Crowds swarmed the cobblestone street, surging toward the tavern like a tide to witness the excitement.

Han Yu stepped away from the flow and approached a storefront bearing a plaque inscribed with “Hundred Herb Pavilion.”

A medicinal fragrance wafted through the half-open doors, mingling with the faint, acrid scent of scorched herbs from alchemical fires. The aroma was slightly pungent yet peculiarly invigorating.

“Customer, are you here to sell Spirit Plants or purchase pills?”

A middle-aged cultivator with a goatee emerged from behind the counter. Dressed in blue robes, he was unmistakably an Outer Disciple of Wanchun Valley.

He sized Han Yu up with a smile. “A fellow disciple from our Wanchun Valley, I see. Not some outsider pretending to be one of us by donning grey robes, are you?”

Han Yu raised an eyebrow. “Would anyone dare pull such a stunt right at the foot of Wanchun Valley?”

“Pretending to be a Laborer Disciple carries the lowest cost,” the goateed cultivator explained. “Throw on the grey robes, and you’re eighty percent convincing. Take them off, and no one recognizes you.”

He paused, then asked, “So, what are you buying? Or selling?”

Han Yu placed the Spirit Blood Vine on the counter.

The goateed cultivator nodded, showing no surprise. A faint green light flickered at his fingertip as he tapped the vine. “Approximately three years old. The roots are well-preserved. Useful for enhancing physical strength. Valued at one Spirit Stone.”

One Spirit Stone?

Han Yu was taken aback. Compared to the prices he had seen at the Bamboo Shed stalls, the Hundred Herb Pavilion’s offer was remarkably low. However, this was a legitimate establishment backed by the sect. There was zero risk of being ambushed or cheated here, so the lower price was the cost of security.

Still, one Spirit Stone could accomplish little. He would be better off keeping the vine for his own use.

Han Yu took back the Spirit Blood Vine and retrieved the Mystic Heart Fruit from his robe.

The goateed cultivator’s eyes lit up instantly. “A Mystic Heart Fruit! Now that is good stuff. Are you selling this, customer?”

“Please appraise its value,” Han Yu said.

The cultivator nodded, tapping the fruit with the same green light.

“A five-year Mystic Heart Fruit. Excellent quality. It can be used to refine Clear Heart Qi Gathering Pills.”

“What kind of pill is that?” Han Yu asked. “Is it similar to a Qi Condensation Pill?”

Seeing the shop was empty, the cultivator decided to indulge the question. “Of course not. Qi Condensation Pills are effective for the early and middle stages of Qi Refining. But for the late stages, one must use Qi Gathering Pills.”

“When a Mystic Heart Fruit is added to the refinement of a Qi Gathering Pill, it becomes a Clear Heart Qi Gathering Pill. This not only boosts cultivation but also clears the mind and calms the spirit, preventing inner demons. It is incredibly beneficial for practicing auxiliary arts like alchemy, spellcraft, and artifact forging.”

He turned and retrieved a fragrant wooden box, placing it next to the fruit. “Well? Fifteen Spirit Stones. Do we have a deal?”

Han Yu’s heart skipped a beat. He hadn’t expected the fruit to be worth fifteen Spirit Stones. That was equivalent to fifteen Qi Condensation Pills! Consuming the fruit raw only provided the spiritual energy of three pills, yet its unique mental clarity properties allowed it to fetch such a premium.

If sold on the black market, it might fetch even more.

“I am inclined to sell,” Han Yu said. “But Spirit Stones aren’t of much use to me right now. I’d prefer to trade for items directly. Is that possible here?”

“We can exchange for pills or other herbs. Otherwise, it’s Spirit Stones only. If you want other goods, take the stones and buy them elsewhere,” the cultivator replied.

Han Yu nodded, accepting the terms. “If I wanted to learn about identifying Spirit Herbs… do you sell anything like that?”

The goateed cultivator chuckled. He carefully sealed the Mystic Heart Fruit inside the wooden box, then pulled a grey Jade Slip from the Storage Bag at his waist. He placed it on the counter alongside ten Spirit Stones.

“Common Spirit Plant Illustrations and Knowledge, plus ten Spirit Stones. That should suffice, correct?”

Han Yu was delighted. He quickly swept up the Jade Slip and the stones. “Agreed!”

Realizing how cumbersome it was to carry loose items, he asked, “Senior Brother, how much does a Storage Bag cost?”

The cultivator stroked his beard and laughed. “Roughly… five Mystic Heart Fruits will get you one.”

Around seventy-five Spirit Stones?

Han Yu clicked his tongue inwardly but accepted the logic. A Storage Bag offered convenience and secrecy; it was the ultimate tool for a cultivator on the move.

Transaction complete, Han Yu prepared to leave. Suddenly, he heard panting at his heels.

He looked down to see the white Spirit Dog standing behind him.

The girl in crimson robes, Zhong Yue, trotted into the shop. She scooped the dog up by the scruff of its neck and grinned at the shopkeeper. “Senior Brother Yang, did you see the commotion outside?”

“The tavern posted the predicted top ten lists for the Inner and Outer Disciples. Even the mortals are crowding around to watch!”

Senior Brother Yang chuckled. “You little girl, why aren’t you out there watching? Don’t you love a spectacle?”

Zhong Yue smirked. “Those people are just blindly following the herd. When I enter the Outer Sect and take first place, they’ll be shoving each other just to see me.”

“Hah! That’s the spirit!” Yang laughed.

Zhong Yue nodded, then glanced at the dog in her arms. Seeing it still staring at Han Yu, she looked puzzled. “What should I call you, Junior Brother? Did we meet in the Bamboo Shed Area earlier?”

“Yes.”

“That’s strange. My Spirit Dog loves the scent of Spirit Herbs. It ran to your feet both times. Could it be that you have—”

“Zhong Yue, hold your tongue!” Senior Brother Yang barked, his face darkening instantly.

“Prying into another’s secrets is the greatest taboo! If you encounter someone with a vicious temper, that question could cost you your life. Remember: disaster comes from the mouth!”

“Alright, alright, Senior Brother Yang, I was wrong!” Zhong Yue shrank back, then offered Han Yu an apologetic smile. “Junior Brother, I apologize to you too!”

She grabbed a handful of Moon Gazing Herbs from her basket and thrust them toward him. “Take this as my apology gift!”

Han Yu, already juggling Spirit Stones and a Jade Slip, struggled to accept the herbs.

Zhong Yue rummaged behind the counter and tossed him a large cloth sack. “Here, take this too. Don’t be shy!”

Seeing her sincere demeanor, Han Yu didn’t refuse. He accepted the sack, stowed his ten Spirit Stones, the Jade Slip, and the Spirit Blood Vine inside, and then took his leave.

Zhong Yue watched him go, smiling. “That Junior Brother is young, but he carries quite a few treasures. I forgot to ask his name.”

Senior Brother Yang sighed helplessly, tugging at his goatee. “Zhong Yue, you really need to be careful. The Green Grain Market and Wanchun Valley are relatively peaceful, so asking fellow disciples isn’t a death sentence. But if you were outside and pried like that, you’d be a corpse before you hit the ground!”

Zhong Yue nodded, unfazed. “I know, I know… By the way, Senior Brother Yang, you’ve been in the Outer Sect for years. Why don’t you try for the top ten?”

Yang sighed. “My time has passed. I’ve achieved nothing significant. How could I have the face to embarrass myself on stage? Besides, if an Outer Disciple in the top ten is over forty, the Deacons intervene.”

The two continued to chat, watching the surging crowd outside, each lost in their own thoughts.