Immortality and cultivation begin with alchemy and accounting.

The scroll unfurled, revealing the appearance of the cultivator within.

Upon hearing the word "demonic cultivator," Bai Xuanjing's heart stirred slightly. When she saw the face in the painting, she immediately recognized it.

The demonic cultivator in this painting is actually Yin Laogui!

"Is the Liu family looking for Yin Laogui?"

Bai Xuanjing was immediately startled and couldn't help but let her imagination run wild.

However, his facial expression shifted from joy upon hearing about the superior-grade magic weapon to regret after viewing the scroll.

He shook his head with a hint of regret: "I've never seen this person before."

Yin Laogui is dead. Although Bai Xuanjing doesn't know why the Liu family is looking for Yin Laogui, he doesn't want to cause any more trouble.

To avoid getting involved in anything else.

"Excuse me!"

The cultivators in charge of the inspection bowed. They had been searching the area for a long time but had not found any information related to Yin Laogui, so they had not held out much hope.

Therefore, he did not doubt the truthfulness of Bai Xuanjing's words and immediately went to meet the cultivators behind Bai Xuanjing.

Bai Xuanjing walked out of the entrance and entered the interior of Jing'anfang Market.

Without hesitation, he went straight to the local pharmacy.

Along the way, although he did not deliberately stop, Bai Xuanjing also paid attention to the gossip of the passing cultivators.

It turns out that the increase in the number of cultivators coming and going from the market during this period was indeed related to the changes in the sea.

Some time ago, some demonic cultivators suddenly appeared in the sea area near Jing'an Fang City and robbed many rogue cultivators and cultivators from small families.

It is said that some cultivators from local Foundation Establishment families were even robbed and killed by demonic cultivators!

These events caused widespread panic, and many people flocked to the market to buy ritual implements, talismans, and other items for self-defense.

Some others plan to settle in the market to avoid the limelight.

Soon, Bai Xuanjing arrived outside the Yitian Pharmacy.

It remains deserted.

Bai Xuanjing walked into the pharmacy.

There were no customers in the shop except for an elderly cultivator at the seventh level of Qi Refining, who was sitting in the center of the shop, leisurely lying on a rattan chair and flipping through a paper book.

"Fellow Daoist, choose whatever you wish for. Once you've made your selection, come here to settle the bill."

Noticing someone's arrival, the cultivator didn't even raise his head, and spoke calmly.

Bai Xuanjing stepped forward, handed over his identity token, and bowed, saying, "I am Bai Xuanjing, a cultivator from the third branch of the Bai family, and an outsourced alchemist."

"Oh?"

The cultivator finally put down the book and glanced at Bai Xuanjing.

He took the token, squinted at it for a moment, then returned it to Bai Xuanjing, and introduced himself in the process.

"I am Bai Qingshao, one of the two guards of the Jing'an Fang Market One-Day Pharmacy."

"Greetings, Grandpa Qingshao!"

Bai Xuanjing quickly cupped his hands in greeting.

"Every time Jingming comes to Jing'an Market to collect medicinal pills, he brings me a few jugs of spirit wine. Is he your second uncle?"

Bai Xuanjing nodded.

He really didn't expect that Bai Qingshao would also know Bai Jingming.

But then I thought about it again, and realized that my second uncle was quite sociable and knew a lot of people.

It wasn't surprising that he became acquainted with the Bai family cultivators in Jing'an Fangshi, a place he frequented.

Following that, Bai Qingshao asked a few questions about Bai Jingming in a seemingly casual manner, as if they were having a casual chat.

But Bai Xuanjing knew that this was a test of her.

Although the identity token contains the cultivator's spiritual energy imprint, there are still some spells that can forge this imprint.

Bai Qingshao was afraid that outsiders might come with the tokens of the Bai family cultivators and impersonate Bai Xuanjing, so he verified the identity with words.

Although it is unlikely that an outsider could impersonate a member of the Bai family and actually find a pharmacy.

Fortunately, Bai Xuanjing was not faking it and easily answered the hidden meaning in Bai Qingshao's small talk.

After asking a few questions, Bai Qingshao nodded, seemingly confirming Bai Xuanjing's identity.

"Come with me."

After saying that, the cultivator closed the shop door and led Bai Xuanjing towards the backyard of the pharmacy.

The backyard of the pharmacy was small, with only a few rooms. In the center was a table, a peach tree, and a water vat containing blue lotus.

"Have you encountered some trouble here?"

Bai Qingshao invited Bai Xuanjing to sit down, and then began to inquire.

Bai Xuanjing then explained the whole story in detail.

"You mean, your subterranean fire might have been exposed?"

Bai Qingshao stroked his beard, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Bai Xuanjing nodded, then summarized the matter of the spirit stone vein and reported to Bai Qingshao: "There's another matter, which is that the demonic cultivator who went up the island once said that there might be a spirit stone vein on Yufeng Island..."

Upon hearing this, Bai Qingshao was immediately startled: "What!"

"Are you sure about the spirit stone vein?"

He stared intently at Bai Xuanjing.

Bai Xuanjing nodded, then looked down and touched the storage bag, a flash of inspiration appearing in his mind.

The next moment, he took out several spirit stone crystals.

Along the way, he fled in haste and didn't have time to organize Yin Laogui's storage bag, but spirit stones and crystals were easy to find.

At first glance, both Wang Xing and Yin Laogui have a considerable number of spirit stones and crystals in their storage bags.

Bai Xuanjing took some and put them in her storage bag.

Seeing this, Bai Qingshao took the spirit stone crystal and closed his eyes to sense it.

A spiritual light flickered in his palm, and earth-yellow threads emerged, surging towards the spirit stone crystal.

It is clearly a spell being cast.

Bai Xuanjing looked thoughtful.

The Bai family owns some large spirit mines, and the clan also has corresponding inheritances for these spirit mines.

Before long, Bai Qingshao finished casting the spell, noticed Bai Xuanjing staring at him, and smiled.

"In my early years, I was in charge of the family's spirit mine and practiced several spirit mine-related spells."

"These few pieces of spirit stone crystals were separated from the mother mine no more than two months ago, and they are not from an old mine."

"As you said, the cultivators who went to your island might actually have a spirit stone mine."

Bai Xuanjing nodded, then reminded him, "That cultivator said before he died that the spirit stone mine was on Yufeng Island, but I think he might be lying to me."

"Perhaps he has accomplices on Yufeng Island, and it seems that he was being chased by other demonic cultivators when he arrived on the island."

Upon hearing Bai Xuanjing's analysis, Bai Qingshao nodded with appreciation, looking at Bai Xuanjing with a hint of amusement:

"The Bai family cultivators have been cultivating since childhood, and they are often away refining pills and do not come into contact with outsiders. In fact, they do not know much about the risks in the cultivation world."

"At your age, to remain so calm and composed when facing a spirit stone vein, with such meticulous thinking and logical analysis, is truly remarkable!"

Then he narrowed his eyes slightly and murmured, "A demonic cultivator..."

"Are you aware that some demonic cultivators have recently been spotted in the waters off Jing'an District?"

Bai Qingshao changed the subject and looked at Bai Xuanjing.

Bai Xuanjing truthfully replied, "Since returning to my position to refine pills, I have rarely gone out, but I have heard some things in the market."

Bai Qingshao nodded and explained, "These demonic cultivators are from the Blood Blade Sect."

Then he stood up and paced around, saying, "This place is, after all, the outer sea, and it's not easy for the Flowing Cloud Sect to extend its reach here."

The local cultivation families are also weak, and some families even openly worship the Liuyun Sect while secretly colluding with demonic cultivators.

Even in the past, cultivators from the Demon Sea would often come here to plunder...

After all, they use monks as resources for their cultivation.

To them, the Vast Ocean was like a field of spiritual herbs, overflowing with movable medicinal plants.

"However, these demonic cultivators are usually quick to arrive and quick to leave. They generally only plunder rogue cultivators and small families, and will not provoke Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan."

"I thought this time would be the same, but now that you've said it, I feel that the demonic cultivators' invasion of the Jing'an Fang City waters seems to be a bit of a big fuss."

Their aim might not just be to plunder cultivators, but also perhaps this spirit stone mine.

Bai Xuanjing nodded, agreeing with Bai Qingshao's analysis.

After a moment's thought, Bai Qingshao said, "This matter is of great importance and must be reported to the family."

"However, not now."

Upon hearing this, Bai Xuanjing was somewhat surprised and couldn't help but look at Bai Qingshao, asking, "May I ask, Grandpa Qingshao, why is it not possible now?"

Bai Qingshao smiled and said, "A one-day pharmacy is guarded by at least two people. If there is anything that needs to be reported to the family, one person will stay behind to guard the pharmacy while the other person will contact the family."

Another deacon has been out in the last few days.

Bai Xuanjing immediately understood.

Unlike alchemists like him, these town and market keepers have no quotas to meet and are usually quite idle.

Therefore, many people will adapt to local conditions and take advantage of their free time to hunt monsters or do other things.

Earn some extra money!

That's not surprising at all.

Bai Qingshao explained, "The other manager of Jing'an Market is named Bai Qingjian."

This person had participated in the southern demonic invasion and was originally a potential Foundation Establishment cultivator for his family, but his foundation was damaged in that battle, and his only son with cultivation talent also died in the battle.

"Since then, his personality has become somewhat strange, especially his intense hatred for demonic cultivators."

"This trip was made because I heard that demonic cultivators had appeared in the sea, and I went there specifically to hunt them down!"

The reason for bringing this up is that Bai Qingjian has an eccentric personality and doesn't give face to anyone.

Bai Qingshao was worried that Bai Xuanjing might unintentionally offend this person after their meeting.

Therefore, I'll offer a few words of advice to help Bai Xuanjing prepare mentally.

However, after he finished speaking, he remembered something.

Bai Xuanjing's parents also seemed to have died from the demonic invasion in the south, somewhat similar to Bai Qingjian. Fearing that this would touch on Bai Xuanjing's sore spot, he immediately changed the subject.

"Hunting demonic cultivators... Foundation Establishment seed..."

Bai Xuanjing pondered in his heart.

The best time for a cultivator to establish their foundation is before the age of fifty.

Therefore, the so-called "foundation seed" refers to someone whose cultivation has reached the late stage of Qi Refining and who is expected to break through to the Qi Refining Perfection stage before the age of fifty.

In addition, those with damaged Dao foundations have an even lower probability of establishing a foundation, and may even find it difficult to make any progress in their cultivation.

The Bai family has a limited supply of Foundation Establishment Pills. Even if someone with a damaged foundation meets the cultivation requirements, they will not be able to obtain Foundation Establishment Pills.

From this perspective, after the demonic scourge in the South China Sea, Bai Qingjian lost not only his son and Dao foundation, but also the opportunity to establish his foundation!

No wonder he was so resentful of demonic cultivators.

"There are many guest rooms here. You can choose one to stay in first. When your family arrives, they will help you explore the alchemy island and go back after confirming it is safe."

Bai Qingshao pointed to several houses in the courtyard.

Bai Xuanjing nodded and asked a question.

"May I practice alchemy here?"

Bai Xuanjing still has quite a few alchemy materials in her possession.

Although he was hiding in Jing'an Market, he didn't want to miss the opportunity to refine pills.

With the Locust Tree Spirit Pearl, even leaving Autumn Maple Island wouldn't hinder his alchemy practice.

Upon hearing this, Bai Qingshao was somewhat surprised. "There are no fire veins here, so I can't provide you with the conditions for alchemy... Do you perhaps possess spiritual fire?"

Bai Xuanjing said, "Grandpa Qingbai bestowed upon me a spirit pearl containing the power of spiritual fire, which can be used to refine pills."

"I see!"

Bai Qingshao stroked his beard, stood up and looked around, saying, "There are no heat-insulating restrictions here, and the buildings are all made of ordinary materials."

"The spirit fire is volatile; if you light the furnace, it might burn the house down."

After thinking for a moment, he said, "It is possible to set up a temporary restriction, but I am not good at this. If Qingjian were here, that would be great."

He then looked at Bai Xuanjing and said, "Wait a minute. Choose a room first, and when Qingjian arrives, have him set up some restrictions on your room."