Early Morning
At the entrance of the earthen house.
Shi Zhonghai, carrying two pancakes in his hand, arrived at the door of the earthen house, only to find it tightly shut.
"San'er!"
Shi Zhonghai called out, but there was no response from inside, causing him to frown slightly.
This child was too stubborn.
Shi Zhonghai had been working hard outside for many years, leaving everything at home to the second wife. He knew that Shi San, being the first wife's son, couldn't be cared for like a biological child by the second wife, but that was the current situation.
If he stayed home, he couldn't support the family.
The lack of proper upbringing had led San'er to steal money and hit the second wife. San'er was now twelve years old, and constant beatings would only foster rebellion. He planned to give him a serious talk today.
Shi Zhonghai pushed open the door and went inside.
However, he found that inside, the only wooden bed had its old bed sheet neatly folded, and the simple kitchen still maintained the appearance it had when the first wife was alive.
"San'er!"
Shi Zhonghai searched the entire house, but he couldn't find his eldest son, Shi San. His heart sank—had San'er run away after being beaten last night?
Shi Zhonghai's expression changed, and he rushed out of the house, heading towards the market.
Yue Kingdom, Southwest
Two thousand miles from the Ling Beast Sect, Qin Wang had flown low, along the Tianji Mountain Range throughout the night.
At dawn.
[Daily Information Refresh!]
[Today's Information!]
1) Yesterday, to avoid the pursuit of the Ling Beast Sect's sect leader, Jin Wuyuan, you fled a thousand miles southwest, gaining information that Jin Wuyuan, to make the Spirit-Sniffing Rat more accurately catch your scent, is heading to the shack you stayed in at Wanling Market to collect your scent. He is currently twenty-three thousand miles away from Wanling Market.
2) You were disappointed that the alluring incense couldn't penetrate water to attract the demon carp. You obtained the Locking Breath Replacement Elixir, the recipe details are available by clicking '●'.
3) After you left the Fierce Tiger Village yesterday, Shi San also left during the night, carrying a bundle. Shi Zhonghai discovered his eldest son had run away in the morning and deeply regretted it, searching everywhere for Shi San. The second wife discovered the Qingyou small sword and the sheepskin scroll missing and blamed it on Shi San.
4) You went to a deep ravine in the Tianji Mountain Range yesterday and obtained the ancient pictographic script silver scroll. It was revealed that there is a gigantic mysterious celestial palace underground in the deep ravine, which fell from the Nine Heavens. The ancient pictographic script silver scroll came with the palace when it fell.
5) In the deep ravine beneath the Tianji Mountain Range, thirty miles underground, there is a gigantic mysterious celestial palace. Inside the palace are three mysterious celestial corpses, with significant origins. Their divine souls are locked in the celestial palace world, unable to return to the mortal world.
6) You fled southwest all day yesterday, avoiding the pursuit of the Ling Beast Sect's sect leader, Jin Wuyuan. It is revealed that Jin Wuyuan is still ten days away from tracking you down.
7) You obtained the ancient pictographic script silver scroll yesterday. It is revealed that the pictographic script is divided into silver, gold, and purple scrolls, created by the ancient true immortal Cangjie. They are body refinement techniques that require the Cangjie Key to unlock. The Cangjie Key corresponding to the silver scroll is currently with the Murong family.
8) You evaded the Heavenly Chu Immortal Dynasty's pursuit yesterday. It is revealed that the Great Qi Immortal Dynasty, the Great Yan Immortal Dynasty, and various forces in the Southern Region are dissatisfied with the overbearing actions of the Heavenly Chu Immortal Dynasty. The Heavenly Chu Immortal Dynasty's search for the fugitive has led to the disappearance of many rogue cultivators, and there is widespread discontent among Southern Region cultivators.
9) You evaded the Heavenly Chu Immortal Dynasty's search yesterday. It is revealed that the Heavenly Chu Immortal Dynasty's Chu Yunxiao obtained the inheritance of the Celestial Howl Ancestor from three thousand years ago, which includes the Nascent Soul Transformation insights. These insights can help late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators advance to the Nascent Soul Transformation stage.
10) You evaded the Heavenly Chu Immortal Dynasty's search yesterday. It is revealed that the Heavenly Chu Immortal Dynasty's Emperor Chu Wuyue secretly imprisoned the previous Fengyao Holy Son, Jingtian Yun, to extract the Kunxu Scattered Man's inheritance.
"Jin Wuyuan is still ten days away from tracking me down?"
"Locking Breath Replacement Elixir!"
Qin Wang looked at the first, second, and third pieces of information, his eyes lighting up. He murmured, "Great, with this, I don't have to worry about Jin Wuyuan's tracking."
The Locking Breath Replacement Elixir: Made from 28 types of spiritual herbs. After consumption, it converts the user's breath into a completely different scent, preventing tracking by scent.
Qin Wang immediately clicked on the recipe details.
Upon examining it, Qin Wang found that he already had most of the herbs needed for the Locking Breath Replacement Elixir in his storage bag. The only herb missing was Xingui, a root-based spiritual herb that was not very common.
"Looks like I need to go to Huoyao Immortal City."
Qin Wang looked into the distance, making up his mind. He and Zhang Fujiang swiftly headed towards Huoyao Immortal City.
Jin Wuyuan was approaching fast, so he had to hurry.
He needed to concoct the Locking Breath Replacement Elixir as soon as possible.
Huoyao Immortal City, alongside Qingyun Immortal City, Houtu Immortal City, Tianshui Immortal City, and Jinrui Immortal City, was one of the five great immortal cities in the Southern Region.
Situated southwest of the Tianji Mountain Range.
Practitioners from Yue Kingdom, Zhao Kingdom, and even Heavenly Chu, Great Qi, often came here to train and hunt monsters for resources.
The Herb Market.
Located in the west city of Huoyao Immortal City, it was a hub for trading herbs. Many rogue cultivators and monster-hunting teams sold the spiritual herbs and monster materials they obtained from the Tianji Mountain Range here.
There were both shops and rogue cultivator stalls.
Since Xingui was not very common, Qin Wang had no luck at four or five herb shops. Desperate, he went to the rogue cultivator stalls.
If all else failed, he planned to check the east, south, and north sub-cities.
"Xingui? Never heard of it. I have other herbs here with good years; would you like to take a look?"
Qin Wang approached a stall run by a fifty-year-old Qi Refining Stage 8 cultivator. Hearing Qin Wang's inquiry about Xingui, the old cultivator shook his head and tried to sell him other herbs.
He pulled out a large pile of other spiritual herbs from his storage bag for Qin Wang to see.
"No, thanks. I only need Xingui," Qin Wang said, shaking his head. As he was about to leave, he noticed a pile of herbs that caught his eye. He pointed at a root-like herb and asked, "What is this herb called?"
This herb looked exactly like the Xingui in the Locking Breath Replacement Elixir recipe: root-based, finger-thick, three feet long, with a pale yellow color.
"This? It's called Xinzhu Root. It doesn't sell well, so I just picked some. If you want it, five spirit stones for the whole pile," the old cultivator said enthusiastically, seeing Qin Wang's interest in the Xinzhu Root.
Since Xinzhu Root wasn't common and not in high demand, he had picked it up on a whim and had it unsold for half a month. Selling it now was a stroke of luck.
"Alright, I'll take it all," Qin Wang agreed. Five spirit stones for a pile of at least forty or fifty roots was enough to make the Locking Breath Replacement Elixir.
"Great!"
The old cultivator beamed with joy, packing up the Xinzhu Root for Qin Wang.
This was like finding five spirit stones out of nowhere.