Chapter 667: Interview

So it is!

The head steward of the Qiongyu Chamber of Commerce is extremely powerful, possibly a master at the Core Formation mid-stage or even late-stage. I wonder if such a chamber of commerce can command Nascent Soul patriarchs.

Qin Sang and Ran Luo chatted for a while longer, then discussed the purpose of his trip.

Ran Luo mused for a moment, then said, "It is proper for us human cultivators to assist each other in foreign lands. A few fellow Daoists have already agreed to travel together, so Daoist Qingfeng can rest assured. However, I have a few questions; I wonder if Daoist Qingfeng would be willing to answer them?"

"Please speak, fellow Daoist," Qin Sang said, sitting upright.

Ran Luo nodded. "May I ask if this is your first time going to the Storm Demon Sea? What are your plans after reaching the Storm Demon Sea? Do you intend to hunt demons alone, or have you already contacted other fellow Daoists to act together?"

Qin Sang frowned and said in a deep voice, "These are my private matters. Are they related to your esteemed chamber?" He was unwilling to reveal his true background in front of strangers.

Ran Luo waved her hand. "Please don't misunderstand, Daoist Priest. It's fine if you don't answer. I ask because I'm concerned that since it's your first time in the Storm Demon Sea, you might not be aware of the dangers there. In the Storm Demon Sea, even someone with a cultivation as high as yours generally wouldn't dare to act alone. Most choose to join a faction or form a team with several like-minded individuals to advance and retreat together. If you haven't contacted any other factions yet, perhaps you could consider our Qiongyu Chamber of Commerce."

Ran Luo looked at Qin Sang openly as she made her recruitment offer.

Qin Sang knew that every Core Formation cultivator who came to Qiongyu Chamber of Commerce would receive a recruitment offer, so he didn't rush to refuse. Instead, he carefully considered its feasibility.

"Outer Sea Guest Elder?" Qin Sang murmured. This title was the position Ran Luo had just offered him.

"That's right," Ran Luo said, seeing Qin Sang's confusion, and proactively explained. "We cultivators who frequently travel in and out of the Storm Demon Sea habitually refer to it as the Outer Sea and call the Canglang Sea the Inner Sea. This division between inner and outer is not limited to the sea regions; many factions also began to differentiate themselves based on this.

"The most common are chambers of commerce like ours. Unlike sects, we have no sectarian prejudices. To maintain our influence in the Outer Sea, we recruit many highly skilled cultivators like yourself as Outer Sea Guest Elders.

"Most of these Outer Sea Guest Elders are disciples of top sects in the Inner Sea, yet it doesn't affect their ability to join our chamber.

"Matters in the Outer Sea are separate from those in the Inner Sea.

"After entering the Inner Sea, if you are still willing to be a guest elder, we would be delighted. If not, we won't force you. In the Inner Sea, we would be like strangers, and it wouldn't affect your original connections.

"Becoming an Outer Sea Guest Elder of our chamber also comes with countless benefits..."

Ran Luo elaborated, trying her best to alleviate Qin Sang's concerns and tempting him with various advantages. Some of these made Qin Sang's heart stir.

He was not a cultivator from the Canglang Sea and had no sectarian ties, so joining the Qiongyu Chamber of Commerce wouldn't be a problem. However, Qin Sang knew very well that so many benefits wouldn't come without a price.

"What responsibilities would I need to bear if I were to become a guest elder of your esteemed chamber?"

Ran Luo chuckled softly. "If the chamber encounters a crisis, you would naturally need to work together with us to overcome the difficulties. Under normal circumstances, the chamber wouldn't impose too many restrictions on you. Instead, we would help you contact other fellow Daoists to hunt demons at sea..."

Indeed. Every gain has its price. Calling it a 'guest elder' sounded nice, but in reality, it was an enforcer. The Storm Demon Sea was never stable; crises could strike at any moment. He was a solitary individual. If danger arose, he would certainly flee if possible. Becoming an Outer Sea Guest Elder would arbitrarily add another layer of shackles to him, restricting his freedom of movement. It would be even more impossible to accept benefits and then do nothing. If he deserted in battle, not only the Qiongyu Chamber of Commerce but the entire East Pole Alliance would probably put a bounty on him, making it impossible for him to move freely in either the Inner or Outer Seas.

However, relying on a major power indeed offered many advantages. Ran Luo was right; in the Storm Demon Sea, going it alone was not feasible. The difficulties faced by rogue cultivators were something Qin Sang had realized long ago.

After pondering for a moment, Qin Sang suddenly had an idea and asked, "Does your esteemed chamber only recruit this type of guest elder? If there are fellow Daoists proficient in artifact refining or alchemy, are they qualified to join your chamber?" An artifact refiner and an enforcer would have different responsibilities. Furthermore, Qin Sang already intended to continue his in-depth study of artifact refining. It would be perfect to join a faction under the guise of an artifact refiner.

Ran Luo's eyes lit up. "If there are fellow Daoists proficient in artifact refining or alchemy, any chamber of commerce would eagerly seek them out. How could we turn them away? Daoist Priest, could it be that you...?"

Qin Sang nodded slightly. "I have some experience in the path of artifact refining."

Ran Luo was greatly surprised and delighted. "What magical treasures have you refined, Daoist Priest?"

*Why does this feel like a job interview?* Qin Sang grumbled inwardly and said somewhat awkwardly, "I have only refined my own natal magical treasure, and I am still comprehending it. However..."

Natal magical treasures, due to their coordination with cultivation techniques, only require following the technique's guidance step-by-step during refinement, making the difficulty not great. Other magical treasures are different. The spiritual materials required for magical treasures are extremely precious. Qin Sang only had the oral insights of an artifact refiner from the Void Spirit Sect, which barely touched upon true transmission. Moreover, he hadn't fully assimilated them, so he dared not rashly attempt to refine magical treasures. Only one complete Yin Ring of the Hunyuan Conjoined Rings remained, and its refining difficulty was greatly reduced. Once he successfully refined the Hunyuan Conjoined Rings, his mastery of artifact refining would surely advance by leaps and bounds.

Noticing a hint of disappointment flash in Ran Luo's eyes, Qin Sang changed his tone and confidently stated, "However, I am highly proficient in refining artifacts, especially top-grade ones. With the same spiritual materials, in my hands, not only is the success rate higher than others, but the refined artifacts will also be more powerful."

Qin Sang's confidence came from the Nine Nether Demonic Flame. It had been verified when refining the Soul-Devouring Cone in the Black-winged Vulture's cave that the Nine Nether Demonic Flame provided great assistance during artifact refining. With his current cultivation and relying on the Nine Nether Demonic Flame, he could significantly increase the success rate and power of artifacts. Refining top-grade artifacts would certainly be no problem. Top-grade artifacts were not as precious as magical treasures, but they were absolutely the most in-demand items in the cultivation world. The Qiongyu Chamber of Commerce didn't only deal with Core Formation cultivators; Qin Sang didn't believe they wouldn't be tempted.

Hearing Qin Sang's confident words, Ran Luo indeed showed great interest. "Some demon corpses acquired in the Outer Sea are not sufficient for refining magical treasures or pills, so they are instead refined into artifacts on the spot. Our chamber of commerce eagerly seeks talented individuals. If Daoist Priest truly possesses unique artifact refining skills, as long as you are willing to join our chamber, feel free to name any conditions you wish. We will surely satisfy you."

Qin Sang understood the implicit meaning. He looked around and mused, "I still have some matters to attend to. Since we'll be traveling together to the Storm Demon Sea anyway, why don't we wait until we reach the Storm Demon Sea, where there will be ample demon corpses, and I can personally demonstrate my artifact refining skills for you? How about that? Then, we can discuss the details further."

The Qiongyu Chamber of Commerce would assess him. He would also assess the Qiongyu Chamber of Commerce. Qin Sang didn't yet understand the Storm Demon Sea well, so he didn't want to commit so quickly. He would decide which faction to join after arriving at the Storm Demon Sea.