Ancient Battlefield Ruins

"What? You said you just wanted to exchange it for a bigger one?"

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

"Do you know that after buying this piece of junk, I don't have any money left for 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 conveyed her indignation through their mental connection.

The general meaning was that she had never said it was a treasure. Xiao Liang was the one who had wanted to get a bargain...

Smack!

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

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

That was true. Pandora was a zombie from another world—what the hell could she know about magical artifacts? He had been feeling way too good about himself.

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

Standing silently beside him with his hands folded, Xu Qingfeng had watched Xiao Liang's emotional journey from beaming with delight, to a slight change in expression, and finally to a face as dark as water.

His heart trembled as well. This Brother Ghost Shadow seemed to be a demonic cultivator after all; his temperament was indeed 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 cultivation arts? If you have a useful skill, you can supply goods to 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 famous cultivation arts were alchemy, artifact refinement, formations, talisman crafting, and the like—skills that could directly produce cultivation resources.

Those who mastered such skills had no trouble earning Spirit Stones. Their status was extraordinary, and they were eagerly sought after. They were practically the aristocrats among cultivators.

"If that is the case, then if Fellow Daoist Ghost Shadow wishes to earn Spirit Stones quickly, you can go to Storm Tower and take on missions. Some missions offer generous rewards, 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 his brow. Although he had not mastered many spells yet, with the Flying Corpse at his disposal, his frontal combat strength was certainly no weaker than that of a Mid Qi Refining Stage cultivator.

Even if he encountered an ordinary Late Qi Refining cultivator, as long as he was willing to put 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 apt. 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. Since he had accepted one of Xiao Liang's Spirit Stones, he sincerely helped him consider his options. "It would be best to first take on simple group missions. That way, your safety will be better assured."

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

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

At the entrance to the main hall, quite a few cultivators came and went, most of their cultivation ranging from the Early Qi Refining Stage to the Mid Qi Refining Stage.

Storm Market was really only about the size of a small town. After making a full circuit, Xiao Liang had already become thoroughly familiar with the surrounding terrain.

Thus, after Xu Qingfeng explained some precautions for Storm Market to Xiao Liang, he took his leave.

Xiao Liang entered Storm Tower alone.

Inside the main hall stood dozens of sets of chairs, each 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 with slips of paper in various colors.

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

Before Xiao Liang could inspect it closely, a pretty 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, any unaffiliated cultivator from outside only needed to register basic 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 huge scroll listed missions by category. After accepting one, they could enter the corresponding compartment to discuss the specific details of the mission.

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

As for the requirements to enter Storm Tower's third floor and become a Gold-Badge Guest, there was only one: one had to possess 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 two words "Storm Market."

"Oh? The missions here are broadly divided into several categories as well. There are everyday missions like finding people or objects, and bloody missions involving hiring killers. But when it comes to the greatest potential risks and rewards, exploration missions are still the best fit for me!"

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

"At Deepwater Pool, three hundred li away, a late first-rank crocodile demon has taken up residence. Seeking a fellow daoist skilled in underwater combat. The mission offers no 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 base. A bounty of two hundred Spirit Stones has been offered for 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. The mission lasts two months, is a group mission, and participants may not withdraw midway. Guaranteed minimum of fifty Spirit Stones. Minimum cultivation requirement: Third Level of Qi Refining. Those skilled in combat are preferred."

After considering it for a moment, Xiao Liang raised his hand and took down the Ancient Battlefield Ruins mission, because 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 of them all.

The first two were both rather unreliable.

A late first-rank crocodile demon was equivalent in strength to a Late Qi Refining cultivator, and one equipped with no shortage of spells and magical artifacts at that.

With his Early Qi Refining Stage cultivation, he would be 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 might possess?

Unless one had absolute confidence in one's strength, it was best to stay 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, a very familiar woman in white sat upright in a chair, holding a cup of tea in both hands and taking delicate sips.

When she saw Xiao Liang enter, her phoenix eyes lifted slightly, her gaze strikingly intimidating.

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

(End of Chapter)