The Three Elements Sect dominated the eight-hundred-mile Southern Border of Shengkang and was the undisputed leading sect of the region. Its disciples often plunged deep into treacherous, untamed lands for training, their journeys covering tens, or even hundreds, of miles.
Back in his old life, the sheer number of steps they took would have made any ordinary person admit defeat. 'These Cultivators... their stamina is simply inhuman.'
And he was one of these inhuman people.
But while Cultivators merely *seemed* inhuman, he *actually* wasn't.
Was he a man or a Slime? He was starting to lose track himself.
When those exhausted, travel-worn disciples returned to the sect gates, most would dive straight into the most famous tavern in South Bridge Market—Zhenxiu Tower.
They would order a few plates of braised Demon Flesh, a pot of warm brewed wine, and wash away their fatigue amidst the roaring crowd and the aroma of Spiritual Food.
Chen Yu's stall was set up to the side and back of Zhenxiu Tower, right next to an alley that faintly reeked of slop.
Just a single wall away.
Inside, the aroma of food was tantalizing. Outside... the smell was even more indescribable than the stench of rot in the Swamp Forest.
'No wonder no one else sets up a stall here.'
He waved a hand to disperse the faint sour smell at his nose, his gaze sweeping over the robes of the Cultivators passing by.
Although most Cultivators merely glanced at the wooden sign in front of his stall before walking straight past, Chen Yu managed to catch many rumors from the outside world from the snippets of their loud boasts or quiet conversations.
For example, a vicious Devil bird was causing trouble at Black Wind Ridge, a new Yin Marrow Ore Vein had been discovered at the foot of White Bone Mountain, and deep within the dreaded Cave of Ten Thousand Poisons, it was said that several elite Inner Sect squads had met their doom...
Chen Yu listened with great relish. It was only when he snapped back to reality that he wondered why no Cultivators had come to ask for a price.
Just as he was wondering about this, a young Cultivator with a somewhat gloomy expression pretended to casually pass by.
He asked offhandedly, "What can this Potion of yours do? Can it corrode hard things, like bone?"
"If the Devil is about the size and weight of a man, would three bottles be enough?"
Thinking a customer had finally arrived, Chen Yu made his tone as friendly as possible.
"That should do it. It could probably dissolve a person, too."
Unexpectedly, the Cultivator's expression froze. He flicked his sleeve, turned, and walked away, leaving only a single sentence behind.
"Junior Brother, you misunderstand. I'm not that kind of person."
Huh?
'What kind of person aren't you?'
Chen Yu was a little confused. He had a feeling that the Cultivator had misunderstood something.
A moment later, another Cultivator appeared before his stall. He was dressed in black, his face obscured.
But Chen Yu felt that this person looked somewhat familiar.
The black-robed Cultivator got straight to the point, his voice raspy. "I'll take all these bottles of corpse-dissolving water. Is sixty Shattered Spirits enough?"
Chen Yu was amused.
'Isn't this the same young Cultivator from before? Why the change of clothes?'
'Wait, Corpse-dissolving Potion?'
It suddenly dawned on him.
'No wonder I haven't had a single customer all day. Everyone must be mistaking the Slime Acid for Corpse-dissolving Potion, and no one dares to buy it openly.'
Orthodox cultivators, mindful of their reputations, wouldn't deal openly in something like Corpse-dissolving Potion—an essential tool for murder and robbery. Disciples of the Three Elements Sect typically traded for it in secret.
An ordinary disciple without the right connections would have a genuinely hard time getting their hands on Corpse-dissolving Potion.
It was a good thing he hadn't been there for long. If the sect's Law Enforcement squad had seen him, he would have inevitably been dragged off for a lecture.
'Then again... getting dragged off to a dark cell might not be so bad. At least they'd feed me.'
'If they let me stay for a few days, I could probably eat the Law Enforcement Hall into bankruptcy.'
Pulling his wandering thoughts back, Chen Yu said, "Senior Brother, you've misunderstood. I don't have any Corpse-dissolving Potion, just a kind of Corrosive Potion."
The young man in black was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled softly.
"Right, right. It is I, your senior brother, who was confused."
"Then let me ask again. Are you satisfied with twenty Shattered Spirits per bottle for this Potion?"
Not many Cultivators within the sect could concoct Corpse-dissolving Potion, and most of them had their own underground networks. It was very difficult for an Outer Sect disciple like him to gain access.
He had only planned to visit South Bridge Market to buy some Spirit Rice; he never expected to encounter a Cultivator selling Corpse-dissolving Potion under the guise of a simple 'potion'.
It was obvious at a glance that this was a Pharmacist looking to recruit partners and expand their sales network. If he actually tried to buy it for ten Shattered Spirits a bottle, it would show a lack of sincerity, and he might miss this golden opportunity.
The young man, certain he had seen through Chen Yu's test, eagerly awaited his answer.
It was the first time Chen Yu had seen a customer haggle in reverse, and he smiled to himself.
"Twenty Shattered Spirits is fine."
'Just fine.'
The young man thought Chen Yu was dissatisfied with the price. He cupped his fist and said, "Twenty-five Shattered Spirits a bottle. Is that satisfactory, Junior Brother?"
"Huh?"
'Why is he haggling the price higher?'
"Satisfied! Of course I'm satisfied."
Chen Yu couldn't help but remark, "If all the Cultivators in the world were as generous as you, Senior Brother, how could anyone's business fail?"
Hearing this, a flash of joy lit up the young man's eyes. He took some Shattered Spirits from a pouch on his chest and thrust them into Chen Yu's hand.
"Junior Brother, say no more. Here are seventy-five Shattered Spirits. Take them."
"You're too kind, Senior Brother."
Chen Yu put away the Shattered Spirits and added tactfully, "This Potion is extremely corrosive, though. Be careful not to splash it on anyone."
The young man nodded, putting away the porcelain vials with a look that said, *I know what you mean*.
"Rest assured, Junior Brother. I'll only use this Potion on Devils."
'As for what counts as a Devil...'
'Heh. He'd be the judge of that.'
Chen Yu didn't know if the man had truly understood or not. In any case, the Slime Acid was sold, and his next meal was secured.
"I come to South Bridge Market once a day. If you want to purchase more Corrosive Potion, Senior Brother, you can find me here..."
He was only halfway through his sentence when a faint sour smell drifted by.
"No, it's fine. Why don't you find me near Bridge Gate instead."
The young man was overjoyed. 'The Pharmacist is clearly giving me a golden opportunity! He must have been moved by my sincerity.'
He immediately cupped his fist and said, "I am Shao Qingsong. May I ask your name, Junior Brother?"
"Chen Yu."
Selling Corpse-dissolving Potion wasn't a capital offense. As long as you weren't brazen about it in front of the Law Enforcement squad, the worst you'd get was some gossip from other Cultivators. No need to be overly secretive.
"Junior Brother Chen, we'll meet again tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."
Chen Yu packed up his coarse cloth and wooden sign, tucked them under his arm, and pushed his way through the jostling crowd.
His hand subconsciously pressed the old cloth pouch on his chest. Inside, the seventy-five Shattered Spirits clinked together, and their substantial weight put him in a great mood.
He turned and plunged back into the lively market. A short while later, he had bought a pound of Spirit Rice from the grain shop across the way and picked up a string-tied bundle of fresh pork from a butcher.
Seventy-five Shattered Spirits, all spent without a single one left.
He was rarely stingy when it came to filling his stomach. He didn't know if it was his Slime body's influence, but this body had become a true gourmand.
With his appetite, a pound of Spirit Rice, if eaten sparingly, should keep the "black hole" in his stomach quiet for two or three days.
Still, eating Spirit Rice as a staple was a luxury he couldn't afford before. Most of the time, he ate ordinary Refined Rice.
Chen Yu couldn't help but look at the lines on his palm. The Slime Acid that was useless in Zeyarira could be sold for a good price as Corpse-dissolving Potion in Void Profound Heaven.
'The talents of monsters are truly a curious thing.'
'I wonder what the Poisonous Sting Bee's talent is...'
As his thoughts wandered, Chen Yu passed a stall selling Daoist Skills and spiritual artifacts. His pouch was now empty, so he only looked for a moment before continuing along the winding stone path back to the Bamboo Forest.
As for dealing with the Poisonous Sting Bee, that would require more planning. At the very least, he'd have to wait until the pouch on his chest was full of Spirit Stones.
That night, he finally filled his stomach with something decent: a bowl of rice, each grain shimmering with a faint Spiritual Light, served with a large, glistening piece of pork belly stewed until it was fall-apart tender. The rich fat and deep satisfaction inexplicably reminded him of how delicious the Moss Insects in the Swamp Forest were.
Under the effects of Devouring and Digesting, his previously stagnant Cultivation began to rise steadily. It looked like he was on the verge of a breakthrough.
The next day, in the Swamp Forest, Chen Yu took advantage of the Poisonous Sting Bee's absence to sneak to the surface. He secreted acid to clean the Poisonous Stings the bee had left behind in the tree roots.
Only after confirming there was no toxin residue left on the Poisonous Stings did he dare retract them into his Gel body.
With that, his Slime equipment received an upgrade. The toothpick Flying Sword was replaced by jet-black Poisonous Sting swords that radiated a dangerous aura.
Three of them, in fact.
A glint flashed in Chen Yu's small, bead-like eyes as he fixed his gaze on his breakfast—a few creatures moving about on the mossy ground.