It was another early morning.
Roosters crowed brightly, mist rose, and a long dragon-like queue had already formed outside the old woman's pancake stall at the street corner.
"Another beautiful morning!"
Zhao Huai got out of bed, yawned, and stretched lazily.
Then he glanced at the snow-white jade-like back beside him, along with the faint sound of breathing.
He could not help but chuckle. They had engaged in deep exchange until very late last night; she must have been exhausted.
After getting dressed and washing up, Zhao Huai opened the pawnshop, flipped the sign to "Open," bought breakfast at the street corner—two meat buns and an egg—and picked up a portion for his wife as well.
Then he headed out.
He still had quite a few things to take care of today.
He first went to a medical clinic in East ElmLane Alley next door. Before even entering, he called out loudly, "Brother Yan, I've come to see you!"
Yan Jing, known as Better than Yama, emerged from the pharmacy with a smile, still holding a medicinal herb in his hand.
"Oh, it's Brother Zhao. With a lovely wife at home, it isn't easy for you to make a trip here. What wind has blown you over?"
"Pah! Stop talking nonsense. Our relationship isn't like that." Zhao Huai looked disgusted as he reproached him.
"Tell me, what do you need my help with this time? You brat never visits the Three Treasures Hall without a reason. Do you think I don't know you?"
Yan Jing laughed and cursed, seeing right through Zhao Huai.
"Help me identify what medicine is inside this bottle."
Zhao Huai took a porcelain bottle out of the Mysterious Ring.
It was one of the items that had come out together with the sheepskin scroll and the unknown Treasure Sword.
Only after cultivating the sheepskin scroll had he discovered it was the Three Thousand Thunder Talisman Secrets.
Only after using the unknown Treasure Sword had he realized it was a magical treasure.
Therefore, he had a feeling that the medicine in this bottle would not be simple either.
That was why he had brought it over for appraisal early in the morning.
There were indeed many alchemy shops of every sort in Jinzhou, but he did not trust them much.
These days, there were countless scandals involving unscrupulous alchemists making counterfeit pills, cheating customers on quantity, and skimming medicinal ingredients.
Yan Jing, however, was not merely a physician. In secret, he was also a proper professional alchemist, ranked eighth grade and holding multiple roles.
He might not be able to refine especially precious pills, but he could at least recognize most kinds of medicinal pills.
Professionals were better than amateurs. To Zhao Huai, all pills looked much the same—just brown mud pellets.
Yan Jing took the porcelain bottle, pulled out the stopper, gently fanned the scent toward himself with his hand, and sniffed. His brows immediately furrowed tightly.
"Wait a moment."
Then he entered the pharmacy and began studying it in muffled silence.
While waiting, Zhao Huai did not sit idle either.
He took out a translucent Jade Slip from the Mysterious Ring and began studying it.
It was the Soul-Subduing Mind Technique that he had fought four masked men for at yesterday's auction.
Although he still had not figured out where those four fiends had gone, the technique was now in his hands, so why bother caring so much? They were probably minor demons who did not dare cause trouble openly in the human world.
He poured True Qi into the Jade Slip, and lines of tadpole-like tiny characters appeared. The vast blocks of dense text alone were enough to discourage anyone.
Then there was the content itself, obscure and profound. Ordinary people would find it exceedingly difficult to understand.
But Zhao Huai was different. The fate attribute of the Heavenly Heart Wisdom Eye quietly activated, and it seemed as though a glimmer of light had appeared in his eyes.
It allowed him to see through the obscure words before him.
Rather than calling it the Heavenly Heart Wisdom Eye, it would be more fitting to describe it as quantum speed-reading.
Zhao Huai only read for a short while before grasping the theory and purpose of the Soul-Subduing Mind Technique.
The Soul-Subduing Mind Technique was, in truth, a spiritual cultivation method that integrated offense and defense.
Beginners could form a protective barrier within their sea of consciousness. Once proficient, they could use spiritual force to intimidate all external enemies. Upon reaching great mastery, they could form terrifying pressure.
Calling it "Soul-Subduing" was certainly fitting.
As for why this technique had attracted the attention of demons, Zhao Huai had no idea.
In an instant, Zhao Huai began attempting to construct a proper spiritual barrier in his mind.
This would prevent enemies from directly invading the sea of consciousness in his mind and attacking it.
It was not as difficult as he had imagined. Zhao Huai completed the first step at once.
The second step was to release his powerful spiritual force and form it into a great net that could attack. However, in terms of spiritual strength alone, Zhao Huai was still lacking somewhat.
He reckoned that once he broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, he would be able to do it easily.
"Brother Zhao, tell me honestly. Where did you get this medicine?"
After some time had passed, Yan Jing's voice finally sounded from the pharmacy.
However, there was something off about Yan Jing's expression. He looked extremely serious.
"I bought it from the pawnshop, just taking a gamble. What's wrong?"
Seeing his expression, Zhao Huai's heart skipped a beat. Could it be some lowly poison?
"You gambled right!"
Only then did Yan Jing reveal a brilliant smile.
"Don't scare me like that."
Zhao Huai finally let out a breath of relief and hurriedly asked, "What medicine is in there?"
Yan Jing smiled faintly. "They're all good things. This porcelain bottle contains several different kinds of medicine. Watch closely."
He poured out the pills and explained them one by one.
"This large, fragrant pill is called a Gathering Essence Pill. It can increase the True Essence within a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator's body and greatly enhance magical power."
Zhao Huai frowned upon hearing that. "But I haven't reached Foundation Establishment yet. It's no use to me for now."
"Don't be so hasty." Yan Jing chuckled and poured out a second pill, crystalline and translucent, with gilded patterns.
It seemed to be wrapped in a hazy layer of mist, looking quite extraordinary.
"What is this?"
Zhao Huai could not help asking.
A sharp glint flashed in Yan Jing's eyes as he enunciated each word.
"Foun-da-tion Establishment Pill."
"Foundation Establishment Pill?"
Zhao Huai's eyes suddenly lit up.
He immediately grabbed the gilded pill before him, held it in his palm, and examined it closely.
As everyone knew, with a Foundation Establishment Pill, one could smoothly break through into the Foundation Establishment Realm.
But Foundation Establishment Pills were priceless and unavailable on the market. No amount of money could buy one.
Foundation Establishment Pills were refined from thirty-one kinds of precious spirit herbs and medicinal ingredients, including jade marrow mushrooms, purple monkey flowers, and Heavenly Spirit Fruits.
Only legitimate great immortal cultivation sects and high-level alchemists could refine them.
Yet immortal cultivation sects had an iron rule: they absolutely did not meddle in the affairs of the Mortal World. Thus, Foundation Establishment Pills rarely made their way outside.
Whenever even one appeared, it would provoke a mad scramble throughout the Mortal World! After all, having a Foundation Establishment Realm expert meant a qualitative transformation for any aristocratic clan or powerful household.
"It's actually a Foundation Establishment Pill. Then this transaction was truly worthwhile."
Zhao Huai said with a smile.
He felt that merely obtaining one Foundation Establishment Pill had already surpassed everything else.
"It isn't over yet."
Yan Jing chuckled, then brought out the other pills one after another.
"Greater Spring Return Pill. A spirit medicine with miraculous effects on both internal and external injuries. No matter how severe the injuries may be, taking one pill might not bring the dead back to life or heal the wounds instantly, but it can greatly alleviate the injuries and preserve one's life."
"Qi and Blood Pill. It can replenish a large amount of qi and blood. It is generally taken immediately after fighting with depleted blood essence."
"Spirit Detoxification Pill. It can cure over a hundred poisons. For ordinary poisons, merely taking a sip of water steeped with the pill will bring immediate results. Taken directly, it can neutralize even the fiercest poison."
"Mind Calming Pill. After taking it, one can dispel distracting thoughts and achieve unity of mind and spirit. It is generally taken before entering seclusion."
After finishing the introductions, Yan Jing put all the pills back into the porcelain bottle and tossed it to Zhao Huai. "That is roughly all the types. There is also one scarlet pill that even I cannot identify. You can study it slowly yourself later."
Holding the pills, Zhao Huai could not stop smiling.
This time, he had truly struck it rich. His pill supply was fully stocked now, and for the short term, he basically would not need to worry about medicinal pills.
Yan Jing looked at Zhao Huai's expression, curled his lips, and complained, "How many Foundation Establishment cultivators did you rob? How could any normal person possibly sell so many precious pills to you, unless he were a fool?"
"Wasn't he just a fool?"
Zhao Huai smiled faintly and said no more.
"Make way! Make way!"
"Don't block the road!"
At that moment, shouts from outside the clinic, along with the creaking sound of wheels crushing over the road, drew both men's attention.
Zhao Huai focused his gaze and saw a line of heavily loaded merchant carts passing by. The wooden carts were wrapped tightly, without even the slightest gap.
A large number of armed escorts surrounded the caravan. By the look in their eyes, every one of them was a ruthless sort. Their weapons and equipment were excellent, clearly indicating that they were no small matter.
Zhao Huai thought to himself, This caravan looks awfully strange. What are they transporting? Could it be something that cannot see the light of day?
Before you continue