Chapter 976: Ning Hai Pill Store

Ye Mo and his companions searched for Song Yangzhu and others, as well as water weed, at various pill towers. To Ye Mo's surprise, many knew of the water weed, indicating it wasn't exceptionally rare. However, he was disappointed by the low supply; not because it was precious, but because it was undervalued and dangerous to harvest.

Water weed grew on remote offshore islands, often guarded by level five or six beasts, many of which preyed upon it. Collecting the level four herb thus required slaying the guardians first. Furthermore, the water weed only served as an ingredient for water algae pills, used by water element cultivators, but its effects were far weaker than clear essence pills or even benefit essence pills. Consequently, few risked the dangers of harvesting it, prioritizing beast cores and other herbs instead.

After learning this, Ye Mo decided to explore Pei Hai City. If he couldn't locate Song Yangzhu and the others, he would establish a pill shop there.

"Ye Mo, Ning Hai Pills!" Su Jingwen exclaimed joyfully, pointing to a corner.

Ye Mo immediately saw Song Yangzhu and Zhen Xiaoshan, swiftly pulling Su Jingwen and the others towards them, relieved to find them safe.

"Return the pill? Do you know how much trouble this caused? Do you think this is sufficient compensation?" two golden core cultivators sneered at Song Yangzhu and Zhen Xiaoshan.

Ye Mo recognized the situation as familiar to them. He sensed they weren't thriving in Pei Hai. He wondered about Li Yuqian's absence and why Song Yangzhu and Zhen Xiaoshan were handling this alone. Song Yangzhu was only foundation establishment level two, and Zhen Xiaoshan, foundation establishment level eight, fell far short of golden core.

"Yangzhu, I'm back. What's happening?" Ye Mo asked, entering the small pill shop.

Song Yangzhu, overjoyed at his arrival, rushed into his arms, weeping.

"Perfect. Pei Hai City isn't a place for domineering displays," one of the golden core cultivators coldly remarked.

Ye Mo comforted her, "Don't worry, I'm here. Jingwen is too."

Song Yangzhu greeted Su Jingwen, her distress evident to the latter.

As they conversed, a golden core cultivator smashed a cabinet, demanding, "You refuse resolution? You intend to act dead?"

Li Jingwen, though enraged, remained silent behind Ye Mo.

Ye Mo patted Song Yangzhu's hand, asking, "Yangzhu, what happened?"

Song Yangzhu, further distressed, was interrupted by Zhen Xiaoshan, who explained, "These people bought our pills, replaced them with inferior ones, and claimed our pills were faulty, demanding compensation. This isn't the first time. We've compensated them before, but their demands grow increasingly unreasonable…"

"Little girl, watch your tongue! Since when did we use fake pills? If your pills were genuine, would we have demanded compensation?" the golden core cultivator retorted, pointing and cursing.

Zhen Xiaoshan recoiled. Ye Mo stood, saying, "Show me the pills you bought."

The golden core cultivator scoffed. Considering himself safe due to his level five and his level seven companion's presence, he believed Ye Mo powerless.

The cultivator tossed a benefit essence pill to Ye Mo, stating, "This is the benefit essence pill."

Ye Mo instantly recognized it as a substandard, worthless pill. He crushed it, tossing the remnants on the ground, asking coldly, "I'm curious, why would a golden core cultivator purchase a foundation establishment pill?"

"Even crushed, you still owe compensation. Must I justify my purchase? I enjoy it, is there a problem?" the golden core cultivator retorted.

Ye Mo simply nodded, "Fine."

Before the cultivator could react, Ye Mo unleashed a punch imbued with Illusion Cloud Essence Binding, instantly subduing him. A swift kick to the dantian shattered it, causing the cultivator to spit blood.

The golden core level seven cultivator reacted sluggishly, attempting to flee.

Li Jingwen, anticipating Ye Mo's intent, blocked the door with his universal ruler.

"You dare destroy my dantian…!" the level five cultivator cried in terror.

Ye Mo sneered, repeatedly slapping the cultivator until his mouth was mangled. He then poured the crushed pill residue into the cultivator's mouth, kicking him towards the door, sneering, "Since you enjoy benefit essence pills, don't waste them."

Ye Mo spared his life, leaving the cultivator terrified; his ruined dantian and golden core rendered him helpless in the city.

"Senior, this concerns me not," the golden core level seven cultivator said, horrified.

He hadn't anticipated Ye Mo's boldness, nor that he was likely golden core peak stage. Regret gnawed at him as he recalled Ning Hai pills' reputation for scams and easy profits.

"Oh, it's unrelated? Why are you here? Why the benefit essence pill?" Ye Mo's tone was frigid.

"Senior, sen…" the cultivator stammered, fearing the annihilation of his hard-earned golden core state.

"Should I let you go?" Ye Mo asked coldly.

The level seven cultivator frantically nodded.

Ye Mo calmly stated, "Fine. But how can I conduct business if I let everyone go?"

"I can let you go…" Ye Mo's words were like music to the terrified cultivator.

Yet, Ye Mo continued, "Two choices: destroy your dantian and golden core and leave. Or…"

The cultivator hastily chose the second option.

Ye Mo, anticipating this, said, "Simple. Others scammed my store. If you accept a restriction, you will retrieve those who did so. If you find them all, I'll let you go."