PCJ – Chapter 554 Medicine King Valley

Spiritual herbs are rare and difficult to come by. For the Xiyun Sect and Luoxian Sect to gather enough herbs to refine a Gathering Spirit Pill was already quite an accomplishment. The fact that Zhang Jiaohua managed to collect all the types of herbs these two sects had accumulated was no small feat. If it weren’t for the spiritual energy in the world being so depleted, making it impossible for spiritual herbs to continue propagating, how could Zhang Jiaohua have collected so many so easily?

“Spiritual herb seeds! Who wants some? Good price! Will trade or accept cash!” someone nearby shouted.

“Hey, Old Zhu, your seeds are probably going to rot in your hands. With spiritual energy this scarce, even the Three Great Sacred Grounds are rationing it—who’s going to want your seeds?” scoffed a nearby cultivator.

That man was Zhu Wanze, a descendant of the Medicine King Sect. As the name suggests, the sect specialized in cultivating spiritual herbs. Back in the golden age of cultivation, the Medicine King Sect thrived thanks to its abundant spiritual fields in the Medicine King Valley. But as the spiritual energy dwindled during the Age of Decline, even the spiritual veins of the valley dried up, and the sect fell into ruin. Now, descendants of the once-glorious sect were forced to wander and sell spiritual herb seeds.

Zhu Wanze responded indignantly, “When it comes to spiritual herbs, no one can beat our Medicine King Valley. If the spiritual energy weren’t depleted, wouldn’t you all still be lining up to beg for our herbs?”

“Come on, Old Zhu. Let the past stay in the past. What good are those seeds now? Fry them up and eat them like sunflower seeds?” another person laughed loudly.

Zhu Wanze fumed but couldn’t argue—the mockery wasn’t wrong. With a bitter expression, he started packing up his stall.

“Wait. You have spiritual herb seeds?” Zhang Jiaohua approached.

“Yes. The most complete set of herb seeds you’ll find anywhere. But they’re not cheap. If you’re not buying, don’t waste my time,” Zhu Wanze said warily, suspecting Zhang couldn’t afford them.

“You want money or a trade? I don’t have anything else, but I do have money,” Zhang replied as he put down his backpack, unzipped it, and revealed stacks of cash inside.

“Where’d you get that kind of money?” Zhu Wanze asked in disbelief.

“What, are you checking the source now? Relax, I just withdrew this today from the bank,” Zhang said, pulling out the receipt.

“That’s not the issue. I just didn’t want your parents coming back to cause trouble,” Zhu muttered.

“People can go back on deals at a market like this?” Zhang asked, confused.

“Not likely,” Zhu admitted, suddenly feeling like he was conning a naive kid.

“Name your price. I want a bit of every kind of seed. But don’t overcharge me—I’m not spending all my money just on seeds,” Zhang warned as he noticed Zhu eyeing his backpack greedily.

Ahem. Zhu looked embarrassed. “That’s not what I meant. Just give me 50,000 yuan and you can take the lot.”

Zhang pulled out five stacks of bills and placed them on the table. “Deal’s done.”

He picked up the bag of seeds and started to leave, but then turned back. “Hey, uncle, since you sell spiritual herb seeds, you probably know where to find alchemy techniques and pill recipes, right?”

“You want to learn alchemy? Actually refine pills?” Zhu Wanze looked him up and down before sighing. “I don’t want to see you ruin your life. Don’t bother learning alchemy—it’s useless now. Better to study in school and learn something practical.”

“But I want to learn alchemy,” Zhang insisted.

“I’ve got alchemy techniques and pill formulas. If you’re really serious, give me all the cash in that bag, and I’ll give you the Medicine King Valley’s entire alchemy inheritance. Deal?”

“Sure. Take it. Just make sure it’s worth it,” Zhang said without hesitation.

“Don’t worry. If Medicine King Valley’s alchemy isn’t number one in the world, nothing is. In better times, no amount of money could’ve bought this knowledge,” said a man nearby—surprisingly, the same one who had mocked Zhu earlier.

“Thanks, Wei Chenguang,” Zhu Wanze cupped his hands in gratitude.

“Don’t thank me, Old Zhu. I’m just telling the truth,” Wei replied with a smile.

Zhang Jiaohua handed over his bag without a second thought. “It’s yours. Now give me the alchemy techniques.”

Zhu Wanze really did take out a stack of books—not copies, but original texts. Zhang opened the thickest one, and on the first page were three words: Medicine King Scripture. It contained illustrations of spiritual herbs, descriptions of how to grow and process them.

He then opened another thick volume—Pill King Scripture. This was the true alchemy manual. The remaining books were mostly notes on alchemy experiences—priceless materials indeed.

“These books have been passed down for dozens of generations in the Medicine King Valley. Please take good care of them,” Zhu Wanze said as he slung the backpack full of cash over his shoulder and left.

Zhang carefully stored the books and the seeds. They had even swapped backpacks. Unexpectedly, he had already achieved his goal for the market.

Still, he didn’t plan to leave just yet. It was his first time at a cultivation market, and he wanted to see what it was really like.

Early the next morning, as soon as Zhang stepped out of his room, he heard a commotion outside. A crowd had gathered.

Hua Shaobo and his father Hua Zhaoyang were leading a group to greet some important guests—presumably envoys from the Three Great Sacred Grounds.

Zhang joined the crowd to watch.

“Gentlemen, please follow me. We’ve prepared quiet rooms for your rest. Once you’re settled, we’ll officially open the market,” Hua Zhaoyang said cautiously.

“No need, Sect Leader Hua. We’re here on a mission. Don’t worry about us—just open the market,” said one of the young men, speaking as if he were addressing his household servants.

“As you wish! Then let the market officially begin!” Hua Zhaoyang replied hastily.

He still had no idea why the Sacred Grounds had sent these three people—but offending them was not an option. All he could do was carefully attend to their needs.