Cultivation begins with alchemy and collecting runes.

Li Xiuyuan planned to refine the "Azure Yang Spirit Fire," the method of which came from Zhong Wuhu of the Demon Flame Sect.

In this great battle between the Blazing Fire Sect and the Demon Flame Sect, a considerable number of fire-type spiritual items were captured.

Li Xiuyuan casually strolled around the stalls set up by the disciples of the sect and easily collected everything.

"First-tier Azure Sun Spiritual Flame, second-tier Azure Sun Demonic Flame, third-tier Heavenly Sun Divine Flame... I wonder if I will ever be able to witness the power of this renowned divine ability?"

"This Azure Yang Spiritual Flame is extremely Yang in nature, and it has remarkable effects in refining and purifying medicines..."

Several hours later.

Li Xiuyuan put down the jade bottle in his hand and nodded slightly.

This jade bottle contains extremely strong fire-type spiritual power, and it still makes a sizzling sound even when it is placed inside.

Open the panel:

【Azure Sun Spiritual Fire (Beginner): 1/50】

"Next is to refine the Spirit Refining Powder..."

Li Xiuyuan opened the jade bottle and activated the Golden Flame Burning Heaven magic.

A crimson light emanated from his body as he lightly tapped his finger.

He used his fire control technique to make the "Azure Yang Spiritual Fire" resemble a red dragon coiled above the alchemy furnace.

The main ingredients of the Spirit Refining Powder exploded instantly, turning into powder.

……

With the help of his powerful divine sense and spiritual fire, Li Xiuyuan's speed in refining the Spirit Refining Powder increased by leaps and bounds.

[Spirit Refining Powder +1]

[Spirit Refining Powder +1]

[Spirit Refining Powder +1]

……

A month later.

Li Xiuyuan put away the last portion of the Spirit Refining Powder, gently cast a cleansing spell to wash away the dust and odor from his body.

His divine sense swept over the high-grade spirit-refining powder in his hand, and he dipped his finger in it, savoring it carefully.

"Hmm, the medicine is quite effective. It actually slightly increased the speed at which my spiritual energy condenses. It truly lives up to its name as the Spirit Refining Powder."

Li Xiuyuan secretly calculated the days ahead. He would be stationed in the market town in a month, so he needed to make some preparations.

He packed his things, took the three hundred doses of Spirit Refining Powder he had refined during this time, and flew out of the cave in a streak of light.

Li Xiuyuan then applied to the Foundation Establishment steward of the Mission Hall to go out and received permission to leave the mountain gate.

Disciples of the Blazing Fire Sect have one opportunity to go out each year, but cultivators seize every minute and few waste time going out.

Therefore, very few people actually apply to go abroad.

The words are divided into two parts.

Li Xiuyuan left the mountain gate's restrictive array and flew eastward on his sword, choosing a direction.

Li Xiuyuan chose one of the more famous markets among the many markets of the Blazing Fire Sect.

The market town was quite grand, because the Blazing Fire Sect was located in the center of the Chu Kingdom, a hub connecting the Yue Kingdom with the Chu Kingdom.

Moreover, there was no hostile relationship between the cultivation communities of Yue and Chu.

Therefore, the markets of the Blazing Fire Sect often see cultivators from the Yue Kingdom coming to trade goods, bringing many special products that the Chu Kingdom does not have.

This has attracted many independent cultivators and immortal cultivation families to this place.

The market town was located a hundred miles outside the sect, and it took Li Xiuyuan most of the day to fly there.

After landing near the market, Li Xiuyuan did not rush over.

Instead, he changed into a black robe and put away all the crimson disciple items on his body, making him look like an ordinary rogue cultivator.

Only then did they head towards the market.

According to the rules of the market, flying is not allowed within five miles, so Li Xiuyuan encountered many cultivators in a hurry along the way.

Many of them were dressed strangely, unlike people from the State of Chu, which aroused Li Xiuyuan's curiosity, and he couldn't help but wonder about their origins.

Just as Li Xiuyuan was pondering this, he had already reached the entrance of the market.

After paying half a spirit stone as an entrance fee at the entrance, I followed the crowded flow of people into the main street.

This market town was no different from the other markets Li Xiuyuan had visited. The streets ran north-south, the roads were wide, and various shops lined both sides.

These are all properties of the Blazing Fire Sect. Most of them are managed by the sect's disciples, while the other half are rented to independent cultivators or immortal cultivation families who often do business here.

Most of them are shops that sell raw materials, talismans, magical artifacts, and even materials from monsters.

There are also a few bookstores selling low-level martial arts techniques similar to Changchun Gong and Five Elements Manual, and a couple of restaurants and inns that look just like ordinary people.

In addition to the Qi Refining disciples who are on duty year-round, there are also several Foundation Establishment experts in the entire market.

In terms of personnel, it is no less impressive than many small families.

Li Xiuyuan walked along the street, intending to first see what was worth buying from the independent repairman's stalls.

I mainly want to find a bargain; if all else fails, I'll check out the bigger stores.

After walking around, Li Xiuyuan was somewhat disappointed.

Most of the items sold at these stalls were common goods. Apart from a few items of some value, the other magical artifacts and talismans were of no use to him.

He wasn't going to waste any time and turned to walk toward the shop.

'Hall of a Hundred Weapons'

'Thousand Talisman Pavilion'

Spirit Array Institute

……

Li Xiuyuan observed each shop along the street, noting down their names and sizes.

Then I chose a rather large and impressive shop – Wanbaoge – and went inside.

Just by hearing the name of this shop, you can tell it's a very reputable business.

Cultivators often believe in the saying of Heaven's will and destiny, but if their own strength is insufficient, their words can easily become prophetic.

It was obvious that the shop owner had confidence in his goods, and Li Xiuyuan felt the same way, hoping to buy some rare treasures in this shop and make the trip worthwhile.

As soon as he stepped inside, Li Xiuyuan was slightly taken aback.

A spacious hall that could accommodate forty or fifty people, long counters made of precious mahogany, and eight or nine servants dressed in uniform white gave it an air of grandeur.

Inside the hall, four servants in white robes were explaining something to several cultivators.

The counter was filled with all sorts of items, from the lowest-grade raw materials to common talismans, magical artifacts, and elixirs.

Li Xiuyuan smiled slightly, realizing he hadn't made the wrong choice.

As soon as I entered, a young servant in white robes approached, his cultivation level around the second stage of Qi Refining.

He approached Li Xiuyuan with a smile and said, "Fellow Daoist, what would you like to see? I can tell you. Everything in our shop will satisfy you."

"I want to sell a large quantity of pills. Can you make that decision?"

Li Xiuyuan spoke calmly through his mask.

The servant in white was taken aback for a moment upon hearing this, but after carefully observing Li Xiuyuan's aura, he realized that he wasn't joking.

Sensing a powerful aura far exceeding his own, his smile grew even more friendly; he knew he had met a very important customer today.

They quickly led Li Xiuyuan into a private room on the second floor.

The upstairs hall was completely different; it was much smaller and decorated with antique-style tables and chairs.

It has a classical charm and style, is elegant and grand, and makes people feel comfortable and happy.

An incense burner was placed in the corner of the room. It was clearly not an ordinary item. An unknown fragrance was burning inside, which made people feel comfortable.

A refined middle-aged monk was quietly savoring a cup of fragrant tea.

He appeared to have no magical power whatsoever, just like an ordinary person.

A moment of utter disbelief flashed through Li Xiuyuan's mind; anyone who didn't know better would have thought he had wandered into the study of a scholarly family.

When the person tasting the tea saw Li Xiuyuan arrive, he gently put down his teacup.

The white-clad servant who was following closely behind Li Xiuyuan quickly stepped forward and whispered a few words in his ear.

After listening, the middle-aged scholar bowed and smiled.

"I am Fu Ruhai, the manager of Wanbaoge. May I ask your name?"

"Yuanxiu," Li Xiuyuan said calmly.

"Oh, it's Brother Yuan. Please have a seat."

"Go and brew a pot of the finest Qingling tea."

The middle-aged scholar led Li Xiuyuan to sit down, and Li Xiuyuan then instructed a servant to serve tea.

"Brother Yuan, is this your first time visiting our pavilion?"

After Li Xiuyuan was seated, the middle-aged scholar spoke politely.

"Yes, Manager Fu has a good eye. This is indeed my first time visiting Wanbaoge."

Li Xiuyuan spoke in a rough voice to avoid revealing his hidden identity.

Soon a maid came upstairs carrying a tray with a teapot and several teacups.

Before she could even get close to the two of them, the refreshing aroma of tea filled the entire room.

"This is a unique spiritual tea of ​​our pavilion, which cannot be found anywhere else. Not only does it have an incomparably fragrant aroma, but it also brings joy to the mind and soul when you drink it. Brother Yuan, you may try it first."

After the maid set out the tea set, Fu Ruhai poured himself a cup and began to enjoy it.

Li Xiuyuan looked at the spiritual tea in front of him, shook his head, and said with slight dissatisfaction.

"Manager Fu, you can enjoy the tea anytime, but let's get down to business first."

"Alright, Brother Yuan, you're quite impatient. Let's get down to business. What kind of pills do you sell, Brother Yuan?"

Without saying a word, Li Xiuyuan took out a high-grade Spirit Refining Powder from his person and tossed it to Fu Ruhai.

Fu Ruhai took the medicine powder, dipped himself in it, sniffed it carefully, and his eyes lit up.

Then he put his finger in his mouth and savored it, and suddenly made a pleasant "hmm" sound.

Li Xiuyuan looked at the person in front of him with a surprised expression. Fu Ruhai came back to his senses and realized that he had lost his composure, so he quickly cupped his hands and smiled.

"I apologize for making a scene, Brother Yuan. I was so delighted with the superior quality of this medicine that I lost my composure. I hope you will forgive me."

Li Xiuyuan waved his hand and laughed, "It's nothing, Manager Fu. How about this medicine powder?"

"This Spirit Refining Powder can be described as top-grade. Its medicinal power is concentrated and does not dissipate, and it contains very little poison. I wonder how much Brother Yuan still has? I can decide to take it all."

"There's only one condition: our purchase price will be 30% higher than the market price, six spirit stones per share, and Brother Yuan will have exclusive rights to sell to our organization. How about that?"

Fu Ruhai smiled sincerely, seemingly taking this deal very seriously and determined to win it.

Li Xiuyuan remained silent, lost in thought.

After a long silence, he slowly said, "Then it'll be a pleasure to cooperate!"

He went to Shanyang Market immediately, but even if he could refine the Spirit Refining Powder, he didn't plan to continue.

After all, this item didn't have much effect on improving his cultivation level; he was just practicing in his spare time.

Li Xiuyuan handed over three hundred portions of Spirit Refining Powder to Fu Ruhai, and the two exchanged goods and spirit stones. For a time, both host and guest were happy, and the private room was filled with a pleasant atmosphere.

With 1,800 spirit stones safely in his pocket, Li Xiuyuan planned to buy some offensive and defensive items, and then asked.

Fu Ruhai was overjoyed and quickly stood up. "Brother Yuan, please wait a moment. I'll be right back."

He bowed to Li Xiuyuan and quickly went downstairs.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Manager Fu reappeared before Li Xiuyuan.

However, he now carried several brocade boxes of varying sizes.

"I have specially retrieved the most treasured items from the storeroom; all the exquisite artifacts Brother Yuan requested are here."

Manager Fu patted the brocade box and said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Li Xiuyuan's eyes lit up, and he looked with great curiosity at the contents of the brocade box.

Manager Fu placed the brocade boxes on the table one by one, and then opened them for Li Xiuyuan to examine.

The next moment, Li Xiuyuan sensed that two powerful magical forces had locked onto his every move.

Li Xiuyuan was initially startled, but then realized that this was Wanbaoge's security measure.

Just in case he suddenly tried to steal the treasure, and since he seemed to have no ill intentions towards him, he relaxed and began to value Wanbaoge's strength more.

"Flying Spirit Talisman, containing a mid-grade second-tier flying escape spell used by a Foundation Establishment cultivator at full power. It allows the user to travel ten miles in one breath, lasting for thirty breaths. Five hundred spirit stones per talisman."

"The Hundred-Mile Thunder Escape Talisman is a second-tier top-grade talisman crafted by ancient cultivators using the power of heavenly thunder. When using thunder escape, it is not locked onto by the cultivator's divine sense and can instantly teleport a hundred miles away. It costs one thousand spirit stones."

"Azure Feather Robe, a top-grade defensive magic artifact, is made primarily of the feathers of the Azure Flying Phoenix, a late-stage second-tier demonic beast, supplemented with second-tier light spirit stones. It was refined by several Foundation Establishment cultivators using the fire of the earth veins for forty-nine days. When fully activated, it can achieve a speed comparable to that of an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator at full power. It contains several defensive restrictions and can withstand most low-grade second-tier spells. Price: 2,500 spirit stones."

……

Li Xiuyuan remained silent, taking each of the talismans and magical artifacts he had his eye on and examining them closely.

He valued the flying effect of the Azure Feather Robe highly. Although it consumed a lot of mana when activated, it could provide the speed of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, which made Li Xiuyuan very interested.

This means that as long as he breaks through to the second level of body refinement, he can make up for his lack of speed by using the Azure Feather Robe.

He could confront a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator head-on in a short time, which undoubtedly increased his ground attack capabilities and self-defense ability, especially if paired with a Hundred-Mile Thunder Escape Talisman.

It can both attack and defend, and move forward and backward with ease.

"I want three Flying Spirit Talismans, one Thunder Escape Talisman, and the Azure Cloud Feather Robe."

Li Xiuyuan spoke calmly, tossing out a small cloth bag, intending to take the three treasures.

Fu Ruhai was overjoyed upon hearing this and quickly packed the things.

He handed it to Li Xiuyuan, and the two exchanged valuables and put their belongings away. Both felt they had made a profit.

Before leaving, Fu Ruhai handed Li Xiuyuan a Wanbaoge VIP token, saying that if he planned to buy anything in the future, he could enjoy a 10-20% discount simply by revealing his identity.

Li Xiuyuan smiled and nodded in agreement, but inwardly he was unsure whether it was acceptable or not.

This trip nearly emptied his savings, leaving him unable to afford such a lavish expenditure.

Moreover, he is about to be transferred to Shanyang Market and will not be returning to the sect for the next few years.

After leaving Wanbaoge, Li Xiuyuan was unwilling to stay in the market for long.

Li Xiuyuan pondered how to speed up the alchemy process and make up for his losses.

Lost in thought, he walked along, paying no attention to what lay ahead.

As you approach the entrance of Wanbaoge, a fragrant breeze greets you.

Then, as if incredibly soft mountains had enveloped her, she exclaimed, "Ah!"

A clear and melodious female voice, like the song of a nightingale, entered my ears.

Li Xiuyuan was startled and quickly took a few steps back.

Upon closer inspection, the person in front of her was a pretty young woman of about sixteen, with a shapely figure.

The person was dressed in a crimson robe with a beautifully crafted sachet hanging from his waist.

A faint, mysterious fragrance wafted into his nose, igniting a surge of passion within him.

Li Xiuyuan realized that he had been distracted and repeatedly apologized: "I was momentarily distracted and offended you, fellow Daoist. I hope you will forgive me."

The woman, with just the right amount of innocent naiveté, was about to get angry, but seeing the man's sincere apology, she smiled and said, "It's alright, it's alright. This young lady is magnanimous, so I won't blame you. You'd better be careful next time you walk, lest you bump into a Foundation Establishment level expert, or you'll be in big trouble!"

Li Xiuyuan nodded slightly and said with a smile, "Thank you for your guidance, Fairy. I will keep it in mind."

But a different feeling lingered in his heart. "Could it be like the 'Heaven and Earth Society' robbing cultivators and entrapping them?" This scene stirred up his dead memories, and he quickened his pace toward the outside of the market.

The moment he stepped out of the restricted area of ​​the market, he casually tossed the VIP token aside and immediately rode his flying sword away from the place.

Fearing being chased and killed again like last time in Yannan Market, he did not swagger towards the Blazing Fire Sect.

Instead, it plunged headlong into the remote, desolate mountains, wandered around for several days, and then flew towards the mountain gate with peace of mind.