Chapter 42: Treasure Pavilion

There are seven towns of cultivators on the edge of the Southern Wilderness Mountains.

Among these seven towns of cultivators, although the cultivators on Black Mountain are the weakest, they have the largest number of people. At the peak, the number of cultivators living on Black Mountain has exceeded 20,000.

Almost half of the scattered cultivators in Yu State who have no way out will venture into the Southern Wilderness. They often choose to settle in Black Mountain because it is the most convenient place for scattered cultivators to be treated and there are more channels for promotion.

Once some scattered cultivators with good qualifications can successfully build their foundation, they will cultivate spiritual veins and open caves near Black Mountain to serve as vassals of Liang Laozu of Black Mountain.

After hundreds of years of development, 23 scattered cultivators in Black Mountain have built their foundation. All of these 23 cultivators have settled near Black Mountain. Including the disciples of Liang Laozu, there are more than 30 cultivators who have built their foundation near Black Mountain.

Even Qingxuan Sect, the largest sect in the three southeastern counties, has less than 200 cultivators who have built their foundation. Therefore, the independent cultivators near Black Mountain are a considerable force for the Yu Kingdom's immortal cultivation world.

Some independent cultivators even marry wives and concubines, wanting to establish an immortal cultivation family like Zhang Tairen, the ancestor of the Zhang family, did more than 400 years ago.

In fact, Zhang Tairen, the ancestor of the Zhang family, was also an independent cultivator in the Southern Wilderness in his youth. He bought the foundation-building pill from Qingyangfang controlled by Qingxuan Sect. After building the foundation, he left the Southern Wilderness Mountains and established a family in Lushan.

Compared with other markets in the Southern Wilderness Mountains, Black Mountain Market was established the shortest, less than 300 years ago, and the safety of Black Mountain was completely entrusted to the ancestor Liang.

Ancestor Liang was gifted. Relying on an ordinary Fiery Art, he cultivated to the peak of the Purple Mansion Stage. Relying on the protective array of Black Mountain, he could compete with the Golden Core cultivators.

Every few decades, the Southern Wilderness monsters would besiege these seven towns on a large scale, and sometimes even fifth-level monsters would mingle among them.

A fifth-level monster is equivalent to a Jindan-stage cultivator. Monsters of this level can already evolve into some human forms. Even the most crazy and evil beasts have some spirituality in their wisdom.

Once faced with the siege of monsters of this level, without the pillar of Liang Laozu, the casual cultivators of Heishanfang are almost vulnerable and cannot defend this sacred mountain treasure land at all.

Although there are at most 20,000 cultivators on Heishan, the market below the mountain is deserted most of the time.

Some of the cultivators of Heishan go down the mountain to look for spiritual herbs, hunt monsters, and investigate the enemy. The remaining ones with low cultivation are also responsible for cultivating the spiritual fields on the mountain and feeding the domesticated beasts.

Almost all the food, clothing, housing and transportation of the cultivators require manpower, and there are very few idle people who do nothing.

Zhang Zhixuan led Qingchan to stroll in the market, bought some things commonly used by cultivators, and then entered a magnificent shop.

This shop is six stories high, and the storefront is spacious and tall, with an area at least equivalent to three ordinary shops.

This shop is called Baibao Pavilion. The few people who greeted them at the door were actually mortals without spiritual roots. These mortals were already over middle-aged, and they all looked like warriors who practiced internal energy, and their cultivation was only about the fourth or fifth level of the innate stage.

It was the first time for Zhang Zhixuan to see mortals in the Southern Wilderness.

At this time, a 28-year-old, charming female cultivator came from the back hall and said, "These people are all relatives of my family. They came to the market to help take care of the business. Daoyou looks a little unfamiliar. Is this your first time to the Black Mountain Market?"

"My brother and I are independent cultivators from the Yu Kingdom. Because it is difficult for independent cultivators in the Yu Kingdom to survive, we went south to Black Mountain to make a living. We have been in the south for several months, and this is the first time we see mortals, so we are surprised."

The female cultivator waved her hand and said, "It is difficult for independent cultivators to survive. Even if they are in the foundation-building stage, they will encounter obstacles everywhere without help. So some Senior monks have married wives and concubines in Black Mountain and established their own families. A considerable number of their descendants have adapted to the environment of Black Mountain. After many years of reproduction and growth, some mortals have lived near Black Mountain. The environment here is harsh, and mortals cannot do without the protection of monks. There are many monsters in the southern wilderness, and they will besiege the mountain gates built by monks at any time. It is impossible for Qi training monks to establish a stable base outside the mountain. Therefore, most of the mortals near Black Mountain are descendants of foundation-building monks. "

This is the first time Zhang Zhixuan has heard of this situation.

Some casual cultivators from outside, because of the habit of treating mortals like straw dogs for many years, will kill mortals to vent their hatred when they are not satisfied.

The people they kill are likely to be the direct descendants, wives, sons and daughters of foundation-building monks. Such people often offend senior monks because of their rashness and irritability, and it is difficult for them to survive in Black Mountain.

Most of them have become flesh and blood containing spiritual energy, nourishing the fertile soil of Black Mountain.

After listening to the girl's words, Zhang Zhixuan bowed and said, "Thank you for your advice, young lady. I heard from the monks of Taixu Pavilion that your store is recruiting alchemists, so I want to apply for the job."

"So it was Liang the liar who introduced you. He must not have made it clear that we are recruiting alchemists, not alchemy apprentices. At least you can refine a second-level middle-grade or higher elixir to be accepted. From your appearance, although your cultivation is good, you are not old, and I am afraid you don't have the ability to refine a second-level or higher elixir." The girl spoke in a loud tone, as if she was not familiar with something. Although she didn't say it directly, she still didn't believe that Zhang Zhixuan could refine elixirs.

"Don't talk nonsense. Although this little brother is young, he has a solid foundation in cultivation. I'm afraid he will need to build a foundation to make further progress. Although he is not very old, he already has a few traces of fireworks and a hint of medicinal fragrance. I'm afraid he has been an alchemist for quite some time. If I hadn't been in the store today, this talent would have been driven away by you. You little girl, you are not diligent in cultivation and you are self-righteous. When I am here, I can still take care of you for a few days. Once I am gone, and your grandfather is gone, what will you do in the future?" A sound of footsteps came from upstairs, and an old monk slowly walked down the stairs, speaking softly.

Although he was scolding the girl, there was still some kindness in his eyes.

Because there were outsiders, the old man's unceremonious scolding made the girl a little embarrassed. She immediately stood aside with a red face, not knowing whether to leave or stay.

Zhang Zhixuan took a closer look and found that the old cultivator had a profound cultivation base, and his aura was no less than that of several elders in the family. It seemed that he had reached the ninth level of the Qi training stage.

He bowed and said, "Thank you for your praise, old senior. Although my brother and I are casual cultivators, our master also had some spiritual fields in the Yu Kingdom. I also became an alchemist after years of practice."

"How long have you been learning to make alchemy?"

"About five years."

"What is your current level of alchemy? What grade of spiritual pill can you make? What is the probability of success?"

It seems that Baibao Pavilion is indeed short of alchemists, so the old cultivator asked three questions in a row.

Zhang Zhixuan replied: "I am only a beginner in alchemy. I can only refine three second-level middle-grade elixirs. The probability of success is also relatively low, only two or three levels."

The old man nodded and smiled: "At your age, this level is already good. According to your situation, refining second-level middle-grade elixirs can only barely break even, with only a slight profit. Our shop also needs to earn spirit stones, so we will not let you refine spirit pills above second-level middle-grade. According to your current level, you can only be responsible for refining first-level elixirs and a small amount of second-level low-grade elixirs. But if you join this pavilion, there will be a benefit. You can use the earth fire veins for free once a month to improve your alchemy skills. In addition, our welfare benefits are not bad, and we can give you a salary of two spirit stones every month.