Daily Intelligence: From Miner to Dao Ancestor of Alchemy and Talismans

At the end of the official road, a magnificent city rises from the ground. The city walls, forged from black rock, are ten zhang high and covered with defensive runes. There is a faint pressure from the Golden Core stage. This is the famous Blackwater City in the Western Region.

Xu Yuan mingled in the flow of people entering the city, his back hunched, his white goatee swaying slightly with each step. He still looked like a down-on-his-luck old rogue cultivator, but his peripheral vision subtly swept across the entire city.

Compared to Qingyafang, the prosperity and imposing presence of Blackwater City are simply not on the same level.

People came and went at the city gate, all of them cultivators who had come from the surrounding areas. Qi Refining stage cultivators could be seen everywhere, and Foundation Establishment stage cultivators could also be seen from time to time. Occasionally, a streak of light would flash across the city wall, which was the escape light of a Golden Core stage expert.

This is the core of the southern part of the Western Territory, personally overseen by a Golden Core stage city lord. Even evil cultivation forces like the Blood Fiend Sect and the Yin Wind Valley dare not act recklessly in the city.

Following the flow of people and handing over the spirit stones to enter the city, Xu Yuan didn't linger at all, silently blending into the crowd and entering the city. The first thing he did upon entering the city was not to find a place to stay, nor to inquire about the news of the Alchemist Conference, but to turn into a secluded alley, and only after confirming that no one was around did he open the system information that was refreshed at midnight.

[Ding! Today's intelligence has been updated.]

[Qingdao Daily: Blackwater City is a melting pot of all sorts of people, with major forces such as the Blood Fiend Sect, Pill King Valley, Yin Wind Valley, and Hundred Herbs Hall entrenched there. During the Alchemist Conference, the City Lord's Mansion explicitly forbids private duels within the city, but covert ambushes and disappearances never cease, with lone cultivators without any background being the primary targets.]

Xu Yuan looked at the intelligence report, his fingertips paused slightly, and his eyes were clear.

Just as he predicted, Blackwater City appeared to be strictly governed, but in reality, it was a place where undercurrents were surging.

With the Alchemist Conference approaching, countless alchemists have gathered here. On the surface, it's a competition of alchemy skills, but behind the scenes, there are countless battles and ambushes. If he were to actually stay at a mixed-race inn frequented by rogue cultivators, even if he disguised himself, he might still encounter trouble and could even have his identity exposed.

When seeking survival in unfamiliar territory, the first thing to do is always to secure a safe place to stay before considering anything else.

He put away the communication talisman, straightened his worn-out baggage, and, still hunched over, slowly walked towards the city center. The main branch of Baodanlou in Blackwater City was located in the most bustling part of the main street. The three-story wooden pavilion could be seen from afar, and the gilded signboard hanging in front of it gleamed in the sunlight.

Xu Yuan walked into the Baodan Tower. The lobby was bustling with people, all of them cultivators who came to buy pills. The shop assistants were so busy that no one paid any attention to this down-on-his-luck old rogue cultivator at the third level of Qi Refining.

He walked straight to the counter, tapped on the counter, and slowly took out the black gold card given to him by Wu Song and placed it on the counter in front of the manager behind the counter.

The manager's initially nonchalant gaze narrowed sharply the moment he saw the black gold card, and his expression instantly changed. This black gold card was the highest-level VIP card of the Treasure Pill Pavilion; there were no more than ten in the entire Western Region, and only top-tier alchemists who could reliably supply second-tier pills were qualified to possess it. He never expected that this seemingly down-on-his-luck old rogue cultivator could actually produce a card of this caliber.

The manager dared not be negligent in the slightest, and immediately bowed, lowering his voice considerably: "Please forgive me, senior; I was blind. Please come in! Our manager is in the backyard; I'll go inform him right away!"

He personally led Xu Yuan through the main hall and into the quiet area of ​​the backyard, not daring to show the slightest disrespect along the way.

Before half a cup of tea could be brewed, a middle-aged cultivator dressed in brocade robes with a refined appearance strode over. He was none other than Manager Wang, the manager of the Blackwater City Baodanlou main store, a cultivator at the early Foundation Establishment stage, and also the master of Wu Song, the manager of Qingyafang Baodanlou.

He had already received Wu Song's message and knew that a pill refiner who could reliably produce mid-grade second-tier pills would be coming to Blackwater City with a black gold card. He just didn't expect the other party to arrive so quickly and in such a low-key manner.

Upon seeing Xu Yuan, Manager Wang immediately cupped his hands in a respectful alchemist's salute, saying, "Senior, it is an honor to have you here. I have failed to greet you properly. Please forgive me."

If an outsider were to witness a Foundation Establishment cultivator bowing to an old, rogue cultivator at the third level of Qi Refining, they would surely be astonished. However, Manager Wang knew that an alchemist who could consistently refine mid-grade second-tier pills, even if only at the Qi Refining stage, deserved such respect. In the entire Blackwater City, there were no more than twenty alchemists who could consistently produce mid-grade second-tier pills, and each of them was someone that various major powers were vying to worship.

Xu Yuan nodded slightly, his tone calm and unpretentious, without revealing his true identity: "Manager Wang, you're too kind. I've come to Blackwater City to attend the Alchemist Conference and need a quiet and safe place to stay, as well as a stable supply of materials."

"Don't worry, senior, everything is arranged!" Manager Wang hurriedly led Xu Yuan deeper into the backyard. "The innermost independent courtyard in the backyard has always been empty. It has its own spirit-gathering array, soundproof barrier, and defensive array. Even a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator would never be able to break in. It is absolutely safe and secluded, and no one will disturb your cultivation."

Pushing open the gate of the villa, one finds an exquisite courtyard with a main house, alchemy room, and meditation room. The spirit-gathering array is operating at full capacity, with spiritual energy several times denser than outside. The surrounding area is covered with layers of restrictions, from early warning to defense to concealing one's aura, perfectly meeting Xu Yuan's needs for a life of quiet contemplation.

Xu Yuan nodded in satisfaction; this was the place he wanted to settle down.

Safe, private, and undisturbed; even if something happens, Baodanlou will be there to protect you, so you don't have to face the risks directly.

After settling in, Manager Wang dismissed all the servants and personally served tea to Xu Yuan, his attitude becoming increasingly respectful: "Senior, Wu Song told me in the message that in Blackwater City, all alchemy materials, talismans, and cinnabar will be supplied by our Baodan Pavilion at cost price, without any limit. If you need anything, just let us know in advance, and it will definitely be delivered to you within half an hour."

"We at Baodanlou will purchase all the pills you refine at 1.3 times the market price, without any undercutting or delays. Furthermore, we will strictly keep all your identity information and pill-refining records confidential and will not disclose a single word to any third party, not even if the City Lord's Mansion comes to investigate."

This offer is undeniably generous.

With materials supplied at cost price, pills purchased at a 30% premium, and an absolute guarantee of confidentiality, it's as if Bao Dan Lou has set up all the stages for Xu Yuan. He only needs to focus on refining pills and participating in the Pill Master Conference without worrying about anything or taking any risks.

Xu Yuan did not refuse and nodded slightly in agreement. He came to Blackwater City for the Foundation Establishment Pill recipe and the second-tier pill furnace for the Pill Master Conference. With the local powerhouse, Treasure Pill Pavilion, as his backer, he could save himself countless troubles and avoid countless traps.

Seeing Xu Yuan agree, Manager Wang's smile deepened. To curry favor with this promising second-tier alchemist, he went so far as to break down the power structure of Blackwater City and explain it to Xu Yuan in great detail:

"Senior, Blackwater City may look peaceful, but it's actually quite treacherous. The highest authority is the City Lord's Mansion, headed by the Blackwater City Lord, who is at the Golden Core stage. They are also the organizers of this Alchemist Conference, and the rules are all set by the City Lord's Mansion."