Chapter 55: Purchasing Medicinal Pills

The Abyssal Water Cold Snake is a demonic beast possessing true dragon bloodline. Its strength is immense, making it naturally difficult to hunt.

In particular, since Abyssal Water Cold Snakes inhabit the depths of deep water pools, even powerful martial artists find it extremely difficult to hunt them.

"An Abyssal Water Cold Snake demon core from the third level of the Body Tempering Realm. It appears it hasn't fully matured yet, but within this core, there is actually a faint trace of dragon pressure. It seems to be an Abyssal Water Cold Snake of extremely pure lineage."

Xuan Jingtai spoke word by word. With his experience, he could discern the condition of the demon core at a single glance.

"This Abyssal Water Cold Snake demon core is worth fifty thousand Bone Tempering Pills," Xuan Jingtai concluded.

"A total of one hundred and forty-three pills, amounting to fifty-three thousand seven hundred Bone Tempering Pills. Let's round it up to an even fifty-four thousand Bone Tempering Pills, how about that?"

Fifty-four thousand Bone Tempering Pills was a significantly higher price than what Chu Fengmian had calculated himself. It seemed Xuan Jingtai was acquiring them at the highest possible market price.

"Fine, fifty-four thousand it is."

Chu Fengmian did not hesitate for a moment and agreed immediately.

There was no use for Chu Fengmian to keep these demon cores; it was better to exchange them for medicinal pills.

"I wonder if Young Master Chu wishes to exchange them for Body Tempering Pills, or directly for pill vouchers?" Xuan Jingtai inquired.

Naturally, one could not carry fifty-four thousand Bone Tempering Pills on their person. For such transactions, one would typically use high-value pills or exchange them for pill vouchers.

These pill vouchers were jointly issued by the five major merchant guilds and could be used to redeem pills at any major trading house, making them very convenient. Consequently, many merchants used pill vouchers for transactions.

After a moment of hesitation, Chu Fengmian asked, "I wonder, Manager Xuan, does the Myriad Artifact Pavilion carry Qi Gathering Pills refined by Wusheng Academy?"

"Qi Gathering Pills?"

Xuan Jingtai thought for a moment and smiled.

"Of course. Does Young Master Chu wish to exchange these Bone Tempering Pills for Qi Gathering Pills? It wouldn't be a problem. How about we exchange them at a rate of one thousand to one?"

One thousand Bone Tempering Pills for one Qi Gathering Pill.

This price was absolutely at the extreme low end. If a single Qi Gathering Pill were placed on the black market, it would be worth at least three to four thousand Bone Tempering Pills.

"Deal."

Chu Fengmian agreed instantly. Since Xuan Jingtai was bringing such a bargain to his doorstep, Chu Fengmian was certainly going to take it.

He was currently lacking medicinal pills and needed to restock.

A short while later, a young girl named Mo'er entered carrying several jade bottles.

"Uncle Xuan, the pills you requested."

As Mo'er walked in and spoke, her voice was exceptionally crisp and pleasant. Her every movement carried a hint of gentle and noble temperament; it was highly unlikely that Mo'er was merely a servant of the Myriad Artifact Pavilion.

*It seems Xuan Jingtai has quite a backstory involving Mo'er,* Chu Fengmian thought to himself.

Xuan Jingtai's strength was terrifying. The last time Chu Fengmian helped him resolve a sword intent backlash, he discovered that Xuan Jingtai's strength actually surpassed the Divine Sea Realm, reaching as high as the Wind-Control Realm.

He was countless times more formidable than the Supreme Elders of the Lin Estate.

Why would such a powerhouse come to this remote Linwu City to act as a shop manager? There was definitely something being hidden.

As Chu Fengmian observed Mo'er, Mo'er was also observing Chu Fengmian.

The last time Chu Fengmian appeared, he had helped Xuan Jingtai resolve the backlash of sword intent and took the Myriad Artifact Pavilion's treasure, the Profound Azure Sword.

He hadn't expected Chu Fengmian to return again, this time to exchange for a batch of pills.

Placing the jade bottles in front of Chu Fengmian, Xuan Jingtai spoke again.

"Does Young Master Chu require anything else?"

Chu Fengmian thought for a moment and said, "I need a quiet, secluded cultivation chamber. I wonder if the Myriad Artifact Pavilion has one."

Chu Fengmian had sustained certain injuries during the battle at the Lin Estate and needed to recover. Since he could no longer return to the Lin Estate, he needed to find a safe location.

The Myriad Artifact Pavilion was the safest place. Even if the experts from the Lin Estate wanted to take the opportunity to kill him, they would not dare enter the Myriad Artifact Pavilion.

What place could be safer than the Myriad Artifact Pavilion, which was guarded by a Wind-Control Realm expert?

"A secret chamber? Of course. I have a private chamber where I usually cultivate within the pavilion. If Young Master Chu does not mind, you may move to the third floor," Xuan Jingtai said with a smile.

"Very well."

Chu Fengmian did not stand on ceremony and strode up to the third floor.

The third floor of the Myriad Artifact Pavilion was an independent space. Upon ascending, one encountered a massive copper door engraved with active, circulating magic formations.

"This chamber was prepared for my own use, for fear of being disturbed. Once Young Master Chu enters, you need not worry. I can guarantee that no one will disturb you," Xuan Jingtai said smilingly.

As a Wind-Control Realm martial artist, his words were highly convincing.

After all, among the countless experts in the surrounding thirteen cities, one likely could not find a single Wind-Control Realm martial artist.

In these thirteen cities, Xuan Jingtai was already considered an invincible figure.

"Then I thank Manager Xuan," Chu Fengmian replied with a smile, pushed open the copper door, and entered.

The secret chamber was constructed with great care. The surrounding walls were all cast from a precious material called Red Gold Mother Copper, which was sufficient to block one's spiritual sense and was incredibly hard.

Even if one practiced sword techniques inside this chamber, there was no fear of the impact affecting the outside.

"What a fine place," Chu Fengmian praised. He sat down and tore open the clothing at his chest.

A massive palm print was clearly visible on his chest.

This was the result of the full-strength palm strike from the Lord of the Lin Estate just now.

*A martial artist of the ninth level of the Body Tempering Realm is indeed far superior to me. If it weren't for my cultivation of the Dragon Slaying Art, my body would not be much different from an ordinary martial artist; that single palm strike would likely have turned me into a mass of minced meat,* Chu Fengmian thought to himself.

His impulsive decision to confront the Lord of the Lin Estate had indeed been somewhat risky, but with his current strength, the Lord of the Lin Estate could not have held him back.

After that punch, the Lord of the Lin Estate was certainly not feeling well either.

Chu Fengmian sat cross-legged and closed his eyes, taking out all the jade bottles and placing them before him.

These bottles all contained Qi Gathering Pills. Excluding those consumed by Chu Fengmian in the Desolate Mountains, there were still over four hundred remaining.

By consuming and refining all four hundred Qi Gathering Pills, Chu Fengmian could attempt to break through to the second drop of dragon blood.

"Since I am injured, I might as well use this opportunity to continue practicing the Dragon War Art again."

Although Chu Fengmian was currently heavily injured, he felt that his strength did not seem to have weakened much.

In truth, it wasn't that the injuries had no effect, but rather that Chu Fengmian's strength was already greater than it had been when he first returned to the Lin Estate.