Chapter 139: Alchemist of the Immortal Realm

Han Li did not pay much attention to the pills for improving cultivation or healing injuries and detoxification; he walked straight over to the wooden shelf containing recovery-type pills.

Beneath each type of pill on the shelf, there was a detailed description explaining the pill's properties and its price.

His gaze slowly swept across the shelf and soon settled on a bottle of spirit pills called Guiyuan Pills.

Taking this pill could greatly replenish one's vital energy and enrich blood and qi. Now, every time he condensed those time-law-infused crystals, he inevitably suffered a great loss of blood and qi. This pill would be just right for him, possibly reducing the time needed for recovery and recuperation.

“Give me five bottles of Guiyuan Pills,” Han Li said.

Although the spirit pills were expensive—each small bottle containing only three pills cost thirty top-grade spirit stones—he had previously obtained quite a few top-grade spirit stones from the Earth Immortals and Scattered Immortals he had killed, so he was not too distressed about the cost.

“Very well!” Steward Lu’s face lit up with joy as he took out a token.

A beam of white light shot out from it, striking the protective barrier around the counter and opening a gap. A nearby attendant immediately crouched down and retrieved five green jade bottles from within.

After some searching, Han Li also selected a type of pill called Wangyuan Pills, which could accelerate the absorption of natural spiritual energy in a short time, and an appearance-changing pill called “Zhenggu San” that could fool the divine sense of cultivators at the late True Immortal stage.

These two types of medicine were also not cheap, using up most of the top-grade spirit stones he had on hand.

However, to deal with various unforeseen risks ahead, he was naturally willing to spare no expense.

Steward Lu was all smiles at this, as this transaction was quite substantial for him.

Just as he was about to recommend some other spirit medicines to Han Li, a clatter of footsteps sounded, and two figures also arrived on the fifth floor.

The one in front was a young girl of eighteen or nineteen, dressed in white like snow, with a radiant countenance and a slender figure that carried not a trace of worldly dust, like a moon palace fairy descended to the mortal world.

Beside the white-clad girl was a young man in a blue robe, about twenty years old, with fairly handsome features but an arrogant expression that made it hard to feel any fondness for him.

“Lu Ping, have the spiritual materials I asked for last time been prepared?” The blue-robed youth, upon arriving, cast a sidelong glance at Han Li and addressed Steward Lu without any courtesy.

“So it’s the young lady and Master Fang who have come. I failed to welcome you from afar; please forgive me. Master Fang, the items you requested have long been prepared. I will fetch them right away.” Steward Lu quickly stepped forward to greet them, casting an apologetic glance at Han Li as he spoke.

“Master…” Han Li’s heart stirred. He looked at the blue-robed youth, his gaze falling on a pattern of a red cauldron on the youth’s collar.

“Senior, that is the unique emblem of an alchemist. This person is a Grade A human alchemist,” Mu Xue said softly beside him.

Han Li nodded thoughtfully at this, withdrew his gaze, and continued examining other pills on his own.

By then, Lu Ping had called over two attendants to accompany the white-clad girl and the other, while he himself quickly clattered down the stairs.

The white-clad girl, looking deeply worried, walked on her own to the shelf of healing and detoxification pills, pacing and examining them.

“Brother Mo is blessed by heaven and is also quite powerful. Perhaps he has inadvertently fallen into some special禁制 or space that has cut off the perception of his soul lamp. Such things have happened before… Don’t worry too much,” the blue-robed youth said softly, following behind the white-clad girl.

“I don’t believe my elder brother has met with misfortune either. I must find him no matter what this time,” the white-clad girl nodded, her voice as crisp as an oriole’s.

Han Li paid no attention to the two; he soon finished looking over all the pills here and found nothing else that caught his interest.

“Let’s go,” he said to Mu Xue, then turned and went downstairs.

After leaving the Thousand Herb Hall, Han Li glanced at the bustling crowd on the street and turned to ask Mu Xue:

“Are there any quiet temporary cave dwellings on Black Wind Island where one can stay?”

“Reporting to Senior, Mount Youyang, five hundred li outside the city, was specially opened up by the Island Lord for visiting cultivators to stay temporarily. If Senior wishes to go, I can lead the way. I’ve taken several employers there before and know the route well,” Mu Xue immediately said upon hearing this.

“No need. Just tell me the general direction, and I’ll go on my own,” Han Li waved his hand and said.

“Senior, follow the main road in the city out of the north gate and keep heading north, and you’ll reach it,” Mu Xue said, her expression dimming slightly, but she quickly added.

Han Li raised his wrist and casually tossed a piece of green crystal the size of a longan, which arced through the air and landed in Mu Xue’s arms.

The latter quickly caught it, looked closely, and found it was a high-grade spirit stone. Her face showed surprise and delight, but then she somewhat fearfully offered the stone back with both hands, saying:

“Senior, you’ve given too much. Only five medium-grade spirit stones would be enough.”

“Rest assured, keep it. This spirit stone isn’t given for nothing. I have a matter I need you to help me inquire about,” Han Li said with a smile.

“Senior, please tell me,” Mu Xue said, slightly startled, but still not putting away the spirit stone, and asked.

Han Li was quite satisfied with the young man’s reaction and nodded, saying:

"I want you to help me find out how to obtain permission to leave Black Wind Island. If you get me useful information, I will not treat you poorly."

"Senior, rest assured. I will do my utmost." Mu Xue's face lit up with joy as she nodded emphatically.

After taking their leave, the two went their separate ways, each heading in a different direction.

Han Li strolled leisurely along the main road in the city, glancing at the shops and market stalls, in no hurry, and eventually sauntered out of the city as if on a casual walk.

Once outside the city, he walked a bit further before suddenly launching himself into the air, his figure vanishing in a flash.

A distance of five hundred li was nothing to Han Li; in the blink of an eye, he descended before a beautiful mountain peak several hundred zhang tall.

Looking up, he saw that although the mountain was not high, it was lush with verdant trees, and above the mountainside, clouds and mist swirled, giving it an air of immortality.

However, imperceptible to the naked eye, he detected a faint but peculiar fluctuation of spiritual power, like a vast net covering the entire mountain.

After observing for a moment, he withdrew his gaze and walked toward a multi-eaved hall at the mountain gate.

Entering the hall, he saw a huge twelve-fold screen directly ahead, embroidered with gold thread depicting the entire landscape of Youyang Mountain, looking quite magnificent.

In front of the screen was a wide wooden desk, purplish-red all over, its surface smooth as a mirror. On the right corner sat a beast-headed incense burner, from which curling blue smoke rose.

Behind the blue smoke, an old man dressed as a Confucian scholar in a blue robe was engrossed in reading an ancient blue book, seemingly not noticing Han Li.

Han Li looked around; seeing no one else in the hall, he stepped forward and gave a soft cough.

Only then did the old man slowly raise his head and size up Han Li, a hint of displeasure at being disturbed appearing in his eyes.

"Here to rent a cave dwelling?" the old man asked.

"Is there a secluded cave dwelling, undisturbed by others?" Han Li asked.

The old man glanced at him and said impatiently:

"I've heard that line so many times my ears are about to grow calluses. Nine out of ten people who come here say the same. Where do you think I can find so many quiet cave dwellings for you to pick from? Do you all really think you're true immortals?"

But as soon as he finished speaking, a spiritual pressure far surpassing that of a Mahayana-stage cultivator burst forth from Han Li, causing the old man to stagger and nearly fall from his chair.

The blue-robed old man, greatly alarmed, stood up from his chair, bowed, and repeatedly said, "This... this junior has eyes but failed to recognize you, Senior. Please forgive my offense, forgive me..."

Han Li withdrew his aura, too lazy to argue, and tossed over a small pouch of spirit stones, saying, "Find me a quiet cave dwelling. Keep the change."

"Yes, yes... The Jia-class Kang Room is at the Wangri Cliff on the mountaintop. It is one of the few Jia-class cave dwellings, always the most secluded. I wonder if Senior is satisfied?" The blue-robed old man took the pouch, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes, and pointed to the large screen behind him.

Han Li looked up and saw a light spot glowing on the mountain peak depicted on the screen; its location was indeed remote, far from other cave dwellings.

"Good, I'll take this one." Han Li nodded.

The old man immediately put away the spirit stones and handed Han Li a black circular token.

A moment later, outside the main hall.

After Han Li infused a strand of magic power into the token, a faint dark golden light lit up on it.

According to the old man, this token was not only the key to open the cave dwelling but also his credential to enter the protective grand array of Youyang Mountain.

With this token on him, he could fly freely over Youyang Mountain; otherwise, he would trigger the grand array and be suppressed as an intruder.

Han Li looked up at the sun, which was gradually setting in the west, and with a flicker, he shot toward the mountaintop.

Before long, Han Li found himself in a fairly spacious cave dwelling.

Although it already had restrictions set up, he added several more layers of restrictions before feeling at ease.

After doing this, he went to the meditation chamber, sat down cross-legged, and stared intently at the void before him, his eyes flickering with great agitation.

What he had seen and heard today in the largest city of the Black Wind Sea region had shaken him deeply.

"Mo Guang." Han Li said after a moment of silence.

The shadow beneath him twisted and stirred, and a dark figure emerged, revealing Mo Guang's form, his expression still as wooden as ever.

"May I ask, Fellow Daoist Mo Guang, do you know the hierarchy of alchemists in the immortal realm?" Han Li asked directly.

"As far as I know, alchemists in the immortal realm are mainly divided into three ranks: Human-rank, Earth-rank, and Heaven-rank," Mo Guang replied.