Chapter 70: The Shop of the Five Elements Sect

He Qun nodded affirmatively after hearing this.

"Of course, if you want to gain something in the Yunmeng Marsh, you basically need to fight against beast monsters."

"The deeper you go, the stronger the beast monsters become. Correspondingly, the rewards after victory are greater. Beast monsters of the second stage and above have inner cores, which are essential for alchemy. Major sects will pay a high price to purchase them."

"Many independent cultivators, if they want to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill from a major sect, can only risk their lives to delve deep and hunt beast monsters of the third stage and above to obtain inner cores."

Chen Mobai was greatly surprised when he heard this.

He did not expect that in the Tianhe Realm, alchemy would still use beast monster inner cores, which was completely different from the methods on Deyuan Star.

However, upon careful consideration, he could understand. On Deyuan Star, beast monsters of a certain rank were extremely rare. Most were on the brink of extinction and were listed by the Immortal Sects as protected spirit beasts. It was a big news event even to harm one, let alone kill it for its core.

It seems that the alchemy methods in the Tianhe Realm, if the pill toxicity meets the standard, also have their merits.

Thinking this, Chen Mobai asked how to get to the Yunmeng Marsh.

"By coincidence, I am forming a team to hunt the Cold Snake. If you follow orders, I might take you along."

He Qun had some understanding of Chen Mobai, knowing that he was at least at the sixth level of Qi Cultivation and had several powerful talismans. If he could join his team, it would be a great help.

"When will you set out, Fellow Daoist?"

Chen Mobai was a bit tempted but, out of caution, did not immediately agree.

"In three days. Including you, there will be seven people in total. After hunting the Cold Snake, the harvest will be evenly divided. But the snake gallbladder must be given to me. If there is a price difference, it will be compensated with spirit stones."

"I will consider it and give you an answer tomorrow."

After saying this, Chen Mobai left He Qun's stall.

He then asked Qi Er about He Qun's reputation in the Nanxi Market. He found out that it was good; most of the cultivators who went with him returned safely, with only occasional casualties. In the Yunmeng Marsh, this was already a team with a very high survival rate.

Chen Mobai felt a bit relieved. At this moment, one of his neighbors at the stall returned, Lu Shu, and he asked him a question.

"You're talking about Old He, he is a bit suspicious."

"Oh, what do you mean?"

Chen Mobai immediately widened his eyes and leaned in close to Lu Shu.

"His team's survival rate is too high. Although I only operate in the peripheral markets of the Yunmeng Marsh, I know that most teams entering the marsh usually lose one or two members. But his team almost always returns intact, which has always puzzled me."

After Lu Shu's words, Chen Mobai began to think about the reasons.

There were only two explanations for the team's members returning safely.

One, they did not go beyond their capabilities; two, the team's average cultivation level was high, they were well-prepared, and their cooperation was默契, allowing them to handle various emergencies.

After hearing his analysis, Lu Shu shook his head and mentioned a possibility that made Chen Mobai's hair stand on end.

"Perhaps it's a team specifically used to build a good reputation and attract outsiders to join."

Hearing this, Chen Mobai recalled the old man and the young man who had initially teamed up in the water palace but turned on each other when it was time to harvest. He shivered.

No, I need to be more cautious.

After thanking Lu Shu, the latter gave him various tips for going to the Yunmeng Marsh and even a small book.

"The Chronicles of True Master Yiyuan's Dragon Subjugation in the Yunmeng Marsh"

This was a palm-sized book, a legend of the cultivation world that Lu Shu read for entertainment while manning his stall. Since he had just finished it, he casually gave it to Chen Mobai, who thanked him and put it in his pocket.

"By the way, Brother Lu, do you know if anyone in the market is cultivating the Black Water Technique?"

Chen Mobai asked another crucial question.

In this Eastern Wasteland, where people are fierce and combative, cultivators generally practice many spells for self-defense. If someone has cultivated the Black Water Technique to the later stages of Qi Cultivation, they would likely have refined some black water.

"There are quite a few. After all, this technique comes from the Water Line of the Five Elements Sect, with a complete system and orderly transmission. However, if an independent cultivator wants to reach the Foundation Establishment stage by cultivating this technique, they must join the Five Elements Sect, which is a way for these major Eastern Wasteland sects to control independent cultivators."

"I have seen the black water used by cultivators of the Five Elements Sect in the Yunmeng Marsh, but I don't know if it can be traded."

"By the way, isn't there a shop of the Five Elements Sect in the market? You can ask there."

Lu Shu's words reminded Chen Mobai. He immediately bid farewell and eagerly walked towards the large shops on the central street of the market.

The Five Elements Sect is one of the ruling forces in the Nanxi Market, owning five shops that deal in spirit stones, gold, elixirs, herbs, talismans, magical artifacts, and arrays, making it a large and powerful organization.

Chen Mobai went to the shop that sells elixirs and herbs.

"Sir, the black water you mentioned is indeed available for exchange within our sect, but our shop does not have any in stock. I apologize."

The shopkeeper was a middle-aged man at the sixth level of Qi Cultivation, not arrogant like those from major sects. He looked apologetic after hearing Chen Mobai's request.

"Can you request a shipment from your sect's headquarters?"

Chen Mobai asked, but the shopkeeper shook his head.

"Sir, we don't have the authority to request shipments. The items in the market are surplus from within the sect, which we are tasked to handle. The black water is mainly used by those from the Water Line. Even if there is any surplus, it would be sent to the markets in the Yunmeng Marsh."

After hearing the shopkeeper's words, Chen Mobai understood. It seemed he had to go to the Yunmeng Marsh.

But he definitely could not join He Qun's team.

Before leaving, he asked about the price of black water within the Five Elements Sect. It was not cheap, 10 spirit stones per bottle. This was the internal price; if sold outside the sect, it would be at least 15 spirit stones.

"Thank you, shopkeeper."

After obtaining the information he needed, Chen Mobai found He Qun at his stall and said he had something come up and would not join his team to hunt the Cold Snake in the Yunmeng Marsh. He Qun frowned but did not say much.

Chen Mobai did not care about his thoughts. Following Lu Shu's advice, he found the caravan that operated spirit camels in the market.

There are three ways to get to the Yunmeng Marsh.

One is to walk on your own; the second is to ride with these cargo caravans; the third is to spend spirit stones to use the teleportation array, which costs 10 spirit stones per use.