Su Wen stepped into the Pill Pavilion with Du Yue by his side, her simple yet beautiful attire radiating quiet elegance, while Little Suzume perched proudly atop his head, doing nothing more than being unbearably adorable.
They immediately drew attention.
Several attendants approached at once, and the moment they sensed the couple's bearing, their expressions turned noticeably more respectful.
Their gazes, however, couldn't help but drift toward the little bird, who was scanning the grand hall with sparkling eyes, clearly searching for something interesting… or edible.
Su Wen didn't waste time on pleasantries.
In a polite, measured tone, he asked about Grade 3 spirit herbs, seeds, and cultivable crops.
The attendants, displaying flawless courtesy and composure, bowed lightly. One stepped forward and personally guided the trio toward the appropriate section.
After arriving, Su Wen thanked the attendant, who withdrew discreetly, and began examining the shelves.
The section was neatly organized... rows of jade drawers and spirit-wood racks filled with cultivation resources, each labelled with clear markings and faintly glowing seals.
On the lowest shelf rested a thick reference manual, detailing various spirit herbs and plants along with their growth conditions, elemental affinities, and required environments.
Su Wen picked it up and skimmed through a few pages before a faint smile touched his lips.
"Perfect," he murmured inwardly.'With this, I won't have to worry about missing any specific requirements when cultivating them.'
With renewed confidence, he selected several seeds and saplings of specific Grade 3 spirit herbs:
Clearleaf Grass, Moonroot Vine, Stoneheart Ginseng, Azure Dew Orchid, Sunveil Lotus, Cloudmist Fern, Silverthorn Bark, Spirit Willow Shoots, Earthwarm Mud Root, and Verdant Starflower.
'These herbs are ideal for refining cultivation pills', he thought, a faint crease forming between his brows as he scanned the shelves.
'Unfortunately, nothing above Grade 3 is available here. Soon, anything below Grade 4 won't be effective for her… those can likely only be found in Great Eastern City or the Central Continent.'
He tapped his finger lightly against his chin, thinking ahead.
'I should also look into growth-accelerating formations at the Treasure Tower. Without them, these will take far too long to mature.'
Next, he picked up a wide variety of Grade 3 spirit crops and fruit saplings:
Spirit rice, spirit wheat, spirit peppers, spirit onions, spirit garlic, spirit spinach, spirit tomatoes, spirit berries, spirit apples, and several other spirit fruit varieties… along with a collection of basic spirit spices commonly used in both cooking and pill refinement.
Su Wen's intention was clear.
He wanted his mountain to become completely self-sufficient… a domain where herbs flourished, food was abundant, and cultivation resources were always within reach.
A place that freed him from any reliance on the outside world.
After picking up all the seeds and saplings, Su Wen spoke to the attendant.
"Please show us the Grade 2 and Grade 3 spirit herbs... the ones used for cultivation and rich with spiritual qi."
His tone was calm and steady, quiet but firm, the sort that made people listen without question.
The attendant bowed respectfully and replied, "Right this way, Young Master."
He led them deeper into the pavilion, past rows of shelves and racks where spirit herbs and fruits were displayed in meticulous order.
The shelves were lined with jade boxes of various sizes, each containing herbs carefully sorted by grade and type.
Soft coloured lights embedded within the racks indicated potency and rarity.
Grade 3 herbs gleamed faintly with spiritual energy, while Grade 2 herbs shimmered with a subtler radiance. The arrangement was precise - Peak, Mid, and Low grades neatly stacked upon the shelves.
Su Wen's eyes swept across the vast selection, taking in the abundance with quiet appreciation.
He didn't hesitate.
Pointing with relaxed precision, without so much as glancing at the price, he said,
"Please pack twelve of those Peak Grade 3 herbs."
His gaze shifted toward the lower shelves, his tone calm and deliberate.
"…And also twelve Mid Grade 3, and five Low Grade 3 spirit herbs."
'Based on my understanding, it will take about fifteen to twenty days to reach the Great Eastern City by flying boat', he thought, his gaze calm yet calculating. 'That should be more than enough time… if the resources are sufficient.'
'If I want her to reach the Mid-stage Golden Core Realm by then, I'll need sufficient resources to fully support her cultivation.
With these added, even Peak Golden Core won't be far… though, in the end, it still depends on her.
I can refine the herbs into pills, but she has to cultivate on her own.
As for me… I already have ten Peak Grade 2 herbs. Adding these five Low Grade 3 herbs will more than suffice at my current realm.'
The nearby attendants exchanged subtle, shocked glances when they heard his request.
Clearly, they had never seen someone treat expensive spirit herbs as casually as ordinary vegetables.
"Y-Young Master… are you sure you want this many herbs? Not the pills?" one attendant asked cautiously.
Then he added hesitantly, "The Pill Pavilion is world-famous for its spirit pills… you won't need to worry about finding an alchemist-"
"It's fine," Su Wen interrupted, his voice calm and measured.
"Please pack them. I am, after all… somewhat of an alchemist myself."
He spoke with his hands behind his back and his chin slightly raised, giving off the aura of a master alchemist.
The attendant swallowed hard and nodded, no longer daring to question him.
He began carefully packing the herbs, his hands steady though his mind raced with curiosity.
'Where did this young master come from… and how could he speak with such confidence about alchemy?'
As the attendant packed the herbs, Su Wen scanned the shelves nonchalantly when his gaze suddenly paused.
A faint tug of interest pulled at him.
He turned toward a display where clusters of red-and-golden fruits rested like miniature suns.
Another attendant noticed his interest and stepped forward politely.
"Sir, these are Vermillion Sun Fruits, specially harvested from the Northern Red Desert. They are rich in Yang Qi and excellent for enhancing body vitality… though one must be cautious, as the intense Yang Qi can be overwhelming if the body isn't prepared."
He paused briefly before adding, "At the moment, we have five sets of Peak Grade 2, and five sets each of Low, Mid, and Peak Grade 3."
Su Wen nodded, his mind already turning over the possibilities.
'My bones, blood, and organs are already infused with Yang Qi, though only in limited quantities. My muscles and skin, however… they haven't absorbed much yet.
Yang Qi is perfect for Body Cultivation... not just rich in vitality, but it also strengthens the body, boosts stamina, and improves resistance to poisons.
These fruits will push my cultivation even further once I hit the Golden Core Realm. No reason not to give it a try.'
"I will… take them all," he said calmly, his tone carrying the quiet assurance of a wealthy young lord making a casual purchase.
The attendant's polite smile froze mid-expression.
Even Du Yue and Little Suzume exchanged surprised glances, sensing the sudden shift in Su Wen's aura… the unmistakable presence of someone accustomed to wealth and authority.
'It's not like I'm short on spirit stones right now. Better to invest in cultivation resources than let them sit idle in my storage ring.' he thought, a faint smirk tugging at his lips, letting himself enjoy the moment.
The attendant opened his mouth to confirm, but Su Wen simply lifted his chin, clasped his hands behind his back, and repeated with quiet, smug authority:
"Pack. It. All."
A brief silence followed.
Then, with a mixture of respect and faint admiration, the attendants began gathering every last Vermillion Sun Fruit from the shelves.