C8 Exchange for Pills

In a flash, the burly teenager had charged up to Lee Yi, flaunting his prowess. With the speed granted by his Cloud Chasing Boots, he circled Lee Yi three times, delivering a slap to both Lee Yi's chest and back before darting back to where he started.

"Now you see how strong I am?" the burly youth boasted. "I held back my magical power with those two slaps. Otherwise, you'd be seriously hurt by now. Hand over what you have if you know what's good for you, and save yourself some pain!"

He wasn't looking to escalate the situation; his attack was merely a show of force.

"Really?" Lee Yi called upon his Wind Magical Power, and a fierce wind began to swirl around them.

"Magical power... released externally?" The onlookers were astounded.

"How can that be? He's only at the early stages of the Second Level. How can he possibly release magical power?"

Lee Yi remained silent, offering no explanation, as he subtly shifted his stance.

The burly youth, poised in his Cloud Chasing Boots, was about to engage with Lee Yi when he suddenly found himself slapping his own face twice. A tremendous force hit his chest, and with a scream, he was sent flying.

The incident was over in the blink of an eye. By the time the crowd realized what had happened, the burly youth was already out of the Hall of Contributions.

The remaining five were visibly shaken.

"Big brother..."

They rushed out in a frenzy.

With an impassive face, Lee Yi handed over the Wind Wolf's fur to the attending disciple.

It took a moment for the disciple to regain his composure, a cold shiver running down his spine. "What kind of speed was that? The Cloud Chasing Boots are nothing compared to him. Even with magical power, it's hard to be that fast. Is he not human, but a transformed demon beast?"

Lee Yi then pulled another item from his bag.

"This is..." The disciple's attention was immediately captured, his eyes widening. "A Wind Wolf's heart?"

"Exactly."

"You actually killed a Wind Wolf?" The disciple could hardly believe it.

"I had some help," Lee Yi mentioned.

"Oh." The disciple felt somewhat reassured and didn't press further. "The heart of a Wind Wolf can be used to make medicinal pills, worth three thousand merit points!"

"Three thousand merit points?" Lee Yi felt as if his head had been struck by a hammer, leaving him slightly dazed.

Merit points at the Longevity Academy were hard to come by. Typically, an average person might accumulate just a few dozen points over a year. To amass a significant number, one would have to venture into extremely perilous locations to gather rare materials, such as those found in the Netherworld Forest.

Yet, these dangerous places were not for the faint-hearted. Had Lee Yi not fortuitously acquired the Demon Refining Art, he wouldn't have dared to set foot in the Netherworld Forest.

After trading in the remaining Wind Wolf materials, Lee Yi had amassed a total of eight thousand merit points. Coupled with what he earned from the Treasure Refining Pavilion, he now had nine thousand points.

With this substantial fortune, Lee Yi felt a newfound confidence, standing taller than before.

Throughout his life, his family had overlooked him. Although he bore the title of a noble family's scion, he was, in truth, penniless. Now, he finally experienced the thrill of sudden wealth.

Noticing that Lee Yi wasn't rushing off, the deacon disciple inquired, "Junior Brother, is there anything else you require? Materials, spells, magical tools, elixirs – the Merit Hall has it all. Feel free to make your selection!"

"I'd like to exchange for some pills that can help me advance my realm," Lee Yi responded.

The deacon disciple presented his token, pressed it onto the table, and with a flash of white light, a small celadon bottle materialized. Even before opening it, Lee Yi could detect the strong, enticing scent of the medicine wafting towards him.

"This is the Pei-Yuan Pill," the deacon disciple explained. "It's essential for reinforcing one's foundation and nurturing one's core, crafted from the essence of the sun and moon and refined with the waters of the spiritual sea. It's the preferred choice for most seeking to elevate their realm and also the most frequently exchanged pill in the Merit Hall. Each bottle contains ten pills and costs a total of one hundred merit points."

In the past, the sight of a bottle of Pei-Yuan Pills before him would have sent Lee Yi into a state of ecstatic disbelief. For someone as destitute as he was, even a single Pei-Yuan Pill was a dream beyond reach, much less an entire bottle.

Times had changed, and so had Lee Yi's fortunes. Having acquired several bottles of Pei-Yuan pills from Zhang Cheng and now carrying a substantial amount of money, he found himself looking down on these "inexpensive" magic pills.

"Do you have anything better?" Lee Yi inquired.

The deacon disciple paused, uncertain, then ventured, "Junior Brother, I'm not sure if it's my place to say this, but..."

"Go ahead," Lee Yi encouraged.

"Well, all pills vary in potency. The Pei-Yuan pill is quite mild and won't harm you when taken. But if you're looking for something stronger, be warned—the potency can be several times greater. Most people can't handle it. At best, their meridians might be damaged; at worst, they could explode and die. It's no laughing matter!"

"Thanks for the heads-up, Senior Brother," Lee Yi replied with a slight smile. "I'll be careful." His Half-Demon Body was much more resilient than that of an ordinary person, so he wasn't overly concerned.

The deacon's brow furrowed, and with a flash of green light, a white jade bottle appeared on the table. Initially, its scent was barely noticeable, but soon, the entire hall was permeated with a subtle fragrance. The robust aroma of the Pei-Yuan pill was now completely overwhelmed and undetectable.

"This is the True Elemental Pill, a Profound Grade Magic Pill. Each bottle contains ten pills, priced at one thousand Merit Points," the deacon explained. "Crafted by a master of the Longevity Academy using a supreme secret technique, the ingredients are highly confidential—I'm not even privy to them. However, I must warn you, a disciple who had reached the third level of Arcane Awakening once took this pill and suffered broken meridians, ending up crippled."

Lee Yi's expression turned to one of hesitation, and he fell silent.

"I'd recommend sticking with the Pei-Yuan pill. The best pill is the one that suits you," the deacon advised, thinking his warning had taken effect.

To his surprise, Lee Yi asked, "Is there anything even better than the True Elemental Pill?"

"What?" The deacon was taken aback. "Are you courting death? You might not be able to withstand the True Elemental Pill, and yet you're asking for something even more potent?"

"So, you're saying you have it?" Lee Yi remained unfazed. After a period of rigorous training, he had grown quite confident in his physical resilience. He was also acutely aware of the vast chasm between his abilities and those of a powerhouse like Li Tiecheng. To bridge that gap quickly, he couldn't afford to tread the beaten path; taking risks was inevitable.

The deacon disciple observed him for a while. Once it was clear that Lee Yi was set in his decision, he let out a sigh, pressed the token, and after a moment, a beam of purple light shone, revealing a small crimson-gold bottle on the table, devoid of any scent of pills.

"Earth Essence Pill, an Earthly Grade Magic Pill, 2000 Merit Points," the deacon disciple stated succinctly, his tone betraying a hint of irritation at Lee Yi's disregard for his counsel, foregoing the detailed explanation he had provided earlier.

Lee Yi expressed his shock, "Why so costly? A mere ten pills per bottle for 2000 Merit Points? That's practically highway robbery!"

"You've got it wrong," the deacon disciple replied coolly. "The potency of the Earth Essence Pill is incredibly strong. It's impossible to store two pills in one bottle; it would burst at the seams!"

"Ah?" Lee Yi's eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you saying each pill costs 2000 Merit Points?"

"Exactly."

Lee Yi was inwardly astounded, thinking, "Such an exorbitant price. No wonder the bottle is crafted from crimson gold. Is the potency of the Earth Essence Pill truly that formidable?"

"The process of refining Earth Essence Pills is exceedingly intricate, consuming vast amounts of manpower and resources. Plus, with such intense potency, few dare to consume them. As a result, the academy hasn't produced many. If you're truly fearless, you can exchange for no more than three pills," the deacon disciple explained.

Without a second thought, Lee Yi presented his token and exchanged 6,000 Merit Points.

The deacon disciple gave him a peculiar look, as if he were staring at a man walking to his doom, but he remained silent. He handed over three Earth Essence Pills to Lee Yi.

"I'd also like to exchange for a magic tool," Lee Yi added.

Currently, the only magic tool in Lee Yi's possession was his storage bag. Acquiring a formidable magic tool would significantly enhance his combat capabilities.

The deacon disciple pressed the token, and suddenly, a cave materialized before them. The surrounding stone walls were pocked with numerous holes, each cradling an object. These were various magic tools, and next to each hole, there were inscriptions detailing the items within.

Lee Yi's head spun with the array of choices.

He had his eye on several magic tools, but their prices were steep, the cheapest being over 10,000 Merit Points. He could only sigh with longing.

"Do you see anything you like?" the deacon disciple inquired.

Lee Yi, still undecided, felt a sudden heat emanating from the mysterious iron piece in his chest, causing him pain and making him furrow his brow.

"What's the matter?" the deacon disciple noticed his discomfort and asked.

Without responding, Lee Yi's gaze was drawn to a nondescript corner of the cave.

Following his gaze, the deacon disciple spotted a small cavity housing a sword with an ancient appearance, devoid of any spiritual energy and coated in dust. Beside it, the only description read "Nameless Sword," with no further details.

The deacon disciple mused to himself, "This Nameless Sword has been here for centuries, untouched and regarded as no more than junk. His taste is certainly unique."

Lee Yi was taken aback. Since acquiring the mysterious iron piece in the cave, he had attempted to infuse it with his magical power multiple times to no avail. But now, it seemed to come alive, almost as if it were eager to leap toward the Nameless Sword.

"Could there be something peculiar about this sword?" Lee Yi pondered. Although he couldn't tell, the mysterious iron piece had once granted him the supreme ancient technique, the Demon Refining Technique. Given its current reaction, there had to be a significant reason.

"What's the story behind this sword?" Lee Yi asked, his curiosity piqued.

The deacon disciple replied, "I'm not sure myself, but I must warn you, this Nameless Sword isn't technically a magic tool."

"What do you mean?"

"Its internal array is completely ruined, with no chance of repair. Essentially, it's nothing more than a broken sword."

Lee Yi frowned and questioned, "If that's the case, why is it displayed alongside the other magic tools? And why does it cost two thousand Merit Points? That price seems excessively high!"

The reason for its uniqueness lies in the exceptionally rare material it's crafted from, which is so peculiar that even the experts at the Longevity Academy are unable to identify it. Yet, its sharpness is unparalleled, far exceeding that of typical magical tools. Had the internal array not been damaged, you wouldn't be able to acquire it even if you were willing to part with twenty thousand Merit Points!