lín xuān jiāng líng lì yùn dào shuāng yǎn zhī shàng ， yǎn qián de huàn jìng dùn shí xiāo shī ， yí gè xiǎo xiǎo de jí shì chū xiàn zài le shì xiàn lǐ 。
林轩将灵力运到双眼之上，眼前的幻境顿时消失，一个小小的集市出现在了视线里。
Lin Xuan channeled his spirit energy to his eyes, and the illusory realm before him vanished instantly. A small market appeared in his line of sight.
jí shì guī mó bù dà ， yě jiù shù qiān píng fāng mǐ ， rán ér cān jiā de xiū shì què yǒu shàng qiān zhī duō 。
集市规模不大，也就数千平方米，然而参加的修士却有上千之多。
The market wasn't large, covering only a few thousand square meters, but there were over a thousand cultivators participating.
lín xuān fàng chū shén shí ， shāo shāo dǎ liàng le yī quān ， guǒ rán rú nà sān xiōng mèi suǒ yán ， dōu shì xiē líng dòng qī de dī jiē xiū shì 。
林轩放出神识，稍稍打量了一圈，果然如那三兄妹所言，都是些灵动期的低阶修士。
Lin Xuan released his divine sense and glanced around. As expected, it was filled with low-ranking cultivators from the Flexible Spirit Period.
suī rán zhòng rén de fǎ lì bù gāo ， rán ér táo bǎo huì què fēi cháng rè nào ， zài zhè lǐ ， méi yǒu gù dìng de diàn pù ， jù tǐ yǒu xiē shén me yě wú rén qīng chǔ ， xū yào dà jiā zì jǐ qù xún zhǎo ， kàn zhòng xiǎng yào de dōng xī yǐ hòu ， kě yǐ ná jīng shí gòu mǎi ， yě kě yǐ wù wù jiāo huàn 。
虽然众人的法力不高，然而淘宝会却非常热闹，在这里，没有固定的店铺，具体有些什么也无人清楚，需要大家自己去寻找，看中想要的东西以后，可以拿晶石购买，也可以物物交换。
Although everyone's cultivation power was not high, the treasure hunt was very lively. There were no fixed shops here; what was available depended on individual discovery. Once something caught one’s eye, they could purchase it using crystal stones or exchange goods.
lín xuān zài jí shì lǐ màn màn xián guàng 。
林轩在集市里慢慢闲逛。
Lin Xuan strolled through the market leisurely.
bù dé bù shuō ， yōu zhōu xiū zhēn jiè de shuǐ píng zhēn de bù yí yàng 。
不得不说，幽州修真界的水平真的不一样。
He couldn't help but marvel at the level of cultivation in Youzhou. In this place, which high-ranking cultivators called "the junk trade fair," Lin Xuan actually saw several spiritual artifacts, though all were lower-grade ones. If he had been in Yanzhou, such a situation would have been unimaginable.
zài zhè bèi gāo jiē xiū shì xì chēng wéi “ fèi pǐn jiāo yì huì “ de dì fāng ， lín xuān jū rán kàn jiàn le hǎo jǐ jiàn líng qì ， suī rán dōu jǐn jǐn shì xià pǐn de ， dàn jiǎ rú fàng zài yǎn zhōu ， zhè zhǒng qíng kuàng jiǎn zhí bù kě sī yì 。
在这被高阶修士戏称为“废品交易会“的地方，林轩居然看见了好几件灵器，虽然都仅仅是下品的，但假如放在兖州，这种情况简直不可思议。
Of course, with his current status, he naturally wasn't interested in such trash. A few low-ranking cultivators from the fifth and sixth layers of the Flexible Spirit Period were shouting excitedly as if they had found treasure, struggling over who should get the spiritual artifact.
dāng rán ， yǐ lín xuān de shēn jiā ， zì rán bú huì duì zhè yàng de lā jī gǎn xìng qù ， dǎo shì jǐ gè xiū wèi zài líng dòng qī dì wǔ 、 liù céng de xiǎo xiū shì ， dà hū xiǎo jiào ， rú huò zhì bǎo ， wèi le zhēng duó líng qì de guī shǔ ， gǎo dé jiàn bá nǔ zhāng 。
当然，以林轩的身家，自然不会对这样的垃圾感兴趣，倒是几个修为在灵动期第五、六层的小修士，大呼小叫，如获至宝，为了争夺灵器的归属，搞得剑拔弩张。
Lin Xuan's lips curled into a smile. Two years ago, seeing a spiritual artifact would have been his reaction too. Times changed, and the blue Star Sea within him had altered his fate. In just two short years, he had transformed from a low-ranking cultivator of the first-stage technique to someone who had entered Foundation Establishment.
lín xuān de zuǐ jiǎo biān lù chū yī sī wēi xiào ， fàng zài liǎng nián yǐ qián ， zì jǐ kàn jiàn líng qì kǒng pà yě huì shì zhè yàng de biǎo xiàn ， shì yì shí yí ， tǐ nèi de lán sè xīng hǎi ， què gǎi biàn le mìng yùn ， duǎn duǎn liǎng nián de shí jiān ， jiù ràng zì jǐ cóng dì yī céng gōng fǎ de lā jī xiū zhēn zhě ， jìn rù le zhù jī 。
林轩的嘴角边露出一丝微笑，放在两年以前，自己看见灵器恐怕也会是这样的表现，事易时移，体内的蓝色星海，却改变了命运，短短两年的时间，就让自己从第一层功法的垃圾修真者，进入了筑基。
Looking back at these low-ranking cultivators now felt like a world apart.
rú jīn zài huí tóu kàn kàn zhè xiē dī jiē xiū shì ， zhēn de yǒu huǎng rú gé shì de gǎn jué 。
如今再回头看看这些低阶修士，真的有恍如隔世的感觉。
However, finished spiritual artifacts were few and far between. Most of what was being sold were lower-grade materials and talismans. Lin Xuan was disappointed; he had hoped to find something useful but ended up doing it all for naught.
rán ér chéng pǐn líng qì bì jìng shì shǎo shù ， dà bù fèn rén suǒ mài de ， dōu shì yī xiē dī jiē cái liào yǔ fú ， lín xuān dà shī suǒ wàng ， yuán běn hái yǐ wéi kě yǐ táo dào yī xiē yǒu yòng de dōng xī ， méi xiǎng dào què shì bái máng le yī cháng 。
然而成品灵器毕竟是少数，大部分人所卖的，都是一些低阶材料与符，林轩大失所望，原本还以为可以淘到一些有用的东西，没想到却是白忙了一场。
Just as he was about to give up and leave the market area, his gaze was suddenly drawn by a sign.
zhèng zài tā yǒu xiē huī xīn ， zhǔn bèi lí kāi fāng shì de shí hòu ， tū rán ， yí gè zhāo pái xī yǐn le mù guāng 。
正在他有些灰心，准备离开坊市的时候，突然，一个招牌吸引了目光。
"Junk Pills." The four characters made Lin Xuan's heart race with joy. Of course, on the surface, he remained calm and walked over.
“ fèi pǐn dān yào ”。 sì gè zì ràng lín xuān xīn xǐ ruò kuáng ， dāng rán 。 biǎo miàn shàng tā yī rán shì yī fù dàn rán de mú yàng ， zǒu le guò qù 。
“废品丹药”。四个字让林轩欣喜若狂，当然。表面上他依然是一副淡然的模样，走了过去。
The stall owner was a middle-aged man in his forties, surrounded by several young cultivators.
tān zhǔ shì yí gè sì shí suì zuǒ yòu de zhōng nián rén ， qián miàn wéi zhe jǐ gè nián qīng de xiū zhēn zhě 。
摊主是一个四十岁左右的中年人，前面围着几个年轻的修真者。
"Boss, do you have any pills?"
“ lǎo bǎn ， nǐ zhè ér yǒu dān yào
“老板，你这儿有丹药
"Yes, but they are waste pills."
“ shì ， bù guò shì fèi dān 。”
“是，不过是废丹。”
"Waste pills?" The cultivators exchanged glances: "Do you actually sell waste pills?"
“ fèi dān ？” xiū shì men miàn miàn xiāng qù ：“ fèi dān yě mài ？”
“废丹？”修士们面面相觑：“废丹也卖？”
"Don't you think I'm crazy? Eating waste pills is harmful to the body."
“ yǒu méi yǒu gǎo cuò 。 fèi dān chī le duì shēn tǐ shì yǒu hài wú yì de 。”
“有没有搞错。废丹吃了对身体是有害无益的。”
"You're wrong," the stall owner appeared confident. "For us low-ranking cultivators of the Flexible Spirit Period, taking waste pills from Essence Cleansing Pills would indeed be harmful. But what about the waste pills from higher-grade Foundation Establishment Pills or Cultivation Root Pills?"
“ zhè nǐ men jiù bù dǒng le 。” tān zhǔ xiǎn de xiōng yǒu chéng zhú ：“ wǒ men líng dòng qī dì xiū zhēn zhě ， chī xǐ suǐ dān de fèi dān dāng rán duì shēn tǐ yǒu hài ， kě jiǎ rú shì gèng gāo jí dì zhù jī dān 。 gù běn péi yuán dān de fèi dān ne ？”
“这你们就不懂了。”摊主显得胸有成竹：“我们灵动期地修真者，吃洗髓丹的废丹当然对身体有害，可假如是更高级地筑基丹。固本培元丹的废丹呢？”
"Those are only used by senior cultivators in the Foundation Establishment stage, right?"
“ nà xiē bú shì zhù jī qī qián bèi cái huì yòng dào de ma ？”
“那些不是筑基期前辈才会用到的吗？”
"Yes, they're high-grade spiritual medicines. The materials needed to refine these are much more precious than those for Essence Cleansing Pills. Even if you fail and take them, it won't harm your body."
“ duì ， shì zhù jī qī de líng yào ， zhè zhǒng gāo jí dān ， liàn zhì de cái liào yào bǐ xǐ suǐ dān zhēn guì dé duō ， jí shǐ shì liàn fèi le fú yòng yě bú huì duì shēn tǐ yǒu hài 。”
“对，是筑基期的灵药，这种高级丹，炼制的材料要比洗髓丹珍贵得多，即使是炼废了服用也不会对身体有害。”
"Really?"
“ zhēn dì jiǎ de ？”
“真地假的？”
"Why would I lie?" The stall owner angrily produced a badge with three inscribed characters: "Spirit Medicine Mountain."
“ wǒ piàn nǐ men gàn má ？” tān zhǔ nù qì cōng cōng de ná chū yí gè yāo pái ， shàng miàn kè yǒu sān gè zhuàn zì “ líng yào shān 。”
“我骗你们干嘛？”摊主怒气匆匆的拿出一个腰牌，上面刻有三个篆字“灵药山。”
Lin Xuan's heart stirred. Although he had only been in Youzhou for a short time, he was familiar with the name of Spirit Medicine Mountain. While it ranked among the lower tiers when measured by strength within the various sects and families of Youzhou, even the powerful Bichun Mountains, One-Line Gorge, and Thunder Cloud Manor would not easily offend Spirit Medicine Mountain.
lín xuān xīn zhōng yī dòng ， tā lái yōu zhōu dì shí jiān suī rán bù jiǔ 。 què yě tīng guò líng yào shān de dà míng ， suī rán yǐ shí lì ér lùn ， zài yōu zhōu de zhòng duō mén pài zhī zhōng ， tā zhǐ néng wèi jū mò liú 。
林轩心中一动，他来幽州地时间虽然不久。却也听过灵药山的大名，虽然以实力而论，在幽州的众多门派之中，它只能位居末流。
That was an exalted position for a sect.
rán ér jí biàn shì bì yún shān ， yī xiàn xiá ， léi yún shān zhuāng zhè yōu zhōu shì lì zuì dà de sān jù tóu yě bú huì qīng yì dé zuì líng yào shān 。
然而即便是碧云山，一线峡，雷云山庄这幽州势力最大的三巨头也不会轻易得罪灵药山。
Because its cultivators might have average cultivation power but were all skilled in alchemy.
nà dì wèi hěn chāo rán de yí gè mén pài 。
那地位很超然的一个门派。
The path to cultivation encompassed myriad techniques, and everyone knew how important alchemy was. However, few cultivators were willing to delve into it.
yīn wèi gāi mén de xiū shì suī rán fǎ lì yì bān ， dàn què rén rén dōu jīng shàn liàn dān zhī shù 。
因为该门的修士虽然法力一般，但却人人都精擅炼丹之术。
The reason? Alchemy could be seen as doing others' work for them. To become a high-ranking alchemist required extensive time spent on research, but human energy was limited—cultivators included. Spending too much time on alchemy meant less time for other techniques and cultivation improvements.
xiū zhēn yī tú ， bǎo luó wàn xiàng ， liàn dān shù de zhòng yào rén rén dōu zhī dào 。 rán ér yuàn yì zuān yán dì xiū shì què fèng máo lín jiǎo 。
修真一途，保罗万象，炼丹术的重要人人都知道。然而愿意钻研地修士却凤毛麟角。
This went against the original goal of pursuing immortality.
yuán yīn wú tā ， gāi shù kě yǐ shuō shì wèi tā rén zuò jià yī a ， xiǎng yào chéng wéi yī míng gāo jí de liàn dān shī ， xū yào huā fèi dà liàng de shí jiān zuān yán ， kě rén de jīng lì yǒu xiàn ， jiù suàn shì xiū zhēn zhě yě bù lì wài ， nǐ zài liàn dān shàng miàn huā de shí jiān tài duō 。 zì rán jiù méi yǒu jīng lì xué xí qí tā de fǎ shù 。 tí gāo xiū wèi le 。
原因无他，该术可以说是为他人做嫁衣啊，想要成为一名高级的炼丹师，需要花费大量的时间钻研，可人的精力有限，就算是修真者也不例外，你在炼丹上面花的时间太多。自然就没有精力学习其他的法术。提高修为了。
So, apart from a few truly interested individuals, most cultivators did not practice it; they merely got an introductory understanding at best.
zhè yǔ zhuī qiú xiān dào de chū zhōng xiǎn rán shì bèi dào ér chí le 。
这与追求仙道的初衷显然是背道而驰了。
There were few alchemists, but the path of cultivation could not do without pills.
suǒ yǐ ， chú le jí shǎo shù què shí duì liàn dān gǎn xìng qù de rén 。 qí tā xiū shì hěn shǎo xiū liàn ， zuì duō jiù shì liǎo jiě yī xià ， liàn gè rù mén jí 。
所以，除了极少数确实对炼丹感兴趣的人。其他修士很少修炼，最多就是了解一下，练个入门级。
This made alchemists exalted. Even low-ranking cultivators who excelled in alchemy would receive respect from those much more powerful than them.
liàn dān shī xī shǎo ， kě xiū zhēn yī dào ， yòu lí bù kāi dān yào 。
炼丹师稀少，可修真一道，又离不开丹药。
In Youzhou, whether among sects, families, or independent cultivators, no one dared to offend Spirit Medicine Mountain. Except for the lowest-grade Essence Cleansing Pills which could be refined by oneself, all other high-grade pills were materials collected by various factions, who paid crystal stones and entrusted Spirit Medicine Mountain with their refinement.
zhè jiù ràng liàn dān shī de dì wèi biàn dé chāo rán wú bǐ ， jí shǐ shì yí gè líng dòng qī dì xiū shì ， zhǐ yào tā de liàn dān shù gāo míng ， bǐ tā shí lì gāo chū hěn duō de xiū shì yě huì biǎo shì jìng yì 。
这就让炼丹师的地位变得超然无比，即使是一个灵动期地修士，只要他的炼丹术高明，比他实力高出很多的修士也会表示敬意。
Their success rate was higher.
zài yōu zhōu ， bù lùn shì mén pài ， jiā zú ， hái shì sàn xiū ， méi yǒu rén yuàn yì dé zuì líng yào shān ， yīn wèi chú le xǐ suǐ dān zhè zhǒng zuì dī jí de dān yào kě yǐ zì jǐ cuì liàn ， qí tā gāo jí de dān yào dōu shì gè pài shōu jí hǎo cái liào yǐ hòu ， fù yǔ jīng shí ， qǐng líng yào shān dài liàn 。
在幽州，不论是门派，家族，还是散修，没有人愿意得罪灵药山，因为除了洗髓丹这种最低级的丹药可以自己淬炼，其他高级的丹药都是各派收集好材料以后，付予晶石，请灵药山代炼。
You couldn't judge a book by its cover; you couldn't measure the sea in a bucket. This middle-aged man, with his rat-like appearance, turned out to be from Spirit Medicine Mountain. Although the pattern on his badge indicated he was only a low-ranking apprentice, no one dared to underestimate him.
tā men de chéng gōng lǜ bǐ jiào gāo 。
他们的成功率比较高。
"Forgive my rudeness," said a low-ranking cultivator, bowing: "You just mentioned that waste pills from Foundation Establishment stage can still benefit cultivation. Could you explain more?"
rén bù kě mào xiàng ， hǎi shuǐ bù kě dǒu liáng ， zhè wèi zhāng tóu shǔ mù de zhōng nián dà shū jū rán shì líng yào shān dì rén ， suī rán yāo pái shàng dì huā wén xiǎn shì ， tā jǐn jǐn shì dī jí xué tú ， dàn zhòng rén yě bù gǎn qīng shì 。
人不可貌相，海水不可斗量，这位獐头鼠目的中年大叔居然是灵药山地人，虽然腰牌上地花纹显示，他仅仅是低级学徒，但众人也不敢轻视。
"Yes, tell us."
“ shī jìng ， shī jìng ， yuán lái gé xià shì liàn dān shī 。” yí gè dī jiē xiū shì bào quán xíng lǐ ：“ nín gāng cái shuō zhù jī qī de fèi dān chī le yě duì zēng jìn xiū wèi yǒu yì ， jiū jìng shì zěn me huí shì 。”
“失敬，失敬，原来阁下是炼丹师。”一个低阶修士抱拳行礼：“您刚才说筑基期的废丹吃了也对增进修为有益，究竟是怎么回事。”
Seeing the admiring gazes of the crowd, the middle-aged man's face lit up with satisfaction: "Foundation Establishment stage waste pills, if taken by senior cultivators in that stage, would indeed have no effect on cultivation improvement. But at least they won't harm your body."
“ shì a ， gěi wǒ men jiǎng jiǎng 。”
“是啊，给我们讲讲。”
"So it's neither good nor bad; just a waste?"
jiàn dào zhòng rén chóng bài dì mù guāng ， zhōng nián dà shū liǎn shàng lù chū yī sī dé sè ：“ zhù jī qī de fèi dān ， rú guǒ shì yóu zhù jī qī de qián bèi fú yòng ， duì yú zēng jìn xiū wèi ， dāng rán méi yǒu sī háo bāng zhù ， dàn zhì shǎo yě bú huì sǔn hài shēn tǐ 。”
见到众人崇拜地目光，中年大叔脸上露出一丝得色：“筑基期的废丹，如果是由筑基期的前辈服用，对于增进修为，当然没有丝毫帮助，但至少也不会损害身体。”
"Yes," nodded the stall owner. "But these waste pills, when given to our low-ranking disciples of the Flexible Spirit Period, because the medicinal herbs used are much more precious than those for Essence Cleansing Pills, there will be some benefit in terms of cultivation improvement."
“ yě jiù shì shuō bù hǎo yě bù huài ， chī le bái chī ？”
“也就是说不好也不坏，吃了白吃？”
"How much benefit?"
“ duì 。” tān zhǔ diǎn diǎn tóu ：“ dàn zhè xiē fèi dān ， rú guǒ shì jiāo yóu wǒ men líng dòng qī de dì zǐ fú yòng ， yīn wèi liàn zhì de cǎo yào bǐ xǐ suǐ dān yào zhēn guì dé duō ， suǒ yǐ duì yú tí shēng xiū wèi ， duō shǎo huì yǒu yī xiē bāng zhù 。”
“对。”摊主点点头：“但这些废丹，如果是交由我们灵动期的弟子服用，因为炼制的草药比洗髓丹要珍贵得多，所以对于提升修为，多少会有一些帮助。”
"This is hard to say." The middle-aged man's face showed a hint of embarrassment. "It depends on how many impurities they contain; it’s difficult to measure. In general, the effect of one Foundation Establishment stage waste pill is equivalent to one-fifth to one-third of a lower-grade Essence Cleansing Pill."
“ yǒu duō dà de bāng zhù ？”
“有多大的帮助？”
"Only that much!" Everyone was disappointed but still prepared to pay crystal stones to buy them. It made sense—after all, for these low-ranking cultivators, even sect disciples only received a small amount of Essence Cleansing Pills each month, which wasn't enough for cultivation.
“ zhè ge bù hǎo shuō 。” zhōng nián dà shū liǎn shàng lù chū yī sī gān gà zhī sè ：“ zhè yào kàn lǐ miàn jiū jìng hán yǒu duō shǎo zá zhì le ， hěn nán cè dìng ， zǒng zhī ， yī lì zhù jī dān fèi dān de gōng xiào ， xiāng dāng yú yī lì xià pǐn xǐ suǐ dān de wǔ fēn zhī yī dào sān fēn zhī yī 。”
“这个不好说。”中年大叔脸上露出一丝尴尬之色：“这要看里面究竟含有多少杂质了，很难测定，总之，一粒筑基丹废丹的功效，相当于一粒下品洗髓丹的五分之一到三分之一。”
For independent cultivators or smaller families, the situation was worse; they had no spiritual medicines at all and could only rely on hard practice. Such pills that could improve cultivation were rare in large markets. Although these waste pills weren’t as effective, it was better than nothing. He might as well buy them first.
Lin Xuan channeled his spirit energy to his eyes, and the illusory realm before him vanished instantly. A small market appeared in his line of sight.
The market wasn't large, covering only a few thousand square meters, but there were over a thousand cultivators participating.
Lin Xuan released his divine sense and glanced around. As expected, it was filled with low-ranking cultivators from the Flexible Spirit Period.
Although everyone's cultivation power was not high, the treasure hunt was very lively. There were no fixed shops here; what was available depended on individual discovery. Once something caught one’s eye, they could purchase it using crystal stones or exchange goods.
Lin Xuan strolled through the market leisurely.
He couldn't help but marvel at the level of cultivation in Youzhou. In this place, which high-ranking cultivators called "the junk trade fair," Lin Xuan actually saw several spiritual artifacts, though all were lower-grade ones. If he had been in Yanzhou, such a situation would have been unimaginable.
Of course, with his current status, he naturally wasn't interested in such trash. A few low-ranking cultivators from the fifth and sixth layers of the Flexible Spirit Period were shouting excitedly as if they had found treasure, struggling over who should get the spiritual artifact.
Lin Xuan's lips curled into a smile. Two years ago, seeing a spiritual artifact would have been his reaction too. Times changed, and the blue Star Sea within him had altered his fate. In just two short years, he had transformed from a low-ranking cultivator of the first-stage technique to someone who had entered Foundation Establishment.
Looking back at these low-ranking cultivators now felt like a world apart.
However, finished spiritual artifacts were few and far between. Most of what was being sold were lower-grade materials and talismans. Lin Xuan was disappointed; he had hoped to find something useful but ended up doing it all for naught.
Just as he was about to give up and leave the market area, his gaze was suddenly drawn by a sign.
"Junk Pills." The four characters made Lin Xuan's heart race with joy. Of course, on the surface, he remained calm and walked over.
The stall owner was a middle-aged man in his forties, surrounded by several young cultivators.
"Boss, do you have any pills?"
"Yes, but they are waste pills."
"Waste pills?" The cultivators exchanged glances: "Do you actually sell waste pills?"
"Don't you think I'm crazy? Eating waste pills is harmful to the body."
"You're wrong," the stall owner appeared confident. "For us low-ranking cultivators of the Flexible Spirit Period, taking waste pills from Essence Cleansing Pills would indeed be harmful. But what about the waste pills from higher-grade Foundation Establishment Pills or Cultivation Root Pills?"
"Those are only used by senior cultivators in the Foundation Establishment stage, right?"
"Yes, they're high-grade spiritual medicines. The materials needed to refine these are much more precious than those for Essence Cleansing Pills. Even if you fail and take them, it won't harm your body."
"Really?"
"Why would I lie?" The stall owner angrily produced a badge with three inscribed characters: "Spirit Medicine Mountain."
Lin Xuan's heart stirred. Although he had only been in Youzhou for a short time, he was familiar with the name of Spirit Medicine Mountain. While it ranked among the lower tiers when measured by strength within the various sects and families of Youzhou, even the powerful Bichun Mountains, One-Line Gorge, and Thunder Cloud Manor would not easily offend Spirit Medicine Mountain.
That was an exalted position for a sect.
Because its cultivators might have average cultivation power but were all skilled in alchemy.
The path to cultivation encompassed myriad techniques, and everyone knew how important alchemy was. However, few cultivators were willing to delve into it.
The reason? Alchemy could be seen as doing others' work for them. To become a high-ranking alchemist required extensive time spent on research, but human energy was limited—cultivators included. Spending too much time on alchemy meant less time for other techniques and cultivation improvements.
This went against the original goal of pursuing immortality.
So, apart from a few truly interested individuals, most cultivators did not practice it; they merely got an introductory understanding at best.
There were few alchemists, but the path of cultivation could not do without pills.
This made alchemists exalted. Even low-ranking cultivators who excelled in alchemy would receive respect from those much more powerful than them.
In Youzhou, whether among sects, families, or independent cultivators, no one dared to offend Spirit Medicine Mountain. Except for the lowest-grade Essence Cleansing Pills which could be refined by oneself, all other high-grade pills were materials collected by various factions, who paid crystal stones and entrusted Spirit Medicine Mountain with their refinement.
Their success rate was higher.
You couldn't judge a book by its cover; you couldn't measure the sea in a bucket. This middle-aged man, with his rat-like appearance, turned out to be from Spirit Medicine Mountain. Although the pattern on his badge indicated he was only a low-ranking apprentice, no one dared to underestimate him.
"Forgive my rudeness," said a low-ranking cultivator, bowing: "You just mentioned that waste pills from Foundation Establishment stage can still benefit cultivation. Could you explain more?"
"Yes, tell us."
Seeing the admiring gazes of the crowd, the middle-aged man's face lit up with satisfaction: "Foundation Establishment stage waste pills, if taken by senior cultivators in that stage, would indeed have no effect on cultivation improvement. But at least they won't harm your body."
"So it's neither good nor bad; just a waste?"
"Yes," nodded the stall owner. "But these waste pills, when given to our low-ranking disciples of the Flexible Spirit Period, because the medicinal herbs used are much more precious than those for Essence Cleansing Pills, there will be some benefit in terms of cultivation improvement."
"How much benefit?"
"This is hard to say." The middle-aged man's face showed a hint of embarrassment. "It depends on how many impurities they contain; it’s difficult to measure. In general, the effect of one Foundation Establishment stage waste pill is equivalent to one-fifth to one-third of a lower-grade Essence Cleansing Pill."
"Only that much!" Everyone was disappointed but still prepared to pay crystal stones to buy them. It made sense—after all, for these low-ranking cultivators, even sect disciples only received a small amount of Essence Cleansing Pills each month, which wasn't enough for cultivation.
For independent cultivators or smaller families, the situation was worse; they had no spiritual medicines at all and could only rely on hard practice. Such pills that could improve cultivation were rare in large markets. Although these waste pills weren’t as effective, it was better than nothing. He might as well buy them first.