Picking Up Bargains and Treasure Hunting, Five Years in a Finger Snap

Leaving the Five Qi Pavilion, Chen Qing originally intended to find a shop selling Talismans, but as he passed a stall selling miscellaneous books, he suddenly stopped.

The stall was piled high with yellowed books, several incomplete cultivation methods deliberately placed in prominent positions, priced expensively. However, such methods often had fatal flaws and were not what he was looking for.

"Fellow Daoist, are you looking to browse?" The stall owner, a lean man with darting eyes, asked. "These are all ancient inheritances. Why not buy one to try? Maybe you'll find a gem?"

Chen Qing casually replied, "Do you have any records of ancient anecdotes?"

"Trying to exchange for Spirit Marrow at the Five Qi Pavilion? Too bad you're late!" The stall owner smiled knowingly and mysteriously pulled out two booklets. "Only these are left. Take them for three Spirit Marrow."

Chen Qing casually flipped through them. They were all crudely made, cobbled-together unofficial histories. Shaking his head, he was about to leave when his peripheral vision caught sight of a dusty booklet in the corner, with three faded characters on the cover.

Record of Absolute Items.

Chen Qing picked it up. It felt rough to the touch, the pages were yellow and brittle, emitting an old, musty smell.

"Yo, Fellow Daoist has sharp eyes!" The stall owner's eyes lit up, and he leaned in. "This book isn't some cultivation manual, but it records many lost treasures! Maybe they'll come in handy someday! Look at this Illusion Heart Grass..."

He pointed to a few simple yet distinct ink-line drawings on the pages, about to launch into a lengthy explanation.

"They're all lost items, what use do they have?" Chen Qing said noncommittally.

The stall owner immediately retorted, "Many things are only seemingly lost. If you find something similar, with the same medicinal properties, wouldn't that be useful? In the past, these were secret teachings not passed down! This book, one Spirit Marrow, and it's yours!"

Chen Qing closed the booklet and shook his head. "They're all lost items, completely useless. At most, one Spirit Plant for passing the time."

"Spirit Plant?" The stall owner's eyes widened. "This is a unique copy! Look at this paper, at least a few hundred years old!"

"This paper is so old, it might fall apart at any moment," Chen Qing said, making a move to put the book down.

The stall owner quickly stopped him. "Don't rush, don't rush!" He gritted his teeth and pulled out an even more tattered book from under his backside. "Add this Ancient Pill Remnant Formula, and it's one Spirit Marrow for both, how about that?"

Chen Qing took it and looked. This Ancient Pill Remnant Formula had blackened paper and tattered edges. The pill formulas recorded within were quite peculiar, using mostly unheard-of medicinal ingredients.

"These were all copied from ancient ruins!" the stall owner emphasized from the side. "Although the ingredients are hard to find, what if you happen to come across them?"

Chen Qing's heart stirred.

In the current world, the required ingredients were rare. But in the Immortal Dynasty of his dreams, perhaps these lost items still existed!

"Five Spirit Plants for both books," he said decisively.

The stall owner looked crestfallen. "Fellow Daoist, that price is too..."

Chen Qing turned to leave.

"Deal!" The stall owner grabbed him. "Let's just be friends!"

With the two incomplete scrolls in hand, both Chen Qing and the stall owner smiled.

Turning a street corner, he stopped in front of a Talisman shop.

"Fellow Daoist, want to see some newly made Talismans?" an old woman in a grey robe called out. Various colorful Talismans on the counter in front of her shimmered with light.

Chen Qing stopped to look closely.

"Newly refined Mystic Armor Talismans," the old woman said, picking up a Talisman with a flowing blue light. "It can block a full-power strike from a second-realm cultivator, and even save your life from the first blow of a third-realm cultivator!"

"How much?" Chen Qing asked directly.

"Three Spirit Marrow."

Chen Qing's eye twitched slightly. This was almost half of his day's earnings. But thinking of the potential retaliation from the Sea Abyss Temple, he gritted his teeth and said, "One."

"Fellow Daoist, you jest," the old woman shook her head. "Refining Talismans is not easy..."

"Plus one Startling Swan Talisman," Chen Qing ignored her, pointing to a Talisman with painted bird patterns.

After a round of bargaining, a battle of wits, he finally settled on one and a half Spirit Marrow.

Chen Qing tucked the two Talismans into his robes. He then spent half a Spirit Marrow to buy three "Spirit Sparrow Talismans" for warning.

Touching the talismans in his embrace, Chen Qing felt a little more at ease. Before leaving, he didn't forget to buy snacks and calligraphy practice books for his two junior nephews.

As the sun began to set, Chen Qing returned to the entrance of Lesser Yingzhou. As he reached the bridge, he was stopped by an old man in grey.

"Someone was asking about the Hidden Star Gate just now. I said I didn't know, but judging by their attire, they were likely from the Sea Abyss Temple."

Chen Qing's pupils constricted. He cupped his hands. "Thank you for the reminder."

The old man then lowered his voice. "I heard the Sea Abyss Temple has found the trace of the Floating Divine Mountain and is inviting people to explore it. You should be careful not to be implicated."

"Floating Divine Mountain?"

"It's said to be a suspended ancient peak, named Xu Yuan, that roams between heaven and earth. It arrives at the Eastern Spirit Continent once every four to five hundred years, with the South Coast being its first stop. This mountain has a long history, dating back to the Central Spirit Continent era. Legend has it that there are many treasures on the mountain, often attracting explorers."

"Thank you for the reminder, senior."

After thanking the old man, Chen Qing, while thinking that the ancient peak might hold true Central Spirit Continent inheritances, changed course to the Hidden Blade Pavilion and bought the Blood Steel Short Sword for one Spirit Marrow.

The sword had hidden patterns etched into its body, and it unsheathed silently.

"With the Mystic Armor Talisman for defense, the Startling Swan Talisman for escape, the Spirit Sparrow Talisman for warnings, and this hidden sword, even if a third-realm cultivator attacks, I should have the strength to fight! What a pity, I can't find a third-realm cultivator to spar with..."

After all this, by the time Chen Qing stepped out of the illusion formation, dusk had fallen.

His trip had been quite fruitful. Not only had he replenished his supplies, but he had also familiarized himself with the market prices. Next time he came, he wouldn't have to be as cautious and probing as today.

Furthermore, he had gained an additional way to exchange for Spirit Marrow, which was extremely valuable.

"I'll organize more Immortal Dynasty stories in my dreams, and send them to Young Master Bai in a few days…"

As the moon rose over the eastern mountains, Chen Qing, having shaken off a few tails, returned to Mingxia.

The protective array's halo was even weaker than when he had left, but the lights within the mountains remained.

"Uncle-Master!" Fang Da'ao rushed to meet him, "You're finally back! A peddler came from the foot of the mountain just now, saying…"

"The mountain is sealed starting today," Chen Qing interrupted, raising a hand. "No outsiders will be seen."

Fang Da'ao froze for a moment, then nodded heavily.

As night fell, Chen Qing first went to the sect's quiet room to retrieve two booklets. Then, he hung the Spirit Sparrow Talisman on a beam and tucked the Mystic Armor Talisman close to his body.

Following that, he sat cross-legged, took out the Record of Absolute Items and the Ancient Pill Remnant Formula, and prepared to read through them.

A few pages in, he was drawn to a crimson scorpion illustration—

"Earthfire Crystal Scorpion, its entire body like red jade, its essence a mixture of fire and earth spiritual energies, akin to earth vein fire poison. Its tail sting contains fire poison that can refine Vein Burning Powder, incredibly potent! Its nest is accompanied by Red Vein Stone, which can calm the agitation of fire poison and harmonize yin and yang."

Harmonize yin and yang?

Chen Qing mused, Princess Xiyao suffers from yin and yang imbalance. Perhaps this Red Vein Stone could be a cure.

And its essence, combining fire and earth, being similar to earth vein fire poison, does indeed confirm my master's warning that 'imbalance in the Five Elements becomes poison.'

If these wondrous items still exist in the dream world, their uses would be far too numerous.

After looking at the pill formula for a while longer, he was astonished to find that most of the remnant formula was used to quell various abnormalities encountered during cultivation. It not only involved yin and yang imbalance but also qi and blood collapse, sun-scorching of the spirit, and soul-shaking thunderous sounds, clearly pointing towards hidden dangers in cultivating higher realms.

Ancient pill formulas focused more on repair after cultivation, rather than as aids before advancement…

After memorizing the general contents, he put the booklets away. He then opened the ones he had taken from the quiet room. These contained the cultivation insights of his master, grand-uncle, and even grand-master.

He primarily focused on the section about condensing the Destiny Talisman.

The Destiny Talisman was, in essence, the foundation for cultivators in the late stage of the second realm.

This talisman was neither gold nor jade; it was based on Supreme Harmony Qi, integrating cultivation insights, the characteristics of one's techniques, and one's innate spirit. Its forms varied; some resembled mountains, others rivers, and some even dragons or phoenixes, differing greatly depending on the cultivator's techniques and disposition.

After having roughly memorized the sect predecessors' insights on condensing the talisman, Chen Qing put the booklets away and, fully clothed, went to sleep.

In his dreams, he had plenty of time to study.

For this dream journey, I shall use my dream body to condense my first Destiny Talisman and gain insights…

When Chen Qing opened his eyes again, he had returned to the time of the Primordial Immortal Dynasty, facing a whistling mountain wind!

His dream body was not in the quiet room of Tingfeng Courtyard, but on a precipice.

Clouds churned beneath his feet, and distant mountains pierced the sky like swords.

Five more years have passed in the dream…

Chen Qing's expression was one of astonishment.

But where has this gotten me?

Please readers, give me your support! A newbie is so, so, so miserable! Please collect this story if you pass by, and give it a read when you have time!