Chapter 22: The Frenzy of the Rush

Qin Chengming had spent more than two months inside the spatial realm, completely unaware that people were searching for him outside. When he finally emerged, the weather had already turned cool.

The place he was renting now was quite far from Taihua Road—Taihua Road was near the East City Gate, while his current residence was closer to the West City Gate. No matter how small Chaoge City might be, it was still a city, and crossing from one end to the other always took some time.

By the time he left his home, it was nearly noon. Qin Chengming strolled leisurely toward the herb market, glancing left and right as he went. Quite by chance, he caught sight of Hu Panpan and her entourage of guards and maids. None of them were particularly strong cultivators, but they had a Nascent Soul stage backer behind them. He himself had once been pursued by that very backer, though to this day he wasn’t sure what offense he had committed. In any case, unless it was absolutely necessary, he preferred not to be seen by them. Getting into scuffles only wasted time—time that could be used making money.

Qin Chengming edged into the shadows, reducing his presence. The group didn’t notice him; they were too wrapped up in their own lively chatter as they turned down another street, their purpose unclear.

He hadn’t been out in days, and the first people he bumped into were acquaintances. If he ran into familiar faces while selling medicine later and they interfered with his business, that would be troublesome. After a moment’s thought, he rubbed his face vigorously. When he lowered his hand, his delicate, handsome features had transformed into those of a bearded, square-faced man. Even his aura changed, matching his new appearance perfectly.

By the time he finally reached the herb market, the street was no longer bustling. Many regular customers seeking elixirs would, at this hour, head to the demon market on Tongshen Road to try their luck at finding high-grade demon pills. That was when Tongshen Road was at its most crowded—and therefore when the herb market was at its emptiest. Qin Chengming was late, but that had its benefits; at this hour, there was no stall fee.

He found a spot at random and set up his stall. Today, he was selling Condensing Qi Pills, Rejuvenation Pills, and Illusory Essence Pills, along with some hand-rolled versions of the same. Last time, he had shouted out the names of the pills, worried that customers wouldn’t trust him. But now, with both types available, he couldn’t treat them as the same.

He took out two ordinary white jade trays and poured the hand-rolled Condensing Qi Pills and the refined ones onto separate plates. Then he called out in a loud voice, “Condensing Qi Pills, Rejuvenation Pills, Illusory Essence Pills, all at great prices! Ordinary Condensing Qi Pills for only ten mid-grade spirit stones each! Condensing Qi Pills that instantly restore half a Golden Core stage cultivator’s spiritual energy, special price—eighty mid-grade spirit stones each! Limited quantity, first come, first served! You may test the medicine on site; if it’s a sham, I’ll refund you in full!”

At first, few paid attention. But some previous buyers, seeing the green pills in the tray, brightened and hurried over. After a quick sniff to confirm it was the same medicine they’d bought before, they began buying in bulk—ten bottles at a time. At first, this didn’t draw much notice. But as others did the same, a crowd started to form.

Spectator A: “Is this medicine really that good? Buying so much, could he be a shill?”

Spectator B: “Doesn’t look like it! Never mind the others, that guy in white is an outer disciple of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect. There’s no way he’d partner up with someone to scam people!”

Spectator C: “Who knows? Times have changed, and people aren’t as honest anymore. If those two are in cahoots, it’s not impossible they’re here to swindle us.”

Spectator B pointed at a gray-clad cultivator approaching: “Never mind the earlier customers—what about this one? He’s an inner disciple of the Oceanic Sect. Is he also in on the scam? I doubt we’re important enough for that.”

Seeing the new arrival’s attire, the crowd fell silent. Among the eight great sects, the Oceanic Sect might rank lower in power, but in terms of wealth, it was second to none. Their standards for disciples were no lower than the Ten Thousand Swords Sect’s, and inner disciples were the elite of the elite. Someone like that would hardly lack for spirit stones, nor would they risk their reputation for a pittance.

The young man in gray looked barely past boyhood, cheeks still round with a trace of baby fat. He was refined in appearance, if a little short of dashing. He stood less than one-seventy-five, with a jade-green flute slanting from his waist—a clear sign of a music cultivator.

The young man was polite enough. He approached and asked, “Is this green pill the one you claim can replenish half the spiritual energy of a Golden Core stage cultivator?”

Qin Chengming turned to him, his eyes flickering gold as he sized him up. Bone age: fifteen, already at the peak of Qi Condensation—no wonder he was an inner disciple. With such talent, he’d be considered above average even in the Divine Sword Sect.

But speculating about others didn’t delay his business. He replied promptly, “This green pill is also a Condensing Qi Pill, but its effects are milder—more suitable for the Qi Condensation and Foundation Building stages. If you want something stronger, you should buy the white one—that’s the pill that replenishes half a Golden Core stage’s spiritual energy. However, I must point out a flaw: it restores spiritual energy instantly. If a Golden Core cultivator already has more than half their spiritual energy, taking this pill might make them feel bloated, and the excess will be wasted. Not recommended for those below Golden Core—it would be a waste!”

“Big talk! Since when do Condensing Qi Pills work instantly? Aren’t they all slow-acting?” someone in the crowd challenged.

“Exactly! I’ve taken plenty, but never heard of one that works in an instant!” another echoed.

“Boasting like that, aren’t you afraid of biting your own tongue? If it really works, stockpiling these would let Golden Core cultivators go head-to-head with Nascent Soul elders,” a skeptic scoffed.

There was no end to the doubters—no one believed the pills could do what he claimed.

Qin Chengming waited until the atmosphere was sufficiently lively, then said, “Whether it’s real or not, you’ll know after trying. Do we have any Golden Core friends willing to test it?”

The gray-robed youth was only at the Qi Condensation stage; hearing that a Golden Core cultivator was needed, he reflexively glanced behind him. Qin Chengming followed his gaze and saw another man in black.

This black-clad cultivator was striking—handsome and dignified—with an aura of icy indifference that kept others at bay. But Qin Chengming was unfazed; after years of wandering, he’d seen all sorts.

Business required harmony and goodwill. Qin Chengming smiled and asked, “This fellow Daoist must be close to mid-Golden Core stage? Would you like to help test the medicine?” He didn’t mention compensation—what could he possibly offer to entice a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator? He hadn’t even made any money yet!

The gray-robed youth hesitated, mumbling, “Mas—” but before he could finish, the black-clad man stopped him.

After only a moment’s hesitation, the black-robed man stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, “I am Qiu Yuze of the Oceanic Sect. May I ask your name, senior?”

Qin Chengming paused. Was there a flaw in his disguise? How had this man guessed he was a senior cultivator? Was his cultivation so easily seen through? Still, since the other was so courteous, he had to respond in kind.

He returned the salute quickly. “No need for ‘senior’—just call me…” He was about to say ‘Qinghui Yuanjun’ when he remembered there might be other Divine Sword Sect members around. If he didn’t want to be recognized, he couldn’t use his real name or title.

He made up a name on the spot. “Call me Daoist Chen, or Wuyazi, as you like. So, Qiu Daoist, would you be willing to test the pill?”

Qiu Yuze didn’t answer right away. He picked up the white pill, examined and sniffed it, and, apparently satisfied, popped it into his mouth. He sat down cross-legged to dissolve the medicine—and immediately fell into deep meditation.

Qin Chengming jumped in surprise and hastily set up a defensive array around him. Who just sat down to meditate in the middle of a busy street? Didn’t Golden Core cultivators usually set up defenses first? Without any protection, he was risking sneak attacks or a deviation in his cultivation. If trouble broke out at his stall, how would he do business here in the future?

But Qiu Yuze sat there, unmoving as a mountain, so all Qin Chengming could do was wait. No one would buy the white pills until they’d seen the results anyway.

The green pills sold quickly—he hadn’t made many, just enough to draw attention to the quality of his medicine. In less than a quarter hour, only a few Rejuvenation Pills remained; the rest were gone. The crowd was waiting for the white pills, but, with the effects unproven, everyone hesitated. Even those who trusted the product bought only one or two at most.

Qiu Yuze’s meditation lasted a long time. Normally, the effects would be fully absorbed in less than the time it took for half a stick of incense to burn. But Qiu Yuze remained deep in meditation for a full half-hour before finally awakening.

When he came to, he saw the protective array around him and immediately understood who had set it up. He bowed deeply to Qin Chengming. “Thank you, Senior, for safeguarding me!”

Qin Chengming waved a hand. “No need for courtesy! You were testing my medicine, after all—your safety was my responsibility. So, what did you think?”

Qiu Yuze took a deep breath and released his aura. “Before I arrived, I was just one step away from mid-Golden Core stage, but I couldn’t make the breakthrough. Many of you saw this. Now, as you can see, with the help of this Condensing Qi Pill, I have already advanced to mid-Golden Core. The pill restored two-thirds of my spiritual energy in an instant. The entire process took no more than six heartbeats. However, the rush of energy was intense—cultivators with fragile meridians should be cautious. There are likely other limitations, but I haven’t figured them out yet.” He looked to Qin Chengming, inviting him to elaborate.

Qin Chengming coughed lightly. “Daoist Qiu has explained it well. I’ll add: it’s best not to take more than five of these pills in a day. Two per day is optimal. If you do take five in a row, follow with an Illusory Essence Pill to clear away pill toxicity. If you exceed five, you’ll need a Meridian Remedy Pill or else rest for two days. Taking too many at once will burden the body, but won’t cause lasting harm, so don’t worry. We also have matching Illusory Essence Pills and Rejuvenation Pills of the same grade—eighty mid-grade spirit stones each, ten pills per bottle. Buy a whole bottle, and you’ll get a free green Rejuvenation Pill—while supplies last! Limited quantities, so act fast!”

With real-world evidence before their eyes, no one doubted Qiu Yuze was a shill. His identity was clear, and everyone had witnessed his breakthrough with their own eyes. Who could resist a glimmer of hope? The pills were said only to restore spiritual energy, but Qiu Yuze had advanced in cultivation—perhaps buying a few themselves would do the same? At such a price, if it worked, it would be a windfall.

A mad scramble ensued. In less than half an hour, all the pills that Qin Chengming had labored over for days were sold out.