Purchasing the Ore-Prospecting Mystique could draw unwelcome attention! The Five Elements Sect might even use it to bait a trap.
Jia Ren considered the incident with the Diamond Orchid, fearing that buying the Ore-Prospecting Mystique would inevitably attract significant attention.
The Five Elements Sect was like a hidden viper, ready to strike at the slightest misstep, and if the Spirit Stone Vein were to be exposed, both their lives would be in jeopardy.
"Brother Jia, rest assured, I haven’t forgotten the lessons from the Talisman Cultivators’ Association and the Law Enforcement Office."
"For both our safety, I wouldn’t dare to take the risk!"
Yang Shengwu, thinking of the endless supply of Spirit Stones in the future, was filled with anticipation for what lay ahead.
"I almost forgot something, Brother Jia. Keep an eye out for Mechanism Puppets to improve the efficiency of mining the Spirit Stone Vein."
Mechanism Puppets were excellent for mining!
Their only downside was their high operating cost, far surpassing that of cheap lower-tier Loose Cultivators.
The issue was... sitting atop a Spirit Stone Vein, one didn’t lack Spirit Stones and could easily use materials from the site itself.
Mechanism Puppets also didn’t pose a risk of leaking secrets, as they only worked and never slacked off.
Mechanism Puppets are hard to find...
None of the known sects in the Barren Extreme Land were related to puppets, and few Loose Cultivators had similar inheritances, making Mechanism Puppets quite rare.
Jia Ren had heard of Mechanism Puppets but had never seen one. Finding them in the Great Wilderness Market... that won’t be easy. I might have to look in other markets.
"I’ll keep an eye out for you."
"Try to stay out of the Great Wilderness Market as much as possible. Once we finish mining the Spirit Stone Vein, we’ll head to other markets, so we no longer have to stay in this godforsaken place."
Yang Shengwu still had troubles with the Law Enforcement Office and the Talisman Cultivators’ Association. His disguise skills were also lacking, so he risked exposure every time he entered the Great Wilderness Market.
Being caught with Spirit Stone Vein would be like carrying a ticking time bomb.
"Don’t worry, I won’t set foot in the Great Wilderness Market," Jia Ren assured.
"Let’s hurry and turn this Spirit Stone Vein into Spirit Stones!"
Spirit Stone Vein carried the risk of exposure; it would be best to address that sooner rather than later.
Jia Ren didn’t have many Spirit Stones on hand, which would be problematic if he found something he wanted but couldn’t afford. He surely couldn’t pull out a piece of Spirit Stone Vein to pay, could he?
Having the Spirit Stones cut and prepared in advance is prudent.
Together, they took out blocks of Spirit Stone Vein and began cutting them according to the standard size of Spirit Stones.
Initially a bit clumsy, they made several irregular cuts and fragmented many pieces, but gradually their movements became more skilled.
They cut all the Spirit Stones they had into standard sizes, and even the broken edges were divided into normal Fragmented Spirit Stones.
In total, they had one thousand four hundred twenty-five Three Fragmented Spirits, a haul far exceeding their expectations.
"See you in half a month!"
Jia Ren bid farewell to Yang Shengwu and returned to the Great Wilderness Market.
First, I need to inquire about Mechanism Puppets to increase mining efficiency. The more Spirit Stones we get, the better.
Jia Ren first visited the Fourth District Market and the Inner City, scouring the stalls but ultimately finding nothing.
Not a single stand sold Mechanism Puppets. Even after visiting shops that sold miscellaneous items, he didn’t spot any. This item was even rarer than I anticipated.
Jia Ren remembered buying the Ban-breaking Finger at Tianbao Pavilion, which had left him with a deep impression of their comprehensive inventory.
Given his Eighth Layer of Qi Refining cultivation level, he received a warm welcome from the shopkeeper, who escorted him to the second floor.
"Mechanism Puppets are hard to come by! You might find some at the Jade Cauldron Market. Would you like me to notify the caravan to order some for you?" Follow current novᴇls on NovᴇlFɪre.nᴇt
"It’ll take a month to transport them here, and the price won’t be cheap."
"I haven’t even asked whether you want Humanoid Puppets or Beast-Shaped Puppets?"
The Commerce Guild Manager scrutinized Jia Ren, a playful look on his face. That final question, in particular, sent an inexplicable chill down Jia Ren’s spine.
Not many Loose Cultivators were interested in Mechanism Puppets; they were a luxury for those with plenty of Spirit Stones to spare.
Lower-tier puppets were weak; even ten of them were no match for a Loose Cultivator of the same tier. They needed to be deployed in large numbers to be effective.
Higher-quality puppets used Medium-grade Spirit Stones for operation—not something one could afford without significant wealth.
Beast-Shaped Puppets were solely for combat, while the primary use for Humanoid Puppets was... mining.
Jia Ren tensed up. He consciously tried to calm his nerves and relax, then smiled and said, "How could I afford to play with puppets with the few Spirit Stones I have? I’ve merely read about Mechanism Puppets in a Gazetteer and was quite interested, so I was just inquiring about the price."
He brushed off the subject with a laugh and shifted the conversation to Elixirs. A nagging feeling told him that if he dared to buy a Humanoid Puppet at Tianbao Pavilion, trouble would surely follow.
Tianbao Pavilion wasn’t just a shop. Behind it stood the Yuding Sect, a colossal entity not to be trifled with, comparable in stature to the Five Elements Sect. In the Cultivation World, one must always be cautious; a single careless move could plant a hidden danger for oneself.
"The Great Wilderness Market only recognizes Pill Cauldron Pavilion, truly ignorant and narrow-minded."
"The Yuding Sect is far more adept at Alchemy than the Five Elements Sect. They boast several Alchemy Grandmasters, a level the Five Elements Sect simply cannot match. Consequently, the quality of Elixirs available from Tianbao Pavilion is also superior by a good measure."
"There are three kinds of Elixirs suitable for those in the Late Stage Qi-Refining, namely the Spirit Enhancement Pill, Qi-Integrating Pill, and Ju Yuan Ling San."
"The price of the Spirit Enhancement Pill is the same as that at Pill Cauldron Pavilion, but the quality is a notch higher."
Jia Ren opened the medicine bottle and sniffed the Elixir. It was indeed slightly better than those produced by Pill Cauldron Pavilion.
With long-term use, the difference would become quite noticeable. He was in the right place!
"What about the Qi-Integrating Pill and Ju Yuan Ling San?"
"The Qi-Integrating Pill is slightly inferior to the Spirit Enhancement Pill. It costs seven Spirit Stones each, with the advantage being its gentle medicinal effects, allowing for continuous consumption without overburdening the body."
"Ju Yuan Ling San is an Elixir that the Yuding Sect makes available, primarily for its own cultivators. Its quality surpasses even the Five Elements Spirit Pill, and it is priced at eighteen Spirit Stones per package."
"The quantity shipped here each month is limited, so there’s a restriction of ten packages of Ju Yuan Ling San per person each month."