Big Order (Seeking Monthly Tickets and Follow-up Reading)

"Jingcheng, this is the Dharma Artifact I promised you last time. After giving it much thought, I still felt a pill furnace suited you best. But after refining it for so long, I still never managed to successfully complete one!" Ye Jingli took out the Three-Eared Pill Furnace and handed it to Ye Jingcheng.

He looked somewhat embarrassed as well. After all, he had made such a confident promise back then.

A pill-furnace Dharma Artifact had to withstand Earth Fire while also precisely controlling the furnace's temperature. Its Spirit Pattern formation diagram was several times more difficult than that of an ordinary Dharma Artifact.

Its market price was even a little higher than that of defensive Dharma Artifacts. "I don't lack offensive Dharma Artifacts. This is just the right time to trade one for you!" Seeing that Ye Jingcheng had not moved and seemed about to shake his head, Ye Jingli hastily added.

"Your Sixth Brother's Azure Scale Snake is far more useful than this broken furnace. I'll show it to you when I get the chance. I was even thinking of getting some spirit pills from you!"

Ye Jingcheng had not thought much of it. That time, he had merely lent a hand and infused some of the Ancient Book's spiritual radiance.

But seeing Ye Jingli persist, he accepted it. With a furnace and the Crimson Flame Fox, he finally would not need to use the Ye Family's Earth Fire Hall or its pill furnaces.

Going to the market would be more convenient as well. Even if he refined spirit pills for spirit foxes, he could do so privately.

Besides, a First-Order Grade-Middle pill furnace was indeed quite valuable.

It was more worthwhile to take advantage of this opportunity.

Once Ye Jingcheng and Ye Jingli had settled things, Ye Jingyun and Ye Xingyu had also finished making their choices.

Ye Jingyun chose a standard Flying Sword Dharma Artifact and a golden-shield Dharma Artifact, while Ye Xingyu selected a Black Tower and a Small Seal.

"Once you enter the Cultivation World, never judge people by appearances. Remember to watch and listen more, speak less, and never meddle in others' affairs!" Seeing that all four had chosen their Dharma Artifacts, Ye Haiping offered another round of stern instructions.

After saying that, he returned behind the table where he had been sitting, took out a Jade Slip, and resumed his study.

"Many thanks for Eighth Grandfather's teachings!" Ye Jingcheng and the other two repeatedly cupped their hands. Ye Xingyu, meanwhile, took the lead. He pulled out a palm-sized wooden Spirit Boat and flung it into the sky. As spiritual light flashed, it expanded to a length of ten zhang in the blink of an eye.

Under the sunlight, the Spirit Boat's shadow stretched out long, looking exceedingly imposing.

The other three were all rather envious. Such Spirit Boats cost at least several hundred spirit stones, making them even pricier than ordinary Spirit Beast cubs.

The four boarded it one after another and sped due east.

Ye Xingyu's Spirit Boat was clearly more precious than the one owned by his Fourth Brother, Ye Jingyu. It even had several rooms aboard.

Moreover, Ye Xingyu did not need them to take turns operating the Spirit Boat.

He piloted it alone, steady as a rock, without the slightest bump or sound of wind.

Ye Jingli and Ye Jingyun both entered the rooms. Ye Jingcheng, however, stood behind Ye Xingyu, leaning against the mast and observing the surroundings.

Ye Xingyu cast Ye Jingcheng a rather surprised glance, but said nothing and continued steering the Spirit Boat.

Yan Country's Cultivation World was vast. The Spirit Boat crossed who knew how many towering mountains along the way, and even at night they sought places to stop and rest.

Those resting places were all caves the Ye Family had once occupied. Every cave entrance had been arranged with measures; if anyone had tampered with them, they would leave immediately.

If they remained untouched, they would set up a formation, rest for the night, and recover their spiritual energy.

It was not until daytime on the third day that the four finally spotted cultivators passing in the distance. Most of those cultivators had taken on mortal disguises and moved through the forest. Only those at Qi Refining Late Stage and above flew through the sky on Dharma Artifacts of every color and kind.

Their direction was roughly the same as Ye Jingcheng's group. As sunlight fell, two extraordinarily tall mountains appeared in the distance.

Where the mountains connected stood countless towering green bamboos. They rose into the clouds, lush and verdant.

Every bamboo joint was incomparably huge, and some were even covered in white frost.

"We're almost there. This is Taihang Market. There are Purple Mansion seniors here, as well as other families. Our Ye Family is neither particularly strong nor particularly weak, so the less we show off our shops, the better!" Ye Xingyu had clearly been here before. He gave them a brief introduction to keep the three from holding their heads high and doing whatever they pleased inside the market.

Ye Xingyu put away the Spirit Boat and formed a hand seal. In an instant, swathes of bamboo forest spread apart to both sides, opening a narrow bamboo path.

The path twisted and turned. After walking two or three li, the view suddenly opened up, and shop after shop appeared before them.

Most of these shops were two stories tall, and their names were exceedingly simple.

Li Family Shop, Chen Family Pill Shop...

Names like Treasure Pavilion or Hundred Treasures Hall, which Ye Jingcheng had imagined, were instead quite rare.

"Every shop owner has a Foundation Establishment Family or Purple Mansion Family backing them. They fear Heretical Cultivators or Rogue Cultivators blinded by greed, so they use their family names. Only then can they deter petty villains!"

"Purple Mansion Family shops have three stories, Foundation Establishment Family shops have two, and Golden Core Family shops have four. However, there are currently no Golden Core Families in Taihang County, where our Ye Family resides!"

"In Taihang Market, aside from Taiyi Pavilion and the Purple Mansion Families, the Xu Family and Mo Family, you must also watch out for the Buqing Li Family, Xianyun Chu Family, and Shanyue Chen Family, who stand alongside our Ye Family..."

Ye Xingyu pointed out the corresponding shops and introduced them to the three.

These shops sold every kind of treasure: pill refining, artifact refining, Spirit Talismans, formations, spirit plants—an overwhelming array of goods that dazzled the eye. "Of course, besides the many family shops in Taihang Market, some powerful Rogue Cultivators also open shops. To the south of Taihang Market lies Loose Cultivator Plaza, where there are countless Rogue Cultivators. But remember, do not believe in any Inheritance Cave or ancient relics..."

Ye Xingyu spoke a great deal along the way, a complete contrast to his silence aboard the Spirit Boat.

Yet Ye Jingcheng could tell that the Ye Family likely did this every time they brought cultivators here. It had become a routine.

And explanations given inside the market made a deeper impression.

At the Ye Family, cultivators could remain on Lingyun Peak until they turned twenty-five. Once they reached twenty-five, if their cultivation had not met the family's requirements, they had to perform certain miscellaneous duties for the family.

Some went to the market, some joined the family's Demon Hunting Team, and others guarded mortal towns.

Ye Jingcheng and the others had not yet reached that age. They had been sent out due to an urgent family mission.

Otherwise, ordinary cultivators leaving the mountain would not receive Dharma Artifacts as gifts.

The reason Ye Xingyu had received them was also because he had benefited from Ye Jingcheng and the other two.

"Oh, right. Quite a few of the family's soul slips have shattered recently. Someone may be targeting our Ye Family. If you notice anyone suspicious following us, immediately send me a voice transmission!"

Ye Xingyu suddenly stopped. This time, his expression was exceptionally grave.

Only after seeing the three nod did he continue forward.

In the distance, a two-story courtyard appeared before the four.

It was a rare shop with its own courtyard. Behind the shop was a sign reading Ye Family Shop.

Inside the courtyard, they could vaguely make out quite a few small Spirit Beasts. Among them was a Long-Eared Deer Ye Jingcheng had captured a year ago.

"Xingyu, you came at just the right time. The family has just received a big order!" A middle-aged figure walked out from the courtyard and spoke with delight.