18: Check into the market, purple information!

Nine Bend Market is a market located within the Yellow Springs Demon Sect.

The market was built between Corpse Refining Peak and Refining Soul Peak, guarded by a Low Grade Tier 2 Formation called the Hundred Ghosts Yaksha Formation, and is a well-known trading place among the Sect Disciples.

The market is lined with shops, and there are also many street vendors. Though small, it is fully equipped, and one can generally find what they need.

However, the market is mostly populated by Utility Disciples and Outer Sect Disciples.

High Grade Tier 1 resources needed by Inner Sect Disciples are rare in this market, and their prices are even less favorable than those at the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall on various peaks.

“A Low Grade Tier 2 Formation with such a Spiritual Qi gathering effect is quite good.”

Shi Chuan sat on the back of the Dog Demon Corpse Puppet, his body shrunken into a short, white-bearded old man, his figure hunched like a dwarf. His body was concealed by a loose black robe, with only a pair of dark green eyes visible.

This was the effect of Transformation combined with Disguise.

Shi Chuan concealed his aura, maintaining it around the third level of Qi Refining.

Although he was at the lower end among Outer Sect Disciples, the deterrence of the Intermediate Corpse Puppet Realm Dog Demon made other Outer Sect Disciples quite wary of Shi Chuan.

Generally, an old Outer Sect Disciple like Shi Chuan would have one or two trump cards. Many who underestimated veteran Disciples had their grave grass grown three feet high.

After Shi Chuan learned that Fairy Yu Jiao had brought a half-step Foundation Establishment Demonic Cultivator's Soul Altar to the Corpse Refining Cave, he did not hesitate for long.

He implanted self-detonation talismans into all eight Low Grade Corpse Servants he had previously refined. Upon being killed, they would self-detonate Evil Qi, with all eight Low Grade Corpse Servants exploding together.

At the same time, Shi Chuan also added the blood threads from the Profound Yin Banner, which could capture Divine Souls, into several Corpse Servants.

Now, it was time to watch the show!

After setting up everything, Shi Chuan rode the Corpse Puppet Dog Demon and leisurely walked out of the Corpse Refining Cave, heading straight for Nine Bend Market.

“No rush.”

“Let the show begin tomorrow.”

Shi Chuan's mind was calm.

If he had just left the Corpse Refining Cave and something happened right after, there was still a slight possibility of being detected if the Foundation Establishment Demonic Cultivators above wanted to investigate thoroughly.

Waiting for a day, until there were enough Utility Disciples entering and exiting the Corpse Refining Cave, would greatly reduce his suspicion.

The Corpse Crow and Yin-Penetrating Toad were both with him, and the Cultivation Chamber in the Corpse Refining Cave was already empty.

The Spiritual Qi in this market was abundant, comparable to the effect of a High Grade Tier 1 Spiritual Vein.

It was at least three or four times denser than the fragmented Low Grade Tier 1 Spiritual Veins beneath the Corpse Refining Cave.

This place was good for Cultivation.

First, he would inquire about the price of renting an Immortal Cave here. If he could sell Corpse Servants to obtain Spirit Stones, refining Low Grade Corpse Servants was not difficult for Shi Chuan, and he could completely reside here permanently.

It was much better than the crude stone room under the Corpse Refining Cave.

Shi Chuan looked to the side. Under a leaky mud wall at the entrance of the market, stood seven men and women dressed in tattered sackcloth, all appearing to be Corpse Servants.

They were all thin, seemingly not very old, but some already had strands of white hair.

And each had a large guide sign hanging on their chest, with the price being one bigu pill for a day's guiding fee.

Shi Chuan glanced around and then looked at a middle-aged woman in a gray robe. This middle-aged woman was one of only two gray-robed Corpse Servants among these guides.

Although the guide sign on her chest stated two bigu pills, being able to stay in the Sect for such a long time meant her understanding of Nine Bend Market must be greater than the others.

“You.”

“Follow me.”

Shi Chuan said to the middle-aged female Utility Disciple, then paid one bigu pill first, with the second to be paid later.

“Thank you, Senior Brother!”

The middle-aged female Utility Disciple took the bigu pill, casually put it into her Storage Pouch, then quickly darted out and followed beside the Corpse Puppet Dog Demon, bowing to Shi Chuan with a face full of smiles.

“I want to reside in the market permanently. What are the prices for Immortal Caves here?”

Shi Chuan sat on the soft back of the Dog Demon, speaking in a hoarse voice disguised after a period of transformation.

“Replying to Senior Brother, this place…”

…

Half a day later.

Under the guidance of the woman, Shi Chuan found a cost-effective small house located on Blue Grass Street, on the outskirts of the market.

The small house had a small courtyard, not very large, with a well, a main house, and a kitchen. Besides these, there was nothing else.

The price of two Spirit Stones per month was not low. The area of Blue Grass Street was protected by a Formation.

However, the more outer Dog Tail Street had randomly built houses and was not protected by a Formation.

The Yellow Springs Demon Sect is perennially shrouded in Evil Qi. Residents of Dog Tail Street could rent for only half a Spirit Stone per month, but they would not be protected by the Formation and would suffer some erosion from the Evil Qi.

The price of two Spirit Stones was not high for Shi Chuan.

He still had two Low Grade Corpse Servants in his corpse raising bag. He sold them all, exchanging them for four Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

An ordinary Low Grade Corpse Servant was worth two Spirit Stones.

Most of these Utility Disciples who made a living in the market worked within the market. As long as they could earn five Spirit Stones a year,

They could buy two Low Grade Corpse Servants to offer to the Sect and continue to live.

The houses in the market did not require any identity verification; instead, after handing over the Spirit Stones,

One would receive a house number for the small house. Holding this house number granted the right to reside and protection from the market patrol Disciples.

The process was very simple. This was also because everyone within the Yellow Springs Demon Sect was a Sect Disciple, so there was no need to verify their identity.

And it was precisely this freedom that allowed more and more Utility and Outer Sect Disciples to gather.

“You stay in this well. Remember the deadline. I’ve given you benefits; if you can’t advance, you can only be eaten.”

Shi Chuan took the Yin-Penetrating Toad from the cloth bag at his waist and dropped it into the well.

The Corpse Crow landed on a Yin locust tree in the courtyard, Cultivating a Demonic Cultivation Technique that Shi Chuan had recently taught it.

Shi Chuan had taught both the Dog Demon and the Corpse Crow Demonic Cultivation Techniques, both being Evil Qi Devouring Arts. This technique could be Cultivated all the way to the Late Stage Golden Core Realm.

And it was also a method for Corpse Servants to Cultivate, making it perfectly suitable.

Late at night.

Shi Chuan sat on the bed in the main house. It had been a long time since he had sat on such a soft bed.

For a moment, this made Shi Chuan recall the Simmons mattress on Blue Star.

【zi shi (11 pm - 1 am) has arrived】

【Received a purple intelligence report】

【Purple Intelligence: Xu Da, an old Utility Disciple with house number 37 on Dog Tail Street in Nine Bend Market, wants to sell an ancestral ancient casket. The ancient casket contains a unique seed that can reshape bones, extend life, and if consumed, promises the Nascent Soul Realm!】

【The ancient seal incantation to open the casket is as follows…】

A deep purple light flashed, faintly mixed with a few golden rays.

This sight made Shi Chuan's breathing quicken considerably.