Mei Hua guided Yu Liang deeper into the first floor, past the common displays, toward a quieter section at the back. The air here carried a denser medicinal fragrance, faintly sweet and bitter at once. Shelves stood even farther apart, each holding only a few bottles instead of rows.
"This section contains most of the pills," She explained softly. "They are crafted with the highest standards, intended for cultivators who value foundation over speed. The prices are... higher than ordinary goods, but so is the quality."
Yu Liang’s gaze moved over the shelves. Each jade bottle carried not only a label but also a thin slip of parchment describing effects, ingredients, and guarantees.
Meridian Nourishing Pill
Ingredients: Jade Vine, Silverleaf Herb, Crystal Honey
Use: Nourishes damaged meridians and reduces strain after cultivation.
Spiritual Energy Recovery Pill
Ingredients: Azure Lotus Seeds, Spirit Bamboo Sap, Dew Moss
Use: Restores consumed mana during or after battle.
Scar Cleansing Powder
Ingredients: White Willow leaves, Hundred Year Ginseng, Moonleaf Herb
Use: Applied externally to accelerate healing and reduce scarring.
Golden Sand Powder
Ingredients: Golden Sand Grass, Fiery Sand, Spirit Clay
Use: Used in body refinement training to harden the skin against external attacks.
Nothing here was for casual buyers.
Then she gestured toward a middle aged man behind a counter. His posture was relaxed yet straight, hair bound neatly, and his robes bore the emblem of the Pavilion in silver thread. Unlike the younger staff, this man radiated an aura of someone who has spent years in the profession.
"This is Steward Le Lie," she introduced. "He oversees the Pavilion’s medicinal section."
Le Lie’s eyes lifted to meet Yu Liang’s. They were calm, slightly narrowed, but not unfriendly. He had seen countless cultivators before, and Yu Liang could feel that assessment.
Yu Liang stepped forward and spoke directly. "I am looking for cultivation resources," getting straight to the point. "Specifically, a high grade pill that will allow me to break through to the peak of the Body Tempering Realm without leaving any hidden dangers or negative side effects."
The request did not surprise Le Lie, but it seemed to catch his interest. He leaned back slightly, considering. "Most people your age chase fast results, even if it leaves hidden wounds. To think about foundation... That shows a different mind."
Mei Hua’s smile widened slightly. It was a rare request. Most cultivators on the Body Tempering level would opt for a cheaper, lower grade pill and deal with the after effects. Only the truly wealthy, those who had the luxury of caring for their long term cultivation, would ask for such a refined item.
He turned to a case behind him, selecting a jade bottle sealed with a faint golden slip. When he placed it on the counter, the bottle gave off a subtle warmth.
"This is the Tier 1 Ultimate Body Tempering Pill," Le Lie said. "Its formula is recognized by the Pill Guild. Taken properly, it will help you cross each barrier within Body Tempering without leaving traces behind. It’s safe, steady and reliable as you requested."
Yu Liang’s eyes lingered on the bottle. "The price?"
"Two million mid-grade spiritual stones," Le Lie answered plainly.
The number settled between them.
Mid grade spirit stones contained spiritual qi far purer and denser than the low grade spiritual stones, making them the preferred currency among cultivators.
While ordinary cultivators might spend years saving enough to obtain a single one, sect elders and powerful forces conducted most of their transactions in mid grade spirit stones.
Yu Liang didn’t possess a single mid-grade spirit stone. In fact, before today, he had only heard of them and had never held one in his hands. As a mere handyman disciple, such currency was far beyond his reach. Fortunately, the pavelion also accepts payment in low-grade spirit stones, so it posed no problem for him.
Yu Liang reached into his robe and withdrew a storage pouch. He placed it on the counter with a calm hand.
Le Lie extended his spiritual sense, counting quickly. When he withdrew, he nodded. "Two Billion low grade spiritual stones. Well prepared." His hand sealed away the payment, and he pushed the jade bottle forward. "It is yours."
At that exact moment, the system notification sounded within Yu Liang’s mind.
[ Ding! Host has paid 2,000,000,000 low-grade spiritual stones ]
[ Multiplier Triggered: 50x ]
[ Host Receives 100,000,000,000 low-grade spiritual stones ]
The familiar string of notifications passed silently before his eyes. Yu Liang’s expression never changed, but inwardly he felt even more happy. The amount has increased in inventory. Compared to that vast number, the pouch just handed over was like a drop in the sea.
Still, he let out a slow, inaudible breath.
’So this is the price of genuine pills.’
The bottle was cool in his hand, faint energy could be felt under the seal. It was nothing like the pill he had once bought in the handyman area, not counting the one he got after getting System. That one had been chalky, its scent was weak and clearly mixed with impurities. When he swallowed that, it had left his meridians stiff for days.
At the time, he believed it was progress. Now, standing in the Pavilion with this true pill in his sleeve, that memory felt almost foolish.
’Rubbish quality,’ he thought, his lips tightening briefly. ’This is the real thing. The difference is like night and day.’
What Yu Liang didn’t know was that an Ultimate Grade pill was something even wealthy cultivators struggled to obtain.
The higher the pill’s quality, the more difficult its refinement became, and even experienced alchemists often failed before producing a single Ultimate Grade pill.
Fortunately, this was only a Tier 1 pill. Had it been of a higher tier, its value would have increased many times over.
He also had no idea that the pavilion possessed only this single Ultimate Grade Body Tempering Pill. For most cultivators, a few thousand low grade spirit stones were enough to gather the resources needed to complete the Body Tempering Realm.
An Ultimate Grade pill, however, belonged to a different class altogether. It could remove nearly all impurities, lay a far stronger foundation, and greatly increase a cultivator’s future potential. Such pills appeared only on rare occasions, making them highly sought after by those who understood their true worth.
Seeing Yu Liang remained steady. Le Lie’s eyes lingered on him, as though waiting for regret or hesitation, for him the price was not worth mentioning as he had seen transactions far more terrifying, but this young man was a new face which interested him a little.
Yu Liang inclined his head slightly. "Thank you."
Le Lie gave a small nod in return. "Cultivate carefully. The Body Tempering Realm shapes the rest of the path so do the other realms. With this, you won’t stumble early."
Yu Liang accepted the words with silence. He turned, leaving the counter behind. But before stepping away, a thought crossed his mind. He paused and looked back at Le Lie.
"Are there any pills that can assist in breaking through to the Qi Condensation Realm?"
Le Lie’s expression remained composed, though a faint spark of interest flickered in his eyes. He gestured for Yu Liang to return to the counter.
"The Qi Condensation Realm," he began evenly, "is a significant transition. It marks the beginning of true cultivation. At this stage, a practitioner’s bodily energy is refined into Qi. With it techniques can show greater power, and one begins to truly walk on the path of immortality."
He rested a hand on the counter and continued. "The process is delicate. Many believe brute force will carry them forward, but without a steady base, that path only leads to collapse. A weak foundation cannot support Qi, and many cultivators cripple themselves by rushing."
Yu Liang gave a small nod. He had heard the warnings before, but hearing them from someone experienced lent them more weight.
Those who tried to force their way through often absorbed energy without proper refinement or guidance. Their meridians become twisted, their spiritual roots damaged, and their cultivation gets ruined.
Some lose their reason entirely, falling into madness while it happens less but still there’s a chance. The danger was not simply losing progress, it was creating a flaw that could never be repaired.
For such cultivators, every step forward became harder than the last. In the end, most could only watch others rise while they remained bound to mediocrity.