"How many spirit stones does this necklace cost?" Qin Shu tilted her head and asked the shop assistant, pointing to an item in the display case.

The necklace was quite simple—just a string of eastern pearls adorned with a single Xuan Yang Li crystal. This crystal had a formation inscribed on it, making it the key to concealing one's cultivation.

"Esteemed Immortal, this necklace is priced at eleven mid-grade spirit stones," the shop assistant replied with a polite smile.

Before Qin Shu could respond, He Xin immediately gasped.

She almost exclaimed in shock, but remembering that times had changed—her companion was now an inner disciple under the esteemed Lingxu Master—she figured perhaps Qin Shu's master had provided her with some wealth.

Even Qin Shu was taken aback. Indeed, mid-grade spiritual tools were on an entirely different level, with prices skyrocketing exponentially.

This made her realize that her stash of high-grade spirit recovery pills wouldn't last very long at all.

After some deliberation, Qin Shu took out a beast core from her storage pouch and asked the shop assistant, "How much is this beast core worth?"

Traveling outside the sect, she was cautious not to attract unnecessary trouble, so she didn't openly wear her storage ring.

The shop assistant was stunned for a moment when he saw the fiery-red beast core in Qin Shu's hand. Collecting himself, he bowed respectfully and said, "Esteemed Immortal, this beast core appears to be extraordinary. I cannot appraise it myself and must seek the elder's evaluation. Would that be acceptable to you?"

The Ni Shang Pavilion was a renowned establishment across the entire Eastern Continent. With the advent of communication talismans, they dared not engage in shady practices. Ruining the shop's golden reputation would surely provoke the wrath of the owner—a risk no one was willing to take.

Qin Shu casually tossed the beast core to the shop assistant. "Take it for evaluation, then."

The shop assistant bowed and withdrew with the beast core, while Qin Shu and He Xin wandered around the shop to browse.

After taking just a few steps, He Xin noticed Qin Shu had disappeared. She quickly looked around and found her companion standing by the counter selling medicinal pills, staring intently at the items inside.

She walked over and asked, "What are you looking at?"

Qin Shu pointed at the counter with her finger. "This."

He Xin leaned closer to take a look. It was something called "Five Element Blood Condensation Pill."

Judging by the name, it seemed to be a healing pill. Why was Qin Shu interested in this?

Curious, He Xin glanced at Qin Shu, only to see her straighten up and ask the shopkeeper, "How much are these pills?"

"Thirty-six mid-grade spirit stones," the shopkeeper replied with a warm smile.

Qin Shu's expression stiffened slightly. She forced a smile and asked, "For one bottle?"

The shopkeeper's grin grew even wider. "Esteemed Immortal, you must be joking. The Five Element Blood Condensation Pill is a third-tier medicinal pill. How could it possibly be so cheap? It's thirty-six mid-grade spirit stones per pill."

Qin Shu: "..."

She twitched her lips, trying to appear indifferent to the price, but she couldn't quite pull it off.

Not long after, the shop assistant returned with the beast core. Smiling broadly, he reported, "Esteemed Immortal, this is the beast core of a Fifth-Tier Refining Heart Greenhorn Rhinoceros. After appraisal by our elder, it is valued at two high-grade spirit stones."

Qin Shu's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the beast core that the giant serpent had casually given her to be so valuable.

He Xin was equally shocked, her worldview seemingly turned upside down.

When Qin Shu realized the shop offered a "buy one, get one free" promotion, she grinned and asked, "If I buy 27 pills, will you give me 27 pills for free?"

The shop assistant was stunned for a moment before forcing a smile. "Esteemed Immortal, we do have a purchase limit."

Qin Shu rubbed her chin and asked, "How many pills are in one bottle?"

"Twenty-five pills."

"Then if I buy one bottle, you'll give me another bottle, right?"

...

Satisfied with her purchases, Qin Shu walked out of the Ni Shang Pavilion. She had bought two bottles of pills and the necklace. Compared to the pills, the necklace, which only cost eleven mid-grade spirit stones, seemed like a drop in the ocean.

Thanks to the "buy one, get one free" promotion, Qin Shu also picked out a pair of swift boots worth eleven mid-grade spirit stones.

After making her purchases, the shop assistant even gave her change: one high-grade spirit stone and eighty-nine mid-grade spirit stones.

As they left the shop, He Xin stared at Qin Shu with a peculiar expression.

"Why did you buy so many healing pills? Are you hurt somewhere?" He Xin asked.

She didn't envy Qin Shu's wealth. As long as she worked hard on her cultivation, she was confident she could enter the inner sect by the end of the year and start earning spirit stones.

Qin Shu sighed and explained, "It's not for me. I'm just buying them for someone else. How could I possibly own a Fifth-Tier beast core?"

With that explanation, He Xin immediately filled in the gaps with her imagination. She pictured one of Qin Shu's senior brothers, gravely injured after a battle with a Refining Heart Greenhorn Rhinoceros, entrusting the beast core to his junior sister for errands.

But...

Weren't they all alchemy disciples? Why would they need to buy pills?

Before He Xin could figure it out, they heard a commotion nearby.

Just as He Xin regained her focus, she noticed Qin Shu had already perked up.

"Sister! Let's go! I heard someone say they're recruiting people to mine spirit stones!"

In Qin Shu's mind, spirit stones = money, and mining spirit stones = collecting money.

Anyone who tried to stop her from collecting money might as well be after her life.

He Xin's spirits lifted instantly, and she scanned the area. "Where? I didn't hear anything. Let's hurry; we can't let others beat us to it!"

Still at Qi Refining Level 1 and not yet at Level 2, He Xin's senses were far less developed than Qin Shu's.

After running for a while longer, He Xin finally overheard the conversation about a spirit vein discovered north of Chijin City. The vein had been purchased by the prominent Zhong family, who were now hiring cultivators to mine spirit stones.

However, they only wanted cultivators below Qi Refining Level 4. Those with higher cultivation levels were more likely to use their advanced techniques for personal gain.

Qin Shu dragged He Xin to the front of a desk and said to the dark-faced man handling registration, "The two of us!"

The man glanced at them and asked, "Disciples of the Xuantian Sect? What's your cultivation level?"

"We're both at Qi Refining Level 1." Qin Shu, now wearing the necklace, felt confident her true cultivation level would remain hidden. After all, no high-level cultivators would be hanging around here.

The man nodded and asked, "What are your names?"

He Xin was about to respond when Qin Shu tugged on her sleeve, prompting her to stay silent. He Xin turned to look at her companion.

With a straight face, Qin Shu calmly told the dark-faced man, "She's Zhang San, and I'm Li Si."

He Xin: "..."