High-level hunters often use prey as a means of...

"Senior Sister, I... my merit points don't seem to be enough."

Gu Zheng, who was sipping tea from her cup, paused at the remark, her delicate brows slightly furrowed: "Not enough? Then why did you pick something so expensive?"

"Oh, Senior Sister," Lin Yuan's expression changed instantly. He leaned closer, his voice tinged with a hint of grievance,

"You know, my Cultivation is low. In this frontline area, if the Misty Immortal Sect finds out that those Medicinal Pills were refined by me, they will definitely send experts to kill me."

He blinked, his eyes so sincere they seemed to drip water: "What if... what if something really happens to me one day? Senior Sister, you'd definitely be sad for me, right?"

"These two Talismans are for saving my life."

"Only if I save my life can I refine Medicinal Pills with peace of mind and create greater value for you, Senior Sister, and for our Sect."

This sudden string of sweet-talk, with its clear logic and progressive arguments, completely bewildered Gu Zheng.

Where had she ever seen such a display? The men who usually surrounded her all presented themselves as towering strong figures, afraid to show even a hint of weakness in front of her.

This guy, however, was surprisingly skilled and natural at acting cute, and that pitiful look, coupled with his handsome face, actually... actually made it a little hard to refuse.

Gu Zheng's cheeks felt a bit hot, and her fingers clutching the teacup tightened. She opened her mouth, wanting to say, "Then you figure it out yourself," but as the words reached her lips, she remembered Su Meiniang's strategy—to proceed gradually, to subtly influence, to make him feel her kindness... Damn it! This guy was clearly extorting her! He was definitely doing it on purpose!

Forget it, it's only a mere two thousand-plus merit points. Just consider it... an initial investment! When he's completely devoted to me, I'll see how I get it back with interest!

She snorted inwardly, but tried her best to maintain a calm expression. She put down the teacup and nodded slightly to Lin Yuan: "Junior Brother makes sense; I was not thoughtful enough. Since Junior Brother wants it, I naturally must satisfy you. A mere few merit points are nothing."

With that, she waved her jade hand, and a small pile of snow-white, bun-like merit coins, numbering at least three thousand, immediately appeared on the table in front of her.

"All my merit points are here; they're all for you."

"Thank you, Senior Sister! You're so kind, Senior Sister!" Lin Yuan immediately beamed with joy, unceremoniously sweeping up all the merit coins, his words as sweet as honey, "Don't worry, Senior Sister, when I have more merit points in the future, I'll definitely repay you double!"

Watching Lin Yuan's rogue-like appearance of taking advantage and still acting innocent, Gu Zheng felt a surge of anger but could only force out a smile.

Hmph! Let you be smug now! When your heart is completely set on this young lady, when you're head over heels for me and can't extricate yourself, then I'll let you know what true "double repayment" means!

After exchanging for the three items, Lin Yuan contentedly put away the two life-saving Talismans and the Pill Formula, a genuinely sincere smile on his face.

He then turned to the receptionist youth and asked, "Young man, why don't I see any High-Grade Spirit Stones in this Jade Slip?"

"Senior, you may not know," the youth quickly bowed, "there were indeed two High-Grade Spirit Stones before, but they were exchanged shortly after being put on display."

Gu Zheng's fingers, holding the teacup, tightened imperceptibly, and her eyelids also twitched slightly.

One hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones can be exchanged for one Mid-Grade Spirit Stone; one hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones can only be exchanged for one High-Grade Spirit Stone.

Simply calculated, one High-Grade Spirit Stone is worth ten thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

But this is only a theoretical price. In reality, High-Grade Spirit Stones have long disappeared from the market. The Spiritual Qi contained within them is pure and immense, almost without Impurities, making them a coveted treasure for breaking through major Realm Bottlenecks. Let alone ten thousand, even if someone offered twenty or thirty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, they still wouldn't be able to acquire one.

If not for this, the Yin Corpse Sect and the Misty Immortal Sect would not have gone to such great lengths over the Blood River Spirit Mine, with even their respective Sect's Nascent Soul Old Ancestors personally stepping in. Whoever can completely control this Spirit Mine, their Sect's strength could achieve a leap-forward improvement in the next few hundred years, and it wouldn't even be impossible to become the true overlord of the Six Kingdoms of the Eastern Domain.

Lin Yuan's heart immediately sank upon hearing this.

He was still some distance from the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, but a Breakthrough was a matter of time. He had a clear understanding of his appalling Aptitude; he had barely succeeded in Divine Path Foundation Establishment by consuming a massive amount of supreme grade foundation establishment pills. In the future, the threshold from Foundation Establishment to Core Formation would only be more terrifying.

Therefore, anything that could increase his chances of Breakthrough, he had to firmly grasp and absolutely not miss. Since this High-Grade Spirit Stone had appeared before him, he had to get his hands on it.

Lin Yuan suppressed the urgency in his heart, cupped his fists at the youth, and asked with a normal expression, "May I ask who exchanged for that Spirit Stone?"

The youth subconsciously glanced at Gu Zheng, somewhat hesitant.

Gu Zheng put down her teacup and said indifferently: "It seems that rascal Li Xinghe exchanged for one, and another Late Core Formation Stage Senior Brother from within the Sect exchanged for the other."

"Let's go find Li Xinghe!" Lin Yuan decided on the spot, pulling Gu Zheng to get up.

"Wait a moment." Gu Zheng, however, pressed down on his wrist, the cool touch making Lin Yuan slightly surprised.

"I heard they captured many Misty Immortal Sect Disciples this time. Aren't you going to take a look?" Gu Zheng said, her clear phoenix eyes gazing at him.

Lin Yuan secretly chuckled; this ice beauty was indeed following Su Meiniang's script.

He showed a hint of confusion on his face: "What's there to see? It's nothing more than two outcomes: either they're kept as hostages to exchange for resources with the Misty Immortal Sect; or... they're used as Materials for Refined Corpses. I'm not interested in those."

He was speaking the truth. Before, he didn't refine corpses because he didn't have suitable Materials. Now that he had You Hun, a silver-armored corpse with infinite potential, he truly didn't care for the Physical Bodies of ordinary Cultivators.

"I want to go see, how about... you accompany me for a stroll?" Gu Zheng's voice softened a bit, carrying a hint of negotiation. She had finally managed to drag Lin Yuan out of that small courtyard, and according to Su Meiniang, they had to create as many opportunities as possible for them to be alone.

If they went directly to find Li Xinghe, that guy had a close relationship with Lin Yuan. If the three of them were together, how could they "cultivate feelings"?

Lin Yuan looked at her eyes, which feigned calmness but actually held a hint of anticipation, and almost laughed aloud in his heart.

Alright, it's a play, so I might as well play the whole part.

"Since Senior Sister wants to go, then I'll accompany Senior Sister to take a look!" Lin Yuan, with an expression of "since you've asked, how can I refuse," sat back down.

The receptionist youth, seeing this, immediately stepped forward, his face beaming with smiles: "Two Seniors, the Black Prison where the captives are held is behind the Pill Treasure Pavilion. Please follow me!"

Led by the young Disciple, Lin Yuan and Gu Zheng quickly arrived at the underground Black Prison deep within the Pill Treasure Pavilion.

A cold, damp stone staircase spiraled downwards, and as soon as they stepped inside, a putrid smell mixed with blood, mildew, and despair assailed them.

On the walls on both sides of the cages, phosphorescent stones emitting a faint green glow were embedded, illuminating faces that were either numb, resentful, or terrified, making them appear like ghosts.

More than thirty Disciples of the Misty Immortal Sect were separately confined in cells cast from black iron profound stone, their Spiritual Power suppressed, no different from Mortals.

The vast majority of them were at the Qi Refinement Stage, with only a sparse three or four having Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivation, and they too were disheveled and in a sorry state.

Lin Yuan had been dragged there by her, and he had even less interest in this place. With his hands behind his back, he casually scanned over the prisoners, treating it as a mere formality.

However, when his gaze swept over a figure in the furthest corner of a cell, his steps abruptly paused.

Through the iron bars, he could make out a graceful female Cultivator. But as Lin Yuan's gaze moved upwards and he clearly saw her face, his heart couldn't help but tighten.