The Three Origins Sect dominated the eight hundred li southern border of Shengkang, unquestionably the leading sect in this region. When disciples went out for training, they would often venture deep into untamed dangerous lands, with journeys ranging from several dozen li to over a hundred li.

In Chen Yu's previous life, just counting steps would have made ordinary people bow in admiration. These cultivators had stamina so vigorous it was almost inhuman.

And he was also one of these non-human entities.

Though cultivators were merely unlike humans, he truly wasn't human at all.

Whether he was human or a Slime, even he was starting to lose track.

When those exhausted disciples returned to the mountain gate covered in dust, most would head straight for South Bridge Market's most famous tavern—the Delicacy Pavilion.

Ordering a few plates of marinated monster meat and a pot of warm wine, they would wash away their fatigue amid the bustling noise and aroma of spiritual food.

Chen Yu's small stall was set up beside the Delicacy Pavilion, right next to a small alley emitting faint odors of kitchen waste.

Only one wall separated them.

Inside the building, delicious food aromas filled the air, while outside... the smell was even more indescribable than the decay of the swamp forest.

No wonder nobody had set up a stall in this spot before.

He waved his hand to disperse the faint sour smell around his nose, his gaze sweeping over the flowing sleeves of passing cultivators.

Though most cultivators only glanced briefly at the wooden sign in front of his stall before moving on, from their fragments of conversation—whether loud discussions or hushed exchanges—Chen Yu picked up quite a bit of news from beyond the mountains.

For instance, fierce demonic birds were causing trouble at Blackwind Gully, a new Yin Marrow mineral vein had been discovered beneath White Bone Mountain, and deep within the terrifying Ten Thousand Poison Cave, several elite inner sect teams had reportedly met their demise...

Chen Yu listened with great interest, only snapping back to reality when he realized no cultivators had come to inquire about prices.

Just as he was wondering about this, a young cultivator with a somewhat gloomy brow pretended to pass by casually.

He asked offhandedly, "What can your medicinal liquid be used for? Can it corrode hard objects like bones?"

"If the demon creature is about human height and similar weight, would three bottles be enough?"

Thinking he'd finally gotten a customer, Chen Yu made his tone as friendly as possible.

"It should work, and might even be able to corrode people."

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, the cultivator's face stiffened, and he directly turned and left with a flick of his sleeve, leaving only one sentence.

"Younger brother misunderstands, I'm not that kind of person."

Huh?

What kind of person aren't you?

Chen Yu felt somewhat confused, sensing that this cultivator had misunderstood something.

But moments later, another cultivator arrived before the stall, dressed in black clothes that obscured his true appearance.

Yet Chen Yu felt this person looked somewhat familiar.

The black-clad cultivator got straight to the point, speaking in a hoarse voice: "I'll take all these bottles of corpse dissolution liquid. Will sixty Broken Spirit Stones suffice?"

Hearing this, Chen Yu was amused.

Wasn't this the same young cultivator from before? Why had he changed his outfit?

Wait, corpse dissolution liquid?

He suddenly understood.

No wonder nobody had visited his stall all this time—they all mistook the Slime Acid for corpse dissolution liquid, and nobody dared to buy it openly.

Righteous cultivators cared about their reputation, and corpse dissolution liquid—essential for murder and robbery—couldn't be traded openly. Three Origins Sect disciples usually conducted such transactions secretly.

Ordinary disciples without connections truly might not be able to purchase corpse dissolution liquid.

Fortunately, he hadn't been set up for long, otherwise if the sect's enforcement team saw him, he'd inevitably be taken away for lecturing.

Though... being taken to a small dark room didn't sound too bad—at least they'd provide meals.

If they kept him there for a few days, he'd probably eat the Enforcement Hall into poverty.

Pulling back his wandering thoughts, Chen Yu said, "Senior brother misunderstands, I don't have corpse dissolution liquid here, just a type of corrosive medicinal liquid."

The black-clad youth showed slight surprise, then chuckled lightly.

"Right, right, this senior brother was confused."

"Then let me ask again, are you satisfied with twenty Broken Spirit Stones per bottle for this medicinal liquid?"

Within the sect, few cultivators knew how to refine corpse dissolution liquid, and most had their own underground channels, making it difficult for an outer sect disciple like him to access it.

He had originally only planned to visit South Bridge Market to buy some Spiritual Rice, never expecting to encounter a cultivator selling corpse dissolution liquid under the guise of medicinal liquid.

It was clear this was an alchemist seeking cooperation partners to expand sales channels. If he truly offered only ten Broken Spirit Stones per bottle—showing such lack of sincerity—he might miss this good opportunity.

The youth believed he had seen through Chen Yu's test and awaited his response with anticipation.

Chen Yu had also never encountered a customer who bargained in reverse and found it amusing.

"Twenty Broken Spirit Stones is acceptable."

Just acceptable.

Thinking Chen Yu was dissatisfied with the price, the youth clasped his hands and said, "Twenty-five Broken Spirit Stones per bottle, younger brother, are you satisfied?"

"Huh?"

Why was the price going higher with bargaining?

"Satisfied, of course satisfied."

Chen Yu couldn't help but marvel: "If all cultivators in the world were as generous as senior brother, business would never be a worry."

Hearing this, the youth's eyes flashed with delight, and he took Broken Spirit Stones from his chest pouch and pressed them into Chen Yu's hand.

"Younger brother, say no more. Here are seventy-five Broken Spirit Stones, please take them."

"Senior brother is too kind."

Chen Yu stored the Broken Spirit Stones and said tactfully, "However, this medicinal liquid is highly corrosive, be careful not to spill it on people."

The youth nodded, storing the porcelain bottles with an expression that said "I understand what you mean."

"Younger brother, rest assured, I'll only use this liquid on demon creatures."

As for what counted as demon creatures...

Heh, he had his own judgment.

Chen Yu didn't know whether he truly understood or not, but at least the Slime Acid was sold, and his next meal was secured.

"I come to South Bridge Market every day. If senior brother wants to purchase more corrosive medicinal liquid, you can come here..."

He had only spoken halfway when a faint sour smell drifted over.

"No, you'd better come find me near the Bridge Gate instead."

The youth was overjoyed—this alchemist was clearly giving him an opportunity, apparently moved by his sincerity.

He immediately clasped his hands and said, "I am Shao Qingsong. May I ask younger brother's name?"

"Chen Yu."

Selling corpse dissolution liquid wasn't some earth-shattering crime. As long as he didn't flaunt it before the enforcement team, at most he'd face some criticism from other cultivators—no need to hide it.

"Younger brother Chen, we'll meet again tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

Chen Yu packed up the coarse cloth and wooden sign, tucked them under his sleeve, and struggled to squeeze through the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd.

His hand instinctively pressed tightly against the old cloth pouch on his chest, where seventy-five Broken Spirit Stones clinked together. The weighty feeling put him in excellent spirits.

Turning into the bustling market streets, before long he bought one jin of Spiritual Rice from the grain shop across the way, then picked up a string of fresh pork tied with straw rope from the meat vendor.

The seventy-five Broken Spirit Stones were spent down to the last coin.

When it came to filling his stomach, he was rarely stingy. He didn't know if it was influenced by his Slime body, but this body had become quite the foodie.

With his appetite, one jin of Spiritual Rice, if eaten sparingly, should keep the "black hole" in his belly content for two or three days.

However, using Spiritual Rice as regular food was something he'd never been so extravagant about before—most of the time he ate ordinary Refined Rice.

Chen Yu couldn't help but look at the lines on his palm. The Slime Acid that had been useless in Zeyarila could be sold for good prices in Xu Xuan Heaven as corpse dissolution liquid.

Demonic creature talents were truly marvelous.

He wondered what the Poison-stinger Wasp's talent was...

Chen Yu's thoughts wandered as he passed stalls selling Daoist techniques and spiritual artifacts. With empty pockets, he could only glance a few times before leaving, following the winding stone path back to the Emerald Bamboo Forest.

As for dealing with the Poison-stinger Wasps, that needed careful planning—at the very least, he needed to fill the pouch in his chest with spirit stones first.

That night, he finally put some decent food in his stomach—a bowl of rice with grains containing faint spiritual light, paired with a large piece of glossy, tender-braised pork belly. The rich grease and satisfaction inexplicably reminded him of the Moss Monster's deliciousness back in the swamp forest.

Under the effects of Devour Digestion, his previously stagnant Cultivation was steadily improving, seemingly on the verge of a breakthrough.

The next day, in the swamp forest, Chen Yu took advantage of the Poison-stinger Wasps' absence to secretly surface, secreting acid to clean the poison stingers the wasps had left on the tree roots.

Only after confirming no toxins remained on the stingers did he dare to retract them into his gel body.

Thus, the Slime equipment received an upgrade—the toothpick Flying Sword was replaced by dangerous-looking black poison stinger swords.

A full three of them.

A faint light flashed in Chen Yu's small bean-like eyes as he focused on several breakfast options moving across the mossy ground.