C274 Storage Bag

In the northern reaches of Thylethlume, a hundred miles distant, the dense forest foliage allowed only sparse rays of afternoon sunlight to filter through. The jungle climate was sweltering. Yu Yuan left Wei Feng to one side, entrusting her to Ning Ji's care while he devoted himself to his cultivation.

Yuan Lianyao, the mayor of Asvetaesi, was well aware of the Blackfang Legion's remnants lurking nearby. Concerned about potential schemes from Winter's Bite and Thunder Sect, she decided to head back to the city to make preparations. Before departing, she left a signaling smoke pipe with Yu Yuan, instructing him to launch it skyward should he encounter any danger. She assured him that the Asvetaesi guards would come to his aid at once upon seeing the signal, and she herself would be swiftly informed through them.

Yu Yuan, however, felt secure with Yu Zhu covertly monitoring Liu Wei, Lei Xiao, and their group. He believed his movements in the area to be safe and thus didn't place much importance on the smoke pipe.

"Senior Ning," Bai Shenshen addressed Ning Ji, who was tasked with guarding Wei Feng, "are you quite familiar with Thylethlume?"

Ning Ji, rousing from his meditative state, first checked on Wei Feng. Noting her boredom as she slumped against a tree, hands bound and a gag in her mouth, he relaxed. He offered Bai Shenshen a warm smile, acknowledging her status as a Sacred Hands herbalist, "I've spent some time in Thylethlume and have explored the vicinity. You could say I'm familiar with it. What prompts your inquiry, Miss Bai?"

"Have you ever surveyed the northern region of Thylethlume?" Bai Shenshen probed further.

Ning Ji paused to reflect, then nodded, "I ventured to the north on my last visit to Thylethlume, a few months back."

"Did you happen to come across any cultivated herbs?" Bai Shenshen inquired.

Ning Ji shook his head, "I did not."

Surprised, Bai Shenshen gauged the direction and pointed, "There's a mid-lake island, several dozen miles in that direction. Have you seen it, Senior Ning?"

"I have," Ning Ji confirmed, then queried, "Why do you ask?"

"What's on the island?"

"Absolutely nothing," Ning Ji responded thoughtfully. "I passed by there about two months ago and saw nothing. The island in the middle of the lake was completely barren."

"Nothing two months ago..."

Bai Shenshen murmured to herself before suddenly asking, "Are there any herbalists near Thylethlume or within Asvetaesi? Or perhaps someone skilled in cultivating herbs?"

"To my knowledge, neither the Yuan family nor the Zhao family have been recruiting herbalists in secret. The only ones who might have expertise in herb cultivation would be the Yu family," Ning Ji replied, his confusion growing. "But you must be aware of the Yu family's current predicament. Many of their medicinal gardens have been neglected, and a lot of their people have lost heart."

Bai Shenshen nodded, choosing not to elaborate further.

During her journey, she had come to understand the Yu family's circumstances through various allies of the Sacred Hands.

Within the Su family, many maintained close ties with the Sacred Hands. She was aware of the concerted efforts by the wealthy Lin and Van families to target the Yu family.

If medicinal herbs cannot be sold and aren't stored properly, they'll soon perish.

Without the ability to trade these herbs for soulstones with a family like the Su's, the Yu family would inevitably lose motivation and cease their efforts in herb cultivation.

If not the Yu family, then who could be cultivating such rare flora in the region?

Bai Shenshen was determined to uncover the truth.

...

Another radiant soulstone turned to a dull grey and crumbled to pieces.

Yu Yuan emerged from his extended meditation to the sight of the shattered stones, his emotions a mix of elation and despair.

The joy stemmed from the realization that his talent for cultivation must be truly exceptional; otherwise, he wouldn't have failed to saturate his Golden Sanctum's little world with spiritual energy despite relentless practice.

The sorrow came from the implication that his advancement would be slow and that he had now exhausted his supply of soulstones.

After a brief moment of contemplation, he rose to his feet and made his way directly toward Bai Shenshen.

Wei Feng, who had been gazing skyward, tensed up the moment she noticed him approaching. She turned to look at him, her eyes cold and brimming with caution.

Yu Yuan, paying her no mind, nonchalantly tossed a palm-sized, translucent Psicrystal at Bai Shenshen's feet. By chance, a beam of sunlight illuminated the Psicrystal.

Bathed in the intense sunlight, the Psicrystal shimmered with a myriad of colors, as if countless brilliant lights were interwoven within, dazzling onlookers with its unspeakable beauty and mystique.

"Psicrystal!"

Even an experienced cultivator like Ning Ji was taken aback, his gaze riveted to the crystal.

Wei Feng, too, was taken by surprise.

"With my current level of cultivation in the Golden Sanctum, it's difficult for me to absorb the spiritual energy contained in the Psicrystal," Yu Yuan remarked to Bai Shenshen. "Herbalists like you are well-off and possess a wealth of resources. Bai Shenshen, I'd like to trade this Psicrystal for some Soul Stones or Soul Crystals."

A Psicrystal of equivalent size could typically be exchanged for ten Soul Crystals or a hundred Soul Stones. This is because a Psicrystal holds ten times the spiritual energy of a Soul Crystal and a hundredfold that of a Soul Stone. Given the scarcity of Psicrystals and their necessity for advanced cultivators, the exchange rate is often even more favorable.

For instance, one might trade eleven Soul Crystals or over a hundred Soul Stones for a single Psicrystal.

Such is the standard.

In both the Land of Quiescence and Euwrea, powerful sects maintain specialized pavilions with the necessary tools to facilitate these exchanges.

Here in Aetherius, spirit mines are plentiful, and the production of Soul Stones and Soul Crystals is not uncommon, but Psicrystals are indeed rare. Consequently, on this continent, a single Psicrystal can fetch even more Soul Crystals and Soul Stones.

"Considering your cultivation level in the Golden Sanctum, a Psicrystal would indeed be wasted on you. Would you prefer Soul Crystals or Soul Stones?" Bai Shenshen inquired.

"The Soul Crystals are the best choice," Yu Yuan said with a smile.

Bai Shenshen paused for a moment, "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Alright then." Without any further ado, Bai Shenshen reached into the cloth bag at her waist and pulled out several Soul Crystals. She counted and assessed their sizes before handing over a total of twelve to him. "Will this suffice?"

The Soul Crystals varied in size, but Bai Shenshen estimated that the combined spiritual energy within the twelve crystals was equivalent to that of a Psicrystal.

"Thanks." Yu Yuan smiled appreciatively, eyeing the cloth bag at her waist. "That storage bag looks quite handy. It must hold a good amount."

Bai Shenshen instinctively clutched the bag, eyeing him with suspicion.

Wei Feng, standing nearby, couldn't help but cast an envious look at the storage bag at Bai Shenshen's waist. Her desire to eliminate Bai Shenshen wasn't due to her affiliation with the Sacred Hands but because of that very cloth bag at her waist, which she recognized as an exceedingly valuable Storage Bag.

Ning Ji's interest was piqued when he heard Yu Yuan mention the Storage Bag and noticed Bai Shenshen's anxious reaction. He had assumed it was just an ordinary cloth bag, not realizing it was actually a Storage Bag.

"Miss Bai certainly doesn't shy away from displaying her wealth," Ning Ji remarked, then added, "But you're being too reckless. With your lower level of cultivation, carrying a rare treasure like a Storage Bag and not keeping it well-concealed is risky."

"It's not something that can be easily spotted by the average person," Bai Shenshen explained.

A Storage Bag, the simplest item with a small internal space, could only hold so much, yet it remained a coveted rarity in Aetherius, commanding a high price. The Bracelet of Holding was a step up, offering a larger internal space to accommodate more items. In the Land of Quiescence and on the Euwrea Continent, only prominent figures had the privilege of wearing one.

The most prestigious were the Cosmos Rings, nearly a staple for serious cultivators and a symbol of their status.

Bai Shenshen, with her cultivation at the Subtlety level, possessed a Storage Bag, which was a clear indication of her significant status within the Sacred Hands, suggesting she was quite wealthy.

"Haha, you must think that since we're out in the middle of nowhere, it doesn't matter if you run into anyone," Yu Yuan said with a bright smile, gesturing towards Wei Feng. "Let me tell you, you were nearly killed, and it might have had something to do with your Storage Bag."

"This Storage Bag is my most valuable possession. Don't get any ideas," Bai Shenshen warned, noticing his recognition. "If you're looking to purchase one, I can help you find a seller."

"I'll have one of my own eventually," Yu Yuan replied.

He picked up a Soul Crystal, turning it over in his hands. Then, turning to Wei Feng, he said, "Ning Ji, Bai Shenshen, would you mind giving us a moment? I need to ask her something."

Ning Ji and Bai Shenshen discreetly moved away.

Once they were at a distance, Yu Yuan hesitated briefly before removing the cloth from her mouth and simply gazed at her.

Freed from Yuan Lianyao's constraints and with the cloth removed, Wei Feng, who had regained some strength, could have ended her own life with a bit more resolve. But she chose not to.

Since Yu Yuan had identified the origin of the cast-iron sign and described its owner's characteristics, she had been deep in thought, pondering how Yu Yuan could possibly know what the owner looked like. This doubt made her hesitate, seeking answers.

"What's the matter? Not in a rush to die anymore?" Yu Yuan asked coolly.

He had known all along that giving Wei Feng time to think would prevent her from being hasty about dying.

This was precisely why he felt confident enough to engage in a direct conversation with Wei Feng after Yuan Lianyao had left. He was certain that Wei Feng, having taken the time to cool down and reflect, would have many questions and matters to discuss.

"Was that person a member of the Poison Cult?" he suddenly inquired.

"No, he was expelled from the Poison Cult long ago," Wei Feng replied somberly.

At her words, Yu Yuan's expression grew stern. "Why was he expelled?"

"The master he served had long ceased to be the Sect Master of the Order of Healing; his soul had perished three hundred years ago," Wei Feng explained, her head bowed. "Without a master, the Poison Cult had no reason to look after him. He had to seek a new path, but once Zhong Chichen assumed control of the Order of Healing, where could he possibly find refuge in the Land of Quiescence?"

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