It wasn't until after a bit of inquiry that Xia Liu found out.

This mercenary shop mainly requires the payment of a certain amount of spirit stones, after which the shop will have strong warriors lead you into the Extreme Cold Secret Realm.

One thousand supreme grade spirit stones can hire a False Elixir stage cultivator.

Two thousand supreme grade spirit stones can hire a Golden Pill early-stage warrior.

An additional thousand can hire a warrior of the next higher rank.

The cap is five thousand.

Five thousand supreme grade spirit stones can get you the leadership of a Golden Pill peak warrior.

The duration is one month.

Because of the existence of this shop.

Many Golden Pill stage warriors do business here.

Even Foundation Establishment peak cultivators are listed here.

As long as someone offers spirit stones for hiring, they earn money.

As for the danger, those who frequent the Extreme Cold Secret Realm certainly know.

As long as they don't go deep, there's almost no risk.

Unless unlucky, encountering a powerful spirit beast on the outskirts of the Extreme Cold Secret Realm.

Xia Liu has no interest in this shop.

With his ability to slay Golden Pill early-stage cultivators, plus Bai Jue.

He could even contend with Golden Pill late-stage cultivators.

With such strength, there's no need to hire bodyguards.

Moreover, hiring strong warriors also carries risks.

For instance, if you encounter treasures or spiritual objects along the way.

The warriors might seize them and then kill the hirer.

All events happening in the Extreme Cold Secret Realm, who could know?

Although the shop offers guarantees, human nature can change anytime.

So, generally, low-rank cultivators dare not hire Golden Pill stage warriors.

However, some teams already have a Golden Pill stage cultivator and then spend a few thousand supreme grade spirit stones to hire another Golden Pill stage cultivator.

With several Golden Pill stage cultivators, entering the Extreme Cold Secret Realm is somewhat assured.

Because their people also have this level of cultivation.

So there's no worry about the hired Golden Pill stage warrior having ulterior motives.

Xia Liu bought over a hundred sets of Origin-Nourishing Pill refining materials at this trading house.

The Origin-Nourishing Pill is a seventh-tier pill, just suitable for Xia Liu to refine.

However, ever since his Fire Origin reached second rank, Xia Liu has a hunch.

He might already be capable of refining ninth-tier pills.

The ranking of alchemists is quite varied.

Above the ninth tier, there's the Alchemy Grandmaster.

The pills refined by an Alchemy Grandmaster can be consumed by even Golden Pill stage warriors.

At that tier, the refined pills are not ordinary pills but spirit pills.

From first to ninth tier.

Ninth-tier spirit pills are highly coveted even by Nascent Soul stage cultivators.

Xia Liu hasn't engaged in alchemy for a long time, so he's uncertain of his tier.

Regarding the Origin-Nourishing Pill, he is very confident.

He can achieve a success rate of seventy to eighty percent. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

After purchasing the herbs, Xia Liu passed by the mercenary shop.

Suddenly, he was stopped by a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator at the entrance.

"Daoist Fellow, are you planning to enter the Extreme Cold Secret Realm? Why not join our team, so that we can look out for each other?"

Xia Liu had earlier noticed that in front of this shop.

Some Foundation Establishment stage cultivators were looking around.

They approached cultivators of the same rank coming out of the shop to inquire.

Trying to recruit them into the team, so that they'd head to the Extreme Cold Secret Realm together later.

Just as the young cultivator who stopped Xia Liu said.

Heading out together ensures some kind of mutual look-out.

"Sorry, I'm not interested."

Xia Liu waved his hand; with Bai Jue leading the way and his ability to battle above his rank, he need not team up with others.

"Daoist Fellow is very confident, but you should know that the Extreme Cold Secret Realm is no ordinary place. With your Foundation Establishment cultivation entering alone, you might not even reach far into the periphery."

The young cultivator sensed a righteous energy from Xia Liu.

So he was eager to recruit Xia Liu into his team.

With righteous energy, there's naturally no concern over one's character.

"Oh? Aren't you worried I'm someone with hidden motives?"

Xia Liu didn't understand, casually recruiting teammates on the street like this.

This guy doesn't fear recruiting a cultivator with ill intentions?

"Haha! Daoist Fellow, you really like to joke. With your aura of righteous energy, just that alone makes me willing to befriend you deeply! My name is Ye Fei, may I know your honorable name?"

...

Xia Liu was taken aback by Ye Fei's outstretched hand.

This guy could actually see the righteous energy within him.

No simple matter.

"Daoist Fellow, please don't think too much. I've had a sharper divine sense since childhood, so I inadvertently saw some of your circumstances. Please forgive…"

Ye Fei clasped his fists in explanation, hoping Xia Liu wouldn't misunderstand.

"No need to explain, Daoist Fellow Ye. I'm really not interested in forming a team. Besides, my name is Xia Liu, nice to meet you. Perhaps we'll meet again."

Xia Liu clasped his fists in farewell, wanting to leave.

But was still held back by Ye Fei: "Daoist Fellow Xia, how about this, if we harvest treasures in the Extreme Cold Secret Realm, I'm willing to give you a larger share of my part."

Ye Fei didn't want to miss out on recruiting a cultivator with righteous energy like Xia Liu.

With the perils lurking in the Extreme Cold Secret Realm, he only managed to recruit two teammates, and with such a formation, they couldn't venture deeply.

Just as Xia Liu was about to speak, a disdainful voice came from the entrance of the mercenary shop.

"Oh, isn't this Ye Fei? Still recruiting people?"

Just then, a man around thirty years old walked out of the shop.

He was followed by two Golden Pill stage cultivators.

Though they were only Golden Pill early-stage.

"It turns out to be Daoist Fellow Zhuang, a pleasure."

Seeing Zhuang Bifan, Ye Fei felt a sense of bitterness.

Even if he harbored resentment, he didn't dare to meet Zhuang Bifan's gaze for too long.

Because behind this guy were two Golden Pill stage warriors!

Ye Fei, with his Foundation Establishment late-stage cultivation, dared not meet the eyes of such a person.

"Pleasure? You really can say that. With trash like you, dreaming of entering the Extreme Cold Secret Realm? It's simply laughable!"

Zhuang Bifan looked over Ye Fei and Xia Liu with disdain.

"In this life, you will amount to nothing more, just recruiting such trash, how far can you go in the Extreme Cold Secret Realm?"

Hmm?

Noticing Zhuang Bifan's words targeting him, Xia Liu raised his head to stare.

"Oh? A Foundation Establishment stage trash dares to look directly at me? Courting death!"

Seeing Xia Liu dare to look directly at him, Zhuang Bifan immediately seemed displeased.

Just as he wanted to teach a lesson, Ye Fei swiftly stepped forward.

"Daoist Fellow Zhuang, my friend here is unfamiliar with this place, being his first time, so he likes to observe. Please don't misunderstand, and calm your anger."

"Ye Fei, you're really like a dog, making friends with just anyone."

After being reprimanded by Zhuang Bifan, a bitter smile appeared on Ye Fei's face, and he didn't respond.

"Forget it, today's a good day, I won't fuss with you. Also, don't claim to know me in the future, talking to you dirties my status!"

After speaking, Zhuang Bifan left without waiting for Ye Fei's response, not even turning his head.

As if looking at Ye Fei and Xia Liu for another second would lower his status.

This little incident didn't attract much attention.

After all, with two Golden Pill stage warriors behind him, Zhuang Bifan is already out of Ye Fei's league.

"Daoist Fellow Xia, really sorry for making you endure the scolding…"

"No problem, do you know that person's background?"