noveltune Chapter 68 Making Money
Chapter 68 Making Money
Standing on the bustling streets of Beihan City, Lu Ming watched the people coming and going, and a sense of alienation suddenly welled up in his heart.
After thirty years of emptiness and desolation, I returned to the human world only to find myself struggling with the most basic concerns of money, which was truly frustrating.
He touched the twenty-odd low-grade spirit stones he had left in his pocket.
With this amount of money, let alone the cost of purchasing accurate maps and remote teleportation arrays, it would be difficult to even find a decent place to stay and recuperate for a few days in this Northern Cold City.
"I need to think of a way to earn some spirit stones as soon as possible," Lu Ming thought to himself.
His first thought was to hunt demonic beasts and sell their inner core materials, which was the most common way to obtain resources in the cultivation world.
However, having just experienced a conflict with the Howling Moon Wolf Clan and the wolf girl's questioning about "killing demons to obtain their cores," he felt a pang of reluctance to do so.
He felt a slight resistance to the endless cycle of killing.
"Besides, we're new here and unfamiliar with the distribution and strength of the monsters in the Northern Wilderness. Blindly going out of the city to hunt monsters would be inefficient and risky." Lu Ming quickly rejected this idea.
His gaze swept over the shops on both sides of the street. Those shops with signs that read "Buying Spiritual Materials", "Refining Magical Artifacts", and "Specializing in Pills and Talismans" might be a way out.
He checked his storage bag and found that, apart from a few bottles of key pills, life-saving items given to him by his master and senior brothers, and the crucial Martial Ancestor token, the only other items that could be considered spiritual materials were these.
Only a few pieces of mediocre ore, casually picked up on the outskirts of the Immortal Relic Land, remained. Most of them had already been sold, and the rest were probably not worth more than a few spirit stones.
"Does this mean I have to do manual labor, taking on guard or exploration missions?" Lu Ming frowned slightly.
With his current strength at the Great Perfection of Body Tempering Realm and having forged an unparalleled Dao Foundation, taking on tasks from ordinary Golden Core cultivators would be a piece of cake.
But such tasks are often time-consuming, and eager to return home, he quickly rejected the idea.
Just as he was hesitating, his gaze was drawn to a magnificent building not far away, bustling with people.
The building was even more magnificent than the Treasure Pavilion. Two huge stone beasts stood at the entrance, and a black iron plaque hung above the door, with three large characters carved in a flamboyant style—Tianji Pavilion.
Unlike the luxurious and exquisite Jubaoge Pavilion, Tianjige Pavilion is more elegant, and the cultivators who come and go are mostly powerful and worldly-wise.
Lu Ming recalled the records in the ancient books that the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion was a powerful force spanning several states. It not only bought and sold treasures, but also engaged in information gathering, mission posting, and other businesses. It had an excellent reputation and branches all over the country.
"Perhaps there is a more suitable path for me there." Lu Ming strode towards the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion.
Stepping inside, the space was much larger than it appeared from the outside, clearly indicating the use of a spatial expansion formation.
The hall was divided into several areas, including counters displaying magical treasures and elixirs, a huge jade disc for issuing missions, and quiet rooms for people to rest and talk.
The sounds of discussion and bargaining were incessant.
Lu Ming walked straight to the most conspicuous jade disc depicting missions. The disc shimmered with light, displaying countless mission messages that flowed like water, clearly categorized and organized.
Some are looking to purchase specific spiritual herbs or ores, some are recruiting team members to explore a certain secret realm, some are offering high salaries to hire alchemists and weapon refiners, and some are issuing missions from sects or families to eliminate bandits and protect caravans.
Lu Ming scanned the area with his divine sense, quickly filtering through the data.
Those lucrative exploration and bandit suppression missions often require a cultivation level of at least the Golden Core stage, or teamwork, which is not suitable for his current situation.
As for the tasks of gathering and guarding, the rewards were too low and the time was too long, which was a drop in the bucket for him.
His gaze eventually settled on a corner of the jade disc, where the treasure was examined and a reward was offered.
One of the scrolling messages caught his attention:
"A generous reward will be given to anyone who offers a high price for an ancient artifact or fragment containing pure sword intent, or who provides reliable information. — Zhao Qianjun, Heavenly Sword Sect."
The reward section clearly states: "Depending on the value of the item or information, starting at 100 high-grade spirit stones, with no upper limit."
A hundred high-grade spirit stones! That's enough for him to easily buy a map, take a long-distance teleportation array, and even have a lot left over. Lu Ming's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly calmed down.
He did indeed possess an object imbued with supreme sword intent—a fragment of a golden giant sword that had merged with his Dao foundation.
However, this item concerns my very essence, and I would never sell it.
As for the news... he had just come from the Immortal Ruins, where there was indeed a terrifying sword intent, but the space there was shattered, fraught with danger, and had been sealed off, so the news was worthless.
He shook his head inwardly, and just as he was about to look away, another inconspicuous bounty mission caught his eye:
"A strange monster has recently appeared in the Ling Sha Mountains, a thousand miles northwest of Bei Han City, attacking mines. It is as elusive as a shadow, adept at hiding, and can corrode spiritual power. It has already injured several Foundation Establishment disciples."
We are now recruiting skilled individuals to eradicate the source of the mine and uncover its origin. A reward of five thousand low-grade spirit stones will be given for capturing and killing the culprit. A reward of one thousand low-grade spirit stones will be given for merely driving the mine away and ensuring its safety for one month. — Issued by the Li Clan, North Cold City.
Five thousand low-grade spirit stones, equivalent to fifty mid-grade spirit stones, are far less than the bounty offered by the Heavenly Sword Sect, but they are enough to solve his immediate problem, and even leave him with a little to spare.
Moreover, this task did not strictly limit one's cultivation level. The description of "eroding spiritual power" stirred something within him.
After forging his Dao foundation with fragments of the mysterious immortal sword, he should no longer be afraid of this thing that erodes his spiritual power.
"This mission might be worth a try." After a moment's thought, Lu Ming made his decision.
He walked to the mission reception desk, where a middle-aged cultivator with a sharp, capable-looking face looked up at him: "Accept a mission?"
"Yes, Li family, wipe out the strange monsters in the Ling Sha Mountains," Lu Ming said calmly.
The middle-aged cultivator sized up Lu Ming, noticing his refined aura, suggesting he was only at the early Foundation Establishment stage, yet possessing vigorous blood and energy unlike ordinary rogue cultivators. He nodded and handed over a jade slip.
"This is the mission details and map, along with a distress talisman. The mission has a one-month time limit; upon completion, you can collect your reward by presenting the token or an image."
"Remember, that monster is quite strange. Several Foundation Establishment cultivators have already failed to kill it. Be careful."
"Thank you for the reminder." Lu Ming took the jade slip, scanned it with his divine sense, memorized the map and information, and then turned and left the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion.
Lu Ming stood outside the pavilion, looking northwest with great ambition. He was now preoccupied with making money. In the past, when he was in the sect, he had the sect's resources to take care of him, so Lu Ming had no concept of spirit stones at all.
Earning spirit stones is only the first step. His real goal is to complete the Martial Ancestor's entrustment as soon as possible, return to Qingzhou, and reunite with his parents, master, and senior brothers.
Lu Ming moved swiftly, transforming into a streak of light, and silently sped out of Beihan City. Following the guidance of the jade slip, he raced towards the Ling Sha Mountain Range.