Joe Di was well aware that he would be staying in Cauldron Haven for an extended period, so the first thing he did upon entering the city was to try and purchase a cultivation cave.
Before looking to buy a cultivation cave, Joe Di had already anticipated the steep prices here. Nevertheless, he believed he could afford it—he had about one hundred million upper-grade Immortal Crystals on hand. Even if he spent ten or twenty million on a cultivation cave, he would still have plenty of upper-grade Immortal Crystals left for other needs.
But after asking around, Joe Di’s heart sank. In Cauldron Haven, even the most remote cultivation cave required at least five hundred thousand Liberty Credits—and they still weren’t available for purchase.
If he insisted on buying one, including all the extra fees and arrangements, he’d need at least six or seven hundred thousand Liberty Credits—which was nearly one hundred million upper-grade Immortal Crystals.
Joe Di had inquired: although the official exchange rate between Liberty Credit and upper-grade Immortal Crystals was one to one hundred, in reality, buying a Liberty Credit usually cost around one hundred and eleven upper-grade Immortal Crystals—and even then, it was hard to get. When Liberty Credits were urgently needed, the price on the black market had even reached one to one hundred thirty.
Joe Di sighed and thought to himself that he would have to settle for renting a cultivation cave.
What disappointed Joe Di even more was that after wandering around Cauldron Haven for half a day, he still couldn’t rent a cultivation cave. The only place left for him was the rest lodge.
Alternatively, he could go to the wasteland district of Cauldron Haven—but Joe Di didn’t dare to venture there.
The reason Cauldron Haven’s Immortal Spirit energy was so abundant was mainly due to an internal Purification Array. The array separated the tainted aura from the Immortal Spirit energy and expelled it. With so many cultivators training here every day, countless impurities were naturally discharged.
The wasteland district was the intermediary zone where Cauldron Haven’s Purification Array dumped the tainted aura. The array sent the impurities to the wasteland district, which then funneled them out into the void. Any cultivator with a bit of skill wouldn’t live there. But there were so many impoverished cultivators in the void with nowhere else to go—they could only stay in the wasteland district, since it required no Immortal Crystals and incurred no fees.
“Wait,” Joe Di called out to the attendant. “May I ask, where in Cauldron Haven can I find the best Immortal Spirit Herbs—the ones with the most variety and highest grade?”
The attendant was stunned by Joe Di’s question. He knew Joe Di’s cultivation level, and the fact that Skyrest Lodge had assigned him to settle Joe Di in meant Joe Di wasn’t a Grand Immortal. For a non-Grand Immortal cultivator to ask about the best and highest-grade Immortal Spirit Herbs was almost comical.
It was said that Moonmark Pavilion once sold a single Immortal Spirit Herb for one hundred million Liberty Credits—a price that would probably scare this country bumpkin to death.
Still, Skyrest Lodge’s rule was that guests could never be dissatisfied. Getting a job here wasn’t easy, so no matter how much he looked down on Joe Di, the attendant answered respectfully, “If you’re looking for the best Immortal Spirit Herb shop, that would be Moonmark Pavilion. They once sold an Emperor Lorzhi for one hundred million Liberty Credits. Oh, and last year, Moonmark Pavilion held an auction and sold an Emperor Bluewood Fruit for several tens of millions of Liberty Credits.”
Joe Di was secretly shocked—one hundred million Liberty Credits. All his possessions added up to less than a million.
“Emperor Lorzhi is that expensive? I heard the most precious ninth-grade Immortal Spirit item in the Immortal Realm is called Ahan Trueglass Water—wouldn’t that be worth even more than one hundred million Liberty Credits?” Joe Di asked.
The attendant shook his head. “Ahan Trueglass Water? I’ve never heard of it. Emperor Lorzhi can be used to refine the Taiwei Emperor Elixir, but what is this Trueglass Water? It shouldn’t be more precious than Emperor Lorzhi, right?”
Joe Di felt disappointed that the attendant hadn’t heard of Ahan Trueglass Water. It probably wasn’t as valuable as Emperor Lorzhi, but it was still a top-tier treasure. If Ahan Trueglass Water had ever appeared in Cauldron Haven, the attendant would surely have heard of it.
Since the attendant hadn’t heard of Ahan Trueglass Water, the only possibility was that it had never appeared in Cauldron Haven.
“Thank you. I’ll visit Moonmark Pavilion when I have time,” Joe Di said, then added, “I’m a junior Immortal Alchemist, so I plan to visit these big shops to see all kinds of high-grade Immortal Spirit Herbs.”
Joe Di’s words were intentionally vague. A first-grade Immortal Alchemist was also called an Immortal Alchemist, as were second- and third-grade ones, but there was a difference.
The attendant suddenly understood and exclaimed with delight, “Senior, are you a master of alchemy?”
Joe Di replied modestly, “I can only refine some low-grade Immortal Pills—I’m not worthy of being called a master.”
The attendant was still excited. “Senior, Grandstar Alchemy Pavilion is urgently hiring alchemists. As long as you can refine second-grade Immortal Pills, you can apply there. If you’re hired, you’ll not only get a commission on every batch of pills, but also five hundred Liberty Credits per month.”
Joe Di was intrigued—he’d seen Grandstar Alchemy Pavilion before while searching for a sanctuary. Its entrance wasn’t especially grand, but it was located on the main thoroughfare.
Right now, Joe Di had no source of income in Cauldron Haven. If he could get hired at Grandstar Alchemy Pavilion, he could not only improve his alchemy skills but also earn some Liberty Credits. More importantly, Grandstar specialized in pills and Immortal Spirit Herbs. Since he needed Ahan Trueglass Water, working at an alchemy shop would be the best way to hear about it.
“Thank you—I’ll go check out Grandstar Alchemy Pavilion tomorrow,” Joe Di said sincerely, grateful to the attendant.
He was indeed a third-grade Immortal Alchemist, but in a place like Cauldron Haven, surviving as an outsider and a junior alchemist was truly difficult.
The attendant quickly waved his hands. “No need, no need…”
After saying “no need” twice, the attendant seemed to have something else to say but didn’t quite dare to.
Joe Di instantly noticed the attendant’s hesitation and chuckled. “If I get hired at Grandstar Alchemy Pavilion as an alchemist, just come find me if you ever need pills. I can’t make high-grade Immortal Pills, but ordinary low-grade ones are no problem.”
“Thank you, senior,” the attendant said, bowing deeply. That was exactly what he’d wanted to say.
In Cauldron Haven, both alchemists and artifact refiners were extremely rare. Artifact refiners were a bit more common, since there were plenty of materials in the void. Most cultivators could set up simple array flags, which required self-refining, so there were more artifact refiners than alchemists.
Alchemists were truly rare, mainly because although there were plenty of Immortal Spirit Herbs in the void, most were extremely precious. Only a fool would use such rare herbs to learn alchemy.
Besides, in Cauldron Haven, cultivation was what mattered most—who would waste time on alchemy? Even training time wasn’t enough. If Joe Di hadn’t obtained the golden Dao Principle, he wouldn’t have qualified as an alchemist either.
As for disciples from the star continents, alchemists were well protected. Naturally, few alchemists from the void ever came to Cauldron Haven.
After the attendant left, Joe Di didn’t go out. He seized the opportunity to cultivate here.
Even though Joe Di hadn’t visited the wasteland district and hadn’t witnessed its brutal survival-of-the-fittest, he knew that strength was everything in Cauldron Haven. Otherwise, as long as he didn’t leave, he could still end up in the wasteland district.
The night passed uneventfully. Early the next morning, Joe Di left Skyrest Lodge and headed for Grandstar Alchemy Pavilion.
Joe Di walked along the main street, feeling the bustling energy of Cauldron Haven. Even early in the morning, cultivators hurried by, each with their own purpose.
He quickly arrived at Grandstar Alchemy Pavilion. The shop wasn’t large, but the signboard was prominent, and the interior was filled with the scent of herbs and pills.
There were already several cultivators waiting inside. Some were here to purchase pills, others to sell spirit herbs. Joe Di stepped forward and greeted the attendant at the counter.
“May I ask if Grandstar Alchemy Pavilion is recruiting alchemists?” Joe Di asked politely.
The attendant looked Joe Di up and down, then replied, “We are indeed hiring. May I know your grade and specialization?”
“I am a third-grade Immortal Alchemist, skilled at refining low- and mid-grade pills,” Joe Di answered truthfully.
The attendant’s eyes lit up. “Please wait a moment. I’ll inform the manager.”
Soon, a middle-aged cultivator in a blue robe came out. He sized up Joe Di and said, “You wish to apply as an alchemist? Please follow me to the testing room.”
Joe Di nodded and followed the manager through a side door, entering a room filled with pill furnaces and rare herbs.
The manager gestured to a pill furnace. “Please refine a batch of second-grade Immortal Pills as your test.”