The Myriad Treasures Trading Association's Stance

Back in Qinghe Town, Liu Yuanchen headed straight to the Mission Office of the Azure Elixir Pavilion and threw the young rogue cultivator to the ground. "Elder Mo, this disciple patrolled Yujin Mountain for ten days and did not discover any evil cultivators.

However, on my way back, I encountered two rogue cultivators besieging a disciple of our Azure Elixir Sect. I killed one and captured the other alive.

Please see whether you can pry any information out of him."

Mo Lianshan's face was full of surprise. "Over the past ten days, more than a dozen sect disciples have fallen while conducting patrols outside.

Although some disciples have managed to kill evil cultivators, no one has ever captured one alive.

As expected of Deputy Hall Master Zhao's disciple. Among all Qi-Nourishing Realm disciples, your strength ranks among the best."

Liu Yuanchen cupped his hands. "Elder, you flatter me. This disciple merely employed some ambush tactics.

In a frontal battle, I truly would not have been confident of defeating two evil cultivators."

Mo Lianshan waved a hand. "When cultivators fight, only life and death matter.

As long as one can win, what is wrong with using an ambush?

Since you captured someone alive, you naturally deserve a reward.

For now, I can only authorize a reward of one hundred Spirit Stones and request further merit on your behalf.

If important intelligence can be extracted later, there will be additional rewards."

He took Liu Yuanchen's disciple token and entered the reward information into it.

With the reward information, he could collect the reward from the Logistics Office.

Afterward, Liu Yuanchen returned to his temporary residence and took out the storage pouches he had obtained from the two rogue cultivators.

Looking through storage pouches after killing someone and taking their treasures truly felt like opening treasure chests.

He opened the old man's storage pouch. Inside were a little over two hundred Spirit Stones, more than a dozen Qi-Nourishing Pills, and over twenty Grain-Banishing Pills.

There were also two jade slips.

Liu Yuanchen examined the contents of the jade slips. One recorded an evasion art called the Swift Movement Art.

This evasion art was a common, crude technique among rogue cultivators and could not compare to Wood-Shadow Evasion at all.

The other jade slip recorded a cultivation method called the Ghostfire Formula.

One could tell from the name alone that it was undeniably an evil-path cultivation method.

However, this cultivation method was not particularly impressive and seemed to be about on the same level as the Azure Wood Formula.

Cultivators who carried the cultivation methods and spells they practiced were generally rogue cultivators.

The longsword the old man had used earlier was also just an ordinary first-grade high-grade artifact longsword. In the past, it could have been bought for a little over twenty Spirit Stones.

"A dignified Eighth Qi-Nourishing Layer cultivator, already preparing to break through to the Sea of Qi Realm.

Yet his entire fortune only amounts to a little over three hundred Spirit Stones."

He then opened the young rogue cultivator's storage pouch.

Though this fellow was young, his wealth was much more substantial. He had over five hundred Spirit Stones alone.

There were also over twenty Qi-Nourishing Pills, more than fifty Grain-Banishing Pills, and over twenty first-grade high-grade spirit talismans.

Besides that, there was a blood-red flying dagger in the storage pouch.

A thin layer of black qi also shrouded the blade, making it clearly an evil-path artifact.

Moreover, this flying dagger was of rather low grade, only a first-grade mid-grade artifact.

There were no jade slips in this storage pouch, but there were two beast-hide books.

Liu Yuanchen took out the beast-hide books and carefully flipped through them.

The first beast-hide book recorded an evil-path cultivation method called the Blood-Baleful Spirit-Transforming Art.

This method required devouring the blood of living beings to cultivate, and the more blood it consumed, the higher its quality, the faster one's cultivation would progress.

In addition, the book recorded a method for refining an evil-path artifact called the Blood-Baleful Saber.

That blood-red flying dagger was likely the product the young rogue cultivator had nurtured.

He then examined the other beast-hide book. Opening its cover, he saw the four characters: "Elementary Guide to Talisman Dao."

After roughly skimming through it, he found that the book recorded introductory knowledge of Talisman Dao.

It also contained the crafting methods for most common first-grade talismans.

At the bottom of the storage pouch, there was also a talisman brush and a bottle of cinnabar talisman ink.

"No wonder this fellow had so many talismans. So he was a Talisman Master himself.

This Talisman Dao inheritance is not particularly profound, but it is still a complete beginner-level inheritance.

It is more than sufficient for training first-grade Talisman Masters.

Unfortunately, I have no interest in talismans, and I have no time to study them now."

A basic inheritance like this would only be worth a few Spirit Stones if sold to rogue cultivators.

Even small families like the Liu Family, which did not specialize in talismans, possessed similar first-grade Talisman Master inheritances.

The young rogue cultivator's longsword was likewise merely an ordinary first-grade high-grade longsword, not worth many Spirit Stones.

According to the rules announced by Deputy Hall Master Hu Shanren, disciples who carried out missions outside the sect could sell seized supplies to the Logistics Office at market price.

After removing the Spirit Stones and talismans from the two storage pouches, he packed everything else into one storage pouch.

Carrying those items, he went to the Logistics Office of the Azure Elixir Pavilion.

Although Liu Yuanchen did not think much of these items, the Logistics Office still regarded them highly.

Especially the cultivation methods and evil-path artifacts of the two evil cultivators. Whatever their value, they at least proved that these people were not idling around in Qinghe Town.

When making reports to their superiors in the future, they would be worth mentioning in the good news reports.

The Logistics Office disciples worked for quite a while before calculating the value of all the supplies. In the end, they were worth three hundred Spirit Stones.

Adding the reward for capturing an evil cultivator alive and the ten Spirit Stones for the patrol mission, the Logistics Office gave Liu Yuanchen four hundred and ten Spirit Stones.

Thinking of the more than one thousand Spirit Stones newly added to his account, Liu Yuanchen secretly rejoiced. "I worked painstakingly at alchemy within the sect before, and after three months, I only earned around three thousand Spirit Stones.

Now, I merely made one trip outside and obtained over a thousand Spirit Stones.

Alchemy, artifact refining, talismans, and formations are just for fun. To truly earn Spirit Stones, one must rely on business without capital."

After becoming an Alchemy Master, he had accumulated quite a few Spirit Stones over the past two years.

Spirit Stones held little value when merely clutched in one's hand.

Only by exchanging them for needed resources could their true value be realized.

As for pills, Liu Yuanchen could refine most ordinary pills himself.

The only ones he could not handle were the auxiliary pills required for breaking through to the Sea of Qi Realm.

Furthermore, even if he obtained those pills, they would not increase his strength much in a short period.

As for talismans, he already had enough.

What Liu Yuanchen truly needed was an artifact that could conceal him.

When he had ambushed the two evil cultivators this time, he had used Wood-Shadow Evasion, yet the old man had still noticed him.

Fortunately, their strength had been lacking. Otherwise, he truly would have needed to expend some effort.

But now that he was carrying out patrol missions, he could encounter powerful evil cultivators at any moment. He could not keep hoping that his opponents would be weak.

If he wanted to ambush others more effectively and still retreat unharmed, he needed an artifact that could help him avoid Divine Sense detection.

After leaving the Azure Elixir Pavilion, he headed directly to the Myriad Treasures Trading Association across the street.

Qinghe Town had suffered a raid, and very few shops remained open for business. The Myriad Treasures Trading Association was one of them.

When evil cultivators had raided Qinghe Town last time, the Myriad Treasures Trading Association had also been affected, but only the aftermath of spell battles had damaged its shop.

Those evil cultivators did not have the nerve to charge into the Myriad Treasures Trading Association's shop and rob it.

After all, the Myriad Treasures Trading Association's battle to establish its authority in the Red Wasteland had been the one in which it defeated the Demoncloud Sect into submission.

Liu Yuanchen entered the Myriad Treasures Trading Association, and the shopkeeper he had met before warmly came forward to greet him.

"This humble one greets Young Master Liu. May I ask what important matter has brought you here today?"

His attitude surprised Liu Yuanchen greatly.

Although the shopkeeper had been very polite when Liu Yuanchen had previously come here to buy artifacts and the like, he had still maintained the bearing of a Sea of Qi Realm cultivator.

This time, he was so humble that he was practically behaving like a servant.

Just as Liu Yuanchen was finding it strange, a young gentleman descended from upstairs.

The young gentleman was quite handsome, dressed in a white robe with a white jade crown on his head. He held a silver folding fan that faintly gleamed with a cold light.

The young gentleman gave a soft laugh. "Junior Brother Liu, please join me in a private room on the third floor for a chat."

Liu Yuanchen was completely baffled. He did not know this young gentleman at all, yet the man addressed him as junior brother.

However, his master had once said that the Eight Desolations Pavilion's name was extremely renowned beyond the Red Wasteland.

The Myriad Treasures Trading Association had always focused on business and avoided offending others, so it should not dare oppose the Eight Desolations Pavilion.

With a powerful backer behind him, there was nothing to fear.

Following the young gentleman, he arrived at a private room on the third floor of the Myriad Treasures Trading Association.

After taking a seat, Liu Yuanchen cupped his hands. "Young Master, I do not know you. Why do you call me junior brother?"

The young gentleman smiled. "Junior Brother Liu became Martial Uncle Zhao's disciple. Though you are only a nominal disciple, you are still one of the Eight Desolations Pavilion.

My Myriad Treasures Trading Association has done business with the Eight Desolations Pavilion for tens of thousands of years. In every generation, the Pavilion Master of the Eight Desolations Pavilion and the president of the Myriad Treasures Trading Association have addressed one another as brothers.

The current Pavilion Master of the Eight Desolations Pavilion is of your grandmaster's generation.

The current president of the Myriad Treasures Trading Association is of my grandfather's generation.

We are of the same generation, so naturally I should call you junior brother."

Liu Yuanchen cupped his hands. "So that is how it is. May I ask how I should address you, Senior Brother?"

The young gentleman smiled. "My name is Wan Yutang. Whatever you wish to buy, Junior Brother, feel free to ask.

As long as you hold an Eight Desolations Pavilion token, you may enjoy a twenty percent discount at all Myriad Treasures Trading Association shops."

Liu Yuanchen froze, secretly thinking, *Master truly was not boasting. The Eight Desolations Pavilion's name is genuinely formidable beyond the Red Wasteland.

Although I do not know much about the Myriad Treasures Trading Association, I have heard a little about it.

At the very least, even if the three major powers of the Red Wasteland joined together, they would still be no match for the Myriad Treasures Trading Association.

I am only a nominal disciple of the Eight Desolations Pavilion, yet a Sea of Qi Realm cultivator treats me with such respect.

Even a direct descendant of the Myriad Treasures Trading Association's president addresses me as a fellow disciple.*

"Senior Brother Wan is far too courteous. I only came this time to purchase a few artifacts."

Wan Yutang smiled. "That is a trivial matter. Uncle Du, take Junior Brother Liu to have a look at the artifacts."

The shopkeeper hurried to the door of the private room and respectfully answered, "As you command."

After exchanging a few polite remarks with Wan Yutang, Liu Yuanchen left the private room.

Shopkeeper Du said politely, "May I ask what kind of artifact Young Master Liu requires? Our shop has a wide variety of artifacts.

We carry all the artifacts one normally sees.

If you require an extremely rare artifact that we cannot produce immediately, we can also help you commission one."

Liu Yuanchen shook his head. "Shopkeeper Du is too courteous. I need a daoist robe that can evade Divine Sense detection."

Shopkeeper Du brought him to the place on the first floor where artifacts were stored. On a rack before them hung a black robe with a hood.

"There are not many materials that can block Divine Sense, and most are not low-grade.

Among first-grade daoist robes, this is the only one with such a function.

This robe is called the Black Cloud Robe, and its materials came from deep within Blackcloud Ridge.

The material was contaminated by the Black Mist of Blackcloud Ridge and naturally possesses the ability to conceal Divine Sense.

During the refining process, the Artifact Refining Master also specifically added Inscription Runes that hide fluctuations of spiritual power.

Once you wear this robe and pull up its hood, even an Early Sea of Qi Realm cultivator will be unable to sense your presence with Divine Sense from more than ten zhang away.

Even within ten zhang, they will be unable to accurately lock onto you with Divine Sense.

From over thirty zhang away, even a Mid Sea of Qi Realm cultivator will be unable to discover you with Divine Sense.

The Black Cloud Robe also has some flaws. Its defensive ability is quite ordinary.

Even a mid-stage Qi-Nourishing Realm cultivator can easily damage it.

However, this artifact is rather special and is much more expensive than artifacts of the same grade. It costs two hundred Spirit Stones."

Liu Yuanchen's heart stirred. *With the life force of plants, my detection range reaches sixty zhang.

With this Black Cloud Robe, even if I encounter a Sea of Qi Realm cultivator, I can still retreat calmly.

Although its price exceeds that of many second-grade artifacts, being able to preserve my life against a Sea of Qi Realm cultivator makes even three or five hundred Spirit Stones worthwhile.*

"Good. I will take this Black Cloud Robe.

I also want some spirit medicine seeds. Does your esteemed shop have seeds for second-grade spirit medicines?"

Liu Yuanchen had already determined that spirit plants enlightened through the Enlightenment Secret Art could be used to suppress a Spirit Nexus and perform the Spirit-Realm Fusion Secret Art.

However, suppressing a Spirit Nexus outside would not have the concealment of the Spirit Realm, making it very likely to be discovered by other cultivators.

How long it would take to complete the Spirit-Realm Fusion Secret Art remained unknown.

A Wood Spirit like Xiao Yu, who had no combat ability, was certainly unsuitable for such a task.

The spirit plant used to suppress a Spirit Nexus would be best if it possessed extremely strong combat power or potent poison.

Shopkeeper Du looked troubled. "We do have spirit medicine seeds, but our shop does not normally sell them separately. They are kept together with mature spirit medicines.

Whichever spirit medicines catch your eye, Young Master, I can send someone to remove the seeds for you."

He was being so courteous that Liu Yuanchen felt somewhat embarrassed. "There is no need for such trouble. I can buy the mature spirit medicines along with them."

The two arrived at a storeroom on the second floor, where fifty or sixty medicine cabinets stood densely packed together.

Shopkeeper Du smiled. "Young Master Liu, all of our shop's second-grade spirit medicines are in this storeroom.

What kind of spirit medicine do you need? This humble one will help you find it."

Without hesitation, Liu Yuanchen replied, "I want spirit plants that are poisonous or suitable for casting the Entangling Art."

Shopkeeper Du led him before a pitch-black medicine cabinet and pointed to a small compartment. "Young Master Liu came at just the right time.

Over two months ago, our shop received a type of spirit plant that is quite suitable."

The words "Toxic Thorn Vine" were written on the compartment. One could tell from the name that it was indeed suitable for casting the Entangling Art.

Shopkeeper Du pulled out a small drawer from the compartment and took out a length of black vine.

"Young Master Liu, this is the second-grade low-grade spirit plant Toxic Thorn Vine.

It is extraordinarily tough. Even a gold-element longsword of the same grade would require considerable effort to sever it.

This kind of vine is extremely suitable for casting the Entangling Art."

The Toxic Thorn Vine was covered in countless tiny poisonous thorns, incredibly sharp and highly venomous.

As long as the thorns scratched the skin, they could leave a person weak all over within a few breaths.

If the poisoned person had no antidote medicine, the poison would attack the heart and kill them within the time it took to drink half a cup of tea."

"If Young Master Liu uses this Toxic Thorn Vine to cast the Entangling Art, he should also prepare some Antidote Pills, just in case."

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