Chapter 1716: Picked Up a Treasure

In fact, as soon as Ye Liuyun returned to Old Li's house, he was already being watched.

The people who capture strong youths have already extracted experience.

Staking out has already become a routine task.

Only his and Old Li's Divine Sense are still weak, so they didn't notice each other.

Their conversation was heard crystal‑clear by the other side.

"Sure enough, a Martial Cultivator from the Mortal Realm!"

Using Divine Sense to probe the Martial Cultivator, they immediately produced a Transmission Talisman to report to the City Lord.

"Good, bring him back properly; do not trouble him!"

After receiving the news, the City Lord directly ordered his subordinate Martial Cultivators, even using the word 'please'.

Ice Spring City, where Ye Liuyun lives, is not large; there are a few hundred small villages around, and in the Divine Realm it is but a drop in the ocean.

City Lord Li Yuanyang worries every year about sending Martial Cultivators to the Alien Battlefield for selection.

In his jurisdiction, young people are becoming fewer and fewer.

Affluent factions purchase some slaves to make up the numbers.

He does not dare to provoke the offspring of great families.

The villagers have little combat experience.

So even if these people are conscripted, they are sent to die.

Thus he especially favors Martial Cultivators who come from the Mortal Realm.

The more Mortal Realm Martial Cultivators there are, the better he can fulfill the tasks assigned from above.

The Mortal Realm Martial Cultivators have no foundation and are in urgent need of cultivation resources.

These people have very rich combat experience; those who passed his selection in previous rounds were basically all from the Mortal Realm.

Ye Liuyun cultivated through the night, and early the next morning, the people from the City Lord's Residence were already waiting outside his door.

They knew Ye Liuyun himself also intended to go to the City Lord's Residence, so they did not press him.

Their words and attitude were very courteous.

After saying farewell to Old Li and Li Xingnan, Ye Liuyun followed those people and rushed straight to the City Lord's Residence.

It was then that Ye Liuyun realized that many villagers were also going with him to the City Lord's Residence.

Moreover, many of them were bound.

They were probably forcibly conscripted.

He was also puzzled why these people were so courteous to him, yet did not bind him.

On the road, Ye Liuyun chatted casually with them, learning about the Divine Realm and the selection process for Martial Cultivators.

Their moods were also good; bringing back a Mortal Realm Martial Cultivator is easier to report than bringing back a hundred villagers.

And because Ye Liuyun went voluntarily, they also liked chatting with him.

Through them, Ye Liuyun learned that city selection is only the first step; upon reaching Xi Liang Royal Mansion, another round of selection will occur.

In fact, these selection contests are also good opportunities for them to boost strength and obtain resources.

However, these villagers have little combat experience; going would be a death sentence, so most are unwilling.

But during selection, higher‑ups supervise, and insufficient numbers are unacceptable, so they have to forcibly conscript some.

"Doesn't the City Lord's Residence also have many Martial Cultivators?

Why not draw from there?"

Ye Liuyun asked in confusion.

The escort squad's leader, Li Manfu, sighed to Ye Liuyun, "Why not go?

If we cannot complete the task of capturing strong youths, we have to go up to make up the numbers.

But recruiting year after year, the City Lord's Residence's manpower has already been cut to the limit; there's nothing left to draw from!"

Hearing this, Ye Liuyun also realized that they were merely passing tasks down level by level.

Then he asked Li Manfu, "Brother Li, after I arrive at the City Lord's Residence, can I still go out at will?

I also want to go to the merchant guild to buy some things!"

Li Manfu said with some difficulty, "What do you want to buy?

Usually during the selection period, going out is not allowed.

However, the City Lord's Residence can help Martial Cultivators buy and sell resources on their behalf; they will never charge you a single Crystal Stone, so you can rest assured."

"Well… I want to buy some alchemy formulas.

If I don't go myself, I'm afraid others won't buy them properly!"

Ye Liuyun felt that this sort of matter truly required him to go himself.

"Alchemical formulas?

Can you refine pills?"

Li Manfu immediately realized that he had stumbled upon a treasure.

Ye Liuyun also didn't know whether he could now refine qualified pills, so he explained to Li Manfu, "I used to know how to refine pills.

But I need to see the quality grades of the formulas and pills here to be sure.

So I must go to the merchant guild myself to look at the pills, select some formulas, and see which are suitable.

Moreover, I have no Divine Crystal, only some beast core pills obtained from hunting, and I don't know what kind of formulas they can be exchanged for."

Ye Liuyun voiced all his questions.

But he guessed that if given Divine Rank ingredients, he should be able to refine Divine Realm pills; it just depends on the exact formula.

Simple formulas shouldn't pose much of a problem.

After all, his flame power is already strong enough.

"Your situation is somewhat special."

But if you really can make pills, I think the City Lord wouldn't refuse.

Wait a moment, I'll ask for you.

Li Manfu, upon learning that Ye Liuyun could make pills, dared not delay and immediately used a transmission talisman to inquire of the City Lord.

Alchemists and artifact smiths, wherever they are, are treasures.

Even if Ye Liuyun's pill-making level is insufficient, after some training he can still become an alchemist.

For the City Lord's mansion, an alchemist is a guarantee of income and strength increase.

Therefore, City Lord Li Yang also valued Ye Liuyun greatly and immediately agreed.

"Of course no problem, you can directly agree to him."

Moreover, I will even provide him with some resources needed for pill-making.

He even, being pleased, rewarded Li Manfu, counting their squad as having completed this year's conscription task.

Now it depends on whether Ye Liuyun's pill-making level or his strength level is higher, to decide whether to let him go to the battlefield or stay to make pills.

The entire guard squad also felt especially happy.

I didn't expect that finding Ye Liuyun alone would count as completing the mission.

These people then released the other villagers on the spot.

Since Ye Liuyun alone is enough, they had no need to capture so many.

This also shows they were only doing it to complete the task.

Their original intention was still not to capture people.

Ye Liuyun was also quite pleased; this also counts as saving several villagers.

His impression of these guards also improved somewhat.

They walked and talked, and soon entered Ice Spring City.

"What does 'Ice Spring' mean?"

Upon seeing the city's name, Ye Liuyun immediately thought of cultivation resources.

Sure enough, Li Manfu told him that three hundred li west of the city there is an ice spring, which is an excellent resource for cultivating ice power.

However, that ice spring is controlled by a force called the Profound Ice Palace, and will not be readily opened to outsiders.

Ye Liuyun also didn't rush to go; he merely recorded this information and waited for an opportunity.

Ice power is still plentiful in Snow City, enough for now.

What he urgently needs now is resources like divine crystals for raising his cultivation realm.