Taking the Pill to Cultivate the Origin

Wang Ding took the familiar route to Yong City. After entering the city, he walked slowly along the way, heading straight for a shop called Treasure Pill Pavilion.

As he walked, Wang Ding eavesdropped on the conversations of people by the street, gathering information from this period of time. But aside from a few trivial bits and pieces, there was nothing worth his attention.

Arriving at Treasure Pill Pavilion, he walked straight in, came to the counter, and wasted no words. "Give me ten bottles of Qi-Boosting Pills and ten bottles of Foundation-Cultivating Pills."

Seeing a big piece of business had come through the door, the shopkeeper shouted at a gray-clothed errand boy standing off to the side in a daze, "What are you still staring for? Hurry to the storeroom and fetch the pills!"

Only then did the errand boy snap back to his senses as if waking from a dream, and he quickly ran toward the rear of the hall. The shopkeeper then said to Wang Ding, "Dear guest, please have a seat. The pills you requested will be presented to you in just a moment."

With that, he led Wang Ding to a side hall and seated him, then accompanied him in idle conversation.

Wang Ding intended to sound him out for information, so he said, "May I ask the shopkeeper's honorable surname? This humble one is surnamed Zhang, given name Teng."

"This humble one is also surnamed Zhang, given name Wanguan. To think we were one family five hundred years ago," Zhang Wanguan said, drawing the relationship closer.

"Zhang Wanguan? That name is begging for a beating. He must be mad for money. No wonder he became a shopkeeper, taking in money every day—he's probably delighted beyond measure," Wang Ding laughed inwardly, while saying aloud, "There is something I would like to ask. I wonder if Shopkeeper Zhang would know."

"Oh? What matter would that be?"

"It is nothing much, actually. I only wanted to ask whether Shopkeeper Zhang knows if any sects have been recruiting disciples recently. I cultivate alone and do not know much about this kind of information, so I wanted to inquire with you."

"So that is how it is. In truth, every sect recruits disciples each year. As far as I know, Central Province is where the gateway of the God Sect is located, and they recruit no small number of disciples each year. As for small sects and minor factions like ours, we only take some leftover soup and cold rice that the God Sect does not want. But if Brother Zhang wishes to enter the God Sect, that is impossible. Judging by your age, you must be twenty-one or twenty-two. To enter the God Sect, one must be no older than twenty, and one's cultivation must surpass the Xiantian realm to be qualified. If Brother Zhang wants a good future, you might as well go overseas to develop. There are many sects there, and the resources are also extremely abundant, though it is very dangerous."

Hearing this, Wang Ding immediately knew that his hopes of entering a great cultivation sect were probably going to fall through. However, Wang Ding was not discouraged. If a great sect won't do, then a middle or small sect is the same. This shopkeeper said overseas resources are abundant, so it should suit my development very well. As for danger, where is there no danger? If I fear danger, what immortal cultivation would I still pursue, what Dao would I still prove?

Wang Ding cupped his fists toward Shopkeeper Zhang and said, "In that case, many thanks for your guidance, Shopkeeper."

"Hehe, a trifling matter. Brother Zhang would know just by asking around anywhere."

At this moment, the gray-clothed errand boy who had left to fetch the medicine entered the side hall carrying a square jade box one chi across.

Seeing him come in, Shopkeeper Zhang hurried forward to receive the jade box handed over by the errand boy, then came to the seat and passed the jade box to Wang Ding. "Brother Zhang, these are the Qi-Boosting Pills and Foundation-Cultivating Pills you wanted. Please count and receive them."

Wang Ding took the jade box and opened the lid. He saw ten bottles of pills arranged neatly inside the jade box. Nodding in satisfaction, Wang Ding paid the spirit stones, put away the jade box, and left Treasure Pill Pavilion.

After Zhang Wanguan saw Wang Ding leave, he suddenly said to the gray-clothed errand boy, "Hurry and tell Fang Hui, Li Qi, and the others that someone bought ten bottles of pills. Have them stop him outside the city, snatch the pills back, and kill the man too. Bring me back everything on his body as well. If anyone dares pocket anything for themselves, I'll flay their skin." At this moment, where was the smile on Shopkeeper Zhang's face from his pleasant conversation with Wang Ding just now? Only an ugly visage made up of ferocity, evil, and greed remained.

The errand boy seemed to have long since found this unsurprising, and he vanished like a wisp of smoke.

At this moment, Wang Ding had no idea that someone was coveting his wealth and his life.

However, he still understood the principle of not revealing one's wealth. The moment he left Treasure Pill Pavilion, he quickly walked toward the city gate. After leaving Yong City, Wang Ding directly took the main road and departed at a brisk pace. After traveling about five li, he took out the box containing the pills. After taking the pills from inside, he casually threw the jade box into the woods by the roadside, keeping only the pills, while he himself swiftly jumped into the woods on the other side. Wang Ding carefully hid atop a large tree, maintaining only the faintest breath, his eyes glancing toward the main road only from the corner of his vision.

Ever since the first time he was followed, Wang Ding had done this every time he bought supplies, so as to check whether anyone was tailing him. Aside from that first time, however, no one had come to attack him again. Even so, Wang Ding never dared relax, persevering with the spirit that caution made no great mistake.

After waiting a while, Wang Ding saw no one following him. Thinking it was the same as before and that no one was tailing him, he was just about to continue on his way when a burst of footsteps suddenly sounded—"tap, tap." Wang Ding instantly became alert and held back the step he had been about to take, once again stilling his breath and waiting quietly.

Four figures entered Wang Ding's eyes. Wang Ding only gave them a light glance, and goosebumps instantly rose all over his body. He only felt waves of Sha Qi rushing toward his face. Wang Ding's heart chilled, and he knew those who had come must be people who killed like cutting hemp. He grew even more cautious, drawing in his aura and not daring to reveal the slightest bit.

The four stopped at the place where Wang Ding had just thrown away the jade box. One of them walked into the woods and, after a short while, picked up the jade box Wang Ding had discarded. He said to the man who seemed to be the leader, "Big Brother, it's empty. That person is very alert. What do we do?"

The man called Big Brother had a cold, stern face and a pair of sinister eyes that shot out two vicious, chilling gazes. "Chase." His hoarse voice stabbed people into panic.

The four did not linger, quickly charging into the woods. At this moment, Wang Ding did not dare be careless in the slightest. From all the novels he had read back on Earth, everyone knew about the trick of turning the spear back on a departing horse. No one would be stupid enough to fall for it, much less when it now concerned his own life.

Sure enough, before long, four figures appeared on the main road once again. He only heard one of them say, "I'm afraid he really did leave. We should hurry and chase."

The four chased along the main road. Wang Ding hid in the tree without moving at all, and only after night fell did he climb down and sneak back toward his own cave dwelling.

Back in the cave dwelling, Wang Ding sat on the prayer mat, still shaken. Thank goodness I was cautious. Otherwise, if those four had blocked me today, I'm afraid I would have met with more disaster than fortune. In the end, my strength is still lacking. If I were a Xiantian expert, killing them would be like killing chickens. This world is not my original world. There is no law to protect me; the strong are honored. From now on, I should be even more careful and cautious.

Wang Ding took out the pills from his bundle, took out one bottle, and opened the stopper. A delicate fragrance spread out. Wang Ding immediately felt his entire body tremble, his spirit improving greatly, and much of the exhaustion from hiding for a day also recovered.

It really is good medicine. With these ten bottles of pills, I will greatly shorten the time it takes me to step into Xiantian, Wang Ding thought with a smile on his face.

Wang Ding took out one Qi-Boosting Pill and placed it in his mouth. Before he could even taste it, the Qi-Boosting Pill turned into a clear stream that slid into his stomach. Wang Ding sat cross-legged and began circulating his vital essence, transforming it into refined essence. Countless wisps of medicinal qi were absorbed through his five viscera and six bowels into his body, transforming into streams of vital essence before being drawn into his meridians. After circulating through the heavenly cycle, they turned into a single drop of refined essence that fell into his dantian.