A bright red, fleshy orb appeared before him. It emanated no energy fluctuations or powerful aura. On the surface, it looked completely ordinary, but Nie Yun knew this thing was anything but...

’A Petrifying Tumor from a Spirit Stone Mine! This thing contains even more energy than a Spirit Stone. If I combine it with the right medicinal materials and refine it into an elixir, it could allow a powerhouse at the Peak of Body Emergence Realm to break directly into the Armor Realm!’

Thinking of its effects, Nie Yun couldn’t help but clench his fists.

Places where the world’s Spiritual Qi gathered could form Spirit Meridians, and at the core of these meridians, Spirit Stones could form. Spirit Stones were incredibly rare, a Supreme Magical Treasure for cultivators seeking rapid advancement, with effects comparable to a Demon Core!

In the Divine Wind Empire, the only ones who likely possessed Spirit Stones were the Imperial Family, the Mi Tian Sect, and the Baihua Sect. Even when Nie Yun had reached the Ultimate Venerable Level in his past life, he couldn’t get his hands on them without the right connections!

The Petrifying Tumor wasn’t a Spirit Stone, but a similar substance. It resembled a rock but was actually a type of fungal mushroom, and it looked like a hideous tumor.

Although it wasn’t as hard as a Spirit Stone, it grew for many years within Spirit Stone Mines, absorbing far more energy than a Spirit Stone of the same size!

If used in alchemy to refine an elixir, it was of immense help to a Body Emergence Realm powerhouse’s advancement. A single elixir could allow one to break through the Body Emergence and Gang Formation Realms, advancing directly into the Armor Realm!

Of course, such an elixir was not easy to refine. Even someone with exceptional Alchemy Talent couldn’t succeed without their cultivation having reached a certain Realm.

Nie Yun wasn’t worried about the alchemy, however. In his past life, he was one of the continent’s strongest Alchemy Grandmasters, a supreme figure capable of refining even Spirit Level Elixirs. A pill like this might be incredibly difficult for others, but for him, it was quite simple.

’The medicinal materials I collected from Zi Tong’s lair back then happen to be exactly what I need to refine this elixir. If I make it into pills and give them to my mother, sister, and the others, their strength will increase dramatically! And if I give one to Tie Lan, she’ll be strong enough that I won’t have to look out for her anymore...’

Lost in thought, Nie Yun walked up to the Petrifying Tumor.

"Sir, what can I get for you? Everything I have here is a treasure. If you see something you like, I can give you a good price..."

The stall’s owner was a portly, middle-aged man. The moment he saw a customer approach, his face lit up with a broad smile.

"What’s this? Why is it so ugly?" Nie Yun asked, feigning indifference as he casually pointed at the Petrifying Tumor.

Although the Petrifying Tumor was incredibly potent, it was also exceedingly rare. Not only would the average person not recognize it, but even few of the old-guard Ultimate Venerable Powerhouses would be able to identify it. Therefore, Nie Yun had no intention of revealing its true nature, wanting to see the owner’s reaction first.

"I don’t know what it is, either," the portly man said with a smile. "I picked it up from a family in the countryside. If you want it, one thousand taels of silver..."

"One thousand taels of silver? You might as well just rob me!" Nie Yun shook his head.

The Petrifying Tumor’s true value was far more than a thousand taels, but to ask for such a price without knowing what it was... the man was clearly trying to rip him off.

"Heh, well, if you really want it... 500 taels. I can’t go any lower! I paid a pretty penny for it myself..." the portly man gritted his teeth, hearing the young man accuse him of being a swindler.

"500 taels? How about 200, and I’ll take it off your hands right now. Otherwise, you can wait for another buyer. But seeing as this thing is ugly and useless, I’m sure you’ll just get stuck with it!" Nie Yun said with a dismissive wave of his hand, affecting an air of indifference.

"200 taels? Fine! It’s a deal!" Although the portly man put on a pained expression, he was secretly overjoyed. He had only bought the strange, tumor-like object out of curiosity, paying less than 50 taels for it. Selling it for 200 was a massive profit!

"Here you go." Nie Yun tossed over several silver notes. But just as he was about to pick up the Petrifying Tumor, a figure suddenly appeared in front of him, and a calm voice spoke up.

"Not so fast. I’ll buy that for 1,000 taels of silver!"

Hearing the voice, Nie Yun looked over. The one blocking him was a young man of about twenty-six or twenty-seven. Dressed in blue robes, he had a dashing and elegant air about him.

"So it’s Young Master Liu Yuan! Since you want it, Young Master, I’ll wrap it up for you right away..." The portly man’s expression changed the moment he saw the young man, whom he clearly recognized.

"Hm? I bought this first. It’s mine now, so hand it over!" Ignoring the newcomer’s identity, Nie Yun reached for the Petrifying Tumor. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Insolent!"

Before his hand could reach the tumor, a flash of sword light shot out from Young Master Liu Yuan’s side, aimed straight at Nie Yun’s palm.

The one wielding the sword was another young man, about the same age as Liu Yuan, who was likely his bodyguard. He possessed the strength of the Peak of Gang Formation Realm.

The thrust held nothing back. The sword light was sharp and cold, and it seemed that if Nie Yun didn’t retract his hand, it would be pierced right through.

"Hmph!" Nie Yun hadn’t expected to run into someone so tyrannical while simply buying something. With a frown, he twisted his palm and flicked a finger forward.

CLANG!

The attacking longsword was shattered by that single flick. In the same motion, he grabbed the tumor and stored it away in his Storage Dantian.

"Kid, you’re courting death..." The swordsman never imagined his longsword would be shattered by a single flick of a finger. His face paled in shock, and he stopped in his tracks before bellowing.

"Liu Xuan, show some respect!"

The young master called Liu Yuan spoke, turning to Nie Yun. "My friend, this item is of use to me. Here is 500 taels of silver. Give it to me."

After speaking, he casually tossed out a 500-tael silver note, then clasped his hands behind his back, displaying his supposed generosity and noble bearing.

"I have use for it, too. And it’s not for sale for 500 taels." Nie Yun felt a surge of disgust. This fellow had remained silent until after he shattered the bodyguard’s sword to reveal his strength, only then choosing to speak.

"I’ll give you 1,000 taels. Consider this a polite negotiation. Do not test my patience!" Seeing the young man’s firm attitude, Liu Yuan’s eyebrows shot up, his face filled with displeasure.

"Sir," the portly owner whispered anxiously to Nie Yun, seeing him stand his ground. "That young master is the son of the Alchemy Master Liu Chengze, and he’s also the City Lord’s nephew. I think you should just..."

’The son of Liu Chengze and the nephew of the City Lord, Liu Jifei? I never would have thought Liu Jifei and Liu Chengze were brothers...’

Hearing the young man’s identity didn’t faze Nie Yun in the slightest; he was more focused on having finally clarified the relationship between the City Lord and Liu Chengze.

"Our young master has taken a liking to that thing," the guard named Liu Xuan snarled with a hideous expression. "If you know what’s good for you, hand it over, take your 200 taels of silver, and get lost. Otherwise, don’t even think about walking away from here today!"

"Heh." Ignoring the threat, Nie Yun simply shook his head and turned to leave.

"You..." Seeing the young man ignore his threat and simply walk away, Liu Xuan trembled with fury. He was about to strike when a faint voice drifted back to them. The words made him so angry he nearly choked and passed out on the spot.

"If you want to keep posturing, be my guest. I’m leaving."