The twelve Scorching Sun Essence Stones shimmered brightly. The man reached out, picked one up, examined it, and said with a face full of joy, "Good, good, they're all top-grade."

After appraising them, the man waved his hand, collected the twelve Scorching Sun Essence Stones, and looked at Yu Xian with a smile, "Give me your Storage Pouch, and I'll transfer one hundred and forty-four Low-Grade Spirit Stones to you."

"I don't have a Storage Pouch," Yu Xian shook his head.

"No Storage Pouch?" The man frowned, "Then how will you carry one hundred and forty-four Low-Grade Spirit Stones? In a bag?"

Yu Xian looked at the man and said, "No need to give them to me. I'd like to exchange for a Talismanic Treasure, the more powerful, the better."

"Exchange for a Talismanic Treasure?" The man was a bit surprised, looked at Yu Xian for a while, then nodded, "We have some, wait here."

A Talismanic Treasure is neither a Magical Treasure, a Spiritual Treasure, nor a Supreme Treasure. It is a spell technique sealed by a Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, or even Elemental Infant cultivator. Once used, it is completely expended. The stronger the sealed spell technique, the more powerful the Talismanic Treasure, and naturally, the higher the price.

The man turned and left the counter, returning shortly after with a red talisman. "This is a Fire Dragon Technique from a mid-Foundation Establishment expert, worth one hundred and fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones, but since I like you, I'll sell it to you for one hundred and forty-four."

The man looked at Yu Xian with a smile, "Remember to come to me if you have more Scorching Sun Essence Stones in the future."

"Thank you." Yu Xian nodded, took the fiery Talismanic Treasure, and turned to leave. But after taking just two steps, he suddenly turned back and asked, "How many Spirit Stones does it take to buy a Storage Pouch?"

The man replied, "A Storage Pouch is a rare item, it takes a thousand to exchange for one."

"A thousand..." Yu Xian nodded and left with large strides.

Watching Yu Xian's departing figure, the man shook his head and muttered to himself, "Buying a Talismanic Treasure at the early Qi Condensation stage? Sigh, with all these grudges, someone might end up dead."

With a Talismanic Treasure in his possession, Yu Xian felt much more at ease. This was a powerful weapon! If Zhao Mulin discovered the secret of the Jade Pendant and tried to seize it in the future... A cold light flashed in Yu Xian's eyes, filled with killing intent.

Arriving at the Teleportation Grand Hall, Yu Xian spent another two Spirit Stones to return to the Mining Area. Looking at the vast mining mountains, Yu Xian headed towards the mine cave. Strike while the iron is hot; the Storage Pouch still requires a thousand Spirit Stones, nearly a hundred Scorching Sun Essence Stones. He needed to work hard at mining.

"What is this kid up to, spending four Spirit Stones just to make a round trip after getting ten?" In his dwelling, Zhao Mulin watched Yu Xian return through the window, frowning and wondering to himself. Yu Xian had left the Teleportation Array right under his nose, and he had seen it clearly. Naturally, he wouldn't stop any disciple from moving around; this was the Hundred Mines Workshop of the White Cloud Sect, not some mortal's black mine. But he was puzzled. Spirit Stones were so precious, and this kid had just gotten ten, only to spend four to return to the sect for a look? Was he out of his mind?

After pondering for a while, Zhao Mulin couldn't figure it out. However, he was certain that this kid had a secret. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he watched Yu Xian disappear into the mining mountains and finally couldn't resist. He raised his hand, and a talisman appeared, which he stuck onto himself, turning his body semi-transparent.

Invisibility Talisman.

"Let's see how this kid mines in the abandoned mine cave." Zhao Mulin muttered to himself, using the cover of darkness to head towards Dingzi No. 18 Mine Cave.

Inside the mine cave, Yu Xian walked along the rock wall, using the reaction of the Jade Pendant on his chest to sense whether there were Scorching Sun Essence Stones within the rock wall. However, since this was an abandoned mine, even if there were Scorching Sun Essence Stones, they were extremely rare.

Yu Xian continued forward, walking a hundred meters deep before the Jade Pendant on his chest suddenly warmed up, emitting a faint glow. With a look of joy, Yu Xian swung his Mining Blade and began digging into the rock wall.

Unbeknownst to Yu Xian, Zhao Mulin's semi-transparent figure was hidden in the darkness far behind him, watching Yu Xian mine like a snake eyeing its prey. This kid had twisted and turned for over a hundred meters before starting to dig here. Could there really be essence stones inside this rock wall?

If there really were... The thought sent a shiver down Zhao Mulin's spine, giving him goosebumps all over. This kid either had a rare treasure for detecting ores or could see the mineral veins!

Excited, Zhao Mulin held his breath. The only sounds in the mine cave were Yu Xian's heavy breathing and the clashing of iron and stone.

Ten minutes later, the mining tunnel Yu Xian had dug suddenly lit up, illuminating the surroundings!

"What!?" Even Zhao Mulin, who had seen many ores, was shocked on the spot, "Scorching Sun Essence Jade!? How can there still be any!?"

Scorching Sun Essence Jade is a material that only appears when a Scorching Sun Essence Stone vein condenses to a certain extent, making it extremely rare. Typically, a vein only produces one piece. This abandoned mine had already produced a piece of Scorching Sun Essence Jade two years ago, and now, another one had appeared!?

Seeing the dazzling light, it was undoubtedly Scorching Sun Essence Jade! But then the brilliant light vanished, clearly covered and collected.

Zhao Mulin's heart tightened, and he couldn't help but rush forward to the tunnel Yu Xian had dug, shouting, "Kid, hand over the Scorching Sun Essence Jade! I will spare you..."

Inside the tunnel, he didn't see the Scorching Sun Essence Jade, only Yu Xian's eyes filled with cold light and his outstretched hand!

Zhao Mulin's pupils contracted to the extreme! A ten-meter-long fire dragon roared out from the red talisman, pouncing towards him!

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"No!!" Zhao Mulin screamed, his late Qi Condensation cultivation erupted wildly, and several defensive Magical Treasures on him activated! But this ten-meter fire dragon was an attack from a mid-Foundation Establishment expert! If Zhao Mulin had been prepared, he might have had a Talismanic Treasure to counter it. But Yu Xian was too decisive, giving him no chance, not even time to negotiate or speak! He couldn't use any means!

The fire dragon roared, engulfing Zhao Mulin, and his defensive Magical Treasures dimmed instantly, breaking and flying away. Zhao Mulin's screams echoed throughout the mine cave! In just three breaths, the screams ceased, the fire dragon extinguished, leaving only a charred corpse!

Yu Xian quickly stepped forward, collected the three scattered Magical Treasures, and dragged the charred corpse deeper into the mine cave. After running for two hours, Yu Xian reached the deepest part of the mine cave, panting heavily before stopping.

Zhao Mulin's corpse was unrecognizable. With an expressionless face, Yu Xian searched it and found a Storage Pouch. As for the Invisibility Talisman, it had long been burned away by the fire dragon.

"You brought this upon yourself, don't blame me," Yu Xian whispered, beginning to form hand seals. First, he used the Minor Wind Blade Technique, slicing the corpse into pieces. After restoring his Spiritual Qi with Spirit Stones, he used the Minor Fireball Technique!

One, two, three... Until only two Spirit Stones remained, Yu Xian used a total of eighty-seven Minor Fireball Techniques to completely incinerate Zhao Mulin's corpse into ashes and bone fragments...

Outside, daylight broke, and many disciples began a new day of mining and treasure hunting. Yu Xian, as if nothing had happened, walked out of the mine cave, washed up by the river, discreetly sent the ashes and bone fragments down the river, and calmly returned to his small dwelling.

***

Letting out a heavy breath, Yu Xian sat back on his bed, sweat seeping from his body! Fear and relief filled his heart. If he hadn't exchanged for that Fire Dragon Technique Talismanic Treasure, he might have already become Zhao Mulin's prey, at his mercy. If he had hesitated and not acted decisively, giving Zhao Mulin time to prepare, his fate would have been the same!

Decisiveness, without hesitation, seizing the moment, that was the key to victory! The fifteen-year-old Yu Xian's gaze was cold and resolute! Taking a few deep breaths to calm his mind, Yu Xian took out the Storage Pouch he had obtained from Zhao Mulin.

Storage Pouches are distributed for free to Inner Disciples of the White Cloud Sect, but for Outer Disciples, obtaining one is extremely difficult. The materials, crafting method, and craftsmen needed to make Storage Pouches are all extremely rare. Thus, their defensive capabilities are quite good, and ordinary Magical Treasures can't destroy them. Moreover, they belong to the category of spatial Magical Treasures. Hence, their full name is the Sumeru Mustard Seed Spatial Storage Pouch.

Infusing it with Spiritual Qi, Yu Xian closed his eyes, and through the Spiritual Qi, he saw everything inside the Storage Pouch. The next moment, Yu Xian opened his eyes, his gaze shining!

Inside the Storage Pouch, besides over three hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones, there were more than eighty Scorching Sun Essence Stones!

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Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan