At this time, Jiang Ning was already on his way to Qiao City.
Qiao City is the largest traditional Chinese herbal medicine market in the Central Region, more than two hundred kilometers from Yuzhou City.
It was around two in the morning. Jiang Ning, using the "Concealing Qi Technique," hid his figure and then channeled a stream of spiritual power into his shoes to prevent them from wearing out.
Besides that, he didn't use any spiritual power and ran on the dam relying solely on his physical strength.
Since he had begun the "Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Body Tempering Technique," his physical fitness had already surpassed the limits of mortals. Jiang Ning could now run thirty meters in a second, with a speed of one hundred and eight kilometers per hour, which is three times faster than an Olympic sprint champion.
At this speed, the average car could only eat his dust, and he would arrive in Qiao City in just two hours.
If he were to use the "Divine Step," Jiang Ning's speed could even reach forty meters per second.
However, the current speed was sufficient. After all, Jiang Ning was just a small cultivator at the Qi Cultivation First Layer, with scarce spiritual power.
As he ran under the moonlight, he encountered people driving at night, but with the "Concealing Qi Technique" in place, they did not notice Jiang Ning, feeling only a gust of wind pass by their car windows.
By four-thirty in the morning, the moon had set and a faint light began to emerge in the east. The sun was about to rise.
Jiang Ning stepped into the territory of Qiao State.
Finding a secluded alley, Jiang Ning used Divine Sense to check his surroundings and, ensuring no one was watching, he neatened his hair, dispelled the spell, and revealed his form.
After running more than two hundred kilometers non-stop, Jiang Ning did not have a hint of sweat on his body—truly extraordinary for a Body Refining Practitioner.
He slowly strolled down the street. In his past life, since he had a roommate from Qiao State, he had been invited over several times and had a good impression of the city.
Qiao State's GDP was on par with Yuzhou, with little difference. The degree of urban development was similar, devoid of many skyscrapers. The streets were already undergoing major reconstruction, and some old houses were set to be demolished.
In the future, many displaced residents would arise from these demolitions. His former roommate often complained to him that many people living in old houses in Qiao State would often be compensated with three houses for one demolished and then turn around and sell them, living a life free from financial worries, unlike himself who had to work hard to pay a mortgage.
On the street, there were occasional exercisers passing by, panting and sweating. Jiang Ning couldn't help but feel nostalgic as he watched them.
As he walked, the sun gradually rose above the horizon, and Jiang Ning arrived at a mutton restaurant—an old establishment which he had visited in a later life.
The shop was small, run by a couple. Despite the early hour, there were already a number of diners scattered inside.
Jiang Ning ordered a bowl of mutton soup, adding ten yuan worth of mutton, eating lavishly, and also ordered a portion of bread equivalent to that of three people.
The owner was quick and efficient, serving the food promptly. Jiang Ning took a taste and found it delicious and free of any off-flavor.
He knew the reason—his former roommate had told him that the mutton soup in Qiao State was made with local goats, which had good physical constitution and less gamey taste, making it delicious.
He took a bite of the steaming hot bread, which was actually a kind of flatbread, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, creating a unique sensation when paired with mutton soup.
In the time it took to eat his meal, the restaurant grew increasingly crowded, clearly indicating good business.
His roommate had told him that this family could earn three hundred thousand yuan a year and had even bought a house in the Capital, evidencing the lucrative profit margins.
However, when discussing this, his roommate wasn't overly envious, as running such a food establishment often meant getting up at dawn and working late into the night, enduring more hardship than regular jobs. It was hard-earned money, after all.
After breakfast, Jiang Ning shouldered his backpack and headed to the herbal market.
Standing in front of a street, Jiang Ning looked around and saw a huge brown archway, with a few large characters etched upon it:
"Qiao State Herb Trading Center."
The fragrance of herbs filled his nose, and Jiang Ning smiled. Having returned half a month ago, he had finally found the place.
Stepping into the herb market, Jiang Ning began to purchase herbs.
Most of the herbs here were dried, and thanks to advanced techniques, their medicinal properties were well-preserved.
Qiao State Herb Trading Center gathered herb merchants from all over the country, with an enormous throughput of herbs daily, making it possible to buy nearly all kinds of herbs here.
The market primarily focused on wholesale trade, but even small-scale purchases like Jiang Ning's were welcomed.
Stores opened on both sides of the street, displaying various herbs neatly and pleasing to the eye, which lifted Jiang Ning's spirits amidst them.
Even though they were only low-level herbs, Jiang Ning was just a Qi Cultivation First Layer cultivator, and these herbs were enough for him to use until reaching the Qi Refining Perfect realm.
Even in the Cultivation World, the herbs initially used by low-level cultivators were nothing but common grasses.
Jiang Ning was very satisfied with the market prices. Many herbs were sold by weight, a few tens of yuan per catty, incredibly cheap.
In this era of advanced technology, industrialized, programmatic cultivation has made productivity terrifyingly high.
Jiang Ning recalled the Elixir Pills 'Qi Gathering Pill' and 'Yunling Pill', which were most effective during the Qi Cultivation Stage.
The dozens of herbs required in the Elixir Recipes sprang to mind, and following the list of required herbs, Jiang Ning started sweeping through the shops on the brink, managing to collect ninety percent at the very first shop.
Jiang Ning couldn't help but marvel at the completeness of the selection. It should be known that in the Cultivation World, if an ordinary low-level cultivator went to purchase herbs, it would take a great deal of effort and possibly several visits to different markets, with the risk of ambushes along the way.
Because Jiang Ning purchased a large quantity of herbs, the shop owner specifically asked if he needed express delivery services. Mailing was an option, but for large parcels, express delivery was more cost-effective.
Jiang Ning agreed, as he had to rush back to Yuzhou City today, and the herbs were too many to carry conveniently. He took out a few from each type of purchased herb and put them in his bag, leaving the rest to be delivered by express.
Then, following the enthusiastic recommendations of the shop owner, he went to two more shops for herbs, and gathered everything required for the two elixir recipes, spending a total of only ten thousand yuan for two months' worth of pills.
Jiang Ning couldn't believe how smoothly things had gone, could it be too easy?
He had thought it would take much more effort before coming here.
After purchasing the herbs, Jiang Ning had originally planned to wander around the area. Then, his phone rang.
After answering, it turned out to be the broadband installation staff, asking if he would be home in the afternoon.
After he agreed, he thought it over and decided that since he had already gathered the necessary herbs for the Qi Cultivation Stage pills, he would come back here for a good walk some other time.
Not wanting to delay any further, Jiang Ning, with a small amount of herbs in his backpack, headed towards an alley, walking deeper into more secluded areas, until his Divine Sense no longer detected cameras or onlookers. He then concealed his presence using the Concealing Qi Technique and hastened towards Yuzhou City.
On the way, Jiang Ning missed having a Magical Treasure; even if he didn't have a Magical Treasure, having a Flying Artifact would be nice, saving him the effort of running on foot.
No matter how fast he was, it was still not as comfortable as riding in a Magic Artifact. That's what resembled an Immortal rather than his current simple and unadorned self.
Now that the issue with herbs was resolved, the problem with acquiring a Magic Artifact stumped Jiang Ning.
He wasn't sure whether the materials required for a Magic Artifact existed in the real world today. Perhaps some did, but his memory was unclear.
Thanks to advanced chemical technology, the modern world had various types of steel and alloys that didn't exist in the Cultivation World.
It was uncertain whether these could be used for Artifact Refining since refining typically required different Spiritual Objects so that Spiritual Power could flow smoothly.
Watching cars drive by, Jiang Ning became even more determined to refine a Magic Artifact.