16: The sect closed the mountain, and the chaos began

On this day, suspended in the air above the Chang Sheng Sect were ten Magical Artifact flying boats, each about fifty meters long and twenty meters wide.

They looked imposing and majestic, and many Utility Disciples came out of their homes one after another to watch.

The Utility Disciples who had received Sect missions were fully armed and quickly gathered at an open space on the hillside.

"I never expected our Chang Sheng Sect to have so many Magical Artifact flying boats."

"Sending out ten at once, are they planning to use the entire strength of the Sect to attack the Guiyuan Sect?"

"I heard that our Chang Sheng Sect has also united with other Sects to wipe out the Guiyuan Sect in one fell swoop."

"Really? How come I heard it's because our Chang Sheng Sect and the Guiyuan Sect discovered a Spirit Stone mine at the same time, and this time it's to fight over the Spirit Stone mine, which is why they are going all out..."

"Your information is outdated. It was indeed originally because of the Spirit Stone mine, but later the Guiyuan Sect used a special Magic Treasure to secretly mine it, taking away all the High-Grade Spirit Stones from the mine. This angered our Chang Sheng Sect's Golden Core Old Ancestor, which is why they united with other Sects to attack the Guiyuan Sect."

"I wonder if they can directly wipe out the Guiyuan Sect this time."

"..."

In the residential area for Utility Disciples at the foot of the Chang Sheng Sect, many people began to discuss the matter heatedly.

Zhang Qingxiao also opened his courtyard gate, stood at his doorway, watched the ten flying boats suspended in the sky, and listened to everyone's discussions.

From time to time, he would also ask a question or two.

The surrounding Utility Disciples basically already knew that he could perform Alchemy.

There was no helping it; with a gossipy neighbor, even if others didn't want to know, they couldn't stop his mouth.

Knowing that he was an Alchemist and could also refine Yellow Dragon Pill, his neighbors were very polite to him.

They naturally told him everything they knew when he asked questions.

They all wanted to leave a good impression on Zhang Qingxiao, as there might be a time when they would need his help.

As for whether anyone would have ulterior motives, that was hard to say.

Right now, the Chang Sheng Sect still had rules. Once the Chang Sheng Sect's managers, Disciples, Elders, Sect Master, and others all went to attack the Guiyuan Sect and there was no one left to manage the Sect, anything could happen.

Zhang Qingxiao came out at this time to gather more information so he could make preparations in advance.

The Chang Sheng Sect Disciples quickly finished gathering and boarded the Magical Artifact flying boats one after another.

After everyone had boarded the Magical Artifact flying boats, the Chang Sheng Sect's Golden Core Old Ancestor stood in mid-air, issued an order to seal the Sect, and led the ten flying boats toward the south.

Within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the flying boats completely disappeared from people's sight.

"Why seal the Sect..."

"It's over now. With the Sect sealing the mountain, all kinds of resources will be in short supply."

"I hope the great battle doesn't last too long, otherwise life will be difficult."

"I have to go to the marketplace to take a look. Fellow Daoists, farewell."

"..."

The Sect sealing the mountain meant closing the mountain gates within the Chang Sheng Sect, and this did not include the area where they, the Utility Disciples, lived.

After the mountain gates were sealed, the supply of various goods in the marketplace of the Utility Disciples' residential area would be cut off.

If they wanted to get supplies from the outside, they, the Utility Disciples, simply didn't have the ability to do so.

And outside merchant guilds wouldn't necessarily come over either.

The place where the Chang Sheng Sect was located was surrounded by deep mountains and old forests.

Except for the place where the Sect was located, the outside was rampant with Yao Beasts and full of danger. Without a certain level of strength, ordinary merchant caravans simply couldn't safely transport goods over.

The Chang Sheng Sect originally had its own merchant caravans, so it didn't need outside merchant caravans to come in to satisfy the daily needs of all its Disciples.

Precisely because of this, the Sect sealing the mountain was a huge problem for them, the Utility Disciples.

After hearing the order from the Chang Sheng Sect's Golden Core Old Ancestor, Zhang Qingxiao immediately carried his basket, took his Magical Artifact longsword, as well as all the Spirit Stones, Pi Gu Pill, and Yellow Dragon Pill in his home, and quickly rushed to the marketplace.

If he were even a little late, he might not be able to snatch anything.

When he arrived at the marketplace at top speed, it was already in chaos.

The Chang Sheng Sect's Golden Core Old Ancestor didn't know what he was thinking.

This time, he not only summoned a large number of ordinary Utility Disciples at Qi Refining Level 3 or above, but also took away most of the managers and Enforcement Hall Disciples in the marketplace.

The small portion left behind were all Disciples below Qi Refining Level 3.

In normal times, everyone would naturally be polite to them.

But now, few Utility Disciples cared about them.

Relying on his strong body, Zhang Qingxiao kept weaving through the crowd and, after quite some effort, arrived at the Li Family Pill Shop.

Fortunately, it wasn't overcrowded yet, and generally, there was still some order.

Relying on the fact that he was somewhat familiar with Immortal Li, he received some preferential treatment.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, I am truly sorry, our shop has already sold out of Golden Marrow Pill. If Fellow Daoist Zhang has already refined Golden Marrow Pill, I am willing to purchase it at a high price."

Immortal Li had known earlier that Zhang Qingxiao had broken through to Qi Refining Level 4. As for whether he could refine Golden Marrow Pill, he wasn't sure, and saying this was just to test him.

"Shopkeeper Li thinks too highly of me. How could I have the talent to learn how to refine Golden Marrow Pill so quickly?"

"I came here this time because I still have some Pi Gu Pill and Yellow Dragon Pill. I wonder at what price Shopkeeper Li will purchase them?"

As Zhang Qingxiao spoke, he took out one Yellow Dragon Pill and one Pi Gu Pill from his bosom to show Shopkeeper Li their quality.

The proficiency of these two types of Medicinal Pills had already reached mastery, and the quality was absolutely top-notch.

If it weren't for the fact that it was too chaotic outside and he was afraid that selling them would cause unnecessary trouble, he wouldn't have come to the Li Family Pill Shop to sell them.

"Yellow Dragon Pill, five Low-Grade Spirit Stones each; Pi Gu Pill, two Low-Grade Spirit Stones each. How about that?"

Immortal Li took the Yellow Dragon Pill and Pi Gu Pill, examined them carefully, and gave a price with some hesitation.

"Deal."

"I have a total of fifty-three Yellow Dragon Pills and forty-eight Pi Gu Pills here."

"I want three hundred portions of medicinal ingredients for refining Golden Marrow Pill, one hundred portions for Yellow Dragon Pill, and one hundred portions for Pi Gu Pill."

"I hope Shopkeeper Li will give me an honest price."

Zhang Qingxiao agreed without hesitation. At this moment, the most important thing was to hoard enough medicinal ingredients.

There was no extra time to haggle.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, the quantity you want is too large. Our shop cannot provide so many medicinal ingredients for the time being."

"For the medicinal ingredients to refine Golden Marrow Pill, I can at most gather one hundred and fifty portions for you, and fifty portions each for the Yellow Dragon Pill and Pi Gu Pill ingredients."

"As for the price, please rest assured, Fellow Daoist Zhang, I will never overcharge."

"For the medicinal ingredients for Golden Marrow Pill, we will charge thirty taels of gold per portion; for Yellow Dragon Pill ingredients, fifteen taels of gold per portion; and for Pi Gu Pill ingredients, eight taels of gold per portion."

Immortal Li gave Zhang Qingxiao a helpless smile, then picked up an abacus and started calculating with a clatter.

Very quickly, he calculated the price. After deducting the Spirit Stones needed to purchase the medicinal ingredients, Zhang Qingxiao also received two Mid-Grade Spirit Stones and twenty Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, do you need me to send someone to help you take the medicinal ingredients back?"

Handing the Spirit Stones to Zhang Qingxiao, Immortal Li asked politely.

"Then I will have to trouble you, Shopkeeper Li. It just so happens that I still need to go see other things."

"Please have someone deliver the medicinal ingredients to the east side of the marketplace, Ten Mile Lane, the seventh house on the left. There is no one at home, so just let my neighbor Zhou Yun receive them."

Zhang Qingxiao was just worrying about how to take all these medicinal ingredients back. Since Immortal Li brought it up voluntarily, he certainly wouldn't be shy and polite with him.

"..."