Second Mission, Big Shopping Spree

A wisp of flame ignited at Li Ye's fingertips.

It was exceptionally steady, glowing with a warm golden halo.

Spirit Vine gave a slight nod at the firelight. "You're only at the fourth level of Qi Refinement, yet you already have your first fire-attributed spirit insect willing to entrust itself to you completely. I presume you must have used some method to extend its lifespan."

Li Ye had expected this. With his panel, he could barely sense the other party's emotions and knew it bore no ill intent. That was why he had dared reveal some of his extraordinary qualities.

"You were willing to display this matter—were you perhaps feeling uneasy?"

The little flower at Spirit Vine's tip bloomed slightly. "I have seen many rogue cultivators. All of them tread with caution, as though every step might conceal a trap or calamity."

"Caution is good, but too much caution can also make one lose opportunities."

"There are countless fortuitous encounters in this world. None who cultivate to great heights are without opportunities. Your opportunity naturally belongs to you."

Li Ye was slightly stunned.

But Spirit Vine said no more. After pondering for a moment, it said, "The flintfire of the Flint Crystal Worm is exceptionally effective against ghosts and evil entities, though the worms themselves possess little intelligence. I have a task I wish to give you. Would you be willing to accept it?"

Li Ye finally let out a breath of relief and cupped his hands slightly.

"Of course this junior is willing."

He did not know what mechanism the table before him had turned, but it gave a crisp creak.

A small box inscribed with golden seals appeared before Li Ye. The Taiji Eight Trigrams on its lid spun once, and the box slowly opened.

A stream of black mist carrying a fishy stench poured out from within.

This smell was far too strange.

The instant Li Ye caught a whiff of it, he felt somewhat uncomfortable. The place where he had lived lately was spotlessly clean, with spirit plants and a spirit well supplying spiritual energy. The air there was simply unbelievably pleasant.

He took a breath and peered into the box.

Inside lay a small chunk of ghastly white bone. Growing atop it was a gorgeous flower with purplish-red petals. The contrast between the white bone and the splendid bloom was exceptionally stark.

Name: Hungry Bone

Mood: Resentment

Status: Craving Food

Bindable: Spirit beast capable of storing ample food

"This object came from a region ravaged by a demonic sect. Millions of mortals there starved to death because of that demonic sect's methods, and such Demon Flowers grew from the earth."

Spirit Vine's voice became heavy.

"My Four Seasons Sect is a righteous and renowned sect. Naturally, we have the duty to eradicate these Demon Flowers born of resentment and free the souls trapped within by the demonic sect's evil arts."

"This task is not yours alone. Assignments have been issued in markets everywhere.

"But whoever completes it best will receive the highest evaluation, and the finest rewards. Even a top-grade Spirit Artifact will be within easy reach."

Li Ye stared at the strange Demon Flower for a while, then asked curiously, "Then what counts as completing it, and what counts as completing it well?"

"For most people, a lifetime of suffering ends only with death. Yet the demonic sect's methods make it impossible for suffering to ever end, stretching on without cease."

"Perhaps... only by dying completely."

"But perhaps there is a better way. Think of something. Once you have resolved this flower, come back here to collect your reward."

After speaking, Spirit Vine suddenly changed the subject. "How is the spiritual energy in the courtyard where you live now? I recall that when you first came to rent it, it seemed to have only a first-grade spirit well.

"Would you like to add more sources of spiritual energy now?

"I'll make the decision and give you a discount."

"..." Li Ye was rendered speechless as Spirit Vine suddenly turned into a "profiteer," but adding more sources of spiritual energy to his residence was indeed necessary.

As the number of Spirit Materials he planted increased, the spiritual energy emitted by that one spirit well was already becoming insufficient. Spirit wheat was a major devourer of spiritual energy, so he truly needed to prepare early.

It was not easy to make a trip out here, so he might as well settle everything at once.

"Please instruct me, Senior. I'm growing spirit wheat now, and I also need to raise spirit beasts and other spirit plants. How much spiritual energy would be suitable?" he asked politely.

Spirit Vine directly took out a jade panel.

Spiritual light rippled across the jade panel, and moments later, it displayed numerous Spirit Materials capable of providing spiritual power—spirit springs, diverted spirit veins, spirit wells, spirit trees, and more. Everything from first grade to fourth grade was available.

Li Ye's eyes brightened slightly as he looked at the jade panel.

This... really looked like a tablet computer from the Cultivation World.

"This is the earth-vein regulating grand formation arranged by my Four Seasons Sect in Returning Shore Market. It can freely add or reduce sources of spiritual energy in any given location. You need only pay the Spirit Stone rent, and I can have one added for you right now."

"Given your circumstances, a single spirit spring should be enough."

Li Ye looked at it. The price listed behind a first-grade spirit spring was twenty Spirit Stones per month—exactly the same as what he paid to rent this small courtyard. And this courtyard already came with a first-grade spirit well!

He was somewhat puzzled, so he voiced his question.

"Senior, this courtyard originally costs only twenty Spirit Stones a month. Why does a first-grade spirit spring also cost twenty?"

That would bring the total to forty Spirit Stones a month!

He was merely a Qi Refinement cultivator, yet he would have to spend forty Spirit Stones every month just to rent a place to live. That was truly extravagant.

Spirit Vine replied, "Of course a geomantic formation needs Spirit Stones to operate."

"If you're willing to move and find a residence with two Spiritual Energy sources, it would only cost around thirty Spirit Stones. Asking you for ten Spirit Stones truly isn't much!"

"Besides... heh, the Spirit Stones needed to live here are far cheaper than inside the sect. Isn't that precisely a benefit for Rogue Cultivators?"

"Otherwise, why do you think every cultivator who wishes to rent a place in Returning Shore Market must undergo review and assessment?

"The sect is giving you a ladder to climb the Dao Path!"

By the end, it sounded somewhat sentimental—any Spirit Herbalist in the sect with a bit of skill could earn hundreds of thousands of low-grade Spirit Stones from a single season's harvest of spirit plants.

This Cultivation World was exceedingly prosperous, with countless people in need of all kinds of Spiritual Materials. In comparison, mining low-grade Spirit Stones was quite convenient.

The sect could even manufacture low-grade Spiritual Energy sources and low-grade Spirit Stones, which was why they were so cheap. But high-grade ones were another matter entirely.

High-grade Spirit Stones were the true currency used by mid- and high-level cultivators, while high-grade Spiritual Energy sources were even more valuable.

It wondered what this kid would think in the future, once he truly became capable, when he remembered himself haggling over a mere few dozen low-grade Spirit Stones.

It actually found itself looking forward to it.

"..."

Li Ye immediately had no more doubts. He took out twenty Spirit Stones and handed them to Spirit Vine.

After putting away the Spirit Stones, the latter continued, "Do you need anything else? Spirit beasts, spirit plants, spells, or Spirit Artifacts—we have everything here."

From its tone, it seemed as though it intended to make him hand back everything he had just earned.

Yet he had to admit that he really did need something.

"This junior would also like to buy some basic spells..."

Before he finished speaking, a row of books appeared before him, including Five Elements Arts Qi Refining Stage, Farming and Taoist Methods, Spirit Beast Taming: First Edition, Basic Talisman Compendium, and Mystic Minor Spells.

Li Ye simply decided to see it through. "This junior has only learned a few insignificant spells. Could Senior offer some advice?"

This time, it was Spirit Vine's turn to be speechless. Somewhat helplessly, it said, "You really know how to push your luck. If I were you, I'd first learn this one and this one."

It tapped Five Elements Arts Qi Refining Stage and Mystic Minor Spells, then said nothing more.

Li Ye nodded directly. "How many Spirit Stones for these two manuals altogether?"

Since Spirit Vine had recommended them, he had no further questions.

He had accepted its task, and it regarded him quite favorably. It certainly would not deliberately try to swindle him out of his Spirit Stones.

When someone had made a recommendation, there was no need for so much suspicion and distrust.

"Five Elements Arts costs fifty Spirit Stones. Mystic Minor Spells costs seventy."

Only after taking the one hundred and twenty Spirit Stones Li Ye handed over did Spirit Vine say unhurriedly:

"You are currently in the Qi Refining Stage. You have yet to truly set foot upon the path of cultivation, so focus on improving your cultivation."

"The market is absolutely safe. Wasting too much energy learning a huge pile of spells would instead be putting the cart before the horse. Once you reach Foundation Establishment and have spare energy, you can come learn more spells."

"This junior understands."

Afterward, Li Ye asked whether there was any formation that could preserve and isolate cold air. Spirit Vine gave him a Formation Flag worth twenty Spirit Stones.

By this point, Li Ye had gained two thousand one hundred Spirit Stones here and spent another one hundred sixty.

Still, his gains were truly abundant: spells, future tasks, and even an improved living environment.

If he could earn, he could spend. Rather than hoarding everything blindly, it was more satisfying to use it to speed up his farming. He needed to make the right trade-offs.