Immortal Market

"Thank you for saving our lives, Senior. Hongyu cannot express her gratitude enough." Seeing Yaoguang effortlessly obliterate the great demon that had nearly wiped out their entire group, the Penglai Immortal Sect disciples were left reeling in shock. But Ye Hongyu, their leader, was the first to recover. Stepping forward briskly, she produced a storage artifact. "These are the spoils Hongyu gathered during this training excursion. Please accept them as a small token of my appreciation." Yaoguang withdrew his attention from the branch of [Demon Hunting] that had just rejuvenated with youth, casting a glance at this true disciple of the Penglai Immortal Sect. This disciple... She certainly knew how to conduct herself. She had offered up her possessions of her own accord. However, Yaoguang was heading to trade at Biyou Immortal Market under the Penglai Immortal Sect's jurisdiction, and given that this place was not particularly close to the Penglai Immortal Sect, he had no intention of accepting them. Besides, for an Incandescent White Golden Core cultivator, even a true disciple of the Penglai Immortal Sect, having eighty to a hundred thousand Pure Yang Great Pills in her storage artifact would be her absolute limit. After all, the Penglai Immortal Sect had been founded only a century ago; its foundation and accumulated wealth were nowhere near comparable to older sects. "It was merely a trivial matter; keep the spoils of your excursion," Yaoguang said. "I happen to be heading toward the Biyou Immortal Market. Since you are disciples of the Penglai Immortal Sect, pointing me in the right direction will suffice." Hearing Yaoguang's words, Ye Hongyu inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. Immediately assuming a joyful expression, she said, "A life saved is a debt beyond repaying. If Senior doesn't mind, we would be honored to guide you to Biyou Immortal Market and fulfill our duties as hosts." Pausing, she added, "Though I am merely a disciple of the Penglai Immortal Sect, I still hold the status of a true disciple. If Senior has materials to sell or purchase, using my title should save Senior some time." A true disciple. Yaoguang considered this. Taking into account that the Penglai Immortal Sect was a newly arisen sect, internal rot had yet to set in. Coupled with the sect's stellar reputation circulating in the outside world... "Then I will trouble you," Yaoguang said, no longer refusing. With that, he prepared to take to the air. At that moment, Ye Hongyu spoke up once more. "Senior, regarding this great demon..." "I have already taken the demon core. If the remaining carcass is of any use to you, take it," Yaoguang waved his hand dismissively. Demons and monsters typically tempered their physical frames, cultivating Celestial Demon Bodies or True Demon Bodies, and rarely relied on spirit treasures or artifacts. Consequently, the most valuable part of them was their flesh and bone. Of the body, the demon core accounted for ninety percent of the value, while the rest amounted to little more than scraps. "It is not about the demon core, Senior. On the Demon-Slaying Board, a ninth-order great demon is worth one million contribution points. You likely haven't obtained a Demon-Slaying Token yet, have you? We can testify and record this contribution for you first. Once we arrive at Biyou Immortal Market, you can formalize it, and one million contribution points will be credited to you immediately." Ye Hongyu quickly added, "Contribution points can be exchanged within our Penglai Immortal Sect for precious resources, divine abilities, cultivation methods, and advanced secret arts. Although exchanging them directly for Pure Yang Great Pills yields only one hundred thousand pills per one million contribution points, the points allow one to purchase many resources virtually unavailable on the outside market, making their true value worth twice that." "Oh?" Yaoguang's interest was piqued. "Precious resources? Any precious resource can be redeemed? Even Dao artifacts?" Ye Hongyu smiled faintly. "Nineteen years ago, King Zhenhai of Great Shang—who is tasked specifically with confronting and defending against the demons of the Deep Blue Sea—redeemed our Penglai Immortal Sect's Dao artifact, the Mountain Sea Pearl, for 6.4 billion contribution points." At those words, Yaoguang's expression turned slightly solemn. Even a Dao artifact could be traded away to an outside power? This Dao Lord Penglai was truly generous. Or perhaps because these Dao artifacts had been seized from the Heavenly Sea Sword Pavilion, she felt no heartache parting with them? "Our Penglai Immortal Sect has claimed the Deep Blue Sea to expand human territory, yet our accumulated foundation remains shallow. We cannot eradicate every demon dwelling in the Deep Blue Sea. Moreover, refusing to accept defeat, the demons stage comeback after comeback. While mighty demon kings dare not show themselves lightly, great demons—creatures not significant enough to provoke the Dao Lord into action—infiltrate like armies to stir up trouble and sow chaos." Ye Hongyu smiled and said, "These waters urgently need righteous human cultivators to assist in slaying demons, thoroughly transforming this territory into a thriving cradle for humanity. For those who render distinguished service, the Penglai Immortal Sect naturally does not skimp on rewards." "Expanding human territory..." Yaoguang nodded inwardly. Wresting a piece of meat straight from the jaws of the demon race was by no means an easy feat. Coupled with the fact that the Penglai Immortal Sect had been founded only a century ago, its foundation was far too shallow; the sect likely possessed very few Void Piercing, Void Refining, or Void Shattering experts. Naturally, it had to display magnanimity and open-mindedness. This was precisely why the Penglai Immortal Sect had enjoyed a favorable reputation over the years. "Then my thanks," Yaoguang said, cupping his hands. "Senior is too polite. That you have come to the Deep Blue Sea to aid our Penglai Immortal Sect in slaying demons is something for which we disciples should be thanking you." As she spoke, Ye Hongyu quickly directed her junior brothers and sisters to help gather the great demon's remains. For many Radiant Sun Golden Core cultivators, the shredded carcass of a ninth-order great demon could still be refined into pills to bolster their cultivation. Meanwhile, she took the initiative to record Yaoguang's information. "May I ask how to address Senior?" Yaoguang pondered for a moment before answering truthfully, "Inner disciple of the Heavenly Dao Sect, Yaoguang." "An inner disciple?" With the Penglai Immortal Sect situated far across the sea, Ye Hongyu had evidently never heard of Yaoguang's feats in Haizhou Prefecture, but the inner disciple status he gave left her utterly stunned. The other Incandescent White Golden Core cultivators nearby widened their eyes in disbelief. An inner disciple of the Heavenly Dao Sect... Had they reached such a terrifying level of strength? "I have only been with the Heavenly Dao Sect for a short time and have not yet undergone the true disciple assessment," Yaoguang explained. Hearing this, Ye Hongyu and the others breathed a faint sigh of relief. But then another thought struck them, and they exchanged covert glances. He had only been with the Heavenly Dao Sect for a short time and hadn't undergone the true disciple assessment? Didn't that mean he lacked a powerful background and hadn't developed deep ties with the Heavenly Dao Sect? If they could persuade such a genius—one who had already formed a Deep Blue Golden Core and had half a foot in the Void Piercing Realm—to join the Penglai Immortal Sect, it would surely add a mighty champion to their sect's scarce ranks of top experts. Of course, having the idea was one thing; both sides still needed to become better acquainted. Harboring such thoughts, Ye Hongyu and her companions bustled about for a short while before setting off once more, heading straight for Biyou Immortal Market. In front of multiple Penglai Immortal Sect disciples, Yaoguang naturally would not summon a Dao artifact like the Longxiang Flying Boat to flaunt openly. Even if he concealed the traces of a Dao artifact on the boat, entering the territory of a Dao Lord demanded necessary caution. *In seeking to establish a sect, that Dao Lord Penglai didn't follow Beihai Star's prevailing customs by seizing the territory of other great sects, choosing instead to found her sect in the Deep Blue Sea—quite unorthodox... And judging from the rumors I've heard and what I've seen so far, the Penglai Immortal Sect does indeed place great value on rules. Hopefully, the sale of my materials will proceed smoothly.* With these thoughts in mind, the group accelerated, skimming swiftly over the sea. Along the way, they killed several more demonic beasts. Though none reached the level of a ninth-order great demon, quite a few seventh- and eighth-order demons emerged from the ocean depths. If even the approaches to Biyou Immortal Market were like this, it showed just how turbulent the Deep Blue Sea was. The fact that this immortal market could flourish here... It was truly owed to its upright reputation. Otherwise, only a ghost would come to trade in a place like this. Slowed down by Ye Hongyu and the others, their travel speed was noticeably reduced. By the time Yaoguang arrived at Biyou Immortal Market, three days had already passed. ... "Biyou Immortal Market is just ahead," Ye Hongyu announced. At the horizon where clouds and mist parted, a massive, two-tiered island leaped into view. The lower tier was an immense island spanning thousands of li, fringed by countless harbors where an endless stream of ships and vessels sailed in and out. Above the center of the island hovered another floating island nearly a thousand li in diameter. Sword light, flying vessels, and spiritual birds could be seen darting through the air at any given moment. The coming and going of cultivators was immense, creating a bustle that yielded nothing to Great Shang's East Sea Immortal Market. One had to remember that this was the Deep Blue Sea, far from a safe haven, yet so many merchants, travelers, and cultivators flocked here... The market's sheer allure was evident. "Biyou Immortal Market serves as the gateway through which our Penglai Immortal Sect presents itself to the world, representing our sect's stance both toward outsiders and within our own ranks," Ye Hongyu enthusiastically introduced Biyou Immortal Market to Yaoguang. "Among our rules, the most crucial is that fighting is strictly forbidden. Any conflicts must be reported to the enforcement team for resolution. Furthermore, while trade relies on mutual consent, one must not use superior cultivation to bully the weak, ensuring fair and just transactions..." Over the past three days, she had contacted her acquaintances to secretly inquire about Yaoguang. She confirmed that he had indeed been in the Heavenly Dao Sect for less than five years, and also learned of the astonishing talent he had displayed in Haizhou Prefecture. Yet beyond his talent, what drew their attention most was Yaoguang's conduct. Although he had wiped out the Xi family, he acted with clear order and principle, abiding by rules and refraining from indiscriminate slaughter. In an environment like Beihai Star, this was a breath of fresh air. While Ye Hongyu was looking into him, he had also been observing the Penglai Immortal Sect disciples. From how disciples interacted with one another, one could generally discern a sect's internal atmosphere and thereby judge its overall conduct. Amid this relatively harmonious rapport, Yaoguang first arrived at the Demon-Slaying Hall. He applied for a Demon-Slaying Token. With Ye Hongyu, a true disciple, stepping forward on his behalf, the entire process was effortlessly smooth. In less than a few minutes, a Demon-Slaying Token was placed in Yaoguang's hands. One million contribution points were already recorded upon it. "Our Penglai Immortal Sect's Demon-Slaying Tokens are divided into four tiers: Ordinary, Intermediate, Advanced, and Pinnacle, corresponding to cumulative thresholds of one hundred thousand, one million, ten million, and one hundred million contribution points," Ye Hongyu said with a smile. "Different tiers grant access to different redeemable resources. If Fellow Daoist Yaoguang wishes to redeem a Dao artifact, you would need to reach the Pinnacle Demon-Slaying Token. Likewise, anyone holding a Pinnacle Demon-Slaying Token enjoys the benefits of a consecrated elder within the Penglai Immortal Sect's domain." "A consecrated elder?" Yaoguang was somewhat surprised. "The kind of elder who receives a handsome stipend of great pills every year?" "Yes," Ye Hongyu nodded. "Even without officially joining our Penglai Immortal Sect, you still enjoy those benefits." All at once, Yaoguang felt a spark of interest. To him, slaying demons brought both "experience" for leveling up and "contributions" to exchange for Pure Yang Great Pills. And once he amassed enough contribution points, he could even receive the treatment of a consecrated elder. Perhaps... After attaining the Void Piercing Realm, he could spend some time training in the Deep Blue Sea.