Xiao Fei had been in the Tian Yuan Realm for fifty-seven years since arriving via the teleportation array.
In another three years, the ancient ruins within the Heaven Sealing Array would naturally open again.
His objective in coming to the Tian Yuan Realm had been accomplished, and it was time to return to the East Continent.
He had originally planned to bring back some local specialties for the human race on the East Continent, but now all the spirit stones he had painstakingly saved were spent.
Xiao Fei pondered for a moment. With three years remaining, he might as well acquire more spirit stones and other local specialties to take back.
The East Continent was currently too poor, with barely a few low-grade spirit stones to be found.
He sent a communication talisman to Jiang Xian, and a day later, Jiang Xian rushed into his shop.
Taking a few steps to reach Xiao Fei, he waved his hand and cast a soundproof barrier.
"Fellow Daoist Xiao! Is what you said in the communication talisman true? Does such a thing really exist?"
Jiang Xian still found it hard to believe, fearing Xiao Fei would deny it.
"Of course! Why else would I have sent you a communication talisman?"
Xiao Fei stood up, brushed off non-existent dust from his backside, and walked towards the inner secret chamber.
Jiang Xian immediately trotted along behind him.
The two entered a secret chamber, the door closing with a "bang," followed by the activation of several layers of arrays.
"Fellow Daoist Xiao, quickly take out your treasure for me to see!"
Jiang Xian wore an expression of desperate longing.
"Brother Jiang, do not be hasty!"
Xiao Fei then unhurriedly reached into his embrace and produced a dan bottle.
He pulled out the stopper, poured out a pill, and placed it on a jade plate.
Jiang Xian's pupils contracted and then widened, his divine sense carefully observing the pill on the jade plate.
"Indeed, it is a Marrow Cleansing Pill as recorded in ancient texts. This should be a wood-attribute Marrow Cleansing Pill."
Jiang Xian's hands trembled slightly with excitement.
The Marrow Cleansing Pill was a legendary medicinal pill.
Even though the Tian Yuan Realm was rich in spiritual energy and abundant in resources, there was no mention of any Five Elements Fruit trees anywhere.
According to ancient records, one Marrow Cleansing Pill could permanently increase one's spiritual root cultivation aptitude by 5 points.
An ordinary person's cultivation aptitude was fixed from the moment of birth and could never be improved.
As far as he knew, the only treasure in the world that could enhance spiritual root cultivation aptitude was the Marrow Cleansing Pill.
A permanent increase of five points per pill, benefiting a lifetime from a single dose, was already an incredibly heaven-defying effect.
Every time such a pill appeared, it was often accompanied by bloodshed and chaos. He never expected to have the chance to encounter it in his lifetime.
"Fellow Daoist Jiang has a discerning eye!"
"Indeed, this pill is a wood-attribute Marrow Cleansing Pill. Consuming one can increase wood-attribute spiritual root cultivation aptitude by five points."
Xiao Fei praised Jiang Xian's insight with certainty.
He had refined many wood-attribute Marrow Cleansing Pills last time, but only the mid-grade and upper-grade pills were useful to him, and he had consumed them all.
Ordinary wood-attribute Marrow Cleansing Pills were no longer useful to him, so he could only trade them.
"Fellow Daoist, how do you intend to trade your Marrow Cleansing Pills?"
Jiang Xian still felt uneasy, a sense of insecurity lingering.
Such a high-level treasure could not be measured by spirit stones; even holding a large pile of spirit stones wouldn't allow him to purchase it.
He felt a mix of apprehension and loss, fearing he couldn't offer what Xiao Fei needed, fearing he couldn't afford it.
"You can purchase it directly with spirit stones. Each pill only requires 100,000 high-grade spirit stones, and you can take the Marrow Cleansing Pill home."
"Ah?"
Jiang Xian once again found it hard to believe his ears.
This price was not expensive at all, and it could be purchased with spirit stones.
However, even so, he still couldn't afford it. He couldn't produce that many spirit stones; selling his entire fortune might only be worth 100,000 high-grade spirit stones.
"Fellow Daoist Xiao, could I owe you some spirit stones?"
"No credit will be extended!"
Xiao Fei flatly refused. There was no precedent for credit in the cultivation world.
"Please, Fellow Daoist Xiao, give me a little more time. I will go and gather the spirit stones."
"You may, but my primary intention is to trade with your Jiang family. Please convey this to your family."
Xiao Fei understood that Jiang Xian wanted to buy one pill in advance.
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Xiao!"
Jiang Xian left in a hurry, and after three more days, he appeared at Xiao Fei's shop, looking travel-worn.
He produced 100,000 high-grade spirit stones and purchased a Marrow Cleansing Pill from Xiao Fei before hastily departing.
When Jiang Xian reappeared, he was accompanied by a Void Refinement stage cultivator, who bore a strong resemblance to him. He was likely his Void Refinement stage elder brother.
He had previously been saved by consuming Xiao Fei's mid-grade Soul Cleansing Pill.
"Fellow Daoist Xiao, this is an elder of our Jiang family at the Void Refinement stage. He has come specifically on behalf of the family to purchase Marrow Cleansing Pills from you."
"Greetings, Senior!"
Xiao Fei cupped his fists in greeting to the Jiang family's Void Refinement elder.
"Fellow Supplier Xiao, there's no need for formalities. I am Jiang Nan. May I ask how many pills you have on hand?"
Jiang Nan got straight to the point.
"Does the Jiang family intend to consume all these pills? I wonder if the Jiang family possesses sufficient strength."
"Indeed, our Jiang family has this intention. As for the Jiang family's financial resources, please rest assured, Fellow Daoist."
"I have a total of 10 pills remaining."
Xiao Fei actually had several dozen wood-attribute Marrow Cleansing Pills.
However, for Marrow Cleansing Pills, even ten pills were a substantial quantity.
"Excellent! Our Jiang family will take them all."
"Here are 100,000 high-grade spirit stones as a deposit! I will collect the pills in ten days."
Jiang Nan generously tossed over a large bag of spirit stones and then left with Jiang Xian.
1,000,000 high-grade spirit stones was no small sum; even the Jiang family would need a considerable amount of time to gather them.
After Jiang Nan's departure, several Jiang family informants appeared around Xiao Fei's small shop. Xiao Fei paid them no mind.
As expected, the two parties successfully completed a massive transaction on the tenth day.
However, after this transaction, some information seemed to have leaked.
Three months later, Jiang Xian burst into Xiao Fei's small shop, covered in blood.
"Fellow Daoist Xiao, run quickly!"
Before Xiao Fei could even ask what had happened, Jiang Xian uttered these words, spat out a mouthful of blood, and fainted.
At that moment, Xiao Fei sensed several powerful auras approaching his location.
Uncertain of what had transpired, Xiao Fei had no choice but to pick up Jiang Xian's body and fly towards the outskirts of the city.
He could roughly guess that the news of him selling Marrow Cleansing Pills had been leaked, and both he and the Jiang family were being targeted by powerful individuals.
Every time such a pill appeared, it invariably caused a storm. He had been very careful to avoid this, yet he had still been targeted.
Carrying Jiang Xian, Xiao Fei quickly left Guiyi City and flew towards a secluded area. As long as he released his flying fish, even Void Refinement stage cultivators would not be able to catch him.