Li Gou felt his heart tighten slightly and asked, "Did I say something wrong?"
"No, it's just that I've been trapped here by that bitch Bai Su for more than ten years, and I have no idea what the outside world is like anymore. Only that woman Bai Su can answer your question," Mo You gritted her teeth.
It seemed he would have to wait until the evening to ask Bai Su.
Li Gou thought to himself.
That night.
Bai Su returned, her black dress changing back to white.
Seeing that Li Gou had returned after just half a day, Bai Su was very pleased.
Without hesitation, Li Gou asked her the question he had earlier: where could he buy cultivation techniques?
After hearing him out, Bai Su replied without thinking, "About fifty miles northwest of this bamboo forest, there is a cultivator market called Red Maple Valley. You can buy cultivation techniques there."
"Great, I'll set out for Red Maple Valley Market early tomorrow morning," Li Gou nodded.
"My son, since you're planning to go to Red Maple Valley Market, let me give you some advice. Never show off your wealth while you're outside, or you might attract people with bad intentions. Also, remember to buy some masks and clothes when you enter the market, and change them a few times as you come and go. This will help conceal your identity."
After speaking, Bai Su took out a pile of low-grade spirit stones.
"I haven't accumulated many spirit stones over the years because I needed to maintain the Small Yin-Yang Reversal Formation. Here are fifty low-grade spirit stones. Now that you've reached the fourth layer of Qi Refining, this should be enough to buy a decent First-Grade Intermediate Technique."
Li Gou accepted the spirit stones, feeling a warmth in his heart.
No matter in his previous life or this one, Li Gou had always responded better to kindness than threats.
Although he hated Mo You, he could never bring himself to hate Bai Su.
If Bai Su didn't exist, Li Gou would definitely find a way to kill Mo You.
But because Bai Su was real, Li Gou hesitated.
Well, if he could find a Second-Grade Detox Pill or force Mo You to completely remove the poison from his body, he would simply leave and search for his daughter, never to return.
Li Gou sighed inwardly.
The next morning.
At dawn, Li Gou left the bamboo house and entered the bamboo forest.
Using the entry and exit token, he left the forest and took out his Spiritwood Sword, flying toward the northwest.
Compared to half a month ago, Li Gou's sword-flying skills had become much more stable. Standing with his hands behind his back, he had the demeanor of a swordsman from the Shu Mountain sect in ancient television dramas.
The only thing that somewhat dissatisfied Li Gou was that the sword under his feet was too short. He thought that next time, he should get a bigger one—it would probably be much better.
He reached the location fifty miles away quickly.
However, Li Gou saw only a misty forest with no sign of the so-called cultivator market.
After a long search, the result was the same.
"Are you looking for Red Maple Valley Market, fellow cultivator?"
A young scholar in a blue robe appeared, stepping on a white fan, and asked with a smile.
This blue-robed scholar's aura had reached the third layer of Qi Refining.
"Yes, I heard Red Maple Valley was here, but I haven't been able to find it after searching for quite some time," Li Gou replied, a bit embarrassed.
"It seems you've just started your cultivation journey. The Red Maple Valley Market is indeed located here, but it's hidden within a protective array. Without someone to lead you, breaking in forcibly would be certain death, even if you were at the ninth layer of Qi Refining," the blue-robed scholar explained with a smile.
Cold sweat broke out on Li Gou's back. Luckily, he had only searched from above and hadn't tried to descend.
"Do you know how to enter the market?" Li Gou asked, cupping his hands.
"Of course. I just bought a pass token a few days ago. If you intend to enter with me, it will only cost one low-grade spirit stone, of any attribute," the blue-robed scholar replied.
Li Gou relaxed slightly. Since the other party was asking for a spirit stone, it was probably legitimate.
He handed over a low-grade fire-attribute spirit stone to the blue-robed scholar.
"Hehe, today's luck is good. I made a spirit stone as soon as I arrived."
The scholar smiled cheerfully. After accepting the spirit stone, he cupped his hands toward Li Gou and said, "Fellow cultivator, please stay close to me, no more than half a zhang away."
Li Gou nodded and followed the scholar into the mist below.
The blue-robed scholar took out a white jade token, infused it with spiritual energy, and a blue light appeared, guiding their path.
Having had a similar experience before, Li Gou was not surprised.
After a while, his view suddenly opened up.
Li Gou saw a place not far ahead that looked much like a mortal marketplace.
There were many shops and stalls.
Although it wasn't overly crowded, there were still quite a few people coming and going.
"Fellow cultivator, my task of bringing you in is complete. Let's part ways here," the blue-robed scholar said with a smile, cupping his hands.
"Goodbye," Li Gou cupped his hands in return.
After the scholar left, Li Gou went to a shop selling clothes and masks. He spent two low-grade spirit stones to buy a mask that could keep him cool and a white scholar's robe that was dust and moisture resistant.
After putting on the mask and changing into the white robe, Li Gou began to stroll around the market.
"Selling spiritual herbs, from ten-year to hundred-year-old ones, at affordable prices!"
"Due to an urgent need for spirit stones, all kinds of family heirlooms are being sold at a discount. No refunds or exchanges!"
"Take a look! A complete giant tooth of a mid-stage First-Grade demonic beast, Giant-Toothed Beast, for just five low-grade spirit stones."
Li Gou quickly noticed that most of the stall owners were selling raw materials, with some mixed in who were clearly out to deceive. A few rare stalls were selling other items.
As for finished products like pills and spiritual weapons, those were being sold in the shops.
As a newcomer, Li Gou decided not to gamble at the stalls and chose the shops with the least risk.
He entered a shop specializing in selling cultivation techniques. As soon as he stepped in, the shopkeeper greeted him warmly.
"Welcome to our humble shop, esteemed guest! What kind of technique are you looking to buy?"
"What wood-attribute techniques do you have?" Li Gou asked.
Hearing this, the shopkeeper pulled out a green jade slip and said, "This is a list of our wood-attribute techniques and their respective prices. Please have a look."
Li Gou took the jade slip and found that it contained information on nearly a hundred First-Grade wood-attribute techniques.
These techniques were categorized into upper, middle, and lower ranks based on difficulty, maximum attainable level, and the strength of the spells.
A First-Grade Lower Technique cost at least ten low-grade spirit stones.
A First-Grade Intermediate Technique cost at least twenty low-grade spirit stones.
A First-Grade Upper Technique cost at least sixty low-grade spirit stones.
After carefully browsing through them, Li Gou quickly took a liking to a technique called Ironwood Technique, a First-Grade Upper Technique priced at sixty low-grade spirit stones, making it the cheapest among the First-Grade Upper Techniques.
According to the description, the reason for the low price was due to two fatal flaws.
One was that it could only be cultivated up to the seventh layer of Qi Refining, which was two layers lower than other First-Grade Upper Techniques.
The other was that Ironwood Technique was extremely difficult for ordinary cultivators because it required consuming a large amount of spiritual energy.
Ordinary cultivators already found it challenging enough to clear their meridians; how could they afford to waste their limited time and resources on such a technique?
But this fatal flaw posed no issue for Li Gou, who had the Treasure Gathering Bottle.
And the reason why Ironwood Technique was still considered a First-Grade Upper Technique rather than an Intermediate one was that, once mastered, it could allow the cultivator's body to withstand attacks from First-Grade Advanced Spells or First-Grade Advanced Spiritual Weapons without sustaining any injuries.
Therefore, the Ironwood Technique was indeed the best choice for preserving one's life.