Cultivation: I can see the proficiency level

Wang Mian selected the magical artifacts, and the shopkeeper waved his sleeve again, adding several more palm-sized defensive magical artifacts to the table, including cauldrons, towers, armor, shields, seals, and bells.

The ritual implements on the table were either new or old.

He explained to Wang Mian one by one the materials, quality, and price of the ritual implements.

Among the many magical artifacts, Wang Mian chose the earthen-yellow inner armor. The shopkeeper explained that the entire inner armor was made primarily of rock spider silk and spirit-refining soft gold, supplemented with several other spiritual materials.

It is a mid-grade magic weapon, of average quality. It contains two protective spells that can withstand spell attacks from mid-stage Qi Refining. The inner armor also has a partial spirit-repelling effect, which can reduce the power of the opponent's spells.

Name: Golden Silk Entwined.

The reason he chose this gold-wrapped silk armor is because he is skilled with a sword. The close-fitting inner armor does not affect his moves at all. It is not suitable for carrying a tower, a shield, a bell, or a seal.

Everything else is great; the only downside is that it's expensive.

Such protective magical artifacts have always been considered a cultivator's second life, and their price is naturally not cheap. The manager of Feihong Tower asked for four hundred spirit stones.

The 620 spirit stones earned from selling magical artifacts hadn't even warmed up when 500 spirit stones were spent on purchasing the Jinghong Sword. The remaining 120 spirit stones weren't even enough to buy this inner armor, let alone a disposable magical artifact.

After a moment's thought, Wang Mian took out the banana leaf fan and the ruler from his storage bag, intending to sell these two remaining magical artifacts for spirit stones to buy the inner armor.

Neither the banana leaf fan nor the ruler could save his life, but this inner armor could.

With the Swift Sword to kill enemies and the Golden Silk Inner Armor to protect him, Wang Mian's combat power can increase once again.

"A medium-grade magic weapon, the Banana Leaf Fan, made of medium-grade material; and a medium-grade magic weapon, the Discipline Ruler, of excellent quality. How about we price these two magic weapons at six hundred?" These two magic weapons are more expensive than the three magic weapons from before.

After a moment's thought, Wang Mian negotiated a price with the old shopkeeper, who convinced him with his reasonable arguments.

Handing over the low-grade magic sword he had obtained from Lü Xiuzhi, Wang Mian said, "Shopkeeper, you might as well take this magic sword as well."

Taking the magic sword from his hand, the shopkeeper drew his own sword and looked at it for a long time, seemingly not understanding why he could produce such a tattered item.

The sword is covered in sword marks; it would be so powerful that even chopping wood would likely shatter it, let alone killing cultivators.

"Twenty spirit stones, I'll accept them as materials." Seeing how big the business was, the old shopkeeper added a few more spirit stones to round it up.

Wang Mian agreed to the price.

The wealth he had acquired through perilous means, the magical artifacts he had accumulated over a long period of time, were all sold off in one fell swoop, leaving him feeling as if he had lost everything.

"Fellow Daoist, here are some one-time-use magical artifacts for combat: Fire Thunderbolt, Yin Thunderbolt, Kui Thunderbolt, Blood Curse, Soul Curse, Blazing Sun Sword, Little Green Peak, Yama's Decree..."

Wang Mian felt a chill run down his spine.

At this moment, Wang Mian deeply understood how the fairness of Feihong Tower had been preserved.

Wang Mian interrupted the old shopkeeper's introduction: "Shopkeeper, stop. I don't need that many. Just give me two Yin Lei Zi and two bottles of Yi Qi Dan."

"Two bottles of Qi-Boosting Pills cost forty spirit stones, two Yin Lei Zi cost eighty spirit stones, that's a total of one hundred and twenty. The remaining two hundred and twenty spirit stones will be handed over to you, fellow Daoist." The old shopkeeper readily agreed.

He traded five mid-grade magic artifacts, one low-grade broken magic sword, and five storage bags for a top-tier mid-grade magic sword, Jinghong, a life-saving inner armor, Golden Silk Insulation, two bottles of pills, two disposable magic artifacts, and over two hundred spirit stones.

Wang Mian was satisfied with his trip to Yeshi. His offensive and defensive skills had improved, and he had accumulated a considerable amount of spirit stones for cultivation, enough to meet his needs for the rest of his training.

Although it cost the largest sum of spirit stones ever spent, Wang Mian still felt a pang of heartache.

"Shopkeeper, does your shop sell dragon grass?" Wang Mian asked.

The old shopkeeper pondered for a moment, then shook his head.

Dragon Grass is a spiritual medicine specifically for strengthening muscles, bones, and skin. Only the Body Cultivation Association needs this kind of spiritual medicine to make medicinal baths and ointments. Flying Rainbow Pavilion rarely keeps spiritual herbs in stock and mostly sells finished pills.

"As far as I know, this spiritual herb is produced in the Dragon Pool of Chicken Head Mountain, but that is the territory of the Su family of the Immortal Clan. Fellow Daoist, you can go and inquire to exchange for it." The old shopkeeper gave him this information for free.

Wang Mian bowed in thanks, then rose to take his leave.

After seeing him to the door, the old shopkeeper stroked his beard and muttered, "This Fallen Mountain has produced another formidable character!"

Five storage bags, three stained with blood, and five magical artifacts, each different from the others, all from different cultivators. They looked young, but they were quite ruthless in their actions.

Perhaps in a few years, another remarkable figure will emerge from this desolate mountain.

When we left the market again, the warm sun was already setting in the west.

After Bai Jiuniang left the southern market, they did not return to the Hollow Tooth Cave, but instead flew towards the Green Bamboo Forest.

Given that Master Huang has not returned for several months, his disciples, servants, and concubines should have already gone their separate ways. They shouldn't be foolish enough to wait for their enemies to come knocking.

There was no enmity between them, and Wang Mian hoped they would be sensible. If they stayed in the bamboo forest, the newly purchased Jinghong Sword would probably have to drink blood.

With his enemy dead and his followers scattered like monkeys fallen from a fallen tree, he had no desire to commit further bloodshed. Leaving the bamboo grove, it was uncertain how many would survive on this desolate mountain.

This trip to the Green Bamboo Forest was also because its spiritual energy was slightly more abundant. Wang Mian planned to stay there with Bai Jiuniang for a while, and then return to Songlintan to investigate the situation after winter.

Flying over the barren hills, you can see the vast bamboo forest in the distance. The wind blows through the bamboo forest, creating ripples that are a delight to behold.

"What a wonderful place." Wang Mian looked at the bamboo forest getting closer and closer, feeling as if a scroll was being unfurled.

Landing outside the bamboo house built against the mountain, Wang Mian looked at the empty, deserted, and somewhat desolate bamboo forest, but did not sense any cultivator's presence.

Wang Mian pushed open the door and entered. What greeted his eyes was a mess of overturned furniture, broken porcelain, and scattered books. The scene looked as if a robber had broken in and looted the place.

The bamboo house had been left unattended for several days, and a thick layer of dust had settled inside.

Wang Mian walked past the collapsed scaffolding and headed into the inner room.

The sacred site of the bamboo forest is located beneath this bamboo building. The entrance is not hard to find. A stone chamber is built down the steps, which is the place for cultivation and seclusion. Wang Mian felt the spiritual energy within.

The spiritual energy here is far more abundant than in other caves like Songlin Pool, Huoya Cave, and Wanxiang Valley. If one can only cultivate once a day in the spiritual land of Songlin Pool, then one can cultivate four times a day in this spiritual land of Cuizhu Forest.

At the edge of the sacred land, there is a small pond.

The pool is filled with spiritual energy, but no living creatures can be seen in it. This is the property of the Green Bamboo Forest. This spiritual pool can be used to raise some spiritual frogs and fish, and there is a considerable income throughout the year.

Wang Mian never thought of raising spirit creatures, nor did he want to be bound by a spirit pool. After taking a few glances, he left the place.

After leaving the sacred site, Bai Jiuniang had already cleaned the bamboo house and started putting away the pots and pans. Wang Mian walked up to her and gave her two bottles of Qi-boosting pills: "Jiniang, are you about to break through the minor barrier?"

The cultivation of demonic beasts in the Qi Refining stage is not like that of cultivators with nine levels of Qi Refining; they only have three major stages and six minor stages.

Each time you clear a level, your demonic power increases, your demonic body grows, your muscles and bones strengthen, your claws and teeth become sharper, and your intelligence increases.

It has been half a year since Bai Jiuniang last broke through to the middle grade. Recently, she has consumed three bottles of Qi-boosting pills. Wang Mian noticed that her demonic aura was becoming increasingly strong, and he vaguely felt that she was about to break through.

Bai Jiuniang wagged her tail and nodded.

It has reached the edge of breaking through the small barrier; having accumulated enough, it will break through the barrier soon.

"Focus on your breakthrough, I'll protect you." He has now cultivated sword energy, changed his magic weapon, and is wearing inner armor. With the Yin Thunder Seed and Soul-Tearing Ointment by his side, he is not afraid even when facing a cultivator at the fourth level of Qi Refining.

When Jiu Niang broke through her cultivation barrier, she was comparable to a cultivator at the fifth level of Qi Refining, and her confidence was even greater.

Half a month later.

Sensing the change in aura, Wang Mian sheathed his longsword and looked into the bamboo building. Suddenly, a powerful and awe-inspiring aura of a demonic beast emanated from the bamboo forest.

A powerful aura swept in, shaking the thick snow off the roof of the bamboo house, causing it to fall continuously. Outside the door, the bamboo covered in white snow swayed rustlingly, and the snow fell like rain.

A white figure emerged from the bamboo building, its aura deep and enduring, its power imposing, comparable to a cultivator at the fifth level of Qi Refining.

Bai Jiuniang has broken through.