Spirit Stones, Dharma Artifacts, Jade Slips, and more—the Spirit Control Token was the most conspicuous.
There were 2,225 Spirit Stones, fifteen Dharma Artifacts, including one high-grade artifact, eight mid-grade artifacts, and a set of Parent-Child Blades; over twenty Jade Slips; and one Earth Escape Talisman.
Several Jade Slips mentioned the Yu Clan of Zhao Kingdom. Zhao Kingdom was neighboring Qin Kingdom, and the cave dwelling's owner had most likely come from the Yu Clan of Zhao Kingdom.
Shen Long picked up a round red jade pendant. The front was engraved with the character "Yu," while the back bore a miniature Fire Crow. This jade pendant looked like an Identity Plaque.
He tried channeling his mana into it, but the jade pendant showed no reaction. As far as he knew, Identity Plaques usually required a cultivator's Essence Blood. Aside from the owner of that Essence Blood, outsiders could not activate them. They were used to verify one's identity.
He had no idea where the cave dwelling's owner had obtained the Spirit Control Token. A yellow Jade Slip recorded a cultivation technique, the Dry Earth Manual, though it contained only the cultivation methods for the first six layers. Most of the other Jade Slips recorded matters related to Zhao Kingdom.
Shen Long calculated that even with Yunmeng Mountain's relatively high prices, as long as he did not spend recklessly, over two thousand Spirit Stones would be enough for him to live in Yunmeng Mountain for decades without needing to hunt Monster Beasts to earn Spirit Stones.
What he needed to do now was cultivate wholeheartedly and wait for the Immortal Ascension Assembly to begin.
Shen Long put away the items on the bed, took out the Spirit Control Tower, and infused it with mana.
The Spirit Control Tower lit up with a streak of blue light, and a powerful suction force pulled him into the Spirit Control Tower.
A burst of cheerful hissing rang out as the Iron Tail Scorpion crawled out of the Spirit Control Pool and rushed toward Shen Long.
It had grown by more than a full size, and it was still at the first rank middle stage.
Shen Long took out a Red Storage Bag, turned its opening downward, and gave it a gentle shake. A swath of Red Rosy Clouds swept past, and a giant azure rabbit appeared on the ground. A pair of tusks protruded from its mouth, and there was a fist-sized bloody hole in its head.
This was a First Rank Monster Beast he had hunted on the road, specifically to feed the Iron Tail Scorpion.
"Time to eat. Once we get settled, I'll buy you some Spirit Feeding Pills."
Shen Long said.
Without the Iron Tail Scorpion's help, he would not have been able to kill Xu Lei and Sun Yang.
The Iron Tail Scorpion clamped the giant rabbit's body with its pincers, easily tore off a large chunk of flesh, and stuffed it into its mouth.
Shen Long left the Spirit Control Tower, sat cross-legged on the bed, and began meditative breathing.
A day quickly passed. Shen Long left his room and headed downstairs.
The moment he walked out of the Gathering Immortals Inn, Shen Long's pupils contracted. He immediately turned around and headed back upstairs.
Li Ruxue and a handsome white-shirted youth passed by the entrance of the Gathering Immortals Inn. She did not notice Shen Long.
After returning to his room, Shen Long frowned deeply. He had not expected Li Ruxue to be in the Marketplace as well.
If news of the Spirit Control Token got out, the Li Family, Chen Clan, and Han Clan might search for him in secret.
Yunmeng Mountain was jointly controlled by the Five Great Powers. They certainly would not dare attack Shen Long inside the Marketplace, but once they took Shen Long out of Yunmeng Mountain, who knew what methods Foundation Establishment Cultivators possessed?
"Before joining the Spirit Control Sect, I have to be careful—then more careful still. Otherwise, everything will come to nothing."
Shen Long muttered to himself. Over the past three years, he had hidden by day and traveled by night, avoiding other cultivators, all because he feared running into cultivators from the Han Clan, Li Family, and Chen Clan. Otherwise, he would have reached Yunmeng Mountain long ago.
Shen Long's facial features blurred, changing his appearance.
He changed into another set of clothes before leaving the Gathering Immortals Inn.
The street teemed with people, but Li Ruxue was nowhere to be seen.
Shen Long began wandering about, looking here and there.
He discovered quite a few pill shops, weapon shops, and Talisman shops. Some smaller stores even sold Top-Grade Dharma Artifacts, though their prices were astonishing. He simply could not afford them.
Less than half an hour later, Shen Long stood before an eighteen-story Cyan Pavilion. Three large golden characters, "Spirit Control Pavilion," were written on its plaque.
According to several shopkeepers, this was a store operated by the Spirit Control Sect. It sold Spirit Insects and Spirit Beasts, as well as Spirit Feeding Pills.
Standing at the entrance, Shen Long could already hear a series of resounding beast roars.
He strode inside. Before him lay a spacious, brightly lit hall, where several tall iron cages had been placed, each holding Spirit Beasts.
There were red leopards with three eyes, vultures with two heads, and golden Giant Scorpions with four wings growing from their backs.
Behind a long cyan counter stood a row of tall shelves filled with jars and bottles. Several Green-Shirted Attendants were introducing merchandise to customers.
Shen Long walked over, and a Green-Shirted Attendant quickly approached him, saying warmly, "Fellow Daoist, how may I help you?"
"I'd like to buy Spirit Feeding Pills. How many Spirit Stones does one cost?"
Shen Long asked.
"Two hundred and seventy Spirit Stones per bottle, ten pills in total. How many bottles would you like?"
the Green-Shirted Attendant asked.
"I'll take one bottle."
Shen Long said.
"Please wait a moment, Fellow Daoist. I'll be right back."
After saying this, the Green-Shirted Attendant turned and walked toward a cyan shelf.
"I'd like Spirit Feeding Pills too. Two bottles."
A pleasant female voice rang out.
Shen Long found the voice somewhat familiar. He turned his head and saw Ye Yuqing walking toward him. She had already reached the Qi Refining Eighth Layer.
Shen Long had never imagined that he would run into Ye Yuqing here. It seemed she had also come to participate in the Immortal Ascension Assembly.
Before long, the Green-Shirted Attendant returned and handed Shen Long a Cyan Porcelain Bottle.
Shen Long poured out the Spirit Feeding Pills and inspected them carefully. Only after confirming there was no problem did he put them back into the porcelain bottle and pay the Spirit Stones.
Though they were both Spirit Feeding Pills, the Spirit Control Sect sold them more cheaply. That was only natural. If the Spirit Control Sect charged more, Treasure Pavilion's Spirit Feeding Pills would certainly cost even more.
After leaving the Spirit Control Pavilion, Shen Long followed behind Ye Yuqing, keeping more than ten zhang between them. There were many pedestrians on the street, and Ye Yuqing did not notice him.
After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Ye Yuqing arrived before a thirty-six-story golden pavilion. Its plaque bore three large silver characters: "Cloud Dream Tower."
Ye Yuqing strode inside, but Shen Long did not follow her.
He had asked the Gathering Immortals Inn's proprietor about Yunmeng Mountain. Cloud Dream Tower was Yunmeng Mountain's largest inn, and also its most expensive.
Ye Yuqing was a Talisman Maker and could sell Talismans to earn Spirit Stones, so it was not strange for her to stay at Cloud Dream Tower.
Shen Long memorized Ye Yuqing's lodging and continued wandering.
After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, he arrived at a vast Bluestone Square. At its center stood a Golden Stele over three zhang tall, engraved with four large characters: "Free Trade Square."
This was where Rogue Cultivators set up stalls. Unlike Thousand Bamboo Valley, however, setting up a stall here required a fee. Trade was free and prices were set by the sellers themselves; if one got cheated, no one would take responsibility.
There were many small stalls in Free Trade Square. Most stall owners were Qi Refining Cultivators, though there were Foundation Establishment Cultivators as well. The goods on display were a dazzling mishmash: spirit herbs, ores, Monster Beast Materials, Spirit Wood, Talismans, Spirit Wine, and more.
"This year's freshly brewed Green Apricot Wine! It can improve your mana—come take a look!"
A woman's voice, clear as silver bells, drifted into Shen Long's ears.
Shen Long frowned. That voice was far too familiar. Following it, he came before a small stall and saw Huang Xiuyun.
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