Chapter Sixty-Seven: Rumors of the Twisted Demoness

“Oh, so the fairy possesses a water spiritual root. In that case, I recommend the Water Lotus Pill—two hundred spirit stones for one.” Since she had come to inquire about pills, she must already know of the renowned Water Lotus Pill. There was no need to elaborate on such common knowledge in the cultivation world; the young attendant smiled and quoted the price directly.

The Water Lotus Pill was precisely the medicine suited for water element cultivators at the eleventh to thirteenth levels of Qi Refinement to break through their bottlenecks. There were some in the Greenleaf Sect’s treasury, but they required contribution points to exchange, and the price was just as steep.

Hearing that the very pill she sought was available, Chu Xiner was overjoyed, but outwardly she deliberately showed a troubled expression. In truth, with her current wealth, purchasing several dozen Water Lotus Pills—enough to take her all the way to the peak of Qi Refinement—was no issue. However, the clever and cautious Chu Xiner was well aware of the wisdom in not revealing one’s wealth.

She was not the only cultivator in the Myriad Pill Pavilion’s main hall intent on buying pills. As the attendant named the Water Lotus Pill and its price, several gazes were drawn toward her. Though the highest among them was only at the eleventh or twelfth layer, and the lowest at the seventh or eighth of Qi Refinement, it was best to avoid undue attention regardless.

Noting the conflicted gaze beneath Chu Xiner’s mask, as if she was wrestling with a difficult decision, the few who sensed she would have trouble producing two hundred spirit stones soon looked away and resumed haggling with the pavilion’s attendants.

“My spirit stones are insufficient. Fortunately, I managed to gather two spirit herbs by chance. It seems I’ll have to put things together,” Chu Xiner murmured, as if to herself. At the same time, her lips barely moved as she transmitted a message to the attendant: “I need more than just one pill. Is there somewhere private where we can make the transaction?”

Indeed, one pill would not suffice. Even though she did not wish to stand out, she needed enough medicine to support her breakthrough to the next realm. After all, from here to her sect, only the Skycloud Valley market remained along the way. If she did not buy enough now and there were none at Skycloud Valley, she would have nothing but regret.

“Fairy, do you wish to sell spirit herbs? No problem—please, follow me upstairs to a private room,” the attendant responded at once. He had thought her troubled look was due to a lack of spirit stones, but now realized she was, in fact, a major customer concealing her true strength. Understanding her concerns, he immediately smiled and led her upstairs.

The other cultivators in the hall noticed this scene, but most paid it little mind. Two hundred spirit stones for a pill was precious, but not enough for them to risk their lives against a peer.

As the others ceased to pay attention to Chu Xiner, who had disappeared up the stairs, a sneer curled at the lips of a red-robed man lurking in a corner. Perhaps others could not see it, but as a half-step Foundation Establishment cultivator concealing his strength with a secret technique, he immediately recognized the unusual storage pouch at the girl’s waist.

It was likely a mid-grade storage pouch, worth no less than two hundred spirit stones itself. Who could say how many treasures it contained? The thought alone was exhilarating. That little lass fancied herself clever, but her behavior only made things more obvious. Soon, he would follow her, capture her, and all her pills and treasures would be his, the man thought viciously.

“Fairy, exactly how many Water Lotus Pills do you require?” Once inside a secluded room upstairs, the attendant’s face was wreathed with smiles. If he could close a deal worth over a thousand spirit stones, his commission would be substantial. He could not help but feel excited.

“I need fifteen Water Lotus Pills. Can the price be made a bit lower?” Each room in the Myriad Pill Pavilion was protected by a soundproofing ward, so there was no fear of eavesdropping. Since she had decided to take the risk and purchase a large quantity, Chu Xiner simply named a number that made the attendant gasp.

“Fairy, are you certain you want fifteen? If so, I can take the liberty of deducting ten spirit stones from the total price. Would that be satisfactory?” In fact, as an attendant, he had no authority to discount the pills at all. But in the hope of closing such a large sale, he gritted his teeth and offered a small reduction—after all, his commission would far exceed that sum if he succeeded.

“Very well, it’s a deal.” Chu Xiner had not expected much of a discount anyway, and as she wished to conclude the transaction quickly and depart, she agreed after a moment’s thought.

“Please wait a moment, fairy.” No low-level cultivator would dare make trouble in the Myriad Pill Pavilion, and the attendant had no fear that Chu Xiner was exaggerating her wealth. With that, he hurried out.

It was not long before he returned, several small jade bottles in hand.

“These are indeed Water Lotus Pills.” Chu Xiner checked the bottles and, confirming they were genuine, patted her storage pouch. The mouth of the pouch opened, and a cascade of spirit stones spilled onto the floor between them.

The attendant’s face lit up with delight at the sight of so many spirit stones.

The spirit stones were soon counted, the transaction completed, and the attendant escorted Chu Xiner out of the Myriad Pill Pavilion.

With so many Water Lotus Pills, she could break through to the thirteenth layer without worry. Upon returning to her sect, she could safely enter seclusion for a long time.

Delighted, Chu Xiner did not notice the red-robed man stealthily tailing her in the distance. However, she had no reason to linger in the market any longer.

Leaving the Lingnan market behind, she summoned her escape light and soared toward the Greenleaf Sect like a meteor.

After much coming and going, it was already late by the time she left the market. Chu Xiner had no intention of seeking out itinerant cultivators; she aimed to reach the town a hundred miles away before nightfall.

As for finding a fifth-layer cultivator for Xiao Wenzi to feed upon, it was not that Chu Xiner was unwilling. The problem was that, from the tales she overheard in Lingnan market, she finally understood why she had encountered so few minor cultivators along the way.

It turned out that among the cultivators near Lingnan market, rumors had been spreading recently about a deranged female demon. Supposedly, a month earlier, a masked woman had ambushed low-level cultivators, knocking them out, stripping them, and feeding them to spirit insects.

With several victims giving personal accounts, many low-level itinerant cultivators were so terrified that they dared not venture out alone.

Though the rumors had subsided somewhat, few minor cultivators would wander the forests alone at dusk.

Since Xiao Wen was in no rush, she decided to wait a few days, and after leaving Lingnan market far behind, seek a suitable cultivator for him to feed upon.

“Hm? What’s going on?”

As the sun set, the withered grass of the wilds swayed in the cold wind. The girl’s figure, streaking across the sky, suddenly faltered, her expression darkening as she released her divine sense to probe her surroundings.

For some reason, ever since leaving Lingnan market, Chu Xiner had felt a vague sense of foreboding. At first, it was faint, and she had paid it no mind. But now, soaring above this desolate wilderness, she sensed a prickling at her back, as if she were prey being watched by a venomous snake.