Han Yi was about to nod when he suddenly stiffened.
This female cultivator was no ordinary person. Despite having met her only twice, she was remarkably familiar, unlike Chu Jinmo and Yan Ru. Chu Jinmo was gentle and demure, Yan Ru aloof and reserved, while Chen Yujin was a social butterfly, adept at navigating any situation.
Personally, Han Yi preferred dealing with Chu Jinmo and Yan Ru.
Regaining his composure, Han Yi entered the house as usual and walked to a table. He retrieved the prepared medicinal pills from his storage pouch.
He now sold most of the pills he refined to the Nine Dragons Merchant Guild, kept a small portion for the female cultivators of Little Sea-Viewing Peak, secretly sold some to familiar fellow disciples, and reserved the rest for his own cultivation.
As soon as the female cultivators saw Han Yi produce the pills, they swarmed him like sharks scenting blood. Within a minute, every last pill was gone.
Those who were slower to grab them looked longingly at Han Yi, their eyes still gleaming with unfulfilled desire, hoping he might produce more.
Han Yi collected the Spirit Stones into his Storage Pouch, then spread his hands to show he was empty. Only then did the female cultivators reluctantly disperse.
He had been privately trading Medicinal Pills with the female cultivators of Little Sea-Viewing Peak for years. His pills were exceptionally popular among them, and they considered them a great bargain. After all, his pills were not only more affordable but also of superior quality compared to those purchased from the Sect's Grand Hall or at comparable prices in the market.
High quality at a low price naturally made them highly sought after.
As Han Yi was about to leave, a sudden thought struck him. He paused and turned to Chen Yujin. "By the way, Junior Sister Chen, this transaction feels different from usual. Are you all particularly short on pills?"
Chen Yujin sighed, her eyes downcast in a posture that might have seemed pitiful to some. Han Yi, however, remained unmoved.
"Senior Brother Han, you may not be aware," she said. "Recently, the prices of Medicinal Pills have surged everywhere—both in the Sect's Grand Hall and in the market. Your prices remaining unchanged have been a godsend for us Junior Sisters."
"Speaking of which, Senior Brother Han, you wouldn't be thinking of raising your prices too, would you? Please don't! If you do, we Junior Sisters won't be able to survive!"
Chen Yujin's tone became dramatically pleading. Han Yi knew she was prone to exaggeration, and this performance was simply a ploy to keep his prices stable. He was currently willing to forgo this small profit, viewing it as a means of maintaining good relations.
"Junior Sister Chen, rest assured," Han Yi said firmly. "Regardless of any price increases within the Sect, my supply of Medicinal Pills will remain at the original prices. I won't change them."
Chen Yujin's face lit up with delight, her gaze becoming silken and seductive.
Ignoring her flirtatious glance, Han Yi continued, "Junior Sister Chen, do you know why the Sect's Medicinal Pill prices have been rising recently?"
Sensing that Senior Brother Han had no interest in seeking a Dao Companion, Chen Yujin abandoned her coquettish act.
"Senior Brother Han, it seems you truly know nothing! Very well, let me explain. It's not just Medicinal Pills; the prices of everything in the Sect have gone up."
"Formation Arts, Talismans, Magic Artifacts, Medicinal Pills, raw materials for Pill Refinement—everything has increased by over ten percent in the past month."
"I heard... I heard..." Chen Yujin's voice trailed off hesitantly, as if unsure whether to continue.
"Heard what? Just spit it out!" Han Yi snapped, annoyed by her hesitation.
"It's just a rumor, and might not even be true. Martial Uncle mentioned that this recent price surge might be connected to another sect."
"Another sect?" Han Yi's brow furrowed in confusion.
Chen Yujin nodded. "That's right. Unconfirmed reports suggest that friction between the Blood God Sect and our Profound Pill Sect is escalating in many parts of Shu Prefecture. I heard the sect elders are growing increasingly concerned."
Han Yi frowned, recalling what he knew about the Blood God Sect. His confusion deepened. "The Blood God Sect is also a Great Qian sect. We've always kept to ourselves. Why would there be conflict now?"
Chen Yujin shook her head. "I have no idea. That's all I've heard."
"There's an undercurrent of unease spreading through the sect. Senior Brother Han, you should be careful."
Realizing Chen Yujin knew no more, Han Yi suppressed his lingering doubts, clasped his hands in thanks, and turned to descend the mountain.
As Han Yi descended the mountain, his mind filled with information about the Blood God Sect.
Like the Profound Pill Sect, the Blood God Sect was a Golden Core Sect within Great Qian. While slightly stronger than the Profound Pill Sect, the difference in power was marginal.
The Profound Pill Sect controlled the Profound Pill Mountain Range, its influence spanning the Taibai, Nanyang, and Luofeng counties of Shu Prefecture, with its primary stronghold in Nanyang. It also maintained a significant presence in Taibai and Luofeng counties.
The Blood God Sect, located west of the Profound Pill Sect and bordering Taibai County, dominated the remaining three counties of Shu Prefecture, along with a portion of Taibai County.
In terms of territorial reach, the two sects were roughly equal.
Similarly, the combat prowess of their high-ranking cultivators was nearly identical.
For years, the two sects had coexisted peacefully, maintaining a clear separation of territories. In fact, due to the Profound Pill Sect's emphasis on medicinal cultivation, relations between the two sects had even been relatively cordial.
Han Yi paused mid-step, suddenly recalling his visit to the Nine Dragons Merchant Guild earlier that day. Manager He had offered him a more generous price for his medicinal pills than usual.
He had assumed it was due to the superior quality of his pills or normal market fluctuations.
It was only when Han Yi considered Chen Yujin's words that he realized something was amiss.
If the Profound Pill Sect and the Blood God Sect were truly in conflict, the sudden surge in prices for Medicinal Pills and Magic Artifacts in the market would make sense.
Han Yi paused, abandoning his plan to return to Little Spirit Void Peak. Instead, he descended the mountain and headed straight for a market on one of the Outer Peaks.
An hour later, he left the market and re-entered Red Sun Peak, marking his second visit to the Inner Peak that day.
Two hours later, as dusk approached, Han Yi returned to his courtyard on Little Spirit Void Peak, his expression unusually grave.
"Something's definitely wrong," he muttered. "The prices of all cultivation resources have skyrocketed across the board."
"Moreover, I saw several Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators on the Inner Peak. It's almost unheard of for so many to be there simultaneously."
"This proves something significant is happening. Could it really be a conflict with the Blood God Sect?"
After spending most of the day investigating, Han Yi felt a growing sense of impending crisis, like a storm gathering on the horizon.
"Tomorrow, I'll ask Senior Brother Guan Di on the Inner Peak, or check with Chu Jinmo and Yan Ru to see if they have any insider information."
Han Yi resolved to gather more intelligence the next day, certain that information from the Inner Peak would be far more current and reliable than anything circulating in the Outer Peak.
Next, Han Yi entered the meditation chamber and retrieved the Mid-Grade Sword Artifact he had purchased that day.
He began refining the sword.
No matter what happened, his own strength would always come first. Cultivation never ceased.
The night passed uneventfully.
Early the next morning, Han Yi fastened the Shadowless Sword to his waist. For sword artifacts, constant wear and occasional infusions of mana aided in the refinement process. This was a daily practice for Sword Cultivators, and Han Yi had learned to emulate it.
After securing the Shadowless Sword, he didn't immediately leave. Instead, he sat cross-legged in the meditation chamber and summoned a translucent, pale red panel.
The information displayed on it had changed significantly since over a year ago:
[Lifespan: 29/118 ]
[Cultivation Realm: Qi Refining Sixth Layer (21/100) ]
[Cultivation Technique: Fire Pill Profound Art (Microscopic Insight 19/100) ]
[Skills: ]
[ Alchemy Technique (Perfected Purity 31/100) ]
[ Spirit Void Finger (Perfected Purity 22/100) ]
[ Sword Control Technique (Perfected Purity 37/100) ]
[ Light Body Technique (Perfected Purity 19/100) ]
[ Fire Shield Technique (Masterful 8/100) ]
[ Turtle Breath Technique (Hall Entry 29/100) ]
[ Talisman Crafting Art (Initial Glimpse of the Dao 19/100) ]