Chapter 18: A Different Way to Enter the World

Qin Chengming entered the space mainly to test this pill furnace, to see if it was truly the kind described in the texts—one capable of enhancing the quality of pills. There was no shortage of herbs in the space, but not every pill formula could be fully matched with the available ingredients. Qin Chengming carefully selected three formulas for which all the necessary herbs could be gathered: one for Gathering Qi, one for Rejuvenation, and the last for Dispersing Poison. These three were the most commonly used: one replenished spiritual energy, one healed injuries, and the other expelled pill toxins. All three had a huge market demand; even if he practiced making them, none would go to waste.

Once everything was prepared, Qin Chengming channeled the pill fire into the furnace to heat it up. Yet, after burning for quite some time, the pitch-black furnace showed no reaction at all. How odd! He had just checked with his spiritual sense and the furnace was perfectly intact—so why wouldn’t it work now? He inspected the furnace inside and out, but discovered nothing amiss. Frustrated, he abandoned his pill-making attempts and went to the study to search for answers, taking the opportunity to arrange the books he had bought that day on the shelves.

This so-called study was, in truth, just an area partitioned off beside the warehouse, dedicated to storing books and jade slips. Qin Chengming searched for quite a while before finding some vague records on one of the jade slips. It turned out that this type of pill furnace was highly popular in ancient times, the entire body forged from Firefly Stone with a touch of Star Sand. Both inside and out, it was engraved with a complete set of ninth-level arrays. To activate such a furnace required either an exotic fire or the pill fire of a cultivator at the Tribulation Crossing stage. In other words, he was not yet qualified to use it!

“Hmph! Who doesn’t have a high-level pill furnace these days? What I need is one that works even with low cultivation. If I can’t use it now, isn’t it just a useless piece of junk?” Qin Chengming was nearly beside himself with anger. He had spent his last spirit stones on this furnace, and now had none left to buy one he could actually use.

Was he really going to be reduced to selling spiritual herbs? Ever since learning pill refinement, he had never stooped to selling half-processed herbs at a discount to others. Yet, if he didn’t sell herbs, where would he get the money for a new furnace?

He gazed at the pile of prepared herbs on the ground, gradually losing potency for lack of a suitable furnace. Qin Chengming decided to simply roll them into medicinal pellets. Although less effective than refined pills and slower to act, they would surely fetch a better price than selling raw herbs. Straightening his back, he suddenly felt that sharp, shrewd version of himself return.

While Qin Chengming busied himself in his small space, racking his brains to earn more spirit stones, Qin Bocheng and the Third Elder had already left the Forget-Worry Mountains and arrived at Hao Immortal City, under the jurisdiction of the Wan’an Immortal Alliance.

The city gates were heavily guarded, and every entrant had to pay a fee to enter. Many itinerant cultivators made their living hunting demon beasts in the Forget-Worry Mountains and resented the extra expense of repeated entry, so they simply set up trading stalls outside the city gates.

Qin Bocheng and the Third Elder did not rush into the city. Instead, they settled the elder at a tea stall and went off to gather information.

Years of training in a great sect gave one a certain bearing. Even if his cultivation was indiscernible, no one would mistake him for someone easily bullied. Moreover, Qin Bocheng was a master of social skills; he quickly became sworn brothers with several local toughs.

Unlike Qin Chengming, who had to grope his way through life and sometimes “headed the wrong direction,” Qin Bocheng, once determined, could accomplish anything with ease. Gathering information was no exception.

In less than two hours, Qin Bocheng had a detailed understanding of the intricacies of this world.

When he returned to the tea stall, it had already been packed up; the Third Elder was sitting on a nearby stone waiting for him. Seeing him approach, the elder quietly asked, “Well? Did you find out any news?”

Qin Bocheng helped the elder move away from the crowd, set up a sound barrier, and said, “I went to the marketplace and found out that this place is called Hao Immortal City, a subordinate town to the Wan’an Immortal Alliance. This continent is known as the Yandong Continent, with only eight major sects, though there are countless smaller ones. Many things and names here don’t match what we know, but I’ll explain that later. The main thing is that their spirit stones are what we used to call spirit jades. I recall I have a flying ship given to me by a friend, which should have a lot of these spirit jades. I’m not sure if we can pry them off, though. If not, we’ll have to sell something else.”

The Third Elder listened with a smile and replied, “No need to dismantle the ship just yet; I think I have some spirit jades myself. But first, we need to find a quiet place and open the storage stone—otherwise, it’ll be inconvenient to enter the city. Did you find out anything about the level of cultivators here? If there are no Ascension-stage cultivators nearby, there’s no need to travel far.”

Qin Bocheng replied with a smile, “Forget Ascension-stage cultivators—even a Nascent Soul-level is rare here. The city lord is said to be a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator; the strongest in the whole city is only late Nascent Soul. Supposedly, anyone reaching the Spirit Severing stage spends most of their time in seclusion, and when they reach the Out-of-Body stage, they cross the Eastern Sea to another continent in search of fortune. Not sure if that’s custom or what.”

The Third Elder’s brows shot up in surprise. “Such a large city managed by only a mere Nascent Soul cultivator? Yet in those mountains, I sensed the aura of a demon beast at the Ascension stage. If that beast descends, who could protect the people here?”

Qin Bocheng reassured him, “No need to worry. According to them, once demon beasts reach the Ascension stage, they’re restricted—if they kill mortals during that time, they’ll suffer divine retribution. That’s why every city here is inhabited by both cultivators and ordinary people alike.”

The elder sighed in relief. “That’s good! At least our safety is ensured. Let’s find a place to open the storage stone first—otherwise, entering the city will be inconvenient.”

Qin Bocheng nodded. “I was thinking the same. Why don’t we use that cave we passed earlier? It’s spacious enough, and if we block the entrance, no one will notice any commotion.”

The Third Elder nodded his agreement, indifferent either way. The two retraced their steps, unaware that they had already been targeted. Not long after they left, a gang of Foundation Establishment cultivators who specialized in shady dealings began tailing them. Their tracking and stealth skills were top-notch, and with Qin Bocheng preoccupied and the Third Elder weakened to the point of being no different from an ordinary man, they weren’t discovered until the group had nearly reached the cave.

Qin Bocheng made no sign of alarm. Before entering, he casually waved a few times at the cave entrance and then assisted the Third Elder inside.