Chapter 835: Miao Mountain Market

“Let’s attack together! I don’t believe—” The remaining Stage 9 master, realizing a peaceful resolution was impossible, drew his flying sword, preparing for a desperate fight. He stopped mid-sentence, however, having only just blocked Ye Mo’s flying sword before being killed by hidden sword rays.

It was a modified sword technique, the Three Birth Sword Ray, used here to test its power from a concealed angle. To onlookers, it appeared the man had been killed by the initial flying sword strike.

Seeing the cultivator's instant demise, Ye Mo rejoiced. This technique was a potent killing blow; a network of sword rays would eliminate any opponent, regardless of speed.

Another Stage 9 cultivator was instantly killed. The surrounding cultivators dared not linger nearby.

Ye Mo collected the storage bag and regarded the remaining Stage 8 cultivators.

“Qianbei, this is my storage bag,” a shrewd cultivator quickly offered his pouch. The other two followed suit without hesitation.

Ye Mo retrieved the bags and yelled, “Begone!”

“Yes, yes, thank you for sparing our lives, Qianbei!” The three fled, disappearing as quickly as rabbits.

He hadn't killed them because such individuals were ubiquitous; eliminating them all was futile. Self-preservation demanded a different approach: cultivating overwhelming power to inspire fear.

Xia Zhongwen, along with the crowd, stared at Ye Mo in stunned silence. He’d never witnessed such potent chi gathering.

Xia Pinger was equally speechless. They had been contemplating a substantial payment to secure the cultivators' release; Ye Mo had effortlessly eliminated them and acquired five storage bags.

Song Yangzhu excitedly embraced Ye Mo's arm. She'd heard him mention stronger individuals, yet still felt pride in his easy victory.

“Brother, those people didn’t seem that strong. Why do people tolerate their robberies?” Ye Ling asked, confused.

Xia Zhongwen was taken aback. While insignificant to her brother, they were the strongest present.

“Brother Ye, I didn't realize you were so strong. I doubt I could last three moves against you. Funny, I thought I was slightly stronger before,” Xia Zhongwen admitted.

Ye Mo patted his shoulder. “I’ve fought many battles; experience is key. You will gain the same.”

Xia Zhongwen doubted this; he’d seen considerable combat.

“Let’s not dwell on this, Zhongwen. It’s dark; is there lodging nearby?” Ye Mo didn't mind, but Ye Ling and Song Yangzhu were weary.

“There's a market and hotels thirty kilometers ahead. We can rest there and continue tomorrow. Entry to the market is rather expensive, though,” Xia Zhongwen explained.

Ye Mo handed Xia Zhongwen two storage bags and two flying swords. He couldn't be bothered with such low-grade weapons.

Xia Zhongwen quickly protested, “I can’t accept this; it’s too valuable.”

Ye Mo patted him, smiling. “We all have flying swords; you don't. Consider it a gift between friends. Besides, I dislike this type.”

Xia Zhongwen, sensing Ye Mo’s disinterest, accepted the gifts with profuse thanks.

The Miao Mountain Market, near the Zheng Yuan Sword Sect, was renowned for its safety, belonging to the Sect, thus deterring trouble. Many lone cultivators, alchemists, smiths, and rune-makers thrived there. Entry required five low-grade spirit stones.

Ye Mo, having acquired eleven storage bags and gifted two, retained nine, yielding 172 spirit stones; with his previous three, he possessed 175.

“So prosperous!” Song Yangzhu exclaimed.

Ye Mo, though experienced with markets, found this one remarkably vibrant, almost city-like, with a wide array of cultivation-related businesses.

The five secured lodging in a modest hotel at three spirit stones per night. Ye Mo purchased inexpensive defensive undergarments for Song Yangzhu and Ye Ling, depleting his spirit stones.

Luminous stones and formations illuminated the market brightly, even at night. Ye Ling, lacking cultivation, and the weak Song Yangzhu, were exhausted from their journey; Ye Mo ordered them to rest.

He left the hotel, aware that without spirit stones, they would be severely hampered. He planned to exchange some pills for funds. While his face-preserving pills, crafted from stalagmite marrow, would fetch a fortune, the risk was too great.

His ordinary storage bag contained over ten essence-increasing pills and one superior essence-increasing pill; these were his stock for the night.

In a market corner, Ye Mo set up his stall. Unlike mortal markets, even the remotest location attracted immediate attention.

“Essence-increasing pill, superior essence-increasing pill—how much?” A Stage 6 chi gathering master approached, recognizing the pills' value to chi cultivators; the superior pill could propel one to the tertiary stage. While available in shops, stalls offered cheaper prices.

“Essence-increasing pills, twenty spirit stones each. Superior essence-increasing pills, thirty spirit stones each,” Ye Mo stated, knowing shop prices were twenty-five and thirty-eight respectively. His price seemed reasonable.

The cultivator was thrilled; five to eight spirit stones cheaper than in shops, far better than the typical two-stone difference. If genuine, this was a considerable gain.

“Martial Brother, may I examine the pills?” the cultivator requested.

“Certainly.” Ye Mo readily provided samples.

The cultivator assessed the pills' aroma and spirit chi, exclaiming, “Top-grade essence-increasing pills!” Immediately realizing his outburst, he hastily corrected himself, “I’ll take three essence-increasing and one superior pill.”

Before he finished, several tertiary-stage chi gathering masters arrived, drawn by the mention of top-grade pills. As the crowd confirmed the quality, Ye Mo's ten essence-increasing and one superior essence-increasing pills sold rapidly, netting him five hundred spirit stones. He marveled at the alchemists' prosperity.

Those who missed out lingered, but Ye Mo, unconcerned, packed up, only to be stopped by two individuals.