### Chapter 116: The Meridian Protection Pill

Even in the southern district, where cultivators were the poorest, He Song had never seen such a scene.

Cultivators were cultivators.

Those with spiritual roots were one in ten thousand.

Those who could become cultivators naturally wouldn't rely on selling themselves for a living.

Although there were female cultivators who specialized in dual cultivation techniques, it was always a mutual agreement, a matter of mutual benefit.

Unlike mortals, who, if they had good looks, might make a living from such means.

However, after spending a few days in the northern district, He Song stopped going.

A sudden piece of news made him put all of this behind him.

One day, a rumor began to spread in Green Wall Immortal City.

A small auction was about to take place in the city.

Many rare and valuable items would be auctioned off.

At first, He Song didn't pay much attention, nor did Wei Fan. Meng Guan didn't even know about it.

But when someone mentioned that a Meridian Protection Pill would appear at the auction, He Song and Wei Fan exchanged glances and quickly relayed the news to Meng Guan, who was resting in his meditation chamber.

Upon hearing the news, Meng Guan emerged from his secluded chamber and slowly made his way to the pavilion, where He Song and Wei Fan were already waiting, sipping tea.

The three of them sat facing each other in the pavilion, the faint aroma of tea filling the air.

He Song and Wei Fan had been waiting for a long time.

Now that Meng Guan had appeared, a weight was lifted from their hearts.

Fortunately, the news had come in time.

Meng Guan hadn't yet begun his breakthrough.

This meant he still had the chance to use the Meridian Protection Pill during his attempt.

Unlike their earlier assumption, where he would have to attempt the breakthrough without any protective pills.

That would have been a true gamble with life and death.

If they could secure the Meridian Protection Pill at the auction, Meng Guan would at least survive even if he failed to break through.

"Please, my friends, help me."

After sitting for a moment, Meng Guan stood up and bowed deeply to his two friends.

He did have a fair amount of spirit stones on him.

But knowing the price of the Meridian Protection Pill, he also knew that he didn't have enough.

Thus, asking his two friends for help would increase his chances of obtaining the pill.

With the Meridian Protection Pill in hand, even if he failed to break through, he could recover within ten years without losing his life.

Although he had long planned to risk his life and had been preparing for it, who wouldn't want to live if given the chance?

Even if his path seemed to have reached its end, he had fought hard and would leave no regrets. Living on would still be a way of life.

As Meng Guan finished speaking, the pavilion fell silent.

After a moment of quiet, He Song and Wei Fan exchanged glances and stood up together, helping Meng Guan to his feet.

"Old Meng, what are you saying? Since we've already told you the news, we'll naturally do everything we can to help."

When they had first heard the news, He Song and Wei Fan had already discussed the matter.

While they couldn't guarantee they would help Meng Guan secure the Meridian Protection Pill, they would certainly do their best.

Thus, when Meng Guan asked for their help, He Song and Wei Fan agreed without hesitation.

However, He Song couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret.

If he had known this would happen, he would have sold the spirit rice stored in his small storage bag.

Most of the over one thousand spirit stones he had originally saved had been spent before coming to Green Wall Immortal City.

Now, He Song only had a little over two hundred spirit stones left.

While this was all he had, he wasn't sure if it would be enough.

If it wasn't, he would have to think of another way.

After being helped up by He Song and Wei Fan, Meng Guan bowed in thanks again, and the three of them sat down to discuss how to secure the Meridian Protection Pill.

"From what I know, a single Meridian Protection Pill usually costs around two thousand spirit stones."

The first thing Meng Guan said after sitting down surprised He Song.

The Meridian Protection Pill... was it really that cheap?

After all, this was the Meridian Protection Pill, something that could save a person's life if they failed to break through to Foundation Building.

Although it wasn't as effective as the Foundation Building Pill, which could increase the success rate of breaking through and allow full recovery within two years, the Meridian Protection Pill could still ensure full recovery within ten years after a failed breakthrough.

This was the life of a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator.

Two thousand spirit stones?

Wasn't that too cheap?

Seeing the surprise in He Song's eyes, Meng Guan paused and added an explanation.

"Although the Meridian Protection Pill can save lives, it's not considered rare. It just takes a long time to gather the ingredients for a single batch."

"At this auction, there will definitely be more than one Meridian Protection Pill available. Scarcity drives value, and a single batch usually yields five to ten pills. Even if a batch is only produced every three to five years, there will still be enough for those who need it."

"After all, cultivators like me, who don't have time to wait for a Foundation Building Pill, are rare. If others have the time, they'll naturally choose to wait for the Foundation Building Pill instead."

After hearing Meng Guan's explanation, He Song finally understood.

So that was how it was.

Cultivators like Meng Guan, who had just reached the peak of Qi Refining and were already nearing sixty, were few and far between.

For most peak Qi Refining cultivators, there was still plenty of time before they reached sixty.

With time on their side, they could afford to wait for the Foundation Building Pill to appear.

After all, the Foundation Building Pill could increase the chances of a successful breakthrough.

If someone took the Meridian Protection Pill first and failed to break through, they would have to wait ten years to fully recover, missing the optimal period for breaking through before sixty.

The Meridian Protection Pill required a full ten years to heal!

Missing the optimal period before sixty, even if they took the Foundation Building Pill later, their chances of success would be greatly reduced.

Thus, rather than taking the Meridian Protection Pill early and risking missing the optimal period, it was better to wait for the Foundation Building Pill from the start.

Only when there was no time left would they use the Meridian Protection Pill as a last resort.

With this understanding, He Song finally realized why the Meridian Protection Pill was so cheap.

Two thousand spirit stones.

With He Song's current income, he could afford one in a year.

A glint flashed in He Song's eyes as he thoughtfully gazed into the distance.

It seemed like the Meridian Protection Pill might be useful for him too.

"After killing those rogue cultivators, I've gained quite a bit. I currently have around twelve hundred spirit stones. If you two could lend me some, I would be deeply grateful."

Seeing that He Song's doubts had been resolved, Meng Guan began to ask for a loan of spirit stones.

From what he knew, the Meridian Protection Pill would cost around two thousand spirit stones.

(End of Chapter)

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