Ascending from the mortal realm to become an immortal begins with taking charge of a grotto-heaven.

Ten days later, in the evening.

Southwest of Qingxuan Sect, outside Luoxia Market.

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled onto Luoxia Mountain, covering the entire mountain with a layer of orange-red glow.

The buildings and stalls nestled in the mountains are bathed in this warm hue, and from afar you can hear the calls of vendors and voices from inside the market, the noise carried on the evening breeze to the road leading up the mountain.

The mission to guard Crescent Lake requires him to take up his post within a month. With Zhang Li's current cultivation level, the journey would only take five or six days at full strength, so he was not in a hurry to set off.

Zhang Li first spent some time refining the two magical artifacts he obtained from Wu Feng. He had already put on a mid-grade defensive magical artifact, a soft armor.

He had seen that mid-grade flying magic artifact before. It was the black iron boat that Lu Ying had taken him to complete the initiation procedures. When Lu Ying used spirit stones to power it to its fullest extent, its flight speed was comparable to that of a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator.

In addition to the mid-grade magic weapons Tianyang Sword and Poison Spirit Sword that Zhang Li already possessed, he was not lacking in any magic weapons.

Of the talismans given by Wu Feng, there were seven high-grade talismans, three Exploding Flame Talismans, four Vajra Talismans, and twenty mid-grade talismans, most of which were functional talismans.

Therefore, after careful consideration, Zhang Li realized that he was still missing a trump card that could decisively turn the tide of the battle, just like the Thunderclap Talisman he had previously purchased.

So, right after refining the two newly acquired magical artifacts, he rushed to Luoxia Market without stopping.

After Zhang Li used the "Change of Appearance Technique" to transform himself, he headed straight for the Thousand Talisman Pavilion.

After obtaining two Thunderclap Talismans from the Thousand Talisman Pavilion, Zhang Li continued up the mountain path until he stopped beside a tall wooden building.

The wooden building had three stories, and its layout and architecture were exquisite, with carved beams and painted rafters, glazed windows, and white jade plaques. Its main structure was built of century-old agarwood, emitting a subtle and refreshing fragrance.

Several pillars, each about ten feet thick, were polished smooth, with faint golden spiritual patterns flowing inside. A white jade plaque hung in the center of the main entrance, engraved with the three gilded characters "Jubaolou" (Treasure Gathering Pavilion), the characters vigorous and powerful.

This Treasure Pavilion is the largest comprehensive shop in the entire Luoxia Fang, offering everything from pills and formations to spirit talismans and all kinds of secret treasures. Most of the rare items that cannot be found in ordinary stalls and shops can be found here.

Zhang Li had long heard of his great reputation, but this was his first time visiting.

However, as soon as Zhang Li stepped into the building, he suddenly felt a chilling aura sweep over him, making his hair stand on end instantly, but it quickly disappeared, as if it were just an illusion.

"Giving someone a hard time before they even make a purchase—what kind of tactic is this?"

Although Zhang Li didn't understand, he respected it, because that chilling aura just now definitely belonged to a Foundation Establishment cultivator, which he had sensed on Wu Feng before.

It seems that there is a Foundation Establishment cultivator behind this Treasure Pavilion. Just now, the cultivator must have used his divine sense to scan the customers who entered the store, to determine their strength and intimidate them, so as to prevent those with evil intentions from trying to steal treasures from the store.

Just then, a female cultivator dressed in a purple dress walked over.

"What would you like to buy, my friend? Would you like me to recommend something?"

Zhang Li couldn't help but admire the generosity of Jubaolou, which allowed a cultivator in the mid-stage of Qi Refining to serve as a maid, whose cultivation level was even a level higher than his.

"I want a powerful treasure, a magic weapon, a talisman, or anything else, but it must be able to threaten a Qi Refining Perfection cultivator."

"Such treasures are rare, but you've come to the right place. My Treasure Pavilion has no shortage of such rare items. Please follow me."

The female cultivator in the purple dress led Zhang Li into the quiet room, served him tea, apologized, and then went to retrieve the treasure.

Zhang Li toyed with the tea, waiting quietly.

A moment later, the female cultivator in the purple dress pushed open the door and entered. She walked to the table, waved her hand, and three brocade boxes of different sizes appeared on the table.

"As per your request, these are all powerful treasures, capable of threatening even a Qi Refining Perfection cultivator. You will certainly not be disappointed."

She reached out and pushed open the smallest vermilion brocade box on the far left. Inside, a palm-sized, crimson rhombus-shaped crystal lay quietly, emitting a strong smell of saltpeter.

"Lava crystals are solid crystals formed by Foundation Establishment cultivators compressing and melting raging lava. Although they look ordinary, they contain nearly ten thousand tons of raging lava."

When used, simply use your magic to break through its crystal shell, and tens of thousands of tons of lava will pour out, capable of melting even top-grade magic weapons, let alone Qi Refining cultivators.

Zhang Li didn't speak, but glanced at the red crystal in the box before turning his gaze to the next wooden box.

The woman in the purple dress didn't mind. She opened the second wooden box, inside which were two jade bottles, one large and one small. Pointing to the larger one, she continued, "This is Corrosive Spirit Energy, made by a second-tier master of poison. It contains a colorless and odorless poison that can convert magical power into deadly toxicity. To use it, simply break the jade bottle."

In no time, all Qi Refining cultivators within ten feet will succumb to the poison and die. This small bottle contains Spirit Transformation Qi, which can neutralize the user's magical power, ensuring the user will not be poisoned by the Spirit Transformation Qi.

Zhang Li looked at the two jade bottles, one large and one small, in the wooden box and felt speechless. If the Soul-Eroding Powder was used properly, it could have miraculous effects, but its shortcomings were too fatal.

If one uses spiritual energy to dissipate all their magical power, wouldn't they be reduced from a cultivator to a mortal? And if they encounter other enemies later, wouldn't they be at the mercy of others?

Zhang Li didn't even bother to ask the price, and focused his attention on the last wooden box.

Seeing that his gaze had shifted, the female cultivator in the purple dress opened the last wooden box, inside which were three pills covered with purple lightning patterns, accompanied by a soft crackling sound.

"This item is called Thunderclap Beads. It is a one-time use magic weapon made by the weapon refiners in the building based on the incomplete external alchemy method of ancient times. Three of them can make even a Foundation Establishment cultivator avoid its edge. Even a single one is enough to easily kill a Qi Refining Perfection cultivator. Only my Treasure Pavilion in the entire Luoxia Market has it."

Upon hearing the female cultivator's words, Zhang Li immediately became interested, as treasures that could threaten Foundation Establishment cultivators were rare indeed.

This is exactly the trump card and trump card he wanted.

"How much does this treasure cost?" Zhang Li asked, raising his eyes with a hint of seriousness in his voice.

The female cultivator in the purple dress smiled faintly and slowly announced the price: "A box of three pills costs eight hundred spirit stones. This is our lowest price at Jubao Tower, and there will be no bargaining."

Eight hundred spirit stones is not a small amount, but it's worth the money.

"I want this Thunder Bead."

After saying this, Zhang Li took out eight hundred spirit stones from his storage bag, put them into another storage bag, and handed them to the female cultivator.

"The number is correct, so this Thunder Explosion Pearl belongs to you, fellow Daoist."

After counting the spirit stones, the female cultivator handed over the Thunder Explosion Pearl in the wooden box.

After purchasing several bottles of pills from Jubaolou, Zhang Li left without looking back.