Ji Yuan cast a deep glance at the elder sitting in front of him. Despite merely sitting, the man exuded an air of meticulousness.
Yet, for some inexplicable reason, Ji Yuan felt a certain temperament emanating from him, akin to an old man by the alleyway.
It was as if the person seated before him was not a powerful cultivator of the Three Realms with profound cultivation, but rather an elder enjoying the cool breeze, playing chess, and watching children frolic in the alley.
He even sensed a hint of the martial world in the elder's demeanor.
"Alright, let's get to the main point,"
Liu Ruyan lightly tossed a Mountain River Pouch towards him.
Upon seeing this, Ji Yuan immediately caught it and sent a wisp of his consciousness into it.
Within this storage pouch were a vast number of spiritual materials. Almost everything on the list he had provided was present, and each item was even in greater quantity than specified.
However, as expected, the most crucial and valuable spiritual materials were absent.
"To gather these spiritual materials, Ming Xin Xuan has truly given their all,"
Liu Ruyan sighed softly, a hint of helplessness appearing on her face.
Not only had the Flying Cloud County branch exerted itself, but the main branch in Falling Cloud County had also gone all out. They had not only completely opened their treasury but also utilized all their connections.
However, a few of the spiritual materials were simply impossible to obtain in a short period.
This was not related to price, but rather that these few items were either too rare or too obscure, with very few people ever purchasing them. As a result, various merchant guilds had no stock.
The only one with some stock, Vast Sea Tower, upon learning through their methods that Ming Xin Xuan was desperately seeking them, had hoarded them tightly and refused to let them go.
"This does make things a bit difficult..."
Ji Yuan's brow furrowed slightly. After hearing the details, he felt a touch of a headache.
To refine the Spiritual Spring, other materials could be substituted, but these few specific spiritual materials were absolutely essential.
If they were replaced, it wouldn't merely be a matter of reduced efficacy; it could potentially render all the spiritual materials useless, and all efforts would be in vain.
"Actually, it's not entirely without a solution."
Liu Ruyan coughed lightly and then slowly said, "In a few days, there will be a trading fair in Flowing Sand City, jointly organized by several established merchant guilds. You might find what you need there."
As she spoke, she took out a stack of bank notes and pushed them towards Ji Yuan.
This stack of what appeared to be bank notes were, in fact, Spirit Notes, issued by the financial houses of the Great Yu Dynasty. They were used to replace large quantities of spirit stones, as transporting tens of thousands of spirit stones could be a significant problem.
Even with a Mountain River Pouch, one might not be able to carry them all.
After all, an ordinary Mountain River Pouch only possessed a space of about ten feet.
Ji Yuan tapped the Mountain River Pouch in his hand against the Cloud-Colored Jade Pendant on his waist. With a flash of light, its contents were completely transferred.
After returning the pouch to Liu Ruyan, he picked up the Spirit Notes before him. His gaze swept over them, confirming that each note was for one thousand spirit stones.
This stack of Spirit Notes amounted to thirteen thousand low-grade spirit stones.
If converted to silver, it would be approximately five to six hundred thousand taels.
Evidently, this stack of Spirit Notes represented the remaining balance from the funds he had previously given her to purchase the items on the list.
"However, even if we spare no expense to bid for what you need at the trading fair, there will still be one last item missing."
Liu Ruyan spoke slowly, also appearing troubled.
"Could it be the Heavenly Cloud Water Essence?"
A thought struck Ji Yuan, and he blurted out the question.
Seeing her nod, a twitch tugged at his lips. Although he had been prepared, hearing the confirmation still gave him a headache.
This item was not the most expensive on the list, but in terms of rarity, it was undoubtedly number one.
There was nothing else required for refining the Spiritual Spring that could be considered more rare, not even a fourth-tier demon core or a Golden Core.
"Heavenly Cloud Water Essence is a product of heaven and earth's creation. It can only condense, with a slight possibility, during the initial rains of each season,"
Tang Muxuan, who was by their side, stated leisurely.
Although Heavenly Cloud Water Essence could condense during the initial rains of each season, the probability was too low. Within the entire territory of the Great Yu Dynasty, it was unlikely for anyone to successfully obtain it even in a hundred years.
At least, as far as Tang Muxuan knew, in the past two hundred years, no cultivator had obtained a single drop of new Heavenly Cloud Water Essence.
There were no patterns to its appearance; sometimes it condensed from heavy rain, and sometimes a brief shower could produce a drop. Whether one could encounter it was entirely up to fate.
"According to the information we've gathered, the treasury of the Great Yu Dynasty definitely has a few drops."
Liu Ruyan rubbed the corners of her eyes, her expression no longer just helpless, as it was obvious they couldn't possibly exchange for a drop of Heavenly Cloud Water Essence from the imperial court's treasury.
Hearing this, Ji Yuan couldn't help but roll his eyes. Her statement was as good as saying nothing.
"Besides that, it is said that Nine Xuan Sect also has one or two drops. We just don't know if they have already been used."
She raised her gaze, fixing it on the young man before her.
Given its importance to Nine Xuan Sect, and with some additional cost, they might actually be able to exchange for a drop.
Of course, all of this was predicated on the assumption that the Heavenly Cloud Water Essence in Nine Xuan Sect's possession had not been used, otherwise, it would all be in vain.
"I'll make a trip over there later to see if I can exchange for a drop."
Ji Yuan nodded slightly, already contemplating how to proceed.
The best option now would be to contact Elder Hong Tian, or to see if he could directly approach the Peak Master of Thunder Marsh Peak. Only then would his efforts not be in vain.
For such a rare spiritual material, let alone disciples like Zhao Yuansong or Wu Chengqing, even inner sect prodigies like Lin Yubai would likely be unable to exchange for it from the sect.
Some things, even if the sect possessed them, could not be readily exchanged by its disciples.
"Regarding the Heavenly Cloud Water Essence, I do know of a place that definitely has one or two drops, and they absolutely haven't been used yet."
Just then, Tang Muxuan suddenly spoke, though his expression seemed somewhat strange.
As the gazes of the two men turned to him, the elder pondered for a long while before continuing, "However, the difficulty of obtaining Heavenly Cloud Water Essence from this place is likely not small."
But it was still simpler than searching the Great Yu Dynasty.
However, this was only relative. Strictly speaking, for an ordinary cultivator of the Three Realms, it could be described as near impossible.
Tang Muxuan sighed, and meeting their gazes, he spoke with a rather complex expression, "Have you two ever heard of a place within Flying Cloud County that can be called a death trap?"