade spirit stones can be used as currency and tools in the cultivation world.

Medium-grade spirit stones contain abundant spiritual energy; even a single one can sustain the cultivation of a Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment disciple.

As everyone knows, cultivators in the cultivation world must seek places rich in spiritual energy to cultivate.

Where is spiritual energy abundant?

Answer: Celestial Havens, Immortal Isles, Sacred Mountains.

For example, the Grand Void Gate established its sect here because beneath its mountain lies an exposed spiritual vein that continuously emits spiritual energy for cultivators to absorb.

Once you leave the Grand Void Gate, there is no spiritual energy outside—you cannot cultivate.

But if you possess a medium-grade spirit stone, you can cultivate even in ordinary places.

Because the medium-grade spirit stone itself contains abundant spiritual energy, more concentrated than what low-level spiritual veins provide.

This is only medium-grade.

What about high-grade?

High-grade is even more astonishing.

Burying a single high-grade spirit stone underground creates a small spiritual vein.

Put simply, one high-grade spirit stone is enough to sustain a [cultivation family].

As for supreme-grade spirit stones, they are even more outrageous.

Burying a supreme-grade spirit stone the size of a human head underground is equivalent to a medium-sized spiritual vein—sufficient to support a massive sect like the Grand Void Gate.

Thus, He Pingsheng now finally understood why his Treasure Basin only produced medium-grade spirit stones.

What if it had directly produced supreme-grade ones?

Of course, He Pingsheng didn’t know that the Treasure Basin could indeed produce supreme-grade spirit stones—its strengthening capability depends on his cultivation base and the degree to which the Treasure Basin has been refined; not now doesn’t mean never.

In addition, there is an exchange ratio between the different tiers of spirit stones.

For example, one medium-grade spirit stone can be exchanged for ten thousand low-grade ones.

One high-grade spirit stone can be exchanged for ten thousand medium-grade ones.

As for the value of supreme-grade stones, this [Miscellaneous Records of Cultivation] doesn’t say—but it’s certainly even more outrageous.

“Ten thousand…?” He Pingsheng gasped.

He currently had twenty thousand low-grade spirit stones in hand.

But… useless.

Although he had medium-grade ones, He Pingsheng wouldn’t be foolish enough to spend them.

Before possessing sufficient strength, displaying items mismatched to your status only invites trouble.

“Heh…” Looking at the remaining three hundred spirit stones, He Pingsheng sighed softly: “Still don’t know when I’ll have enough to buy a Storage Bag!”

“No rush… take it slow!”

First step: toss the low-grade magic treasure [Flying Sword] into the Treasure Basin, then push the basin under the bed.

Strengthen them one by one!

While strengthening, He Pingsheng wasn’t idle.

He took out his alchemy furnace and began refining pills.

His master Yu Ning said he must provide five batches of Qi-Condensing Pills each month—this is a fixed task, no delays allowed.

After about seven days, he finally completed these five batches.

The failed pills won’t be wasted—he stored them; they can be strengthened later into supreme-grade [Qi-Condensing Pills].

During these seven or eight days, all items purchased from the Treasure Hall had been enhanced by He Pingsheng.

First, the low-grade magic treasure [Flying Sword], after strengthening, yielded two supreme-grade [Flying Swords].

Of course, their tier remained magic treasure.

Each flying sword bore four sealing runes.

Second, the low-grade magic treasure [Green Wood Shield], after strengthening, yielded two spirit shields.

One was [Vine Armor Shield], the other remained [Green Wood Shield].

But both strengthened shields were supreme-grade magic treasures, each with four sealing runes.

The talisman [Fireball Talisman], after strengthening, yielded two [Explosive Bomb Talismans].

The talisman [Ice Needle Talisman], after strengthening, yielded two [Ice Arrow Talismans].

The four strengthened talismans saw a significant upgrade in tier; though still first-grade talismans for Qi Refining cultivators, their power increased several-fold.

Looking at these treasures, He Pingsheng mentally calculated furiously.

The four talismans—Explosive Bomb and Ice Arrow—must be kept for himself, for self-defense.

Keep one flying sword, keep one shield.

That way, he could sell one supreme-grade magic treasure flying sword, one supreme-grade magic treasure Green Wood Shield, and one supreme-grade magic treasure [Alchemy Furnace].

Three!

The price of flying swords isn’t clear, but he could guess roughly.

For example, a high-grade flying sword sells for about two hundred spirit stones; then a supreme-grade one must be no less than three hundred, possibly even four hundred.

The alchemy furnace’s price couldn’t be lower than the flying sword’s.

The most expensive, of course, was the [Green Wood Shield].

Among all magic treasures, defensive ones usually commanded the highest prices—he didn’t know why, but the facts from shop displays were clear: these items were extremely costly.

A high-grade [Green Wood Shield] sold for four hundred spirit stones—what about supreme-grade?

Eight hundred? Or a thousand?

Thus, these three magic treasures could sell for roughly fifteen hundred to two thousand spirit stones—enough!

Enough to buy a [Storage Bag].

Originally, He Pingsheng had planned to return to the Treasure Hall to buy more magic treasures for strengthening, but he ultimately abandoned the idea.

Better not—drawing attention would be dangerous.

Caution ensures longevity.

Picking up the five batches of pills, He Pingsheng stepped outside.

Master Yu Ning was in seclusion and had said she’d remain so for a long time, so He Pingsheng didn’t disturb her—he went straight to the courtyard gate of his sixth senior sister, Zhao Linger.

Zhao Linger’s gate had no sign hanging—meaning she wasn’t in seclusion.

He could knock directly.

“Little brother?” Zhao Linger stared at He Pingsheng in surprise: “What is this…?”

He Pingsheng smiled sheepishly and held out five porcelain vials: “Senior sister… these are the pills I refined this month. Master said to hand them to you.”

“Wonderful!”

Zhao Linger beamed with joy: “Little brother… come in and sit!”

“Yes!”

He Pingsheng didn’t refuse—he followed Zhao Linger into her courtyard.

Zhao Linger’s courtyard was roughly the same size as He Pingsheng’s—nearly identical—but far more pleasant to behold.

The woman had planted many flowers and herbs throughout, creating a dazzling display.

And it smelled wonderful.

He Pingsheng’s gaze passed over the flowers and herbs, landing instead on the earth-yellow light membrane at her doorway: What is this?