Chapter 61

“Sister… sister… sister…”

In the Hongde Courtyard of Xiuzhu Peak, Grand Void Gate.

At the entrance of a lavishly decorated hall, a sect disciple in dark green robes ran over in a panic.

The palace gate opened, and a woman in red stepped out.

It was none other than Lady Linglong, granddaughter of Jade Virtue True Person.

“What is it?” Linglong’s eyes flickered with irritation.

The disciple said, “Sister, you told me to keep watch on He Pingsheng—he broke through to Qi Refining seventh level, and just now he left…”

“Left?” Linglong’s eyes lit up. “Excellent… where did he go?”

“Mount Matou Market!”

“But… he didn’t go alone—he went with Zhao Linger, Xu Kunlun, and Tian Xiaoqing!”

Hearing this, the smile on Linglong’s face vanished instantly. She looked at the disciple and said, “I understand, Brother Qin. You may go.”

“Yes!”

Brother Qin bowed respectfully and withdrew.

Linglong’s face darkened at once: “Damn it… they went as a group? Fine, I’ll let you off this time. The Cuiping Mountain Trial is about to begin anyway. Since you’ve reached Qi Refining seventh level, you’ll definitely join, won’t you?”

“When we get to the trial grounds, I’ll settle the score with you!”

“Let you see what happens when you refuse me, Linglong!”

Bang…

She slammed shut the tall red door of the side hall!

…

Two hours later, two yellow cranes landed at the entrance of Mount Matou Market.

“Whoa… so many people!” Xu Kunlun glanced inside and was startled.

He Pingsheng was startled too.

There were simply too many people here.

“I get it!” Xu Kunlun instantly understood. “Look— the Cuiping Mountain Trial is coming soon. All these disciples are here to prepare for it!”

At this, the others nodded.

The so-called Cuiping Mountain Trial wasn’t limited to Grand Void Gate alone.

Dozens of sects and over a hundred families from the Daoxuan Alliance would participate.

So many people!

“Let’s go—crowds mean excitement, and lots of goods!”

The four of them walked together into Mount Matou Market.

Not only had the number of customers increased, but so had the number of street vendors.

“Let’s check out the street stalls first!”

Xu Kunlun led the way toward the stalls.

The so-called street stalls were individual setups on the open ground near the market entrance—tiny, just a cloth spread out.

The vendors were a chaotic mix, all kinds of people.

Some were lone cultivators from nearby, others disciples from powerful families, and still others from major sects.

“Need elixirs? Very cheap… three spirit stones per pill…”

“Qi-accumulating Elixir! Qi-accumulating Elixir!”

He Pingsheng recognized this vendor—he’d once bought a fragmented scripture from him, which he later refined into the Spirit-Refining technique [Mystic Gate Stillness True Scripture].

But wasn’t the Qi-accumulating Elixir usually two spirit stones per pill?

Why had the price gone up?

He Pingsheng had no interest in these elixirs and kept walking.

Flying swords, magic treasures, talismans, elixirs!

All kinds of items were on display—even someone was selling treasure bags and wine.

Someone was even selling [Storage Bags] right on the street—those heavenly items.

A crowd surrounded the vendor selling Storage Bags. He Pingsheng sent out a spiritual sense—and found he couldn’t discern the vendor’s cultivation level.

That meant, without doubt, the vendor was a Foundation Establishment disciple.

In such a dense crowd, He Pingsheng used his spiritual sense without fear of being noticed.

With so many people here, who could tell whose spiritual sense had swept through?

“Heavens, a Storage Bag!” Xu Kunlun gazed in envy. “This is such a great item—way more convenient than a Treasure Bag!”

“Exactly!” Zhao Linger added. “Too bad they’re too expensive. Only Foundation Establishment elders can usually afford them.”

It wasn’t that they couldn’t afford them.

The problem was, Qi Refining disciples had limited spirit stones, and every bit had to go toward items that boosted cultivation—like elixirs.

So few wasted spirit stones on Storage Bags.

Though precious, a Storage Bag was merely an auxiliary tool—it offered no direct help to one’s cultivation base.

“When I have money someday, I’ll buy one!” Xu Kunlun tore his gaze away and turned to He Pingsheng. “He Brother, you should consider it—you’re a pill alchemist. Alchemists are all rich!”

He Pingsheng smiled. “I don’t have enough spirit stones yet—I’m saving up. Give me a few more years.”

They chatted and laughed as they walked.

He Pingsheng asked curiously, “What are you all planning to buy?”

Zhao Linger said, “I want to buy a low-grade defensive magic treasure.”

Tian Xiaoqing said, “Me too.”

Xu Kunlun said, “Our Master gave us some low-grade offensive magic treasures, but no defensive ones—we have to buy them ourselves!”

“But defensive magic treasures are the most expensive!”

“Let’s see if we can find one.”

“What about you, He Brother?” They all looked at He Pingsheng.

He Pingsheng said, “I don’t need defensive magic treasures. I want to try buying some talismans.”

“I heard they’re very effective!”

“Alright!” Zhao Linger said. “You browse first. We’ll check out the shops over there. Split up, meet back here later!”

Mount Matou Market was bustling, and fighting of any kind was forbidden—so safety wasn’t a concern.

He Pingsheng walked to a stall and crouched down.

The stall was small, but covered with many talismans.

“Young brother, are you looking to buy talismans?” The vendor was a Daoist nun, around thirty.

He Pingsheng said, “Uh… Miss, what talismans do you have?”

The nun smiled. “Don’t call me Miss—I’m just a disciple of Heaven Talisman Mountain. I can’t handle such honorifics.”

“I’ve only common talismans here. Look!”

“This is [Fireball Talisman], this is [Ice Needle Talisman], this is [Entangling Talisman], this is [Lightning Talisman]…”

He Pingsheng asked, “How strong are they?”

The nun said, “Take the Fireball Talisman—it matches the attack power of a Qi Refining seventh-level disciple’s Fireball Technique.”

In plain terms, it was just average.

If its power was no greater than a regular cultivator’s spell, why would anyone buy it?

Simple: instant use.

Sometimes, when an enemy’s attack is already upon you and you have no time to cast a spell, you can just throw the Fireball Talisman—it delivers a full strike on the spot.

Also, when your spiritual power is drained, you can use these low-tier talismans as an emergency measure.