Ancient Battlefield Ruins

Ancient Battlefield Ruins

"What? You only wanted to casually trade for a bigger one?"

Outside Hundred Artifacts Pavilion, Xiao Liang's mouth twitched twice as he kneaded the black beast-hide bag in his hand.

"Do you know that after buying this piece of junk, I don't have the money to buy a new Corpse-Nurturing Bag? We're about to go bankrupt!"

Knowing she was in the wrong, Pandora wrapped herself tightly in her wings like a bat in a cave.

At the same time, she used their mental connection to convey her indignation and condemn him.

The general meaning was that she had never said it was a treasure. Clearly, Xiao Liang had been the one trying to score a bargain...

Smack!

Xiao Liang slapped his forehead hard. Recalling the old shopkeeper's half-smiling expression from earlier, his face still felt slightly hot.

Coming back to his senses, Xiao Liang thought about it.

Right. Pandora was a Zombie from another world. What the hell did she know about magical artifacts? He had simply thought too highly of himself.

"Uh, Fellow Daoist Ghost Shadow, are you all right?"

Xu Qingfeng stood silently at the side with his hands folded, watching Xiao Liang's journey from beaming with delight, to his expression subtly changing, to his face turning dark as water.

His heart pounded uneasily. This Brother Ghost Shadow was suspected of being a demonic cultivator after all. Sure enough, his temperament was strange. Hopefully, he would not take his anger out on him.

Xiao Liang glanced at Xu Qingfeng and suddenly asked, "Brother Xu, are there any ways around here to earn Spirit Stones?"

"Earn Spirit Stones?"

Xu Qingfeng was not surprised. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Has Fellow Daoist Ghost Shadow studied any immortal cultivation crafts? If you have a skill, you can supply the many shops on Spirit Treasure Street, or set up a stall in Flea Alley."

"I haven't."

Xiao Liang shook his head. The most renowned immortal cultivation crafts were alchemy, artifact refining, formations, talisman making, and the like, all of which could directly produce cultivation resources.

Those who mastered such crafts had no trouble earning Spirit Stones. Their status was exceptional, and they were sought after by others. They were practically the aristocrats among cultivators.

"In that case, if Fellow Daoist Ghost Shadow wishes to earn Spirit Stones quickly, you can go to Storm Tower and accept missions. Some missions pay quite well, though they often involve certain risks."

"Oh? Where is this Storm Tower? It sounds like I'd be well suited to being a bounty hunter there!"

Xiao Liang raised an eyebrow. Though he had not mastered many spells, with the Flying Corpse in hand, his direct combat strength was no weaker than that of a Mid Qi Refining Stage cultivator.

Even if he encountered an ordinary Late Qi Refining cultivator, if he set aside his pride, he could still rely on the Flying Corpse to escape with his life.

"Bounty hunter? Fellow Daoist Ghost Shadow's description is quite fitting. Indeed, there is a group of cultivators in Storm Market who specialize in accepting bounty missions to earn cultivation resources!"

Xu Qingfeng was a conscientious guide. Having received a Spirit Stone from Xiao Liang, he genuinely considered his interests and said, "It would be best to first accept simple group missions. That way, your safety will be better assured."

Before long, the two arrived at a three-story wooden building shaped like a pagoda. This was Storm Tower.

It was clearly taller than the surrounding buildings and stood in the very center of Storm Market, unquestionably its core area.

Many cultivators entered and exited through the main hall's doors, most of them ranging from the Early Qi Refining Stage to the Mid Qi Refining Stage.

Storm Market itself was only about the size of a small town. After making one round of it, Xiao Liang had already memorized the surrounding terrain.

Thus, after Xu Qingfeng explained some of the things to watch out for in Storm Market to Xiao Liang, he took his leave.

Xiao Liang entered Storm Tower alone.

Inside the hall stood dozens of tables and chairs, all tightly enclosed by landscape screens to form small private compartments.

Numbers were marked in concealed spots on the screens, such as First A, Seventh C, Fifth D, and so on.

At the end of the passage, a gigantic scroll hung on the wall, covered in slips of paper in various colors.

From time to time, cultivators stepped forward, casually drew a slip with spiritual power, then entered different compartments.

Before Xiao Liang could inspect them closely, a beautiful mortal maid approached him.

"Is this Immortal Master's first time selecting a mission here?"

"It is."

"Then please allow me to explain a few things to Immortal Master..."

After the maid's explanation, Xiao Liang quickly understood how Storm Tower operated.

First, outside independent cultivators only needed to briefly register information such as their identity and cultivation level to become a Bronze-Badge Guest.

Bronze-Badge Guests could freely accept missions on the first floor of Storm Tower and earn rewards through Storm Tower.

The giant scroll listed missions by category. After accepting one, a cultivator could enter the corresponding compartment to discuss the specific details.

After completing a certain number of missions, one could become a Silver-Badge Guest based on strength and experience, then proceed to the second floor of Storm Tower to accept higher-level missions.

As for entering the third floor of Storm Tower and becoming a Gold-Badge Guest, there was only one requirement: Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation.

After learning this, Xiao Liang quickly registered as a Bronze-Badge Guest under the false name "Ghost Shadow" and received a bronze badge engraved with the words "Storm Tower."

"Oh? The missions here are broadly divided into several categories as well. There are everyday tasks like finding people or objects, and bloody missions to hire killers. But the ones with the greatest potential risks and rewards are still these—exploration missions. They suit me better!"

Xiao Liang observed and evaluated the missions on the first floor of Storm Tower, quickly focusing on the exploration section.

"At Deepwater Pool three hundred li away, a late first-rank crocodile demon has taken up residence. Seeking a fellow daoist skilled at underwater combat. No mission reward, but after the kill, the treasures at the bottom of the pool may be divided."

"At Black Wind Stronghold four hundred and fifty li away, three Mid Qi Refining Stage bandit cultivators have fled here and claimed the mountain as their domain. A bounty of two hundred Spirit Stones has been placed on each head, dead or alive. Oh, it was actually issued by the Yan Kingdom authorities!"

"Exploration of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins two hundred li away. Led by a Silver-Badge Guest. Mission duration: two months. Group mission; no withdrawal midway. Guaranteed fifty Spirit Stones. Minimum cultivation requirement: Third Level of Qi Refining. Those skilled in combat are preferred."

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Liang raised his hand and took down the Ancient Battlefield Ruins mission. His main purpose in coming out this time was to gain experience.

Though the Ancient Battlefield Ruins mission had many requirements, it should be the simplest and safest one.

The first two were both rather unreliable.

That late first-rank crocodile demon had strength comparable to a Late Qi Refining cultivator, and one equipped with no shortage of spells and magical artifacts.

With his Early Qi Refining Stage cultivation, he would be completely throwing his life away.

The Yan Kingdom authorities' mission to eliminate bandit cultivators was even more of a trap. Bandit cultivators were desperadoes among cultivators—who knew what methods they possessed?

Unless one had absolute confidence in one's own strength, it was best to keep far away from them.

"Room number—Third B. Oh, here it is."

Holding the mission slip, Xiao Liang found a room. The moment he pushed aside the screen at the entrance, he froze slightly.

Inside the compartment sat a very familiar woman in white. She was seated upright in a chair, holding a cup of tea in both hands and taking delicate sips.

Seeing Xiao Liang enter, her phoenix eyes lifted slightly, her gaze quite piercing.

A brand-new flying sword magical artifact lay horizontally on the table before her.

(End of Chapter)