Cultivation begins with alchemy and collecting runes.

After the rain, the sky cleared, and another day dawned.

[Grain-Clearing Elixir [White Rune]: Mixed Mana x5]

[Grain-Breaking Pill [White Rune]: Nourishes the body, repairs internal injuries, and enhances Qi and blood.]

Li Xiuyuan, who had been refining pills all night without sleep, had bloodshot eyes. He looked at the last Bigu Pill he had refined in his hand, and a smile appeared on his lips.

[Cultivation Skill: Bigu Pill (Minor Success) 100/300]

"Hard work really does pay off, this suits me perfectly!"

"Let's test the effect of the white rune [Nourishing the Body] first, so I don't get disappointed."

With his mind calm, Li Xiuyuan focused his divine sense on the white jade light screen.

The next moment, the white rune symbolizing "nourishing the body" transformed into a spirit fish and flowed into Li Xiuyuan's limbs and bones.

It flows slowly along the meridians and channels of his body.

Li Xiuyuan did not miss this opportunity. He quickly absorbed and exhaled spiritual energy, circulating it throughout his body according to the "Minor Forging Yuan Fire Refining Technique" to refine the spirit fish.

Half an incense stick later, Li Xiuyuan slowly opened his eyes, exhaling clear and turbid air through his mouth and nose.

"It really works! It actually repaired most of the meridian damage caused by the oven explosion."

The effects of this "Nourishing the Body" entry far exceeded Li Xiuyuan's expectations.

"It can also nourish blood and qi and repair hidden injuries; it's truly extraordinary!"

Li Xiuyuan was overjoyed.

During the alchemy process, the furnace nearly exploded several times, but fortunately, two [Mid-grade Fire Control Technique] runes helped to avert disaster.

Looking at the display on the panel, it says: [Spell: Fire Control, Minor Mastery, 131/300 Minor Mastery].

"Having used up the last of my [Mid-Grade Fire Control] skill, my Fire Control skill has been greatly improved. It's a bit of a shame I didn't get any runes."

His frustration from years of hard work without any progress vanished at this moment!

"My luck has finally turned around!"

Li Xiuyuan got up and went to the kitchen to boil water. Soon, the half-person-high wooden bathtub was filled with hot water.

He took off his clothes, with only a pair of shorts tied around his waist, and jumped into the bathtub.

The warm water washed away all the fatigue and bitterness from my body.

Half an hour later, he got up, picked up a yellowed bath towel from the wooden stool next to the bathtub, and carefully wiped his whole body.

A moment later, Li Xiuyuan, dressed in a light blue-white Taoist robe, picked up a wooden hairpin from the table and tied her hair into a bun.

He took the Bigu Dan (a traditional Chinese medicine) with him and set off.

……

In the early morning, the earth, washed by the spring rain, exudes the vitality and revival of all things.

The streets in the outer city area were already bustling with activity.

The independent vendors, each with their own stall, were enthusiastically hawking their wares.

"Fresh Qingfeng wolf meat, 30 catties for one spirit stone. It was killed this morning and is very fresh. It is a top-quality spirit meat that can enhance qi and blood."

"Come and take a look! A first-grade low-level Golden Light Talisman, an essential item for hunting demons and exploring new lands. One spirit stone for one talisman. Don't miss this opportunity!"

……

The bustling sounds of vendors hawking their wares filled the air; this was the daily life of independent cultivators.

There are no ethereal, otherworldly scenes of immortals, only the mundane life of ordinary mortals.

Walking on the cobblestone streets of the market, facing a scene so familiar, Li Xiuyuan's state of mind was already different.

In the past, I only found them noisy, but today, for some reason, I felt a sense of pleasure.

"This is what life is like for a wandering cultivator! Ordinary and realistic."

The frustration and exhaustion from lacking resources and running around have now disappeared.

Instead, they were full of energy and confidence.

Many acquaintances shook their heads secretly when they saw Li Xiuyuan's bloodshot eyes.

This is their daily routine, and it will be their future.

Many cultivators encountered on the road were strangers who would smile and move on; those who were familiar with each other would greet each other with a cupped hand and a smile, saying "Good morning, fellow Daoist."

Having lived here for over a decade, Li Xiuyuan's mood this time far surpassed that of the past; he was happy and joyful.

"The self of yesterday is already visible, but the self of tomorrow is unknowable."

Who can predict what will happen in a day?

The initial high spirits upon entering the world of cultivation, followed by numbness and indifference after being crushed by reality.

Isn't this a true reflection of his past self?

But he will never live such a chaotic life again!

Shedding yesterday's shackles, I now know who I truly am.

Under the warm sunshine, Li Xiuyuan walked steadily and powerfully on the bluestone path, a stark contrast to the hurried, anxious, and numb crowds on both sides.

The cultivator surnamed Liu, who sold talismans, looked at Li Xiuyuan's departing figure with a puzzled expression and couldn't help but rub his eyes.

"Why does Fellow Daoist Li look different today? He has completely lost his usual gloomy demeanor."

"Well, what else could it be? I heard he was borrowing money everywhere the other day, I wonder what he's going to do with it. Hey, Old Liu, you didn't lend him any spirit stones, did you?"

"I don't have any spare money to lend to others. I haven't even secured tuition for my daughter to enter the Blazing Fire Academy yet..."

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the monks at the surrounding stalls started chatting amongst themselves.

Those familiar with Li Xiuyuan shook their heads inwardly; they, as veterans from the outer city, had seen this kind of thing many times before.

Who knows, it might be their turn someday.

Just like Old Liu who sells talismans, and Old Niu who sells monster meat.

They could have returned to the mortal world to retire and enjoy their lives, but for the sake of their offspring who possess spiritual roots, they gritted their teeth and persevered, just waiting to see the light at the end of the tunnel!

……

Following the main road of the outer city of the market, Li Xiuyuan soon arrived at Lingbao Pavilion, a shop opened by the Liehuo Sect.

"Good day, Fellow Daoist Li!"

The portly shopkeeper flashed his signature smile and, upon seeing Li Xiuyuan, quickly stepped out from behind the counter to greet him.

Without saying a word, Li Xiuyuan took out the medicine bottle, and a brighter smile appeared on his face.

"Fellow Daoist Li, I told you long ago that you are a talented person and you will definitely be able to refine the pills. Don't look so worried, see how things are getting better on their own?"

"Manager Pang, I appreciate your kind words. I have indeed successfully refined the Bigu Pill."

Li Xiuyuan responded with a smile, readily admitting that he had successfully refined the elixir.

Although it was the lowest grade of the fasting pill, not even worthy of being ranked, Li Xiuyuan was still very happy.

Ten years ago, he unexpectedly saved Pang Dehai, and the two became acquainted.

Later, he tried selling spiritual plants and ended up with a mountain of debt; then a few days ago, he came to him to buy medicinal materials for making fasting pills.

Over the years, Li Xiuyuan and Manager Pang have developed an extremely harmonious relationship.

If Li Xiuyuan took out ten jade bottles, Pang Dehai would know that he had successfully refined the Bigu Pill.

"This is?!"

"The fasting pill is of inferior quality!"

When Manager Pang opened the jade bottle placed in front of him and gently sniffed the pills, a look of surprise appeared on his face.

He then opened several jade bottles beneath him and, upon closer inspection, discovered they were all pills that could abstain from grains.

All of them are of the lowest quality.

The medicine has a stable effect and a bright red color.

The table was filled with fifty pills, all of which were low-grade pills. Even Pang Dehai, a seasoned businessman, showed a hint of surprise on his face.

His good friend has finally made it through!

"Fellow Daoist Li has a decent talent for alchemy. This has created another positive connection."

Pang Dehai thought to himself.

"Manager Pang's judgment is indeed astute!"

Li Xiuyuan nodded with a smile, and Manager Pang then realized what he meant, jokingly saying, "I knew magpies were flying around today; good news is coming!"

Pang Dehai was genuinely happy for Li Xiuyuan.

Firstly, he was delighted that he would soon have another alchemist client;

Secondly, the mindset of the savior, whom he had known for many years, remained unchanged and at peace.

He had been in the business world for many years. As a lowly, unaffiliated cultivator, he was once as insignificant as mud. However, if he were to gain power, there would be countless examples of friends, relatives, and even blood relatives turning against him.

It is truly rare for his friend to remain true to his original aspirations.

"As the saying goes, among the myriad arts of cultivation, alchemy, formations, and talismans are the four top-tier professions. This 'Grain-Clearing Pill' is easy to learn but difficult to master. Fellow Daoist, your ability to refine a low-grade spiritual pill is truly commendable!"

Hearing the congratulatory messages from his longtime friends, Li Xiuyuan was filled with emotion.

"After years of arduous practice, the elixir was finally completed in one day. It was truly a stroke of luck, a stroke of luck."

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Manager Pang got down to business: "I wonder if Fellow Daoist Li is exchanging materials or spirit stones this time?"

"Naturally, spirit stones. This batch of pills has left me penniless, and I was counting on spirit stones to pay off my debts. Exchange them all for spirit stones."

"Manager Pang, the usual rules apply."

"Alright, Xiao Wang, gather a hundred portions of materials for the Bigu Pill for Fellow Daoist Li."

At Pang Dehai's shouts, the servant behind the counter quickly selected the required spiritual materials from the warehouse.

Before long, a hundred sets of alchemy materials were neatly arranged in front of Li Xiuyuan and his companion.

"These materials cost a total of three spirit stones, and forty-nine low-grade Bigu Pills cost six spirit stones. After adding and subtracting, I'll give you three spirit stones in change."

"Please take a look at the inventory."

After saying that, Pang Dehai handed over a piece of straw paper made of low-grade spiritual plants, on which the details of the transaction were clearly written, making it easy to understand at a glance.

Li Xiuyuan glanced at it briefly, had no doubts, and then channeled his spiritual energy onto the paper, thus completing the transaction.

Before leaving, Li Xiuyuan transmitted his voice to Pang Dehai: "Manager Pang, do you have any formulas for dispelling evil spirits for sale? What is the price?"

Pang Dehai understood the unspoken meaning; he noticed that his friend's dark complexion was a symptom of erysipelas.

Not wanting to spoil Li Xiuyuan's joy at achieving the elixir, he remained silent.

At this moment, Li Xiuyuan took the initiative to bring it up, without any concealment, saying, "Fellow Daoist Li, as you know, the major sects are extremely strict in controlling their pill formulas, and leaks are strictly prohibited. I have some Evil-Transforming Pills here, one hundred spirit stones each, do you want them?"

Upon hearing this, Li Xiuyuan frowned slightly. As a member of the Dan Ding Sect, how could he not know the value of the Evil-Transforming Pill?

"Every medicine has some degree of toxicity"—this is an axiom in the world of alchemy.

All pills, regardless of grade, contain toxins left over from alchemy.

These erysipelas are usually hidden in the meridians and veins, and are quite ordinary.

If a cultivator wants to break through a cultivation level, the hidden poison will erupt violently at the moment of breakthrough.

At best, it will result in a failed breakthrough and depletion of vital energy; at worst, it will damage the foundation and jeopardize the path to immortality.

Therefore, the prodigies and direct disciples of major sects rarely rely on consuming large amounts of pills to rapidly improve their cultivation.

Regarding the elixirs that are indispensable for cultivation, the high-level alchemists they worship have conducted thousands of experiments to minimize the toxicity of the elixirs.

Therefore, the remedies for erysipelas are extremely precious.

But low-level cultivators like Li Xiuyuan, who struggle to survive in the market, have no other choice.

Without taking pills to enhance cultivation, progress will be slow; taking large amounts of pills will lead to the accumulation of toxins, making it difficult to break through bottlenecks and jeopardizing one's path to immortality.

He learned that the Lingbao Pavilion did not have a recipe for the Evil-Removing Pill, and that a low-grade Evil-Removing Pill costing one hundred spirit stones was beyond his means.

One hundred spirit stones per pill, and that's the lowest quality one at that, not enough to completely eradicate his poison.

Li Xiuyuan reluctantly accepted the black cloth bag containing spirit stones, picked up the tightly bound alchemy materials, and got up to leave.

Before getting up, he scanned the various spirit-gathering formations, defensive formations, and offensive formations placed in the shop.

I thought to myself that I would have the spirit stones, and all of these things would come in the future.

Just as he stepped across the shop threshold, Pang Dehai's voice reached his ears, causing a ripple in Li Xiuyuan's heart.

"If Fellow Daoist Li wishes to find a way to neutralize the poison, he can go to the western district of the market and look for a woman named Feng Caiyi. Her ancestors were Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Blazing Fire Sect. Perhaps there is a chance..."

On the way back, Li Xiuyuan recalled Pang Dehai's telepathic message and felt a warmth in his heart.

On his way, he bought thirty catties of demon beast meat and fifty catties of spirit rice, along with some low-grade spirit fruits and vegetables with a little spiritual energy.

In order to improve the meals, a total of three spirit crystals were given.

Although he diligently cultivated himself day and night, he still retained some of the mortal desires for food and drink.

He didn't want to become a spiritual practice machine, so he kept his life relaxed and balanced.

Arrive at the Law Enforcement Hall of the Blazing Fire Sect in the outer city and pay five spirit stones.

These are the corvée tax and cave rent for the following six months.

After arriving in the West District, they made some inquiries and finally found the Feng family's home.

Upon inquiring with the steward, it was learned that Feng Caiyi had been away hunting demons for half a month and had not returned.

Li Xiuyuan had no choice but to leave, planning to visit again in a few days.

……