Yun Che’s expression did not change.

  “How many do you need?”

  Yun Feng’s gaze flickered for a moment. He forced a smile and lowered his voice.

  “At the very least… thirty talismans.”

  Registered disciples received only three Immortal Talismans per year.

  Thirty talismans represented ten years’ worth—an astronomical number for the vast majority of them.

  A subtle stir passed through Yun Che’s heart.

  Thirty? He could afford that.

  Over the past two months, many registered disciples—seeking lighter duties or reduced punishment—had offered various “tributes.” Among them were Immortal Talismans hoarded over the years or obtained through unofficial means. By rough estimate, Yun Che already possessed forty to fifty.

  “So many?” Yun Che asked calmly, his gaze probing. “What do you need them for?”

  Yun Feng worked as an apprentice in the Refining Hall. The work was exhausting, but he had no frequent need to leave the mountain.

  Yun Feng sighed, frustration and urgency evident on his face.

  “Stone Brother, you know that in two months, it’ll be time for the Year-End Minor Tournament. Outer apprentices like us are allowed to participate. If we place well, not only are the rewards generous—we might be officially accepted as outer disciples, or even catch the attention of an inner elder.”

  He paused, bitterness creeping into his tone.

  “I heard… Yun Han has Elder Dao Xu personally backing him. Pills, guidance—nothing spared. His cultivation’s advancing rapidly. People say he’s already touching the threshold of Qi Condensation, Second Layer.”

  A glimmer of understanding flashed through Yun Che’s eyes.

  Talent and resources—these truly determined one’s starting line. Yun Han was already gifted, and with a powerful mentor supporting him, such progress was hardly surprising.

  “But what does that have to do with borrowing Immortal Talismans?” Yun Che pressed.

  “Of course it does!” Yun Feng replied, glancing around before lowering his voice further.

  “Stone Brother, you’ve been busy ‘managing’ things here, so you might not know. Every year, about a month before the Minor Tournament, inner disciples—and some well-connected outer disciples—secretly organize a private exchange gathering.”

  “Everyone brings items they don’t need, or treasures they urgently require, and trades them to prepare for the tournament. I’ve heard that all sorts of strange things appear there—used flying sword artifacts, pills with unusual effects, rare refining materials…”

  He swallowed, then continued in a hushed tone,

  “…and sometimes, even low-tier cultivation manual fragments.”

  At the word manual, Yun Che’s heart skipped a beat.

  That was exactly what he lacked most.

  His cultivation path was abnormal. Until now, he had relied solely on instinct, experimentation, and the stone bead’s assistance. He had no idea how to advance further or properly wield his growing power. Even a fragmentary manual could provide invaluable insight.

  “The exchange sounds chaotic,” Yun Che said cautiously. “Aren’t they afraid of exposing themselves—or being recognized?”

  Yun Feng chuckled, wearing a knowing expression.

  “That’s why there’s an unwritten rule—also the entry barrier. Participants must take an Appearance-Shifting Pill beforehand.”

  “Appearance-Shifting Pill?”

  “A very low-tier pill. It temporarily alters one’s physique, blurs facial features—even the voice changes slightly. The effects last about two hours. Unless someone has reached Foundation Establishment and possesses powerful spiritual sense, it’s almost impossible to see through.”

  He finally revealed the true point, his eyes fixed eagerly on Yun Che.

  “The pill formula came from an elder’s travels long ago. It’s not hard to refine, but the materials are tightly controlled. Before each exchange, a few well-connected senior disciples sell them privately—thirty Immortal Talismans per pill, fixed price.”

  “Stone Brother, I just want to gather enough talismans to buy one and try my luck. I heard someone’s offering Gale Powder this time—temporarily boosts reaction speed. It’s extremely useful in combat!”

  Yun Che fell silent for a moment, his decision already made.

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  This exchange—he had to attend.

  The temptation of cultivation manuals was simply too great.

  “That does sound interesting,” Yun Che said slowly.

  “I’d like to see this Appearance-Shifting Pill as well.”

  Yun Feng froze, then burst into joy.

  “You want to go too?! That’s perfect! As long as we have the pill, anyone can enter! In half a month, I’ll come find you—we’ll go together!”

  He had originally worried Yun Che wouldn’t lend him the talismans. Now that Yun Che himself was interested, everything became far easier.

  Without another word, Yun Che walked to his bed and retrieved an inconspicuous cloth pouch from a hidden spot—the Immortal Talismans he had accumulated over the past two months. He counted out sixty, split them into two bundles, and handed them over.

  “Sixty,” he said evenly.

  “Thirty for yours. The other thirty—buy one for me.”

  His tone was calm, as if he were handing over ordinary stones rather than precious talismans.

  Yun Feng’s eyes shone. His hands trembled slightly as he took them and stuffed them into his robe.

  “Stone Brother, don’t worry! Leave it to me! Half a month from now—one hand for the pill, and the other… well, we’ll go together!”

  After exchanging a few more words, Yun Feng could hardly contain his excitement and soon disappeared into the vast curtain of snow.

  Once he was gone, Yun Che returned to the cold, silent side room, his brow furrowing slightly.

  The exchange was an opportunity—but he now lacked trade goods.

  Nearly all of his Immortal Talismans had been committed to purchasing the pills. The few remaining were insignificant. He needed something valuable to barter with.

  “Manual fragments won’t come cheap…” His gaze swept the room before settling on several clay jars filled with water in the corner.

  Water from the Nether Cold Pool contained faint spiritual energy. It might attract low-level disciples, but its value was limited.

  Then, an idea struck him.

  If the stone bead could infuse ordinary spring water with spiritual energy—creating something superior to Nether Cold Pool water—then what about the pure snow of Frost Condensation Peak?

  Once the thought formed, it could not be suppressed.

  He moved immediately.

  Night had already fallen, but the snow reflected enough light to illuminate the courtyard. Yun Che stepped outside and looked at the thick blanket of snow covering the ground.

  Focusing his mind, the faint qi vortex in his dantian began to rotate faster. An invisible force spread outward.

  Suddenly, the flat snowfield rippled as if stirred by an unseen hand. Large chunks of snow rose, separated, and flowed through the air like a white stream, pouring into a large ceramic vat he had prepared earlier.

  Before long, the vat was half-filled with fluffy snow. Sweat appeared on Yun Che’s brow—using Minor Pull to move such a volume of loose material demanded precise control and considerable mental effort.

  He steadied himself and approached the vat.

  Next came melting the snow.

  He had no fire-type techniques, but…

  Extending his right index finger, he concentrated intensely, guiding the strange power infused with void motes within his body. He compressed it at his fingertip, imbuing it with the intent of heat and dispersion—a new attempt to explore the nature of his power after the breakthrough.

  At first, nothing happened.

  He persisted, adjusting his intent and output repeatedly. After more than ten attempts, the air before his fingertip suddenly warped slightly. A nearly imperceptible pale golden glow appeared, and the surrounding temperature rose just a bit.

  “It worked!”

  Though far from forming a fireball, the heat was sufficient. He maintained the output, holding his finger above the snow.

  The snow melted visibly, turning into clear water. The process was slow, demanding unwavering focus. After the time it took an incense stick to burn, the snow had fully melted, leaving the vat one-third full of snow water.

  Yun Che was breathing lightly now, sweat beading on his forehead. Manipulating two different modes of power simultaneously was taxing.

  After a short rest, he retrieved the gray-white stone bead he carried close to his body and carefully placed it into the water.

  He waited, sensing quietly.

  After roughly half a tea’s time—the optimal duration he had determined through repeated experiments—he removed the bead.

  The water still appeared clear, but to his heightened perception, it pulsed with spiritual energy far purer and more active than Nether Cold Pool water. A faint glow shimmered within—icy blue, threaded with silvery specks.

  He scooped a small spoonful and drank it.

  The snow water was icy on entry, yet once swallowed, it transformed into a clear, gentle warmth. It was easier to absorb than the cold flow of Nether Pool water, and its spiritual content was noticeably purer. Though still inferior to the stone bead’s spirit dew, it far surpassed ordinary spring water.

  “It works,” Yun Che murmured, eyes lighting up.

  “Better than Nether Pool water. Not as strong as spirit dew—but the materials are abundant.”

  Without hesitation, he pulled out over a dozen cleaned, empty gourds from beneath his bed—items he had deliberately stockpiled. He repeated the process again and again: gathering snow, melting it, infusing it…

  He worked through half the night, filling every gourd with clear Spirit Snow Water. A large portion of the courtyard snow was gone by the time he finished.

  Looking at the gourds, Yun Che finally felt reassured.

  This would be sufficient bargaining capital at the exchange. For low-level disciples, a stable and easily absorbed source of spiritual energy was always hard currency.

  Yet amid the satisfaction, a faint unease surfaced.

  After this breakthrough, he could clearly sense that both Nether Pool water and the newly refined Spirit Snow Water were slightly less effective for him than before. The change was subtle—but real.

  “Could it be…” Yun Che gazed at the falling snow outside the window, brow creased,

  “…that as my cultivation rises, my body’s tolerance for low-density spiritual energy is changing? One day, these external aids may weaken—or even become useless?”

  He clenched the stone bead in his hand. Its cool touch seeped into his palm, yet ignited a fiercer fire within his chest.

  “I must prepare ahead. Before that day comes, I must either find a more efficient energy source—or uncover a cultivation path truly suited to my unique condition.”

  The exchange gathering…

  It might be the key.

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