60: Chapter 60 Danger Encounters While Selling Medicine

After returning to the warehouse, Li Changsheng was in no hurry to find Meng Qing.

He sat cross-legged and took out the small jade bottle containing the emerald green spiritual liquid from his robes.

The bottle was warm to the touch, a lingering heat from the extraction process just now.

Uncorking the bottle, a crisp medicinal fragrance wafted out; with just one breath, he felt the spiritual energy within his Dantian stir slightly.

"So this is the essence of the Jade Dew Ginseng..."

He carefully tilted the jade bottle, letting a single drop of emerald spiritual liquid fall onto the tip of his tongue.

In an instant, a warm current spread from his throat, flowing through his Meridians and into every part of his body!

That sensation was entirely different from consuming a qi gathering pill.

The medicinal power of a pill was fierce and impactful, whereas the power of this spiritual liquid was gentle and permeating.

Like a fine spring rain, it silently moistened every inch of his Meridians and every acupuncture point!

Li Changsheng dared not be careless and immediately circulated the Evergreen Plant Truth Scripture, guiding this power to cycle through his body.

One cycle, two cycles, three cycles...

The power of the spiritual liquid merged with his spiritual energy. His cultivation, which had been growing slowly, now surged like a rising spring tide, climbing at a speed visible to the naked eye!

Qi Refining Level 2 Late Stage, Peak, Perfection—

Boom!

As if an invisible barrier had been shattered, the spiritual energy vortex in his Dantian suddenly expanded, and its rotation speed quickened!

The total amount of spiritual energy had increased by a full fifty percent compared to before!

Qi Refining Level 3!

Li Changsheng opened his eyes, a flicker of pleasant surprise passing through them.

A single drop of spiritual liquid had allowed him to Breakthrough directly from the Middle Stage of level two to level three.

This effect was even stronger than three qi gathering pills!

He looked down at the jade bottle in his hand; there were still two drops of spiritual liquid left.

One drop of spiritual liquid was equal to three qi gathering pills; this small bottle was worth half a year of his salary.

"No wonder some people choose the path of a Spirit Plant Farmer."

He murmured to himself.

He stood up, stretched his muscles and bones, and felt the abundant spiritual energy within him.

Qi Refining Level 3—though still at the bottom of the Outer Sect, it was already more than a level stronger than level two.

He carefully put away the remaining two drops of spiritual liquid, then took the two mature Jade Dew Ginseng out of the wooden box, wrapped them in clean cloth, and tucked them into his robes.

It was time to go to the Lingcao Hall.

The market was as bustling as ever.

Li Changsheng walked along the street toward the Lingcao Hall, his steps much lighter than his last visit.

As he passed several stalls, he took a few extra glances.

There were those selling Medicinal Pills, Magical Artifacts, and Talismans—a dazzling array. He silently calculated in his heart that once he sold the Jade Dew Ginseng for Spirit Stones, he might buy some things for self-defense.

The doors of the Lingcao Hall were still wide open, and behind the counter, Meng Qing was engrossed in a yellowed booklet.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up, his gaze landing on Li Changsheng, and his eyes immediately lit up.

"You're here? Is the Jade Dew Ginseng mature?"

Meng Qing looked at Li Changsheng.

"I was planning to head over and find you in the next day or two, figuring it was about to ripen."

Li Changsheng nodded, walked to the counter, took out one Jade Dew Ginseng, and placed it gently on the counter.

Meng Qing's eyes immediately went wide.

He set down the booklet and leaned in close, examining the Jade Dew Ginseng with meticulous care.

First he looked at its overall shape, then the patterns on the leaves, and finally he gently squeezed the root hairs before taking a deep sniff at the tip of his nose.

"Good!"

He slapped the counter, his face full of pleasant surprise.

"Growing to nearly six inches in just over five months, the medicinal efficacy is already comparable to twenty years of growth. You kid are truly a talent!"

"This one, I'll take it!"

Li Changsheng felt a slight sense of relief.

"How much can Senior Brother Meng offer?"

Meng Qing pondered for a moment and held up two fingers.

"Two hundred."

"This price is fifty percent higher than the market rate. You won't get this amount at any other shop."

Two hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

Li Changsheng quickly calculated in his head.

Two hundred was indeed a significant amount.

"Deal."

He nodded.

Meng Qing readily took out a cloth bag, counted out two hundred Spirit Stones, and pushed them in front of Li Changsheng.

Li Changsheng took them, swept them with his Divine Sense to confirm the count, and then tucked them into his robes.

"Are you selling the other two?"

Meng Qing asked with a smile.

"The other two have other uses for me; I won't be selling them."

"Alright then."

"Next time you have good stuff, come find me again."

Meng Qing carefully put away the Jade Dew Ginseng with a smile.

"By the way, I'll go check on that field of yours periodically. If you need any help, just ask."

Li Changsheng cupped his hands in thanks and turned to leave the Lingcao Hall.

Walking through the market streets, he pondered how to spend these two hundred Spirit Stones.

He needed to buy some Medicinal Pills and a Magical Artifact for protection.

He could also buy a few more records and texts on spiritual plants.

Perhaps he could even...

Just as he was thinking, his footsteps suddenly faltered slightly.

Someone was following him.

This kind of intuition had been honed back in Qinghe Town.

During those years of gathering herbs alone in the wilderness, if he hadn't possessed even this much alertness, he would have been eaten by wild beasts many times over.

He didn't look back and continued walking as if nothing were wrong.

He only quickened his pace slightly, turning toward a less populated area on the edge of the market.

The footsteps behind him also quickened, and there was more than one person.

Li Changsheng sneered inwardly.

As expected, wealth should not be flaunted.

He had probably been targeted right at the entrance of the Lingcao Hall.

He turned into a secluded alleyway, and halfway through, he stopped.

"Come out."

Four figures appeared simultaneously at both ends of the alley.

One at Qi Refining Level 2, two at Qi Refining Level 3, and one at Qi Refining Level 4.

All were wearing the grey robes of Outer Sect Disciples, their faces bearing ill-intentioned smiles.

"Kid, you're quite alert."

The leading Qi Refining Level 4 Disciple crossed his arms and walked over slowly.

"Two hundred Spirit Stones—everyone gets a share. If you're smart, hand them over, and we can all go our separate ways in peace."

Li Changsheng looked at them, his expression calm.

"This is the Sect market; you dare to make a move?"

"Sect market?"

That Disciple sneered.

"This alley is both remote and quiet; who's going to see us do anything?"

"Besides, even if someone did see, who would stand up for a piece of trash from the General Affairs Hall?"

The other three laughed along with him.

Li Changsheng remained silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled as well.

The smile was faint, yet it caused the laughter of the four men to halt simultaneously.

"Did you know,"

He spoke slowly.

"Before I joined the Qinglan Sword Sect, I practiced martial arts in the mortal world."

The four were stunned for a moment, then laughed even harder.

"Mortal martial arts? Hahaha!"

"Is this kid scared out of his mind?"

"Comparing mortal martial arts to cultivation Spells?"

Li Changsheng ignored their mockery and simply loosened his wrists slightly.

During that half-year in Qinghe Town, although he primarily cultivated spiritual energy, he had never set aside the martial path.

The foundation of the Spirit Ape Fist, the exertion techniques of the Green Ape Iron-Forging Strength, and the martial insights of the Grandmaster Realm.

These were things etched into his very bones.

Cultivation of spiritual energy could be lost, but martial arts would not be.

"Come at me together,"

He said, "I'm in a hurry."

The leading Qi Refining Level 4 Disciple's face darkened.

"You're looking for death! Do it!"

The four of them lunged forward at once!

Li Changsheng did not use any Spells, nor did he activate spiritual energy to protect his body.

He simply took a deep breath and lowered his stance slightly—

The next moment, he moved.

The movement was so fast it was almost impossible to see!

It wasn't a cultivator's wind-riding technique, but speed born of pure martial explosive power!

He stepped forward, closing the distance to the nearest Qi Refining Level 3 Disciple, and under the man's terrified gaze, he threw a punch!

This punch had no fancy techniques; it was just pure power and speed!

Bang!

The Disciple didn't even have time to activate his protective spiritual energy before he took a solid hit to the chest!

He flew backward like a broken kite, slammed into the alley wall, slid down limply, and spat out a mouthful of blood!

"What?!"

The other three were absolutely horrified!