Market Mission (Seeking Follow-up Reading and Monthly Tickets)

Market Mission (Seeking Follow-up Reading and Monthly Tickets)

Lingyun Peak, halfway up the mountain, Council Hall.

It was early morning. The rain and dew had yet to disperse, and the Blazing Sun had not risen, making the hall seem even more gloomy and cold.

Ye Jingcheng entered the hall and discovered that he was not the only one summoned by voice transmission this time. Ye Jingli, Ye Jingyun, and Ye Xingyu had also been called.

The three of them were gathered together, discussing something.

Their expressions were all rather grave.

Like him, Ye Jingyun was an alchemy cultivator. He shared a character in his name with the Ye Family's Fourth Elder, Ye Haiyun, ranked ninth in the Jing Generation, and was quite skilled in Alchemy.

Ye Jingli and Ye Xingyu, meanwhile, were Artifact Crafters. The latter was also a First-Order Grade-Middle Artifact Crafter of the Ye Family.

Before long, the Ye Family Patriarch, Ye Xingliu, emerged from the side of the hall and looked at the four of them.

"Jingcheng, Xingyu, this matter is rather sudden, but it is extremely urgent for the family!"

"The family's alchemy cultivators and artifact-crafting cultivators in the market shops have all been conscripted by the sect. But the market shops cannot cease operations, or it will be an enormous loss to the family!"

Ye Xingliu spoke slowly.

Yan Country had three sects in total, and the Ye Family fell under Taiyi Sect's domain.

Each of these sects had great Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators, while a small clan like the Ye Family was protected by them.

At the same time, they had to pay taxes and tribute every year. Whenever changes arose, they could also be conscripted at any time.

This time, the Ye Family's Alchemists and Artifact Crafters had been conscripted. From the looks of it, it was for a fairly large-scale battle.

But such conscriptions offered pitifully few benefits beyond the usual Spirit Stone stipend. Only those with good relations could gain access to new pill formulas and artifact diagrams.

Those without good relations were simply cheap labor.

Once they had all been conscripted, the Ye Family's market shops would face a prolonged shortage of goods.

The Ye Family had never been a great clan to begin with. If anything else went wrong with the market shops, it would greatly affect the family's finances.

"When you go to Taihang Market, the family's stipend will be doubled directly. In addition, the family will provide you with defensive Dharma Artifacts and flying Dharma Artifacts. The spirit pills and Dharma Artifacts you refine in the market will still be purchased according to the family's policies. You need not sell them yourselves, but your choices in what you refine will face some restrictions!"

"No problem, Patriarch!" Ye Xingyu said.

"Third Uncle, we have no problem either!" Ye Jingcheng and the other cultivators nodded repeatedly.

They were going to refine pills for the family, so they would inevitably learn some more pill formulas and artifact-crafting formation diagrams. They would also save a great deal of Contribution Points on exchanges. Naturally, they were satisfied.

They did not think much of those restrictions instead.

Especially Ye Jingcheng. He had yet to find the Spirit Herbs for that mysterious pill formula in his Ancient Book. Once he went to the market, he could collect them in secret.

Over the past year, his Alchemy had improved, and his Contribution Points had risen from a little over a hundred to two hundred and fifty again.

"Very well. Go choose Dharma Artifacts from the family treasury yourselves!"

"As for the rest, when the time comes, go to the market and find your Eldest Uncle, Ye Xinghe. He is still in charge there."

After Ye Xingliu finished giving his instructions, the four of them took their leave.

The matter was urgent, leaving them no time to prepare.

Taihang Market was not close to Lingyun Peak. Even by Spirit Boat, the journey would take two or three days.

After leaving the Council Hall, the four headed for the Treasure Hall.

This time, they were choosing Dharma Artifacts. The one guarding the Treasure Hall was Eighth Elder Ye Haiping.

He had clearly heard of their mission long ago and immediately led the four of them to the third floor.

The Treasure Hall had three floors in total. The first held miscellaneous items, the second contained inheritances such as cultivation techniques and pill formulas, while the third held Dharma Artifacts.

Unlike cultivation techniques and books, which were placed about freely, although the Dharma Artifacts on the third floor were likewise spread across shelves, every single one was covered by a faint layer of Spirit Shield.

This was to keep the Dharma Artifacts from losing spiritual power over time and suffering a needless loss of might.

"Each of you may choose one offensive Dharma Artifact and one defensive Dharma Artifact."

"Choose what suits you best. Outside, when cultivators fight, every move is meant to take your life. It is far more dangerous than hunting demons!" Ye Haiping advised from the side, though his words were mainly directed at the three inexperienced Jing Generation cultivators.

Ye Jingcheng and the other two nodded before scattering to inspect the artifacts.

Almost all three of them chose defensive Dharma Artifacts first.

Ye Jingli stood beside Ye Jingcheng.

"Jingcheng, I'll help you take a look later!"

Ye Jingli was an Artifact Crafter and had owed Ye Jingcheng a favor before.

"Then thank you, Sixth Brother!" Ye Jingcheng did not stand on ceremony. When it came to artifact crafting, he naturally could not compare with Ye Jingli.

The Ye Family had many Dharma Artifacts. Most were intact, though a small number were damaged.

Ye Jingcheng set his sights on a palm-sized wooden shield and a layer of silver armor.

Both were First-Order Grade-Middle Dharma Artifacts. Even buying them would cost one or two hundred Spirit Stones. This time, the Ye Family was truly bleeding itself dry.

"Jingcheng, armor's defensive strength lies in its all-round protection, while the wooden shield's lies in a single point. The latter is certainly superior to the former!" Ye Jingli explained.

"And judging by the reinforcement formation diagrams, this small shield is far better than the armor."

"Alright!" Ye Jingcheng nodded and chose the small wooden shield.

By then, Ye Jingli had also made his choice. He selected a small bell, an artifact capable of both attack and defense.

He could refine ordinary defensive Dharma Artifacts himself, so he did not lack them.

When it came time to choose offensive Dharma Artifacts, however, Ye Jingcheng found himself in a difficult spot. Ye Jingli could only recommend the better options from the side. The most important thing was still suitability, since Ye Jingcheng already had a Flying Sword.

"Jingcheng, that Ironwood Plate would be a good choice. It pairs well with your Crimson Flame Fox!" After looking through many sabers, axes, Flying Swords, long spears, and other Dharma Artifacts, Ye Jingli suddenly pointed at a wooden plate.

Ye Jingcheng looked toward it as well. This wooden plate Dharma Artifact was quite unusual. It resembled a small shield, but was only a thin layer, its surface painted with countless ironwood trees growing thick and lush.

Beside the Dharma Artifact was an explanation of its use. Within ten meters, the Ironwood Plate could unleash countless enormous wooden vines to bind and trap enemies.

"Then this one!" Ye Jingcheng confirmed immediately after reading it.

Just as Ye Jingli had said, the Ironwood Plate worked well with both the Crimson Flame Fox's Fireball and his Flying Sword!

Most importantly, his Crimson Flame Fox was no longer limited to merely a Fireball Spell...

He had no need to pursue even greater offensive power.

Ye Jingcheng chose the Ironwood Plate, but to his surprise, Ye Jingli chose a pill furnace.

The pill furnace had three handles, each with slight damage!

Yet it did not affect its performance in the slightest. The furnace body was the most important part of a pill furnace.

At that moment, even Ye Haiping and Ye Xingyu looked over, impressed without understanding why.

After all, an Artifact Crafter choosing a pill furnace as an offensive Dharma Artifact looked strange no matter how one viewed it!