Alms

Perhaps it was because Shan Yue's doting behavior in front of so many people made Xing Chang feel a little uncomfortable.

He broke free from his mother's hand and said.

"Elder Qi."

Shan Yue showed no sign of sadness or grief over Elder Qi's death.

"What a pity, he was only a little over a hundred years old. If he hadn't died, he could have served you for another hundred years."

Her tone was dismissive and indifferent, as if she had only lost an obedient and somewhat useful dog.

If Elder Qi could know this from beyond the grave, I wonder what he would think.

Of course, he couldn't possibly know this in the afterlife; his soul had been devoured by Song Wen, and his body had been burned to ashes and scattered into the sea.

"Mother, I'd like to introduce you to someone. I was fortunate to have him during this training; he saved me from danger twice. If it weren't for him, you might never have seen me again."

As Xing Chang spoke, he led Shan Yue to Song Wen's side.

After Xing Chang introduced the two, Song Wen bowed and clasped his hands in greeting.

"I have met Madam Xing."

A faint smile managed to squeeze out from Shan Yue's stunningly beautiful face.

The smile was so forced and fake, as if it had been pulled out of nowhere, revealing an aloofness that kept people at arm's length.

It's like a noble emperor giving a perfunctory handout to a lowly commoner.

"Thank you, fellow Daoist, for saving my child from danger."

Looking at the smile on Shan Yue's face, Song Wen was slightly lost in thought, as if he was deeply shocked by her beauty.

After a moment, he came to his senses and said in a somewhat flustered and fearful tone.

"Madam Xing, you flatter me. I am but a Rogue Cultivator, how could I possibly deserve your thanks?"

Shan Yue said, "Oh? Fellow Daoist Wei is Rogue Cultivator. I wonder if you would be willing to serve in the Xing Family? My child's guard has just suffered a misfortune, and we urgently need a trustworthy person to fill this vacancy."

The power struggles within large cultivation Lineage are a thousand times more dangerous than the struggles for imperial power in the mortal world.

Once involved, a single misstep could lead to utter ruin and irrecoverable destruction.

Song Wen was unwilling to get involved in the power struggles within the Xing Family, even though he harbored designs on the <Soul-Concentrating Spike>.

Song Wen hesitated for a long time before finally speaking with a heavy heart.

"Thank you for your kindness, Madam Xing. I am used to being free and may find it difficult to adapt to the rules and constraints of the Xing Family. I hope you will understand."

Despite Song Wen's rejection, Shan Yue showed no disappointment.

Song Wen's origins are unknown. Although he saved her son's life, she does not trust Song Wen.

She said, "Since Fellow Daoist Wei is unwilling, I will not force you. If you wish to join the Xing Family someday, you may come to me at any time."

After exchanging Message Jade Slip, Xing Chang Xing Chang and Song Wen Shan Yue their leave and headed to the North City.

Watching the two figures disappear into the distance, Song Wen's expression turned somewhat gloomy.

He saved Xing Chang twice, yet the mother and son only offered a few perfunctory words of thanks, without any real expression of gratitude.

They really do use it and then throw it away, discarding it after it's done its work.

However, Shan Yue is indeed a rare beauty, no wonder she was chosen by Xing Gaohan, who is in the Nascent Soul Realm stage, and brought from the mortal world to the Xing Family.

Of all the women Song Wen had ever seen, only Yan Yuyan and Lan Chen could rival him in appearance.

Song Wen flew to the southern city.

The southern part of the city was bustling with cultivators, a lively scene indeed.

Song Wen strolled around the main streets of the southern city, and then, after changing his appearance in a secluded spot, entered a general store.

He learned of the existence of this general store from Elder Qi's memories.

The shop wasn't big, but it sold a wide variety of things: elixirs, Spirit Artifact, Cultivation Method, secret arts...

This shop has all the spiritual items that cultivators need.

The shop owner was a middle-aged male cultivator, at the early stage of Foundation Establishment.

The shop owner greeted Song Wen warmly as he entered.

"Fellow Daoist, what would you like to buy?"

Song Wen asked, "Do you sell maps here?"

"Of course we have them. Which map do you want, fellow Daoist? The map of Fangzhu Island, or the map of the sea?"

Song Wen said, "We need maps of Fangzhu Island and surrounding waters; the wider and more detailed the map, the better."

Upon hearing this, the shop owner's face immediately lit up with joy.

He knew he had encountered a generous and lavish customer.

"Fellow Daoist, I have a detailed topographical map and nautical chart of Fangzhu Island, including a map of the islands and power distribution throughout the Inner Sea. However, the price is a bit high. I wonder if you can afford it."

"How many Spirit Stones?"

"Ten thousand Spirit Stone."

The shop owner quoted a rather high price.

Aside from maps of certain secret realms, general maps are not very useful to cultivators.

Moreover, cultivators can fly through the air and draw maps very easily, which makes maps quite cheap in the Cultivation World.

Song Wen frowned slightly, but did not try to bargain with the shop owner.

"May I have the map checked first?"

"That's natural."

The shopkeeper handed Song Wen a Jade Slip.

Song Wen held the Jade Slip in his hand and probed it with his Divine Sense.

The Jade Slip contained a map of the area near Fangzhu City, drawn in great detail, marking mountains, rivers, plains, depressions, underground rivers, and more.

Song Wen said, "The map is very detailed, but the price is a bit high. How about five thousand Spirit Stone?"

Without the slightest hesitation, the shopkeeper handed Song Wen another Jade Slip.

"Make a deal!"

After examining the Jade Slip and confirming that it contained a topographical map and nautical chart of Fangzhu Island, Song Wen paid the shopkeeper five thousand Spirit Stone.

"Fellow Daoist, is there anything else you'd like to order?" the shopkeeper asked.

"Do you have any Pill Formula?" Song Wen asked.

"We certainly have the Pill Formula. May I ask which type you require?" the shopkeeper asked.

"Any second- or third-tier Pill Formula is acceptable."

Upon arriving at the Sea of Disorder, Song Wen needed a way to earn Spirit Stone.

Undoubtedly, becoming an Alchemist is his best option at present.

The environment of the Sea of Disorder is vastly different from that of the Heavenly Origin Continent, and the spiritual herbs it nurtures are also unique. Therefore, some of the Pill Formula are also slightly different.

In the Heavenly Origin Continent, high-level Pill Formula and spirit medicine are strictly controlled by major cultivation forces, making it almost impossible for Rogue Cultivator to access these precious resources.

In this respect, the Sea of Disorder is different. As long as you have enough Spirit Stone, you can directly purchase some commonly used second and third-tier Pill Formula and spirit medicine.

The shopkeeper handed Song Wen a Jade Slip and said, "All the Pill Formula I have are here. Take a look."

Song Wen took the Jade Slip and examined it with his Divine Sense.

The Jade Slip contains twenty-five Pill Formulas, but most of them are second-tier Pill Formula, with only two third- Pill Formula.

The Pill Formula is incomplete, containing only the name and a brief description of the pill's effects.

Song Wen selected four second-tier Pill Formula and two third-tier Pill Formula.

The four types of second-tier Pill Formula include: the Five-Element Pill to enhance cultivation, the Origin-Restoring Pill to heal injuries, the Water-Rhythm Pill to detoxify, and the Body Body-Tempering Pill for body-refining cultivators.

Song Wen chose these four second-tier Pill Formula because he discovered that, apart from these four Pill Formulas, the other second-tier Pill Formula consistent with those of the Heavenly Origin Continent, only differing slightly in the names of the pills and spirit medicine, and therefore of no value to Song Wen.

The two types of third-tier Pill Formula formulas are the Golden Jade Pill Qi Spirit Pill.

The former refers to the elixirs needed by Golden Core cultivators to enhance their cultivation level.

The latter is a elixir used to restore a cultivator's Divine Sense.

These six Pill Formulas were not expensive; Song Wen spent a total of ten thousand Spirit Stone.