Chapter 19: Deep Pockets

Led by the gatekeeper, Yao Yan quickly arrived at a shop specializing in maps.

The gatekeeper enthusiastically introduced the shop to Yao Yan, "Young Master, this shop sells maps of most of the Shennong Mountain Range, which should meet your requirements. If you need more detailed maps, you would have to go to the Floating Island to purchase them..."

"No need, this place will suffice. Thank you."

Yao Yan interrupted the gatekeeper, tossing him a first-grade Qi Recovery Pill, and then strode into the shop.

The gatekeeper looked at the Qi Recovery Pill in his hand and realized Yao Yan didn't want too much interaction with him. Sighing, he turned and left. He had made a significant profit just for showing the way and receiving a Qi Recovery Pill. If he were to be greedy, he might anger Yao Yan. Not all members of the Yao Clan had good tempers.

Upon entering the shop, Yao Yan found it to be spacious and neatly organized. Many people were inside, purchasing maps, including mercenaries and adventurers.

"Is this your first time in Shennong City, young master?"

At that moment, a young shop assistant approached. His sharp eyes had noticed Yao Yan's extraordinary status.

Yao Yan nodded, "Yes, I'm here to buy some maps. Besides maps of the Shennong Mountain Range, I also want maps of other regions, as detailed as possible. Price is not an issue."

"Then you've come to the right place."

The young assistant's eyes gleamed with joy, and his attitude became even more enthusiastic. Gesturing with a smile, he said, "Please follow me, young master, let's discuss this inside."

Yao Yan did not refuse and followed him into an inner room.

The inner room was more luxuriously furnished, with beautiful maidservants attending to guests, offering tea and pastries.

The young assistant invited Yao Yan to sit, then asked unhurriedly, "May I boldly ask if you are from the Yao Clan, young master?"

"A branch family member."

Yao Yan replied calmly without changing his expression.

He had no intention of hiding his identity. In the Shennong Mountain Range, the Yao Clan's name was a strong deterrent. No one would risk offending a young member of the Yao Clan, especially since they couldn't know who might be supporting him.

Even a Dou Ancestor expert would weigh the consequences carefully.

The young assistant wasn't surprised by Yao Yan's answer, having already guessed his identity. Core members of the Yao Clan traveled with guards and would only shop on the Floating Island, not in the lower city. They were also easily recognizable by the clan emblem shaped like a medicine gourd on their foreheads.

Only branch family members would come here for training or shopping.

As for ordinary people... Yao Yan's bearing and appearance didn't match those struggling at the bottom.

"I am Wang Xiao, a registered disciple of the Shennong Sect, managing several shops in Shennong City. If you have any needs, young master, I can certainly assist."

Wang Xiao spoke seriously, indicating his readiness to help.

A mere Dou Master, yet quite confident... Yao Yan thought to himself. With his soul power, he had easily assessed Wang Xiao's strength. After a brief contemplation, Yao Yan said, "Let's discuss the maps first. What's the price for your most detailed maps?"

Wang Xiao countered with a question, "It depends on how detailed a map you need, young master. For maps within a radius of ten thousand miles, we have very detailed ones. They accurately record all major danger zones and magical beast territories, all verified by the Shennong Sect. However, for further distances, I'm afraid we can't help."

Ten thousand miles... Fair enough, in the Dou Qi Continent, that's not far. Travel between regions often uses spatial wormholes.

"A map within a thousand miles will do. Additionally, I need a map of the Dou Qi Continent, preferably with markers for interregional travel routes."

Yao Yan specified his requirements, aiming to locate the Jia Ma Empire.

If he remembered correctly, the Jia Ma Empire was in the northwest corner of the Dou Qi Continent, a small country on the map. It might be easier to identify the positions of the Jia Nan Academy and the Black-Corner Region, as the former was quite renowned on the continent.

"Please wait a moment, young master."

Wang Xiao said, then left the room.

After waiting for about the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, Wang Xiao returned to the room with two jade tablets in hand. He handed them to Yao Yan and explained, "If you are an alchemist, you can read these with your soul power. If not, you can activate them with Dou Qi, but the latter method is a bit cumbersome."

He didn't elaborate on what exactly was cumbersome, as members of the Yao Clan were almost invariably alchemists. Even those who weren't had a much greater proficiency in using soul power compared to others.

Yao Yan nodded, took the two jade tablets, and infused them with his soul power. Immediately, a 3D-like map appeared in his mind. Centered on Shennong City, it detailed everything within a thousand-mile radius.

As long as no significant battles had occurred recently, the external world would align closely with the map's depiction.

The map of the Dou Qi Continent, however, was much less detailed.

Yao Yan examined it briefly but frowned when he saw that it didn't include the Black-Corner Region or the Jia Nan Academy.

"Is there something you're not satisfied with, young master?" Wang Xiao asked nervously. The maps he provided were top-quality, and if Yao Yan refused to pay after examining them, it would be problematic.

Fortunately, Wang Xiao's worry was unfounded. Yao Yan was a man of his word. He smiled lightly and said, "I am quite satisfied with the maps. However, I remember my teacher mentioning in the clan's school that there is a Dou Qi Academy called Canaan Academy on the continent. I am very interested in it. Have you heard of it?"

"Are you referring to the academy in the Black-Corner Region?" Wang Xiao asked after some thought.

Yao Yan pretended to ponder and said uncertainly, "I believe so."

"If it's the academy in the Black-Corner Region, it wouldn't be marked on this map. That requires a specific map. If you need it, I can fetch it for you, but the information on that map won't be as detailed as these two."

Wang Xiao explained. The Shennong Sect had been in the Shennong Mountain Range for a long time and naturally didn't have much information about other parts of the continent.

The Black-Corner Region was known for its chaos. It was infamous on the Dou Qi Continent for its lawlessness. Women there were often more ruthless than men to survive...

However, the region held little allure for true experts because its location meant that the energy of heaven and earth was too thin, making it unsuitable for high-level cultivation, especially for those at the Dou Zun level and above.

As a result, the Black-Corner Region remained chaotic.

It was said that the ongoing conflicts between various factions contributed to this chaos. The Dou Qi Continent seemed to need a place like this to exist.

Existence is justified by reason.

"No problem," Yao Yan said calmly.

Wang Xiao didn't argue further and went to fetch a map of the Black-Corner Region. He quickly returned with a somewhat rudimentary map. Compared to the previous maps, this one was a physical map. It only marked the location of Jia Nan Academy and some topography, without detailing other cities or factions.

"The Black-Corner Region is notoriously chaotic. Factions rise and fall daily, and entire cities can be wiped out, so it's difficult to record precise information," Wang Xiao explained helplessly.

Yao Yan nodded in satisfaction. "Very good. I'll take all three. However, I didn't bring money. I'd like to pay with medicinal pills."

He took out several bottles of pills from his storage ring, containing third-grade and even some precious fourth-grade pills.

"Third-grade Qi Recovery Pills, third-grade Qi Boosting Pills, fourth-grade Qi Gathering Powder, fourth-grade Qi Exploding Pills..."

Wang Xiao opened each bottle, quickly becoming overwhelmed by Yao Yan's generosity. As a registered disciple of the Shennong Sect, he had enough knowledge to recognize the value of these pills.

As expected from a member of the Yao Clan.

The pills Yao Yan casually took out were things others could only dream of.

Yao Yan gently stroked the little green wood fox in his arms, smiling. "These should cover the cost. Please exchange any surplus for currency."