Chapter 293: Wanted Notice

The next day, Wang Changfeng, his two companions, and ten Qi Refining clan members rode their Green-Scaled Horses and headed towards the State of Chu.

Upon entering the State of Chu, Wang Changfeng and his companions were surprised to find refugees everywhere, the main roads teeming with emaciated, sallow-faced wanderers.

A locust plague had broken out in the State of Chu, and the most unfortunate were the mortals in the secular world.

The Bloodthirsty Locusts had spread into the secular world, and the mortals there were utterly defenseless, suffering countless deaths and injuries.

Over a month later, they arrived at Canglan City.

The streets were bustling with people, most of whom were Qi Refining cultivators.

It was Wang Qingshan's first time in Canglan City, and he looked around with great interest at everything within the city.

Spirit Grain Hall was a shop opened by Wang Changhai. It wasn't large; besides Wang Changhai, there were three assistants, all members of the Wang clan.

To avoid suspicion, after arriving in Canglan City, Wang Changfeng handed over the spirit grain to Wang Changhai and found a place to stay.

“With this locust plague in the State of Chu, some smaller families are bound to be ruined. This is the easiest time to acquire cultivation techniques, ancient texts, and materials for artifact refining and alchemy. All of you, go out and look around to see if you can find some valuable items. Remember, don’t pay too high a price. Texts can be copied. For artifact refining and alchemy materials, be very careful not to get scammed. This is the State of Chu; if you get cheated, we’ll have no one to appeal to.”

Wang Changfeng said slowly, his tone heavy.

“Yes, Elder Brother (Uncle).”

Leaving their lodging, Wang Qingshan strolled along the streets.

Canglan City was quite prosperous, with a wide variety of goods. Wang Qingshan noticed that many cultivators in Canglan City spoke with a Wei State accent. The human race in the Eastern Wilderness had migrated from other places, and after thousands of years of development, while the language was unified, accents differed from region to region.

Wang Qingshan was not surprised. With the State of Chu suffering from a locust plague, there were surely many cultivation forces coming to do business; the Wang family was just one of them.

Prices in Canglan City were relatively high, mainly because the locust plague had reduced spirit grain production. The influx of a large number of low-level cultivators into Canglan City also caused prices to rise, especially for food.

About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Wang Qingshan arrived at a spacious bluestone plaza. Small stalls covered the square, and the sounds of hawking and shouting were incessant.

As Wang Qingshan walked forward, his gaze quickly scanned the items on the stalls.

He had already reached the Foundation Establishment stage, so ordinary items held no appeal for him.

“Is this an artifact?”

Wang Qingshan suddenly stopped and squatted down in front of a small stall.

On the stall were several large blue shells, more than ten blue pearls of varying sizes, and a basin of water containing over ten palm-sized river mussels.

The stall owner was an old man in his seventies, dressed in a green robe, with white hair and beard. A green gourd hung from his waist, and he emanated a faint scent of alcohol.

“Senior has keen eyes! This is a mussel pearl produced by a second-tier Crescent Mussel. It’s a top-grade second-tier water-attribute material, suitable for artifact refining, alchemy, and even setting up formations. It’s only one hundred and eighty spirit stones. The Crescent Mussel’s flesh is also delicious, perfect for a side dish with wine.”

“This can be used for formations? Do you take me for a three-year-old child?”

Wang Qingshan’s expression turned cold, and he said with a frown.

The State of Wei was mostly mountains and hills, with few rivers and lakes. Wang Qingshan often hunted demonic beasts outside but had never hunted river mussel-type demonic beasts.

The green-robed elder’s expression changed, and he hastily explained, “This junior would not dare deceive Senior. Mussel pearls naturally gather spiritual energy from heaven and earth. Of course, their effect is certainly not as good as a Spirit Gathering Tree or Spirit Gathering Stone. However, if mussel pearls are refined into formation flags, they can save some magical power when setting up formations. Of course, the greatest use of mussel pearls is for consumption. Female cultivators who frequently consume them will have a beautifying effect.”

“One hundred and eighty spirit stones is too expensive. One hundred and fifty, will you sell it or not?”

Wang Qingshan haggled with the green-robed elder and eventually bought the second-tier mussel pearl for one hundred and sixty spirit stones.

More than an hour later, he left the bluestone plaza, his storage bag now containing a book of alchemy insights.

Back at their lodging, Wang Changfeng told Wang Qingshan that there would be an auction in over a month, and it was rumored that Foundation Establishment Pills would be available.

“Uncle, I bought a second-tier mussel pearl today. Could you help me refine it into an artifact?”

Wang Qingshan took out the purchased mussel pearl and handed it to Wang Changfeng.

Wang Changfeng examined it carefully and nodded, saying, “This mussel pearl is of good quality. What kind of artifact do you want to refine it into?”

“Ninth Uncle already gave me two defensive artifacts. Let’s refine an auxiliary artifact! Something that allows me to hide underwater, would that work?”

“No problem, leave it to me. Where did you buy this second-tier mussel pearl? Wild second-tier demonic mussels are quite rare these days.”

Wang Changfeng agreed without hesitation and asked about the origin of the mussel pearl.

“I bought it from a Qi Refining cultivator’s stall in the plaza. Perhaps he obtained it by chance!”

“That’s likely. Demonic mussels take a long time to cultivate a single pearl. This second-tier mussel pearl would take at least over ten years to form.”

At Wang Family Fort, a small courtyard with its gate wide open.

Inside the courtyard, a large patch of colorful spirit flowers bloomed, and a swarm of red bees collected nectar among the blossoms. There were also two peach trees.

Under one of the peach trees hung a millstone-sized beehive, with red bees flying in and out.

In a stone pavilion not far away, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan sat together, chatting.

Wang Changyue emerged from inside the house, carrying a tray.

“Brother, Sister-in-law, sorry to keep you waiting. Try the peach blossom cakes I made myself; I added spirit honey, so they’re a bit sweeter.”

She set down two plates of pastries and a pot of spirit tea, saying with a smile.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan didn't stand on ceremony; each picked up a spirit cake and took a bite.

“Changyue, your peach blossom cake is too sweet.”

“I don’t think so. I think it’s quite delicious.”

Wang Changyue gave Wang Changsheng a glare and retorted, “Sister-in-law truly understands good food. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been willing to use spirit honey to make these peach blossom cakes! The Firecloud Bees don’t produce much spirit honey all year.”

“So that’s why you’re raising spirit insects,” Wang Changsheng teased. “It’s all for the spirit honey.”

Wang Changyue’s cheeks flushed slightly as she defended herself, “Who said that? Firecloud Bees are very powerful! Not only can they release fire-element spells to attack enemies, but they can also track people by scent. After consuming a bottle of Spirit Feeding Pills, the queen bee has already advanced to the second tier.”

She patted her spirit beast pouch, and a millstone-sized red giant bee flew out. It was entirely red, with two pairs of thin red wings on its back, a swollen abdomen, and a pair of exposed fangs, making it look exceptionally fierce.

“I believe you when you say they can release fire-element spells to attack enemies, but tracking people by scent? This is the first time I’ve heard of spirit bees having that ability.”

Wang Changsheng didn’t believe this claim.

Wang Changyue nodded and said confidently, “Of course it can. But you’d need to apply some spirit honey brewed by the Firecloud Bees onto that person. I know you have a second-tier Twin-Eyed Rat, Brother, but it’s too fat. If you let it track enemies, it would be easily discovered. First-tier Firecloud Bees are smaller and harder to spot.”

Wang Changsheng smiled faintly and didn’t argue with Wang Changyue.

Just then, Wang Mingjiang walked in and said with a smile, “Changsheng, so you were all here. No wonder I couldn’t find you.”

“What’s wrong, Uncle Twenty-One? Have Bloodthirsty Locusts appeared?”

Wang Mingjiang shook his head and handed Wang Changsheng a green scroll, saying, “This person is a traitor from the Taiyi Immortal Sect. He harmed his fellow disciples and fled. The Hundred Spirits Sect wants our help to apprehend him.”