CHAPTER 29: CHAPTER 29: ALCHEMY UPGRADE!

"What do you mean?"

Qi Xiu frowned as he looked at the teacup being pushed back to him.

"Not enough."

The Paijiu mask slowly uttered two words.

SMACK!

With life and wealth on the line, Qi Xiu didn’t dawdle.

Another ingot of hundred-tael silver with a snowflake pattern slammed onto the table, causing ripples in the tea.

Silently accepting the silver, the Paijiu mask raised three fingers.

"You still owe three hundred taels."

Why didn’t you just say five hundred taels from the beginning?

Rolling his eyes at the Paijiu mask, who was squeezing him like toothpaste, Qi Xiu grudgingly took out a silver note and slapped it on the table.

Five hundred taels!

The eyes beneath the mask lit up, and the Paijiu mask reached out to touch the silver note.

"Wait a minute!"

Clamping down on the silver note, Qi Xiu was expressionless.

"Give me back the two hundred taels."

The light in the Paijiu mask’s eyes dimmed as he hesitantly fished out the two ingots of silver from his bosom and returned them.

After pocketing the silver note, the Paijiu mask drank the last cup of tea.

"There is."

After waiting for what felt like an eternity without hearing the person opposite him continue, Qi Xiu frowned and looked up. "Go on, then."

"There’s no more. You asked if there are Demons, and I said there are," the Paijiu mask explained nonchalantly with a shrug.

"You little rascal, trying to play tricks on me, huh?"

Qi Xiu’s face darkened in an instant. His hands pressed against the tabletop, translucent Qi Force flickering in and out of visibility, making the table tremble continuously as if about to disintegrate.

You can’t start fights in the Ghost Market.

That’s a rule.

But rules don’t constrain those who lose control.

Incidents like a common man’s rage spilling blood within five steps had occurred in the Ghost Market before.

Seeing Qi Xiu getting angry, and fearing that in a fit of rage Qi Xiu might disregard everything and splatter his brains, the Paijiu mask hurriedly said, "Don’t be angry, my lord, I was just having a laugh. Indeed, there are signs of demonic activity around Baoho County. But it’s not limited to Baoho County. The neighboring Yuyun County, Yangping County, Gou County, and Dongji County all show traces of lurking Demons. The situations vary in severity. Those in the know speculate that the Demons within Huang Tan, and the Demonic Cultivators and strange beings from Jiayi Territory, are likely all escaping from Xiangchu Province..."

...

Walking down the street after leaving Three Teas House, Qi Xiu pondered thoughtfully, musing privately.

During this period, he had acquired quite a few pamphlets about customs and provincial affairs Within the Great Profound Realm through the Ghost Market.

He had also formed a general idea in his mind about the Great Xuan dynasty he found himself in.

Dianchuan Province bordered Xiangchu Province.

Zhu Shanhe, the Xiang Chu Jiedushi.

He was the chief among the Twelve Directives Enforcers of Great Xuan.

The Xiangchu Province under his jurisdiction was the most peaceful province in Great Xuan, aside from Shengjing.

Both Demons and heretical cult insurgents regarded Xiangchu as forbidden land, daring not to set foot in it.

According to what the Paijiu mask had said, Zhu Shanhe had launched multiple large purges within Xiangchu Province since the beginning of the year. These actions forced the native Demonic Evil Cultivators to flee and avoid disaster.

And the neighboring Dianchuan Province was one of the targets for these fleeing Demonic Evil Cultivators.

Alas, it’s a pity I couldn’t land in that Xiangchu Province; it would have been much easier,

Qi Xiu sighed silently.

The stable environment of Xiangchu Province would have been perfect for him to lay low and slowly grind his skills.

Unlike Dianchuan Province, with its outbreaks of war, rampant Demons and demonic cults, and utter chaos.

Xiangchu is tens of thousands of miles away from Dianchuan. Countless mountains and rivers lie in between, and who knows how many Demons and demonic cults one would encounter. With my current condition, I’m afraid I wouldn’t make it a hundred miles before being caught by a monster and crushed into bone shards.

When he learned that Xiangchu Province was a land of peace and happiness, Qi Xiu had also considered moving.

However, even though the two provinces are adjacent, the territories of this world are far greater than those of his previous life by many orders of magnitude.

Without airplanes or high-speed trains, crossing provinces on foot, without spending three to five years, is unthinkable.

Not to mention the extremely unstable environment.

...

After disembarking from the Ghost Market Treasure Ship, Qi Xiu trod the rugged mountain paths toward the city.

He had a rough understanding of the surroundings.

His original plan to leave the city and hide in the mountains was promptly canceled.

After all, the city was populous and guarded by the city defense force.

Even if there were Demons, they couldn’t possibly come straight for him.

But if he ventured alone into the mountains, the likelihood of encountering the Demons roaming outside the city would be much higher.

Following the mountain road back to the city gates of Baoho County, a notice posted on the bulletin board attracted a crowd of onlookers.

"In light of the recent lawlessness in the city, the county office is specially recruiting able-bodied young adults. They’re forming a night patrol team to protect the citizens and maintain peace in the area. Hey, you should give it a try."

"Sure, I haven’t got much else going on at the moment. Did you see that? The night patrol team not only provides food, but they also pay twenty copper coins a day."

"Twenty copper coins! My goodness, that’s as much as I make selling fruits for three or four days."

"Let’s go, let’s go, hurry to the county office to register before all the slots are taken."

Standing at the back of the crowd, Qi Xiu narrowed his eyes as he saw groups of eager young men heading toward the county office.

Night patrol team? Could it be... Did the County Magistrate also see that apparition last night?

...

In the back courtyard of the Baoho County magistrate’s office, Wu, dressed in a feathered crown and Taoist Robe, sat on a pear wood armchair, surrounded by two middle-aged men with serious expressions and a touch of worry.

They were the top officials of Baoho County: County Magistrate Guo Youfang and County Deputy Tao Su.

"Wu, the notice has already been posted, but I’m not sure if your method can truly restrain the Demons?" Guo Youfang asked, his brows deeply furrowed, still feeling somewhat uneasy.

"County Magistrate, rest assured. As long as the consecration of my Magic Artifact is successful, capturing and killing a few Little Demons will be as easy as flipping my hand," Wu Changqing reassured confidently, caressing the white jade-like horsetail whisk in his hand.

"That’s a relief, that’s a relief." Hearing Wu Changqing’s categorical assurance, Guo Youfang felt slightly more at ease. He then turned and said, "Deputy Tao, you will be personally responsible for assisting Wu with this matter. We absolutely cannot let any information leak."

Tao Su nodded gently. "County Magistrate, rest assured, I know what to do."

「Five consecutive days passed.」

Whether it was because the night patrol team was indeed effective or not, tranquility enveloped Baoho County.

Even the number of night-time thieves seemed to have diminished significantly.

An unprecedented peace enshrouded this secluded county town.

Squatting in front of the kitchen’s alchemy furnace, Qi Xiu fanned the flames in a controlled rhythm with his fan to maintain the heat.

Smelling the increasingly rich and mature scent of the medicinal herbs, Qi Xiu took a moment to glance at his skill panel.

[Alchemy: 99.9%]

Once this batch of Golden Lock Qi-Boosting Kidney Strengthening Soup is ready, my alchemy will break through to the First Realm.

White smoke poured out of the vents on the lid of the alchemy furnace.

Qi Xiu promptly took the furnace off the stove.

Upon lifting the lid, a golden broth exuded a rich aroma.

The medicine was ready!

Qi Xiu felt a surge of joy, and vast knowledge, like a turbulent sea, burst forth in his mind.

At the same time, a Divine Marvel once again merged into his body.

It took a full half-quarter of an hour to fully digest the knowledge flooding his mind.

Qi Xiu blinked hard, unable to stop the corners of his mouth from curving upward.

This time, I’ve really struck gold!