19: Chapter 19 Spells and Artifacts

The father and daughter chatted for a long time, mostly Su Chengyuan instructing her to be careful in the Sect, not to trust others easily, and to know how to hide her strengths.

Su Yunling, in turn, told her father some interesting stories and insights from her Cultivation in the Sect, asking him to relay them to her younger brother, Su Cheng.

Seeing that it was getting late, Su Chengyuan stood up to bid farewell.

"Father, please take care on your journey!" Su Yunling stood on the mountain path, watching her father's departing back. That back no longer seemed a little stooped like a year ago, but was as steady and reliable as a mountain.

Su Yunling turned and returned to the Sect, her steps light, her heart filled with unprecedented drive and hope.

She wanted to improve her strength as quickly as possible and become a reliable backing for her brother and father soon!

Leaving the Tiangang Sect's territory, Su Chengyuan did not return directly to Qingyang Town.

Following Su Cheng's plan, he changed his identity again, circled around, and once more infiltrated Qinghe Prefecture City.

This time, he adopted a more weathered Loose Cultivator's face, calling himself "Old Wang," and deliberately suppressed his Cultivation to around the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, making himself less conspicuous.

He didn't rush to shop, but first found an ordinary teahouse, sat down, ordered a pot of coarse tea, and quietly listened to the casual chats of the surrounding Cultivators.

"Did you hear? Recently, there was a strange rumor in the Ghost Market: someone was selling top-grade qi gathering pills!"

"It's already spread everywhere! It's said that the medicinal effect is astonishing; one pill can make a Cultivator in the Qi Refining Early Stage break through two layers! Several managers from major powers heard the news and scoured the Ghost Market, trying to find that mysterious pill seller."

"Heh, it's not that easy. I heard that person is very cunning, changing locations every time, hitting and running. They're long gone now.

However, because of this, the price of discarded medicinal materials in the Prefecture City has recently risen by 20%. Many Alchemists are thinking if they can dig out some treasures from the waste and try refining a supreme-grade pill."

After the man finished speaking, it drew a burst of laughter.

"What a daydream! supreme-grade pills are legendary items; how can they be refined just by wanting to? There must be an expert behind it!"

Su Chengyuan calmly drank his tea, but his heart was clear.

His son's caution was indeed correct; the appearance of supreme-grade pills caused a greater stir than they had imagined.

Fortunately, he acted decisively without any hesitation; otherwise, he would probably be in trouble by now.

Since the Medicinal Pills had been sold and a good amount of discarded medicinal materials had been exchanged, enough for Xiao Cheng to use for a while, he would no longer involve himself in this messy situation.

His next goal was to arm himself.

He distributed one thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones among several Storage Pouches, then began his shopping trip.

He first went to an old shop specializing in Cultivation Technique Jade Slips.

The shop owner was a sleepy old man, with a Cultivation of Early Foundation Establishment Stage, who was indifferent to Su Chengyuan, this Late Qi Refining Stage "Loose Cultivator."

"What do you want? Look for yourself." The old man pointed to the Jade Slips hanging on the wall.

Su Chengyuan didn't mind, carefully selecting among a pile of Low Grade Spells. Finally, he spent two hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones to buy two offensive Spells and one movement technique.

One offensive Spell, named "Sharp Gold Finger," could highly condense spiritual power at the fingertips, transforming it into an indestructible golden finger-ray, with extremely strong penetrative power, especially effective against various protective spiritual lights.

The other was "Profound Ice Thorns," a group attack Spell that could instantly condense dozens of ice thorns around the body, covering an area, catching enemies off guard, and also having a slowing effect.

The movement technique was called "Wind Riding Steps." Although not as profound as top-tier movement techniques, it was simple and practical. Once cast, one would be as light as a swallow, and speed could increase by more than 30%, greatly beneficial for both pursuit and escape.

Next, he went to another Pill Formula shop and, for the high price of two hundred Spirit Stones, bought two of the most common first-tier Pill Formulas: 'body tempering pill' and 'qi recovery pill.'

Although these two Pill Formulas were basic, they were consumables. If Xiao Cheng could refine supreme-grade ones, whether for personal use or for trade, they would be hard currency.

Then came Magical Artifacts. He walked into a Magical Artifact shop called "Thousand Hammers Pavilion," where clanging sounds and waves of heat assaulted him.

A bare-chested Artifact Refining big man saw him enter and quickly asked, "What would you like to buy?"

"Two Medium Grade Magical Artifacts, one for offense and one for defense," Su Chengyuan said concisely.

Finally, he spent two hundred Spirit Stones to purchase a slender, exceptionally sharp green-edged longsword named "water-severing sword."

He spent another two hundred Spirit Stones to buy a small "black tortoise shield." When activated, it could transform into a thick turtle shell phantom protecting the body, offering decent defense.

Lastly, because there were too many items, the Low Grade Storage Pouch was no longer sufficient.

He bought a Medium Grade Storage Pouch, which had more than ten times the space of a Low Grade Storage Pouch.

After all the shopping, a thousand Spirit Stones were completely spent, with only a few tens of leftover change from selling medicinal materials.

But his heart was incredibly at ease; these items would allow him and his son's strength to improve by more than just one level.

Without further delay in the Prefecture City, Su Chengyuan once again embarked on his journey home.

This time, he was even more cautious, and the journey was peaceful, with no more unseeing bandits.

A month later, when Su Chengyuan returned to Qingyang Town, it was already late autumn.

Inside the Su Family manor, the atmosphere remained somber.

The news of his return did not cause much of a stir, only a small commotion when he went to report to the Family Head.

"Chengyuan, where have you been these past few months? We've been quite worried," Family Head Su Tianxiang said, looking at his travel-worn son with concern.

"Reporting, Father, your son went to the nearby Black Wind Mountain Range to see if I could find some Opportunities to help the Family," Su Chengyuan said, taking out a cloth bag containing twenty Low-Grade Spirit Stones and handing it over. "My luck was not bad; I gathered a two-hundred-year-old Huangjing, which I sold in the county town for these."

Twenty Low-Grade Spirit Stones!

The eyes of several Elders in the deliberation hall lit up.

With the Su Family's current tight resources, these twenty Spirit Stones were a considerable income.

"Good, good! Chengyuan is thoughtful!" Great Elder Su Tianzheng patted Su Chengyuan's shoulder, a look of approval on his face. "I said Chengyuan is responsible, unlike some people who only know how to hide at home!"

His words were pointed, and the faces of several relatives who had been sent to the Wang Family as laborers turned somewhat ugly.

Su Chengyuan just smiled honestly, not responding.

He exchanged a few pleasantries, then, using the excuse of being "tired from traveling and needing rest," left the deliberation hall and headed straight back to his own small courtyard.

Pushing open the courtyard gate, Su Cheng was sitting under the old locust tree, eyes closed in Cultivation.

Seeing his father return, his eyes lit up, and he immediately stood up.

"Father, you're back."

"I'm back."

The father and son returned to the house. Su Chengyuan handed over the Medium Grade Storage Pouch and recounted his experiences over the past few months in detail, including what he saw and heard in the Prefecture City, and the Spells, Magical Artifacts, and Pill Formulas he purchased.

Su Cheng nodded repeatedly. His father's growth was faster than he had imagined, not just in Cultivation, but also in Heart-Nature and methods.

"Father did very well. The Spells and Pill Formulas were bought at just the right time; we indeed need these." Su Cheng took the Storage Pouch, and as his Mental Energy probed inside, seeing the dazzling array of new items, a satisfied smile appeared on his face. "You should use this water-severing sword, and you should also refine the black tortoise shield. Your safety is paramount when you travel outside."

"Alright." Su Chengyuan did not decline; with him in the lead, his son wouldn't need these just yet.

After the father and son sorted things out, a new division of labor began again.