He Qun nodded affirmatively after hearing it.

“Of course, in the Dream Swamp, if you want to gain something, you basically need to battle with demonic beasts.”

“The deeper you go, the stronger the demonic beasts become, and the greater the rewards you get after winning. Demonic beasts above the second rank have inner cores, which are essential for alchemy. All major sects are willing to pay a high price to purchase them.”

“If many wandering cultivators want to exchange for Foundation Establishment Pills from major sects, they can only venture deep and hunt demonic beasts of the third rank or higher to obtain inner cores.”

Chen Mobai was shocked to hear this.

He did not expect that alchemy in the Tianhe Realm would involve the use of demonic beast inner cores, which was completely different from the methods in the Diyuan Star.

But upon careful consideration, he could understand it. The demonic beasts that have reached a certain rank in the Diyuan Star are basically rare and precious. Most of them are on the verge of extinction and have been listed as protected spirit beasts by the Immortal Gate. Even if they are not killed for their cores, causing any harm would still be big news.

It seems that the alchemy methods in the Tianhe Realm have their merits if the toxicity of the pills is up to standard.

With this in mind, Chen Mobai asked how to get to the Dream Swamp.

“I happen to be forming a team to hunt the Cold Snake. If you are willing to follow my command, I can take you with us.”

He Qun had some understanding of Chen Mobai. He knew that Chen Mobai was at least at the sixth level of Qi Refining and had many powerful talismans. If he could join his team, it would be a great help.

“When will we depart, fellow Daoist?”

Chen Mobai was tempted, but he didn’t immediately agree for caution’s sake.

“Three days from now. Including you, there will be a total of seven people. After hunting the Cold Snake, the rewards will be divided equally. But the snake gallbladder belongs to me. If there is any price difference, it will be compensated with spirit stones.”

“I will consider it and give you an answer tomorrow, fellow Daoist.”

After saying this, Chen Mobai left He Qun’s stall.

Then he asked Qi Er about He Qun’s reputation in the Nanxi Market. He found that it was decent. Most of the cultivators who went out with him could safely return, with only occasional casualties. But in the Dream Swamp, it was already considered a high survival rate team.

Chen Mobai felt relieved. Just at this moment, one of his neighbors who had been away returned. It was Lu Shu. Chen Mobai asked him a question.

“Speaking of Old He, he seems a bit suspicious.”

“Oh, how so?”

Chen Mobai widened his eyes and leaned closer to Lu Shu.

“The survival rate of his team members is too high. Although I only operate on the outskirts of the Dream Swamp, I know that most teams suffer some casualties each time they enter. But his team can almost guarantee that everyone returns safely. I’ve always found this strange.”

After hearing Lu Shu’s words, Chen Mobai began to ponder the reasons behind it.

There were only two explanations for the team members to return safely: either they didn’t venture into areas beyond their capabilities, or the average cultivation level of the team was high, they were well-prepared, and they had excellent cooperation to deal with unexpected situations.

Lu Shu shook his head after hearing Chen Mobai’s analysis and mentioned a possibility that made Chen Mobai shudder.

“Maybe it’s a team specifically created to build a good reputation and attract outsiders to join.”

Hearing this, Chen Mobai thought of the situation when he entered the Water Mansion. The old man and the young man who were originally cooperating suddenly turned hostile towards each other during the distribution of the spoils. It sent a chill down his spine.

No, he had to be more cautious.

After thanking Lu Shu, the latter also gave him some tips for going to the Dream Swamp and handed him a short biography.

“The Dragon Subduing Chronicle of the Primordial True Immortal Yunmeng River”

It was a palm-sized book that Lu Shu used to pass the time while operating his stall. He gave it to Chen Mobai since he had finished reading it. After thanking him, Chen Mobai put it in his pocket.

“By the way, Brother Lu, do you know anyone in the market who cultivates the ‘Blackwater Technique’?”

Chen Mobai asked another crucial question.

In this Eastern Wasteland, where the strong preyed on the weak, cultivators generally practiced defensive spells. If someone had cultivated the ‘Blackwater Technique’ to the later stage of Qi Refining, they would have refined some black water in their bodies.

“There are quite a few. After all, this technique was passed down by the Water Vein of the Five Elements Sect. It has a complete system and orderly inheritance. However, if wandering cultivators want to cultivate this technique and reach Foundation Establishment, they must join the Five Elements Sect. It is also a means for these major sects in the Eastern Wasteland to control wandering cultivators.”

“I have some impression of the Blackwater Technique. I saw a cultivator from the Five Elements Sect display it in the Dream Swamp. But I don’t know if this thing can be traded.”

“By the way, there are shops opened by the Five Elements Sect in the market. You can go and ask.”

Lu Shu’s words reminded Chen Mobai, and he immediately bid farewell and eagerly walked towards the large shops on the central street of the market.The Five Elements Sect was one of the ruling powers in the Nanxi market, owning five shops here. They dealt in spirit stones and gold, elixirs and spiritual herbs, talismans, magical tools, and formations. They were a large and prosperous family with substantial strength.

Chen Mobai went to the shop selling elixirs and spiritual herbs.

“Dear customer, you mentioned Blackwater. Indeed, we have it within our sect and it can be exchanged, but I’m afraid we don’t have it in stock in this shop. I’m sorry,” said the shopkeeper, a middle-aged man at the sixth level of Qi Refining. He wasn’t arrogant like those from major sects and showed a face full of apology after hearing Chen Mobai’s request.

“Shopkeeper, is it possible to get it from your sect’s headquarters?” Chen Mobai asked, only to be met with a shake of the shopkeeper’s head.

“Sir, we don’t have the authority to transfer goods. The items in the market are surplus from our sect, which we are tasked to handle. This Blackwater you’re asking for is basically only useful to those with water veins. Even if we have extra, it would only be sent to the market in Dream Swamp.”

After hearing the shopkeeper’s words, Chen Mobai understood. It seemed that he had no choice but to go to Dream Swamp. But he definitely couldn’t hitch a ride with He Qun.

Before leaving, he asked about the price of Blackwater within the Five Elements Sect. It was not cheap, costing ten spirit stones per bottle. This was the internal price. If sold in the market outside the sect, it would cost at least fifteen spirit stones.

“Thank you, shopkeeper.”

After obtaining the information he wanted, Chen Mobai found He Qun at his stall and told him that he had something to do and would not be joining his team to hunt cold snakes in Dream Swamp. He Qun frowned upon hearing this but didn’t say much.

Chen Mobai didn’t care about his thoughts. Following Lu Shu’s guidance, he found a caravan in the market that dealt with spirit camels.

There were three ways to get to Dream Swamp.

One was to walk there by oneself; the second was to hitch a ride with these cargo caravans; and the third was to spend spirit stones to use the teleportation formation, which cost ten spirit stones per use.