"A-actually I-I never really wanted to be a treasure hunter in the first place… I only became a treasure hunter in the past due to the different herbs I needed for alchemy being way too expensive for me to get without becoming a treasure hunter." Finishing what he wanted to say, both Xuan Hao and Chi Hu did not know how to respond.
You're an alchemist, couldn't you just sell the potions or pills you made and earn more that way?
Both Xuan Hao and Chi Hu's face seemed to say this as the treasure hunter sighed a bit before continuing.
"The reason I didn't settle down and just become and normal alchemist at some sect or kingdom, was that the direction of my research is quite… Unique. Compared to what ordinary alchemists will focus on doing… So, nobody was ever willing to buy any of the things I made…
The only people that showed a bit interest in the things I made were a group of demonic cultivators I met when out adventuring in the past…" Upon reaching the end, the treasure hunter wore a distressed look. Becoming more and more depressed after remembering his past struggles as a young alchemist.
"What is it that you were so focused on researching? Does it have anything to do with the potions you threw at me earlier…?" Listening to the treasure hunter, Chi Hu felt what he said made some sense, but why would people not want to buy his potions?
From what he had experienced first-hand, they seemed to be able to injure someone in the Nascent Soul Realm! Selling them would surely be a big hit and good way to earn a lot of spirit stones to buy whatever he needed…
"Yes, it is the potions I threw at you earlier…" Talking about this, the treasure hunter looked embarrassed as he calmed down before continuing.
"But the potions themselves can be considered a part of what I am studying and just producing those few potions I threw at you earlier would easily be worth a few high-grade spirit stones… The price that I would sell the potions at was way too high for anyone to want them in the first place.
Only those few demonic cultivators were interested in a few of them as it would help their cultivation after consumption or something along that line." Shaking his head as he thought of the weird looks people gave him every time he went to try and sell his potions at a market for cultivators, the treasure hunter became even more sad. Making both Xuan Hao and Chi Hu feel bad for him.
"Maybe we should think about it for a bit longer… Chi Hu, just take him back to the sect for now and we will get things sorted out after I return! Also, ask the Alchemy Hall to look into the potions that this guy made. Maybe they will find something useful from it!" Thinking about it over for a few minutes as the treasure hunter nervously observed him together with Chi Hu, Xuan Hao decided to bring him back to the sect for now and find out what to do with him after returning from the secret realm.
For now, Xuan Hao did not want to waste any more time on the alchemist treasure hunter and try to figure out what to do with him.
"Yes! Then, I will take my leave for now Elder Xuan! I hope to see you at the sect safely again soon!" Agreeing with what Xuan Hao said, Chi Hu grabbed onto the treasure hunter before taking off in the direction of the entrance to the secret realm.
"Now that I think about it… Did I remember to inform the Flying Sword Sect about recruiting someone new for the sect…? I probably did…!" Throwing the sudden thought to the back of his mind as he observed Chi Hu's leaving figure, Xuan Hao soon jumped on top of his sword and once again flew into the Nascent Soul Realm area of the secret realm.
The difference this time, was that he first decided to fly along the edge for some time before going deeper into the Nascent Soul Realm area. Not wanting to run into the recently unsealed wolf close to the Domain Lord Realm…
"Hm? It seems someone already arrived at the edge before me…" As Xuan Hao was making his way deeper into the Nascent Soul Realm area outside the territory of a certain wolf pack, a person dressed like a simple wanderer appeared in the air above Chi Hu and the treasure hunter making their way back towards the entrance of the secret realm.
"Just someone in the Nascent Soul Realm… Looks like I'm worried over nothing!" The somewhat cautious look that started to form on the wanderer as he observed the two below him disappeared the moment, he felt the two's cultivation realm. No longer deeming them to be a potential threat.
"The first layer of the formation should be just up ahead, perhaps those two encountered the formation and decided to go back?" Thinking about this, the wanderer soon disappeared from the spot above Chi Hu and the treasure hunter.
Appearing directly in front of the pillar Xuan Hao and Chi Hu had spent a day cultivating after half an hour of flying.
"T-this is?! WHAT INSANE PERSON MADE SOMETHING !?" Screaming in shock as he saw the giant pillar piercing through the sky above, the wanderer felt a wave of terror wash over him.
"Whoever made this formation is far above the Master Realm when it comes to formations… Looks is not an ordinary secret realm!" Feeling both excited and scared upon realizing this, the wanderer stared at the giant pillar for a few minutes before deciding to spend the next day quietly studying the giant formation pillar before making his way deeper into the secret realm.
At this point, the wanderer knew very well that he could not waste too much time as the big empire would soon find out about the secret realm and seal it off to wandering cultivators like himself and force him to hand over everything upon leaving.
Even then, just studying the formation pillar for a single day had brought him immense benefits when it came to his own study as a formation expert. This was simply not something he could give up on and even if the entrance was sealed, he would still be able to keep the knowledge that he learned after studying the formation pillar!