After leaving the Jiangnan City military camp.
Zhang Yang returned home late at night.
Now.
He had a general understanding of the realm divisions.
First was the Outer Body Refining Realm.
This realm was further divided into four minor realms: Kui, Ren, Xin, and Geng.
Then came the Inner Body Qi Cultivation Realm.
This realm was also divided into four minor realms: Ding, Bing, Yi, and Jia.
As for what came after.
Since Qi Dalei himself didn't know, Zhang Yang was also unclear.
Judging from the performance of Qi Dalei and Nangong Wu today.
Zhang Yang guessed that both of them were in the Outer Body Refining Realm.
Specifically, between the Xin and Geng stages.
However, Zhang Yang's overall feeling was that Qi Dalei was stronger.
But.
The aura hidden within the Patrol Division building today.
Made Zhang Yang feel a sense of trepidation, it was very likely a master of the Inner Body Realm.
People of this realm.
If Qi Dalei and the others had no trump cards, it would be extremely difficult for them to cope.
Moreover.
Today, Zhang Yang was arrested by the Patrol Division, and Nangong Wu privately confiscated three Guiyuan Pills.
With these three Guiyuan Pills in hand, Nangong Wu and the others' strength would further improve.
In this way.
The Dragon Group would lose more than it won in this year's competition.
Zhang Yang rubbed his temples.
This matter, in a way, started because of him.
If he wanted to ensure the Dragon Group won the competition.
Even if he himself participated, he wouldn't have absolute certainty.
Unless...
Qi Dalei's realm could also be elevated to the Inner Body level.
Then...
Zhang Yang frowned and pondered.
To make someone advance from the Outer Body Realm to the Inner Body Realm in a short period, there was only one way.
That was the pill recorded in the "Carefree Immortal Scripture."
The Great Returning Pill.
However, to refine the Great Returning Pill, at Zhang Yang's current realm.
It would likely be very difficult.
Having inherited the "Carefree Immortal Scripture," Zhang Yang's realm was somewhat different from the external divisions.
There were no minor realms, only nine major realms.
Currently, Zhang Yang was in the weakest realm of the "Carefree Immortal Scripture," the Carefree Human Realm.
The corresponding realm was roughly the Outer Body Refining Realm.
And pills like the Great Returning Pill were pills that could only be refined in the Carefree Earth Realm.
If he tried with his current realm, the success rate would be very low.
This was even considering that Zhang Yang had forged the Carefree Immortal Body and possessed true qi.
"Damn it, it's mainly because this cultivation method is too tricky, otherwise, why would I be so passive?" Zhang Yang cursed inwardly.
In fact.
The method of increasing strength in the "Carefree Immortal Scripture" was still very simple.
But Zhang Yang found it too difficult.
Because...
To advance realms, one had to engage in yin-yang union with a woman, thereby...
Of course.
Besides this, there was another method.
That was to find rare heavenly treasures that could increase one's realm.
However, in this world where spiritual energy was scarce, such treasures were basically impossible to find.
"Let's try first. If it doesn't work, I'll participate myself during the competition."
With a plan, Zhang Yang lay down on the bed and slept.
The night passed without incident.
The next morning.
Zhang Yang got up early.
With Han Wenkang dead, the Han Group was entirely under Han Xiyao's control.
Zhang Yang didn't fear anyone reporting him for not going to work.
After a simple breakfast, Zhang Yang headed straight to the largest medicinal herb market in Jiangnan City.
Zhang Yang had been here once before to buy herbs for refining Guiyuan Pills.
This time, he was quite familiar with the route.
Soon, he bought all the medicinal herbs needed to refine the Great Returning Pill.
Although the years were not as expected, there was nothing he could do about it. It was good enough to gather the herbs now.
"Looks like I need to buy a car. Taking taxis all the time isn't a solution."
Zhang Yang muttered to himself, then picked up the herbs and left the shop, preparing to head to the nearby taxi stand.
However, before he had walked far.
Zhang Yang heard a young woman's pleading voice.
"Boss, this is truly a precious Chinese medicinal herb. If you think it's too expensive, can I lower the price a bit?"
"You... you see if eight thousand is okay? I'll sell you this Purple Bamboo Fruit for eight thousand."
Afterward.
An angry middle-aged voice came.
"Get lost! What kind of nonsense Purple Bamboo Fruit is that? I've never even heard of it."
"Stop making trouble in front of my shop, you're driving away customers."
The commotion over there was quite loud.
Zhang Yang couldn't help but stop and look back.
He saw a medicinal herb shop owner pushing a girl out.
Crash.
The girl stumbled back and fell to the ground.
The basket she was holding also flew up.
The Purple Bamboo Fruits inside scattered all over the ground, and one rolled to Zhang Yang's feet.
"Hmm? What is this..." Zhang Yang's breath hitched.
He had found the Purple Bamboo Fruit familiar when the girl mentioned it earlier.
Now, seeing the real thing, a golden light flashed in his eyes.
"It resembles jade, round but not smooth, with a purple outer layer, solid but not heavy. It really is a Purple Bamboo Fruit!" Zhang Yang exclaimed excitedly.
He quickly stepped forward and helped the girl pick up all the Purple Bamboo Fruits scattered on the ground.
"Th-thank you," the girl said timidly, a little scared.
"You're welcome. My name is Zhang Yang, what's yours?" Zhang Yang smiled.
The girl in front of him was actually very clean.
Not at all messy like the medicinal herb shop owner had described.
It was just that her clothes were a bit old-fashioned, and even her pants had a few patches.
"My name is Zhu Dongling," Zhu Dongling replied.
She saw Zhang Yang continuously picking up and examining the Purple Bamboo Fruits in the basket.
Her disappointed eyes suddenly flickered with expectation.
"Big brother, do you want to buy this Purple Bamboo Fruit? My grandfather said it's a very precious Chinese medicinal herb, and it only bears fruit once every three years."
"It's not expensive, only... only ten thousand."
After saying that.
Zhu Dongling immediately regretted it and quickly corrected herself, "No... no need for ten thousand, eight thousand is fine."
"Heh, let me take a look."
Zhang Yang smiled and continued to examine the Purple Bamboo Fruits in the basket.
"Okay," Zhu Dongling said excitedly, with a hint of anticipation in her heart.
If Zhang Yang was willing to buy the Purple Bamboo Fruit, then her brother's tuition fees and her mother's medical expenses would be covered.
Even though eight thousand yuan would be a bit short.
She could find a way to borrow the remaining two thousand.
At this moment, the medicinal herb shop owner who had pushed Zhu Dongling earlier suddenly walked over.
He pondered for a moment and said.
"Young man, don't be fooled by this girl. I've been running a Chinese medicine shop for so many years, and I've never heard of a Purple Bamboo Fruit."
"It's probably some wild fruit picked from a mountain. There are many scammers these days, don't get tricked."
"You... you're talking nonsense, I'm not a scammer." Zhu Dongling quickly retorted.
She had been in the Chinese medicinal herb market for half a day.
She had visited many medicinal herb shops, but without exception, she was driven away.
Now that she finally saw a glimmer of hope and Zhang Yang was interested in the Purple Bamboo Fruit.
Zhu Dongling didn't want to lose this buyer.
Otherwise, her mother's medical expenses and her brother's tuition fees would be in vain again.
"Heh, I'm talking nonsense? Ask others, see if I'm talking nonsense." The medicinal herb shop owner sneered.
Many shop owners in the medicinal herb market also came forward.
They had also been bothered by Zhu Dongling earlier, and they stepped forward to say.
"This Purple Bamboo Fruit is not recorded in any medicinal books, it's probably a made-up name."
"Why does a little girl do something wrong instead of being a scammer?"
"Young man, don't be fooled by the other party. Losing a little money is nothing, but it would be terrible if you accidentally ate the Purple Bamboo Fruit and something happened to your body."
"..."
These medicinal herb shop owners, one after another, spoke.
Instantly, Zhu Dongling, who was already timid, had tears in her eyes.
"No, I'm not a scammer. I can apologize for bothering you earlier."
"I'm sorry."
"But please don't falsely accuse me anymore, I'm really not a scammer."
Mid-sentence, Zhu Dongling looked nervously at Zhang Yang.
"Brother Zhang, if you really want to buy the Purple Bamboo Fruit, I can lower the price a bit more..."
Obviously.
The surrounding gossip made Zhu Dongling worried that Zhang Yang wouldn't buy it, so she proactively lowered the price.
However, this proactive price reduction was seized upon by the medicinal herb shop owner.
"See, she still says she's not a scammer, and as soon as she's exposed, she lowers the price!"
"Young man, you mustn't be moved by pity and be deceived by this girl."
"..."
With a clatter.
Zhu Dongling, who had been squatting and secretly crying, directly fell to the ground.
She thought that by compromising and apologizing, these people would let her go.
But.
The other party remained relentless.
Why, why is this world so unfair to me?
Why, why does everyone want to hurt me?
Why, why is my fate so tragic?
Why...
Zhu Dongling had many "whys" in her heart.
Her expression was somewhat desolate, and she picked up her basket to leave.
Seeing this.
The medicinal herb shop owner finally called off the attack and let her go.
But the next moment, they were stunned again.
"Little sister, where are you going? I didn't say I wouldn't buy it."