Chapter 200: Top-Grade Pills

"Senior Brother Yu Yangzi, I am Qin Sang," Qin Sang said respectfully. "There is something I don't quite understand. Could you perhaps clarify?"

Yu Yangzi looked over curiously. "Junior Brother Qin, feel free to ask."

Nodding, Qin Sang continued, "I’ve only recently arrived here and know very little about Xuanlu Stronghold and the Ancient Immortal Battlefield. Just reading the descriptions on the jade slip gives me a sense of looking through fog at a blurred picture, making it difficult to decide between joining the Xuanlu Guards or the Shadow Guards. Does the sect require an immediate choice? If not, could you grant me a few days to observe before making my decision?"

"Oh," Yu Yangzi uttered. He then answered with a smile, "Of course. As long as you make a decision within a month, you can contact me anytime."

He paused, taking out a jade talisman and handing it to Qin Sang. "Take this jade talisman, Junior Brother Qin. With it, you may borrow a cave dwelling below Junpan Mountain, just outside the military camp, free of charge for a month. You’ll only need to return it afterward. However, I advise you to make your choice soon. Missing this opportunity won’t be a problem for joining the Shadow Guards, but if you wish to join the Xuanlu Guards, it will take another ten years. After all, Xuanlu Stronghold isn’t solely governed by our Shaohua Mountain; there are certain rules we must follow."

Qin Sang expressed his thanks. From the jade slip, he had learned that the Xuanlu Guards' camp was stationed at Junpan Mountain, where high-quality cave dwellings had been carved out exclusively for the guards. They were off-limits to outsiders.

This free accommodation was a privilege he could enjoy thanks to his sect.

After the month was up, he would have to find a cave dwelling on his own or rent one.

Several others, like Qin Sang, also decided to observe for a few days before choosing. With the jade talisman in hand, Qin Sang declined an invitation to walk together from one of the senior brothers and made his way out of the hall alone.

It was noon, and the sky was clear and cloudless.

Standing before the hall’s entrance, Qin Sang squinted up at the towering walls of Xuanlu Stronghold.

The walls stretched hundreds of zhang high, built entirely of enormous cyan stones stacked tightly together, extending far into the distance on both sides, with the city nestled securely within the stronghold.

For cultivators, raising walls of stone and soil was not difficult. The real challenge lay in placing strong barriers over such vast walls, barriers resilient enough to withstand ever-changing celestial phenomena and waves of Cloud Beast attacks.

After watching intently for a while, Qin Sang joined the crowd, recalling the map of Xuanlu Stronghold from the jade slip as he headed east.

...

Spiritual Pill House.

The shop was small, selling a variety of practical pills and also purchasing various spiritual herbs. Shelves were densely packed with porcelain and jade bottles, each labeled clearly with names and effects.

The shop owner, a cultivator who looked to be around fifty, was only at the twelfth stage of the Qi Refining Realm.

This street was lined with similar shops, and this particular one was unremarkable. Currently, there were no other customers.

The shop owner lounged in a reclining chair when the light in the shop suddenly dimmed. Narrowing his eyes, he saw a man enter and lazily called out.

"What would you like, honored guest?"

But upon sensing the visitor’s cultivation level, his indolence vanished. He quickly stood up, hurried forward, and said deferentially, "I didn’t realize an esteemed senior was visiting. Forgive me for not welcoming you properly. May I ask what kind of spiritual pill you’re looking for? My shop offers only the finest products..."

"I'm just browsing, so please don’t mind me," the visitor said with a wave, then turned to peruse the shelves, glancing briefly at each jade bottle with seemingly no intention to buy.

The shop owner dared not express his irritation and could only follow along patiently.

The visitor was Qin Sang. Without hiding his cultivation level, he had wandered this street for some time, checking the shops that sold spiritual materials and pills.

As Qin Sang browsed, he couldn’t help but marvel at how the Ancient Immortal Battlefield truly was a treasure trove. The quality and variety of pills here far exceeded that of the Wenyue Market.

He was particularly interested in pills that could restore his foundation and replenish his vital energy. These, too, were available for sale.

But Qin Sang knew all too well that his foundational loss was at its core. These kinds of pills were unlikely to help much, so he only bought a few to test their effects. Even top-grade pills of this type might not be effective, and besides, with his current wealth, he couldn’t afford the truly potent ones.

Finding nothing surprising in this shop, Qin Sang shook his head, ready to leave. Observing his expression, the shop owner, with a flattering smile, bowed and said, "The pills here are mostly for Qi Refining Realm cultivators, and may not meet a senior’s expectations. If you’re seeking something special, Ice Spring Pavilion or Grasswood Pavilion down the street might suit you better. But the best of all would be the Taiyi Core Pavilion—owned by the Taiyi Core Sect..."

...

By evening, Qin Sang emerged from a shop that sold artifacts, tucking the handkerchief-shaped artifact he had just purchased into his Mustard Seed Pouch.

After wandering for so long, he had gained a deeper impression of the Ancient Immortal Battlefield and Xuanlu Stronghold. Glancing at the sky, he quickened his pace toward Junpan Mountain.

Located within Xuanlu Stronghold, Junpan Mountain had a rich concentration of spiritual power, with neatly arranged cave dwellings carved into its slopes, each secured by barriers and heavily guarded.

Qin Sang hurriedly approached and, upon reaching the base of the mountain, saw a barrier flash as a squad of guards advanced toward him.

"This is a restricted military area. Please turn back, Daoist!"

The leading guard blocked Qin Sang with a cautious expression, though his tone remained polite.

Qin Sang produced the jade talisman he had prepared in advance. "General, I am Qin Sang, a disciple of Shaohua Mountain. This jade talisman was given to me by General Yu Yangzi, who said I could stay on Junpan Mountain for one month..."

The guard accepted the jade talisman, examined it carefully, then relaxed and gestured with his hand. "So, you’re a fellow Daoist from Shaohua Mountain. Follow me, Daoist Qin."

Qin Sang was led to a secluded cave dwelling at the mountain’s base. The spiritual power within was passable but slightly inadequate for a Foundation Building cultivator. After securing the cave dwelling, Qin Sang seated himself on the stone bed, sinking into quiet contemplation.

He reviewed the day’s discoveries. The two things that caught his attention most were the spiritual wood and the pills.

There were numerous shops selling spiritual wood in the city, many of which offered wood even finer than Golden Thread Cedar Wood. This reassured Qin Sang, who thought to himself that coming to the Ancient Immortal Battlefield had indeed been the right choice.

Though the prices were high, with gradual collection, he would certainly be able to upgrade his ebony sword.

Additionally, while exploring the Taiyi Core Pavilion, he had inquired with the manager and learned of three types of pills: Heyun Pill, Five-Herb Divine Ointment, and Snow Ginseng Jade Pill. These were top-grade pills specifically for restoring one's foundation.

In the current world of immortal cultivation, the ingredients for these three pills had not yet disappeared entirely and were still available for purchase at the Taiyi Core Pavilion.

Whether they would be effective for him was something Qin Sang could not yet determine, though he could only look on in envy for now.

Each of these pills was sold through auctions, inevitably sparking fierce bidding every time they appeared. The final prices always soared to tens of thousands, a sum Qin Sang couldn't afford, even if he were to sell himself.

But Qin Sang didn't need to rush. With the information gathered from Treasure Tower Peak, he now had several targets in mind, which was far better than aimlessly searching.