Chapter 240: Nine Transformations Dragon Bone
After paying the fee and entering the city, Song Jiulai found an inn to stay at.
She then inquired about the requirements to enter the Dragon Frost Swamp.
’This is absolutely terrifying,’ she realized.
Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators who went to the Dragon Frost Swamp had to stay for at least half a year.
During that time, they had to turn in spirit materials worth at least thirty Mid-grade Spirit Stones every month.
This was the price for using the Teleportation Array.
Since she was currently disguised at the Qi Refinement Realm, the time requirement was doubled.
Song Jiulai also discreetly inquired and found that the value of spirit materials a typical Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator could gather was about that much, maybe slightly more.
In other words, anyone who went was just earning grueling wages.
The only benefit was that you could have the Sea View Sect transport back any spirit materials infused with Dragon Breath you found.
You could then use them for your own Artifact Refining or have someone else refine them for you.
There were always people who went, clinging to this hope.
"What a ripoff! An absolute ripoff!"
’Compared to them, I’m practically running a charity,’ Song Jiulai suddenly felt.
’What’s charging a few points for chatting in comparison?’
’Come over here and see what being skinned alive really looks like!’
But she wasn’t going to the Dragon Frost Swamp for that purpose anyway.
’Who would willingly go if there weren’t a loophole to exploit?’
Everyone who signed up to go to the Dragon Frost Swamp received a Jade Token. When it was time for their departure, the token would heat up, signaling them to head to the Teleportation Array and make preparations.
Song Jiulai took a stroll around Liu Xian City, then headed to the True Treasure Pavilion, planning to buy an offensive-type Magic Treasure.
’As for what type, exactly, she hadn’t decided yet.’
’She imagined wielding a Flying Sword like in the TV shows, but she didn’t feel she was particularly skilled with them.’
When she arrived at the True Treasure Pavilion, Nan Qi, who had reverted to her true appearance, was standing at the entrance, looking utterly bored.
She had wanted to watch the Sea View Sect disciples’ tournament, but unfortunately, her brother suddenly had business to attend to for the past two days, leaving her to mind the shop.
As Song Jiulai walked in, Nan Qi greeted her with a bright smile. "What can I help you with, customer?"
This time, Song Jiulai had disguised herself with the face of a male Cultivator. He wasn’t handsome, but he could be called fair-featured, which was an improvement over her previous disguises.
Hearing this, she smiled brightly and said, "I’d like to buy an Earth-grade offensive Magic Treasure."
"Earth Grade?"
It wasn’t strange to be buying an Earth-grade item. "Of course," Nan Qi said. "What price range are you looking for?"
The price for Earth-grade Magic Treasures varied greatly. The cheaper ones started at one top-grade spirit stone, while the most expensive could go up to ten.
’But that was a price she couldn’t afford.’
Song Jiulai did a quick calculation. She had a huge pile of Spirit Grass from the last time she entered the Secret Realm. On top of that, the players had been grinding for materials like crazy recently. Many had exchanged Spirit Stones for points to redeem the Palm Thunder technique, and new players also needed to buy points from her. Adding her own funds to the mix, she had about five top-grade spirit stones in assets.
That was her liquid capital.
’She needed to save the rest for a rainy day.’
After a moment of contemplation, she said, "Something around four top-grade spirit stones. I heard from Senior Zhai that you have something suitable for me."
Nan Qi’s eyes narrowed. "Senior Zhai?"
’How unexpected.’
’Senior Zhai has already referred several people to the True Treasure Pavilion to buy Magic Treasures recently.’
’But if Senior Zhai sent them, it means he holds this place in high regard.’
’The quality of the Magic Treasures at our True Treasure Pavilion is indeed guaranteed.’
Since she was a referral, Nan Qi invited her, "Follow me."
She led Song Jiulai into the true inner area of the True Treasure Pavilion.
With a wave of her hand, a new set of Magic Treasures appeared, their light clearly more dazzling than the batch of Xuan-grade Magical Treasures she had shown to Honghuang and his group.
"You needed an offensive, Earth-grade Magic Treasure. This is the batch."
Song Jiulai’s eyes were dazzled. She asked, seemingly nonchalantly, "Excuse me, Shopkeeper, aside from selling Magic Treasures, do you also buy them?"
"Buy?" Nan Qi raised an eyebrow. "The Magic Treasures in my True Treasure Pavilion are all masterpieces from the most outstanding disciples of the Major Sects. We have every type imaginable. We wouldn’t even look at an ordinary piece, but if your Magic Treasure is sufficiently unique, it’s not out of the question that we might take it."
’So they’re made by outstanding disciples of Major Sects? Isn’t that just a fancy way of saying they’re practice pieces!’
’It’s just that disciples of Major Sects enjoy uncommonly good resources, so even the items that trickle out are far better than what you’d typically find on the market.’
’Truly exceptional Magic Treasures would never be sold, anyway.’
Nan Qi sized up Song Jiulai. "You want to sell a Magic Treasure?"
Song Jiulai shook her head. "No, not at all. Just asking casually."
’The two Magic Treasures she possessed couldn’t really see the light of day. The Prosperous Scenery Tower was one thing—it could be used in a pinch.’
’But if she took out the Black Demon Seal, she’d be exposed in an instant!’
’Unless she absolutely had to use it, and that would be a time when she needed to eliminate someone!’
’She was just thinking that if her Sect started producing various Magic Treasures in the future, perhaps the True Treasure Pavilion could serve as a buyer.’
’With the mindset of modern players, they could probably create all sorts of unconventional Magic Treasures.’
Nan Qi smiled but said nothing.
Song Jiulai looked over the items. There was nothing wrong with this batch of Magic Treasures, but the thought of spending four top-grade spirit stones still made her heart ache a little.
’She naturally had to consider it carefully.’
As her eyes swept across the room, she suddenly noticed the faint, glowing outline of a book shimmering high up in the True Treasure Pavilion.
A thought suddenly struck her. "Besides Magic Treasures, do you also sell Cultivation Techniques?"
"Of course," Nan Qi said. "Not just Cultivation Techniques, we have mental methods as well."
The difference between mental methods and Cultivation Techniques.
It was like one focused on internal cultivation, and the other on external application.
Cultivation Techniques were all used for combat.
Mental methods, on the other hand, were for tempering the soul and body.
For example, the Soul Cultivation Heart Method provided by the system was the foundation of the Longevity Sect, whereas other Sects had their own signature mental methods.
Pairing these mental methods with Cultivation Techniques could produce twice the effect with half the effort.
’She was fine in terms of Magic Treasures, having two already, but her collection of Cultivation Techniques was pitifully small.’
’The Palm Thunder was enough to last her until the Golden Core Stage, since she had already reached the Middle Stage of the technique. But it was her only truly powerful move. Her only other options were Ice Blade and the Fireball Technique, which were just too basic.’
Song Jiulai thought for a moment. "Do you have any body-protecting and tempering mental methods for sale? And maybe some defensive Cultivation Techniques? Preferably ones with harsh requirements, like certain restrictions."
Generally, while Cultivation Techniques with restrictions were niche, they tended to be quite powerful once mastered.
And Song Jiulai wasn’t afraid of such restrictions.
—And more importantly, they were cheap.
Nan Qi glanced at Song Jiulai. In the Cultivation World, unless it was a personal calling, most Cultivators subscribed to the philosophy that the best defense was a good offense.
They generally favored offensive-type mental methods and Cultivation Techniques.
However, Nan Qi didn’t press the issue, simply saying, "We do. If you’re serious, I actually have a mental method called the *Nine Transformations Dragon Bone*. You can start practicing it from the Qi Refinement Realm."
Because Song Jiulai had the system conceal her Level, in Nan Qi’s eyes, she was just a Qi Refinement Realm Cultivator.
’Oho,’ Song Jiulai thought.
’Nine Transformations!’
’She already had the *Nine-Turn Puppetry Technique* on her.’
’Though, the Puppetry Technique was a Cultivation Technique.’
’Isn’t everything with "Nine-Turn" in the name supposed to be good stuff?’
’And "Dragon Transformation Bone," no less.’
’It sounded incredible just from the name alone.’
’But the fact that it was being sold proved it must have a flaw.’
"What does *Nine Transformations Dragon Bone* mean?"
Nan Qi explained, "The *Nine Transformations Dragon Bone*. On the Yunzhou Continent, any mental method related to dragons is bound to be a peerless technique. This particular one comes from a long-vanished Sect, though no one knows which one. The mental method has its flaws, however. Only the first five transformations have been passed down, which is only enough to cultivate to the Golden Core Stage."
"Furthermore, the cultivation conditions are harsh. A fundamental transformation occurs after a Cultivator reaches the Core Formation Stage and opens their Sea of Consciousness. However, once you start cultivating it, you can never practice another mental method. This is a huge drawback."