Spells Grinding: From Basic Sparks to Divine Arts

Chapter 237: Material Collection

Early the next morning.

A revitalized Qin Lu walked out of the Penglai Inn and stepped onto the bustling main street.

Today, the hunt began.

He had memorized the twenty-odd ingredients listed on Fan Yueren’s pill formula the night before. The majority were botanical—various herbs and spiritual plants—while a smaller portion consisted of minerals and Demon Beast parts.

His first stop was the city’s largest apothecary.

During his stroll yesterday, he had noted a massive herbal pavilion that dwarfed anything in the White Jade Market. If the shops back home were corner stores, this place was a hypermarket.

Following his memory, he quickly located the establishment. The entrance was a hive of activity, swarming with Loose Cultivators covered in dirt and smelling of the wild. They were clearly fresh from the mountains, hauling their harvests in for trade.

Gathering herbs is safer than hunting beasts, Qin Lu noted. It makes sense that so many low-level cultivators choose this path.

He strode toward the entrance. As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he parted the crowd like a shark moving through a school of fish. The low-level cultivators stepped aside instinctively, their expressions respectful rather than resentful. In the cultivation world, the right of way belonged to the strong.

“Senior, what medicinal herbs are you looking for today?” a shop attendant asked, rushing forward to greet him the moment he crossed the threshold.

“I’m just browsing. Stay close; I’ll tell you if I see something I need,” Qin Lu replied casually.

“Understood!”

Qin Lu clasped his hands behind his back and began a leisurely stroll through the aisles, the attendant trailing respectfully in his wake.

This casual approach was calculated. Pill formulas were priceless secrets. Even if Fan Yueren hadn’t sworn him to secrecy, exposing the specific combination of ingredients for the [Du’e Pill] would be a breach of professional etiquette. By picking the herbs himself without a list, he kept the recipe secure.

As he walked, his eyes scanned the shelves. Whenever he spotted a match, he would stop.

“Pack three portions of this,” he instructed, pointing to a bundle of dried roots.

“Yes, Senior!” The attendant moved with practiced efficiency, wrapping the herbs and placing them into a wooden carrying box.

Soon, Qin Lu had secured ten of the required herbs from the general section.

“What’s the total so far?” he asked.

“Senior, the total comes to ninety-two Spirit Stones.”

Qin Lu nodded. Cheap. These were just the base ingredients. The real cost would come later.

He moved to the high-grade section. The atmosphere here was quieter, the scents more potent. He quickly located six more ingredients, but the price jump was steep—four hundred Low Grade Spirit Stones for just a handful of roots and leaves.

Sixteen down. Eight to go, he calculated silently. Four plants, two heavy metals, and two beast parts.

He continued his search for the remaining four plants in the high-grade section but came up empty. He turned to the attendant.

“Do you stock [Black Mysterious Grass], [Dark Essence Moss], [Purple Treasure Ginseng], or [Black Spirit Fruit]?”

The attendant hesitated. “Senior, we only have [Dark Essence Moss]. The others… we do not carry.”

“Oh? I didn’t see the moss on the shelf.”

“It arrived just this morning. It’s still being processed in the rear courtyard.”

“I see. Fetch me thirty qian of it.”

“Right away!”

The attendant darted off and returned moments later with a fresh box. Qin Lu inspected the dark, spongy plant and nodded.

“And the other three? When will you have stock?”

“Never, Senior,” the attendant admitted with an apologetic bow. “I’ve worked here for years, and we have never had those items in stock.”

“I see…” Qin Lu sighed. So that’s how it is.

He paid the bill—over five hundred Spirit Stones in total—and stored his haul in his Storage Bag.

Leaving the apothecary, he didn’t lose heart. Shuntian City was massive; there were dozens of other shops. On his way to the next one, he spotted a specialized Magical Artifact materials store.

He stepped inside and listed his needs. “Little friend, do you carry [Returning Treasure Jade], [Listening Rain Secret Gold], [Purple Marten Beast Fur], and [Green Tiger Listening Bone]?”

“We certainly do! We have everything!” the clerk beamed, sensing a big sale.

The transaction was smooth but expensive, costing another two hundred Spirit Stones. Now, only three ingredients remained.

Qin Lu felt a surge of optimism. Just three left. I can finish this today.

Reality, however, had other plans.

He spent the rest of the day visiting seven different apothecaries. The result was always the same: No stock. Some shopkeepers hadn’t even heard of [Black Mysterious Grass], [Purple Treasure Ginseng], or [Black Spirit Fruit].

The sun began to dip, casting long shadows across the street. Qin Lu stood on a corner, frustration gnawing at him.

“No wonder Fan Yueren gave me two weeks,” he muttered. “These three aren’t just rare; they’re practically myths.”

His collection spree had hit a hard wall.