Journey to the West: A clone sacrifices to the heavens, possessing boundless magical power.

"The wolf demon's hide and bones can be used to make talismans and armor; the badger demon's core is fairly intact... Fellow Daoist, I'll give you these materials for 120 low-grade spirit stones, how about that?"

Fan Yuan remained calm. He didn't know much about the prices in this world, but judging from the other person's expression, the price shouldn't be low.

"I don't want spirit stones," he said slowly. "I want a storage bag with more space, and the rest of the money for a few life-saving talismans and some healing pills."

"Of course." The old man stroked his beard and smiled, taking out a dusty cloth bag from under the counter. "This is a storage bag with three spaces inside, enough for you to use. It's priced at eighty spirit stones. With the remaining forty spirit stones, you can exchange them for three Vajra Talismans, one Swift Travel Talisman, and a bottle of Rejuvenation Pills."

Fan Yuan took the storage bag and probed it with his divine sense. He found that its space was indeed several times larger than his own, enough to hold the remaining three jars of monkey wine and many other miscellaneous items. He nodded in satisfaction.

While waiting for the old man to pick up his goods, Fan Yuan asked casually, "Shopkeeper, do you sell any magic treasures?"

The old man laughed upon hearing this: "Fellow Daoist, you jest. True magic treasures are beyond the reach of low-level cultivators like us!"

He became interested and said a few more words: "Most of the items used by low-level cultivators are magic tools. Among them, those that can nurture the prototype of a spirit are called spirit tools. Above that are the immortal tools used by immortals. As for the sacred tools held by the legendary saints, or even the Xuanhuang treasures and Chaos treasures from the creation of heaven and earth, those are beyond our imagination."

Fan Yuan's heart stirred, and he thought of the [Primordial Myriad Appearances Mirror] in his sea of ​​consciousness. He didn't know what level it belonged to, but he figured its grade was definitely not low.

After packing his things, Fan Yuan strolled around the market again. Most of the items for sale there were crude magical artifacts, but even so, they were quite expensive. He saw a rusty flying sword that was priced at two thousand spirit stones, and he couldn't help but gasp in surprise.

He also overheard some things about the cultivation world from an old man who was setting up a stall.

"Alas, cultivation is so difficult for us humans!" the old man sighed. "Refining Qi, refining the spirit, refining the void, and merging with the Dao are the four great hurdles. Only by passing through them can one become a human immortal, free to roam the world, but still with a limited lifespan and unable to escape reincarnation. Only by cultivating to become an earth immortal, merging with the Dao, and living as long as the heavens, can one truly have a foundation. If one has a great opportunity to ascend to the Heavenly Court, one becomes a celestial immortal, which is the ultimate pursuit of us cultivators."

"Then how can one cultivate to become an Earth Immortal?" Fan Yuan couldn't help but ask curiously.

"Supernatural powers!" A hint of longing appeared in the old man's eyes. "Only by comprehending one's own innate supernatural power can one achieve harmony with the Dao and step into the realm of Earth Immortals! Look at those great figures, whether they are immortals, Buddhas, or demon kings, which one of them doesn't possess a unique and great supernatural power? Supernatural powers are the foundation upon which we cultivators stand in this world!"

Upon hearing the word "supernatural power," Fan Yuan was deeply shaken.

He thought of his own "Crushing Mountain Force," wasn't that the prototype of his supernatural power?

Although it is still very immature, it has pointed out a path!

The path to enlightenment is promising!

Fan Yuan felt an unprecedented surge of excitement. He thanked the old man and then turned and left the market.

……

Gao Laozhuang, the back garden.

As evening fell, Tie Niu silently swung his axe, neatly chopping the firewood.

A soft footstep sound came from behind.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a young girl with a haggard face but undeniable beauty, being helped by a maid as she hurried through the corridor of the back garden.

It was Gao Cuilan.

Her brows were furrowed with unyielding fear and sorrow, but her occasional glances toward Fuling Mountain held a complex and unfathomable quality, seemingly mixed with a hint of resentment, a trace of helplessness, and a touch of... longing that even she herself couldn't quite explain.

Just then, a gust of wind blew by, knocking the silk handkerchief she was clutching to the ground.

Tie Niu put down his axe, stepped forward, bent down to pick up the handkerchief embroidered with twin lotus flowers, and silently handed it over.

Gao Cuilan was startled by the sudden appearance of the burly man, but breathed a sigh of relief when she realized that he was just a new farmhand.

She looked at the taciturn man, took the handkerchief, and whispered, "Thank you." Then, urged by the maid, she quickly left.

Tie Niu picked up the axe again and continued chopping wood as if nothing had happened.

However, through this brief encounter and by listening to the private discussions of other servants over the past few days, Fan Yuan's true form has gained a more intuitive understanding of the Gao family's current situation.

Grandpa Gao was filled with remorse and fear. Although Pigsy often returned to the village, he was clearly no longer welcomed and was even regarded as a demon who had imprisoned his daughter.

The entire Gao Lao Zhuang was shrouded in a tense and oppressive atmosphere.

Several days later, inside the gatehouse of the Gao family's side gate.

Tie Niu used the few copper coins he earned from chopping firewood to buy a jug of cheap wine from the town, along with half a pound of roasted peanuts, and found the old gatekeeper who guarded the side gate.

"Uncle Wang, you've had a long day, have a couple of drinks to relax." Tie Niu smiled憨厚ly and placed the wine and peanuts on the greasy table.

The old doorman, surnamed Wang, had spent his entire life in the Gao family and had seen countless servants. He sized up the taciturn yet incredibly strong man before him and, after a few days, found him to be reliable and dependable. When he smelled the aroma of wine, his Adam's apple bobbed, but he didn't refuse.

"You young man, you are quite thoughtful."

After a few cups of murky, cheap liquor, the old doorman started talking non-stop.

"Tie Niu, you're new here, you don't know how dangerous this place is." He lowered his voice and gestured towards the backyard, "See that? That place is now forbidden territory for the Gao family. Old Master Gao's son-in-law... sigh, he's not human!"

Tie Niu just listened silently and poured him a full glass of wine.

"Every time he came back from Fuling Mountain, he would not go into the inner courtyard. He would sit alone in the pavilion in the back garden, staring at the moon in a daze. Sometimes he would sit there for most of the night."

The old gatekeeper's face showed fear. "Grandpa Gao has strictly ordered that no one is allowed to approach! Only a few brave souls are allowed to deliver some wine and food from a distance. That's a deadly task; whoever gets involved is doomed!"

Fan Yuan's heart skipped a beat, and Tie Niu followed up by asking, "Is this job done by a fixed person?"

"A fixed schedule?" The old doorman scoffed. "Who dares! It's all on a rotating basis. Whoever's turn it is, they're out of luck. These past few days, several clever ones have found excuses to take leave, just in case they get caught up in this."

The speaker is unintentional and the listener is interested.

Fan Yuan knew that his opportunity had arrived.

A few days later, it was getting dark.

Outside the Gao family's accounting office, the steward was furious about who to send to the back garden to deliver wine and dishes. Several servants whose names were called looked ashen-faced, each claiming that they were unable to walk properly or that their elderly mothers at home were seriously ill.

Just as the butler was about to explode, a burly figure walked out from the side.

"Manager," Tie Niu scratched his head and said in his usual honest tone, "how about... I go instead?"

The butler and the servants around him were stunned and looked at him in surprise.