Chapter 234: A Trade for Yin Pills, Nearly Killed Himself

Supreme-grade spirit stones.

Yu Xian had cultivated for over a decade, and apart from once glimpsing a few inside a top-tier storage pouch, he had never actually seen a single supreme-grade spirit stone elsewhere.

In the cultivation world, the grade of spirit stones one possesses indirectly reflects one’s status. Even though Yu Xian was only at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, he had accompanied Core Formation cultivators on several expeditions into dangerous territories—yet he had never once laid eyes on a supreme-grade spirit stone. Seeing even high-grade ones was already considered lucky.

Supreme-grade spirit stones were reserved for late-stage Core Formation experts, Nascent Soul cultivators, and those even higher. They were extremely rare and thus, unimaginably valuable.

To put it into perspective, just one supreme-grade spirit stone could be exchanged for at least 1.5 million low-grade spirit stones—and even then, it would still be considered priceless and nearly impossible to obtain.

After all, how many late Core Formation or Nascent Soul cultivators would bother using low-grade spirit stones?

But…

Where could he possibly exchange them?

Looking at the three supreme-grade spirit stones in his storage bag, Yu Xian frowned.

A mid-Foundation cultivator trying to trade supreme-grade spirit stones?

There’s a saying: “A child flaunting gold in a bustling market is begging for trouble.”

That described his situation perfectly.

There was no way not to attract attention.

It was quite the headache…

But after a moment of contemplation, Yu Xian smacked his forehead. “Ah! How could I be so stupid… Why bother exchanging them? I’ll just use them directly for the trade! Whether that guy figures out how to convert them or not is his problem, not mine.”

If it was hard to convert them, then don’t.

Would that shady Huo guy not accept supreme-grade spirit stones? Of course, he would! He had to!

So Yu Xian decided: he would use the supreme-grade stones, along with the rest of his wealth—over a million low-grade and several thousand mid-grade spirit stones—to make up the total of 2.8 million.

Done deal.

With the decision made, he no longer hesitated. He steadied his aura through a brief cultivation session and left the inn once he was fully recovered.

By the time he arrived back at the hidden chamber in the Treasure Hall, only half an hour had passed. He walked straight to the shady, black-robed merchant’s stall.

The black-robed man immediately spotted Yu Xian and stood up in mild disbelief.

He actually came back?

“Brother Huo,” Yu Xian greeted with a slight smile. “I’ve kept my word. It’s not even been half an hour.”

The man’s face remained hidden under his hat and veil, but he chuckled hoarsely. “Hahaha! I knew I wasn’t mistaken. Fellow Daoist is indeed a man of integrity. I am impressed!”

Yu Xian waved dismissively. “Let’s skip the pleasantries. I’ve gathered the spirit stones. May I inspect the thirty-eight Yin Pills first?”

“Let me see the spirit stones first,” the black-robed man said with a sly grin.

“Of course.”

Yu Xian revealed a storage pouch, while the other party produced his own—clearly a mid-grade one.

For Foundation Establishment cultivators, a 2.8 million trade was enormous. The black-robed man’s hand trembled slightly from excitement.

Of course he was thrilled.

On normal days, people only bought one or two Yin Pills—and at heavily bargained prices. He barely made any profit. But today? Thirty-eight pills for 2.8 million spirit stones!

He’d profit at least 800,000 and finally clear out inventory that had been gathering dust for years.

Cash flow is king. He was urgently in need of spirit stones to break through to the peak of Foundation Establishment.

But since both were rogue cultivators, there was no trust. Neither would foolishly hand over their goods before confirming the exchange.

Each extended a hand to probe the other’s storage pouch with spiritual sense—only to inspect, not withdraw anything.

…

Then Yu Xian returned to his room and continued refining his wood-element lightning. He merged three streaks of wood lightning into a single lightning orb—a feat that nearly blew him up.

Just as the orb turned unstable and he could no longer suppress it with his fading spiritual power, Yu Xian threw it out into the courtyard.

BOOM!

A thunderous explosion shook the entire Kunlun Mountain. The courtyard was flattened, nearby buildings cracked, and many cultivators were startled out of their cultivation.

Yu Xian was blown dozens of feet away, severely injured—his defenses shattered, blood spurting from his mouth.

This was the power of a full-powered Core Formation strike.

Any so-called talisman treasure couldn’t compare. This was true destruction.

Shaking off the debris, Yu Xian grimaced and spat blood. “I nearly killed myself…”

Angry shouts echoed from all directions as multiple Core Formation auras rushed in.

“Who’s attacking inside the inner sect!?”

Yu Xian, battered and bruised, wasted no time. “Damn it—time to run!”

Meanwhile, the black-robed merchant chased him out of the Treasure Hall—but Yu Xian was already gone, vanishing into the crowd.

Once outside the city, he summoned his Cloud Heron, mounted it, and flew back toward the sect at top speed.

By the time he returned to Haotian Sect, the sun was already slanting westward.

He had made the round trip in a single day, traded for thirty-eight Yin Pills, but spent almost all his spirit stones.

Once, he had considered himself somewhat wealthy. Now, he had barely 100,000 left.

Back in his courtyard, Yu Xian finally allowed himself to smile.

It had been risky, but the result was worth it.

For the next twenty days, his only task was to refine his soul and stabilize his mental energy, improving his control over the wood-element lightning technique.

He immediately sat down to begin cultivating.

After confirming that the Yin Pills weren’t tampered with, he swallowed one.

The familiar coldness surged up to his mind—just like years ago. But his soul was now much stronger after the trials he had endured.

Two hours later, he took a second pill.

And then a third.

Four days passed. Only sixteen pills remained.

Yu Xian was no longer consuming them. Instead, he was sitting cross-legged, frowning, controlling the spiritual pressure within.

These pills were too Yin.

He had overdosed again!

The Yin Pill always gave a false sense of stability—until it was too late.

Despite spacing them out carefully, the backlash still hit.

His soul was swelling in pain, a pressure building in his sea of consciousness that had no outlet.

Last time, it had faded quickly. But this time it had lasted over a full incense stick—and was still worsening.

“If Yin Pills could be endlessly used, Nascent Soul cultivators would’ve already taken hundreds!”

“AHHHH!”

Roaring in agony, Yu Xian suddenly formed a hand seal and shouted, “Thunder, come!”

Zzzzzzt!

A streak of wood lightning crackled to life in his hand.

His temples throbbed, eyes bloodshot. The only way to relieve the pressure was through violent discharge.

Again and again, he summoned lightning, burning off the surging spiritual energy.

In the black-robed man’s storage bag, Yu Xian saw thirty-eight bottles—each containing Yin Pills. Unfortunately, they were only mid-grade quality.

But they’d have to do.

Meanwhile, back at the Treasure Hall, the black-robed merchant shivered violently, letting out a startled gasp.

Others nearby looked over, but he quickly regained composure.

Still, even with his face hidden, Yu Xian could feel the man’s shock.

“Was that… a supreme-grade spirit stone!? Are you messing with me? Let me see it again!”

Yu Xian calmly handed over the storage pouch. “It is a supreme-grade stone. I acquired it by chance. I had no other option.”

After a long inspection, the black-robed man gasped, “It’s real… Are you sure you want to trade it for this deal?”

Yu Xian nodded. “Yes. If you agree, let’s exchange.”

“Deal.”

Both exchanged pouches in one motion.

As Yu Xian swiftly left, the black-robed man clutched his newly acquired stone, muttering in disbelief.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator using a supreme-grade stone? He must be hiding a secret!

Supreme-grade stones weren’t like others. They didn’t leave residue—they were pure, condensed spiritual energy without any physical carrier.

How could such a thing form naturally?

The answer: a nearly imperceptible trace of celestial energy.

That tiny thread allowed spirit energy to compress and become tangible.

Even Nascent Soul or Soul Transformation cultivators would benefit from this celestial trace—let alone a mere Foundation cultivator.

Clearly, this youth didn’t know the value of what he had.

Or perhaps… he had more. Two? Three?

The merchant’s eyes gleamed. He had already sent out several message talismans to track Yu Xian down.

But Yu Xian, aware of the risk, had long since vanished into the crowd.