The Value of Pills

With the participation of the major sects and cultivation families, the rogue cultivators held little hope of finding treasures at Lingyun Sect tomorrow. Instead, they placed greater importance on the market currently laid out before them. That was why the square was already so bustling early in the morning.

Lin Xuan's main objective was an intermediate-grade cultivation technique containing the Spirit Control Technique. Such a crude stall could not possibly be selling one, so he was in no hurry. With the mindset of learning the market prices and broadening his horizons, he strolled about at a leisurely pace.

Sure enough, although rogue cultivators generally practiced inferior techniques and were mostly only at the second or third layer of the Spirit Movement Stage, Lin Xuan's current cultivation was already considered quite decent. They could not produce anything particularly valuable, but there were many of them. Almost every kind of item needed by low-level cultivators could be found here, opening Lin Xuan's eyes.

For instance, at one stall, Lin Xuan saw a young woman of seventeen or eighteen selling storage equipment. There was a dazzling variety: Storage Rings, Storage Bracelets, Storage Hairpins, Storage Necklaces—nearly every kind of jewelry a girl might use. From the outside, they appeared exquisitely crafted and were quite eye-catching.

There were items for men as well: Storage Belts, Storage Pouches, even Storage Boots. The array was dazzling, and Lin Xuan was drawn over too.

"Fellow Daoist, would you like to buy one? Fine goods at a fair price—two Low-Grade Marrow Cleansing Pills each."

So cheap? If Lin Xuan had not been so calculating and accustomed to keeping his emotions off his face, he might have been startled into falling over. Though he did not know much about the prices of various items in the Cultivation World, even low-level disciples of Floating Cloud Valley received two Low-Grade Marrow Cleansing Pills every month. Wasn't this price far too low?

In truth, Lin Xuan was mistaken here. Although he had once suffered countless cold stares in the sect because he lacked a Spirit Root and cultivated slowly, compared to rogue cultivators, he had actually been quite fortunate. Apart from that one occasion when Elder Ma deliberately made things difficult for him, he had always received two Low-Grade Marrow Cleansing Pills every month without issue.

After acquiring the ability to purify pills, he had an endless supply of them. Thus, Lin Xuan had never regarded such the lowest-grade spiritual medicines as particularly valuable. Yet he had forgotten that two pills a month was a benefit only sect disciples could receive.

There were simply too many rogue cultivators in this world, with no backing and no one to rely on. Sects had dedicated people responsible for refining pills, but what could a low-level rogue cultivator do? They had no ability to refine pills and could not even find medicinal herbs. Thus, although sect disciples did not receive much each month, they at least had spiritual medicines to aid their cultivation. Rogue cultivators could only rely on their own efforts.

That was why, under the same circumstances, sect disciples possessed greater cultivation than rogue cultivators. Rogue cultivators mostly lingered at the Spirit Movement Stage, and high-level cultivators among them were rare.

Of course, guidance from elders could help one avoid many detours, and sects also possessed better cultivation techniques. Those were factors as well, but the lack of pills to aid cultivation was undoubtedly the most important reason.

After all, on the path of cultivation, effort, Spirit Roots, and pills were all important. Spirit Roots and pills could compensate for one another. Take Lin Xuan, for example. He was an ordinary person, but he ate spiritual medicines as though they were meals, and his cultivation still progressed faster than that of his senior and junior brothers. The reverse was also true: a genius with an exceptionally outstanding Spirit Root could achieve remarkable accomplishments even without pills.

But where could there be so many heaven-defying geniuses in the world? Most rogue cultivators had only average aptitude, so they spent their entire lives lingering at the Spirit Movement Stage.

For that very reason, pills were treasures in the eyes of rogue cultivators and were worth a great deal. Lin Xuan only found them cheap because he viewed things from his own perspective. In fact, the price was perfectly reasonable.

"Fellow Daoist, choose one. These storage items are absolutely exquisitely made—fine goods at a fair price." Seeing Lin Xuan's apparent interest, the girl hurriedly tried to persuade him.

"May I take a look?" Lin Xuan picked up something shaped like a pouch.

"Of course."

After receiving her affirmative reply, Lin Xuan circulated his spiritual power and sent his divine sense inside. But he soon withdrew it again. Seeing his uninterested expression, the girl grew a little anxious. "What is it? Are you dissatisfied?"

"It's a little too small."

Lin Xuan spoke truthfully, though he had already been very tactful. This Storage Bag was practically trash. Its separate internal space was only one foot cubed. It was so small that it could hold, at most, some pills and talismans. A slightly larger Spirit Tool probably would not even fit.

It could not compare at all to the two pieces of equipment he had obtained from Zhou Yan and Zhang Yu. The Bracelet had storage space of roughly five square meters, while the belt had once belonged to a Foundation Establishment Realm expert. Its internal area was equivalent to an entire bedroom.

Hearing Lin Xuan call it small, the girl's face reddened. She was only at the second layer of the Spirit Movement Stage. The technique she had learned was suited to artifact crafting, so she had refined some items herself to sell. But with her weak magical power, she naturally could not produce any quality products. These storage items looked exquisite on the surface, but they were really as useless as chicken ribs. She had manned this stall for an entire day without selling a single thing.

"Fellow Daoist, please buy one. I can lower the price—one pill per item."

Lin Xuan shook his head and left without hesitation. Although he had plenty of Marrow Cleansing Pills, he was not so extravagant as to waste them. Even if he did not mind, it would easily attract attention. Lin Xuan was no great philanthropist; he would not do anything that brought him no benefit.

After leaving the girl's stall, Lin Xuan continued wandering about. He often stopped to look or ask about prices, but he bought nothing. First, although the stalls contained many items, they were either of too low a grade or useless to him. Second, Lin Xuan did not wish to make purchases casually. Since he was pretending to be a rogue cultivator, he had to act poor like one. Throwing money around would only invite trouble upon himself.

Time flowed like water, and two hours passed before he knew it. The Sun had already moved overhead, and it was time for the midday meal.

High-level cultivators could fast, absorbing spiritual energy to meet their bodies' needs. Low-level cultivators could not do that. Lin Xuan prepared to return to the Post House to replenish his strength. Although he had bought nothing, he had still gained much from this walk. At the very least, he now had a clear grasp of the market prices.

Pills were worth more than he had imagined. Even Marrow Cleansing Pills were valuable, especially Mid-Grade Pills. They would not cause a sensation, but they would definitely make people take notice.

After realizing this, Lin Xuan made a decision. The pills on him were certainly enough to buy the Jade Slip for an intermediate-grade cultivation technique, but unless it was absolutely necessary, he would never take out a Mid-Grade Pill.