Chapter 18: Pingwu County City

Lu XiaTian glanced at the other terracotta figurine puppets in the cave, then entered the stone room provided by the terracotta figurine. He pointed his finger, and five spirit stones of different att...The old man's soul, upon seeing Lu Xia Tian emerge, was overjoyed and said with great enthusiasm, "Good disciple, you're finally out! Please, let me out. I'll do anything for you, even work as your ox or horse. Whatever conditions you ask, I'll agree."

Over these past few months, he couldn't cultivate. There was no one to speak to, only the white fog and the gravel on the ground. He could endure this dry existence, but his current soul state consumed his lifespan. This endless waiting drove him mad. For these months, Lu Xia Tian repeatedly tested it. As soon as he moved his thoughts, wisps of fog would envelop and protect him. Without any worries, Lu Xia Tian could face the cloaked old man calmly.

"To have me do your bidding like a beast of burden I'm not capable of enduring such a fate. Even those who ventured into the canyon with you met their demise at your hands. I wouldn't dare risk my own life with such abilities," Lu Xiaodao stated.

“In the immortal cultivation world, since ancient times it has been a world where the weak are preyed upon by the strong. It is commonplace for cultivators to fight and kill each other over treasures. If I don't kill them, they will not let me go.” The old man in black robes sneered.

Lu Xia Tian choked out, "They were all killed by you!"

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The old man in black robes twitched, he was a cunning veteran. He quickly understood that Lu Xiaoteng was trying to bait him. At such a young age, to have this kind of scheming, if not for his slightly lacking aptitude, he would sooner or later become prominent. It seemed that begging him wholeheartedly wouldn't work anymore. This kid was highly unlikely to fall for it; he could only continue to find a way out of this cage himself.

Lu Xia Tian asked a few more questions, but the old man in black realized he had been tricked and fell silent, or retorted sarcastically to lead him on. Lu Xia Tian couldn't help but feel frustrated. Just now, hearing the old man in black kill the other three people, he was shocked and speechless for a moment. Unexpectedly, this old guy reacted so quickly. Just by relying on the old man in black's few words, he could roughly judge the danger of the cultivation world. It seemed that he had to be more careful in the future, otherwise, if he accidentally fell into someone else's trap, it would be too late to regret.

Thinking about this, Lu XiaTian opened his eyes. The dense forest came into view again. He rode on the back of a leopard, rushing outward while cultivating and simultaneously studying how to control the small green ants according to the Insect Control chapter in the Taming Beast Technique.

Half a month later, in a bustling county town, the streets were lined with stalls selling bamboo crafts, candied fruits, and wild animal pelts. Lu Xia Tian, his backpack overflowing with goods, navigated through the crowds of gentry, merchants, and commoners. He occasionally saw figures carrying swords and dressed in martial arts attire – wandering heroes of the Jianghu.

"I didn't expect Pingwu County to be like this, it seems more lively than Qingzhu County."

Lu Xia Tian looked at the pedestrians and shops on both sides of the street with great interest. He had stayed in the canyon for half a year and wandered in the deep mountains for several months without seeing anyone. Now that he was back to this bustling marketplace, he felt a little excited in his heart. According to his understanding, Pingwu County borders Qingzhu County. He didn't know the way in the deep mountains, so he mistakenly came here.

However, his mood soon calmed. Standing before a pharmacy, he saw an old and fragrant sign above it that read "Miaozhi Tang." This was the fourth pharmacy he had seen on his journey, and the most impressive in scale. He figured it should be able to give him a good price for his herbs.

There were three clerks in their twenties in the shop, as well as an elderly doctor who presided over them and a chubby cashier with a rosy complexion. Lu Xiaoteng walked in, glanced at everyone, and asked one of the slightly taller clerks, "Does your shop buy herbs"

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"Our Miaozhi Tang is the biggest pharmacy in Pingwu County, we don't even look at those ordinary herbs. You're just a little kid, what business do you have here"

There were several customers in the shop, and the clerk was impatiently waving his hand as he greeted them. The best herbs are mostly found deep in the mountains and old forests. These places are rarely visited by humans and are often inhabited by ferocious beasts and venomous snakes. Even some martial artists wouldn't dare to enter easily. As for the ordinary herbs on the outskirts, Miaozhidang has its own sources of herbs. They look down upon these scattered individual sellers.

Lu Xia Tian frowned, taking out a large yellow ginseng from his bag. It had dozens of fine nodes on it.

“Over forty years of Huangjing!” The old doctor sitting in the main hall was most sensitive to herbs of a specific year, and at a glance he saw that this Huangjing was extraordinary. Although it wasn't top grade yet, it was already a very good medicinal herb.

“How much are you willing to bid for this ginseng” Lu Xia tian asked.

“My good fellow, you truly are remarkable. It’s not easy to come across Huangjing from this year. I can offer you thirty taels of silver. What do you say” The stout shopkeeper's face had changed, and he now spoke with a smile.

Lu Xia Tian didn't answer, directly put away the yellow essence, and turned to leave.

“Hold on, if you think the price is too low, we can still talk about it.” The fat shopkeeper didn't expect Lu Xiaitian to react like this. Seeing him about to walk out the door, he hurriedly called out to him.

"His offer was several percent below market price, and decades-old medicinal herbs are in high demand. It seems the shopkeeper is doing quite well for himself." Lu Xia Tian turned his head and calmly glanced at the plump shopkeeper. He had just inquired at several apothecaries; he wouldn't be fooled so easily.

"Young brother, you're quite a shrewd one. Forgive my oversight, I apologize. How about this, a fixed price of fifty taels." The plump shopkeeper hurriedly bowed and chuckled.

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Although it was a bit higher than he expected, he was still quite satisfied. In the past, when he did odd jobs, it took several months to save up two silver beans. Now, just one yellow ginseng could sell for such a price. This money was enough to ensure his family lived comfortably for decades.

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Lu Xiaotien was just about to agree, but suddenly he faintly sensed a trace of spiritual energy coming from the back garden of Miaozhi Hall. The aura was exactly the same as that of the Gathering Qi Pill. His heart skipped a beat involuntarily, yes, it must be the medicinal herbs used for refining the Gathering Qi Pill.

"I won't sell this Huangjing."

“Not selling Then, little brother, what brings you to Miaozhi Hall Is it just to amuse me” The fat shopkeeper said with a displeased face.

“I heard that Miaozhi Hall has a wide variety of herbs, and I need some more obscure ones. So I want to exchange them with the shopkeeper. Since this yellow ginseng is worth fifty taels of silver, when exchanging for other herbs, the price will be adjusted accordingly.”

Lu Xia Tian wandered the barren mountains and wilds for several months without finding any more spiritual herbs. At this time, when he unexpectedly encountered a chance, how could he miss it

The stout shopkeeper's expression softened slightly. "So that's how it is, no problem. I wonder which kind of herbs the young master desires"

Lu Xia Tian said, "This kind of medicinal herb has a rather unique smell. I smelled its aroma, so the shopkeeper wouldn't mind me entering the back garden of Miaozhi Hall, would he"

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“It's fine.” The chubby shopkeeper nodded.

The back garden of Miaozhi Hall was very spacious, with many herbs to be dried, ground, or roasted. Dozens of people were busy working there. There was also a carriage, and two strong men were unloading the herbs from it.

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like translated!of them were cultivators at the mid-Nascent Soul stage, they couldn't resist it at all. Their cultivation, which they usually boasted about, seemed like fireflies compared to the bright moon before th...