The Confucian and Taoist Sages of Mortal Cultivation

Chapter 134 Conflict with Qingyang Sect

More than thirty years had passed since they last met. Han Li was still in the Foundation Establishment stage, while Qu Hun, standing to the side, had already condensed his Demon Core and become a pseudo-Core Formation cultivator.

"Senior Brother Yang!" Han Li's eyes widened, also feeling quite surprised.

Immediately afterwards, he looked Yang Qingyuan up and down and saw that the other party's aura was much stronger than it had been back on Xiaohuan Island. He couldn't help but feel incredulous and his heart was filled with mixed feelings.

"Senior Brother Yang's cultivation has actually improved again, which is truly gratifying."

Han Li calmed himself down and exchanged a few pleasantries.

Yang Qingyuan looked down at the numerous storage bags at Han Li's waist.

Each storage bag was bulging, clearly containing a lot of things.

"Junior Brother Han, are you here to hunt monsters in the outer sea?" Yang Qingyuan frowned slightly, sensing that things were getting a bit tricky.

If Han Li really was hunting demonic beasts in the open sea, then most of the level-five demonic beasts near Ningcui Island would have been hunted down.

Fortunately, Yang Qingyuan needed demon cores of level six or higher for alchemy, so it didn't conflict much with Han Li's needs.

Han Li nodded slightly and replied, "Yes, I left Kui Xing City ten years ago to hunt monsters in the outer sea."

"However, things haven't been peaceful on Ningcui Island lately. I'm preparing to go to the Teleportation Hall to return to Tianxing City."

"I never expected to run into Senior Brother Yang."

Upon hearing someone mention the incident on Ningcui Island, Yang Qingyuan frowned and asked, "Junior Brother Han, what exactly happened to Ningcui Island?"

Han Li didn't hide anything and explained, "In recent years, many Core Formation cultivators from the Qingyang Sect have suddenly come to the island, along with a large number of Foundation Establishment cultivators. They have been buying Yin-attribute materials and the flesh and blood of high-level demonic beasts in the market, and even engaging in forced buying and selling."

"Moreover, many rogue cultivators who went out to hunt monsters have frequently disappeared during this period, and their whereabouts are unknown."

"Rumors are circulating that Core Formation cultivators from the Qingyang Sect are ambush and killing traveling rogue cultivators, causing widespread panic."

"If Senior Brother Yang doesn't mind the trouble, it would be best if we returned to Tianxing City together and went to another island in the outer sea. That would be safer."

Upon hearing this, Yang Qingyuan's expression shifted between anger and uncertainty.

Apart from the waters around Ningcui Island, there aren't many other coral reefs where you can grow Nelumbo nucifera.

"Thank you for the reminder, Junior Brother Han. I will be careful." Yang Qingyuan pondered for a moment, but ultimately decided to proceed according to plan. He then asked, "By the way, Junior Brother Han, do you know which shop on Ningcui Island sells nautical charts?"

Han Li was quite surprised to see that Yang Qingyuan was not afraid of the Qingyang Sect's name at all, but he still recommended the familiar shop to Yang Qingyuan and said, "Senior brother, come with me."

"Han has been on Ningcui Island for ten years and has several familiar shops, one of which is called 'Sea Demon Pavilion,' which specializes in selling the latest sea charts and various tools for hunting monsters."

Upon hearing this, Yang Qingyuan followed Han Li to the shop called Sea Demon Pavilion. Before long, they stopped in front of a three-story pavilion.

At this moment, the area in front of the shop is deserted, clearly indicating that business has been affected.

A middle-aged shopkeeper with a bloated figure was yawning incessantly behind the counter, looking utterly bored. His aura was only at the Foundation Establishment stage.

When the shopkeeper saw Han Li enter, he immediately perked up and excitedly greeted him, saying, "So it's Master Qu, and Fellow Daoist Li Feiyu."

"It's been a long time."

"I wonder what treasures Fellow Daoist Li is planning to purchase this time?"

It turns out that after Han Li arrived at Ningcui Island, he had already changed his name to Li Feiyu.

He immediately stepped aside and introduced, "This is an elder from my sect. He has just arrived at Ningcui Island to hunt monsters and needs to prepare some materials."

The portly shopkeeper was overjoyed to see a Core Formation cultivator come to do business, and repeatedly smiled obsequiously at Yang Qingyuan, "What treasures does Senior need?"

Yang Qingyuan then spoke up, "First, get me the latest nautical chart, the most detailed one, the wider the coverage, the better."

"In addition, I also need pill formulas suitable for mid-stage Core Formation cultivators, the kind that can improve cultivation. I need as many as you can."

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"I also need the accompanying auxiliary medications."

Upon hearing this, the portly shopkeeper knew it was a big deal and grinned from ear to ear. He quickly invited, "Please, distinguished guests, to wait in the VIP room for a moment."

"I'll go and take stock, and I'll be right back."

As soon as he finished speaking, a servant in blue stepped forward and led everyone into the side hall. He then poured a pot of fine tea for everyone before bowing and leaving the side hall.

Yang Qingyuan and Han Li waited while exchanging views on the changes over the years.

Half an incense stick later, the fat shopkeeper rushed over, carrying a tray in his hands.

On the tray were two jade slips, one red and one white, along with three black storage bags.

The portly shopkeeper placed the tray on the wooden table, then picked up the red jade slip and handed it to Yang Qingyuan, saying, "Senior, this is a nautical chart of the area near Ningcui Island. It contains detailed markings. Please take a look."

Yang Qingyuan then took the jade slip, released his divine sense to examine it, and saw that it marked over a thousand coral islands and reefs. Satisfied, he nodded and replied, "Where's the pill formula?"

The portly shopkeeper picked up the white jade slip again and introduced it, "This jade slip contains two pill formulas, both for increasing cultivation, suitable for cultivators in the mid-stage of Core Formation. They are called the Spirit-Boosting Pill and the Profound Yin Qi-Replenishing Pill."

Both types of pills require the demon core of a level six demon beast as the main ingredient.

"These three storage bags contain matching spiritual herbs, mostly seedlings and seeds. If you need aged auxiliary herbs, please wait a year or two to give our Sea Demon Pavilion some time to gather them."

Yang Qingyuan released his divine sense, scanned the storage bag, and replied, "How many spirit stones do these things cost in total? Name your price."

The portly shopkeeper rubbed his hands together, his face beaming, and said, "Thank you for your patronage. The total is nine thousand eight hundred spirit stones."

Yang Qingyuan was almost out of spirit stones in his storage bag, which he needed to use to control the puppets. After hesitating for a moment, he took out a white medicine bottle from his storage bag and introduced it, "This bottle contains nine Haoyuan Pills, which are made from the inner cores of level five and six demonic beasts. I wonder if they can be used to offset these materials?"

Both the portly shopkeeper and Han Li, standing beside him, were stunned when they heard the name Haoyuan Pill. They clearly hadn't expected that a cultivator would be willing to use a Core Formation stage pill as payment in spirit stones.

"Haoyuan Pill!"

"That's a pill that can enhance the cultivation of a Core Formation stage cultivator!"

The fat shopkeeper stared wide-eyed, speechless with astonishment. He quickly reached out and took the medicine bottle, uncorked it, brought it to his nose, and sniffed it carefully, his face showing surprise.

"How is it?" Yang Qingyuan asked without changing his expression.

"Of course." The plump shopkeeper beamed, carefully tucking the bottle into his pocket as he replied, "This Haoyuan Pill is a treasure that even Core Formation cultivators would fight over."

Han Li was also quite surprised, not expecting Yang Qingyuan to be proficient in alchemy, and was about to say something.

Just then, Yang Qingyuan's expression suddenly changed, and his divine sense detected the anomaly.

The next moment, a sound of smashing and screaming came from the shop lobby outside the door.

Han Li also heard the voice, and his expression changed.

The fat shopkeeper's face darkened. He bowed slightly to Yang Qingyuan and said, "I never expected that someone would dare to cause trouble at our Sea Demon Pavilion on Ningcui Island."

"Please wait a moment, esteemed guests, while I go and deal with these ignorant fools."

After saying that, he pushed open the door and went to deal with the matter.

Yang Qingyuan and Han Li exchanged a glance, neither wanting to linger any longer, so they both got up and headed towards the door, preparing to leave the Sea Demon Pavilion.

But as soon as they stepped outside, they were stopped by a group of cultivators in green robes.