7: Daoist friend, can you lend me some spiritual stones?

"Seventy-five high-quality Pi Gu Pills, that will be fifty-six Low-Grade Spirit Stones, plus ten taels of gold."

Zhang Qingxiao quickly calculated the price, then took out a bulging bag from his bosom, placed the three Pi Gu Pills from the stone platform into the bag, and handed it to the young female Cultivator.

The young female Cultivator took the bag, glanced at it, and nodded.

Afterward, she took a palm-sized gray cloth bag from her waist and put all the Pi Gu Pills inside.

Then she took out fifty-seven Spirit Stones from it and placed them on the stone platform.

"A Storage Pouch!"

A middle-aged Cultivator setting up a stall nearby exclaimed with bright eyes, full of envy.

This was a good item; although it looked like just a small cloth bag, it contained a vast space within.

The surrounding Cultivators also turned their gazes toward the gray cloth bag in the delicate young girl's hand.

Some others had a hint of greed and ferocity in their eyes; however, after they clearly saw the woman's attire, they immediately withdrew that greed.

This Young Miss of the Li family was not someone that ordinary Utility Disciples like them could afford to provoke.

However, when they saw that small pile of Low-Grade Spirit Stones on the stone platform, many people again showed envy, accompanied by several fierce gazes.

Zhang Qingxiao hadn't even had time to covet the Storage Pouch at the young female Cultivator's waist.

His heart, however, skipped a beat, and he had a bad premonition.

"I was careless!"

He had sold Pi Gu Pills in the market several times without encountering trouble, which had caused him to subconsciously ignore the dangers of this world.

Fifty-plus Low-Grade Spirit Stones was not a small fortune; he was definitely going to be targeted this time.

"Fairy Li, I happen to need to purchase some medicinal ingredients and Medicinal Pills for cultivation. May I accompany you to the Li Family Pill Shop?"

Zhang Qingxiao quickly put the Low-Grade Spirit Stones from the stone platform into a bag and tucked it into his bosom, his mind racing.

Looking at the young female Cultivator, a plan formed in his mind, and he spoke calmly.

"Of course, I happen to be returning to the Li Family Pill Shop as well."

"Fellow Daoist, you don't need to keep calling me Fairy. My name is Li Wanqing. You can call me Fellow Daoist Li, or just use my name."

"I still do not know how to address you, Fellow Daoist?"

Li Wanqing also saw those ill-intentioned Cultivators around, but she did not care.

She nodded slightly at Zhang Qingxiao, smiled charmingly, and turned to walk in front.

Zhang Qingxiao hurriedly put on his back basket and quickly followed behind Li Wanqing, "I am Zhang Qingxiao."

The onlookers, seeing the two leave, mostly dispersed.

Only two Cultivators in the Middle Stage of Qi Refining looked at each other and followed far behind the two.

At this time, the market was bustling with people, and the two following from a distance were inconspicuous and did not arouse Zhang Qingxiao's suspicion.

"Uncle Zhong, this is Fellow Cultivator Zhang, an Alchemist."

"He wants to purchase some Medicinal Pills and medicinal ingredients from our shop. You handle the greeting."

Entering the Li Family Pill Shop, Li Wanqing briefly introduced Zhang Qingxiao to the shopkeeper, then greeted Zhang Qingxiao again before turning and entering the inner hall of the pill shop.

"Fellow Cultivator Zhang, what Medicinal Pills and medicinal ingredients do you need?"

The pill shop shopkeeper saw that his Young Miss was not very familiar with Zhang Qingxiao, so he did not engage in excessive pleasantries.

"What is the price for the medicinal ingredients to refine Pi Gu Pills?"

"Do you have any Medicinal Pills suitable for cultivation at the Qi Refinement Stage Level 3?"

Zhang Qingxiao knew that he and Li Wanqing were not on the same level, so he did not care about the other party's attitude.

That she was able to bring him to the Li Family Pill Shop and help him save some trouble was already more than enough.

"The medicinal ingredients for refining Pi Gu Pills are three taels and eight qian of gold per portion."

"The Medicinal Pills suitable for cultivation at the Qi Refinement Stage Level 3 are the Yellow Dragon Pill, Golden Marrow Pill, and Qi Condensation Pill."

"Among them, the Yellow Dragon Pill is suitable for Cultivators below Cultivation Level 4, priced at three Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

"The Golden Marrow Pill is suitable for Cultivators below Cultivation Level 7, priced at five Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

"The Qi Condensation Pill is suitable for Cultivators of all Realms in the Qi Refinement Stage, priced at ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

Immortal Li pointed to the three types of Medicinal Pills on the shelf and introduced them in detail.

"Then I will start with three Yellow Dragon Pills."

"I wonder if I want one hundred portions of medicinal ingredients for refining Pi Gu Pills, Shopkeeper, can it be a bit cheaper?"

Zhang Qingxiao knew that Medicinal Pills that increased cultivation speed were expensive, but he didn't expect them to be this expensive.

The medicinal ingredients for refining Yellow Dragon Pills were not much higher in price than those for refining Pi Gu Pills.

Even with the current rise in prices, it wouldn't exceed five taels of gold.

Yet the price was more than double that of the Pi Gu Pills.

Thus, he began to ponder whether he should buy a Pill Formula for refining Yellow Dragon Pills and study it carefully.

"Since the Young Miss brought you here, all items purchased by Fellow Cultivator Zhang in our Li Family Pill Shop will be discounted by five percent."

"One hundred portions of ingredients, plus three Yellow Dragon Pills, eighteen Low-Grade Spirit Stones will suffice."

Immortal Li clattered the abacus for a while, and after a moment, calculated the price.

"Many thanks to Shopkeeper Li and Li Wanqing."

This price was still slightly higher than other pill shops, but the medicinal ingredients at the Li Family Pill Shop were of good quality, so it was acceptable.

He took eighteen Low-Grade Spirit Stones from his bosom, handed them to the shopkeeper, packed the medicinal ingredients and Yellow Dragon Pills, and Zhang Qingxiao took his leave of the Li Family Pill Shop.

After walking around a few times, he arrived at a shop selling books. After some haggling, he painfully spent thirty Spirit Stones to purchase a Yellow Dragon Pill and a Golden Marrow Pill Pill Formula.

Besides the Pill Formula, Zhang Qingxiao also bought some Grade 1 Early Stage Yao Beast meat and daily necessities, and only left the market when his back basket was packed full.

Along the way, he walked cautiously, fearing being followed.

Especially when he arrived at a section of the road where houses were sparse and overgrown with weeds, his pace involuntarily quickened.

After this period of Body Refining, his strength had increased quite a bit, and carrying over a hundred jin of items, he was still walking as if flying.

"Fellow Daoist, stay your steps."

"Our brothers would like to borrow some Spirit Stones from you to spend."

Just as he was about to leave this stretch of road, two fierce-looking men suddenly emerged from the weeds, each holding an unknown Magical Artifact, and blocked Zhang Qingxiao in the middle, one in front and one behind.

"Two Fellow Daoists, I only have nine Low-Grade Spirit Stones left here. I will give them all to you; consider it as treating you two to tea..."

A wise man does not fight when the odds are against him. These two were clearly Cultivators in the Middle Stage of Qi Refining; he might not even be able to defeat one of them alone.

Now that the two were flanking him, he was even less of a match, so it was better to lose wealth to avoid disaster.

However, Zhang Qingxiao's idea was good, but these two were not satisfied at all with the nine Low-Grade Spirit Stones he took out.

Looking at each other, they looked fiercely at Zhang Qingxiao, "Fellow Daoist, we clearly know that you have fifty-seven Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

"Only giving us nine, are you trying to dismiss a beggar..."

As they spoke, the two inadvertently approached Zhang Qingxiao, the fierce light in their eyes intensifying.

It was clear they wanted to take advantage of his lack of preparation and kill him with one blow.

Zhang Qingxiao had been paying attention to the two's movements and gazes, and when they kept approaching him, he already knew what they were planning.

In a flash of lightning, he didn't care about anything else and instantly condensed two fireballs, which flew toward the two almost simultaneously.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

A mist of blood exploded.

The chests of the two Middle Stage Qi Refining Cultivators were both blown open by the fireballs, leaving a bowl-sized hole.

At the same time, raging flames ignited on their bodies.

Feeling the sharp pain in their chests, the two were in disbelief.

Pointing at Zhang Qingxiao, before they could say anything, they both collapsed to the ground.

Zhang Qingxiao was stunned for a moment, then suddenly came back to his senses. Looking around for a moment and seeing no one else, he slightly suppressed the panic in his heart.

He went to the two, confirmed that they were both dead, subconsciously and quickly searched them, but did not find any other items. He picked up the two's Magical Artifacts and quickly fled the scene.