Second Layer

Blood Essence—so this was how it appeared.

Ji Yuan's first reaction was that this truly was worthy of the cultivation world... With a casual gesture, he drew the Blood Essence over.

Half a tael of Blood Essence was only about the size of a billiard ball, and it still felt faintly warm in his hand.

Even without refining it into Cultivation Pills, simply swallowing it would probably produce exceptional healing effects.

If he sold it, this half-tael of Blood Essence would be worth ten Spirit Stones. Ji Yuan did intend to sell it, but not yet. He planned to stockpile a little more before going, lest visiting too often draw attention.

After examining it for a while, Ji Yuan took out a Jade Box and stored it away.

He looked toward the panel. The spiritual effects and upgrade requirements of the Level 3 [Pigsty] had already appeared.

[Pigsty: LV3]

[Spiritual Effects: Produces 1 tael of Jade-Grease each month. After a Spirit Pig is slaughtered, its heart is guaranteed to yield one "Aperture-Tempering Pearl."]

[Upgrade Requirements: Middle-Grade Spirit Stone ×50, Earthcore Molten Rock ×5 jin, refine Qi-Blood Pill (not achieved)]

Jade-Grease??

Ji Yuan had never seen it, but he had heard people discussing it at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. It was a precious treasure capable of restoring cracks in magical artifacts and even Dharma treasures!

If a Dharma treasure was damaged in a battle of spells, one could either painstakingly nurture it with spiritual power or find an artifact refiner to remelt and repair it.

Nurturing it back to health himself was too slow, while finding an artifact refiner was troublesome. Either way, it would cost many more Spirit Stones.

Many times, the cost of patching something up was enough to buy an entirely new Dharma treasure.

But Jade-Grease could perfectly solve both problems. Its sole drawback was that it produced too little—only one tael a month, and a single jin after ten months.

The second spiritual effect was the "Aperture-Tempering Pearl." Ji Yuan had never heard of it.

But judging by the effects of the Level 1 and Level 2 [Pigsty], along with its name, it should still be related to Body Refining?

Even if it was not, it ought to be something excellent for nurturing one's acupoints.

All in all, the Level 3 [Pigsty] was highly effective. Its upgrade requirements were simply more difficult. Never mind the Spirit Stones and Earthcore Molten Rock required—the final condition was refining a Qi-Blood Pill... It seemed that, besides his side profession as a Talisman Master, he would have to start another as an alchemist.

That was fine. He could treat it as preparation for refining a Foundation Establishment Pill in advance.

Filled with visions of the future, Ji Yuan stood and stretched, then turned to glance at the Red-Crowned Chicken, which had already recovered more than half its strength.

Mm... He would come take another dose of cockscomb blood in a few days.

Ji Yuan had already experienced this stuff's wonders. Naturally, he could not let it go.

Afterward, he washed up and changed into clean clothes. That night, for once, he did not cultivate. He gave up the twenty-percent spiritual energy bonus and simply lay down on his little bed.

As he worked up his drowsiness, Ji Yuan also reviewed this life-and-death battle.

In the end, it still came down to one thing: in a battle of spells, one fought resources and methods!

The Whitewater Flying Sword that could withstand the Yin Ghost Banner head-on, the Water Drop Finger that shredded Yin Ghosts, the cockscomb blood that broke the Formation, the Water-Escape Talisman for fleeing, and the Demon-Subduing Talisman that suppressed the Ghost Island Master.

Along with the final, life-stealing Deathbringer Needle.

With so many methods at his disposal, if even one had been missing, Ji Yuan might have become another drowned ghost of Cloud-Rain Marsh.

As for shortcomings, his offensive methods were still too lacking. The Water Drop Finger alone could no longer sustain a battle of spells among Middle Qi Refining Stage cultivators.

So after selling his gains at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion tomorrow, he still had to buy the second layer of the Water Drop Finger and, while he was at it, see whether there were any other suitable techniques.

As he pondered, Ji Yuan gradually drifted into sleep.

Meanwhile.

On the waters outside Black Mist Island in Sophora Shade Ward, two Spirit Vessel Flying Boats were moored.

A man and a woman stood aboard the flying boats.

If Ji Yuan had been here, he would have recognized the female cultivator standing aboard as the peach-blossom-eyed woman he had seen at Shop No. A-18 last time.

"The black mist... has dispersed."

Looking at the renowned Black Mist Island before her, the female cultivator spoke with some surprise.

"Mm. That Old Ghost is dead."

Yao Jingfeng, dressed in a dark black robe, folded his arms before his chest. A faint smile glimmered in his eyes. "That kid from Zengtou City seems to be only at the Fifth Layer of Qi Refinement, right?"

Du Wanyi turned to look at him. "You mean he killed Old Ghost?"

"Mm."

Yao Jingfeng nodded, without explaining how he knew.

But since he had said so, Du Wanyi believed him.

"Who would have thought that the Ghost Island Master, who possessed a Formation, would die at the hands of an unknown nobody?"

"Don't worry. Someone with such methods cannot remain obscure. We will probably learn his great name soon enough."

Yao Jingfeng sighed. "Never mind the world at large—even in our tiny Cloud-Rain Marsh, geniuses are as numerous as crucian carp crossing a river."

Du Wanyi deeply agreed. "To possess such strength in the Middle Qi Refining Stage, reaching the late stage in the future is practically a nail driven into a board. Should we invite him to join us early?"

"There is no rush. We can discuss it after he reaches the late stage. Besides, he is from Zengtou City. If we intervene rashly, we may provoke Blind Qin's dissatisfaction."

"Then waiting a little longer is fine..."

After speaking, Du Wanyi turned toward Yao Jingfeng. "You should be able to join the Water Dragon Sect next year, right? Has Senior Brother Huang arranged everything for you?"

At the mention of this matter, Yao Jingfeng rarely showed a trace of a smile. "Don't worry. We all came out of Cloud-Rain Marsh, so we will certainly look after one another."

"That is for the best."

Du Wanyi nodded lightly.

The next morning, after Ji Yuan collected the day's Spirit Egg and the Blood Essence worth ten Spirit Stones, he sailed to Zengtou City.

He first sold the Coldblood Perch he had caught midway at the Fish Pen, earning a modest eighteen Spirit Stones.

Only then did he head to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. With the goods he intended to sell today, only the Hundred Treasures Pavilion could afford to take them all.

He first arrived at the magical artifact section. Under the gaze of the Water Dragon Sect cultivator on duty, he took out the Spirit Vessel he had obtained from Wei Caishan.

"Twenty Spirit Stones." The cultivator on duty gave it a casual glance.

Ji Yuan then took out the White Boat, whose mark he had erased. Only then did the cultivator on duty grow more serious. After a brief inspection, he gave an appraisal. "Twenty-seven Spirit Stones."

Both were low-grade Spirit Vessels, yet Ji Yuan's White Boat cost a full seven Spirit Stones more.

"Deal."

Just as the cultivator on duty was about to pay the Spirit Stones, Ji Yuan took out the Ghost Island Master's damaged Dharma robe, along with the Skeleton Token he had used for protection.

"Hm?"

The moment those two items appeared, it was obvious that they had been acquired through murder and plunder.

Thus, the cultivator on duty gave Ji Yuan a more serious look, especially after seeing his appearance and age. Then, with interest, he said, "Quite ruthless, aren't you?"

"Work harder, and you may yet have a chance to become our junior brother."

"Thank you for the praise, Senior." Ji Yuan cupped his hands, neither humble nor overbearing.

"Seventy-six Spirit Stones in total. Selling?"

After checking every item one by one, the cultivator on duty gave Ji Yuan the final price.

"Selling!"

Ji Yuan had no objections to the price. Once he finished selling these goods, he had originally intended to sell off the unnecessary Cultivation Pills and Talismans as well. But on second thought, he was not short of money at present, so it would be better to keep them. They might come in handy someday.

At last, he arrived at the technique section. The cultivator on duty there was still the same white-haired old cultivator from last time.

But the old man clearly did not remember Ji Yuan. He raised his head for a glance, then drooped it again. "What do you want?"

Ji Yuan stepped forward with a faint smile. "May I ask, Senior, do you have the second layer of the Water Drop Finger?"

"The second layer of the Water Drop Finger?!"

Both terms were familiar, but putting them together was somewhat rare. The white-haired cultivator thought back. He had been on duty at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion for more than a decade, yet he seemed never to have heard anyone ask for the second layer of the Water Drop Finger.

Only then did he sit upright and study Ji Yuan intently. After a long while, he finally remembered, then clapped his hands and laughed.

"So it's you, kid."