Western Desert Buddhist Son [Request Monthly Tickets, Investment]

"You actually know the young master of Star Peak from our Taixuan Sect?"

Red-Clad immediately asked in surprise.

"I have heard of Brother Hua's brilliance. I heard that among this generation of Taixuan Sect disciples, he is the prodigy with the best chance of becoming sect master. He enjoys making friends, and this humble monk was just preparing to pay him a visit."

Jiang Ming smiled while pinching a flower between his fingers, his appearance solemn and dignified. When it was time to put on airs, he naturally would not hide himself away. Divine patterns flowed with crimson radiance between his brows, and a Light God Wheel faintly emerged behind his head, slowly turning amid the sound of Buddhist chants. He looked like a young ancient Buddha walking through the world.

Taixuan Sect cultivators of the Dao Palace Secret Realm had long been watching Jiang Ming from the shadows. He was too young and too conspicuous, and he had produced so many magical artifacts. At a glance, he looked like someone of questionable origins.

But now, seeing Jiang Ming's bearing and Dao aura of a living Buddha, they all felt that some reckless people must have disturbed this master, only to be converted by him. Weeping bitter tears of repentance, they had offered up their weapons, laid down their butcher's blades, and become Buddhas on the spot.

Soon, the Gathered Worthies Tower took away those magical artifacts and converted them into resources. The two spiritual medicines were naturally delivered into Jiang Ming's hands.

Some people could be provoked, but others looked extraordinary at a glance. One should not foolishly provoke them and bring trouble—or even calamity—to the Taixuan Sect.

By now, the elder overseeing the Gathered Worthies Tower was already wondering whether Jiang Ming was a Buddhist Son from the Western Desert traveling the world for experience.

Jiang Ming was happy to let them think so. The fewer troubles, the better. Killing was not his wish; severing karma did not mean severing people.

"A treasure artifact refined by a Life Spring cultivator can be exchanged for two taels and nine qian of Source. We rounded it up for you to three taels of Source. The seven treasure artifacts refined by Divine Bridge cultivators can be exchanged for a total of one jin and two taels of Source.

"The two spiritual medicines are as follows. The Purple Jade Orchid is a precious medicine with an age of four hundred years. It has absorbed the violet qi of the rising sun for four hundred years and is worth seven jin of Source.

"The Daoheart Lotus, also called the Mind-Calming Lotus, is a precious lotus that can help one comprehend the Dao. It benefits cultivators breaking through to the Other Shore Realm and even gaining insight into the Dao Palace Secret Realm. It is worth twelve jin of Source.

"Master, are you satisfied?"

Red-Clad became even more courteous. Her beautiful eyes glimmered as she looked at Jiang Ming and spoke respectfully.

"Then take another look. How much is this piece of Star Iron worth?"

Jiang Ming thought of the large piece of Star-Pattern Iron the system had rewarded him after he killed the Life Spring bandit cultivator. It was useless to him. His Life-Bound Sword had become so haughty that it circled it once, let out a clang, and directly smacked the Star-Pattern Iron aside before turning around and returning to the Sea of Bitterness in his dantian.

It even slept on top of Light Stones. How could it possibly take a fancy to such low-grade treasure artifact material?

A whole cubic block of Star-Pattern Iron slammed onto the ground with a bang, making even Red-Clad's mouth twitch slightly.

"Star-Pattern Iron is purchased by this establishment at ten jin of Source per cubic block. The starlight patterns on this piece are clear, so we can count it as eleven jin of Source."

Red-Clad quickly named the price.

Although Star-Pattern Iron was an excellent material for refining artifacts for Sea of Bitterness cultivators, before it had been refined into an artifact, it was not worth as much as a magical artifact that had already been refined. It was only because there was so much of it that it could sell for eleven jin of Source.

Otherwise, this cubic block of material would be enough to refine more than a thousand magical artifacts.

Magical artifacts were generally small, mainly exquisite and compact, with most being around palm-sized.

After being refined and imbued with Dao Patterns, they could grow or shrink at will and be stored within the Sea of Bitterness.

Was that still not enough?

Jiang Ming searched through his Sea of Bitterness. With another bang, he tossed out two more cubic blocks of treasure material: Obsidian Gold and Violet Cloud Stone.

Both were treasure materials on the same level as Star-Pattern Iron. His Life-Bound Sword did not care for them, and neither did Jiang Ming. He could not possibly use them to refine the sole magical artifact of his Shrouding Method.

Even though he had yet to obtain the Sea of Bitterness section of the Dao Scripture.

"For the two types of treasure material, we can give you twenty-two jin of Source. What do you think?"

Red-Clad had received truly professional training, so she did not laugh.

She suspected that Jiang Ming had discovered a small vein containing all three treasure materials and had specifically gone to extract them. Otherwise, why were these materials all so perfectly square?

Didn't Buddhism emphasize the principle of "roundness"?

Why were they not round at all, but so square instead?

In the end, Jiang Ming obtained fifteen and a half jin of Source, along with two spiritual medicines.

He finally understood just how precious Source was in this world. Its purchasing power far surpassed the spirit stones cultivators used in his previous life.

"If you wish to go to the Taixuan Sect, our Gathered Worthies Tower also rents out flying mounts. I recommend an Azure Feather Crane. At the very least, it can reach the Gathered Worthies Tower headquarters at the foot of Taixuan Sect's mountain in two hours.

"An Azure Feather Crane comparable to a Sea of Bitterness cultivator only costs one tael of Source.

"There are also better Azure Feather Cranes, though their fees are correspondingly higher.

"If you are willing, you can leave tomorrow and travel with the merchant caravan collecting goods."

Red-Clad added in a soft voice.

"No need. I'll leave today. An ordinary Azure Feather Crane will do. I'm too poor. I have no money."

Jiang Ming glanced at Nannan as he spoke.

After Jiang Ming finished buying what he needed, it was still early. He had originally planned to stay at the Taixuan Sect tonight, so he could get the Blood Pill Lingzhi he needed sooner.

He still had other things on him that would be enough to tempt Hua Yunfei.

Otherwise, he would jinx Hua Yunfei to death. Jiang Ming would live on Star Peak and never leave.

Right, Clumsy Peak of the Taixuan Sect had one of the Nine Secrets. If he remembered correctly, Nine Secrets: Jie was there.

However, Nine Secrets: Jie had not appeared for a long time. Clumsy Peak had already declined, so he did not know whether he had such an opportunity. It was probably very unlikely.

Besides, he was a monk from the Western Desert. If he caused a stir, the Taixuan Sect would not be willing to let him take that secret technique away.

Forget it. There was no rush for now.

He had a supreme secret art and divine ability like the Seventy-Two Transformations, allowing him to change into countless forms and borrow sixty percent of the innate divine abilities of ancient immortal heroes. That was enough for him to run wild in the early stages.

And there was also the Quasi-Emperor Method and the Yaoguang Scripture. Some of the secret arts within them were open and aboveboard, highly compatible with Buddhist divine abilities and secret arts. He was practically born to impersonate some grand god of light.

Nannan was very obedient. She hugged Jiang Ming's head tightly, terrified that he would abandon her. It melted Jiang Ming's heart, and he treated her like a daughter.

Once he obtained an Emperor Armament and suppressed the fate of his Heavenly Fiend Lone Heart, he would spend more time with Tingting in the future.

For now, it seemed that the system's rewards were not entirely without a pattern. The stronger the opponent he killed, the richer the reward.

As for receiving rich rewards by jinxing his relatives to death, he ignored that outright. Damn system, don't even think about it. He would rather perish together.

Just after Jiang Ming left Flame City, he immediately discovered several figures trailing behind him.

He and Nannan rode an Azure Feather Crane rented from the Gathered Worthies Tower. It had a gentle temperament and was a variant savage beast. It held a great advantage in speed, flying faster than Life Spring cultivators. Yet it was only comparable to a Sea of Bitterness cultivator itself, so there was no danger of backlash.

Flame City was a full three thousand li from the Taixuan Sect. Riding an Azure Feather Crane, they could arrive in just two hours.

The advantage of using a mount was that they would not need to expend the divine power of their own Sea of Bitterness along the way, allowing a cultivator to remain in peak condition.

Jiang Ming had chosen a mount because when Red-Clad casually recommended one, Nannan's eyes had sparkled. Flying—of course a little girl would like that. He simply could not refuse her.

After leaving Flame City and flying three hundred li.

The Azure Feather Crane beneath them let out an uneasy cry. Exotic birds were far more sensitive to danger than ordinary cultivators.

First, Divine Bridge cultivators had secretly caught up with them. They had finally lost their patience and were ready to make a move.

Murder and arson brought golden belts. Once these bandit cultivators set foot on this path, they became addicted to it. The high-risk, high-reward life left them unable to break free.