"Damn it! How come there's no medicine left?"

Bai Cang walked out of the medicine shop's storeroom, somewhat irritated.

This period was arguably the most comfortable time Bai Cang had experienced since his transmigration.

He ignored everything else and focused solely on refining the Qi-Nourishing Elixir.

In just ten days, he refined more than thirty "Great Nourishing Essence Pills", pushing the total amount of true essence in his body to four drops.

Once upon a time, Bai Cang's goal was: to advance to the first-class level in three months and to advance to the innate level within a year.

Now, just over three months later, he has already broken through the "early stage of the Innate Realm" and entered the "middle stage of the Innate Realm," and is about to reach the "perfect stage of the Innate Realm," or even the "Qi Refining Immortal Master."

Who the hell could have imagined this?

It can only be said that he still lacks sufficient understanding and respect for his "Grandpa Jin".

Advance to first-class level in three months, and to innate level within a year?

Who do you think you are? If the main character next door sees this, they'll think we can't even use cheat codes!

However, he soon encountered a problem: the medicinal herbs in the warehouse were in short supply, and he could no longer support his positive cycle of "refining pills - taking medicine - leveling up".

To be precise: all the precious medicinal herbs, such as century-old ginseng, that could be moved around in the storeroom of the Sanyin Temple had been completely consumed by Bai Cang.

How could Bai Cang, who was immersed in the joy of "upgrading", not be irritated?

It feels like this: you're squatting on the toilet, your phone is dead, you're feeling irritable and want to smoke a cigarette to relieve the frustration, but when you reach into your pocket, you've already finished your cigarette.

This is incredibly uncomfortable, even more so than not having any tissues at all.

It's like this: you're engrossed in a novel, and suddenly it just stops.

That uncomfortable feeling was like ants crawling all over my body.

Unfortunately, I can't even find someone to urge me to update faster, because I can't sleep at night. I don't even know who to say "Please, just one more time" to.

"Ugh, how can I get some good medicine?"

Bai Cang thought to himself, "Why isn't my cheat ability the Heavenly Bottle or my own Immortal Abode?"

"A man with a golden touch should never need to ask for help. How can he let a shortage of materials hold him back?"

Thinking this to himself, he unconsciously started walking towards the outside of the Sanyin Temple.

"Candied hawthorn berries, sweet and sour candied hawthorn berries..."

"If you lower the price of this fabric, I'll buy two extra feet to make a new dress for the child's mother..."

"Warm two bowls of wine, and have a dish of fennel beans... Do you know the four ways to write the character '茴'?"

"Steamed buns, fragrant and soft steamed buns..."

"Wu Da, your Jinlian has run off with Master Ximen, and you're still selling steamed buns?"

“…”

As soon as Bai Cang stepped out of the gate of the Sanyin Temple, he was immediately hit by all sorts of noisy sounds.

The streets and alleys were filled with the sounds of people; everywhere you looked, there were crowds of people.

All sorts of stalls spread along the streets, stretching as far as the eye could see.

The bustling streets were filled with an indescribable festive atmosphere.

"Hmm? Why is it so lively today?"

Bai Cang frowned slightly, then suddenly relaxed. It turns out the New Year is almost here!

Winter goes and spring comes, and everything is renewed.

Before the end of the year, there is the year-end market.

People work hard all year, and this is the time when they can have a little more joy.

Regardless of wealth, everyone goes out with a smile, buying household items and taking out their year's savings to buy things for their wives and children that they wouldn't normally buy.

After all, it's the Lunar New Year, and we're already here, right?

Therefore, the period before the Lunar New Year is arguably the most lively time of the year.

"The warmth of everyday life is what truly touches the heart!"

Bai Cang, who hadn't been out and about normally for a long time, was somewhat dazed by the clamor coming from all directions, feeling as if he were enveloped by the vast world of mortals.

My initially irritable mood suddenly eased considerably, and a smile unconsciously appeared on my face.

Whether in his past life or this one, he was not one to enjoy joining in the fun.

As long as he has enough food and something to rely on, he can stay at home forever.

In my past life, I relied on mobile phones, the internet, novels, and games; in this life, I cultivate myself and refine elixirs.

However, when Bai Cang went out again after more than two months, he felt a different kind of joy.

"No wonder there is a saying in cultivation that one must both transcend the world and engage with it. Even cultivators cannot live in seclusion for years on end."

"Humans are social animals after all, and cultivators are not true immortals. Living in seclusion is indeed too anti-human."

Bai Cang pondered to himself and strolled into the crowd.

During the year-end market season, it's not just the town of Guobei that's bustling with activity.

In the surrounding villages and towns of Guobei County, many people took this opportunity to go to the county town to sell goods and buy New Year's supplies, either by carrying them on their shoulders or by driving oxcarts or donkey carts.

Many rare items that are seldom seen in normal times have sprung up like mushrooms after rain at this time.

Bai Cang wandered around for a long time and unknowingly arrived at Suichang, a market selling mountain products.

He was still thinking about his spiritual practice after all.

Even though I knew the chances were slim, I still wanted to try my luck.

As the saying goes: "Those who live near mountains live off the mountains, and those who live near water live off the water."

Guobei County borders the Beiyin Mountains, and naturally there are many mountain people living there, who make a living by hunting or gathering herbs.

There is a unique name in this group: Mountain Chaser.

Most of the medicinal herbs used in the Sanyin Temple were obtained from them.

However, large stores often bully their customers, and price-cutting is something that is absolutely unavoidable.

Normally, hikers have no other choice, but during the year-end market, they come to try their luck.

This may be one of the reasons for the recent shortage of medicinal materials in the Sanyin Temple warehouse.

It was definitely not because "Master Bai" was insatiable and squeezed the Sanyin Temple's storeroom dry.

"As expected of the annual year-end fair, rare traditional medicines are springing up like mushrooms after rain."

Bai Cang weaved through the crowd and, in no time, had already amassed a considerable fortune.

They collected more than a dozen old medicinal herbs, such as century-old ginseng or aged Ganoderma lucidum.

The price he paid was nothing more than a few thousand taels of silver, not even ten thousand taels.

If you were to buy it from the storeroom of the Sanyin Temple, the "cost price" would still be over ten thousand taels.

This shows just how ruthless the Sanyin Temple was in exploiting its people.

However, there is one thing: the Taoist priests of the Sanyin Temple exploit everyone in Guobei County equally, whether they are ordinary people or wealthy households in the city.

In fact, the exploitation of wealthy and powerful families was even more ruthless.

After all, the Taoist priest doesn't cheat the poor, and a big chicken doesn't eat fine rice; he looks down on the meager sums in the pockets of the poor.

"Give me a magic pill, give me a magic pill..."

Bai Cang darted between the stalls like a fish, muttering to himself, just like a badger that had wandered into a melon patch.

"Liang Xiaoshan is here!"

Suddenly, someone in the market shouted.

A huge crowd surged toward the center of the market.

"Liang Xiaoshan? That famous mountain hermit?"

Bai Cang's eyes lit up, and he strode towards the center of the market.

During the "big coin-sprinkling" process, Bai Cang heard the mountain travelers mention Liang Xiaoshan's name quite often.

This man was young, but he had a special talent, and he always returned with a full load every time he went into the mountains.

At the young age of twenty, he was already considered an "old hand" and was regarded as the leader by many mountain hikers.

If we were to say who in this market is most likely to find the medicinal herb, it would probably be him.

"Make way, make way."

"Let this Daoist master see what good stuff I have."

Thinking of this, Bai Cang let out a loud whistle, silencing the entire market.

Dressed in a blue Taoist robe, he caused pedestrians to give him a wide berth wherever he went.

He walked right up to Liang Xiaoshan!

[Seeking a free gift, thank you to the great "Wang Quansheng of Wushenshan"]