Lu Country's Spoils

Next, Li Mo and Lu Tianyou lingered for a while longer in front of Zhang Ning's stall.

Although they were quite taken with several of the items on his stall, they ultimately left reluctantly.

This was the helpless plight of Qi Refining Stage disciples.

They had too little personal wealth and too narrow a perspective. Whenever they saw something good, they wanted it, yet they couldn't afford to buy it with Spirit Stones. In the end, all they could do was sigh helplessly.

Next, the two of them came to He Ping's stall.

Compared with the other three stalls, He Ping's had noticeably more onlookers gathered around it.

Li Mo and Lu Tianyou looked at the items arranged before He Ping. There were only four of them, yet every single one caught the crowd's eye, drawing wave after wave of astonished exclamations.

The first was a palm-sized, ruler-shaped magic tool.

Li Mo activated his Spirit Eye and examined it. The magic tool's spiritual-energy pathways and runic workmanship were clearly much denser than those of the low-grade magic tools he had seen before. That meant that once activated, it could undergo a much greater change in size or unleash more complex and powerful spells.

"Mid-grade Magic Tool?"

Li Mo's heart stirred. He looked at a jade pendant next.

The pendant was emerald green, carved with a tree-canopy pattern. At a glance, it was clearly a product of Lu Country.

Lu Country's cultivators seemed to be divided into two extremes. One faction was devoted to nurturing the body through nature and pursuing longevity; the other was devoted to bloody transformations and pursuing immortality.

The so-called immortality and eternal life were two entirely different lineages.

The reason Lu Country was like this had to do with the Supreme Grand Elder of the Longevity Abbey, the greatest sect in Lu Country.

According to the rumors, this late-stage Spirit Transformation Longevity Ancestor had lived for several thousand years. Alongside the Emperor of the Qian Yuan Era of Gan Kingdom and the master of the Jianyi Sect of Ling Country, he was one of the strongest human cultivators in the Central Plains. He had been half-mad for more than two thousand years, sometimes lucid and sometimes raving.

As a result, Lu Country's lineages had changed as well. Where once they had pursued longevity alone, some sects later turned to pursuing immortality instead.

That was why some people said that Lu Country actually had two lineages standing side by side.

Cultivators from outside Lu Country often called the Longevity Ancestor the Old Madman.

But that was beside the point.

Li Mo activated his Spirit Eye to peer inside the jade pendant. To his shock, a small, exquisitely formed vortex of spiritual energy was continuously turning within it, just like the magic power in a Qi Refining cultivator's Dantian.

Lu Tianyou had evidently noticed the magic tool's unusual nature as well.

"Could this be a magic tool that stores magic power?"

Li Mo nodded.

"Probably."

Then Li Mo shifted his gaze to the third item.

It was a fragment of a bronze mirror. Yet when Li Mo looked at it, he saw no reflection of himself in the fragment. Instead, he saw several enormous boulders floating in the air, sometimes gathering together and sometimes scattering in all directions, with no discernible pattern. It was astonishingly mysterious.

Just as Li Mo was marveling at it, someone suddenly picked up the bronze mirror fragment and held it in his hand.

Li Mo frowned slightly and looked toward him.

It was Zhou Zheng, the one with a Wind-Clearing Physique, who had been accepted as a named disciple by Vice Hall Master Han of the Advanced Study Hall.

He stood beside Zhao Huaxue, seemingly intent on showing off his knowledge. Li Mo found the sight familiar; back in the Enlightenment Hall, Zhou Zheng had been just as fond of doing this.

Beside him, Lu Tianyou rolled his eyes.

Li Mo knew that although Lu Tianyou said nothing, he was surely already calling Zhou Zheng "Sage Zhou" in his head. It was only because his temperament had changed over the past year that he no longer joked around with Li Mo about it.

"This should be a remnant left behind when a Lu Country Duotian Sect cultivator's Natal Magic Treasure was shattered. How fascinating."

At Zhou Zheng's words, Zhao Huaxue looked surprised, drawn in by his explanation.

Even He Ping, who was selling the item, couldn't help looking over at him.

A hint of smugness appeared on Zhou Zheng's face.

"Lu Country has the saying: one abbey, two mountains, three gates, and four sects. Duotian Sect is one of those four sects. Its cultivators seek to seize Heaven's creation and attain immortality. Through their main cultivation technique, their disciples form a Mustard Seed Space in their Dantian as early as the Qi Refining Stage. They call this 'seizing Heaven.' They can use it to lock in yang and solidify their essence, gather yin to preserve their beauty, sleep for long periods to extend their lives, and so on."

Mustard Seed Space?

The crowd let out a series of startled cries, marveling at the wonders of Lu Country's cultivation techniques.

"Once they reach the Golden Core Stage, Duotian Sect cultivators can fuse the 'seizing Heaven' within their Dantian with their Natal Magic Treasure. This is quite similar to our Gan Kingdom's Tianding Sect. Their Natal Magic Treasures can then achieve all kinds of incredible effects, such as divining the future, comprehending Dao patterns, and sealing away powerful enemies. I've even heard that the sect possesses a fragment of a small ancient secret realm, passed down from antiquity. It contains a world of its own and can aid in comprehending the Dao. Every year, Lu Country holds its so-called Longevity Dao Comprehension Assembly, inviting Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators from other sects and neighboring minor kingdoms to attend..."

Zhou Zheng went on and on.

Although he was speaking to Zhao Huaxue, Li Mo was listening too, broadening his horizons.

Zhou Zheng clearly knew so much because he had a good master.

After Zhou Zheng finished explaining the Duotian Sect, Li Mo, who had only been curious before, suddenly froze. Another possibility had occurred to him.

Could the Mystic Dream be connected to the Duotian Sect?

Or was the Duotian Sect connected to the Mystic Dream?

After all, the two seemed remarkably similar in nature. The only difference was that the Mystic Dream was of a much higher level, as if it were a more advanced form of "seizing Heaven."

The more he thought about it, the more he felt that there was likely some hidden connection between the two.

It was just that with his current knowledge, he couldn't see through it yet.

Just then.

After explaining the Duotian Sect, Zhou Zheng saw that Zhao Huaxue seemed impressed by his knowledge and immediately grew a little smug.

So he picked up another item and began explaining it.

This was the fourth item, which Li Mo hadn't yet had the chance to examine closely: a palm-sized Humanoid Puppet.

"Judging by its craftsmanship, this must be a Humanoid Puppet device designed by a cultivator of Lu Country's Zai Zao Sect. That sect is the sworn enemy of our Lingmu Sect, with a feud as deep as the sky. More than thirty years ago, our sect's Supreme Nascent Soul Ancestor, Quanzhi Zhenren, fell in a sneak attack by the Zai Zao Sect."

Nearly every disciple of the Lingmu Sect knew about this.

Zhou Zheng sighed.

"But even so, the Zai Zao Sect's Puppet Technique is truly unique among the various kingdoms. This sect excels at making Humanoid Puppets. Not only can they look so real that they're impossible to distinguish from actual people, they can even be given exceptionally high intelligence. Their bodily pathways are no different from those of a True Person. And eventually, the sect's high-ranking cultivators even try to turn themselves into puppets in their pursuit of immortality!"

"Hiss!"

Everyone sucked in a sharp breath at his words.

Even Li Mo couldn't help thinking that the Zai Zao Sect's cultivators were downright twisted.

He had now seen what Lu Country's so-called path to immortality meant. No wonder the once-revered Longevity Ancestor had eventually come to be called the Old Madman.

Compared to the path of longevity, the path of immortality sounded even more sinister than demons, fiends, ghosts, and monsters.

Yet Zhou Zheng wasn't finished.

"It's precisely because Zai Zao Sect cultivators turn themselves into puppets that when our Lingmu Sect cultivators fight them, relying too heavily on our Spirit Eyes can actually put us at a disadvantage. So when our sect's high-ranking cultivators face Zai Zao Sect cultivators, they do their best to avoid relying on their Spirit Eyes. Any puppet could be the real body, while someone who looks like a real person may actually be a puppet. It's almost impossible to tell the true from the false."

From what Zhou Zheng said, the Zai Zao Sect's Humanoid Puppet Technique seemed to be the perfect counter to the Lingmu Sect's Spirit Eye Technique.

The higher a Lingmu Sect disciple's cultivation, the more reliant they were on their Spirit Eye. The Spirit Eye had gradually become the sect's signature divine ability. Asking a Lingmu Sect disciple not to activate it in battle was like asking them to fight with both arms tied behind their back.

Then Li Mo couldn't help thinking of Lü Cuicui.

The Lü Family was also skilled in Puppet Technique.

However, the Lü Family's Puppet Technique focused more on Beast-shaped Puppets, emphasizing the development of individual capabilities.

Lü Cuicui's father had also been killed by Zai Zao Sect cultivators more than ten years ago. That was why she had always been curious about the Zai Zao Sect's Humanoid Puppets and wanted to study one thoroughly. But she had never managed to find the necessary materials, and could only piece things together herself based on descriptions in books.

Li Mo had been learning puppet mechanisms from Lü Cuicui for over a year.

He wasn't stupid, but after studying in such a stop-and-start fashion, all he had learned so far was a handful of basic principles. He marveled at the breadth and depth of puppet mechanisms, which were far beyond anything he could master in a short time. He could only treat them as a long-term investment and keep at it.

So far,

he hadn't even figured out the simplest Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse, let alone Beast-shaped or Humanoid Puppets.

Now, right before his eyes, was a ready-made Humanoid Puppet from the Zai Zao Sect. Li Mo was quite tempted.

The puppet looked crudely made, with a rough, simple design. But to Li Mo and Lü Cuicui, second-year students of the Advanced Study Hall, its craftsmanship was still out of reach. Taking it apart and examining it would undoubtedly be a huge source of inspiration for them both.

Most importantly,

if Li Mo bought this puppet, he would not only gain a puppet assistant, but also help Lü Cuicui fulfill her wish. It would be a way to repay her for teaching him over the past year.

And if Lü Cuicui gained any insights afterward, she would surely share them with him, allowing both of them to benefit.

With that in mind,

Li Mo stepped forward and asked,

"How strong is this Humanoid Puppet, and what limitations does it have?"

Zhou Zheng had just put the puppet down when Li Mo asked him this. He couldn't help looking surprised.

Zhao Huaxue and Lu Tianyou also looked at Li Mo in surprise.

He Ping looked over at Li Mo as well.

"I tested it earlier. This Humanoid Puppet can probably reach the strength of a seventh-layer Qi Refining cultivator. Its drawback is that the Spirit Stones need to be replaced constantly, which is a considerable burden. Its joints also tend to loosen, so it needs to be repaired by a professional puppeteer. That's quite troublesome."

Li Mo knew that puppets used Spirit Stones as their source of energy.

As for the joints loosening and needing regular maintenance, that was unavoidable. It would be quite troublesome for others, but to Li Mo, it was a minor matter.

He hadn't spent more than a year learning from Lü Cuicui for nothing. He could at least maintain a puppet without much difficulty.

Seeing how tempted Li Mo seemed, He Ping actually activated the Humanoid Puppet on the spot, demonstrating its other capabilities and strength to everyone.

"Take a look at its speed and agility. It can even release the Light Technique..."

Li Mo stood among the crowd, nodding repeatedly.

He Ping really hadn't exaggerated. If Li Mo fought this puppet one-on-one right now, his chances of winning would probably be less than one in ten. Even if he equipped himself with magic tools later, his odds likely wouldn't reach three in ten.

From this,

it was clear that the Humanoid Puppet really did have the strength of a seventh-layer Qi Refining cultivator. By the Lü Family's classification, it was a low-grade intermediate puppet; by Da Gan Kingdom's classification, it was a middle-level Qi Refining puppet.

"How many Spirit Stones are you asking for this puppet?"

"Three hundred, firm. Also, the puppet's joints have started to loosen again, so you'll have to figure out how to repair them yourself."

That was about as much as a Mid-grade Magic Tool cost. The asking price wasn't high; it might even be on the low side.

After thinking it over carefully, Li Mo nodded.

"Then it's a deal. Would you mind if I came back to trade after the free market begins and I've gathered enough Spirit Stones?"

"No problem."

Seeing how confident Li Mo was about producing three hundred Spirit Stones at once, Lu Tianyou, Zhao Huaxue, and Zhou Zheng all looked surprised.

That was no small sum.

Could Li Mo come from a family wealthy enough to rival a rich merchant's?

A family able to produce three thousand taels of silver at once would be considered well-to-do even in a Prefecture City. Its assets would generally need to be worth at least tens of thousands of taels.

In a county town or small village, such a family would be an extremely wealthy and prominent clan. Usually, there wouldn't be more than a few in the entire town.

In the county seat, they would almost all live in grand mansions behind imposing gates.

A little while later,

as everyone began trading freely, Li Mo took out the Jade Bottle containing the Qi Gathering Pills and sold them for thirty-two Spirit Stones each.

As a hard currency among Qi Refining Stage disciples, the Qi Gathering Pills were quickly snapped up.

Even Zhao Huaxue, Zhou Zheng, and Yang Zhiman each bought one.

Li Mo paid some attention to Yang Zhiman, who had remained silent in the crowd. He had been following Zhao Huaxue almost the whole time, his eyes filled with a complex tangle of emotions: longing, inferiority, confidence, and more.

"I didn't know Senior Brother Li was an alchemist."

It seemed Zhao Huaxue had glimpsed a side of Li Mo she hadn't known before. She spoke with a hint of curiosity.

Zhou Zheng beside her looked a little displeased.

"So, you're quite familiar with Tao Ran?"

Li Mo first returned Zhao Huaxue's smile, then replied to Zhou Zheng. "Yes. We exchanged pointers a few times at the Alchemy Hall."

Li Mo had originally planned to use the Spirit Stones from selling the Qi Gathering Pills to seek out Tian Fen of the Law Enforcement Hall and learn his so-called Lightning Techniques, or to try buying another Hundred-year-old Spirit Herb at the market below the mountain as an investment, then attempt to refine another batch of Qi Gathering Pills.

According to Li Mo's research, every month or two, a lucky herb gatherer would appear at the market below the mountain, bringing a Hundred-year-old Spirit Herb they had gathered from a great distance to sell. From that point on, they could generally live out the rest of their lives free from worries about food and clothing. This was essentially the ultimate goal of every herb gatherer.

The Hundred-year-old Spirit Herbs these herb gatherers sold were generally not too expensive, making them perfect for refining Qi Gathering Pills.

The Hundred-year-old Spirit Herbs sold by the market's apothecaries, on the other hand, were usually rare varieties and cost considerably more.

One could also use sect contributions to exchange for Hundred-year-old Spirit Herbs grown on a large scale in the public spirit fields. Unfortunately, Li Mo had spent all his sect contributions on attending lessons, and his contribution points were still far from enough.

Over the past year,

Li Mo had often received private instruction from Lü Cuicui. The two had grown close and could be considered good friends.

He wasn't a selfish person.

Although Lü Cuicui had always taught him for free, he had constantly felt that he owed her. Now he finally had a chance to repay her kindness. After giving it careful thought, he ultimately decided to buy the Humanoid Puppet for Lü Cuicui to study, so he could gain some knowledge from it.

Lü Cuicui was a friend worth cultivating a deeper bond with, and improving his knowledge sooner was also a long-term investment.

"Here, that's your five Spirit Stones back."

Lu Tianyou nodded with a smile and took back the Spirit Stones Li Mo returned to him.

Li Mo didn't like seeing Lu Tianyou sink into despair or head toward extremes. The old Lu Tianyou might have been a flirt and unpopular in the Enlightenment Hall, but as his friend, Li Mo had felt that he lived freely and authentically.

But now, Li Mo didn't know how to persuade or comfort him. All he could do was leave it up to him.

Next,

Li Mo paid three hundred Spirit Stones and officially bought the Humanoid Puppet. He planned to visit Lü Cuicui first thing the next morning and tell her the good news, then continue taking commissions outside the sect and work hard to earn more Spirit Stones.

In the meantime,

he could look for clues about Spirit-flavored Lightning-Struck Wood while researching the various auxiliary ingredients needed for the Creation Pill, so he could make sure the eventual refinement went without a hitch.