A New Destiny (Keen Eye)

[Keen Eye (Green): Your eyesight is quite good, and you often have the opportunity to find treasures covered in dust.]

Keen Eye?

Shen Mo secretly complained about the description of this destiny; it was truly concise to the point of being blunt.

However, although the name was a bit unappealing, Shen Mo was quite satisfied with the effect.

Keen Eye was one of the essential skills for picking up scraps in the cultivation world!

It's just that this special destiny is only green-ranked; its effects shouldn't be as miraculous as those of the protagonists in web novels.

Shen Mo equipped it and looked around at the various objects in his room, but he couldn't feel any change.

Perhaps it will only play a role at a critical moment.

Shen Mo comforted himself with this thought.

Before I knew it, a whole night has passed.

He looked up and saw the sun rising outside the window; the sky was already beginning to brighten.

"Time to head out!"

After a night of cultivation, he stretched his muscles and bones, which were stiff and sore from sitting for so long, packed away all his talismans, and walked out of his room with a swagger.

After leaving his residence, Shen Mo did not immediately set off for the marketplace.

Because, before leaving, he still had to make a trip to the Deacon Hall located in the River-Facing Sect's mountain gate plaza.

Since he was going to the marketplace today, he wouldn't be able to guard the mountain gate, so he needed to ask the deacon for leave.

Moreover, today was the day the sect distributed monthly stipends, so he might as well collect his as well!

Crossing through the crowd, Shen Mo walked straight ahead until he arrived in front of the Deacon Hall.

Although it was early morning, there were already quite a few disciples queuing up at the Deacon Hall.

The River-Facing Sect's Deacon Hall was the place specifically designated for arranging tasks for sect disciples and distributing monthly stipends.

Since today was the time for collecting stipends, it was no surprise that there were so many people.

Shen Mo waited in line for about half an incense stick's time before successfully entering the hall.

The Deacon Hall occupied a vast area, capable of accommodating thousands of disciples, and had a total of six windows.

At each window, a deacon was responsible for handling matters for the disciples.

There were very few disciples waiting in front of the first five windows, but the sixth window had quite a long line.

This was because the sixth window was specifically responsible for the work of outer-sect disciples, and the gap in numbers between the River-Facing Sect's inner-sect disciples and outer-sect disciples was as vast as clouds and mud.

After Shen Mo joined the queue and entered the Deacon Hall, he waited for quite a while longer before it was finally his turn.

"Name, what is your sect task? What is your business here?"

In front of the window, a middle-aged deacon with graying hair asked without even lifting his head.

"Outer-sect disciple Shen Mo, specifically assigned to guard the mountain gate."

Shen Mo said respectfully, "I have come for two reasons: first, to collect my monthly sect stipend, and second, to request a day's leave, as I need to go to the marketplace to purchase some cultivation supplies."

"Shen Mo." The deacon checked the register, nodded, and made a mark in the book with his brush.

He then took out one low-grade spirit stone and three catties of spirit rice from his robes.

This was the monthly stipend one received for guarding the mountain gate.

"Many thanks, Deacon."

Shen Mo took the spirit stone and spirit rice, not complaining about the small amount.

After all, outer-sect disciples were viewed by the River-Facing Sect as cheap labor to be exploited at will; no matter what sect task they performed, they would never receive very good treatment.

Besides, he wasn't losing out; he spent every day guarding the mountain gate slacking off and refining talismans, not putting in any real effort, so it wasn't a loss!

Thinking of this, he actually felt a bit cheerful.

"Very well, I have recorded your request for leave. Remember to return in time tomorrow and resume your duties at the mountain gate as usual."

After recording the information, the middle-aged deacon waved his hand, signaling to Shen Mo that everything was settled.

Carrying the spirit stone and spirit rice, Shen Mo left the bustling Deacon Hall.

He placed the spirit rice in his residence, took all his spirit stones with him, and left the room once again.

Now, it's time to go to the marketplace!

Walking through the mountain gate plaza, Shen Mo thought to himself.

There were two places where River-Facing Sect disciples usually traded.

The first location did not require leaving the sect; it was located directly in Dao-Gaining Alley on the right side of the mountain gate plaza.

The second location required descending the mountain to Cloud-Gathering Town at the foot of the mountain.

The difference between the two marketplaces was that the former traded exclusively with River-Facing Sect disciples, so even if they didn't know each other's true backgrounds, they could still track people down.

Therefore, it could avoid many scams and deceptions.

Compared to Cloud-Gathering Town, the market in Dao-Gaining Alley had far less foot traffic, and the variety of cultivation supplies on offer was nowhere near as abundant.

The market in Cloud-Gathering Town attracted all the disciples from the immortal sects within a hundred-mile radius, as well as a motley mix of Rogue Cultivators, evil cultivators, and others who came seeking its reputation.

It was much easier to offload goods quickly there.

Shen Mo intended to head to Cloud-Gathering Town this time.

Since he needed to sell off all his talismans, he might not be able to finish in a day and a night if he stayed in Dao-Gaining Alley.

After crossing the mountain gate and presenting his identity jade pendant, Shen Mo successfully descended the mountain.

He stuck a Lightness Talisman onto his leg and soon began sprinting along the mountain stream.

The journey from River-Facing Mountain to Cloud-Gathering Town was approximately forty miles.

Traveling at a normal pace would take an hour.

But with the enhancement of the Lightness Talisman, it took Shen Mo only about half an hour to arrive at this small town composed of practitioners.

"Want to enter the market? Register first."

Upon arriving at Cloud-Gathering Town, Shen Mo was intercepted by a man in black tight-fitting clothes with a face full of flabby flesh.

Wherever there are people, there is a world of conflict, struggle, and chaos.

Therefore, a market where everyone is willing to come and trade requires someone to maintain order and provide security as a public service.

Otherwise, killings, robberies, and plunder would occur incessantly.

Naturally, it would be difficult to get anyone to come and trade.

The reason the market in Cloud-Gathering Town was the only one of its kind within a hundred miles was precisely because an ancestor of the Origin Core Realm sat in command.

That ancestor had specifically formed a group of guards responsible for maintaining order in the market.

The man with the flabby face before him was one of these guards of the Cloud-Gathering Town market.

He was specifically responsible for registering the information of those entering and exiting the market, as well as collecting commissions.

According to the rules of Cloud-Gathering Town, customers coming to buy goods only needed to register their information, but those wishing to set up a stall to sell cultivation supplies had to pay a certain commission as a fee for enjoying the protection of order.

"This is the deposit."

After simply registering his identity, Shen Mo took out a low-grade spirit stone and handed it to the other party.

According to the rules, cultivators selling goods would only have their commission calculated and deducted based on the value of the goods sold before leaving the market.

However, to prevent cultivators from freeloading, a deposit had to be paid as collateral before entering.

When the time came, after the commission was calculated, the deposit would be refunded.

"Mm, fine, go on in."

The guard carefully examined the information Shen Mo had written and tucked the low-grade spirit stone away carefully.

He then waved his hand to let him pass.

Having received permission, Shen Mo strode into this gathering place for cultivators, the only one within a hundred miles.