"Even for Third Tier spirit materials, you have to rely on the sects!" While they are both excavating ancient relics, how can the loose cultivators compare to the sects in terms of excavation power? Moreover, the superior spirit fields are mostly controlled by the sects, and only sects can cultivate high-tier spirit materials.

"Elder, if you are not satisfied with this place, there’s another option." Noticing Li Ji’an’s disappointment, Zhu Qi quickly suggested.

"There’s more?" Li Ji’an was somewhat surprised. Although he didn’t find any Crystal Condensing Pill materials during this visit, he did obtain a Golden Phoenix Leaf, a Third Tier talisman material about the size of a palm, and traded quite a few Second Tier puppet materials. He was already content since his expectations for this spirit vein market weren’t high.

"There is, well, there’s hope for Third Tier spirit materials there, but it depends on luck and discernment." Zhu Qi enthusiastically promised, then modified his statement.

"Let’s hear it." Li Ji’an focused his divine sense on Zhu Qi, sensing the fluctuations in his mind.

"Elder, there’s a Blind Building shop in the northeast corner; it may have Third Tier spirit materials. It once contained a magical treasure!" Zhu Qi tiptoed close to Li Ji’an’s ear and whispered, dropping a bombshell.

"Magical treasure!" Li Ji’an raised an eyebrow slightly.

Even the lowest Ninth Grade magical treasure is reserved for True Pill Masters, impossible to be sold in the Celestial Cyan Domain, yet this place once had magical treasures.

Moreover, Zhu Qi’s spiritual senses showed no anomalies.

"Did you hear about this, or did you see it yourself?" Li Ji’an asked further.

"Well... junior merely heard, but it’s basically confirmed true." Zhu Qi said firmly.

"Tell me more about this Blind Building!"

"Yes, elder, this Blind Building was originally a shop co-leased by a team of loose cultivators where they distributed relics after excavation.

However, they frequently operated near the Black Water Swamp, excavating ancient tombs and relics. When engulfed by the Black Water, many ancient tombs and cave mansions became corroded, with numerous treasures inside covered in Black Swamp Mud.

The Black Swamp Mud not only carries the corrosiveness of Black Water but also holds the black fog’s divine sense shielding effect. One can only discover the treasure within by breaking the mud open to determine its spiritual value or whether it has lost all value.

Because the treasures revealed are often spiritually depleted and worthless, with only less than twenty percent being valuable, the exploration team broke apart within years, and the shop prepared to withdraw.

In the end, there were still some unopened mud-sealed items left in the store. Due to the Black Water’s toxic fog in the mud seal, opening three items a day is the limit; until the clearance date, not all were opened, resulting in selling them in their unopened state, with an upfront agreement that it’s luck-based; even if they are waste, no complaints.

This mode originally had no inquiries until a junior cultivator took a gamble, opening a Second Tier pill in a jade bottle for just ten spirit stones, with its efficacy completely preserved, immediately trading it for two thousand spirit stones.

This blind box selling rapidly caught fire..." Zhu Qi explained vividly.

Every time he visited the Spirit Village Marketplace, he made sure to open a blind box, and had already done so today.

Li Ji’an listened calmly, pondered for a moment, and said, "Could this blind box be a sham?"

"Respectfully, elder, the Black Swamp Mud is corrosive; if it envelops spiritually void items, they would dissolve instantly without forming a blind box mud lump." Zhu Qi explained.

"Oh."

As they spoke, Zhu Qi had effortlessly led Li Ji’an to the Blind Building.

The rugged two-story building reeked of earthy stench, with visible dark toxic gases lingering around it.

The marketplace required it to set up an isolation array and a toxic cleansing array to prevent toxic gas from the blind boxes from leaking; however, the excessive rush for opening blind boxes led to a widespread overflow of toxic gases, making timely cleaning impossible.

Consequently, visitors to open blind boxes never stayed inside for long.

"Elder Zhu, did you not already open one today? Did you take a detoxification pill?" As soon as they entered, a late Qi Cultivation cultivator with an antitoxic spiritual artifact greeted them.

Zhu Qi immediately composed himself and smiled politely: "I brought a friend to experience it."

"Great, welcome; good luck to both elders in finding rare treasures! Please." The servant immediately led them to the blind box pile wrapped in black mud.

"Elder, the black fog from the Black Water Swamp reportedly carries peculiarities from the Mysterious Forest Desolate Land; even the True Monarch’s Primordial Spirit from the Holy Palace couldn’t see through it." Zhu Qi transmitted hastily as Li Ji’an released his divine sense to explore.

Li Ji’an didn’t speak, but withdrew his divine sense.

As Zhu Qi said, these mud-sealed blind boxes had extremely peculiar divine sense isolation effects.

"Have to bring Xiaoqiao next time!"

After forming a plan, Li Ji’an chose five blind boxes based on luck.

This was also what Zhu Qi said, the Fake Pill True Man could bear the maximum toxic fog exposure.

Due to marketplace regulations, the Black Swamp Mud broken open had to be uniformly processed, generally disallowing customers from taking away blind boxes. Yet, the shopkeeper had privacy considerations, thus set up five individual cabins on the second floor for customers to break open their blind boxes.

Li Ji’an, trying for the first time, had no great expectations, and since the upstairs cabins required waiting, he simply chose to break open the boxes on the spot.

The five blind boxes, differing in sizes, varied in price, costing him a total of two hundred spirit stones. Only one contained a Tier One spirit grass, worth ten spirit stones, losing a net of one hundred ninety spirit stones.

The result did not incite ridicule among the observers, as Li Ji’an could open all five blind boxes at once without showing any signs of poisoning, proving he was at least a Fake Pill True Man.

"Elder, that’s how these blind boxes work..." Zhu Qi quickly transmitted in apology.

Meanwhile, some observers cautiously offered consolation, seeking goodwill from the elder.

Li Ji’an waved with a smile, indifferent.

"Ladies and gentlemen, if anyone opens a Third Tier spirit material, feel free to trade with me." Li Ji’an announced to the crowd.

"Elder seeks Third Tier spirit material?" Upon hearing this, a late Foundation Establishment cultivator promptly approached.

"Does the young friend have it?" Li Ji’an asked casually.

"Please step outside, elder." The person invited Li Ji’an out of the Blind Building.

"Elder, junior knows of a place with a high probability of having Third Tier spirit materials." As they exited, the person transmitted, testing the waters.

"Speak freely, there are plenty of spirit stones for you."

"Junior doesn’t mean that, but this place is an underground tomb, based on junior’s long experience, it must be an ancient grand tomb hosting Third Tier spirit materials; however..."

Upon hearing this, Li Ji’an paused inwardly, wondering if there’s someone from Celestial Cyan Domain meaning harm? Instinctively heightening his vigilance.

"To be honest, that tomb was discovered by junior’s team, but due to insufficient strength, we couldn’t break through, which is why we’ve come to recruit help."

"Then may young friend soon acquire it, if there’s Third Tier spirit material, you can always contact me." Li Ji’an responded ahead.

"Hmm? Elder’s not tempted?" The person was quite surprised.

After finding that underground ancient tomb, they had tried for months, unable to break through, thus reluctantly seeking help, worrying about discovery by others, especially by major sects.

However, seeking help carried risks too.

Cultivation too low, and inviting is pointless.

Cultivation too high, worrying about losing assets.

For that reason, they preemptively spent a considerable sum to acquire a Third Tier Blood Contract.

And yet feared clashing with sect elders.

After observing Li Ji’an for quite some time, particularly for openly seeking Third Tier spirit materials, they decided to try recruiting him.

Unexpectedly, Li Ji’an was untempted by such allure, still preferring purchase.

This delighted him instantly, at least proving this person wasn’t a sect spy, otherwise, he would have first probed about the ancient tomb’s location, also demonstrating substantial financial strength and relatively high moral standing.

"Rest assured, elder; junior sincerely invites you to mutual opportunity. Besides us five brothers, a marketplace Martial Dharma Protector and a Fake Pill Clan elder from Cangyun State have signed onto our Blood Contract too, and ours is a Third Tier Blood Contract, elder can wholly trust. Only waiting for elder to join, then upon finding several Second Tier Breaking Ban Talismans, we’ll definitely open that opportunity!"

"Wu Weixiong... Cangyun State Fake Pill Ancestor... Qin Henian?" Li Ji’an raised his eyebrows slightly, forming a suspicion.

"Junior Gao Yang, a loose cultivator, long practiced in excavating ancient tombs and cave mansions, pure and clear; elder may investigate freely or accompany junior to Spirit Village Mansion." Gao Yang saw Li Ji’an hesitating still, wanting more to draw him into the team.

"Could you tell me how far that tomb is from here? Or the general area?" Li Ji’an pondered for a moment, testing further.

"Elder needn’t worry; friends familiar with me know I always venture within Black Water Swamp, where opportunities abound for us loose cultivators." Gao Yang spoke openly.