Chapter 70: Five Elements Sect Shop

He Qun listened and nodded affirmatively. "Of course. To gain anything in the Cloud Dream Lake, you basically have to fight demonic beasts."

"The deeper you go, the stronger the demonic beasts become, and the greater the rewards you reap upon victory. Demonic beasts of Rank 2 or higher possess inner cores, which are essential ingredients for alchemy. Major sects offer high prices to acquire them."

"Many rogue cultivators, if they wish to exchange for Foundation Establishment Pills from large sect merchant guilds, can only risk their lives by venturing deep to hunt Rank 3 or higher demonic beasts for their inner cores."

Chen Mobai was greatly surprised to hear this. He hadn't realized that alchemy in the Heavenly River Realm also used demonic beast inner cores, a method completely different from that of Earth Star. However, upon closer thought, it was understandable. On Earth Star, ranked demonic beasts were extremely rare; most were endangered and listed as protected spiritual beasts by the immortal sects. Killing them for cores, or even harming them, would be major news. It seemed that if the pill toxicity was acceptable, the alchemy methods in the Heavenly River Realm had their merits.

With that thought, Chen Mobai then asked how to get to the Cloud Dream Lake.

"I'm actually forming a team to hunt Cold Serpents. If you follow instructions, I don't mind taking you along," He Qun said. He Qun had some understanding of Chen Mobai, knowing he was at least at Qi Condensation Layer 6 and possessed several powerful talismans. Having him join the team would be a significant asset.

"When will you depart, fellow cultivator?" Chen Mobai asked. He was somewhat tempted but, out of caution, didn't immediately agree.

"In three days, including you, there will be a total of seven people. After hunting the Cold Serpents, the spoils will be divided equally. However, the snake gallbladders must go to me, and I will compensate you with spirit stones if there's any price difference."

"I'll go back and consider it, and give you an answer tomorrow, fellow cultivator." After saying this, Chen Mobai left He Qun's stall.

Afterward, he first asked Qi Er about He Qun's reputation in Nanxi Market City, finding it decent. Cultivators who went out with him mostly returned safely; only occasionally would someone die. In the Cloud Dream Lake area, this was already considered a team with a very high survival rate.

Chen Mobai felt a little relieved. Just then, one of his stall neighbors, Lu Shu, returned, and Chen Mobai asked him a bit more. "You mean old man He? He's still a bit suspicious."

"Oh, how so?" Chen Mobai's eyes widened immediately, and he leaned closer to Lu Shu.

"His team's survival rate is too high. Although I only operate in the market cities on the edge of the Cloud Dream Lake, I know that roughly 10 to 20 percent of personnel are lost in most teams that venture inside. Yet, his team almost always ensures everyone returns intact. I've always found that very strange."

As Lu Shu finished speaking, Chen Mobai began to ponder the reasons. There were only two explanations for a team consistently returning with all its members safe: First, they didn't venture into areas beyond their capabilities. Second, the team's average cultivation level was high, they were well-prepared, and their coordination allowed them to handle various unforeseen situations.

Lu Shu listened to his analysis, shook his head, and suggested a possibility that sent shivers down Chen Mobai's spine. "Perhaps it's a team specifically designed to build a reputation and attract outsiders to join."

Hearing this, Chen Mobai remembered the situation when he first entered the Water Mansion: an elder and a youth, originally cooperating, suddenly turned hostile and attacked each other at the moment of reward distribution. A shiver ran down his spine. No, he had to be more cautious.

After thanking Lu Shu, the latter further explained various precautions for traveling to the Cloud Dream Lake and even gave him a short biography. *The Dragon-Taming Chronicle of True Monarch Yiyuan and the Great Cloud Dream River*. This palm-sized book was a collection of cultivation world legends that Lu Shu usually read for entertainment while manning his stall. Having just finished it, he conveniently gave it to Chen Mobai, who thanked him and put it in his pocket.

"Oh, by the way, Brother Lu, do you know anyone else in the market city who cultivates Blackwater Arts?" Chen Mobai asked another crucial question.

In the Eastern Barren Lands, where daring and fighting were common, cultivators generally practiced many spells for self-defense. If someone cultivated the Blackwater Arts to the late Qi Condensation stage, they would likely refine some black water for themselves. "There are quite a few. After all, this cultivation method originated from the Water Vein of the Five Elements Sect; it has a complete system and orderly inheritance. However, if rogue cultivators wish to cultivate this method to achieve Foundation Establishment, they must inevitably join the Five Elements Sect. This is also a way for these major Eastern Barren sects to control rogue cultivators."

"I do remember seeing the black water you mentioned; I saw cultivators from the Five Elements Sect use it in the Cloud Dream Lake area. But whether it can be traded, I don't know." He paused. "Oh, wait, aren't there shops opened by the Five Elements Sect in the market city? You could go ask there."

Lu Shu's words reminded Chen Mobai. He immediately took his leave and eagerly headed towards the large shops on the central street of the market city.

The Five Elements Sect was one of the governing powers of Nanxi Market City. It owned five shops there, dealing in spirit stones and gold, pills and spiritual herbs, talismans, magical artifacts, and formations, signifying its vast enterprise and strong power.

Chen Mobai went to the pharmacy selling pills and spiritual herbs.

"Esteemed guest, we do indeed have black water available for exchange within our sect, but unfortunately, this shop does not stock it. My apologies." The shopkeeper of the pills and spiritual herbs store was a middle-aged man at Qi Condensation Layer 6, devoid of the arrogance common to major sects. He spoke with an apologetic expression after hearing Chen Mobai's inquiry.

"Then, shopkeeper, is it possible to have it transferred from your sect's headquarters?" Chen Mobai asked again, but was met only with the shopkeeper's shake of the head.

"Guest, we don't have the authority to transfer goods. The items in the market city are all surplus from within the sect, sent here for us to handle. This black water you're asking about is practically only used by those of the Water Vein, so even if there's extra, it would only be stocked in the market cities near the Cloud Dream Lake."

After hearing the shopkeeper's words, Chen Mobai understood. It seemed he had no choice but to go to the Cloud Dream Lake. But he definitely couldn't go with He Qun's team.

Before leaving, he also inquired about the price of this black water within the Five Elements Sect. It wasn't cheap: 10 spirit stones per bottle. This was an internal price; if sold outside the sect in a market city, it would cost at least 15 spirit stones. "Thank you, shopkeeper."

After getting the information he wanted, Chen Mobai found He Qun at his stall again and said he had an urgent matter and wouldn't be joining his team to hunt Cold Serpents in the Cloud Dream Lake. He Qun frowned upon hearing this but didn't say much.

Chen Mobai didn't concern himself with He Qun's thoughts. Following Lu Shu's directions, he found the caravan operating spirit camels in the market city.

There were three ways to travel to the Cloud Dream Lake: First, by walking on his own. Second, by hitching a ride with one of these cargo caravans. Third, by spending spirit stones to use a teleportation array, costing 10 spirit stones per trip.