Ed picked up on this discussion and turned solemn. He was right. There must be more to the demon lands. The reason people come here. That cursed old pervert did not say anything about this.

As Ed walked through the town, he could see a lot of people gathered over this same topic. It was not as though he did not suspect that this was his fault, he just found it hard to believe. Sure, he used a heaven-grade contemplation technique, sure, his absorption rate was higher than the average cultivator, but it had only taken him a few breaths of time. He did not believe that he could absorb an entire energy vein.

What was an energy vein? Many clans and sects treasured this. It could be absorbed by five hundred thousand disciples over a hundred years. This was possible for a medium size energy vein. If he was right, the vein in the great spill was an extra large vein, with different branches. That was the only reason why there would be different sections in the great spill and with each section, a different level of astral energy. The first section should be the main vein. This main vein should be as large as a large-sized vein. Even though he was odd, he still had a level of modesty. At least enough to doubt that he was capable of drying this main vein. This was classic denial.

Ed looked for a pill store. It was much more difficult to find than a weapons store. This made perfect sense. Weapons were many, but people only needed one or two. They chose weapons according to their affinity or preference. Pills, on the other hand, all cultivators needed it. Even though one had not reached a level of cultivation where he could use the skill, he just had to cultivate longer till he succeeded, and then he used it.

This meant that no one would willingly sell a pill. Even if it was possible, this was rare. Therefore, pill shops were bound to be hard to come by, unless there was an alchemist in the great spill.

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Giving up on it, he looked for an inscription shop. He needed more protection pills than healing pills. If one was truthful, he had a lot of healing pills given to him by the old pervert in his spatial ring. Finding a pill store would have been good to find out the exact properties of the pills he had been given.

But on the other hand, this was also good. No matter the temptation to understand the quality of his pills, he was being closely watched. The last thing he needed was more attention. He was sure the old pervert's pills would be one of a kind. If he took out such pills, news of it would spread and even elders would come to find trouble with him.

An inscription store, though rarer than a weapon store, was still to be found. He slowly walked into one. As he entered he took note of how many people watched him closely.

"What would you like?" an attendant asked. This attendant had recognized Ed as the new number three on the slate and rushed over. The top ten were like godly existences within the great spill. They were higher than he, an attendant could ever reach. It was good to be on their good side.

"Body shield inscriptions. Also, ... something for mental protection." Ed answered.

"Give me a moment." the attendant dashed away.

Ed noticed he was not the only one in the store. Other cultivators were secretly watching him. He sighed. He was too noticeable these days. Being number three on the slate was enough noise, but the way he got to that number was even more dashing.

A familiar figure walked into the store a moment later. This was Ku Nam. He smiled at Ed and walked towards his direction.

"Congrats on making the top ten," he said.

"You too." Ed returned. Even though he felt no ill will from this boy before him, he was still not the smiling type, so his response came out very cold. Ku Nam did not seem to mind this.

"Protection" Ku Nam commented on the inscriptions the attendant had brought to Ed, "You are preparing for your entrance into the astral roots?"

"Astral roots?" Ed asked.

"Let us find somewhere better to talk." Ku Nam suggested and Ed nodded.