Chapter 21 - Two Pills and a Few Corpses

Lao Xie took the slips and calmly scanned through the listings.

First-Grade Qi Absorption Pill

Effect: Doubles the user's qi absorption speed for a few hours during meditation.

Cost: 8 Spirit Stones / 2 Merit Points

First-Grade Stamina Restoration Pill

Effect: Restores twenty percent of stamina upon consumption.

Cost: 6 Spirit Stones / 2 Merit Points

First-Grade Healing Pill

Effect: Heals minor or light injuries.

Cost: 5 Spirit Stones / 1 Merit Point

First-Grade Detoxification Pill

Effect: Neutralizes weak poisons and toxins.

Cost: 6 Spirit Stones / 2 Merit Points

First-Grade Focus Pill

Effect: Sharpens mental clarity and suppresses distractions. Commonly used before crafting, alchemy, or cultivation.

Cost: 10 Spirit Stones / 3 Merit Points

Further down the list were pills marked with a faint gold line, reserved for inner disciples only.

Second-Grade Qi Burst Pill

Effect: Temporarily increases qi output by a small margin. Risk of rebound if overused.

Cost: 25 Spirit Stones / 8 Merit Points

Second-Grade Nerve Rejuvenation Pill

Effect: Restores spiritual nerve fatigue. Often used by cultivators after long battles or mental strain.

Cost: 30 Spirit Stones / 10 Merit Points

The options were clearly categorized by type, grade, and purpose. Prices were listed beside each, both in spirit stones and merit points.

The majority of pills were first-grade, meant for outer disciples. Useful, but limited in power. Higher-grade pills were listed too, though clearly marked as restricted to inner disciples or exchangeable only by elder recommendation.

Lao Xie scrolled no further.

"These are quite costly..." he murmured..

His gaze returned to the top of the list, stopping at the two entries he needed most.

"These two," he said plainly, tapping the [Qi Absorption Pill] and [Stamina Restoration Pill].

The clerk gave him another look, then slid open a drawer beneath the counter, retrieving two small jade bottles. Each was sealed with a talisman and bore the respective pill's name etched onto the lid.

"I don't know what happened to you," the clerk said, handing them over, "but I guess it worked out for the better."

He added, "Be careful when using them. The absorption one works fast, so don't waste its effect by spacing out. As for the stamina pill, don't treat it like some miracle candy. Use it too often, and it'll wreck your meridians."

Lao Xie accepted the bottles and tucked them into his ring without a word, turning to leave.

"Miracles really do exist… even the one they used to call Little Mortal is now a cultivator," the clerk thought, watching as Lao Xie slowly disappeared from view.

Outside the Alchemy Hall, the scent of herbal steam faded into the background as he turned down the stone path leading northeast. The familiar shape of the Resource Pavilion soon appeared in the distance, its towering silhouette jutting from the sect's heart like a fortress of trade and commerce.

Its exterior remained the same, reinforced walls and massive stone pillars etched with carvings of beasts mid-battle. The ornate carvings seemed more lifelike in the morning light, casting long shadows across the ground.

Lao Xie approached with steady steps, his expression as unreadable as ever.

The moment he stepped inside, the same atmosphere greeted him. Rows of counters, walls filled with jade chests and scroll shelves, and the faint scent of beast blood, ink, and aged wood mixing in the air.

Disciples bustled about, haggling over materials or submitting cores and hides for appraisal.

His gaze swept past the crowd.

And there she was, Elder Yao, seated at the very same counter, hunched slightly with a bamboo brush in one hand and a steaming teacup in the other.

Despite being well into her early middle years, Elder Yao's beauty remained striking, no less radiant than those half her age. Her long, deep-purple hair flowed past her shoulders, and her pale skin glowed softly under the pavilion's lantern light. Clad in her signature lavender robes, she stood at the counter like a timeless painting brought to life.

The moment her gaze lifted and landed on him, one elegant brow arched in disbelief.

"You again?" she said, her voice half-amused, half-skeptical. "It hasn't even been that long."

Lao Xie offered no explanation and simply stepped forward, "I've come to make a trade," he said.

Elder Yao eyed the token, then shifted her gaze to his ring. "More spoils?"

Instead of answering, he flicked his wrist. In a flash of light, two sizable corpses appeared neatly side by side. one a clawed tusk boar, the other a vine-horned lizard, both relatively fresh, their cores intact and bodies unmarred.

A few nearby disciples turned to look, momentarily stunned. Even some clerks in the background exchanged glances. It wasn't uncommon to see beast parts being traded here, but clean, undamaged full corpses? That was rare, especially from an outer disciple.

"Hmph…" Elder Yao set her brush down and leaned forward, taking a slow sip of her tea before standing. She circled the beasts once, her gaze sharp, expert.

"Third-stage tusk boar, cleanly killed... and this lizard... even the vine horns are undamaged." She tilted her head and gave him a serious look. "Who are you? Are you really the same Lao Xie i know?"

Lao Xie was silent for a moment. Then, with a faint smirk, he said, "You used to take care of me. You know very well I'm the same Lao Xie you know, old hag."

She gave a soft laugh and shook her head. "Still as foul-mouthed as ever. 'Old hag,' huh? I don't even know where you picked up that kind of language."

With a wave of her hand, a nearby clerk who had clearly been eavesdropping with wide eyes hurried over and gave a respectful bow.

Like most working here, the clerk was actually a disciple. The sect offered various part-time tasks such as clerking, record-keeping, beast processing in exchange for coin or even cultivation resources. Most of the Resource Pavilion's staff were outer or inner disciples trying to earn extra.

"Record these for appraisal," Elder Yao ordered, gesturing to the two corpses. "Make sure the parts are extracted properly."

"Yes, Elder!" The clerk snapped out of his daze and gave a crisp reply before calling over a few more assistants to help move the corpses.

"So, same as last time?" she asked. "Silver coins?"

"Silver coins," Lao Xie replied.

She gave a soft hum. "Mmm. Alright."

A few minutes passed before the clerk returned, bowing and presenting a wooden slip. "Appraisal is done, Elder Yao. Here's the result."

Elder Yao took it, glanced over the contents, and arched a brow.

"Well now," she said, reaching under the counter. "fifty silver coins. Not bad for leftovers."

She handed over a tied pouch.

Lao Xie accepted it without a word and stored it into his ring.

"If you keep this up, I'll start reserving a counter just for you," Elder Yao said lightly, sipping her tea again. "Though don't go getting arrogant. One lucky streak and you'll think you run the place."