Wanshan City was one of the largest settlements on the northern edge of the Northern Plains.
This place saw frequent traffic of cultivators. Loose cultivators heading to the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains for monster hunting and treasure seeking often gathered here. Cultivators from other sects also came to trade within the city.
"Why do I feel like I've forgotten something?" Qin Yang frowned, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of the Northern Plains Monster Hunter Rankings and the Celestial Academy.
"The Celestial Academy is far in Central Province," Lou Mengyu continued, "but as one of the continent's top powers, they care about the world at large. They've transformed the continent's once-a-century calamity into a grand event. Now that the beast tide is approaching, geniuses from across the continent will come to the Northern Plains."
She added, "These people aren't ordinary disciples from sects like the Thousand Hidden Sect. Each has extraordinary origins. You'd best avoid trouble. When you encounter those of unknown background, it's best to avoid conflict."
Recalling Martial Heaven's warnings and what had happened at the Thousand Hidden Sect's Pill Dispensary, Lou Mengyu felt she really needed to keep a close eye on Qin Yang.
Qin Yang wasn't convinced. "Extraordinary origins? How do they compare to the Eight Divine Clans?"
Lou Mengyu frowned. "The Eight Divine Clans aren't as simple as you think."
"How complicated could they be?" Qin Yang smiled.
As they entered the city, they found themselves on wide streets lined with shops. Among the passersby were many cultivators.
"Do you have money?" Qin Yang suddenly asked.
Lou Mengyu paused. "Yes," she answered, thinking Qin Yang was worried about their living situation. "We won't have to sleep in the open. Don't worry."
Qin Yang didn't mince words. "Then give me some. I need to buy medicinal herbs and a pill furnace."
"Why do you need those?" Lou Mengyu asked. "You can't get those in regular shops. Wanshan City has a market for cultivators, and..."
"Let's go," Qin Yang said, cutting her off.
Lou Mengyu bit her lip and followed.
After asking for directions, they arrived at the cultivator market.
The atmosphere here was completely different. Virtually everyone they saw was a cultivator! It was like an independent district within the city.
There weren't just shops, but also a dedicated area for stalls.
Qin Yang's eyes lit up with excitement as he began wandering through the market.
The stalls offered more than just cultivation manuals and martial arts techniques. There were even magical artifacts and weapons. The variety of strange and exotic items left Qin Yang's eyes darting back and forth in awe.
"A Profound-grade cultivation manual!"
"Tier-1 Martial Technique!"
"Tier-2 Magical Artifact!"
"Tier-3 Spirit Medicine!"
Qin Yang's jaw dropped. This place was like a treasure trove!
Seeing Qin Yang's country bumpkin expression, Lou Mengyu felt her face burning with embarrassment. Being seen with him was utterly humiliating!
"Tier-2 spirit medicine Bloodvine... Young man, would you like to purchase it?" asked the vendor, a middle-aged cultivator.
Qin Yang bent down to examine the item. "How much?"
The cultivator sized up Qin Yang, then glanced at Lou Mengyu beside him. His eyes lit up with greed. After a moment's consideration, he held up two fingers.
"Are you calling me a fool? I asked the price!" Qin Yang demanded, thoroughly annoyed by the vendor's shady tactics.
The cultivator smiled. "Two low-grade spirit stones."
"Huh? Spirit stones?" Qin Yang looked confused.
Lou Mengyu's face darkened. Did this idiot not even know what spirit stones were?
"Spirit stones are the currency among cultivators," she whispered. "One low-grade spirit stone equals a hundred taels of gold."
"What?! You're robbing me!" Qin Yang exclaimed, startled. "A Tier-2 spirit medicine for two hundred taels of gold? You..."
"Keep your voice down!" The cultivator panicked, facing the scornful glares of other stallholders. He quickly amended his words, "I was just joking earlier. This Bloodvine is twenty taels of gold."
"From twenty taels to two taels in the blink of an eye? You think I'm some fat lamb you can fleece however you please?" Qin Yang's expression turned menacing.
Lou Mengyu interjected from the side, "Normally, second-order spirit herbs only cost ten taels. This Bloodvine isn't mature enough. Five taels, no more."
The vendor was stunned, never expecting to encounter someone who knew the true value!
After a moment of dejection, the vendor relented, "Fine, fine! Five taels it is. Take it!"
After Lou Mengyu paid, Qin Yang collected the spirit herb.
Under Qin Yang's astonished gaze, Lou Mengyu flushed and snapped, "What are you staring at?"
Qin Yang clicked his tongue. "Who would've thought the darling of the heavens could haggle? Seems like women are born with this shopping instinct."
Lou Mengyu's expression darkened as she recalled unhappy memories, leaving her silent.
But Qin Yang had already moved on to the next stall.
Before long, they had gathered all the materials for a second-order Face-Preserving Pill.
Lou Mengyu finally understood what Qin Yang was planning.
"All that's left is the pill furnace," Qin Yang said.
"But..." Lou Mengyu hesitated. "Pill furnaces are classified as magical artifacts. Even the most basic ones aren't cheap. To refine a second-order Face-Preserving Pill, I'd need at least a yellow-grade magical artifact pill furnace. I... I can't afford it."
"Can't afford it? You're from a divine clan. How could you not even afford a yellow-grade magical artifact pill furnace?" Qin Yang asked, genuinely puzzled.
Lou Mengyu looked troubled. She turned her face away, remaining silent.
Qin Yang pondered this. It seemed Lou Mengyu's life within her clan wasn't as comfortable as he'd imagined.
To spare her further embarrassment, Qin Yang spoke up: "In that case, I'll find another way. I originally planned to refine this second-order premium Face-Preserving Pill for you to take tomorrow. Now I'll have to refine it and sell it first."
Qin Yang had already devised a plan to make money.
"Huh?" Lou Mengyu stared in surprise. The pill was meant for her? She recalled Qin Yang's earlier words about giving her one pill per day. Could he have been serious about that?
"What are you waiting for? Let's go find a pill furnace!" Qin Yang strode forward purposefully.
Lou Mengyu watched Qin Yang's retreating figure, then snapped out of her daze and hurried after him.
Liu San's Pill Shop.
Cultivators streamed in and out of the shop, indicating brisk business.
"This is the place," Qin Yang declared as he strode inside.
"Who's the boss?" Qin Yang demanded.
A gray-bearded old man behind the counter tilted his head, responding with weary indifference, "Me. Pick your pills from the shelves. Prices are clearly marked—no haggling. Come find me when you're ready to pay."
He yawned dramatically, but his eyes instantly lit up upon noticing Lou Mengyu standing behind Qin Yang, all traces of fatigue vanishing.
"Ah, young lady! What medicinal pills might you require?" Liu San scurried over, completely ignoring Qin Yang's presence.
Years of operating this shop had honed his ability to size up customers. This female cultivator's aura screamed importance! Recalling recent events, he could already guess her origins with near certainty.
Only when Lou Mengyu glanced at Qin Yang did Liu San finally acknowledge his existence, his tone turning curt. "What do you want?"
He'd already relegated Qin Yang to the role of mere errand boy accompanying the important client.
"You have..." Qin Yang began, but before he could finish, two figures—a man and a woman—strode into the shop.
The woman glowed with striking beauty, her features bearing an uncanny resemblance to Lou Mengyu's.
The man wore an air of arrogant disdain, his eyes sweeping over the establishment with contempt.
"Produce your finest Face-Preserving Pills immediately!" the young cultivator demanded in a tone of command.
Liu San's eyes lit up. Two premium customers in one day—his fortune was turning!
Apologizing with a glance at Lou Mengyu, he hurried to retrieve a porcelain bottle from the counter. "These are second-grade high-grade Face-Preserving Pills," he declared proudly. "Only Liu San's Pill Shop in Wanshan City carries pills of this caliber."
The young cultivator didn't take the proffered bottle. Instead, he stared in astonishment at Lou Mengyu.
The female cultivator also turned her gaze toward them, recognition dawning on her face.
"What a coincidence! Weren't you at that Thousand Hidden Sect?" the young cultivator greeted with a smile.
The female cultivator snorted derisively. "Why didn't you greet your elder sister properly?"
Lou Mengyu clenched her fists, but forced herself to bow respectfully. "Greetings, elder sister."