Chapter 17: The Market Town

After Ye Qingxuan finished exchanging for his spells, he left the Hall of Dharma Transmission and headed to the Hall of All Things!

The Hall of All Things was the place within the Xuantian Sect where various resources and items could be exchanged. Ye Qingxuan had come here specifically to exchange for an alchemy furnace to use for refining pills.

Because the resources in the Hall of All Things were quite diverse and cluttered, it did not function like the Hall of Dharma Transmission where one could exchange items independently; instead, it required manual operation. Given the vast number of disciples in the Xuantian Sect, the Hall of All Things had specially opened more than ten service windows within the main hall. Each window was managed by a steward responsible for the exchange matters of the sect's disciples.

Ye Qingxuan entered the Hall of All Things, scanned the room, found an empty window, stepped forward, and inquired, "Greetings, Steward. This disciple wishes to exchange for an alchemy furnace. May I know the price?"

Hearing Ye Qingxuan's words, the steward behind the window looked up. Noticing that Ye Qingxuan possessed only the Qi Refining stage cultivation, he spoke up: "A low-grade magical tool level furnace is three hundred contribution points; a mid-grade magical tool level furnace is seven hundred; and a high-grade magical tool level furnace is one thousand two hundred contribution points."

Hearing the prices, Ye Qingxuan felt like crying. "Steward, why is it so expensive?"

After exchanging for his spells, he only had eight hundred contribution points left. He had originally hoped to exchange for a top-grade magical tool level furnace, but he hadn't expected that he wouldn't even be able to afford a high-grade one.

Hearing Ye Qingxuan complain about the price, the steward shot him a glance and asked instinctively, "Newcomer? You haven't ventured out into the world yet, have you?"

"Uh? Yes!" Ye Qingxuan nodded honestly. Aside from the Ye Family and the Xuantian Sect, he truly hadn't been anywhere else.

Seeing Ye Qingxuan's admission, the steward wore an "as expected" expression and said, "Kid, the alchemy furnaces in our Xuantian Sect would cost at least double the price in any random rogue cultivator market outside. And you think it's expensive?"

Hearing this, Ye Qingxuan gave a sheepish smile and said apologetically, "This disciple was thoughtless. Then please, Steward, give me a mid-grade magical tool level furnace!"

"Mhm." The steward nodded slightly, turned around, and handed a small, three-legged alchemy furnace to Ye Qingxuan.

After exchanging for the furnace, Ye Qingxuan was left with only one hundred contribution points. However, he still needed to purchase spiritual herbs, and one hundred points were clearly insufficient.

Remembering that he still had thirty-three thousand three hundred low-grade spirit stones in his storage ring, Ye Qingxuan looked at the steward and asked, "Steward, this disciple also wishes to exchange for spiritual herbs, but my contribution points are insufficient. Is there any way to purchase them using spirit stones?"

Ye Qingxuan had learned from the sect manual that all resources in the Hall of All Things required contribution points for exchange, so he was specifically asking about a channel to use spirit stones for herbs.

The steward did not intend to hide this from him and said, "There is a large market within the sect where transactions can be made using spirit stones. You can go take a look. The disciples guarding the teleportation array know where it is; just ask them."

"Really?" Hearing that there was a large market inside the Xuantian Sect, Ye Qingxuan felt a surge of pleasant surprise, but then he hesitated. "Is this market legal? Is it permitted by the sect?"

He hadn't seen any mention of a market in the sect manual, so he was cautious. If it was legal, once he became successful in alchemy, could he perhaps open a shop there? At this thought, Ye Qingxuan's eyes flickered, and a look of excitement couldn't help but surface on his face.

Seeing the excitement, the steward gave him a meaningful look and said, "Most of the shops in the market are connected to the high-level elders of the sect. Furthermore, for anyone who opens a shop in the market, the sect collects twenty percent of the transaction volume as a management fee. Those setting up stalls must also pay a management fee of one hundred contribution points per day."

"I see." Sensing the steward's gaze, Ye Qingxuan instinctively rubbed his nose. After replying, he prepared to leave the Hall of All Things for the market. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he asked casually, "Steward, what is the price of a Spirit Augmentation Pill?"

"Ten contribution points per pill!"

"That expensive?" Ye Qingxuan exclaimed, his face full of shock.

As a prospective Blessed Cultivator, he could receive thirty Spirit Augmentation Pills a month. Converted to contribution points, that was three hundred points a month, and that didn't even include other hidden benefits. Since it took at least decades to nurture a Blessed Cultivator, Ye Qingxuan couldn't help but wonder: could a first-tier Blessed Cultivator truly allow the sect to break even?

Suppressing his doubts, Ye Qingxuan continued, "Then what is the price of a Qi Induction Pill?"

The steward stared at Ye Qingxuan expressionlessly for a moment, making him feel a bit uneasy. Ye Qingxuan could only offer a sheepish smile. Finally, the steward spoke, "Ten contribution points per bottle. There are ten Qi Induction Pills in a bottle."

Comparing the two, Ye Qingxuan realized that for pills of the same tier, there was a tenfold price difference! He couldn't help but say, "The price difference is too large!"

"Too large? Kid, you must have used both types of pills. With such a difference in effect, shouldn't the price be that way?"

Sensing the steward's growing impatience, Ye Qingxuan recalled the effects of the two pills; they indeed were not comparable. Thus, he hurriedly took his leave. "Steward, thank you for your hard work. This disciple will take his leave now. Thanks!"

Without waiting for a response, he bolted! The steward behind the window let out a strange laugh.

After leaving the Hall of All Things, Ye Qingxuan asked the guards of the teleportation array for the market's location and then took the array to arrive there.

When he reappeared, it felt as if he were in a massive city. Outside the teleportation plaza, cultivators were constantly coming and going. While Ye Qingxuan was dazed, a voice came from behind him: "Junior Brother, move forward! Don't block the way!"

Ye Qingxuan looked back and saw the teleportation array flashing continuously, with people appearing from it every few moments. He hurriedly moved forward, apologizing as he went, "My apologies, seniors!"

It wasn't until he reached the main streets of the market that he gradually adapted to the bustling environment. On both sides of the streets, many sect disciples were setting up stalls, mostly from the Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, and Purple Mansion stages.

"Come one, come all! Don't miss out! Freshly made Qi Induction Pills, on sale at low prices!"

"Clang! Clang! Clang! Come take a look! Brand new mid-grade magical tool flying swords! Not nine hundred and ninety-nine, but only five hundred and ninety-nine low-grade spirit stones to take home!"

The intermittent cries of street vendors made Ye Qingxuan feel as if he had returned to a morning market from his previous life. However, not everyone was so enthusiastic. Shaking his head, Ye Qingxuan waited until he grew accustomed to the noise before walking toward a slightly quieter stall in the distance.

"Senior Sister, how much for these spiritual herbs?"

Hong Miaomiao, who was bowing her head to arrange her herbs at the stall, suddenly heard someone call her "Senior Sister." She immediately looked up at Ye Qingxuan with a beaming smile and bright eyes. "Oh, it's Little Junior Brother! You want to buy herbs? Senior Sister can give you a discount!"

Hong Miaomiao wasn't very old, but she particularly loved being called "Senior Sister."

Ye Qingxuan scanned the herbs on the stall. Most were common first-tier spiritual herbs, including the three types needed for first-tier Qi Induction Pills: Sky Blue Flower, Purple Spirit Grass, and Spirit Induction Flower. These three herbs were found almost everywhere in the Earth-Mystic Realm; they barely met the threshold of being spiritual herbs and weren't even true first-tier herbs.

Since the value of Qi Induction Pills was not high, Ye Qingxuan intended to use them for practice, so he only planned to purchase a small amount of the necessary ingredients.

Thus, Ye Qingxuan asked, "How much for the Sky Blue Flower, Purple Spirit Grass, and Spirit Induction Flower?"