172 There is No Absolute Safety
Time in the immortal cultivation world seemed to move much faster than in the mortal world.
In the blink of an eye, three years had passed.
“It took me three years to completely stabilize my cultivation to the seventh level of the Qi Refinement Realm. The path to immortality is difficult!”
Jiang Ming sighed. Even though he had so many resources, it took three years to really stabilize his cultivation to this level. Thus, one could imagine how hard it was for ordinary individual cultivators. No wonder most people would be stuck in the seventh level of the Qi Refinement Realm for their entire lives even if they broke through to the late stage of the Qi Refinement Realm.
Even someone as powerful as Feng He had only just stepped into the eighth level of the Qi Refinement Realm.
“However, I’ve finally saved up a few hundred spirit stones. I need to start learning alchemy soon.”
Ordinary individual cultivators did not have the time and financial resources to learn other skills. However, Jiang Ming now had a small fortune and unlimited time. Learning alchemy and how to make talismans were key skills to progress further in the path of immortal cultivation.
There were four arts in the cultivation world—alchemy, talisman-making, weapon forging, and array formation.
Alchemy was relatively the easiest to start with. The disadvantage was that it consumed a lot of resources and required a large number of medicinal herbs to practice.
However, alchemy techniques were not something that ordinary people could get their hands on easily. Jiang Ming could only ask Feng He to help him.
After Jiang Ming finished casting the Misty Rain Technique, he took out a green talisman. It immediately turned into a green paper bird and carried Jiang Ming to the round valley market.
In the three years that Jiang Ming had been in Xiaoqian Mountain, he had acquired several little treasures. This flying bird talisman was given to him by an individual cultivator after helping them cast the Misty Rain Technique. It was not worth much, but it was interesting.
The market was bustling with activity. Jiang Ming got down and walked into a shop selling alchemy materials.
In the shop, the most eye-catching things were furnaces and cauldrons of different sizes. Different alchemy techniques required different tools, after all.
“Ming, you’re here again. Have you made up your mind this time?” The shopkeeper smiled when he saw Jiang Ming.
In the past few months, Jiang Ming often came here to browse. He became quite familiar with the shopkeeper.
“If your cauldron was a little cheaper, I would have really bought it,” Jiang Ming pointed at the lowest-grade cauldron and said with a pained expression.
“Wow, how can such a big shot in the Plant Hall not be able to afford this?” the shopkeeper asked in disbelief.
Jiang Ming sighed heavily. “Ah, you’re an outsider. You don’t know the truth. Ah, forget it. Look at my clothes. They’re in tatters. I’m sure you can make a guess.”
The smile on the shopkeeper’s face did not change. However, he could not help but wonder if what Jiang Ming said was true.
Could it be that he was exploited by Feng He and the others?
The shopkeeper made several wild guesses. However, he did not say anything.
Jiang Ming looked at the cauldron for a long time and seemed to have finally made up his mind. After haggling with the shopkeeper for a long time, he finally bought the lowest-grade alchemy cauldron for thirty spirit stones.
After selecting some containers, Jiang Ming left the shop with a pained expression.
“It’s always good to be careful!”
Obviously, he was not poor. However, it was better not to flaunt his wealth.
After all, although there were rules in Xiaoqian Mountain, it was still a place for individual cultivators. It was peaceful during the day. However, the night told a different story.
A few days ago, Old Gu Zi had brought some spirit stone chips to find Jiang Ming to water his fields. Alas, he was assaulted and robbed on his way here.
Unfortunately, law enforcement refused to help Old Gu Zi. After all, just like in the mortal world, the authorities did not care for people at the bottom rung of society.
Jiang Ming shook his head, took out the small green cauldron, and placed it in the middle of his courtyard. He threw a pile of shiny silver sand into the cauldron and tried to use the Fire Control Technique to refine the sand.
This sand was called Flowing Silver Sand, and its form changed greatly under different temperatures. It was an essential material for those starting out in alchemy to learn the Fire Control Technique.
Late at night, after Jiang Ming had his dinner, he continued to practice alchemy. The Flowing Silver Sand kept changing its shape in the cauldron.
Suddenly, Jiang Ming felt something and looked out of the courtyard.
Jiang Ming’s eyes narrowed slightly. From the very first day that he came to Xiaoqian Mountain, Jiang Ming knew that this was not a good place to settle down.
He did not expect that he would attract attention just by buying some alchemy items.
Jiang Ming detected a few cultivators quietly approaching his cave abode, and his face was calm.
The formation shook a little. However, it did not make any sound. Then it returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.
However, Jiang Ming knew that it had let in the intruders.
He stood in the courtyard and continued to practice as if he had not known anything.
In the night sky, a dark flying sword instantly shot toward Jiang Ming’s head.
At the same time, Jiang Ming’s limbs were bound with a rope.