Mortal: Fairy Song Yu has issued you a task.

Chapter 114 First Meeting with Yuan Yao

That "Yinxian Pavilion" was the designated location for the Three Immortals Sect's public recruitment of guest elders, as mentioned by the old man surnamed Jiang. They were planning to go and take a look.

The ancient teleportation array that Han Li arrived at was on an unnamed deserted island. The location of this island was unknown, and for Lin Jingchu and Song Yu alone, it was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Even if they manage to find it by chance, there are Ghost Spirit Sect disciples stationed on the other side of the teleportation array. Unless they completely destroy the teleportation array beyond repair after returning to Tiannan, this passage will eventually fall into the control of the Ghost Spirit Sect.

Since they couldn't return to Luoyun Sect for the time being, Lin Jingchu and Song Yu needed to find a place to settle down and cultivate in this Chaotic Star Sea.

Although Tianxing City, where the Star Palace is located, has a richer spiritual energy, it's also a gathering place for various forces, making it too treacherous. The two are merely Foundation Establishment cultivators with no powerful backing, and Song Yu's Heavenly Spiritual Root talent is far too conspicuous. In comparison, Kui Xing Island is a much better choice.

Song Yu nodded in agreement: "That's fine too."

The two then parted ways at the street corner. Lin Jingchu strolled along, browsing through the shops one by one.

After visiting several shops of varying sizes, his most direct impression was that, due to the vastness of the sea, the resources of sea monsters were extremely abundant, resulting in prices for various monster materials being much lower than in the southern region.

He even saw shops openly selling demon cores, which are only found in level 5 demon beasts. In Tiannan Market, you would never see such a thing unless you went to a high-level auction.

Of course, in contrast, due to the limited land area, the price of terrestrial spiritual plants is generally high.

Correspondingly, the pill formulas circulating here mostly use demon beast cores or flesh and bones as the main ingredients, supplemented by a small amount of spiritual herbs.

Because of the numerous and seemingly endless variety of sea monsters, the number of pill recipes far exceeds that of Tiannan, and the prices are also quite affordable.

"Fellow Daoist, these two kinds of spiritual pills that can quickly advance one's Foundation Establishment realm are our shop's signature products. The pill formulas are a closely guarded secret. How can we trade them so easily?" The shopkeeper of a pill shop stroked his beard and shook his head after hearing Lin Jingchu's intention to buy the pill formulas.

A glint flashed in his eyes, and he changed the subject: "However—seeing your sincerity, fellow Daoist, how about this: if you add a top-tier offensive magic weapon of equal quality, I'll take the liberty of selling you these two pill formulas at a discount!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Jingchu, without saying a word, immediately put the two wooden boxes containing magical artifacts that were placed on the cabinet back into his storage bag.

Two pill formulas for five or six thousand spirit stones? That's outrageous! Even though this top-tier magic weapon was obtained from a system quest, it shouldn't be wasted like this.

Ignoring the shopkeeper's repeated pleas from behind, "Fellow Daoist, please wait, the price is negotiable," Lin Jingchu stepped out of the "Haiyun Pill Shop" without looking back.

Just as Lin Jingchu was planning to try his luck at the next large shop.

"Fellow Daoist, please wait."

A clear, melodious female voice, like spring water striking stone, with a touch of natural gentleness, rang out from behind him, calling out to him.

Lin Jingchu stopped and turned to look.

Not far away, a female cultivator of extremely tall stature stood.

A fiery red dress clung to her curvaceous figure, her skin as white as snow, and her features strikingly beautiful. She simply stood there, attracting the attention of many passing cultivators, both overt and covert.

Seeing Lin Jingchu looking over, the woman in red smiled slightly and stepped forward with a graceful bow: "I am Yuan Yao. I noticed that you have visited several shops. It seems that this is your first time visiting Kui Xing Island. If you do not mind, I may be able to show you around and introduce the shops, which would save you some trouble of figuring things out."

Yuan Yao? She's still on Kui Xing Island right now?

Lin Jingchu was pleasantly surprised to meet new characters so quickly, but he remained outwardly calm.

He bowed slightly and said, "Your Excellency has a keen eye. I am indeed new to this place and need someone familiar with the market to guide me. But may I ask how much you charge?"

"That depends on how long you need guidance, fellow Daoist. But rest assured, fellow Daoist, I have lived on this island for decades and know a thing or two about the shops, the market, and even some hidden channels. I will definitely not let you suffer any losses." Yuan Yao covered her mouth with her sleeve, chuckled, and glanced at Lin Jingchu.

At this moment, Lin Jingchu revealed his true face, appearing as a handsome and dashing disciple of a celestial being.

Lin Jingchu pondered for a moment, then gestured with his hand: "In that case, I'll trouble you, Fairy Yuan. I do need to purchase some pills and formulas, and I'm quite interested in the local market prices for monster beast materials. Please lead the way, Fairy."

"Among the water-based elixirs used by late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators to rapidly advance their cultivation, the most famous and widely circulated is the Azure Wave Pill."

Yuan Yao walked slowly ahead, leading the way while introducing the details as if they were her own treasures.

"Although the main ingredient for refining this pill requires a level 5 demon core, the quality requirements for the demon core are not high. For example, the demon core of a 'frog-algae-bream' will suffice."

.

Frog-algae sea bream? Lin Jingchu recalled what he had seen and heard in the shops he had just visited.

Although this demon reaches level five upon adulthood, its strength is weak, possessing only simple demonic arts such as water arrows. What is noteworthy is its remarkable reproductive ability and rapid growth.

Yuan Yao continued, "It can be refined by adding a few kinds of not-so-rare marine spiritual herbs. After the pill is made, it has mild medicinal properties, abundant spiritual energy, and a high cost-performance ratio, making it highly sought after by many cultivators."

She extended a slender, jade-like finger, pointing to a magnificent five-story vermilion building with soaring eaves and intricate details on the street corner ahead: "Look, that Hai Tian Zhai over there has a stable supply. Moreover, Hai Tian Zhai is backed by the Shunfeng Merchant Alliance, one of the 'Four Great Merchant Alliances,' with businesses spanning the Chaotic Star Sea and an outstanding reputation. They don't rely solely on selling pills for profit. As long as the price is right, the pill formula is not entirely unnecessarily negotiable."

Lin Jingchu looked in the direction she pointed, and saw that the "Haitianzhai" was bustling with activity, with cultivators coming and going in an endless stream, indicating its formidable strength. "Then let's go and take a look at Haitianzhai first. Thank you for your trouble, Fellow Daoist Yuan."

Under Yuan Yao's guidance, Lin Jingchu's subsequent journey went much more smoothly. This woman was indeed very knowledgeable about the markets on Kuixing Island; she not only took him to compare prices at different shops but could also accurately point out the advantages and disadvantages of each. Even when Lin Jingchu took a liking to something, she would proactively approach the shopkeeper and haggle with him, her words sharp and her demeanor practiced.

Lin Jingchu observed coldly. Although he couldn't rule out the possibility that she might be colluding with certain shops to put on a show, after handling several transactions, whether selling his magical artifacts or purchasing the necessary pill formulas and spiritual materials, the prices were all within a reasonable range, and some were even slightly cheaper than when he had inquired about them himself. Even if she did take a small "referral fee," as long as it was generally worthwhile, Lin Jingchu couldn't be bothered to care.

After some haggling, Lin Jingchu finally purchased a formula for a pill called "Dui Ning Dan" from a shop specializing in gold-related spiritual items.

After carefully putting away the pill formula, the two stepped out of the shop. Yuan Yao, who was walking in front, suddenly changed her expression and was about to turn around and retreat back into the shop. However, it was too late.

"Oh! Isn't this the famous Fairy Yuan from Kui Xing Island? Picking up another new fellow Daoist for a stroll today?"

A rough, mocking voice rang out.

Two burly men, both dressed in short black leather jackets, walked towards the roadside. One of them had a full beard and his eyes lingered greedily over Yuan Yao's beautiful figure, his words laced with flirtatious lewdness.

Another hooded man was more direct, seemingly familiar with Lin Jingchu, and reached out to pat him on the shoulder: "Fellow Daoist, you look unfamiliar. We brothers are from the Giant Whale Gang. A word of advice, fellow Daoist: this Fairy Yuan—heh heh, her reputation isn't too good. Be careful, fellow Daoist, lest you be swindled out of your spirit stones, that wouldn't be pretty."

Lin Jingchu took a half step back without making a sound, just avoiding the palm that was slapping at him.

With a slight sweep of his divine sense, he had already discerned the cultivation levels of the two individuals—merely two early Foundation Establishment stages.

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