Buying Medicinal Ingredients

Under the blazing sun, the earth was like a steamer, heat waves rolling across it, the summer heat unbearable. Yet even in such weather, two figures constantly crossed and collided within the woods, each clash sending the dead leaves around them flying in every direction.

Bang! The two figures slammed into each other fiercely once more. This time, both of them gave it their all, and the resulting air blast formed a powerful shockwave. Leaves fluttered down, tree trunks trembled, and even the soil on the ground rippled in layers.

"Xiao Yan, your strength has improved so quickly. You've already reached Seventh Duan Dou Qi. You've also cultivated Heavenly Shift to the third level, while I've only reached the second. On top of Xiao Yan's terrifying defense and strength, my Ninth Duan Dou Qi cultivation can no longer gain even the slightest advantage." Xun'er wiped the sweat from her face and body, smiling as she spoke.

Xun'er's little hands continuously waved up and down, creating a faint breeze that brushed against her cheeks. Only this could make her feel slightly cooler in the scorching summer heat.

Seeing Xun'er's clothes soaked through with sweat and clinging tightly to her skin, making her figure appear even more delicate and alluring, Xiao Yan felt his body grow hotter. He took off his long robe, wiped the sweat from his face, then used it like a towel to wipe the sweat from his body.

"Hehe, that's because Xun'er didn't use her full strength. This damn weather is really too hot!" Xiao Yan raised his head to look at the sky. The sun seemed much larger than usual, and its scorching rays beating down on him made him feel even more overheated. Helplessly, he walked over to a stone stool beneath a large tree and sat down. After taking a huge gulp of the sour plum juice Xun'er had prepared in advance, he finally felt a little better.

"Xun'er really did her best. But Xiao Yan, you seem to have gotten much darker!" Xun'er walked up to Xiao Yan, took a sip from the sour plum juice in his hand, then sat on the stone stool to enjoy the shade. Somehow, she had produced a fan and began fanning Xiao Yan.

As a cool breeze swept over him, Xiao Yan felt much of the heat in his body fade away. He gently took the fan from Xun'er and began fanning her instead. Xun'er's originally tender little face had darkened considerably as well. She should have been like a young lady, reading in a cool study, yet now she was under the blazing sun sparring with a grown man like him.

He gently stroked Xun'er's cheek and said heartfully, "Xun'er, you've worked hard these past five months. Even your little face has been tanned."

Feeling Xiao Yan's concerned gaze and the faint cool breeze, Xun'er lowered her head and murmured softly, "This is what Xun'er should do. Xiao Yan has it harder. Not only do you have to spar with me, you also have to undergo that devilish training."

"How about you stop sparring with me, Xun'er? The weather is too hot. I can train by myself." Xiao Yan spoke calmly.

"No!" Xun'er refused at once. If she did not spar with Xiao Yan, he would continue undergoing that brutal training. She did not want Xiao Yan to work so hard.

Seeing Xun'er's reaction was so intense, Xiao Yan was slightly stunned. Every time he brought it up, Xun'er reacted like this. He found it very puzzling. It was only sparring; did they need to do it so often?

Besides, after sparring for so long, his strength had already improved rapidly. He had even mastered the Fifth Layer of Force in Eight Extremes Collapse. A single strike of Cloud-Discharging Palm could produce five layers of force, surging like waves, each higher than the last. He simply had never used it against Xun'er, so sparring less would not have mattered. But seeing Xun'er object, Xiao Yan had no choice.

"Xiao Yan, are we still sparring this afternoon?" Xun'er pursed her little lips and asked softly.

"No. I'm going to buy some medicinal ingredients this afternoon." Xiao Yan said with a slight toothache.

Although the results of the past six months of training had been extremely gratifying, the expenses had also been considerable. He used up one batch of medicinal ingredients every month, and each batch cost a hundred thousand gold coins. By now, all six hundred thousand gold coins Xun'er had given him were gone. If his father, Xiao Zhan, had not provided another fifty thousand gold coins, he would have become completely broke. But fifty thousand gold coins were not enough to buy even one batch of ingredients.

Could he borrow money from Xun'er again? Did he have no shame at all? How could he keep asking Xun'er for money? It seemed he needed to make money himself.

"Xiao Yan, are you going out to buy things? Xun'er wants to go too!" The moment Xun'er heard that Xiao Yan was going out, she immediately perked up.

"Then let's go together. I'll take you to eat something delicious while we're at it." Xiao Yan said with a smile.

"Then Xiao Yan can go back and wait for Xun'er a while. Xun'er will go change clothes, then come find you once I'm done." Hearing that Xiao Yan would take her out to eat delicious food, Xun'er immediately ran off excitedly to change.

After Xun'er had gone far away, Xiao Yan finally said to Medicine Elder, "Teacher, I want to make some Foundation-Building Elixir to sell."

"Why not keep borrowing money from that little girl? After all, she has plenty of it." Medicine Elder's voice sounded in Xiao Yan's heart.

"How can I keep asking a girl for money? Wouldn't that be embarrassing?" Xiao Yan rolled his eyes.

"Do as you like. The training ahead will also require a considerable amount of gold coins. Constantly borrowing money really is inappropriate." Medicine Elder spoke indifferently.

After Medicine Elder agreed, Xiao Yan prepared to head down the mountain. However, having learned just how long a girl's "a while" could be, Xiao Yan naturally took his time and was not in the least bit anxious. He returned to his room, took a bath, changed into clean clothes, and cultivated on his bed for a while. Only then did Xun'er knock on the door and call him out.

When he opened the door, he saw Xun'er waiting for him at the entrance in a pale blue gauze dress that fluttered in the wind, dressed like a fairy. Xiao Yan immediately perked up and teased, "What family's fairy has descended into the mortal world?"

Hearing Xiao Yan's praise, Xun'er beamed with delight. She stepped forward, linked her arm through his, and said with a smile, "Then is Xiao Yan willing to accompany this fairy on a stroll?"

"With pleasure!" Xiao Yan linked Xun'er's arm with his left hand and held up a parasol with his right.

Seeing how considerate Xiao Yan was, cute dimples appeared on Xun'er's little face. Happily, she pulled Xiao Yan toward the main gate.

When the two went out, they encountered clan members, all of whom warmly came forward to greet them. Because of the competition a few months ago, Xiao Yan had once again become a cultivation genius in the eyes of the clan.

However, Xiao Yan merely responded politely. Whether it was scorn or praise, neither could stir the slightest ripple in his heart now.

After leaving the Xiao Clan and arriving on the streets of Wutan City, they found that it was noon, the hottest time of the day. Most people were at home eating, so there were not many people on the streets. Naturally, the two would not go shopping at such a time. Xiao Yan led Xun'er toward a restaurant they often visited.

The moment they entered the restaurant, they felt several degrees cooler. Although this world did not have things like air conditioners, that did not trouble these merchants. Getting some ice to cool the place down was easy enough. After all, this world had ice-attribute Dou Qi; making ice was effortless, and there were even merchants on the streets who specialized in selling ice.

After lunch, the two bought several ice pops on the street and ate them as they headed deeper into the marketplace, because only there could they find the medicinal ingredients needed to refine Foundation-Building Elixir.

Once they reached the depths of the marketplace, Xiao Yan casually bought five portions each of lower-aged Purple Leaf Orchid and Bone-Washing Flower. Since they were not for his own use, he did not need to be so particular. However, Magic Cores did not have distinctions of age, and even after the two wandered around for a long time, they only managed to buy four Wood-attribute Monster Cores.

"Xiao Yan, don't worry. Let's look around a little longer. It's still early anyway." Seeing that Xiao Yan was somewhat anxious, Xun'er comforted him.

"I'm only worried that Xun'er will get sunburned. The weather is so hot." Xiao Yan took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat from Xun'er's face.

Seeing Xiao Yan so thoughtfully wipe away her sweat, Xun'er's little face reddened and she lowered her head slightly. But she soon became excited again, pointing ahead as she said happily, "Xiao Yan, someone has set up another stall ahead. I see that person has taken out quite a few Magic Cores. There might be some Xiao Yan needs."

Xiao Yan looked toward where Xun'er was pointing and saw that a slightly plump merchant dressed like a mercenary had indeed spread a piece of cloth on the ground and was continuously pulling all kinds of goods from his bag. Among them were Magic Cores for sale.

Xiao Yan brought Xun'er to this newly opened stall and crouched down to carefully inspect its various goods. But after looking for a long while, he found only earth-attribute and water-attribute Magic Cores, with no Wood-attribute Monster Core in sight. A trace of disappointment appeared on Xiao Yan's face.

Seeing that Xiao Yan was well dressed and clearly a major customer, the shrewd vendor immediately greeted him warmly. "Customer, just tell me what you need. There's plenty more in my bag. I guarantee I'll have what you need."

"I need a Wood-attribute Monster Core. Do you have one for sale?" Xiao Yan directly stated his request.

"Yes! Yes! Yes! I got one not long ago." The vendor hurriedly rummaged through his bag, then pulled out a bloodstained Magic Core and handed it to Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan picked up the Magic Core and examined it, discovering that it was indeed a Wood-attribute Monster Core. Though it bore some bloodstains, they could not conceal the fresh fragrance emanating from it. Just smelling it made him feel refreshed.

"This is the Magic Core of a First-Rank Magical Beast, an Emerald Lizard. This Magical Beast has skin and a hard shell, excels in defense and counterattacks, and is no less formidable than a Second-Rank Magical Beast. Our mercenary group only managed to hunt it down by luck after paying a huge price, and several of our members even lost their lives because of it. If you want it, eight hundred gold coins." The vendor introduced it to Xiao Yan. When he mentioned the deaths of several group members, he even squeezed out a few tears.

After hearing the vendor's introduction, Xiao Yan smiled. "This Magical Beast's defense may be impressive, but its attack power is quite ordinary. As long as you were willing to spend more time, killing it would not have been difficult."

Having been exposed by Xiao Yan, the vendor did not feel embarrassed. Instead, he grinned again. "Hehe, this young master is truly knowledgeable. But this Magical Beast really is among the best of the First-Rank Magical Beasts. How about six hundred and fifty gold coins? We still have to make a living, after all."

"Fine, I'll take a loss then. This Magic Core is really only worth six hundred gold coins, but this damn weather is simply too hot." Xiao Yan said with slight helplessness.