Cultivating immortality begins with formations.

Back then, in our ordinary days.

He, along with Zhang Dashan and Ji Ming, were apprentices at the pharmacy. They went to the deep mountains to collect herbs with the pharmacist and accidentally discovered the remains of a cultivator at the bottom of a cliff.

Over the years, the four have supported each other in the market. Whenever one of them encounters difficulties, he or she will gather the other three to discuss the matter together.

Of the four, Lu Yuan was the most handsome, but the least talented.

Barely a low-grade Five Elements spiritual root.

Zhang Dashan has a low-grade earth spiritual root, and the pharmacist has a low-grade fire spiritual root. Both of them are at the fourth level of Qi Refining.

Ji Ming has the best aptitude, with a mid-grade gold spiritual root. He is a sword cultivator and has already reached the fifth level of Qi Refining.

Upon arriving at Ji Ming's courtyard, Lu Yuan immediately saw Ji Ming lying on a recliner, his chest wrapped in bandages and his face pale.

The most serious injury was to his right leg.

The wound on his thigh was shaped like the Chinese character "品" (pin), and the surrounding area was a strange purplish-black color, clearly indicating that he had been poisoned.

The pharmacist, with a goatee and half-white hair, squatted to the side, piercing the flesh with silver needles to release dark, poisonous blood.

The courtyard was immediately filled with a fishy, ​​foul odor.

……

"Brother Ji, how did things get like this?"

Lu Yuan's expression hardened slightly, and he spoke with concern.

Ji Ming's face was as pale as paper, and his breath was weak. Hearing this, he gave a bitter smile: "If you walk by the river often, you're bound to get your shoes wet."

It turned out that Ji Ming and his companions had gone to the Nine Ridges Mountains and returned with great success, but on their return, they were robbed by several cultivators from the Yinluo Palace.

Apart from Ji Ming, who was seriously injured and managed to escape, the rest of the team members all perished in the Jiuling Mountains.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dashan angrily cursed, "Yinluo Palace is supposed to be a major sect, yet they actually dared to ambush and kill rogue cultivators. They have no shame whatsoever."

Lu Yuan also found it strange.

Although Yinluo Palace cannot be called a prestigious sect, it is still a major sect in the area. It is said that there are five Foundation Establishment stage cultivators stationed there, and it also has many properties in Jiuling Market. Why would it brazenly attack a rogue cultivator?

Unable to figure it out for a moment, Lu Yuan cupped his hands and respectfully asked the pharmacist, "Pharmacist, how is Brother Ji's injury?"

All three had apprenticed under a pharmacist.

Although they severed their master-disciple relationship after embarking on the path of cultivation together, none of them abandoned their respect for the old man.

The pharmacist shook his head and sighed softly, "His life is not in danger, but unless we can get a second-tier antidote, I'm afraid we won't be able to save this leg."

"Second-tier antidote!"

Zhang Dashan exclaimed in surprise, "I once heard someone in the Zhou family mention that a second-tier antidote pill requires at least eighty low-grade spirit stones."

"good."

The pharmacist nodded: "That's why I called you all together to think of a solution."

Even after arriving in the treacherous and cannibalistic world of cultivation, the four remained true to their original aspirations and helped each other overcome difficulties.

But they were all low-level, independent cultivators.

Zhang Dashan rented a spiritual field to work as a spiritual planter, and he was required to hand over a fixed amount of spiritual rice every year, leaving him with very little.

Even so, a portion still needs to be set aside for spiritual practice.

It's really hard to accumulate spirit stones.

After arriving in the market, the pharmacist returned to his old profession and is now an unranked alchemist and a mediocre physician.

Although his income was higher than Zhang Dashan's, he was old and wanted to prolong his life, so he had to invest more resources in cultivation.

Therefore, there wasn't much surplus grain.

Zhang Dashan bent down and pulled a cloth bag from his boot, whispering, "I only have eleven low-grade spirit stones here."

Ji Ming's lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he didn't say anything.

He had already exchanged his spirit stones for a large number of talismans before entering the Nine Ridges Mountains, and now he had used them all up to save his life.

Even his only protective magic sword broke during the battle with the Yinluo Palace cultivators.

It can be said that they have already reached the cutoff line for the market.

"I'm in a slightly better position; I have twenty-three low-grade spirit stones," the pharmacist sighed.

As the pharmacist finished speaking, Ji Ming finally made up his mind: "I will remember your kindness, but everyone has their own destiny, so please don't worry about me anymore..."

"I'm giving up on this immortal cultivation!"

For a sword cultivator, losing a leg is tantamount to cutting off their path of cultivation.

After saying those words, Ji Ming's face grew even more ashen, as if he were a dying man.

"Second-tier antidote pills, I'll take care of that."

Lu Yuanlang said in a loud voice.

He wouldn't be stingy in this situation, after all, Ji Ming would also get a share of the ten spirit stones that would allow him to turn his life around.

As soon as he finished speaking, all three of them turned to look at him, their eyes blazing.

"Successfully?"

The pharmacist spoke excitedly.

Lu Yuan nodded: "I think I've had a sudden realization."

"Okay, okay..."

The pharmacist stroked his beard and praised him.

The three of them had given him spirit stones last time to help him break through the Qi Gathering Array again, so upon hearing this, they immediately guessed that Lu Yuan had already successfully inscribed the array.

"Brother Lu, I knew you could do it." Zhang Dashan laughed heartily.

Ji Ming was even more excited.

"Brother Lu..."

He made a move to get up, but Lu Yuan quickly waved his hand to stop him: "Brother Ji, there's no need for this between us. I'll need to ask you for advice on swordsmanship many times in the future."

"I will pay you back, I definitely will!"

Ji Ming's expression was firm, and his words were resolute.

……

After leaving the courtyard, Lu Yuan went straight to the Treasure Pavilion without stopping.

The pharmacist gave him ten low-grade spirit stones.

Zhang Dashan also contributed five yuan.

Lu Yuan originally didn't want to accept it, but after hesitating for a moment, he decided to accept it anyway.

"A second-tier antidote?"

Inside the private room, Manager Luo was somewhat taken aback when he heard Lu Yuan explain his purpose, and he looked Lu Yuan up and down.

Lu Yuan smiled and explained, "I'm fine. It's a friend of mine who was injured by an evil cultivator. He needs a second-tier antidote pill to cleanse himself of the poison and ensure his immortality."

"In the market, it's common to see people turn against each other over a few spirit stones. Fellow Daoist Lu, you are truly a rare and precious person who values ​​loyalty and righteousness."

Manager Luo's gaze was gentle, tinged with emotion. He admired the young man before him even more.

"Can you give me a discount?"

"cannot."

Manager Luo was taken aback, then shook his head vigorously.

He wouldn't mind lending a hand to Lu Yuan when he was down on his luck, but there was no need to do things that added to his already good fortune, because that wouldn't bring any reward whatsoever.

Lu Yuan had only meant it as a joke and didn't insist. He took out eighty low-grade spirit stones, received the second-tier antidote pill, and then got up to take his leave.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, please wait."

Shopkeeper Luo paused for a moment, then asked hesitantly, "How confident are you, Fellow Daoist Lu, in drawing the Qi-gathering array?"

Lu Yuan frowned slightly but did not answer directly.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, there's no need to worry..."

Manager Luo continued, "Among our guest masters are alchemists and talisman masters, but no array masters. If Fellow Daoist Lu's success rate in drawing a Qi-gathering array is over 50%, I would like to invite you to become our guest array master."

Lu Yuan's eyes lit up.

It's like a pillow being delivered just when you're about to fall asleep.

He had originally intended to establish a connection with the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, and was even planning to cultivate to the mid-stage of Qi Refining before considering how to bring it up.

To my utter surprise, Manager Luo would take the initiative to invite me.

At the same time, he was also thinking to himself that the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, with a background like the Glazed Tile Sect, did not have its own array masters.

This also reflects the scarcity of array masters in Jiuling Market.

Even if the Treasure Pavilion doesn't have any array masters, it must contain array diagrams and patterns of other arrays. Only by entering the Treasure Pavilion can one have the opportunity to learn them.

After thinking carefully for a moment, Lu Yuan slowly spoke: "To be honest, Manager Luo, I am somewhat confident about the Qi Gathering Array, but as for the other arrays..."

He shook his head as he spoke.

Manager Luo smiled slightly: "It's alright. Being able to draw a Qi-gathering array is enough for our organization."

"If that's the case, I, Lu, am willing."

Lu Yuan cupped his hands in greeting.

"it is good."

Manager Luo nodded: "Three days from now, our pavilion will arrange an entrance test for Fellow Daoist Lu."