One hundred and forty-eight spirit stones—a massive fortune!
If converted entirely into spirit coins, that was at least over fifteen hundred coins!
What did that mean?
He had secured a third of his spiritual root!
"Is this what price gouging and profiteering feel like?"
Chen Zhuo could not help sighing deeply. The heavy weight of the spirit stones provided him an immense sense of security.
With his current wealth, Chen Zhuo was surely among the top five in his junior college, wasn't he?
Then again, what kind of rich kid would attend a junior college?
They had long since gone abroad to study in other domains.
That was an unspoken rule in the world of the Immortal Mansion.
If one came from a prominent background but their exam scores and spiritual roots were subpar, their parents would leverage their connections and resources to send them across domains to study at premier institutions elsewhere.
The Yuqing Domain was renowned for divine consciousness, excelling in artifact crafting and divine-consciousness applications. Currently, the entire Yuqing Domain leaned heavily toward developing something called "Tianyuan."
In essence, it was the cultivation world's version of artificial intelligence; both the spiritual communication jade slips and Xiao Yu were products of the Yuqing Domain.
The Shangqing Domain placed greater emphasis on combat arts. Its famed conglomerate, Shangqing Military Industry, oversaw numerous enterprises such as military cultivation tech and swarm cultivation firms, boasting a staggering scale.
The Daluo Domain, on the other hand, was obsessed with fleshly body modification, specializing in biological flesh-and-blood implants.
The Zhongtian Domain dabbled in a bit of everything, primarily adhering to traditional cultivation. It was the headquarters of the Immortal Mansion as well as the primordial world.
However, traditional cultivation was steadily losing ground to technological cultivation nowadays. The cultivators of the Zhongtian Domain were growing weaker by the day, signaling the mansion's gradual decline.
As for the Taiqing Domain where Chen Zhuo resided, its economy was centered on the pharmaceutical industry, where doping and drug injections were routine.
Each of the Five Domains had its own strengths, yet they complemented one another.
For instance, the Shangqing Domain and Yuqing Domain frequently collaborated, as products like flying sword swarms required the divine consciousness tech and Tianyuan support of the Yuqing Domain.
Likewise, the flesh modifications of the Daluo Domain could not do without the medicinal pills of the Taiqing Domain.
With everyone intertwined and dependent on each other, this system of cross-domain schooling flourished. Students would return thirty or forty years later as "domain returnee elites" to assume high-ranking positions.
His thoughts were drifting too far.
Chen Zhuo's parents were neither Golden Core True Persons nor Nascent Soul True Monarchs.
He did not even know who his parents were. He could rely only on his own efforts.
Shaking his head, Chen Zhuo stepped toward the edge of the shantytown, preparing to meet Li Changqing.
He still had to write this month's observation report on the Qi Gathering Powder.
Using Li Changqing for his reports was a routine task Chen Zhuo had to complete every month.
After all, someone who looked after a younger sister and possessed a good heart was quite rare in the ancient cultivation world. Having someone else test the medicine would not put Chen Zhuo at ease.
Even so, Chen Zhuo maintained his vigilance throughout the entire walk toward the edge of the shantytown.
Although he had dispatched Zhao Si and Liu Wu with the high-grade Sword Qi Talisman, that did not mean the shantytown was devoid of other perils.
If there had been only two robber cultivators, Yunjin Market's shantytown might well have been nominated as one of the "Top Ten Safest Markets."
Furthermore, that old fox Shopkeeper Han had probably guessed something by now.
Yet Chen Zhuo was not concerned.
Given Shopkeeper Han's cautious nature, suspecting that Chen Zhuo might have a powerful backing would only make him more wary, preventing him from acting rashly.
That was actually advantageous to Chen Zhuo.
Seeing Chen Zhuo arrive, Li Changqing beamed with surprise. "Senior, you've come!"
Chen Zhuo nodded and took out his practical assignment. "If you need this packet of Qi Gathering Powder, I can offer it to you for eight spirit stones."
Li Changqing's eyes lit up, but a conflicted expression soon took over. "Senior, junior has been a bit tight on funds lately, so I'm afraid..."
"How many spirit stones do you have?"
Chen Zhuo did not care about the shortfall; after all, he was here to finish his homework, not to turn a profit.
"From hunting beasts a few days ago with Brother Sun and Brother Wang, I only have two spirit stones..." Li Changqing said rather sheepishly.
"That works too," Chen Zhuo said offhandedly. "Consider it an IOU for the remaining six spirit stones."
Hearing this, Li Changqing was overcome with excitement and bowed deeply to Chen Zhuo. "Thank you, Senior!"
With that, Li Changqing carefully drew a small cloth pouch from his robes, inside of which lay two spirit stones and several grains of spirit sand.
Presenting it with both hands, Li Changqing said respectfully, "Please accept this, Senior. Junior will scrape together the remaining six spirit stones and repay you as quickly as possible!"
Chen Zhuo accepted the spirit stones with a slight nod.
He then handed the Qi Gathering Powder to Li Changqing and said calmly, "Take it right here. I need to observe and record your reaction."
"Yes!"
Li Changqing responded, opening the vial of Qi Gathering Powder under Chen Zhuo's watchful gaze.
The Qi Gathering Powder was a pale yellow substance that gave off a faint, delicate fragrance.
Taking a deep breath, Li Changqing aligned the mouth of the vial with his nose and mouth, carefully inhaling the powder.
"Cough, cough!"
As the powder entered his nasal passages, Li Changqing was clearly unaccustomed to it, unable to suppress a couple of coughs.
Before long, however, Li Changqing stabilized his breathing and began circulating the spiritual energy within his body.
To be honest, the sight looked a bit like someone taking a hit off a joint...
Chen Zhuo jotted down notes while wearing an odd expression.
Nasal inhalation, intravenous injection...
Wait, is our Taiqing Domain really just a pharmaceutical sector? Why does this feel so shady?
After grumbling inwardly for a moment, Chen Zhuo continued his notes: "Post-administration, mild coughing observed..."
After the time it took an incense stick to burn, Li Changqing opened his eyes, glowing with vigor.
"Senior, the quality of this Qi Gathering Powder is extraordinary!" Li Changqing exclaimed with excitement. "Junior feels overflowing with spiritual energy. This packet alone has saved junior at least two months of bitter cultivation. Thank you, Senior!"
"Tell me about any difficulties you ran into while circulating your energy," Chen Zhuo said immediately.
"Yes, Senior," Li Changqing said, cupping his hands. "When the flow reached the foot jue meridian, there was some..."
Listening to Li Changqing's description, Chen Zhuo continued to write.
After jotting notes for roughly ten minutes, Chen Zhuo let out a long sigh of relief.
Another month's homework was completed.
What a relief.
Seeing Chen Zhuo set down his brush, Li Yao, who was standing to the side holding two bright red wild fruits in her small hands, walked over with cautious steps. Shyly offering the fruits to Chen Zhuo, she whispered, "Senior, Uncle Zheng next door picked these on the mountain. They are very sweet..."
Chen Zhuo paused slightly. Looking down at the clear-eyed little girl, he could not help but smile.
Reaching out, Chen Zhuo accepted the fruit, patted Li Yao on the head, and said, "Thank you."
Li Yao's small face flushed red instantly, and she quickly hid behind Li Changqing, poking only half of her head out to peek at Chen Zhuo.
A smile spread across Li Changqing's face as well.
Seeing that Chen Zhuo had finished his notes, Li Changqing took the initiative to speak. "Senior, might junior be permitted to say a few words?"
"Go ahead."
Chen Zhuo put away his brush and paper, feeling in good spirits.
"Senior, are you aware that the Qiwu Sword Sect will open its gates to recruit disciples in three months?" Li Changqing asked tentatively.
Chen Zhuo froze upon hearing this.
The Sword Sect was recruiting disciples?
In his mind, pieces of information left behind by the sinister old man he had slain quickly surfaced.
The Qiwu Sword Sect was the premier sect in Xu State, and Yunjin Market where he currently resided appeared to be a market under its jurisdiction.
"Tell me more," Chen Zhuo pressed immediately.
Seeing Chen Zhuo's interest, Li Changqing's spirits rose, and he hurried to explain: "Replying to Senior, the Qiwu Sword Sect opens its gates to recruit disciples once every ten years, and this year happens to be that recruitment year."
Oh?
Chen Zhuo was taken aback, then asked, "What are the requirements for admission?"
"The conditions are not overly harsh," Li Changqing answered respectfully. "Those under thirty years of age whose cultivation has reached the late stage of Qi Refining are admitted exempt from testing.
"Those in the middle stage of Qi Refining must undergo an assessment. Passing it earns one a spot as an outer disciple of the Sword Sect.
"And if one's aptitude is extraordinary, they ascend to the heavens in a single leap, taken directly as an inner disciple!"
The middle stage of Qi Refining...
Chen Zhuo's interest was piqued.
Having recently broken through to the fourth layer of Qi Refining, he met that exact requirement.
Should he go to this Qiwu Sword Sect or not?
With that thought, Chen Zhuo said, "You can probably tell that I am not originally from Xu State. Tell me about the Qiwu Sword Sect in detail.
"Besides the Qiwu Sword Sect, what other sects exist within the borders of Xu State?"
Chapter 34