The First Immortal of Destiny

Chapter 17: Chapter 17 Inner Armor [Heart Protector]_1

I’ve reached Body Tempering Realm Layer VII, Shen Mo thought to himself. And the task rewards aren’t bad either—ten Red Fruits, worth fifteen Spirit Stones.

Red Fruit was a type of spiritual medicine that boosted one’s vitality, though its medicinal effect was not as potent as some precious Elixirs. Nevertheless, it was considered a valuable item among novice-level spiritual medicines.

These ten Red Fruits, plus the Yang-strengthening Powder I concoct daily, should be enough spiritual medicine to support my cultivation until Body Tempering Realm Layer IX. I won’t need to worry about scarcity for a while.

Moreover, the most important thing was that this task was not particularly dangerous. It merely involved hunting a demonic beast in someone else’s home. With the Zhao family’s assistance, even if something unexpected happened that he couldn’t handle, his life likely wouldn’t be in danger. After all, he could always run away.

”I’ll accept this task.”

Shen Mo quickly accepted the task.

BUZZ!

He extended his hand to the Spiritual Plaque’s light screen, and the Spiritual Plaque emitted a hum.

In the next instant, a task guidebook appeared out of thin air.

After carefully putting the task guidebook away, he registered at Deacon Ma’s window, which specifically handled peripheral disciple affairs, before leaving.

I’ve accepted the trial mission. Before I set off, I need to prepare!

While pondering, he crossed the sect’s main square and headed straight to his dwelling without stopping.

I’ll sell all the Elixirs I’ve refined this month and buy some magic artifacts and talismans for defense. This is my first time out, so I must be thoroughly prepared!

He quickly put all the Elixirs into his Universe Bag and headed to the Market.

「.......」

Riverside Sect, Dedao Lane.

This time, he did not go down the mountain to the Jiyun Town Market. After all, trading within the sect was free of commission and much closer. He wasn’t in a rush to sell the Elixirs he had; selling them within two days would suffice.

The task Shen Mo had accepted had a three-day time limit. Reaching the destination within three days of accepting the mission would not be considered late. Yong’an Town was only over a hundred miles from the sect. If he used a Lightness Talisman and rushed at full speed, he could arrive in about two hours. Time was plentiful.

[Selling Yang-strengthening Powder, Qi Restoring Pills, and Minor Yuan Cultivation Pills!]

He set up his stall sign and laid out his wares.

Soon, people came to make purchases.

The Market was bustling that day, and the Elixirs Shen Mo sold were bought up quickly. Unexpectedly, by afternoon, most of his items were sold. Both the Yang-strengthening Powder and Qi Restoring Pills had sold out, with only three Minor Yuan Cultivation Pills left.

His income was exactly sixty Lower Grade Spirit Stones.

Time to pack up and see what I need!

Shen Mo wasn’t intent on selling the last three Minor Yuan Cultivation Pills before packing up. With over sixty Lower Grade Spirit Stones in his possession, he began to wander through the Market.

”Senior Brother, how much for this Inner Armor?”

After strolling for a bit, he finally stopped at the stall of an inner disciple.

”One hundred Lower Grade Spirit Stones,” the inner disciple stated without raising his head.

One hundred Spirit Stones... Hearing this price, Shen Mo immediately turned to leave.

”This Inner Armor is a genuine profound-level treasure, a magic artifact that has transcended the mundane. Wearing this armor not only greatly increases your defense but also has a special effect called ’Detachment.’ This allows the wearer to remain unsullied by dust and dirt. One hundred Lower Grade Spirit Stones is not an unreasonable price.”

Seeing Shen Mo about to leave, the inner disciple raised his head and quickly explained.

”A profound-level inner armor is surely worth this price, it’s just... I’m a bit short on funds and can’t afford that many Spirit Stones,” Shen Mo admitted honestly.

The person glanced at him. ”No money, huh?” he asked casually. ”Are you in urgent need of inner armor?”

”I’ve just accepted a trial mission that requires me to go out to face enemies and slay demonic beasts. Since it’s my first trial, I want to purchase some life-saving items.”

”But the price of profound-level magic artifacts is too steep. I should probably look for lower-grade ones.”

With his current financial capacity, he couldn’t afford such magic artifacts. It wasn’t just peripheral disciples like him; even some Gas Gathering Disciples with less experience, who had just been promoted to the Inner Door and hadn’t accumulated enough resources, might not be able to afford them.

”How many Spirit Stones do you have?” the seller asked. ”I’m interested in a middle-grade profound-level body cultivation technique, but I’m still short thirty Spirit Stones. I’ve been setting up this stall for half a month and still haven’t gathered enough. If you’re interested, I have an inner armor here I can sell to you cheaply.”

With that, he took out a somewhat mottled and damaged purplish-blue inner armor from a sheepskin roll under his stall.

”This inner armor is also a low-grade profound-level magic artifact, known as the Heart Protector Armor, produced by Elder Xu from the Forge Hall. Its defense is quite impressive. I wore it for many years and never took it off. However, last month during a beast tide on Linjiang Mountain, this inner armor got damaged.”

A damaged, low-grade profound-level inner armor?

Shen Mo curiously took the inner armor, rubbing it for a long moment before asking, ”This inner armor is quite damaged. How much has its defensive power decreased?”

”I asked Elder Xu and tested it myself. Its defense has declined by roughly forty percent. But in terms of protection, it’s still far superior to ordinary items without any rank. If you want it, I’ll sell it to you for thirty Lower Grade Spirit Stones.”

Thirty Lower Grade Spirit Stones...

”I’ll take it.”

After hesitating for a little while, Shen Mo decided to buy it.

After handing over the Spirit Stones, Shen Mo put the inner armor into his bag.

Next, he went to the Talisman Hall in Dedao Lane, which sold talismans. This shop was a business of the Talisman-making Hall within the Riverside Sect. All the talismans sold there were made by disciples of the Talisman-making Hall and sold on commission.

”What kind of talisman do you need?”

”Something for self-protection will do.”

There were many types of talismans here, of all kinds. But Shen Mo had little desire for offensive talismans; he was single-mindedly focused on acquiring more life-saving trump cards.

You have to stay alive to deal damage!

”Self-protection?”

The disciple guarding the Talisman Hall took out a talisman engraved with a mountain-like pattern from the counter. ”This is a Boulder Talisman, a Grade I talisman, possessing extremely strong defensive capabilities. Simply activate it with spiritual energy, and you will gain the protection of a boulder phantom. This protection lasts for approximately the time it takes one stick of incense to burn. Its protective power can defend against most attacks from those below the Qi Gathering Realm. Even a full-strength attack from an early-stage Qi Gathering Realm cultivator can be largely withstood by it.”

”Take a look, is this enough for your self-protection needs?”

”How many Spirit Stones?” Shen Mo’s eyes lit up when he saw this talisman.

”Five Lower Grade Spirit Stones each,” the green-robed disciple said, wagging a finger.

”I’ll take it.” Shen Mo took out five Spirit Stones and bought it.

”Do you need any other talismans?” Seeing Shen Mo’s decisiveness, the green-robed disciple promoted further.

After a round of introductions, another talisman caught Shen Mo’s interest: an Earth Escaping Talisman.

It was also a Grade I talisman. Unlike the Boulder Talisman, which was defensive, the Earth Escaping Talisman was an item for escaping and maneuvering.