With the Eight Immortals' magical treasures in hand, even a mortal like myself! Ha!

However, collecting these eight thousand mid-grade spirit stones is not easy. You should know that an ancient treasure only costs five hundred mid-grade spirit stones, and even selling ten ancient treasures would not be enough to raise eight thousand mid-grade spirit stones.

If a thousand-year-old spiritual herb is sold for twenty mid-grade spirit stones, then four hundred thousand-year-old spiritual herbs would need to be cultivated.

Even if they were to actually cultivate them, I'm afraid even with Tieguai Li's nascent infant level, he wouldn't be able to protect the safety of such a large number of spiritual herbs in the trade.

Therefore, earning eight thousand mid-grade spirit stones is a very troublesome matter, not as simple as one might imagine.

On the way, Gu Qing asked a question that he had been pondering: "Fellow Daoist, if we reach the spirit mining area, can you instantly extract ore equivalent to eight thousand mid-grade spirit stones?"

If Tieguai Li could do that, he could directly investigate the disappearance of the spirit stone mine. A small spirit stone mine might be enough to raise Tieguai Li's cultivation to the Nascent Soul stage. At that time, wouldn't Gu Qing be able to walk sideways in Tiannan?

Tieguai Li shook his head: "No, it has to be a spirit stone mine that has been dug out."

"Ah! What a pity." Gu Qing couldn't help but sigh. It seemed that he had been too greedy and had oversimplified things.

It seems that the only option is to slowly accumulate spirit stones. Of course, one's own cultivation level cannot be neglected. It would be putting the cart before the horse to allow one to neglect one's own cultivation level just because one needs to improve Tieguai Li's cultivation.

After all, Tieguai Li was summoned to help Gu Qing cultivate.

Soon, Tieguai Li led Gu Qing to the market town of Yuanwu Kingdom. This was Gu Qing's third visit to the market town of Yuanwu Kingdom.

Therefore, Gu Qing was familiar with everything and landed five miles away, following the crowd into the Yuanwu Kingdom's market.

On the way, Gu Qing muttered to himself, somewhat puzzled, "There seem to be a lot more people in the Yuanwu Kingdom's market."

Tieguai Li listened intently for a while, then smiled and said, "It seems they're all here for the thousand-year-old elixir."

It has been almost a year since Gu Qing disappeared, and I never expected that so many people would still be thinking about the thousand-year-old elixir.

It seems that the allure of millennium-old spiritual herbs is still very strong for cultivators in Tiannan, at least for those at the Core Formation and Foundation Establishment stages.

This made Gu Qing hesitate and ask, "If we sell that batch of pills, will anyone be able to spot the problem?"

"Those who are proficient in this art will be able to see something, so don't take any chances," Tieguai Li warned.

"Hmm! Fellow Daoist is right." Gu Qing began to think again. If he couldn't sell pills, then what could he sell? It seemed that he had nothing to sell except pills.

It would be possible to sell the materials from the previous Core Formation cultivators, but doing so carries a certain risk of exposure.

If the seven factions discover even a hint of something amiss, then there will be endless trouble.

For a moment, Gu Qing really didn't know what he had to offer.

Elixirs, elixirs, elixirs, what else is there besides elixirs?

Medicinal herbs? Those seem more conspicuous than elixirs.

Seeing Gu Qing's distress, Tieguai Li chuckled and said, "Fellow Daoist, how about I perform the Midas touch? I'm sure it would yield a considerable amount of spirit stones."

"Turning stone into gold? Hehehe, if it's gold essence that can be used to refine magic weapons, it might be worth several thousand spirit stones, just like these two pieces of iron essence." As he spoke, Gu Qing produced a piece of black iron essence in his hand. Just this piece of iron essence, about the size of a fist, was worth at least two or three thousand spirit stones.

If it's gold essence, it might be worth one or two thousand spirit stones more.

These are all materials for refining weapons.

Gu Qing just wanted to sell these materials he had on hand. He also had a level 5 demon core, which were all good items.

These materials should be worth two or three thousand mid-grade spirit stones, but selling them might instantly attract the attention of the seven sects of Yue Kingdom, which is why Gu Qing hesitated.

Tieguai Li glanced at the iron essence in Gu Qing's hand and said with a smile, "This stuff is easy to get, want to go get a piece?"

"Get one? We're already at the market, let's do it next time." Gu Qing shook his head slightly. He planned to see how much wealth Stardust Pavilion had this time, and then come back to trade next time.

Soon, Gu Qing and Tieguai Li arrived at the Star Dust Pavilion. This was Gu Qing's fourth visit to the Star Dust Pavilion, but each time his identity was different.

This time, Gu Qing followed behind Tieguai Li, with Tieguai Li taking the lead.

Tieguai Li limped into the Star Dust Pavilion, glanced around, and then went up to the second floor via a side staircase.

The two Qi Refining cultivators on the second floor saw that Tieguai Li was somewhat unkempt, so they wanted to stop him.

Fortunately, one of the shopkeepers who was traveling with them was quite perceptive and realized that Tieguai Li and Gu Qing were together. With Gu Qing, who was at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, following behind, Tieguai Li was definitely not an ordinary person.

"You two have no sense of propriety, hurry up and make way. Hehe, are you planning to go up a few floors? I'll lead the way for you," the brown-robed shopkeeper said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Tieguai Li revealed his yellowed teeth and said, "Go up as many floors as there are."

"I wonder if we'll be lucky enough to get to the top floor." Gu Qing had been here so many times, but he had never actually been to the top floor of Star Dust Pavilion.

"The top floor is too far for this old man to take," the brown-robed shopkeeper said apologetically. The top floor of Star Dust Pavilion was for receiving Core Formation Ancestors, so Foundation Establishment cultivators were not allowed to go up there.

"Then let's go up to the sixth floor." Gu Qing didn't mean to make things difficult for the other party.

And so, the three of them went up to the sixth floor together. Madam Lan was still on the sixth floor, and the brown-robed shopkeeper whispered a few words in Madam Lan's ear.

Madam Lan nodded to indicate that she understood, then looked at Tieguai Li and Gu Qing with a gentle smile and said, "I wonder if there's anything I can do to help you two?"

"This is my martial uncle, Tieguai Li. Madam, please take a look at how many spirit stones this stone my martial uncle refined is worth."

As he spoke, Gu Qing took out two fist-sized pieces of black iron essence from his pocket, the same two pieces of iron essence he had just taken out on the way.

"A Core Formation Ancestor?" Madam Lan was slightly surprised when she saw the iron essence.

Iron essence, silver essence, and gold essence are the main materials for refining magical treasures. Not just anyone can refine them; only the alchemical fire of a Core Formation cultivator can refine these materials.

Therefore, a small piece of iron essence can sell for a sky-high price of several thousand spirit stones.

Although iron essence, silver essence, and gold essence are the main materials for refining magical treasures, they can also be melted into top-tier magical artifacts, which can further enhance the power of these artifacts.

Therefore, some Foundation Establishment cultivators also purchase materials like iron essence. In short, these are consumables and sell very well.

"This junior has been rude. I have met you, senior." Madam Lan was no longer as composed as before; instead, she appeared somewhat nervous.

Although Tieguai Li did not display the strength of a Core Formation cultivator, he still gave Madam Lan an invisible sense of pressure.

Gu Qing's lips curled up; this was exactly the effect he wanted.

"Madam, there's no need to be so reserved. My martial uncle is very easygoing," Gu Qing reminded her.

"Yes, is there anything else you need besides selling things, senior?" Madam Lan asked cautiously.

Madam Lan couldn't help but be careful, because Star Dust Pavilion didn't have a Core Formation expert in charge; the most powerful one was only a late Foundation Establishment cultivator.