Raise a sword!

Early morning, northeast corner of the market.

Jiang Peng had been in Cangshan Market for more than half a year, and this was the first time she had seen it so deserted.

The usual bustling crowds were nowhere to be seen, and only a few scattered stalls remained on the ground.

Moreover, whether they were setting up stalls or browsing them, most of them looked listless.

Jiang Peng did not choose to move to a better spot, but remained squatting in her own little corner.

Qian Laosi was also there.

Upon seeing Jiang Peng, Qian Laosi said, "Have you heard? The beast tide has begun."

Jiang Peng was slightly taken aback.

Although he already had some guesses in his mind, he was still somewhat surprised when he actually heard the news.

"When did this happen?"

"Just last night." Qian Laosi pointed to the deserted market, "The first batch of seven Qi Refining families and more than 500 independent cultivators were conscripted... These people rushed to the front line last night."

"Sigh... I wonder how many will come back." Jiang Peng felt a pang of sadness upon hearing the number of over five hundred rogue cultivators.

If Lan Yingying hadn't given him advance notice, would he have been among the people heading out to war?

"The first batch always suffers the heaviest casualties, and those transferred are all useless to the market." Qian Laosi lowered his voice, "The Cangshan Sect probably wishes these people would all die."

"A useless person?"

"Families that have lost contact with the Cangshan Sect, cultivators who know nothing about miscellaneous arts and only know how to bury themselves in hard work, those with poor talent, and those with bad reputations in the community."

Qian Laosi counted on his fingers.

"Of course, there are also those who have offended people... Anyway, Brother Jiang is a low-key person, and he also has alchemy and other skills. Even if he were to go to the front line, he would probably be in the fourth or even fifth batch."

"There will only be scattered monsters at that time, so there shouldn't be too much danger."

Jiang Peng smiled noncommittally.

Today, Qian Laosi was more talkative than usual, and the sorrowful look on his face had largely disappeared.

"Judging from Fellow Daoist Qian's cheerful demeanor today, have you found a way to escape the beast tide?"

"It's not exactly a good connection, it's just that I've gotten in touch with the Song family. Even if I go to the front lines, I don't have to fight myself. I can just follow behind and clean up the battlefield, hehe."

As he spoke, Qian Laosi finally couldn't help but laugh out loud with pride.

Jiang Peng raised an eyebrow slightly.

It's the Song family again.

I had previously inquired about Hao Xue through Ma Ling'er and heard that Hao Xue was working for the Song family.

"I've heard that the Song family has a prodigy who's quite famous in the upper sect now," Jiang Peng inquired.

"Hey, Young Master Song Lian... he's only 35 years old and has already achieved great success in cultivation, and is already preparing to establish his foundation! He's a genius with a top-grade spiritual root, something we can only envy."

"I see," Jiang Peng said, suddenly understanding.

Such a person is among the best, even among the many true disciples.

No wonder the Song family is so successful in the market.

"We've been idly chatting for so long that we've forgotten the important matter... Fellow Daoist Jiang, bring me a bottle of Qi Condensation Pills and a Rejuvenation Pill."

Jiang Peng packed the pills and handed them to Qian Laosi.

However, contrary to his usual behavior, Qian Laosi did not take out any spirit stones. Instead, he smiled and said, "Hey, Fellow Daoist Jiang, we've known each other for more than half a year now. I'm a regular customer of your stall."

Hearing this, Jiang Peng smiled and nodded.

"I understand. Fellow Daoist, you see there aren't many customers today and are thinking of using me to get some business?"

"Hehe, that's exactly what I meant."

Having known Qian Laosi for so long, Jiang Peng knew that although he was a chatterbox, he was generally one of the people she could befriend.

There's no harm in building a good relationship with this person.

Jiang Peng immediately began to examine Qian Laosi's stall.

[Refined Iron: Tier 1 Refining Material]

[Rainfall Spell: Aura Enhancement Spell]

[Ebony Vine: Tier 1 Spirit Herb, Highly Toxic, Medicinal Properties Diminished]

[Unknown Jade Slip: None]

[Unknown Longsword: Tier 1 Magic Weapon (Fragmented)]

[Unknown Dagger: Tier 1 Magic Weapon (Fragmented)]

Qian Laosi's stall was full of random things, mostly his loot from robbing corpses.

In terms of usefulness, almost everything has some use.

However, for independent cultivators who are short of money, it is generally difficult to have extra money to buy these kinds of random things.

Jiang Peng picked and chose for a long time, but didn't see anything useful.

Just as he was about to casually pick out a small item to get by, his hand suddenly touched a wooden box on the stall that looked somewhat rotten.

[Fragrant King Wood: Second-tier spiritual material, medicinal properties diminished]

[Refined]

Jiang Peng's pupils contracted, but she quickly returned to normal.

Jiang Peng had seen this spiritual material called Fragrant King Wood in the alchemy insights of the Old Demon Dan!

This item is one of the spiritual materials that aid in Foundation Establishment. It can be used as the main ingredient to refine a second-tier elixir called "Wood Spirit Pill".

The Wood Spirit Pill can provide a continuous source of vitality for cultivators to break through to higher realms. If the cultivator has a fire spirit root, the effect of this pill is two levels stronger.

This is the spiritual material that Old Demon Dan has been longing to find!

"How could this thing be made into a wooden box the size of a palm?" Jiang Peng wondered, but still picked up the wooden box without making a sound.

Upon opening the box, a gentle green light immediately flashed before my eyes.

[Night-Shining Pearl: Emits fluorescence and depletes life force]

Upon seeing the prompt in front of her, Jiang Peng almost threw the bead away.

What a load of rubbish! It's probably some kind of radiation.

The green light was dazzling.

Jiang Peng quickly closed the box made of fragrant wood. It seemed that the second-tier spiritual material could completely block the energy emitted by that damned luminous pearl.

"What's the price of this?"

Qian Laosi raised an eyebrow and held up two fingers.

Jiang Peng said irritably, "Two spirit stones?"

"Fellow Daoist Jiang, please don't joke around."

"Then give me a fair price. Don't try to cheat me using the same tricks you use to cheat others."

Qian Laosi chuckled twice, then took out nine spirit stones from his storage bag and handed them to Jiang Peng.

"A bottle of Qi Condensation Pill costs twelve spirits, and a Rejuvenation Pill costs seventeen spirits. Sigh, the price has gone up again... I'll give you this bead for twenty spirits, and we'll settle the payment."

"However, there is one thing I must say beforehand... Fellow Daoist Jiang, I had someone examine the broken bead in that box. Although it looks like a treasure, it is actually harmful. It must be kept in that wooden box at all times."

"You must not treat that bead as some kind of precious treasure and play with it all day long."

Jiang Peng gave Qian Laosi a deep look.

"Knowing this substance is harmful, why are you still selling it?"

"Hey, there are plenty of valuable poisons too. What if this thing really has some great use?" Qian Laosi said nonchalantly. "Anyway, I'll explain the pros and cons to anyone who wants to buy that bead beforehand, so no one can hold me accountable later."

"What if this item is valuable?" Jiang Peng raised an eyebrow slightly.

"That's because I have poor eyesight, and it's my fault for not being able to earn this money," Qian Laosi said frankly, spreading his hands.

Jiang Peng shook her head and put the wooden box away.

Rare treasures are meant to be found by those with the right fate. You, Qian Laosi, didn't have the eye to appreciate them, so you deserve to miss out on them.

"Fourth brother."

"What's wrong?"

"From now on, I'll give you a 20% discount when you buy pills from me."

Upon hearing this, Qian Laosi seemed to realize something and immediately beat his chest in frustration.

"So I really stumbled upon a treasure? Oh no, you're not even being polite with me anymore, calling me Fourth Brother instead of Fellow Daoist! Looks like it's a really valuable treasure!"

Jiang Peng chuckled and took out the wooden box again.

"Then you'll buy it?"

Qian Laosi shook his head without the slightest hesitation.

"Forget it, what we get in hand is what matters! Who knows if this windfall will be a blessing or a curse? We'll have to take these pills for the rest of our lives. We agreed on a 20% discount, so you're not allowed to back out."

Jiang Peng's smile was tinged with a hint of seriousness.

"Of course not."