When Evan Chu entered the city, he paid close attention to the city guards. These were just ordinary soldiers, all very weak. He figured the Immortal–Demon War had already drafted away anyone with real strength, leaving only the weakest behind.
The cities of the Demonic Realm were different from those in the Netherworld and Immortal Realm. There weren’t many people on the streets; there were some vendors, but none of them shouted to attract customers. Instead, they just sat quietly, waiting for people to come buy.
Evan wasn’t interested in any of the vendors’ goods. What he needed now was to find out how to obtain Soul Mushroom and the location of the Abyss of Ten Thousand Demons. To learn these things, he’d have to ask someone, and the only place to start was a high-end pharmacy in the city—only places like that might know where Soul Mushroom comes from.
As for the Abyss of Ten Thousand Demons, they’d need to find someone with real power to get that information. Evan wasn’t worried about extracting intel from anyone; Jade the Emerald Immortal Empress was an expert at interrogation. Even though she was a woman, her methods were endless—she’d been one of the strongest in the Immortal Realm back in the day.
The two of them strolled down the main street. Jade’s beauty was overwhelming, so she wore a black veil over her face to hide her features—a simple way to avoid a lot of trouble.
After walking for ages, they still hadn’t seen a single pharmacy, which left them both a bit frustrated. “Don’t tell me there aren’t any pharmacies in the Demonic Realm? That can’t be right—even cities in the Immortal Realm have pharmacies selling pills and herbs. Why would there be none here? Or did we just end up in the wrong part of town?” Jade said.
“There must be one. Anywhere can have injuries and bleeding, and the Demonic Realm is no exception. Why don’t we just ask someone?” Evan said.
Just then, a white-haired old man appeared before them. He only had the strength of a Demon General. “Elder, we’re from out of town and don’t know our way around. Could you tell us where the pharmacies are? My friend’s injured and needs some pills for healing.”
The old man glanced at Evan and Jade, then said, “There are three pharmacies here. If you keep going straight for five li, you’ll find one. It’s the smallest and cheapest, and lots of people like to buy there—business is always booming.”
“What about the other two? Could you please tell us, Elder?” Evan asked.
“Listen, young man, isn’t one pharmacy enough for you? Why ask about the other two? That little shop has a full range of herbs—not any less than the bigger ones. Or do you think you’ve got so many Magic Stones you can’t spend them all, and you’re just looking for a way to waste them?” the old man said.
Evan found the old man’s attitude a bit irritating. Why were people in the Demonic Realm so arrogant, even at his age? If it were any other time, he’d want to teach him a lesson.
“Thank you, Elder. We’ll check out the small pharmacy and hope they have what we need!” Jade said.
With that, the two of them quickly headed in the direction the old man had pointed out. After Evan and Jade left, the old man chuckled to himself, “You can tell they’re outsiders at a glance. This time, they’re bound to get fleeced. Better send word to my grandson—those two are fat sheep.”
He took out a black stone and scribbled something on it. After a few breaths, a white light shot out from the stone, flying off in the direction Evan and Jade had gone.
Five li was nothing for Evan and Jade—they arrived quickly. After checking a few shops, they found the pharmacy, but contrary to the old man’s claims of booming business, it was deserted and quiet.
Still, the city itself was huge—no smaller than a second-tier city in the Immortal Realm. Evan planned to visit the City Lord’s mansion after getting information about Soul Mushroom; maybe the city lord would know the whereabouts of the Abyss of Ten Thousand Demons.
As soon as they walked into the pharmacy, the shopkeeper came out to greet them. He looked about thirty, but his face was rat-like and shifty—not a good person by any stretch. Actually, none of the people they’d met along the way looked decent; maybe that was just how things were in the Demonic Realm. Otherwise, why would the Yin–Yang Demon Empress have seized the body of a beauty like Selena?
“Are you here to buy pills or get a diagnosis? Our pharmacy may be small, but it’s famous in the area. Business’s been bad lately because of the Immortal–Demon War—back in the day, this place would be packed. Please, come in!” the shopkeeper said at once.
Evan glanced around the pharmacy and asked, “Is it just you here? Where’s your assistant?”
“My assistant was drafted for the war. I stayed behind because I know how to treat illnesses—people in the city still need a healer. Otherwise, I’d be on the battlefield too,” the shopkeeper said.
The shopkeeper’s strength was about Demon General level, similar to the old man. Evan had no idea he was the old man’s grandson, and took his story at face value.
“So what rare herbs and pills do you have here? If I’m impressed, maybe you’ll make a fortune today,” Evan said. He’d looted plenty of Magic Stones from the people he’d killed, and one of them had tens of thousands.
“Whatever pill you need, we’ve got it. All kinds of rare herbs too—if you can name it, we probably have it. And if we don’t, I’ll find a way to get it for you, but it’ll cost extra,” the shopkeeper said, instantly delighted. Sure enough, this guy was a fat sheep, and he was ready to fleece him.
Evan didn’t know much about Demonic Realm pills. “Just tell me what pills you have and what they cost. Maybe I’ll pick a few.”
“We have Flesh-Regrowth Pills, Blood-Harmony Pills, Heaven-Restoring Pills, and Fuling Pills. As for rare herbs, we’ve got Demonblood Flower, Purple Spirit Grass, and Moon-Gazing Sprout. Which one are you looking for?”
Those three pills are all top-grade—five hundred Magic Stones each, but only mid-grade Magic Stones count. Demonblood Flower and Purple Spirit Grass are three hundred each, and Moon-Gazing Sprout is a thousand. See anything you like?” the shopkeeper said, wishing Evan would buy them all.
“That’s it? Just these junk pills and herbs? Don’t you have anything better?” Evan asked.
“Junk? These are famous pills and herbs in the Demonic Realm! Are you saying you want something even higher grade?” the shopkeeper said, getting flustered—this deal was slipping away.
“I’m here for Soul Mushroom. Do you have any? I’ll pay whatever it costs,” Evan said coolly.
“Soul Mushroom? That’s one of the Demonic Realm’s highest-grade herbs—extremely rare. I remember it appeared only once in the last three hundred years. Why do you need something so rare? Even if you offered me a hundred thousand Magic Stones, I couldn’t get it. Are you just here to cause trouble?” the shopkeeper said angrily.