Cultivation begins with harvest.

"Jiangang Outpost? So the cultivators came from there."

The two blended into the crowd, which gave them time to communicate telepathically. Simple spells like telepathy and purification were easy for any cultivator to master after a period of practice. Basic Five Elements spells, such as fireball, earth wall, and golden blade, were even easier to learn. Without much instruction, a cultivator could naturally master these basic spells during the cultivation process.

Therefore, this type of magic is rarely used against powerful enemies; usually, it is something that both the user and others can use.

"I didn't expect that either, but if it's a cultivator from there, it might be difficult to talk to them," Wan Longjing replied, carefully examining the name on the slip of paper given by the bulbous-nosed cultivator. "The first-level weapon refiner from the Zhao family is very busy; I wonder if I can meet him."

The chances of obtaining the sap from the wood are not very optimistic.

Sharp Ridge Outposts are a collective term for a special type of village located in the endless wilderness. Most cultivators who emerge from these outposts are fierce, ruthless, and rarely approach others. They are also a common hiding place for demonic cultivators.

Centered on Ziling Peak, to the east lies the mortal city-state, and to the west stretches the endless wilderness. This is not an exaggeration, but a true description. Even now, the extent of the endless wilderness remains unknown. There are countless opportunities within it, and one can gather rare and precious materials just by walking around. There are also countless relics, and with a little searching, one can find the ruins of some ancient sects.

Humans were not the only beneficiaries. The abundant resources also greatly benefited a terrifying number of demonic beasts, making them easy targets for cultivators and giving rise to all sorts of bizarre and dangerous calamities...

But as dangerous as it may be, so too may great opportunities lie hidden within, and countless cultivators still flock there to seek these opportunities and search for treasures.

To facilitate rest and recuperation, some cultivators tacitly gathered around the sentry posts that once monitored the endless wilderness. Over time, descendants of these cultivators emerged, and villages gradually developed around these sentry posts. In this environment where most cultivators were willing to risk their lives, those who came from the sentry posts became ruthless and pragmatic.

Because of the abundant resources in the Endless Wilderness, the number of demonic beasts has expanded. Every once in a while, the demonic beasts will launch a large-scale uprising. These outposts located on the edge of the Endless Wilderness are often clashed between individual demonic beasts fleeing from danger and groups of demonic beasts who have lost their minds in battle. Most of the cultivators born from such battles are ruthless and strong.

The two headed straight for the foot of Yunlao Mountain, where the Zhao family's shops were located. In particular, alchemists and weapon refiners were concentrated in that area. Ordinary rogue cultivators could not cultivate alchemists and weapon refiners, so when Chen Guang and his companion arrived, the place was already packed with people, mostly cultivators asking for help with alchemy and weapon refinement.

The small square outside the shops, while not so crowded that one couldn't walk through it, was certainly crowded with people every two steps and stopping every three steps.

However, the demand within the Zhao family is also considerable. The alchemists and weapon refiners of the Zhao family only take on a limited number of tasks each day. Even so, the area near the shop is still overflowing with cultivators.

The Zhao and Dongfang families are among the few places that openly advertise prices for crafting services. Some independent cultivator families also train weapon refiners and alchemists, but the specific prices are all negotiated privately and are far from cheap, so they naturally gather here.

There's only one shop here, specifically for accepting custom requests from independent cultivators for spiritual artifacts and pills. However, many independent cultivators bring what they think are precious treasures, which are actually common spiritual items, and beg for them to be crafted. When the Zhao family's craftsmen take a look, they find that it's just a standard spiritual artifact, and the secret formula is incomplete and incorrect. They're furious. So nowadays, independent cultivators basically never see the craftsman in person. Only after they've decided to accept the custom order will they meet and chat for a few minutes to determine the specific scope of crafting.

"I am an outer disciple of the Qingheng Sect. I wish to request an audience with Master Zhao Qiuyuan and hope you can introduce me," a cultivator with thick eyebrows and large eyes said loudly at the entrance of the weapon-refining shop.

The Zhao family cultivator guarding the gate returned the greeting earnestly: "Senior brother, Master Zhao is currently refining a weapon and cannot be disturbed. If you are here to refine a weapon, please wait in line. Some cultivators have been here for more than ten days. Senior brother, you can't just cut in line for no reason."

The cultivator with thick eyebrows and big eyes still wouldn't give up, and kept pestering him with a few more words. The Zhao family cultivators guarding the gate just responded politely, showing no intention of relenting.

The cultivator with thick eyebrows and big eyes still wanted to argue, but the Zhao family cultivator guarding the gate didn't give him the chance. He loudly addressed the cultivators in the shops in front of the gate: "Gentlemen, the Zhao family cultivators are, after all, shallow in foundation and limited in ability. We cannot accept the refining of very rare pills and spiritual artifacts. Secondly, please do not waste each other's time with very common spiritual items that can be found in the shops."

"I'm right here. I'll answer any questions you may have or be unsure about, but please keep order. If I skip you or ignore you, don't blame me for not reminding you."

Many cultivators immediately gathered around, bombarding the gatekeeper with questions. The gatekeeper patiently answered each one, and the thick-browed, big-eyed cultivator could only give him a helpless look and step aside.

……

Chen Guang and Wan Longjing couldn't help but sigh when they saw this scene.

The cultivator with the red nose was right. It was reasonable that the Zhao family cultivators were polite but wouldn't give ordinary Qingheng Sect disciples too many privileges. However, it had become more difficult for Chen Guang to find out about the Capturing Wood Juice.

All current intelligence points to this weapon refiner from the Zhao family, but since they can't even meet him, there's no way to continue tracking him.

"Senior brother, why don't we split up and explore the Dongdu Market while gathering more information? We can make a decision and judgment once we have a better understanding. Right now, we still know too little."

Chen Guang's telepathic communication was highly appreciated by Wan Longjing.

Wan Longjing said, "We should also pay attention to the standards that the Zhao family's weapon refiners accept forging. With your financial resources, Junior Brother, you might as well put some effort into this aspect. As long as we can meet the weapon refiner, it shouldn't be too difficult to get him to open his mouth and reveal information. At the very least, we should know which outpost he comes from. Even if we miss this opportunity now, we can still find him in the future."

"I'd like to try and see if I can buy some Qinmu juice directly from these shops. I don't believe that none of the Zhao family's shops are still operating. I'll just see how much I can actually buy."

Having come up with an idea, Chen Guang and his companion immediately split up and began to act.

Dongdu Market is very famous, and it is quite well-known among the scattered cultivator markets under the rule of Qingheng Sect. Chen Guang strolled around and found that not all of these shops and buildings belonged to the Zhao family. They were of different heights, but most of them exuded simplicity. The items displayed on the counters were all they had.

Unlike Xingfeng Market, where a single family of cultivators supplies a shop, many shops here mainly deal in only two or three main types of spiritual items. It's as if if one shop acquires a particular spiritual item, another shop will avoid suspicion.

Chen Guang suddenly realized that acquiring Qinmu juice from these shops was probably not as simple as he had thought.