For selling ninety pounds of Purple Corn, Fang Yun received eighteen Lower Grade Spirit Stones.
Combined with the benefits from his second month as an Outer Sect disciple of the Celestial Cloud Sect, he now had a total of twenty Lower Grade Spirit Stones.
'The starting capital is still too little.'
'If I wait five months, the situation will be much better.'
After leaving the Spirit Field Institute, the best place to find books on alchemy was the sect's Library Pavilion.
Before heading to the Library Pavilion, Fang Yun took a slight detour toward the D Zone, where the Outer Sect disciples lived.
Over half a month ago, Fang Yun had learned from Steward Song where the little girl, Huang Mengzhu, lived.
But he still hadn't gone to see her.
Now, using the trip to the sect's Library Pavilion as an opportunity, he could check on her since it was somewhat on the way.
Zone D, Number 137.
This was the house where Huang Mengzhu lived.
Upon arriving, Fang Yun immediately knocked on the door.
'I wonder if the little girl is inside, cultivating peacefully.'
A short while later, with a CLICK, the door slowly opened.
From behind the half-opened door, Huang Mengzhu's small head peeked out.
Fang Yun didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the sight.
"Is someone really going to harm you inside the sect?"
"Brother Fang Yun!"
The little girl's eyes lit up. She threw the door open and jumped in front of Fang Yun.
"Daddy lied to me! He said you'd come find me in October, but it's already November."
Huang Datong surely hadn't expected that Fang Yun would immediately accept a mission upon entering the Celestial Cloud Sect. This made him very busy, as he had to take care of the Purple Corn every day while also keeping up with his cultivation.
Fang Yun defended Huang Datong, "Actually, your daddy didn't lie to you. It's just that I've been busy, so I only managed to come over now."
"Oh, is that so... Come on in and sit down, Brother Fang Yun."
"Alright, but I can only stay for a little while before I have to leave."
The little girl was sensible enough to understand that Fang Yun was taking time out of his busy schedule to see her.
The layout of the houses for the Celestial Cloud Sect's Outer Sect disciples was largely the same. Generally, disciples wouldn't modify the residences provided by the sect.
During their brief chat, it was Huang Mengzhu who did all the chattering, while Fang Yun listened attentively and played along.
For those who passed the Spirit Root test and became Outer Sect disciples of the Celestial Cloud Sect, the first year was primarily focused on studying. By the second year, the focus of their time would gradually shift to cultivation.
From July until now, Huang Mengzhu had learned a lot.
She poured it all out to Fang Yun, sharing everything she had learned, regardless of whether he already knew it or not.
"You were right, Brother Fang Yun. Mortal food tastes better!"
Towards the end of their conversation, the little girl brought up the issue of food.
Ever since reaching the Qi Refining First Layer and becoming a Cultivator, she hadn't eaten anything tasty.
There was no mortal food for sale within the sect. If new disciples were caught secretly eating it and letting it interfere with their daily cultivation, the Celestial Cloud Sect would punish them.
"You'll get to have Spiritual Food eventually. For now, you just have to endure it."
Most children are fond of good food, and getting past this hurdle required a long period of adjustment for them.
An ordinary Qi Refining Cultivator would be lucky to just fill their stomach, let alone eat a meal of Spiritual Food occasionally. To enjoy Spiritual Food regularly, a Cultivator needed to have some capital.
"Mhm, I've been enduring it."
"Our little Mengzhu is very strong!" Fang Yun gave her a thumbs-up to encourage her, then stood up. "It's about time I get going. Mengzhu, if you run into any trouble in the sect, you can come find me at C Zone, Number 88."
"C Zone, Number 88... I'll remember it."
The little girl repeated Fang Yun's address three times before nodding her little head.
Before leaving, Fang Yun also reminded her to continue studying and cultivating diligently.
After leaving the D Zone, he hurried to the Library Pavilion.
The Celestial Cloud Sect's Library Pavilion had seven floors in total, with the first and second floors open to Outer Sect disciples.
For Cultivators in the early and middle stages of Qi Refining, the first and second floors were more than enough.
After entering the Library Pavilion, Fang Yun began to browse the first floor.
Since he had a clear goal, he moved through the aisles quickly.
*Preliminary Understanding of Alchemy*.
This was the book he was looking for.
Last month, after listening to the Spirit Plant Master's lecture, he had received twelve Talent Points when they were settled.
Fang Yun estimated that he could probably gain more Talent Points by thoroughly reading books on alchemy, artifact refining, and spirit plant cultivation.
Before he turned sixteen, he had already studied some aspects of plant cultivation to prepare for his future, focusing on how to grow Clear Water Rice and Purple Corn.
Thanks to his parents, he had acquired this knowledge for free from the Spirit Field Institute, which was run by the Celestial Cloud Sect. It was considered a means for him to make a living in the future, provided by the sect.
Since many Cultivators were engaged in planting, introductory books on the subject were relatively cheap. Alchemy, in contrast, was different.
A true Alchemy Master was noble, held high status, and could also make a lot of money.
This book, *Preliminary Understanding of Alchemy*, would sell for at least ten Lower Grade Spirit Stones.
As a disciple of the Celestial Cloud Sect, he could spend a small number of Spirit Stones to borrow books from the Library Pavilion. This was one of the benefits of being a disciple.
"Steward, I'd like to borrow this copy of *Preliminary Understanding of Alchemy*."
"Borrowing *Preliminary Understanding of Alchemy* costs one Lower Grade Spirit Stone for three months. Will you be paying with Contribution Points or Spirit Stones?"
"Spirit Stones."
As he spoke, Fang Yun took out a Lower Grade Spirit Stone and placed it on the desk.
The Steward quickly registered his information.
"If it's not returned after three months, the fee will increase by one Lower Grade Spirit Stone every six months." The Steward handed *Preliminary Understanding of Alchemy* back to Fang Yun and added the routine reminder.
"Understood."
Forget three months. With his current two-star Alchemy Talent, it would only take him a month to completely digest *Preliminary Understanding of Alchemy*.
It was just an introductory-level book on alchemy.
After leaving the Library Pavilion, Fang Yun's next destination was Dan Cloud Peak.
Dan Cloud Peak was one of the five major peaks of the Celestial Cloud Sect. As long as one became an Alchemy Master, they were qualified to apply to live on Dan Cloud Peak.
It was a place for alchemy apprentices to study, and also where one could purchase Pill Formulas within the sect.
After he finished digesting *Preliminary Understanding of Alchemy*, Fang Yun planned to start trying to refine pills.
He had already decided which pill he would refine: the one most commonly used by early-stage Qi Refining Cultivators to aid their cultivation.
The Qi Nourishing Pill!
New disciples like Huang Mengzhu could receive Qi Nourishing Pills for their first three years.
Fang Yun didn't have this benefit.
Arriving at Dan Cloud Peak, Fang Yun needed to ask for directions. He only knew that he could buy Pill Formulas on the peak, but not the specific location.
Not long after stepping onto Dan Cloud Peak, Fang Yun saw an Inner Sect senior sister, whose two heavy 'fruits' were particularly eye-catching.
Facing a late-stage Qi Refining Cultivator, Fang Yun didn't dare to stare.
He walked straight up to the Inner Sect senior sister and asked.
"Senior Sister, my name is Fang Yun. I'd like to purchase a Pill Formula. Could you please tell me where I should go?"