You're just a single demon beast? I have a whole army of beast tamers!

When Shui Yingyue returned, it was already close to dusk.

The setting sun cast its last rays slanting through the old locust tree in the courtyard, leaving several long, thin shadows on the ground.

She walked briskly, and after entering the attic, she closed the door behind her. She took out a small blue cloth bag from her sleeve and handed it to Qin Shou with both hands.

"My lord, we exchanged 300,000 top-grade spirit stones for 30 low-grade immortal crystals."

The clan leader didn't ask any further questions, only saying, "There will be more opportunities in the future, feel free to come again."

Qin Shou took the bag and probed it with his divine sense. Inside, there were thirty thumb-sized crystals, all pure white, with a faint white aura flowing within them.

He closed the bag and nodded, saying, "Well done. Keep those five dollars for yourself; you don't need to reply to me."

Shui Yingyue hesitated for a moment, then took out an even smaller brocade pouch from her waist: "I have already left it."

It will be more convenient to go out shopping these next few days.

Qin Shou didn't say anything more, only telling her to go and rest first.

After Shui Yingyue took her leave, he put the immortal crystals in his hand together with the ones he had accumulated before and counted them.

After several exchanges, plus the few pieces obtained from hunting immortal beasts in the Blackrock Wasteland, he now has more than five hundred immortal crystals in his possession.

He sat at the table, his fingers tapping lightly on the surface, his mind racing with calculations.

According to the price previously mentioned by Shui Qingli, using the Shui family's Immortal Spiritual Power Pool once would cost 300 low-grade immortal crystals or 500 contribution points.

He doesn't lack the three hundred yuan right now; what he really cares about is time.

Once the Immortal Spirit Power Pool is activated, it will take anywhere from one year to three to five years. You must hold on until your body can no longer bear it.

During this period, one cannot easily leave, nor can one handle other matters.

He has only just settled in the Shui family and has just chosen his Daoist partner. If he were to be gone for several years, Shui Yingyue and Shui Rou alone would probably not be able to handle the situation.

However, if he does not quickly convert his immortal spiritual power, his cultivation will remain stuck between the peak of the Tribulation Transcending stage and the pseudo-immortal stage, and he will not even be able to gain a foothold.

After pondering for a moment, Qin Shou made a decision.

He got up and went to the outer room. With a thought, he summoned the two women in the neighboring courtyard.

Shui Yingyue had just changed into a plain-colored home dress, her long hair cascading down her shoulders.

Shui Rou remained as taciturn as ever, standing quietly to the side after entering the room, waiting for Qin Shou to speak.

"I plan to go into seclusion at the clan's Immortal Spirit Pool for a period of cultivation."

Qin Shou looked at the two of them, his tone not harsh, but it carried an uncompromising meaning: "This time I'm going into seclusion, it might be three to five years, or it might be longer."

You should stay here and not go out or argue with anyone.

"These pills and spirit stones you have are enough for you to cultivate in peace for a while."

Shui Yingyue paused for a moment, then said in a low voice, "It's my husband. Your cultivation is important. We will stay put and not cause you any trouble."

Shui Rou also said, "Don't worry, my husband."

Qin Shou nodded, took out two jade bottles from his storage ring, and pushed them in front of the two women: "These are seventh or eighth grade pills, you can take them first."

If you run out of medicine, don't force yourself. We'll make plans when I get back.

If anything urgent happens, go to Shui Qingli, but don't mention my true whereabouts; just say I'm in seclusion.

The two women exchanged a glance and agreed in unison.

Qin Shou waved his hand, signaling them to go back to their rooms.

The next morning, Qin Shou changed into a clean and neat gray-blue robe, concealed his aura, and left the courtyard.

He first contacted Shui Qingli with a sound transmission talisman, only saying that he wanted to use the Immortal Spirit Power Pool as soon as possible.

Shui Qingli quickly replied, asking him to wait for her outside the villa.

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Shui Qingli arrived from afar.

She wore a light blue dress today, with a small jade ring in her hair, and a perfectly timed smile on her face: "Fellow Daoist Qin is indeed in a hurry."

I thought you would at least wait until the cave dwelling was properly arranged before going.

Qin Shou bowed and said, "The matter of cultivation cannot be delayed."

I am currently still in the Mahayana stage; the sooner I transform, the better.

He continued to present himself as a Mahayana cultivator to the outside world, and Shui Qingli did not suspect anything. She simply nodded and said, "Alright. Come with me."

The two walked one after the other through the corridor on the east side of the Shui family mansion, then through two gardens, and arrived at a forbidden area separated by a blue stone wall.

The walls were protected by layers of barriers, making it impossible for ordinary clansmen to get close.

Shui Qingli took out a light blue token and shone it into the void. Ripples immediately appeared on the bluestone wall, revealing an entrance that could only accommodate one person at a time.

"Don't look around or touch anything after you go in."

Today, a True Immortal elder from the Third Elder's sect is on duty. Answer truthfully.

Shui Qingli whispered a few words before going inside first.

Qin Shou nodded silently and followed him into the forbidden area.

The inside is completely different from the outside.

The entire area was enveloped by a massive spirit-gathering array, and the air was filled with an extremely pure spiritual energy. Just standing in it made one feel completely comfortable.

Directly in front is a stone hall half-hidden under the mountain wall, with its doors open and several stone pillars carved with water patterns standing on both sides.

Deep within the stone hall, a faint, pool-like, silvery-white halo could be seen.

An old wooden table was placed in front of the stone hall, and an old man sat behind the table.

The man had white hair and beard, and his face was lined with deep wrinkles. He wore a faded gray robe and had his eyes half-closed, as if he were dozing off.

Qin Shou had only taken a few steps closer when the old man suddenly opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them, and looked at him.

"So you're going to use the Immortal Spirit Power Pool?"

The old man's voice was hoarse, yet every word was clear.

Shui Qingli stepped forward and bowed respectfully, saying, "Reporting to Elder Xun, this is Fellow Daoist Qin. He has been registered in the clan and, according to custom, can use the Immortal Spirit Power Pool once."

The old man didn't even look at Shui Qingli, but instead sized up Qin Shou from head to toe, and slowly said, "Three hundred immortal crystals, pay first."

Qin Shou didn't hesitate, taking out a storage bag from his sleeve and offering it with both hands:

"Senior, three hundred low-grade immortal crystals, please take a look."

The old man took it, scanned it with his divine sense, then tossed the storage bag onto the table and said:

"Three hundred is just the price for the first time. Five hundred for the second time, and one thousand for the third time."

The price will increase with each subsequent transaction. Did you understand?

Qin Shou's eyelids twitched almost imperceptibly.

He originally thought three hundred was a considerable sum, but he didn't expect it to become more and more expensive each time.

Therefore, even if all the immortal crystals at hand are poured in, it can only last for two or three times at most.

But he didn't show it on his face, he just nodded: "I heard you."

The old man glanced at him again:

"You can now master the method of converting spiritual energy into immortal spiritual power, right?"

Qin Shou replied, "Reporting to Senior, I have mastered it."

He wasn't lying about this.

The jade slip obtained in Zhenyuan Immortal Mansion did indeed contain a complete method for spiritual energy conversion.

Zhenyuan Immortal Abode is an immortal's cave dwelling. Although the jade slips inside are not particularly profound, they explain the transformation technique very clearly.

The old man grunted in acknowledgment and pointed towards the interior of the hall:

"Go ahead. The first soaking usually lasts one to three years. When you can't take it anymore, just come out on your own. Don't be greedy, it's easy to damage your immortal foundation."