’Only Foundation Establishment Cultivators can enter...’ Thinking this, Lü Zhong felt much more at ease.

He had the Qingyang Mirror, a Spiritual Artifact, and a Sword Talisman Treasure to serve as a trump card. The Jade Token his master had given him still had a few uses left, so he felt confident he could protect himself.

’The only problem now is, how do I get a Black Muzhu to enter Chenyuan Palace?’

From what he knew, setting aside its value as an admission ticket, a Black Muzhu could be sold for a hundred thousand Spirit Stones—roughly the normal price of a Lower-grade Spiritual Artifact. Therefore, even though he had one on him, he would never voluntarily reveal it.

After carefully choosing his words, Lü Zhong finally probed, "To be honest, Senior, I’m quite tempted. It’s just... how am I supposed to get a Black Muzhu?"

"That’s easily handled!" Liu Piaoniang seemed to have been prepared. Seeing that Lü Zhong was already tempted, she lifted her sleeve and took out a black bead, smiling as she said, "If you agree, this Black Muzhu is yours!"

Lü Zhong’s eyes lit up. ’You’re certainly generous!’ he thought.

But after a closer look, his expression grew strange. He couldn’t help but ask, "Why does this bead look... slightly different from the ones I’ve seen in the records?"

Only upon close inspection could one see that the Black Muzhu in Liu Piaoniang’s hand was slightly grayish under the light, far from the lustrous black of the two Black Muzhu Lü Zhong had obtained before. Its surface was also pitted and uneven, making it look more like a crude imitation.

"This is just an imitation, of course it’s different from the ones in the records." Seeing Lü Zhong’s confused expression, Liu Piaoniang took the initiative to explain and dispel his doubts. "The potential profits from the Chenyuan Palace Secret Realm are so immense that even Core Formation Cultivators like myself can’t help but be extremely envious. So, some fellow cultivators specializing in Artifact Refining got an idea and began researching how to imitate the Black Muzhu to gain entry."

After all, if they truly succeeded, even Golden Core Cultivators could get in. One can only imagine the potential gains!

"This Black Muzhu before you is the final result of that research. While it can function as a key to the Secret Realm, it’s not a Spiritual Artifact. It only grants a single entry and exit, unlike a real Black Muzhu, which also allows access to multiple secret locations within Chenyuan Palace. But even so, it wasn’t cheap. It cost me a full fifty thousand Spirit Stones!"

Liu Piaoniang deliberately emphasized her last words, her delicate brows furrowing as if she were truly pained by the cost.

Two imitation Black Muzhu would be one hundred thousand Spirit Stones.

Even with her knack for making money, she would have to guide two hundred cultivators to earn that many Spirit Stones.

Lü Zhong acted as if he hadn’t heard her, his attention entirely focused on the information she had just revealed.

’A real Black Muzhu can access multiple secret locations in Chenyuan Palace?’

’If that’s the case, I absolutely cannot reveal the real Black Muzhu I’m carrying.’

Meanwhile, Liu Piaoniang had already drawn up a Spirit Contract and held it out. "Junior, if you are willing, sign this Spirit Contract."

Lü Zhong examined it; it was a standard template, and he found no issues.

Seeing Lü Zhong hesitate to sign, Liu Piaoniang asked, "What’s wrong? Is there a problem?"

"Well, I’d like to see the Body Refining Technique first," Lü Zhong hadn’t forgotten his primary goal. If he signed the Spirit Contract now and she just fobbed him off with some random technique, wouldn’t he be at a huge disadvantage?

After all, this specific detail wasn’t specified in the Spirit Contract’s contents.

Giving Lü Zhong a thin smile, Liu Piaoniang took a Dao Transmission Bead from her sleeve. There was a crack on its surface, from which pure Spiritual Qi was leaking. She said coolly, "I didn’t realize a junior like you was so calculating. Fine, I’ll let you take a look. Remember, you can only see the introduction!"

She wasn’t saying this to be petty; the Dao Transmission Bead was on the verge of breaking, and each viewing would worsen the damage. That was why she gave him the warning beforehand.

Lü Zhong gave it a quick glance, and a hint of joy appeared on his face.

The Dao Transmission Bead did indeed contain a profound Body Refining Technique.

Jade Vein Technique

As the name implied, it was a Cultivation Technique that focused on training the meridians.

The First Layer tempers the Minor Circulation meridians.

The Second Layer tempers the Great Cycle Meridians.

The Third Layer tempers all the meridians in the entire body.

The cultivation path of the Jade Vein Technique was extremely clear: it was purely focused on tempering the meridians, making them increasingly resilient to accommodate more Spiritual Qi. This was the perfect solution for the problem Lü Zhong faced with his insufficient meridian strength, and it also had some effect of tempering the body with Spiritual Qi.

However, just like the Flame Manipulation Technique, cultivating this technique was also extremely difficult.

While tempering the meridians, one had to endure indescribable, extreme pain. The cost in Spirit Stones was also not insignificant, as one had to purchase specific Spirit Medicines for medicinal baths to achieve the desired tempering effect.

"This is more than enough!" Lü Zhong thought, relieved.

At the same time, he secretly felt it was a shame.

’If my Divine Sense were just a bit stronger, I might have been able to interfere with the Dao Transmission Bead directly within the Gray Mist Space and get my hands on the technique from the rewound scene.’

’Unfortunately, doing so would consume a massive amount of Divine Sense, and I might even pass out.’

’If Liu Piaoniang were to notice something then, the loss would far outweigh the gain.’

’Oh well, I have to go to Chenyuan Palace anyway.’

With this thought, Lü Zhong signed the Spirit Contract.

...

After leaving Liu Piaoniang’s residence, Lü Zhong didn’t return to Immortal Intent Square. Instead, he made a special trip to the Inner Ring Commercial District, where all of Lingyue Immortal City’s most prominent shops were located.

The Spirit Medicines required for the Jade Vein Technique had slightly higher age requirements, and could only be easily purchased in the commercial district.

Casually hailing a Beast Vehicle, Lü Zhong immediately used the Dao Transmission Bead containing the Jade Vein Technique right there on the carriage. It managed to transmit only the contents of the First Layer of the technique before it could take no more and crumbled into a pile of ash.

He watched this with a blank expression, then consumed a large portion of his Divine Sense to obtain the Second Layer through scene rewinding.

As for the Third Layer of the technique, he would have to wait some time and try to acquire it after his Divine Sense recovered.

Soon, he arrived at the commercial district.

The area was bustling with people, all of them clad in Dharma Robes—they were all wealthy cultivators.

Lü Zhong went from shop to shop and quickly gathered all the Spirit Medicines listed in the Vein Tempering Formula Minor Cycle Chapter. The process went quite smoothly. After all, the Spirit Medicines required for the First Layer were all common varieties under a hundred years old; there were no particularly rare types, so they could be bought with Spirit Stones.

After buying the Spirit Medicines, he visited several pill shops and bought out their entire stock of Pills suitable for Mid-stage Foundation Establishment.

The quantities were not large; they were mostly available in twos and threes, and rarely by the full bottle.