Near the Qingling Mountains, a streak of pink light flashed across the low sky before suddenly coming to a stop.
“According to the map, once I fly past this section, I should reach the market in the northern part of the Qingling Mountains.”
After checking the map to confirm the direction was correct, Shucao continued flying forward.
Before long, she approached the market in the northern Qingling Mountains.
After landing on the ground, Shucao undid her magical outfit, changed into a set of ordinary clothes, and walked toward the market entrance.
“Demonic beast materials bought here! Cash on the spot, prices guaranteed to satisfy! Come take a look if you’re interested!”
“First-grade Qi Gathering Powder! Helps speed up spiritual energy absorption! Only five spirit stones per bottle! Don’t miss it if you’re passing by!”
“Artifacts for sale and custom refining! Made personally by a ten-year veteran artifact refiner. Quality guaranteed! If interested, please come to Qiyun Pavilion for details.”
The moment Shucao entered the market, waves of vendor calls reached her ears, making the place feel extremely lively.
“So this is what a cultivation market is like.”
Shucao looked at the market, which was about the size of one but incredibly bustling with every facility one could need, and murmured to herself.
“Even a place like this has such a lively market?”
“It seems quite a few loose cultivators have been drawn here by the resources in this area. Generally, in places like this—similar to underground cities—there will always be classic gathering spots outside. Once there are more people, demand increases as well.”
Shucao didn’t ask what An Qianhua meant by ‘underground city.’ Instead, she kept her head slightly lowered to avoid drawing too much attention as she quickly made her way through the market streets.
When she found a small building that looked like an inn, she walked straight inside.
The inn’s waiter immediately greeted her enthusiastically the moment he saw Shucao enter.
“Welcome, Immortal Fairy! Thank you for choosing our humble shop. Is there anything I can do for you?”
Shucao placed two spirit stones on the counter and said.
“I’d like to stay for a few days. Are these spirit stones enough?”
Seeing the two faintly glowing spirit stones, the waiter’s eyes lit up immediately.
“More than enough! These two spirit stones could cover a full month for you!”
“Uh, I don’t need that long.”
Shucao took one spirit stone back from the table and said.
“Then please give me a room for half a month.”
“Right away! Please follow me, Immortal Fairy.”
After following the waiter through the inn’s inner entrance, Shucao was surprised to discover that the guest rooms here were built directly into the mountain itself.
As she passed by, she curiously glanced into the rooms.
Noticing her expression, the waiter proudly explained.
“You must be visiting our establishment for the first time, Immortal Fairy. The boss of our inn is a late-stage Qi Refining Immortal Master. He used his divine abilities to directly reshape this mountain, carving out many rooms inside. The small building outside was constructed along the mountain to receive mortals, while these cave mansion-style rooms are for esteemed Immortal Masters like yourself.”
As he spoke, the waiter led Shucao to her assigned room and said.
“This is your room. You can open it with this token. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave.”
“Wait a moment.”
Seeing the waiter about to leave, Shucao quickly said.
“Do you know where I can buy books or records related to medicinal herbs?”
“You can check the medicine hall in the market. They deal in herb purchasing and pill refining, so they should have what you need.”
“Understood. Thank you for your answer.”
“Not at all, you’re too kind.”
The waiter bowed to Shucao once more before turning and leaving.
After he departed, Shucao entered the stone room and began settling in.
Flying continuously for a long time had taken quite a toll on her.
“Why did we come to this market first?”
Seeing Shucao undo her transformation and lie down, An Qianhua asked Mo Yao curiously. Mo Yao replied.
“I want to gather some information about the Taiqing Sect’s secret realm first. After all, we have no knowledge of the demonic beasts or medicinal herbs inside.”
“Makes sense.”
After resting briefly, Mo Yao transformed back into Shucao, left the inn, and headed toward the market’s medicine hall.
Upon arriving at the medicine hall, a middle-aged looking man sat behind the counter, intently sorting through several stalks of spirit herbs that emitted faint spiritual light.
He must be the owner.
Thinking this, Shucao walked forward and spoke to the middle-aged man.
“Boss, does your shop sell any books or records about medicinal herbs?”
“Hm? Ah, yes, you want a record book? I have an illustrated guide of medicinal herbs that my master compiled based on his travels through various countries and existing records. Would this suit your needs, customer?”
“Mm. It would be even better if it has detailed records of the herbs that grow around the Qingling Mountains.”
“Haha, then you’ve come to the right person! My master and I have been doing pill business here for a very long time. We know the local herbs like the back of our hands. The information recorded in that illustrated guide is extremely detailed.”
“Then please give me one copy.”
“Coming right up. That’ll be one spirit stone.”
After handing over one spirit stone, the boss took out a brand-new book from his storage pouch and passed it to her.
“This is the illustrated guide I mentioned. I’ll gladly accept the spirit stone.”
After putting away the book, Shucao asked the boss another question.
“Boss, do you happen to know what kinds of demonic beasts are in the northern part of the Qingling Mountains?”
Hearing Shucao’s question, the medicine hall owner thought for a moment before replying.
“I’m truly sorry, customer. I mostly stay here in the market refining pills and selling medicine. I only enter the mountains to gather herbs. I’m afraid I don’t know much about the demonic beasts. Perhaps you could try the artifact refining shops. They often handle demonic beast materials and should know more about the beasts around here than I do.”
“Thank you, boss.”
Shucao cupped her hands in thanks to the boss, then left the medicine hall.
She proceeded to the artifact refining shops to inquire about demonic beast information.
In this way, she gathered bits of intelligence from various places, gaining a much better understanding of the Qingling Mountains.
In the evening, after returning to the inn once more, Shucao took out the Spirit Purity Token and checked the light point on it.
Seeing that there wasn’t much change from before, she began meditating in the stone room according to An Qianhua’s instructions to train her magic power.
“Although a large part of a magical girl’s power is linked to the strength of her ‘heart,’ meditation can also increase one’s familiarity with magic power and train its intensity. It’s similar to cultivation in the immortal path.”
This was what An Qianhua had said.
Three days passed like this.
On the morning of this day, the Spirit Purity Token in Shucao’s hand suddenly emitted a brilliant spiritual light.
She immediately realized that the Taiqing Sect’s secret realm was about to open.
She promptly left the inn and flew in the direction indicated by the Spirit Purity Token.