"What? Rank 2 herbs are controlled resources?"
This news startled Qi Ping. When his strength was low, he naturally couldn't pay attention to things at the Rank 2 level. When he had needs before, he simply went to Meng Yan, who was the disciple of a Golden Core Elder, and Meng Yan had never mentioned it.
"Can you explain in detail? How else can one obtain them?"
"Of course, Senior, though I only know so much. Please forgive me if I miss anything!"
Qi Ping nodded, and the manager continued.
"In the Qingtian Domain, all spirit veins are under the control of the Qingyuan Sect. Rank 2 veins are held firmly by their own people. Because such veins are rare and Rank 2 herbs take a long time to grow, even the total production isn't enough to supply the sect's own Foundation Establishment cultivators."
"Even within the sect, the authority to buy Rank 2 herbs is allocated by rank. Very few ever reach wandering cultivators or clans, and even fewer appear in shops for sale. In a place like Qingshi County, a Rank 2 herb might only appear once every few years."
Qi Ping listened in silence, his expression growing more solemn. He hadn't expected the control to be this severe. He understood why, but it was a massive headache. No wonder Golden Core masters were so rare in this domain; there weren't even enough Rank 2 herbs to go around. Without resources, trying to reach the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment by just absorbing natural energy would take five hundred years.
The root cause was the scarcity of spirit veins! With the sect controlling the veins and the herbs, they held the keys to advancement. The manager looked at Qi Ping's darkening face with trepidation, fearing he might erupt in anger.
Fortunately, after a moment, Qi Ping spoke.
"Thank you for telling me. I won't disturb you further."
"Safe travels, Senior."
Qi Ping visited two more chambers and got the same result. He had no choice but to leave the market and head for larger cities in search of Rank 2 herbs or seeds.
"What a mess!" Qi Ping sighed helplessly. Even with spirit stones, he couldn't buy what he needed.
In the Qingtian Domain, Rank 2 resources were the dividing line, held firmly by the ruling class. If you wanted to break through, you had to join the sect and work to raise your rank. Even then, you only gained the right to buy them; you still had to pay every single spirit stone required.
'Is this the class structure of the cultivation world?'
'Unless broken from the outside, it is nearly impenetrable from within. As long as the sect holds the resources, no matter how talented you are, your chances are slim.'
The only saving grace was the existence of external pressure. To attract people and maintain its strength, the Qingyuan Sect had to make certain concessions and sacrifices. Otherwise, the inner circle holding the resources would have become even more depraved.
'Fortunately, I chose the Druid class. Otherwise, if I couldn't nurture my own resources, talent would be useless. Good luck leads to the top, bad luck leads to a life of frustration or becoming a target for possession.'
No wonder the Black Market points were so hard to get and the missions so dangerous, yet the organization remained strong for hundreds of thousands of years. When choked by class barriers, the Black Market was the only choice. However, for now, Qi Ping had no intention of using his points. They were earned with his life; he had to save them for a critical moment.
'Larger cities should have a chance for herbs, and the probability of finding seeds is higher. As long as I find one plant capable of reproduction, I can nurture it and have the Apothecary Bees combine it with my Rank 1 herbs to make honey for me and my companions.'
When he first set out, he had hoped for a variety of herbs. Now, he only hoped for one that could reproduce.
'I'll check Tianshui City first!'
Tianshui City was a large city near the county with booming trade. But when he arrived, he found only ruins. It had likely been destroyed during the war and abandoned.
'Could a Golden Core level battle have happened here? A city this size turned to rubble?'
He moved on to the next city, Cangbi City. To his dismay, he visited three more cities and found nothing. Every merchant said the war had exhausted their Rank 2 stocks, and they couldn't even get enough for their own use, let alone sell any.
That night, hiding in a forest, Qi Ping sighed. The difficulty of obtaining Rank 2 herbs was far beyond his imagination.
'I'll search for one more day. If I still find nothing, I'll have to buy from the Black Market or ask Brother Meng for help.'
The next morning, he went to the nearby Litian City. Still nothing. He headed for his final destination, Chiyang City. Just as he thought he would return empty-handed, the manager sitting across from him spoke.
"Our Rank 2 herbs were exhausted years ago. But as for seeds... we have two."