Inner Sect Disciples sure knew how to spend lavishly.
After walking out of the Scripture Pavilion, Yun Shu discovered to his dismay that all his Contribution Points were gone.
"Forget it. I don't really need Contribution Points anymore." Yun Shu paused.
Since Spirit Stones could be exchanged for Contribution Points, he just had to kill more Demonic Beasts.
For now, he was heading to the Market Below the Mountain to see if he could sell those things, and how many Spirit Stones he could get for them. That would become a steady, long-term source of Energy Points.
Of course, he still had to take whatever missions he could. Why pass up a chance to earn a hundred Spirit Stones?
Spirit Stones were an extremely scarce resource, even for Inner Sect Disciples.
Not every Inner Sect Disciple could enter the Inner Sect with a hundred Spirit Stones on him, the way Yun Shu had.
They had to earn them slowly by completing missions.
After leaving the Scripture Pavilion, he went to find Lin Yang.
When Lin Yang came carrying the two Golden Python Tigers, bound hand and foot, Yun Shu couldn't help but laugh.
They were Demonic Beasts, after all, and still quite strong. This was the only way to keep them from escaping.
The two Golden Python Tigers were worth a great deal, even as cubs. Once fully grown, they would have the strength of Demonic Transformation. Their growth cycle was a little long, but they were powerful fighters!
"Carry them along. We'll sell them at the marketplace, and that'll bring in another nice sum," Yun Shu said. "I wonder how many Spirit Stones we can get."
"About three for the two of them?" Lin Yang raised his brows slightly, then smiled.
Yun Shu nodded. That seemed like a reasonable price.
Spirit Stones were precious currency, after all.
Three Spirit Stones was already an impressive sum for someone at the Qi Condensation Stage.
Before long, the two of them headed down the mountain.
One of the disciples guarding the mountain glanced at Yun Shu, his eyes lifting slightly. "Junior Brother Yun, did you hunt those Golden Python Tigers?"
Yun Shu was rather surprised. He glanced at the Senior Brother, who wore the insignia of an Inner Sect Disciple from Spirit Sword Peak.
Though he didn't know how this Senior Brother knew him, Yun Shu set down the Golden Python Tiger Cubs in his hands and cupped his fists. "So you're a Senior Brother from Spirit Sword Peak. I'm surprised you know who I am. I just hunted these Golden Python Tigers—two cubs in all—and I'm taking them to the marketplace to sell."
"Sell them to me. I've wanted one for a long time." The Senior Brother smiled warmly. "You don't know me, Junior Brother Yun, but I know you. I saw you at the Training Ground. When the Transmission Elder was giving a lecture and you caused a stir with your Body Tempering, I was there."
"May I ask your name, Senior Brother?"
"My name is Liu Xuan."
"So you're Senior Brother Liu." Yun Shu glanced at the Golden Python Tigers, then turned back with a smile. "Senior Brother Liu, do you really like them?"
"I do. Golden Python Tigers look imposing, and they have great potential. I never had the time to go out and hunt one, and my strength isn't that great. I might not even be able to beat an adult Golden Python Tiger, so I kept putting it off. I've wanted to buy a cub and raise it, too. I didn't expect to run into you today." Liu Xuan smiled.
Yun Shu looked at Liu Xuan. He was at the fifth level of Qi Refining.
An adult Golden Python Tiger would only just have undergone Demonic Transformation.
But strength wasn't measured so simply. A newly transformed Golden Python Tiger could handle ordinary cultivators at the second or third level of Qi Refining without difficulty.
And without a good Spirit Art or Spell Technique to back them up, even cultivators at the middle stage of Qi Refining might struggle against one.
Of course, Liu Xuan's claim that he couldn't beat a Golden Python Tiger was modesty. He probably just hadn't had the time to go out.
"Then I'll give them to you, Senior Brother Liu." Yun Shu held out the Golden Python Tiger Cubs.
"That's absolutely not acceptable. Golden Python Tigers are worth a lot. Even cubs this small are worth one or two Spirit Stones." Liu Xuan hurriedly waved his hands. This was far too generous.
An Inner Sect Disciple's monthly stipend was only two Spirit Stones. Anything beyond that had to be earned through missions.
Missions required hard work and carried the risk of death. Two Spirit Stones could sustain a Qi Refining cultivator's training for a long time.
"It's settled. Just raise them, Senior Brother. Once they've grown up, they can become contracted Demonic Beasts." Yun Shu waved his hand and all but forced the cubs into Liu Xuan's arms.
Liu Xuan looked conflicted as he stared at the Golden Python Tiger Cub thrust into his hands. "Then thank you, Junior Brother Yun. I'll treat you to a drink below the mountain someday."
"Sure!" Yun Shu smiled. "Then we'll head down first."
"Take care, Junior Brother."
Yun Shu had just given away a Golden Python Tiger worth one or two Spirit Stones. Even Lin Yang couldn't help saying, "Junior Brother, you're generous."
"What generosity? It hurts like hell." Yun Shu shook his head with a smile, looking rather pleased. "But in this world, one more friend means one more road."
A disciple guarding the mountain was an important connection. The value he could bring Yun Shu was immense.
Yun Shu couldn't help thinking that now they had some rapport, he could keep a few things within his grasp if they crossed paths again in the future.
Lin Yang nodded too. Yun Shu had always had his own way of doing things.
Before long, the two of them arrived at the Marketplace.
They were both wearing black cloaks. Yun Shu didn't mind spending the money; he had a bit of a nest egg now.
"Let's sell these Martial Techniques at the Marketplace first," Yun Shu said.
As for cultivation methods, he hadn't obtained a single one. Did those martial arts experts never keep cultivation methods?
But that made sense. One Body Refining Technique was enough for this stage.
Yun Shu had rarely come across other Body Tempering methods. The only one he had was the Immovable Diamond Body, but it was purely for Body Tempering—not merely a stepping-stone to the Immortal Path, but a method that led straight along the Martial Path to immortality.
"You can take a look first. If there's one you like, take it and copy it down." Yun Shu said casually at the entrance to the Marketplace.
These Martial Techniques would differ from the originals once copied, since the originals included illustrated movements.
Even if you copied the drawings exactly, there could still be discrepancies. That was unavoidable.
So the Reprint Editions could never quite match the originals, though there wasn't much difference. They could still be used without any problem.
"No need. I still haven't fully familiarized myself with the Martial Technique you copied for me last time." Lin Yang gave a wry smile.
Yun Shu: "..."
It was only natural he hadn't mastered it yet. How much time had even passed?
"Fair enough. We'll wait, then," Yun Shu said.
They could wait until Lin Yang had gotten used to this Martial Technique. Next time, Yun Shu could bring back others for him to copy.
There were plenty of missions, anyway. As long as they involved killing people, it was rare not to get a Martial Technique out of them.
In fact, Yun Shu had already completed many missions alone that were supposed to require a team.
For example, the Three-Eyed Demonic Wolf mission might take several Inner Sect Disciples working together.
And Yun Shu had started taking assassination missions alone, too, since they were so dangerous.
Yun Shu hadn't spent his whole life living by the sword, but he was close enough. These days, killing people and killing Fierce Beasts felt no different to him.
Both brought Spirit Stones and Contribution Points—resources for cultivation.
At the Marketplace, Yun Shu casually picked a stall.
"Here will do."
Then he placed several Martial Techniques on it.
Four Mid-grade Martial Techniques and six low-grade ones. They were all treasures kept by Dust Avoiding Villa, worth a hefty sum altogether.
Ten Martial Techniques in all.
As soon as he brought them out, passersby stopped in their tracks.
To them, cultivation methods that could raise one's level, or Martial Techniques that could indirectly increase one's strength, were all extremely precious. Most of the people here were disciples at the Body Refining Realm, or people from Dynasties who had reached the Body Refining Realm.
"May I take a look at this Martial Technique?" asked someone wearing a black cloak.
"Five Qi Nurturing Pills for one look," Yun Shu replied.
After all, no one could memorize it in one glance. Besides, if they got even one of the illustrations wrong, they could end up practicing it incorrectly. Not only would they be going completely off course, they might even harm their bodies.
Of course, if someone really could remember it all, Yun Shu would accept it. What was the point of having such an incredible talent if not to take a free look at his low-grade Martial Technique?
"All right." The man readily handed over five Qi Nurturing Pills.
Seeing this, the others followed suit.
Five Qi Nurturing Pills bought one look. Even one look gave them a deeper understanding of most of the technique's workings and let them form a clear idea of whether it was any good.
So before Yun Shu had even made his first sale, he had already collected seventy or eighty Qi Nurturing Pills.
Some of the Mid-grade Martial Techniques were passed around again and again, earning Yun Shu quite a bit.
"I'll take this one," a middle-aged man said.
He wasn't wearing a cloak, and his Body Tempering Eighth Layer cultivation was plain to see. He was probably one of the top fighters from a Dynasty.
"Ten Origin Nurturing Pills for a Mid-grade Martial Technique, five for a low-grade one," Yun Shu said. "Since you've all had a look, I'm sure you know what you're getting."
The price was on the high side, but these were the originals. They were worth it to the right buyer.
"Here are ten Origin Nurturing Pills." The middle-aged man took the Mid-grade Martial Technique and left immediately.
Yun Shu glanced at the man's back, then narrowed his eyes slightly.
Before you continue