"Brother Jie..." Lian Xinjie felt a bit uncomfortable with this form of address. However, he also understood that Wang Qi was doing this to conceal his identity. His first reaction to Wang Qi's question was: "Herbs? Do you know how to refine pills?"
"No, I'm just curious..." Wang Qi shook his head, without revealing the truth.
Before going out to sea, he made ample preparations. When Liu Yi handed over those supplies to him, she specifically ntioned that the Ruyi Bag contained many items that had been tainted by Heart Demon Curse Power. If necessary, he could discard all those items in a transaction, polluting the entire Ancient thod Immortal Sect.
Even though this was not a recomnded contingency plan, Wang Qi also needed to fully understand the situation of this black market and prepare himself.
Lian Xinjie whispered, "It's because the herbs here are really hard to acquire, so there's a decree from the Holy Emperor, prohibiting anyone who hasn't passed the Pill Master examination from contacting herbs. So, if you're not a Pill Master, it's best not to acquire herbs, or else it will lead to trouble. Artifact refiners face similar restrictions."
"Oh?" Wang Qi showed so interest. To be honest, this decree from the Holy Emperor was the least foolish decree he'd heard since going out to sea. In any field, the more standardized and regulated the practices, the more intricately they can be developed. He couldn't help but ask, "Assessnt? How is it done?"
"First is the written test. To pass the written test, you have to thoroughly study the Alchemy Scripture and be familiar with the properties of various drugs... That's the basic requirent," Lian Xinjie whispered. "If you haven't passed the written test, then touching herbs is illegal, resulting in a downgrade of cultivation, along with hefty fines—very troubleso. So, people who aren't Pill Masters typically just sell the herbs here on the black market."
Wang Qi nodded, then asked, "Now, on Spirit Phoenix Island, is there any place specifically for training Pill Masters?"
Lian Xingling answered without hesitation, "Many of the Wanhua Sect's disciples are skilled in alchemy..."
The Wanhua Sect, originating from the sa source as the current Tianling Ridge's Ten Thousand Wood Valley, was a continuation of the Wanhua Valley from ten thousand years ago. However, during the reformation of Wanhua Valley two thousand years ago, so people refused to accept the Modern Cultivation thod and were unwilling to oppose the Ancient First Divine Tao Holy Infant Sect. At that ti, Wanhua Valley split into Ten Thousand Wood Valley and Wanhua Sect, with the latter directly aligning with the far western Shenzhou region, under the protection of the Holy Emperor.
Wang Qi shook his head, "Besides that?"
Lian Xinjie was puzzled, "Besides that? There's no other alchemy sect on Spirit Phoenix Island, right?"
Wang Qi shook his head, giving up on explaining the concept of "vocational schools" and the like.
The Alchemists of the Ancient thod Immortal Sect still adhered to the oldest master-apprentice tradition, guarding their knowledge jealously, without developing a systematic industry with standardized norms.
"Take over there to have a look."
Lian Xinjie and Wang Qi parted ways with the crowd and continued toward the west. In the part of the black market farthest from Spirit Phoenix Island, Wang Qi witnessed the legendary herb trading zone. Here, the air was filled with a faint herbal aroma, mixed with the scent of the sea, creating a unique fragrance.
In every stall, the most abundant items were jade boxes and porcelain bottles. The jade boxes contained herbs, either fresh or already prepared. As Wang Qi walked along, he noticed that these herbs were mostly marine, half from animals and half from plants, unlike on the Shenzhou Continent, where spirit plants were predominant, and animal-based materials were relatively few.
At an unguarded mont, Wang Qi even spotted several paper books. Curious, he picked one up and leafed through it, only to be surprised that it was actually one of the introductory textbooks from the Immortal Institute on the Shenzhou Continent!
This was the alchemy textbook used for Shenzhou's enlightennt.
However, compared to Shenzhou's introductory textbook, this one had omitted a lot of theoretical content, leaving only the explanations of drug properties and alchemy techniques.
"Don't read if you're not buying," the book seller coldly said.
Wang Qi was a bit curious, "This is... what?"
"Introductory book," the seller glanced at Wang Qi, noting the quality of his vestnt robe, and suspecting he might be a potential custor, recomnded, "morize this, and passing the Pill Master written test won't be an issue. However, this is a banned book, so don't read or copy it on Spirit Phoenix Island... Considering you're fated to encounter it, I'll sell it to you for ten Spirit Stones."
Wang Qi was taken aback, then put down the book and left imdiately.
That book was free on the Shenzhou Continent. As long as you could enter the Immortal Institute, you could obtain it for free.
"Knowledge, really, is both expensive and cheap..."
In this area bustling with Pill Masters, besides herbs and finished elixirs, the best-selling items were the "flas."
The so-called "flas" were actually a type of divine skill. Every cultivator could ignite Spiritual Fire out of thin air, and after Core Formation, they could draw Alchemy Fire from their Golden Core. However, Pill Masters always pursued better flas. Tail spikes—they spent years crafting a fla divine skill within themselves. This fire-related divine skill allowed them to refine elixirs with greater ease.
Similar to the innate divine seal of the innate divine abilities of demon beasts, these divine power talismans of the True Fire divine powers can also be traded. As long as one has refined these divine power seals, they can save decades of hard work.
There was a vendor with three completely transparent pristine glass bottles placed in front of him. Inside the bottles, three different attributes of True Fire divine power seals were sealed. One was entirely pure white, warm yet pure yang, another appeared as pitch black as ink, emitting various evil qi. The last one was completely dark blue, neutral and peaceful.
The first two types of True Fire have miraculous effects whether used for alchemy or combat. The first one is more suitable for supplental dicine, while the second is better for poisons. As for the third, its flexibility, though its destructive power is not obvious, can perfectly stimulate the dicinal properties of herbs.
Out of curiosity, Wang Qi stood for a mont in front of the stall. However, he wasn't very interested in these. The Heavenly Entropy Technique had already penetrated the superficial aspect of "fire", delving into the domain of "temperature" and "motion". This was sothing no True Fire divine power could match. With such a cultivation technique at his disposal, what reason would Wang Qi have to be interested in those True Fire divine powers?
Modern Alchemists, having completed the industrialization of alchemy, have even less need for personally cultivating such True Fire divine powers.
Wang Qi turned to leave. At this mont, a person separated the crowd, their eyes scanning back and forth over the three spirit flas in the vendor's hand, then focused on the first and second, inquiring about the price of the two True Fire divine power seals.
The person was also wearing a vestnt robe isolating spiritual sense, their face masked, identity unknown. However, the vestnt robe she had found today didn't fit very well, clinging tightly to her form, revealing her mature, feminine figure. In response to this young woman's inquiry, the vendor rely glanced at her sideways, then in a particularly old voice, quietly uttered the nas of two elixirs. As soon as the nas of these two elixirs were spoken, a small commotion ensued around them, apparently signifying their rarity.
From the reaction of the crowd, Wang Qi roughly understood that these two elixirs were commonly used for a Nascent Soul to break through to Divinity Transformation.
On Spirit Phoenix Island, the Body Integration Realm was beyond reach for any but those of direct lineage to the Emperor's Extre Split Sky Dao, and for ordinary cultivators, the Divine Separation Stage was the pinnacle they could hope for.
The old man was a superpower about to ascend to the Divine Separation Stage!
Who would have thought that after hearing the price, the woman would exhale in relief, seemingly not considering it a big deal. However, she was still not satisfied with the spirit flas offered by the elderly vendor and asked quietly, "Vendor, do you know where to find that kind of exceptionally pure, righteous-imbued powerful spirit fire divine power?"
"Righteous qi?" The old man furrowed his brow, then said flatly, "If you give this old man half a year, I can add a hint of Confucianism's qi intent into the lt Snow Pure Yang Fla, turning it into Six-Yang lt Snow Qi Fire. However, this requires a hefty deposit..."
The woman appeared troubled.
At this mont, soone suddenly stepped forward and said, "I have the spirit fire you're looking for!"
The elderly vendor's eyes narrowed, and a hint of killing intent arose within him. He always detested those who blatantly "snatched business." However, the newcor didn't seem affected by his aura at all, leaving him uncertain and hesitant to act directly.
Within the black robe, Wang Qi paid no attention to his gaze. After resuming practice of the Two-Phase Transcendence Chapter, he feared no one; the re Nascent Soul Level pressure could easily be countered by the chapter's automatic defense. Moreover, the robe he wore was no ordinary item, equally capable of defending against re pressure.
Wang Qi spread his palm open. In the center of his palm lay a semi-transparent jade bottle. A faint golden fla flickered within, like a candle fla. However, within this small fla seed to reside a strength that could support Heaven and Earth, utterly pure, yang, and righteous. Just seeing this fla, people couldn't help but experience a surge of truthfulness, goodness, and beauty in their hearts.
"Boluo Divine Fla, the Protective Dharma Strange Fire of Ancient Buddhism, righteous and pure. It's far superior to any mishmash flas."
As Wang Qi spoke, he cast a seemingly disdainful glance at the three spirit flas from the elderly vendor.
The woman's breathing quickened, but without the slightest hesitation, she imdiately asked, "What would you like in exchange, sir?"
Under Zhen Chan's guidance, Wang Qi nad three types of elixirs often used by Divine Separation Stage cultivators for healing. The aged vendor, realizing too late he had encountered a formidable opponent, let out a cold snort, inwardly feeling a slight trepidation.
The woman wasted no ti, imdiately producing the requested elixirs for Wang Qi, accepting the "Boluo Divine Fla" into her possession, then taking flight and escaping.
The elderly vendor seed sowhat unwilling, yet dared not ascertain Wang Qi's actual cultivation, letting a hint of strong, blood-steeped killing intent slip, as if baring his teeth. Lian Yichen, a bit alard, whispered complainingly, "Daoist Fellow Wang, why provoke the Blood Refining Sect? Even though they've submitted to the Emperor's command, they were unquestionably a demon sect thousands of years ago!"
"Demon Path, ah..." Wang Qi's tone bore a strange mockery. "Honestly, Demon Path cultivators who act so openly chaotic and are imdiately recognizable as villains aren't very successful in my view."
Lian Xinjie wondered aloud, "Why would you say that?"
"Do you know what the most evil spells in the world look like?"
"What?"
Wang Qi clandestinely transmitted, "Righteously awe-inspiring."
Reviews
All reviews (0)