Cultivation starts from devouring the Dao fruits

Zhao Yu carefully inspected the small courtyard he entered and found it had two large rooms, a quiet room, a study, and an alchemy room, all of which were very clean and beautiful, which pleased him greatly.

After settling in, Zhao Yu brought Li Xianjiao with him to knock on the big door of the neighbor on the right.

The door opened, revealing an elderly man in a gray high-grade robe. He was tall, with silver hair, robust spirit, and skin as smooth as a baby's. He possessed the cultivation level of the Great Circle of Qi Refining and quietly observed Zhao Yu.

Zhao Yu flashed a slight smile and handed the old man an Evil-Repelling Talisman, "Esteemed fellow Daoist, I am Zhao Yu, having just moved nearby, I came to visit specially, this is a small token of appreciation, please accept it with a smile! This is my servant, Li Xianjiao."

The silver-haired elder swept his gaze over Li Xianjiao and eventually settled on Zhao Yu, saying warmly, "So it's Daoist Zhao, I am Xiong Zhenye, please come inside for a chat!"

Zhao Yu then saw a young girl dressed in red. She was petite and delicate, beautiful and charming, about fifteen or sixteen years old with a Qi Refining level of the second layer.

Xiong Zhenye said lovingly, "This is my wife, Fang Li."

An old cow eating tender grass! That cow is too old, and the grass is too tender! Truly enviable!

Zhao Yu said, "I have met Madam Xiong!"

Fang Li replied in a slightly immature voice, "I have met Daoist Zhao!"

After some idle chat, Zhao Yu learned that Xiong Zhenye was an extremely rare alchemist, and moreover, a first-tier high-grade Alchemist.

When Zhao Yu was leaving, Xiong Zhenye returned the favor by giving him a bottle of Yellow Spirit Pills.

"Yellow Spirit Pills can greatly enhance the cultivation level of Qi Refining Stage Cultivators; a single bottle costs ten spirit stones! Worthy of a first-tier high-grade Alchemist, truly generous! Should I use these Yellow Spirit Pills to improve their refining mastery or to enhance my cultivation?"

"To improve the Yellow Spirit Pills' mastery! Within the Hundred Arts of Cultivation, alchemists make the most money and hold the highest status! I must find a way to become an alchemist!"

Zhao Yu pondered for a moment and then made up his mind.

Talisman Masters indeed make a lot of money, but compared to alchemists, they earn far less. Additionally, the threshold to become an alchemist is extremely high, and their numbers are much fewer than Talisman Masters, meaning much less competition.

For example, Evil-Repelling Talismans in the Canglong Mountain Market could be drawn by many Talisman Masters. However, those first-tier high-grade Talisman Masters prefer to draw and sell high-priced first-tier high-grade Golden Light Talismans for twenty spirit stones each. First-tier mid-grade Talisman Masters like to draw Spiritual Shield and Featherweight Talismans. Only first-tier low-grade Talisman Masters would draw Evil-Repelling Talismans.

Near the Spirit Flame Vermilion Fruit in the Canglong Mountain range, where evil spirits lurk, the Evil-Repelling Talismans would not sell very well.

Generally, only Great Sects can cultivate alchemists. Even the sect disciples within those Great Sects with many resources find it hard to become alchemists, not to mention Loose Cultivators.

After visiting Xiong Zhenye, Zhao Yu went to visit the neighbor on the left.

Those who can rent houses in the Market Center District of the cultivation world are generally not poor, and most have high cultivation levels, being among the top figures in the Canglong Mountain Market. As long as the other person has good character, befriending them is beneficial and harmless.

"Who are you?"

The door to the small courtyard on the left opened, revealing a two-meter-tall, burly, powerful man with short black hair, wearing a shirt, his face and arms marred with many scars, giving him a very fierce look. He possessed a Qi Refining level of the ninth layer and examined Zhao Yu and his companion with sharp eyes.

Zhao Yu smiled slightly and handed the middle-aged man an Evil-Repelling Talisman, "Esteemed fellow Daoist, I am Zhao Yu, having just moved in nearby, I've come to pay a visit, this is a small token of appreciation, please accept it with a smile! This is my servant, Li Xianjiao."

Ling Chongshan addressed him straightforwardly, curiosity evident, "I'm Ling Chongshan. Qi Refining level two, such low cultivation. How dare you rent a place here?"

Zhao Yu responded, "I am a Talisman Master! I can barely afford to rent this house."

Ling Chongshan laughed, "So it's a Talisman Master! No wonder! Talisman Masters, Alchemists, all are wealthy people! Come in!"

Only then did Zhao Yu enter and start chatting with Ling Chongshan.

Ling Chongshan was a powerful Demon Beast Hunter who lived by hunting demon beasts. Such hunters have abundant practical combat experience and are ferociously effective in magical combat; not even Xiong Zhenye, a pampered, Great Circle of Qi Refining alchemist, could necessarily contend with a Demon Beast Hunter like Ling Chongshan when it came to a life-or-death struggle.

Ling Chongshan was also a straightforward and generous person. When Zhao Yu was leaving, he directly gave Zhao Yu thirty kilograms of high-quality first-grade Demon Beast Meat as a return gift.

"My neighbors are all wealthy. Continuing to visit like this, I might even earn back the money I spent on Cultivating the Yellow Spirit Pill!"

Zhao Yu became even more proactive about visiting neighbors with an Evil Spirit Talisman, but most of the gifts he received in return were of comparable value to the Talisman. There were also several stingy neighbors who, disregarding appearances, directly gave him some fruit, completely dousing his enthusiasm to continue his visits.

Inside the Quiet Room of the small courtyard.

Zhao Yu swallowed the Yellow Spirit Pill in one gulp, his Dao Fruit stirred slightly, and he then refined it.

"Alchemy—Yellow Spirit Pill: Entry level (0/100)."

Zhao Yu clicked once, and countless memories and experiences flooded his mind.

"Alchemy—Yellow Spirit Pill: Entry level (10/100)."

With a slight curl of his lips, Zhao Yu revealed a hint of a smile, "Entry-level Alchemy can hardly make any money, the success rate is too low! Intermediate-level Alchemy can make a bit of money, but to really make big money, you need at least a master-level in the Yellow Spirit Pill. And most precious of all, I've obtained the recipe for the Yellow Spirit Pill!"

The recipes for Spirit Pills that could enhance the Cultivation Level of someone in the Qi Refinement Realm were tightly controlled by Alchemists, and no Alchemist would willingly sell them.

Ten days later, Zhao Yu finally came to the market with six newly crafted Evil Spirit Talismans to set up his stall.

"Eh? Boss, do you have the recipe for the Yellow Spirit Pill? How many Spirit Stones?"

A young Cultivator dressed in gray approached Zhao Yu's stall and, seeing the large characters advertising the sale of the Yellow Spirit Pill recipe, immediately asked out of curiosity.

Zhao Yu responded indifferently, "Five hundred Spirit Stones for one Yellow Spirit Pill recipe, Spirit Stones first, then the recipe!"

The young Cultivator in gray smiled and said, "That's too expensive! And I don't even know if your recipe is genuine. Why not let me see the recipe to verify its authenticity? If the recipe is genuine, I'm willing to spend five hundred Spirit Stones to buy it!"

Zhao Yu responded indifferently, "If you're not buying, please leave!"

The young Cultivator in gray chuckled lightly and turned to leave.

Before long, one Cultivator after another gathered at Zhao Yu's stall to bargain with him, all wanting to see the recipe before paying, all of whom Zhao Yu turned away. He was very clear that these Cultivators were just trying to freeload off his recipe and were not genuinely eager to acquire it.

"Bingyun!"

"Bingyun is here!"

"....."

Suddenly, a wave of excited voices erupted, and the crowd parted as Bingyun, dressed in a black robe, imposing and stunningly beautiful, walked towards the stall.

Zhao Yu stood up and bowed, "I have seen Bingyun!"

Bingyun asked, "Do you really have the Yellow Spirit Pill recipe?"

Zhao Yu replied, "I fortuitously discovered the Yellow Spirit Pill recipe in an ancient tome! If others want this recipe, it's at least five hundred Spirit Stones. If you want it, Bingyun, you can have it for four hundred Spirit Stones! With your abilities, you can surely verify the authenticity of the recipe. If the recipe is false, I am willing to compensate you for all your losses!"

"The value of the Yellow Spirit Pill recipe far exceeds five hundred Spirit Stones! I won't take advantage of you either, I'll pay the five hundred Spirit Stones. But if there is any falsity in the recipe, I naturally have ways to make you pay the price!"

Bingyun's gaze was frosty as she took out five mid-grade Spirit Stones and threw them to Zhao Yu.

Zhao Yu handed Bingyun fifteen low-grade Spirit Stones, and at the same time, he handed her the Yellow Spirit Pill recipe.

The Spiritual Power contained in one mid-grade Spirit Stone is equivalent to that of one hundred low-grade Spirit Stones, but the Spiritual Power within a mid-grade Spirit Stone is easier to absorb and slightly purer, so one mid-grade Spirit Stone can be exchanged for one hundred and three low-grade Spirit Stones at the Canglong Mountain Market.