Li Lin had entered seclusion to strike for the Foundation Establishment stage, a process that would likely take at least a year or more. Consequently, Li Xue gathered the materials she had obtained from the Chu Yun Secret Realm, along with the various items Li Lin had left behind from his previous travels. She organized everything, setting aside the useless items to be sold at the marketplace.
Half a month prior, Yiyi had successfully broken through to the eighth level of Qi Condensation. She didn't have many peers she could talk to on Zhengyang Peak, but after their shared trials in the Chu Yun Secret Realm, she and Li Xue had naturally become friends.
At the Phoenix Cry Residence on Zhengyang Peak, Li Xue arrived to find Yiyi, intending to invite her for a stroll through the market. Yiyi, being naturally lively, was delighted by the prospect and eager to get out for a while.
"Li Xue, is this your first time visiting the market?" Yun Wenhao asked gently.
"Yes, it will be my first time," Li Xue replied.
"I shall accompany you both, then," Yun Wenhao said, his gaze resting on Yiyi with a look of doting tenderness.
Li Xue could swear on her experiences across two lifetimes that there was definitely something illicit going on between Yun Wenhao and Yiyi. Recalling what Yu Ming had said about those with special constitutions being sought after for dual cultivation, she felt a sudden wave of goosebumps. She thought to herself, *If I go with them, won't I just be a massive third wheel? It’ll be so awkward.* She was just trying to think of an excuse to decline when Yiyi hooked an arm through hers, smiling happily. Li Xue found she couldn't bring herself to say no.
With Yun Wenhao leading the way on his flying treasure, they soon arrived at the Yunjin Sect’s largest marketplace: the Cloud Market.
Li Xue was accustomed to the bustling prosperity of modern cities from her past life and had visited the East Beast Mountain market before, yet she still couldn't help but be captivated by the sheer vibrancy of the Cloud Market. Beyond the dazzling array of buildings and thoroughfares on the ground, the sky featured a three-dimensional network of flight paths. These were composed of nodes condensed from spiritual energy; cultivators flying on their breath or swords had to follow these specific trajectories to reach different districts, or they would be swallowed by the restrictive arrays.
As long as a cultivator focused their spiritual power, they could see the multicolored trails etched into the air. Without spiritual power, the sky appeared as nothing more than a vast, clear blue. It was a breathtaking sight. The defensive measures of the Cloud Market were incredibly formidable, and Li Xue found herself staring in a daze.
"Li Xue, Yiyi, do not stare at the restrictions for too long, or you will feel unwell," Yun Wenhao warned.
Sure enough, a moment later, Li Xue felt a wave of dizziness as her spiritual energy began to drain rapidly. She quickly withdrew her spiritual sense. Looking over at Yiyi, she saw the girl’s small face had already turned pale. Yun Wenhao, looking pained, took Yiyi’s hand and produced a pill for her to swallow. Only after she took it did he seem to relax. He had originally prepared another pill for Li Xue, but seeing that she had only suffered a minor loss of spiritual energy and that her spiritual sense was unharmed, his eyes narrowed slightly. His gaze toward Li Xue now held a hint of surprise and admiration; he had not expected her spiritual sense to be so powerful.
The aerial restrictions of the Cloud Market could injure the spiritual sense of even a Core Formation cultivator if they probed for too long, yet Li Xue was only at the ninth level of Qi Condensation. Although Yun Wenhao had heard she practiced the Golden Breath Technique, her cultivation level was still what it was. This could only mean one thing: Li Xue’s innate spiritual sense was many times stronger than that of any cultivator at her level. It was impossible for him not to be shocked.
Li Xue was unaware of Yun Wenhao’s thoughts. She quickly sold her materials to a procurement shop; she didn't have the time to set up a stall herself, and besides, she wasn't short on spirit stones. Once she had finished her business, she followed Yiyi and Yun Wenhao as they wandered aimlessly.
The three eventually reached the auction house. The auction center not only handled consignments but also purchased rare items. Upon arriving at the third floor of the procurement building, they were met by the manager, a cultivator at the late stage of Foundation Establishment. Seeing Yun Wenhao, he hurried over to greet them. "Senior Brother Wenhao, what brings you here in person? Please, come inside!"
Yun Wenhao nodded and followed the manager into a VIP room. Once seated, he asked, "Junior Brother Yao, is there any news regarding the Spirit Marrow Grass?"
"Not yet. That particular spirit herb is quite rare," Manager Yao explained patiently. "I have already sent out purchase inquiries to the various upper, middle, and lower sects. I expect we should have news soon."
*Spirit Marrow Grass.* Li Xue’s heart stirred. Before Li Lin had entered seclusion, he had mentioned that the recipe for the Lesser Divine Pill required Spirit Marrow Grass. Li Xue found it strange; Yiyi still had about a dozen Lesser Divine Pills, which should be enough to last her until her Foundation Establishment. Why was Yun Wenhao still searching for the grass?
In truth, to refine those pills for Yiyi, Yun Wenhao had exhausted the Yunjin Sect’s entire supply of Spirit Marrow Grass. For a major sect, it was necessary to keep a stock of various rare medicinal herbs just in case.
A sudden thought occurred to Li Xue. She possessed a Five-Element Root. Although she had Yang spiritual energy and the Golden Breath Technique, which allowed her to cultivate relatively quickly, breaking through each realm was indeed far more difficult for her than for those with Single or Dual Spiritual Roots. If she had access to a breakthrough-assisting medicine like the Lesser Divine Pill, wouldn't her progress be much easier? Her son, Li Lin, was a talented alchemist. If he had the materials, his success rate would surely be higher than Yun Wenhao’s—after all, Yun Wenhao only possessed a Dual Metal-Fire Root.
