Living steadily in the world of gods and mystery

Such people truly are ever-present, no matter where you go.

Fortunately, it’s only a small amount of money...

Chen Li, stifling an inexplicable anger within him, returned to the courtyard. He hadn’t sat for long when Bai Wei came to report that they were running low on medicinal ingredients for the medicinal bath and needed to purchase a batch.

With nothing pressing to do, and suffering from a headache from reading,

Chen Li informed Zhou Hong and Shu, and then stepped out the door.

The autumn rain was melancholic and carried a hint of chill. In the damp alleyway, a few cultivators hurried along the sides, their steps brisk.

The alley was very narrow.

Only about a meter in width.

Even on a rainy day, no one used an umbrella, allowing the rain to dampen their clothes.

Chen Li naturally didn’t need to worry about rain.

The cowhair-like drizzle falling from the sky would be repelled before even approaching, an invisible force bouncing it off. Not a single drop of rain touched him, and he remained spotlessly clean, dressed in a second-order high-quality moon-white robe with cloud patterns flowing like water, its mana subtly present, setting him apart as he exuded an aura both otherworldly and distinguished.

A Qi Cultivation cultivator approached head-on.

When still over ten meters away, the cultivator halted by the wall, bowed respectfully, stood with lowered hands, and made way for Chen Li to pass first.

This is a world with a clear hierarchy; the gulf between the stages of Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment might as well be a deep chasm.

...

"Fellow Daoist Chen, are you heading out?"

"Yes, I’m off to purchase some medicinal materials."

Chen Li stopped to exchange pleasantries with a Foundation Establishment cultivator he knew upon encountering him.

The man’s surname was Lyu, named Damei.

His residence wasn’t far from Chen Li’s. He was a local Loose Cultivator who normally lived by buying low and selling high as he roamed. Most of the year, he was busily hustling about.

Don’t be fooled by his seemingly honest and simple demeanor, his face always beaming with enthusiasm.

Chen Li knew well that such people were often quite dangerous.

Many times, given the opportunity, they would even take on roles as robbers and murderers.

Of course, that being said, if one were to judge by the moral and legal standards of his previous life, it would be unjust to execute all cultivators here; skipping one in an execution would absolutely result in missed culprits. Even Chen Li himself now had bloody hands and had killed countless people.

The two were merely casual acquaintances, who after exchanging some small talk, parted ways.

Chen Li took a winding path, traversing streets and alleys, and entered the familiar herb shop.

"Senior, please come in!" The shop’s greeter, upon seeing a regular customer, hurriedly came forward to welcome him.

Chen Li nodded and walked over to the counter of the herb shop.

"Fellow Daoist, your Body Refinement seems to have been successful. I fear it won’t be long before you make a breakthrough," commented the shopkeeper with a sharp eye, sizing up Chen Li in a full circle, cupping his hands with a smile.

In recent times, the changes brought about by the Immortal Muscles Jade Bones Skill to Chen Li had become more and more evident.

His skin turned soft and delicate, his pores shrinking, and his entire being seemed to be covered with a faint sheen of treasure-light.

Immortal Muscles Jade Bones was gradually living up to its name.

"Haha, I’ll take that as a good omen from the shopkeeper!" Chen Li laughed, not dwelling much on the topic, and passed over a prescription: "The medicinal materials will be at the old prices, right?"

"Ah, you should have come a few days earlier. The prices of medicinal materials have gone up—it’s the case throughout the city. There’s been some unrest at the border recently, causing many medicinal materials to be out of stock. We are just breaking even with our sales, not making any extra from you. Let me calculate the price for you..." The shopkeeper took the prescription, pulled out an abacus to tally up the cost, and explained.

Chen Li didn’t believe a word he said.

But these border troubles, they couldn’t be referring to the Returning True Sect, could they?

Ever since Bai Niao had breached the gates of the Returning True Sect, it had been a long time since Chen Li heard any news from that direction.

He wondered what the situation was like now?

"Each portion for 1,780 low-grade Spirit Stones, but since you’re a regular, I’ll give you a little discount—how about 17 mid-grade Spirit Stones per portion?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Li couldn’t help but gasp.

The price had increased by more than thirty percent.

Compared to the previous prices at Red Pillar City, this was almost a fifty percent increase compared to when he had been at the Returning True Sect.

Even though Chen Li was now wealthy, he couldn’t help but feel the pinch, "This price hike is simply too vicious!"

"There’s no helping it! However, I suspect that these high prices won’t last long. You might want to buy less for now. Perhaps after some time, the trade routes will clear up," the shopkeeper replied.

Chen Li was resigned.

He didn’t attempt to haggle, either.

This pharmacy was the most fairly priced in the city, and the quality of their materials was quite decent. Chen Li had shopped here multiple times and believed they wouldn’t deceive him:

"Let’s hope so. Then I’ll take fifteen portions!"

Fifteen portions were about a month’s supply.

"That will be 255 mid-grade Spirit Stones, a fair price."

The transaction was completed quickly. After paying the Spirit Stones and collecting the medicine, Chen Li started his return journey.

"Running a herbal business is completely profiteering nowadays," Chen Li thought as he walked, feeling somewhat tempted.

Compared to this business, his previous speculations on Magic Artifacts seemed utterly weak.

But after a moment of consideration, he decided against it.

While trading in herbs might not have the same thresholds as alchemy, it didn’t mean just anyone could do it.

The bulk supply of herbs was mostly in the hands of various large and small sects, and those who traded with them were all powerful entities. Take for example the many pill and herb shops of Red Pillar City; behind each of them stood Golden Core cultivators.

Otherwise, they would have been swallowed whole a long time ago and wouldn’t have lasted till now.

At Foundation Establishment level, Chen could count as a moderately influential force in Luoluo City, but in Red Pillar City, he was nothing.

Small ventures were still manageable, but making big money was impossible, not to mention the significant risks of travel involved.

"Forget it, I’m not short on Spirit Stones right now. I should focus on steadily improving my strength..."

...

In the following days, Chen Li divided his time between his Qi Cultivation and researching Arrays.

He started by exploring the most basic Yin Yang Five Elements Gathering Spirit Array. Through constant experimentation and validation with the Array knowledge he had learned, his skill in crafting formations improved rapidly and dramatically each day.

During this period, he also discovered more wonderful uses for the Fortune Seeking and Disaster Avoiding Skill.

The Fortune Seeking and Disaster Avoiding Skill was a divination Spell.

Whenever it was activated, it would mystically sense fortune and misfortune, avoiding disasters and giving him a profound and mysterious guidance. And with the Max Level Fortune Seeking and Disaster Avoiding Skill, its power was incomparably stronger than the initial version. It was no longer limited to sensing misfortune and avoiding disaster.

It now helped cultivate the "good" and avoid the "bad."

Seeking the better outcome and steering clear of the worse.

In the process of crafting Formations, this Spell granted Chen Li guidance as if from above, an almost divine assistance.

This divine assistance wasn’t limited to crafting Formations alone; it was evident in many aspects. For instance, when drawing the Water Element Talisman, his success rate without activating the Fortune Seeking and Disaster Avoiding Skill was only about twenty to thirty percent. But with the Skill activated, the success rate could jump to as high as fifty to sixty percent.

To Chen Li’s delight, the proficiency level of his Water Element Talisman also surged dramatically.

The Fortune Seeking and Disaster Avoiding Skill was truly a universal auxiliary Spell.

This made Chen reconsider many of the First Order Spells he had previously deemed useless, especially the auxiliary ones.

Now with his Phantom Skill, leveling up these low-grade Spells was hardly any effort at all.

He planned to set aside some time to sort through the books in his storage bag and give them a good read. Even if he didn’t learn them, he could at least broaden his knowledge and be well-informed.