"The Kyushu Continent has many forbidden lands, and there are three that are suitable for my cultivation. My first stop will be the closest, the Realm of Giants."
The Realm of Giants is a forbidden place located outside Quhe City in Ang Prefecture. For some unknown reason, it has undergone a special transformation, causing all plants and demonic beasts to be tens of times larger than their counterparts in the outside world.
Once anything from within is brought outside, these changes disappear, hence its name, the Realm of Giants.
The dangers within stem from these mutated plants and demonic beasts.
Their change in size grants them greater attack power and vitality. Cultivators below the Nascent Soul stage have no chance of survival, and only those above the Nascent Soul stage have a sliver of hope.
Xu Yi was very interested in the spiritual herbs and demonic beasts within, wondering if using their mutated forms to refine pills or craft artifacts would result in special effects.
With these questions in mind, Xu Yi embarked on her journey to Quhe City.
The Realm of Giants was renowned throughout the Kyushu Continent, but it couldn't deter cultivators seeking breakthroughs.
Upon arriving at Quhe City, Xu Yi saw many cultivators in the Out of Body and Nascent Soul stages, and some whose cultivation she couldn't even discern.
This struck Xu Yi as rather strange.
The Realm of Giants, unlike other forbidden lands, was dangerous yet potentially rewarding, so while there were cultivators venturing into the Realm of Giants, there shouldn't be this many.
After a moment's thought, Xu Yi didn't head directly to the Realm of Giants but chose to settle in Quhe City first.
In Quhe City, cultivators hurried by, each with a preoccupied air. Xu Yi tried several inns before finally finding an available room in the last one.
Xu Yi placed the deposit on the table and then asked curiously, "Shopkeeper, may I trouble you with a few questions?"
The shopkeeper glanced at the spirit stones on the table and then at Xu Yi. Upon realizing he couldn't discern her cultivation level, he immediately flattered her, "Please, Immortal Fairy, speak."
"Why have so many cultivators come to Quhe City? Has something significant happened?"
The shopkeeper was surprised. "Immortal Fairy doesn't know? Are you not here for the bounty order?"
A bounty order?
"I have been in seclusion for my cultivation and only recently emerged to come to this place. I hope the shopkeeper can enlighten me."
The shopkeeper quickly waved his hands, saying he wouldn't dare, but his expression clearly relaxed.
The cultivators who had recently arrived in Quhe City were all here for the bounty order. It was rare to find someone who was unaware of the situation, and the shopkeeper felt more inclined to chat.
"Immortal Fairy, you may not know, but a month ago, the most prestigious family in Ang Prefecture, the Wei family, issued a bounty order, offering a substantial reward for the Shadowless Slug, which is unique to the Realm of Giants. Those cultivators are all coming for it."
Xu Yi suddenly understood.
The Shadowless Slug had a soft, boneless appearance, with a slimy surface. Its mucus contained potent venom that could affect even cultivators in the Divided Spirit stage.
Furthermore, due to its gentle nature and infrequent appearances, it was not highly valued by cultivators.
The emergence of this bounty order had thrust it into the spotlight.
"Shopkeeper, did the Wei family mention what they intend to do with the Shadowless Slug?"
The shopkeeper shook his head. "No, they didn't. No one knows the specific reason."
"I understand. Thank you, shopkeeper."
Xu Yi clasped her hands in thanks and turned to go upstairs to her room.
The bounty offered by the Wei family was tempting even to her, so it was natural for so many cultivators to come.
They were here for the Shadowless Slug, and since she had no conflict of interest with them, she didn't need to worry too much.
If she was lucky enough to encounter a Shadowless Slug, she could capture it and then take it to the Wei family for the reward.
Xu Yi rested in the inn for a night, and the next day, she left the city and headed straight for the Realm of Giants.
Outside the entrance to the Realm of Giants, enterprising cultivators had already set up stalls, selling various magical treasures and spiritual pills.
Xu Yi had no intention of paying them any mind, but when she heard that a bottle of ordinary healing pills was priced at one mid-grade spirit stone, her steps involuntarily slowed.
Come to think of it, she currently had quite a few spiritual pills and magical treasures in her storage ring. These were things she had refined while cultivating with teachers at Kunlun Academy, along with some of her spoils of war.
She had never found a suitable way to dispose of these items that had little use for her. Seeing these stalls now, she suddenly had the idea of setting up her own stall.
She had come here for experience this time and didn't need to rush. So, she decided to act according to her own desires.
She spent some time observing the prices of the pills and artifacts sold by other cultivators, then casually spread out a piece of cloth and began to set up her stall.
When Xu Yi took out a piece of coarse, gray-brown cloth, the cultivator setting up his stall opposite her had a flash of astonishment in his eyes.
From his perspective, it was clear that the person opposite was definitely a first-time vendor.
The arrangement of a stall required careful consideration. Trying to attract customers by simply using a tattered cloth like that seemed far too simple.
However, in the next moment, his expression suddenly froze, his eyes filled only with shock.
As Xu Yi casually waved her hand, with a rustling sound—
Countless jade bottles and magical treasures were carelessly piled onto that unremarkable piece of cloth, making the cloth itself appear extraordinary.
Xu Yi then took out a wooden board and carved four lines of text onto it with her spiritual energy.
One bottle of spiritual pills for ten high-grade spirit stones, one magical treasure for ten high-grade spirit stones. Only one item per person. No bargaining.
"Ten high-grade spirit stones?"
The stall owner opposite nearly popped his eyeballs out.
After a moment of daze, he shook his head repeatedly.
Ten high-grade spirit stones were enough to purchase pills refined by a sixth-grade alchemist. No cultivator would be willing to spend them at an unproven stall.
As expected, cultivators who were initially interested in the items on Xu Yi's stall, upon seeing the words on the wooden sign in front of her, all walked away with strange expressions.
If not for Xu Yi's cultivation level, some might have even sneered a few words.
Ten high-grade spirit stones?
Only a fool would buy anything from there.
Two days later, Xu Yi still hadn't made a single sale, but she wasn't entirely without gains.
For instance, she was now eating roasted demonic beast meat from the stall owner opposite.
That's right, the stall owner, who had been selling spiritual pills the previous two days, had suddenly changed his business model and started selling food.
And indeed, his craftsmanship was excellent, coupled with the pure, natural demonic beast meat, the aroma wafted for miles.
Xu Yi, who had been bored waiting, also became a customer of the stall owner opposite.
She bought half of his roasted demonic beast skewers.
"Old Li, for this batch of skewers, I want three parts fat and seven parts lean, with extra chili and cumin," Xu Yi instructed the stall owner opposite while eating a skewer.
"Certainly, you can count on me."
Li Datong took out a piece of demonic beast meat, then cut it into small pieces according to Xu Yi's requirements, and skewered them one by one onto wooden sticks. His movements were clean and crisp, possessing a special sense of rhythm.
Xu Yi nodded in satisfaction. Li Datong, being from a culinary cultivation background, had impeccable skills.
"How much are these?"
As Xu Yi was marveling, a gentle voice sounded from above her.
Xu Yi squinted and looked up. Standing in front of her was a woman with a demure appearance and exquisite features. Behind her stood a man with a stern aura.
Xu Yi grinned and then pointed to the wooden sign, "Ten spirit stones, no bargaining."