The inner sect senior brother kept his expression unchanged and swept his sleeve with practiced ease, slipping the spirit stone inside.
Only after rubbing it carefully and weighing it in his hand did a satisfied smile appear on his stern face.
Assigning chores was different from assigning cave abodes.
Once an outer sect disciple's cave abode had been determined, it was very difficult to change.
Only upon entering the inner sect could they choose a new cave abode with richer spiritual energy.
Alternatively, only after reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm could they move to one of the seven main peaks to cultivate, or be allocated a small Spirit Mountain within the sect's territory to establish a cave abode.
Thus, the fee for such "favors" was somewhat expensive. It usually took more than ten spirit stones to secure a slightly better location. This was perfectly normal.
Chores, however, came around every three months. Though each brought only one or two spirit stones, a thin stream flowed long, providing a steady supply.
The inner sect senior brother was very pleased. Seeing how sensible this junior brother was, he became more courteous in his speech.
"Since you have a particular skill, junior brother, it's only natural that you should want a chore suited to your strengths!"
"Everyone should put their talents to good use. I understand completely."
"Whenever you come to collect a chore assignment in the future, just come to me. Leave it all in my hands, and I'll arrange it for you."
"Oh, my surname is Qian. Just call me Senior Brother Qian."
Senior Brother Qian spoke with satisfaction, his tone much warmer now, a stark contrast to his earlier indifference.
After speaking, he leafed through the chore register in his hands.
"How about this? Grade D medicinal garden number seventeen still needs a disciple to tend its spiritual herbs."
"The assignment lasts one month. Go there, junior brother."
As he spoke, he assigned Liu Yu the task of tending a Spirit Herb Garden.
The Primordial Yang Sect's Spirit Herb Gardens were divided into four grades: A, B, C, and D.
These corresponded respectively to the Nascent Soul, Golden Core Stage, Foundation Establishment, and Qi Refining Period realms.
Each matched a cultivation realm. For example, Grade D medicinal gardens generally grew spiritual herbs and medicinal plants used in the Qi Refining Period.
After completing the registration and explaining a few precautions, Senior Brother Qian gave Liu Yu a bronze token.
Only with this token could he open the Spirit Herb Garden's formation restrictions. Once the assignment ended, he would have to return it.
"Thank you for arranging this, senior brother!"
Liu Yu accepted the token, chatted with Senior Brother Qian a little longer, then took his leave and departed the General Affairs Hall.
After spending some time considering how to use the Immortal Mansion's advantages to improve his cultivation quickly,
a vague idea had already formed in his mind!
Although the Immortal Mansion possessed the heaven-defying ability to accelerate the maturation of spiritual herbs, Liu Yu had no intention of selling them directly to earn spirit stones.
Such behavior would be no different from seeking his own death!
At most, he would mature a few plants to earn his "first pot of gold." After that, unless necessary, he would not sell spiritual herbs directly.
Strange and peculiar spells emerged endlessly in the cultivation world. If highly aged spiritual herbs frequently appeared on the market, they would certainly draw the attention of certain "interested parties."
Even if he disguised his appearance or sold them in different places, he probably still would not escape a determined investigator.
No matter how careful he was, he would inevitably leave behind a few spider threads and horse tracks.
When that happened, he would likely be unable to escape the agony of "Soul Searching"!
Thus, after repeated consideration, Liu Yu still intended to refine pills himself and cultivate discreetly, without attracting attention.
There were two main reasons for this:
First, thanks to the Immortal Mansion's heaven-defying ability, his pill-refining costs would be extremely low. He could make repeated attempts and accumulate experience.
This was his unique advantage.
Second, Liu Yu's Divine Sense was slightly stronger than that of cultivators at the same level.
He did not know whether this was because he had lived two lives or because of the emerald speck of light shining upon him,
but according to rumors, powerful Divine Sense also benefited pill and artifact refining!
As long as he made good use of these two advantages, pill refining held great promise!
Whoosh!
Leaving the General Affairs Hall, Liu Yu cast the Wind-Riding Technique and hurried toward the southern side of the Primordial Yang Sect, intending to make a trip outside.
Since he had decided to refine pills, he naturally needed to purchase a pill furnace and pill recipes.
As for obtaining them within the sect?
He had lived in the Origin Sun Villa since childhood, and the sect knew his background inside out. It would be better not to reveal anything for now.
Later, once his cultivation was higher, he could slowly lay the groundwork.
Not wanting familiar fellow disciples to see him, Liu Yu deliberately took a long detour.
Only after six hours did he approach his destination.
"Jiatai Market."
Liu Yu looked into the distance, and a Spirit Mountain came into view.
Jiatai Market Ward lay outside the Primordial Yang Sect, on a spiritual mountain over a thousand meters high. It was a medium-sized market, neither particularly large nor small.
A road seven or eight meters wide wound upward from the foot of the mountain to its waist, while drifting clouds of varying sizes veiled different parts of the peak.
Elegant, old-fashioned towers, halls, and pavilions dotted the mountainside. At a rough count, there were probably several hundred.
On a relatively level stretch halfway up the mountain, the roads were particularly broad, and the multistory buildings on either side stood in orderly rows.
There were more than a dozen such Market Wards outside the Primordial Yang Sect. Jiatai Market was merely one of them.
This concerns the Immortal Mansion's secret. For now, it would be best if the sect didn't learn that I'm studying pill refining.
I must proceed slowly and carefully.
Gazing at Jiatai Market from afar, Liu Yu thought silently.
Out of caution, he took out a black bamboo hat and a black veil.
After putting them on and tying the veil in place, only his eyes remained visible through the openings.
He checked himself in a mirror, found nothing amiss, and only then walked toward the Market Ward with peace of mind.
Tap, tap.
Strolling along the bustling street, Liu Yu noticed many gray-robed outer sect disciples of the Primordial Yang Sect among the surrounding cultivators, as well as a handful of white-robed inner sect senior brothers.
Of course, there were also plenty of cultivators like him, wearing bamboo hats and unwilling to reveal their identities.
Whenever a Foundation Establishment Realm senior passed, the nearby cultivators immediately stepped aside and bowed.
Only after the Foundation Establishment senior had gone far away did they resume their own affairs.
This alone offered a glimpse of the cultivation world's rigid hierarchy.
Listening to the vendors' cries around him, Liu Yu did not linger. He chose a shop called the Jade Orchid Tower and walked openly inside.
Soon after he entered, a female cultivator approached him. Her hair was arranged in a cloudlike coiffure, her features were delicate, and she wore a pale purple dress.
Her cultivation was around the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining. A polite smile appeared on her face.
"Are you looking for magical artifacts, pills, or talismans, fellow Daoist?"
With only his calm eyes visible, Liu Yu glanced around without saying anything.
"Please."
The purple-dressed cultivator understood. She gestured with one hand and led the way.
Soon, the two entered an elegantly furnished room with an old-fashioned charm. A carpet covered the floor, and all the furnishings were present.
Creak.
The purple-dressed cultivator closed the door, invited Liu Yu to sit, then took out a teacup and personally poured him some hot tea.
"I am Liu Xueqin, a steward of the Jade Orchid Tower. How should I address you, fellow Daoist?"
After pouring the Spirit Tea, Liu Xueqin cupped her hands and asked courteously.
Every movement carried a mature, alluring grace, and a faint, delicate fragrance emanated from her.
"My surname is Hong."
Liu Yu spoke rather coldly, casually inventing a false name. He did not remove his hat or veil.
Steward Liu took no offense and maintained her polite smile.
"I intend to purchase a pill furnace and a primer on pill refining."
Not wanting to waste much time, Liu Yu went straight to the point and stated his purpose, continuing in the same indifferent voice.
Beneath the hat, his face was expressionless, his heart calm and without a ripple.
"Are you planning to learn pill refining, Fellow Daoist Hong?"
"Pill refining is a craft that burns through spirit stones. Who knows how many fellow cultivators it has driven to ruin, leaving them with nothing in the end?"
Steward Liu's voice was gentle, as though she had asked in passing.
Liu Yu remained unmoved, his voice turning a shade colder. "Aren't you meddling a little too much, fellow Daoist?"
At his words, Steward Liu merely smiled, unconcerned by Liu Yu's stiff tone.
She had received countless customers, including some even more secretive than Liu Yu. Several mysterious customers like this came every day, and she had long since ceased to find them strange.
"You've come at just the right time, Fellow Daoist Hong. Our shop happens to have two pill furnaces still unsold. Would you like to see them?"
Sipping her Spirit Tea, Liu Xueqin asked with a smile.
"Please bring them out. If I'm satisfied, I certainly won't begrudge the spirit stones!"
Liu Yu's interest stirred, but he spoke without betraying it.
"Very well. Please wait a moment, fellow Daoist. I'll be right back."
With that, Steward Liu rose and cupped her hands, then left the room, her graceful body swaying and stirring a fragrant breeze.
About half a tea's time later, Steward Liu pushed the door open again, now carrying two brocade boxes and a jade cylinder.
She placed the items on the table and spoke without prompting.
"These are the only two pill furnaces our shop has. I hope they meet your discerning eye, Fellow Daoist Hong!"
Liu Yu's eyes shifted toward the two brocade boxes, signaling for her to open them.
Seeing his reaction, Steward Liu smiled softly and unhurriedly opened one of the boxes.
It revealed a small cauldron a little over half a foot tall, its body marked with green patterns.
"This cauldron is called Green Veins."
"It was meticulously refined using green vein gold, a rare ore from the State of Yue, as its main material, mixed with various supplementary materials suited to pill refining."
"It can slightly improve the success rate of pill refining. It is a rare, high-grade pill-furnace artifact, priced at six hundred and eighty spirit stones."
"If you purchase this cauldron, fellow Daoist, you'll certainly receive more than your money's worth!"
Steward Liu bent slightly to stroke the green cauldron. Whether intentionally or not, from Liu Yu's current position, he could see her beautiful curves perfectly.
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