Purchasing Pills

"Junior, what you said made a lot of sense. This time, the Noble Lady Cream was only because I needed to raise my strength quickly to deal with the Class vs. Class Competition. From now on, I absolutely can't keep delaying my cultivation like this. After all, only one's own strength is true strength."

Hao Meng nodded in agreement with Ling Mu's plan. His experiences over the past five years had made him understand even more clearly that a cultivator's strength was what truly mattered.

After seeing Hao Meng off, Ling Mu held the thick stack of Cangyun Gold Notes in his hand. This was wealth that many ordinary families could never obtain in a lifetime, yet for him, it was only enough to exchange for a few pieces of equipment and pills. It showed just how enormous the consumption of resources was on the path of cultivation. Without the support of a powerful sect or Lineage, one simply could not take a single step forward. This was also an important reason why Rogue Cultivators could never become the mainstream of the Immortal Realm.

Skillfully linking his consciousness to the Simulation System, Ling Mu opened the shop interface. After exchanging the corresponding amount of gold coins, he swiftly redeemed the three pieces of equipment he had selected earlier.

The White Tiger Glazed Gauntlets, Marauder Wisteria Armor, and the most mysterious Radiant Mercury Belt.

These top-tier pieces of equipment, which Ling Mu had once not even dared to hope for, now lay quietly before him. Meanwhile, half the stack of gold notes in his hand had already been spent.

"Money really burns away fast. Forget it—so long as Senior can win this time, it'll all be worth it."

After storing the three pieces of equipment in the Simulation System's warehouse, Ling Mu left the courtyard. Next, he needed to prepare the pills Senior Hao would need in battle. This, too, was key to supporting their victory in the Class vs. Class Competition.

As the largest commercial port of the Cangyun Empire, Qinglan City received vast quantities of goods from the inland every day, all packed and ready for departure here. Its unique geographical position and urban function had created the largest and busiest market in the entire empire—Qinglan Market.

In this market, merchants from the four seas and every corner of the land gathered each day. Here, one could buy anything from anywhere on this continent. Not only were there goods produced by the Cangyun Empire, but specialties from powers such as the Immortal Kingdom of Penglai and the Black Demon Islands could also be found here. This was a merchant's paradise, and likewise one of the places cultivators loved to frequent most.

Trade in natural medicinal herbs and all kinds of pills was also a major part of Qinglan Market. Among them, Hundred Herbs Hall had the most complete selection and the fairest prices, making it the first choice for countless cultivators in Qinglan City.

The Hundred Herbs Hall branch in Qinglan City was a three-story building. Its resplendent square pavilions and corridors, paired with exquisitely carved crimson pillars and decorated rafters, made every tiered terrace and stacked pavilion broad and luminous from all directions. Its antique elegance was threaded with lingering immortal aura, and simply standing within it made one feel refreshed, at ease, and utterly comfortable.

At that moment, Ling Mu was repeatedly browsing the neatly lined counters in the main hall. The dazzling, comprehensive assortment of pills made this novice, who had only just resumed cultivating, see black before his eyes.

"Careless, too careless. How are there so many varieties of pills? How am I supposed to know what to buy for Senior Hao?"

Just as Ling Mu was at his wits' end, a crisp and pleasant voice, like the song of an oriole, drifted over.

"Brother Ling Mu, is that you? Why are you here?"

Following the voice and turning around, Ling Mu saw a face blooming like a flower. The girl before him was thirteen or fourteen years old, dressed in a light-yellow linen dress. Her glossy black hair was tied in a simple ponytail, and her wheat-colored skin brimmed with youthful vitality.

If Lin Qingzhu's beauty was that of an immortal maiden untouched by mortal dust, elegant and transcendent, then the girl before him possessed the gentle softness and unadorned sincerity of a girl next door.

"Xiaoyu, why are you here?"

Ling Mu swiftly recalled everything he knew about the girl before him. His predecessor had spent years aiding the poor in the slums north of the city, and Xiaoyu's family was one of those he had helped. Not only had he arranged jobs for her parents at Twin Phoenix Tower, but he had also discovered that the then ten-year-old Xiaoyu possessed cultivation talent and entrusted someone to send her to Cangyun Academy to cultivate.

"Our academy happens to be on break right now, so I found a part-time job here at Hundred Herbs Hall. I can help support the Household and save a little for next year's tuition. After all, our academy charges fifty Cangyun Coins every year."

The moment Xiaoyu saw Ling Mu, her eyes sparkled like stars. The young man before her had pulled her from the mire of fate, and every transformation in her life had come through him.

"That's perfect, Xiaoyu. I happen to want to purchase a batch of pills for a friend, but you know that I gave up cultivation for many years. I know nothing about all these different pills. Hurry and help me pick some out."

Xiaoyu's appearance was like sweet rain after a long drought to Ling Mu, solving his greatest problem in one stroke.

"No problem, Brother Ling Mu. Don't underestimate me. I haven't worked here long, but I've already memorized all three thousand-plus varieties of pills sold inside and outside Hundred Herbs Hall."

Xiaoyu was naturally intelligent and possessed exceptional comprehension. She was a rare cultivation prodigy. Even Ling Mu, after adding five points to his Spiritual Talent, did not dare claim he could surpass her in comprehension. To the girl, who never forgot anything she had seen, the names and properties of three thousand kinds of pills were merely a piece of cake.

"I need a large quantity of pills that can replenish qi and blood during battle, as well as fast-acting healing pills, and also... also..."

Ling Mu rattled off roughly a dozen kinds of pills, but when he thought them over again, he realized that many were unnecessary. Only then did he recognize that he truly knew nothing about pills. Picking at random like this, he simply could not find the pills that would genuinely help Senior Hao.

"Brother Ling Mu, you've named so many, but many of them overlap. How about this? Tell Xiaoyu about your friend's situation, and I'll help choose suitable pills for him. What do you think?"

Seeing Ling Mu's embarrassed expression, Xiaoyu could not help giggling. When had her Brother Ling ever been in such an awkward state?

"Alright. Actually, this is what happened... So I need a batch of pills to support him in accomplishing the feat of fighting ten opponents in a row."

In his predecessor's memories, Xiaoyu had been one of the few people most worthy of trust. Thus, Ling Mu now felt completely at ease telling her about the Class vs. Class Competition plan, hoping she could offer advice and suggestions on choosing pills.

"I understand, Brother Ling Mu. I know a little about Qinglan Academy's Class vs. Class Competition. To carry out your plan, you'll need to make thorough preparations in terms of pills. I roughly know what to choose, but these pills are valuable to begin with, and you need quite a lot of them..."

Xiaoyu looked at Ling Mu, seeming to want to say something but stopping herself. Over the years, she had also learned that Ling Mu did not have an easy life in the Ling Household. Even the little monthly allowance he received was spent on helping Twin Phoenix Tower and the slums.

"Don't worry. Your brother has money now. Here, this is a gold note worth one hundred thousand Cangyun Coins. Take it and purchase the pills first. If it isn't enough, ask me for more."

Under Xiaoyu's dumbfounded gaze, Ling Mu pulled out a thick stack of gold notes and boldly stuffed it into her hands. Though it was a crude display of wealth, Ling Mu had only one word in his heart at that moment.

"Awesome!"

After drinking the third pot of Jade Luo Spirit Tea at Hundred Herbs Hall in the private waiting room, Xiaoyu finally hurried in with a middle-aged man.

"Young Master Ling, this humble one is the manager of this shop, Wang Fugui. You honored our little establishment with your presence—why didn't you inform us beforehand? Whatever you needed, we could have delivered it directly to your residence."

"It's nothing, Manager Wang. There's no need to be so polite. I merely happened to need a batch of pills, and I also happened to meet Xiaoyu here, so I asked her to help choose them."

"Young Master Ling, this is the list of pills you require. The total comes to one hundred thousand and two thousand Cangyun Coins. I took the liberty of giving you a discount, so you only need to pay one hundred thousand. I've also credited all the sales performance to Xiaoyu. Please have a look."

Manager Wang was clearly an old hand in the trade. Not only had he discounted the pills, but he had specifically emphasized that all the performance credit went to Xiaoyu. Normally, ordinary employees had to split their performance with their supervisors. By doing this, he was clearly eyeing Ling Mu's status and wealth, intending to build a connection with him.

Ling Mu understood at once. He also noticed Xiaoyu blinking at him from the side, so he deliberately returned her glance.

When Manager Wang saw this scene, he became even more convinced that the second young master of the city lord's Household had an unusual relationship with this commoner girl under his employ. He secretly resolved to look after Xiaoyu even more in the future.

"Then, Young Master Ling, please take your time looking it over. If there is anything on the list you don't understand, simply call for me."

Seeing that Ling Mu had no other instructions, Manager Wang tactfully withdrew from the room and closed the door behind him.

"Brother Ling Mu, hurry and take a look. I carefully selected all of these pills according to your friend's condition."

Only then did Ling Mu turn his gaze to the list before him. On the three-foot sheet of white paper were densely written more than a dozen pill names and descriptions of their effects, all exceedingly detailed. Every line and character carried Xiaoyu's heartfelt care, and Ling Mu's heart warmed as he read them.

Golden Crow Qi Replenishing Pill, one hundred pills. Rapidly replenishes qi and blood; suitable for continuous combat.

Yellow Dragon Blood Coagulation Pill, fifty pills. A superior healing medicine that quickly stops bleeding and accelerates recovery from physical injuries.

Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng Pill, ten pills. Can temporarily strengthen the meridians.

Primordial Origin Immortal Pill, one pill. Can draw forth all the primordial qi within the dantian; suitable for a final strike when one has smashed the cauldrons and sunk the boats.

More than a dozen kinds of pills—every one of them was extremely suitable for prolonged, high-intensity battle. Even every possible unexpected situation had been taken into account in this pill list.

"Xiaoyu, thank you. Without you, I wouldn't even know how to choose these pills. Now our Profound Tier Class has an even better chance of winning."

Putting away the pill list, Ling Mu sincerely thanked the girl before him. Her appearance had truly helped him fill in the final piece of the map needed to create a miracle.

After bidding Xiaoyu farewell and instructing Manager Wang to deliver the pills to the academy, Ling Mu left Hundred Herbs Hall as well. Now everything was ready; all that remained was to wait for the academy competition to begin.

Flecks of sharp light gleamed in Ling Mu's eyes. This was the first time since crossing over that he had desired victory so intensely. The evening breeze lifted the young man's long hair, and his figure beneath the setting sun gradually grew tall, until it stood upright between heaven and earth.