Chapter 211: Mei Haihe's Unwavering Loyalty to Shen Mo
As for the second nine-star mission, refining crystals for the Heaven's Treasure Nine Dragons Cauldron requires no further explanation.
The Heaven's Treasure Nine Dragons Cauldron is a heaven-grade spiritual weapon, with each of its legs able to be infused with a demon crystal.
Even the slightest error could damage the cauldron and cause the demon crystal to shatter.
For a weapon of this caliber, only a sixth-rank demon crystal would suffice.
Sixth-rank demon crystals are obtained only from sixth-rank demon beasts, whose power rivals cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage!
Even a sect as formidable as the Jade Cauldron Sect could not afford to squander sixth-rank demon crystals so freely.
The third nine-star mission, however, was to retrieve a Blazing Fire Dragon Egg, which was now in Shen Mo's possession.
Yet, the offered reward was so minimal that Shen Mo was reluctant to hand over the egg.
If he were to hatch it himself, the young dragon would surely recognize him as its master.
That would be far more valuable than a single A-rank contribution or the "dragon kinship" of a Blazing Fire Dragon.
Shen Mo continued reading the list.
He soon found his target among the four-star missions.
Four-Star Mission: Eliminate the Corpse Taoist plaguing the Ping City area.
Reward: Two C-rank contributions and two Yin Sha Pearls.
Shen Mo was pleased.
Just as he expected.
Two C-rank contributions could be exchanged for twenty D-rank contributions, enough for his needs in the coming period.
His investment in Dragon Serpent Mountain would yield him more contributions in the future.
Shen Mo took out his Jade Cauldron Pearl, lightly touched it to the stone tablet, and accepted the mission.
He then approached the counter.
Behind the counter stood a round-faced girl who respectfully greeted him, "Elder, how may I assist you?"
Shen Mo produced the Corpse Taoist's head, along with some fragments of corpse puppets, and handed them over.
"I have eliminated the Corpse Taoist."
The girl's eyes widened in surprise.
The Corpse Taoist mission initially began as a two-star task, but over the past six months, its difficulty had risen to four stars.
The reward had multiplied accordingly.
Several elders of the first and second ranks had attempted to locate the Corpse Taoist.
Yet all had ultimately wasted days in vain and forfeited some contributions due to their failure to complete the mission.
Unexpectedly, this daunting mission was accomplished by this incredibly young elder!
"Please wait a moment; I will immediately summon the Sixth Elder overseeing the Mission Pavilion to verify this. It won't take long." The girl became even more respectful.
Shen Mo nodded.
About a hundred breaths later, the round-faced girl returned, her face filled with reverence. "The Sixth Elder has confirmed that this is indeed the Corpse Taoist's head. Congratulations on completing the mission."
"This storage ring contains your reward: two Yin Sha Pearls."
"Please present your Jade Cauldron Pearl."
Shen Mo handed over his Jade Cauldron Pearl.
The girl took it, touched it to the large Jade Cauldron Pearl on the counter, and returned it to him.
"The two C-rank contributions have also been credited to your account."
Shen Mo nodded slightly, then departed, heading straight to the Treasure Pavilion.
Shortly after Shen Mo left the Mission Pavilion, a figure clad in a crimson robe entered.
The round-faced girl's eyes lit up, fixed on the young man with admiration.
This was none other than Ye Yan.
Ye Yan's gaze scanned the stone tablet.
Yet, after looking up and down, he didn't find the mission he sought.
He frowned. "Where's the mission to eliminate the Corpse Taoist? Even if someone else has taken it, I should still be able to accept it."
The girl quickly replied, "Elder Ye, just a moment ago, another elder completed that mission."
"The reward of two C-rank contributions and two Yin Sha Pearls has already been issued to him."
Ye Yan frowned deeply.
The mission had remained uncompleted for half a year.
He had gathered some leads on the Corpse Taoist through his subordinates and had come to accept the task.
But it seemed someone had beaten him to it just moments earlier.
Without those two Yin Sha Pearls, he would have to delay his plans to craft high-quality Dan Crowns.
Ye Yan said coldly, "Who was that elder? Tell me his name."
"I want to find him and buy those two Yin Sha Pearls."
The girl, slightly intimidated by his gaze, checked the records and quickly replied, "Reporting to Elder Ye, that elder's name is Shen Mo."
Ye Yan's expression froze.
Without waiting for the girl to say anything further, he strode out of the Mission Pavilion.
"My power is equal to Shen Mo's; those two Yin Sha Pearls won't be attainable…"
He snorted coldly and returned to the Second Peak to continue his cultivation.
Dragon Serpent Mountain.
Shen Mo arrived in the skies above Dragon Serpent Mountain, a faint smile playing on his lips.
After earning two C-rank contributions for slaying the Corpse Taoist, he had gone on a shopping spree in the Treasure Pavilion.
In one go, he took away 5,000 pounds of Heavenly Essence Grass and 8,000 pounds of White Shell Fruit.
Additionally, he exchanged for a large amount of rare resources that could optimize the bloodlines of demon beasts like the Flying Cloud Crane, the Long-maned Ox, and the Green-eyed Python.
Several low-grade storage rings were packed to the brim.
The steward of the Treasure Pavilion could only watch with wide eyes, unsure what this young elder was planning.
"Hm? Someone's here?"
Shen Mo glanced toward the small dwelling on Dragon Serpent Mountain and sensed a third presence there besides Huang Bayi and Huang Caiying.
He gracefully descended.
There, he saw an old man with an ethereal, sage-like appearance, sitting around a campfire with Huang Bayi and Huang Caiying, sharing a roast pig.
The three of them had grease smeared all over their faces.
"It's you?" Shen Mo chuckled in surprise.
The old man was none other than Mei Haihe.
The elderly man stood up and, without warning, burst into tears, his ethereal demeanor vanishing instantly. "Elder Shen! I've missed you terribly!"
Shen Mo suddenly recalled that he had left Mei Haihe at Jade Sea Hall and completely forgotten about him.
"I spoke with Hall Master He at Jade Sea Hall and learned you were overseeing Dragon Serpent Mountain, so I thought I'd come find you!"
"Dragon Serpent Mountain needs people, doesn't it? I, this humble old man, am willing to serve Elder Shen with all my might!"
Mei Haihe bowed deeply to Shen Mo, his tone utterly sincere.
Huang Caiying, gripping a pig leg with her tiny hands, quickly said, "Elder, Grandpa Mei is a good person! He caught this wild pig, and it's really delicious."
"Please take him in," she pleaded.
Huang Bayi nodded in agreement.
Shen Mo's expression remained calm. "Mei Haihe, I can't offer you an official position right now. You won't receive a monthly stipend or any benefits. Until the end of this year, you'll remain an external worker at Dragon Serpent Mountain. Do you understand?"
Mei Haihe's face lit up with excitement, catching the implication in Shen Mo's words.
Not this year, but perhaps next year—there was hope!
"Yes, yes! I understand completely!" he said, barely containing his excitement.
If it weren't for the situation, he would have gladly knelt down in gratitude.
As a rogue cultivator in the Core Formation stage, he had no chance of becoming a steward in the Jade Cauldron Sect. Yet Shen Mo had effectively granted him a temporary position.
Naturally, Mei Haihe was profoundly grateful.
"From now on, you'll handle all the miscellaneous tasks on Dragon Serpent Mountain," Shen Mo said calmly. "You'll also handle errands for Jade Sea Hall. Huang Bayi is getting old, and Huang Caiying is still too young, so this will be your responsibility."
There were quite a few herbs Shen Mo needed from Jade Sea Hall, saving him the trouble of traveling to the Jade Cauldron Sect's Treasure Pavilion.
Now, Mei Haihe could take on these tasks, freeing up Shen Mo from making the long trip.
Mei Haihe nodded fervently, "Yes, yes! I'm willing to work like a horse or hound for Elder Shen!"
"Take this list and head to Jade Sea Hall immediately. Buy every herb listed here."
"You'll need to cover the cost yourself for now, but I'll reimburse you when you return."
Shen Mo quickly jotted down a list and handed it to him.
"Yes, sir!" Mei Haihe replied solemnly.
This was the very first task his new master had given him.
He was determined to execute it flawlessly!
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