Outside Yellow Maple Valley, in the Yue Kingdom.
A handsome young man in blue hovered in midair atop a leaf-shaped flying magical artifact. It was Lin He, returning from the Heavenly Star Sect Market.
He used the leaf-shaped flying magical artifact to avoid attracting attention. Naturally, he had used the Flying Spirit Boat for the journey, only switching to the leaf-shaped artifact as he approached Yellow Maple Valley.
It was only a small detail, but Lin He still took care over it.
"This trip really paid off. I can move on to the next part of my plan."
Over the past ten months, Lin He had spent forty-two spirit stones to accelerate the growth of fourteen demonic beasts to the peak of the first rank. He had killed seven for materials and delivered them to Old Xu's shop. Including the Three-Eyed Fire Wolf, he still had eight spirit beasts left.
Old Xu's artifact-refining skills were indeed impressive. Apart from a handful of failures, most of his attempts had succeeded, producing seventeen magical artifacts in total: twelve top-grade magical artifacts and five high-grade magical artifacts.
Old Xu had bought some himself and recommended others to fellow cultivators. To sell them quickly, Lin He had offered the whole lot at three hundred spirit stones per top-grade magical artifact and one hundred per high-grade magical artifact, earning a total of four thousand one hundred spirit stones.
He had also sold off the mid-grade and low-grade magical artifacts and assorted materials from Senior Brother Liu's and his companion's Storage Bags at low prices, bringing in over a hundred spirit stones.
That left Lin He with more than four thousand two hundred spirit stones on hand, making him something of a small tycoon among Qi Refining Stage cultivators.
But Lin He was no miser. He had clear plans for how to use those spirit stones.
With that thought, Lin He, who had only just returned, prepared to head out again. This time, his destination was the Yellow Maple Valley Market.
"According to the original story, Han Li should be heading to the Yellow Maple Valley Market for a shopping spree next. It took me quite some effort to scrape together over four thousand spirit stones. This is the perfect chance to snatch those opportunities before he does."
Just as Lin He was about to fly off, he encountered an ordinary-looking, dark-skinned young man. It was Han Li!
Han Li stood atop a leaf-shaped flying magical artifact, having just flown out of the formation guarding Yellow Maple Valley's entrance. He, too, seemed to be heading out. Seeing Lin He, he paused in surprise before instinctively greeting him.
"Junior Brother Lin, are you heading out too? Hm? Your cultivation..."
Since their last transaction, Lin He and Han Li had become slightly acquainted, their relationship growing a little closer, but that was all.
Han Li had never taken the initiative to visit Lin He, nor had Lin He sought out Han Li. They were neither close nor distant.
After ten months apart, Han Li instinctively checked him with the Heavenly Eye Technique and was immediately startled.
Lin He was not concealing his cultivation. After ten months of diligent cultivation, aided by nine bottles of cultivation-advancing pills, his progress had accelerated considerably. He had actually reached the eleventh level of Qi Refining.
The last time they had met, Lin He had only been at the peak of the seventh level of Qi Refining. How could Han Li not be surprised when he had leaped across four minor realms?
Han Li himself was only at the eleventh level of Qi Refining, having advanced just one minor realm in ten months despite eating pills like candy. His progress had slowed because Yellow Dragon Pills and Golden Marrow Pills were no longer effective at the eleventh level of Qi Refining and above.
As expected of dual spiritual roots. Even with the Mystical Little Bottle helping me, I still can't cultivate as fast as he does.
Han Li could only attribute it to aptitude. Unable to help himself, he remarked with admiration,
"Your cultivation speed is truly astonishing, Junior Brother Lin. We haven't seen each other for ten months, and you've already crossed four minor realms."
Faced with Han Li's praise, Lin He merely replied modestly, "I owe my quick breakthroughs to those five bottles of pills you gave me, Senior Brother Han."
Hearing Lin He bring that up left Han Li feeling rather glum.
To verify the information Lin He had given him, he had asked Martial Uncle Ma and Senior Brother Wu. Only then had he realized he had been swindled.
Many disciples already knew about the Forbidden Land Trial. With a piece of information like that, Lin He could only fleece an isolated lone wolf like Han Li.
Still, Han Li knew when to let things go. He did not fly into a humiliated rage, merely admitting that the other man had outplayed him. Besides, five bottles of pills were no more than a drop in the bucket to him.
"I still have things to attend to, so I won't keep chatting. Farewell!"
Their acquaintance was shallow indeed. After exchanging a few empty pleasantries, Han Li took the initiative to say goodbye. He still needed to prepare for the Forbidden Land Trial. That was what truly mattered, and he could not afford any delays.
Han Li steered his leaf-shaped flying magical artifact toward the Yellow Maple Valley Market.
Ever since using the Flying Spirit Boat, Lin He had lost all enthusiasm for the leaf-shaped flying magical artifact. The reason was simple: it was far too slow.
Now, however, seeing Han Li flying at such a sluggish pace brought a gleam of delight to Lin He's eyes. He deliberately set off in another direction, switched to the Flying Spirit Boat, and took a detour toward the Yellow Maple Valley Market.
The Flying Spirit Boat was three times as fast as the leaf-shaped magical artifact, so naturally, Lin He arrived first.
The Yellow Maple Valley Market lay in the northeastern Taiyue Mountain Range. As it was close to the Yuanwu Kingdom, and the Yue Kingdom and Yuanwu Kingdom were not enemies, many cultivators from Yuanwu also visited, bringing plenty of rare goods. Over time, the Yellow Maple Valley Market had grown increasingly bustling.
Five li from the market, the flight-restricting ward took effect, forcing Lin He to land and continue on foot.
He deliberately put on a hooded cloak and draped a gray robe over himself, concealing his appearance.
Five li was nothing to Lin He. Before long, he arrived and entered the market through its northern gate.
The Yellow Maple Valley Market had only one street running from north to south. The southern section held assorted buildings and shops, more than half of which belonged to Yellow Maple Valley. The rest were rented to other merchants and independent cultivators who lived there year-round.
A large stretch in the north had been left open for cultivators to set up their own stalls. All they needed to pay was one low-grade spirit stone per day.
Such measures to encourage trade naturally attracted many cultivators in search of treasures. That was also why Lin He had entered through the northern gate.
"Let's see if I can dig up anything good."
It was already afternoon when Lin He arrived. Foot traffic was fairly light, but quite a few independent cultivators were still doggedly tending their stalls. After all, they had already paid a spirit stone. Wouldn't leaving early just be a waste?
His Flying Spirit Boat was much faster than Han Li's leaf-shaped magical artifact, so he was in no hurry to visit the Myriad Treasures Pavilion. He planned to browse here first.
"Come take a look! Come have a look!
Freshly drawn low-tier beginner talismans, just two spirit stones each! For two spirit stones, you can't lose! For two spirit stones, you can't get swindled! Snatch one up and you've already made a profit!"
Hearing that familiar sales pitch, Lin He could not help smiling. He had no interest whatsoever in these low-tier beginner talismans and simply ignored it.
After walking for a while, Lin He suddenly stopped in front of a certain stall.
"Fellow Daoist, are you looking to buy a spirit beast?"