Chapter 176: Chapter 174: The Secret Behind

Xia Guang Square.

Within the Righteous Alliance, there was a sect called the Danxia Sect, famous for its alchemy. The sect’s only Core Formation Ancestor, Master Zhu, was a Tier Three Top-Grade Alchemist.

The elixirs refined by the Danxia Sect were universally acclaimed, renowned throughout the entire Cultivation Realm of Liang Country.

This very Xia Guang Square was a property of the Danxia Sect. It specialized in elixirs and also aggressively purchased all kinds of spirit medicines and spirit grasses.

With this as its core, it gradually attracted other shops, becoming one of the most popular markets in the Righteous Alliance.

Bai Zichen landed his Flying Spiritual Artifact from a distance, concealing his Magical Power and only revealing a Cultivation at the Qi Refining Great Perfection realm.

The Qingfeng Sect and the Ghost Spirit Sect were mortal enemies, which, by extension, made the Qingfeng Sect an ally of the Righteous Alliance.

After the Righteous Demon Path began, the upper echelons of both sides had met and negotiated several times, reaching some private agreements.

However, his strength was currently greatly diminished, and he only wanted to recover from his injuries in a low-key manner, so he simply hid his Cultivation.

"Visitor, halt. First-time visitors to Xia Guang Square must register their identity and obtain an entry and exit token."

A few Danxia Sect disciples at the market entrance called out to stop him. However, seeing that he was at Qi Refining Perfection, they spoke quite politely.

In a market, a Qi Refining Perfection cultivator could already be considered an expert.

If one had no higher aspirations, it was enough to put down roots and establish the beginnings of a Loose Cultivator Clan, passing down their bloodline.

Bai Zichen glanced over and saw that other cultivators, when entering or leaving Xia Guang Square, would take out a wooden tablet and wave it at the market’s Grand Array.

A colorful glow would flash across the wooden tablet, proving they were registered cultivators, and only then would the Danxia Sect disciples let them pass.

"I’ve traveled here from another state. I made a special trip after hearing that the Danxia Sect’s spirit pills are the best in all of Liang Country. I wasn’t aware of this rule... In that case, please issue me a token."

Bai Zichen casually fabricated a name on a scroll, writing down the name Lu Li, and listed his realm as Qi Refining Perfection.

After paying ten Spirit Stones, he received a wooden Identity Token that allowed him to freely enter and exit Xia Guang Square.

This lax management system made him suspect that the Danxia Sect was simply using it to collect a fee in Spirit Stones.

After entering Xia Guang Square, Bai Zichen subconsciously compared it to the Qingfeng Sect’s market.

’It’s larger... has more foot traffic... and the average strength of the cultivators seems higher. There’s just one thing—the Spiritual Qi is inferior.’

Bai Zichen compared them from various aspects and found that Xia Guang Square came out on top in every way.

The only exception was that Xia Guang Square was built on a Tier Two Low-Grade Spiritual Vein, unlike the Qingfeng Sect’s market, which sat on a Tier Two Top-Grade Spiritual Vein.

The difference between the two resulted in a disparity in the Spiritual Qi within the markets.

Danxia Pavilion.

Bai Zichen found the Danxia Sect’s own elixir shop, preparing to purchase a Healing Elixir.

Given the Cultivation he was displaying, he was immediately received with warm hospitality.

"May I ask what kind of elixirs this Fellow Daoist requires?"

In a private room, a gaunt old man stood smiling before a table, a heavy scent of medicine clinging to him.

The Danxia Sect’s Basic Cultivation Technique was the Treasure Cauldron Pill King Scripture, a miraculous technique that allowed one to absorb Pill Qi during the elixir refining process and convert it into one’s own Magical Power.

Therefore, for disciples of the Danxia Sect, alchemy skill was synonymous with cultivation; the two were inseparable.

They wouldn’t fall behind in their Cultivation Realm by being engrossed in alchemy and neglecting their own Cultivation.

"An elder in my family was severely injured in combat with someone. I’ve traveled far to Danxia Pavilion specifically to seek a few Healing Holy Medicines."

Bai Zichen was revealing a Qi Refining Perfection cultivation, so it went without saying that his "elder" would be a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. He was subtly hinting that he had some backing.

He fabricated this story to avoid arousing suspicion, as it would be somewhat abrupt for a Qi Refining Cultivator to be buying a Tier Two Healing Elixir.

"The Hundred Herbs Life Pill, the most common Tier Two Healing Elixir... but our sect has improved the Pill Formula. In addition to regulating vitality and accelerating recovery, it also has a miraculous effect on mending broken bones."

As a competent shopkeeper, the gaunt old man introduced the prized elixirs of Danxia Pavilion.

"The Evergreen Body Supplement Pill is best at growing new flesh on bare bones. Even for severe injuries like severed hands or feet, it can regrow them."

"And what are their respective prices?"

Bai Zichen was satisfied but resisted the urge to snatch the elixirs. He maintained the attitude of a Qi Refining Perfection cultivator and continued to bargain.

"The Hundred Herbs Life Pill is five hundred Spirit Stones each; the Evergreen Body Supplement Pill is six hundred Spirit Stones each."

"Too expensive. Give me a twenty percent discount, and I’ll take a bottle of each."

This incident had made Bai Zichen realize the importance of healing elixirs.

It was always good to prepare a few extra and keep them in his Storage Bag. Better to be safe than sorry.

After some haggling, the two bottles of elixirs were sold for a total of five thousand Spirit Stones—each bottle contained six pills, sealed in wax.

Bai Zichen contentedly stored the elixirs away and asked another question. "Does the pavilion have any elixirs for replenishing Essence Blood for sale? That elder of mine also used a Life-or-Death Secret Technique during combat. His Essence Blood is now depleted, and he needs to replenish it."

’This senior of yours certainly gets into a lot of trouble...’

The gaunt old man thought for a moment, then took out a Jade Box from a cabinet. "This is the True Dragon Soaring Pill, refined with a drop of Lifebound True Blood from a Tier Three Dragon Carp as its base, supplemented by twelve types of Blood Nourishing Spiritual Medicine."

"The refining process for this pill isn’t complicated, so it’s nothing to brag about... but the spiritual materials are rare. It can strengthen a cultivator’s Essence Blood and is generally a favorite among Body Refining Cultivators."

"Of course, in a situation like the one you described, where Essence Blood has been depleted due to a secret technique, this is also the right remedy for the ailment and would be effective."

"No negotiation. Two thousand Spirit Stones."

Bai Zichen’s mouth twitched. ’No wonder they say alchemists make a fortune.’

In just this short time, he had already spent nearly seven thousand Spirit Stones.

After leaving Danxia Pavilion, Bai Zichen deliberately chose a deserted path and noticed no one was following him.

The elixirs sold to him were also completely normal, with no tampering or hidden marks.

’They are a Righteous Dao Sect, after all. Whether for the sake of reputation or not, they at least have face to maintain... It’s unlikely they would commit murder and robbery for a mere ten thousand Spirit Stones and ruin the market’s reputation.’

The amount of Spirit Stones Bai Zichen had shown already exceeded the wealth a normal Qi Refining Cultivator should possess.

So far, no cultivators with ulterior motives had appeared, which indicated that Danxia Pavilion strictly protected its customers’ information. This raised his assessment of Xia Guang Square’s security by another level.

Two Foundation Establishment Cultivators were stationed in the market. He had made a circuit and had more or less sensed them.

Both were at Early-Stage Foundation Establishment. One was stationed at Danxia Pavilion, and the other guarded the Market Array.

This was one of the reasons Bai Zichen chose Xia Guang Square to recuperate.

The cultivators guarding the place had limited strength. Even if something unexpected happened, he was confident he could escape the market despite his damaged foundation.

There were only two Cave Mansions available for rent in the market. Or rather, there were only two Tier Two Low-Grade Spirit Lands that he considered acceptable.

They could barely support his cultivation needs and were no match for the Tier Three Mid-Grade Spirit Land at Feiyue Lake.

Using the excuse that he was a traveling cultivator who had come upon some good fortune, he rented a Cave Mansion for a year.

Though it was called a Cave Mansion, it was actually just two Quiet Chambers, located slightly west of the market’s center.

’This is a far cry from White Jade Tower. It truly is easy to get used to luxury, but hard to return to a simpler life... After enjoying a Tier Three Spirit Land for several years, I can barely adapt to being back in a Tier Two Spirit Land.’

In fact, a Tier Two Spirit Land was already sufficient for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to cultivate in, allowing their Liquid Magical Power to be refined and grow normally.

This was the reality for the vast majority of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in Liang Country. Those who could possess a Tier Three Spirit Land for long-term cultivation assistance were either the absolute core of a sect’s Direct Lineage or the most direct descendants of a Noble Family.

Only the Qingfeng Sect was an exception, always being generous with its allocation of Spirit Land.

Bai Zichen swept his gaze around, found no hidden arrangements, and confirmed it was safe enough before consuming the first Hundred Herbs Life Pill.

The elixir dissolved in his stomach, its potent yet gentle medicinal power spreading to every part of his body. The effect was more than ten times better than when he took the Vermilion Fruit Purifying Heart Pill.

’The scabs are falling off, revealing pink, tender flesh underneath... I can feel an itching in my bones. What a miraculous healing effect.’

After fully absorbing the medicinal power of the Hundred Herbs Life Pill, he switched to the Evergreen Body Supplement Pill to accelerate the healing of his wounds.

With the combined effects of the two Tier Two Healing Elixirs, Bai Zichen’s injuries recovered at a rapid pace.

「Three months later.」

When he took off his Daoist Robe, a few scars were still visible on his body, but all other injuries had fully recovered.

The after-effects of self-destructing his Glazed Body—the feeling of exhaustion—had disappeared. Only the depleted Essence Blood had not been replenished so quickly.

After meditating and recovering for a moment, he swallowed the True Dragon Soaring Pill that he had paid a hefty price for.

As the elixir went down his throat, the deep-seated fatigue in his body and the depletion of his Essence Blood felt like snow meeting a scorching sun, melting away rapidly.

With every trace of medicinal power he refined, his body’s Essence Blood was replenished.

The Lifebound True Blood of a Tier Three Demon Beast, one that contained Dragon Blood no less, was a powerful tonic, even if it had been diluted to its absolute limit.

Bai Zichen’s complexion gradually became rosy. Sixty to seventy percent of the half of his Essence Blood that had been burned away along with his Glazed Fire Divine Body had returned.

As long as he ate more Demon Beast Meat over the next period, he could return to his peak condition in half a year at most.

’Aside from losing the trump card of my Glazed Fire Divine Body, my strength is back to normal. With this, I’ll have no worries on the road back to the sect.’

Bai Zichen took out the Dragon Pattern Storage Bag from his chest. Over the past few months, in between healing sessions, he had been constantly assailing this Top-Grade Storage Bag with his Divine Sense.

His physical body was injured, but that didn’t affect his Divine Sense.

After nearly half a year, the ownerless Storage Bag finally showed signs of yielding, and he broke through its defenses in one go.

’Before I return to the sect, there are a few things I need to sort out...’

Supplies were piled up like a small mountain inside the Storage Bag. Bai Zichen quickly rummaged through them, looking for Jade Scrolls and book-like items.

He was most concerned about the origin of the Black-Faced Cultivator and the relationship between the force behind him and the Fish Dragon Sect.

This would help him unravel the mystery of the Fish Dragon Sect and figure out whether the Bai Clan Ancestor had come to Black Mountain with a special mission back then.

’So his name was Meng Shigui, and he came from a sect called the Youlong Sect...’

A gilt-edged invitation card allowed Bai Zichen to figure out the name and origin of the Black-Faced Cultivator who had died at his hands.

’Good, it’s just a Core Formation Level Sect, and it’s far away in the Outer Sea. Once I’m back in Black Mountain, they’ll be beyond its reach... Even if a Core Formation True Man comes after me, I won’t be afraid.’

Realizing it wasn’t an enemy he absolutely couldn’t afford to provoke, Bai Zichen relaxed a great deal.

But a new doubt arose. How could a mere Core Formation Level Sect have the gall to treat the Fish Dragon Sect as a bitter enemy and act as if they wanted to exterminate all its remnants?

’Could it be that the Youlong Sect had little to do with the fall of the Fish Dragon Sect... Were they just a sect that cheered from the sidelines or picked up the scraps afterward, and the Fish Dragon Sect’s true enemy was someone else?’

Bai Zichen took out more than ten Jade Scrolls and a Bamboo Scroll, placing them in front of him. He prepared to go through them slowly to sort out the clues.