Third Floor of Sandalwood Palace and Withered Wood Breath-Absorbing Formula

However, animal plagues had recently increased around Pingyang County, and this place was growing increasingly bustling as well.

This spot was barely two hundred li from the prefectural city of Linhai Prefecture, and walking several hundred li further into the depths of Azure Cloud Mountain would bring one to the hinterland occupied by ferocious beasts, where Great Demons might exist.

By evening, Chen Wang had brought everyone to the Black Triangle.

They prepared to rest in an inn for the night before entering the Azure Cloud Mountain Range.

"We'll be heading into the mountain tomorrow, so stroll around the city and buy some insect-repelling and venom-avoiding elixirs."

"We've been sleeping in the open wilderness these past days, and the poisonous insects and venomous snakes inside Azure Cloud Mountain are certainly numerous. A moment of carelessness will cost you your lives."

The disciples were also enjoying this rare, relaxing time in twos and threes.

Su Yu and Lin Ruoxue paired up.

After Lu Yuan and You Tai walked around the city together,

Lu Yuan actually spotted Sandalwood Palace.

This Sandalwood Palace does quite the interconnected business.

Even the Black Triangle has a branch.

Lu Yuan muttered softly.

"Junior Brother, Sandalwood Palace can be considered a major existence throughout all of Qingzhou."

You Tai smiled.

Following that, the two of them stepped into Sandalwood Palace.

"Two respected guests, are you here to consign materials or purchase supplies? Your humble servant Xiao Die will guide you."

As soon as they stepped inside, a female receptionist wearing a uniform green uniform with a pretty and capable face hurried up to greet them.

After stating their intentions,

Xiao Die skillfully led them to the medicine counter on the first floor, and the two selected a few bottles of fine insect-repelling and venom-avoiding powder and antidote pills.

"Shall we go up and take a look?"

"Junior Brother, the things upstairs are even more expensive."

"Looking doesn't cost money."

Afterwards, the two pairs came to the second floor.

The space on the second floor was broader.

Various weapons, highly nourishing ferocious beast meat, ferocious beast intelligence, and stacks of mercenary contract documents were arranged there.

Sandalwood Palace provided contract notarization services. Employers and mercenaries signed demon-hunting missions here, with Sandalwood Palace acting as the notary and taking a commission, treating young and old without discrimination.

Lu Yuan wandered around the intelligence area and, spending two taels of silver, purchased a copy of the Beast Compendium and a copy of the Azure Province Hundred Talents List.

"Two taels of silver?"

"Junior Brother Lu, you're far too extravagant! If you bought these two tattered books at a street stall outside, 100 copper cash would probably secure them. You actually spent two taels of silver?"

You Tai widened his eyes, his heart aching so much that he winced.

"Eldest Senior Brother, this money is well spent."

"The beast illustrations and annotations traced by Sandalwood Palace are much clearer and far more detailed than those from outside shops."

"Since we're going out to hunt ferocious beasts, naturally we must have a detailed understanding of their habits and weaknesses. At a critical moment, this can save your life."

Lu Yuan flipped open the Beast Compendium, pointing at the lifelike illustrations and dense annotations upon it as he spoke.

As for that copy of the Azure Province Hundred Talents List, it recorded the top 100 heaven-gifted martial artists within the borders of Qingzhou.

The threshold for making the list was extremely harsh: human cultivators within the borders of Qingzhou under thirty years of age, along with a very small number of benevolent demons who had surrendered to the imperial court, were all eligible for evaluation.

Lu Yuan bought it in order to understand the true layout of Qingzhou's experts beforehand.

After finishing his purchases, Lu Yuan touched the jade medallion in his bosom and said to You Tai, "Eldest Senior Brother, I'll take you to the third floor to broaden your horizons."

"The third floor? Ordinary people can't just go up there."

Before You Tai finished speaking, he saw Lu Yuan flash the jade medallion. After the guards on the third floor inspected it, they immediately let them pass.

The third floor of Sandalwood Palace had an antique decoration.

Everything sold here consisted of luxury goods, rare weapons, precious elixirs, and fragmentary martial arts.

Lu Yuan casually glanced at the price tags; any random item started at several hundred taels of silver, leaving him clicking his tongue in shock and not daring to look much more.

Tsk tsk! How many years would it take an ordinary martial artist to afford even a single piece!

And what about this Dragon-Silk Pearl Coil? Isn't it just a bit prettier and have some mosquito-repelling effect?

It even costs 200 taels of silver. Why not just go rob someone?

Seeing a luxury item, You Tai could not help clicking his tongue.

Perhaps it comes in handy when seeking out female cultivators.

Lu Yuan chuckled inwardly.

Then, he paid no more attention to these things.

Instead, he arrived at the fragmentary martial arts area.

After browsing for a while,

Lu Yuan found a fragmentary cultivation method named Withered Wood Breath-Absorbing Formula in a corner.

"Withered Wood Breath-Absorbing Formula? What does this have to do with the Withered Wood Fist of our boxing hall?"

Lu Yuan perplexedly turned his head to look at You Tai.

You Tai was also a picture of blank confusion: "I've followed Master for so many years, and I've never heard of any Withered Wood Breath-Absorbing Formula."

You Tai had never heard Master mention it either.

Lu Yuan lowered his gaze, looking at the introduction beneath the cultivation method, and his eyes instantly brightened.

Withered Wood Breath-Absorbing-Formula (Fragmentary Copy): Can devour the demon power origin remaining after a ferocious beast dies, converting it into pure cultivation. Note: This method consumes a massive amount of demon power origin and is extremely prone to backlash. Cultivate with caution, cultivate with caution!

A required massive amount of demon power origin?

For ordinary martial artists, this cultivation method might be extremely tasteless and low in efficiency.

Yet for Lu Yuan, who possessed the Demon-Slaying System and could acquire experience simply by killing demons, this was practically tailor-made.

It was a perfect fit!

"Junior Brother Lu, listen to a piece of advice from your senior brother."

"A fragmentary cultivation method like this is not only exceptionally difficult to cultivate, but it also lacks any subsequent progression. To an ordinary martial artist, it's a pit. Don't do anything foolish."

Lu Yuan was spending money carelessly.

You Tai hurriedly issued a reminder.

Pointing at the price tag of 1,000 taels of silver, Lu Yuan wryly smiled and said, "Eldest Senior Brother, rest assured. Even if I wanted to buy it, I couldn't afford it."

"Hehe, this brother, if you truly have your eye on this cultivation method yet are tight on cash, this young master can help you out."

Right at that moment, a slightly flippant voice drifted over from nearby.

Lu Yuan turned his head to look, seeing a rat-faced, plump-bodied young male stroll over while waving a folding fan.

This person wore a brocade robe, with several pieces of exceptionally fine jade pendants hanging from his waist.

At a glance, he was clearly someone whose family was not lacking in money.

"Who are you?"

Lu Yuan spoke up.

Earlier, when he and You Tai went up to the third floor, the attire of the two of them as ordinary commoners

had caused quite a few people to avoid them.

This fellow, on the contrary, had crowded over.

"I am Le Tian, and my family runs an escort agency."

"If Brother wants to make money to buy this cultivation method, I can provide you with a loan, or I can assign you some private tasks. The remuneration will definitely be generous."

The little fatty familiarly stepped forward and said with a beaming smile.

"If I wanted to take on missions, wouldn't it be better to take them directly at Sandalwood Palace? It's safe and has guarantees."

Lu Yuan retorted.

"Although Sandalwood Palace's missions are steady, the cut they take is also ruthless! Furthermore, certain secret intelligence regarding the appearances of ferocious beasts that I hold in my hands might not necessarily be possessed by Sandalwood Palace."

Le Tian chuckled.

However, Lu Yuan knew that there was no free lunch in this world.

He did not trust the person before him either.

"Not interested."

Lu Yuan refused.

With those words, he prepared to leave together with You Tai.

"Even if the deal doesn't go through, the relations of goodwill remain."

Le Tian cheerfully passed over a small wooden plaque.

Seeing that although Lu Yuan was dressed plainly, he was able to ascend to this third floor holding a VIP token from Sandalwood Palace, he found it quite interesting and wanted to forge some relations.

Inscribed on the wooden plaque were three small characters: Zhongxing Escort Hall.

"This is a token of trust from our own escort agency. If you ever need help in the future or want to make some spare cash, come find me anytime."