Gateway of Immortality-Chapter 826: High-Grade Spirit Stone
Alchemist Yi studied Qin Sang. They had never exchanged blows, so it was impossible to tell from appearance whether Qin Sang had practiced body cultivation.
He was inwardly surprised that Qin Sang not only possessed such high cultivation, but was also practicing both art and body cultivations. This kind of talent was truly remarkable, and it seemed he had not misjudged him before.
Qin Sang knew it was impossible to hide this from Alchemist Yi, so he nodded. "I was not a body cultivator before, but I encountered a bottleneck in my cultivation and saw no hope of breaking through, so I had to look for another path. Trying the body cultivation route is out of necessity, hoping it might lead to some breakthrough. Daoist Yi truly lives up to the title of a great alchemist, possessing such broad knowledge that you could immediately identify the effects of these rare herbs."
"I only happened to come across them while looking through the records..." Alchemist Yi said.
Then he took out an ancient scroll and handed it to Qin Sang. "Daoist Qin, see for yourself. These two rare herbs are recorded here. The Scorpion Venom Grass contains fierce poison, and refining the body with such poison makes its potency even more overbearing than the Tyrant Blood Fruit. Both are herbs as fierce as tigers and wolves. Without the suppressing force of demon race bloodlines, at best one’s body would be crippled, and at worst the violent poison would kill on the spot. Even human body cultivators cannot take it lightly. You would do well to be cautious."
Qin Sang thanked him, took the scroll, and examined it carefully.
While Qin Sang was reading, Alchemist Yi continued, "Strictly speaking, these two herbs are not both demon fruits. The Azure Reed Root’s medicinal energy is relatively mild and is recorded among our human race as the Maoshan Vine. It can be refined into a pill that strengthens the tendons and bones and increases physical strength, though it is somewhat mediocre. However, the Azure Reed Root’s true potential is greater than that, but only the demon race can fully absorb it. In our refining process, much of its medicinal power is lost."
The scroll recorded more than just these demon fruits, and Qin Sang committed all of it to memory before returning the scroll to Alchemist Yi.
"Daoist Yi, have these three rare herbs ever appeared in Canglang Sea before?"
Alchemist Yi thought for a moment. "In my memory, there was once a Maoshan Vine auctioned in the marketplace. It was said the seller had found it by chance in the Demonic Sea, but it did not fetch a high price. As for who the buyer was, there is no way to find out now. That was the only time. As for the Scorpion Venom Grass, I have never heard of it."
It seemed that gathering all the rare medicines would be no easier than finding the site of the Star Essence Infusion. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖
Qin Sang showed a pensive look and could only ask Alchemist Yi to help keep watch. After chatting a while longer, Qin Sang rose to take his leave.
Afterwards, Qin Sang visited the shopkeepers he had known before, and unexpectedly, he gained some useful news.
One shopkeeper told him that someone possessed a fire-based high-grade spirit stone, but the trade requirement was extremely demanding. It had to be exchanged for a rare herb that could purge the Malevolent Demonic Qi from the primordial spirit.
If the herb was good enough, the owner was willing to add a sum of low-grade spirit stones as well.
High-grade spirit stones were rare, but for most Core Formation cultivators, they were not essential. Unless one founded a sect and had a protective array of great power, there was little need for high-grade spirit stones.
Few, like Qin Sang, had an urgent need for them.
On the other hand, such herbs that could purge Malevolent Demonic Qi were extremely effective for most human Core Formation experts who had broken through using the Malevolent Demonic Pill.
Over the years, these herbs had grown ever more scarce, and their price had risen sharply. The man in question had only one high-grade spirit stone and could only wait for the right opportunity to trade it for such a rare herb.
Hearing this, Qin Sang remembered that he did indeed have a Golden Orchid Grass.
This Golden Orchid Grass had been taken from Du Han after killing him in Xijiang. Since then, he had never had a chance to use it. Even when he had been short of funds for a time, he would not sell such a treasure for money.
Whether such a trade was worthwhile depended entirely on his own judgment.
Qin Sang urgently needed a high-grade spirit stone, and the Golden Orchid Grass was not worth an exorbitant amount in itself. He agreed to the exchange immediately and asked the shopkeeper to contact the man.
While enjoying a cup of tea in the shop, Qin Sang waited until the shopkeeper returned with a man.
Seeing him, Qin Sang was slightly speechless. All for a single herb, the man wore a black robe and a hood, both items capable of concealing his aura. He was even more cautious than Qin Sang had been in his earlier days.
"Is the Golden Orchid Grass in your possession a mature one?" The man’s voice was hoarse, clearly disguised.
"Yes!" Qin Sang did not waste words, taking out a jade box and handing it to the man.
After a thorough inspection, the man finally confirmed it and carefully took out a Mustard Seed Pouch, handing it to Qin Sang.
Qin Sang took out the high-grade spirit stone. A wave of heat rushed at him, and he could sense the pure fire-elemental spiritual qi within. His face lit up with joy as he looked at the man. "It is indeed a high-grade spirit stone. Do you have any more? Any element will do, and the conditions can be yours to set."
"You are in great need of high-grade spirit stones, it seems. Unfortunately, I only have this one. Since you have no objections to this trade, I will take my leave." The man was brisk and straightforward, turning to leave immediately.
Qin Sang was slightly taken aback, then paid the shopkeeper his fee and left as well. When he stepped outside, the man in the black robe was already gone.
"I now have only three high-grade spirit stones in hand. Fully refining the black iron column will require at least four high-grade spirit stones, and I must reserve two more for the ancient teleportation array. That means I still need to find three more. Fortunately, their elemental attribute does not matter, or it would be even harder." Qin Sang pondered as he walked.
Not long after he left, in a secret room inside the shop, the man in the black robe had returned, idly playing with the Golden Orchid Grass in his hand, as though he cared little for it. The shopkeeper stood respectfully before him.
"To think he would part with such a herb, he must truly be desperate for high-grade spirit stones. The only question is how deep his appetite runs..." the man spoke in a calm tone.
The shopkeeper nodded quickly. "It is indeed hard to find high-grade spirit stones right now. I hear the Demonic Sea has been in turmoil lately, and the mines the two races worked so hard to find have been taken over by the demon race. It will only get harder in the future. This man has been searching for them before. Then, whether he was in seclusion or elsewhere, he disappeared for a few years and still has not obtained them. That suggests he is not from any major power and is likely a rogue cultivator, fitting the kind of person Senior Brother is looking for."
The shopkeeper added, "His cultivation is a little low, but for a supporting role he is more than enough. To be able to hire him with just a few spirit stones is not bad at all."
The black-robed man nodded. "The time is not yet right, so keep him as a backup target for now. No need to approach him in haste. Keep looking for other candidates. The more late-stage experts we have, the better our chances of success. As long as their demands are not excessive, agree to them. I came under my master’s orders, and Senior Brother will come as well. As for treasures, there will be no problem. We can certainly meet their needs."
"Uhh..." The shopkeeper smiled bitterly. "There are not many late-stage experts among rogue cultivators. Most have already been recruited by major powers. I can only do my best..."
While they spoke in secret...
Qin Sang had left the market, winding his way through several alleys before arriving at the courtyard he had purchased earlier. Inside the barrier, he saw a Sound Transmission Talisman locked in place. During his absence, Madam Liu had contacted him.
