I Build a Shelter in the Eternal Night

It seemed the time was right.

"Ahem."

Elder Chen gave a light cough. As if suddenly remembering something, he slapped his forehead and said apologetically, "Valley Master Qi, my eyes must be failing me. I didn’t recognize you just now."

"Medicine King Valley is a Level 1 Trusted Influence of the Mortal Realm."

"You have the right to purchase goods on credit up to a maximum of 100,000 Ghost Stones."

"Within the Mortal Realm Marketplace, you may select and take any goods with a total value of up to 100,000 Ghost Stones for free. You simply need to settle the payment within one month."

"This is your Token."

Elder Chen respectfully took out a special Token.

It was a rectangular Token.

The front was engraved with the two words "Mortal Realm," and the back with the three words "Medicine King Valley."

"With this Token, you can purchase on credit at any stall in the Mortal Realm Marketplace that operates under the Mortal Realm’s banner."

"..."

Valley Master Qi stood frozen in disbelief. It was the first time he had ever encountered such a thing. He couldn’t help but ask, "Isn’t the Mortal Realm worried that I won’t pay?"

Elder Chen smiled faintly. "We aren’t worried. It would just mean that Medicine King Valley’s Pill Furnaces will likely appear at the next auction."

"Ahem."

Valley Master Qi instantly realized he had asked an incredibly foolish question. He coughed to hide his embarrassment, but still took the Token, unable to put it down, and handed it to Elder Chen.

"In that case, I’ll use this Token right now. Help me use all of it to order Skeleton Horses. I’ll take them with me when I leave."

"No problem."

Elder Chen took the Token, walked to the room behind him, and pushed the door open. He came back out shortly after, returning the Token to Valley Master Qi with a smile. "I’ve reserved 66 Skeleton Horses for you. You have a remaining credit of 1,000 Ghost Stones. I wish you a successful trip, Valley Master Qi."

"Excellent, excellent."

An uncontrollable smile spread across Valley Master Qi’s face. He carefully tucked the Token into his robes. "Have any other influences become a Trusted Influence of the Mortal Realm?"

"Spend 50,000 Ghost Stones in the Mortal Realm Marketplace, or receive a direct invitation from the Mortal Realm, and you can become a Level 1 Trusted Influence."

"Does that mean there’s also a Level 2 Trusted Influence?"

"Yes. A Level 2 Trusted Influence has a credit limit of up to 200,000 Ghost Stones."

"200,000..."

Valley Master Qi’s breath caught in his throat. ’Damn, is the Mortal Realm that rich? All the Ghost Stones in Medicine King Valley combined don’t even add up to 200,000. If he tried to set up a credit system like Chen Fan, a single default would bankrupt his Medicine King Valley.’

But what he was more concerned about was...

"How does one become a Level 2 Trusted Influence?"

"Simply spend 200,000 Ghost Stones in the Mortal Realm Marketplace."

"So I’m already halfway there, right?"

"You could say that," Elder Chen said with a smile. "Specifically, we can only count it toward your spending progress after you’ve paid off your current purchase."

"Understood."

Valley Master Qi grinned and nodded. He couldn’t resist taking out the Token again to fiddle with it. On the back was a "Level One" mark. He didn’t linger any longer and headed for the inn at the end of the street, pushing the door open.

"Xiao Er, a room!"

He was in an excellent mood.

An exceptionally good mood.

He couldn’t wait to get back to Jiangnan.

The next moment—

The Xiao Er standing at the inn’s entrance smiled at the group. "Might you be Valley Master Qi?"

"I am."

"This way, please. As Medicine King Valley is a Level 1 Trusted Influence of the Mortal Realm, there is no charge for lodging at the inn, and your rooms have been upgraded."

"Upgraded?"

"It means you get to stay in better rooms than other influences."

"Excellent, excellent."

Valley Master Qi couldn’t help but grin again. It wasn’t that he was short on money for an inn, but the feeling of having special privileges was exhilarating. ’So becoming a Level 1 Trusted Influence comes with perks like this, too.’ He had to admit, while this was just another marketplace, the Mortal Realm Marketplace had a quality that others completely lacked. It was a marvelous feeling. He liked it.

...

「Mortal City」

The streets on both sides of the city entrance were lined with vendors. Although there were houses along the road, all their doors were shut tight.

But in reality—

The houses along both sides of the road had been knocked through, forming a corridor enclosed by buildings.

Men and women, young and old, all clad in Mortal Realm Standard Robes, were constantly running through this corridor.

-

"Report! Level 1 Trusted Influence of the Mortal Realm, ’Medicine King Valley,’ has used 99,000 Ghost Stones of credit to purchase 66 Skeleton Horses. Remaining credit: 1,000 Ghost Stones."

"Logged."

"Report! Level 1 Trusted Influence of the Mortal Realm, ’Sheep Race,’ has used 100,000 Ghost Stones of credit to purchase 64 Skeleton Horses and 2 Ghost Camels. Remaining credit: 0 Ghost Stones."

"Logged!"

"Report! One Sword Sect has spent 75,000 Ghost Stones to purchase 50 Skeleton Horses and has applied to become a Level 1 Trusted Influence of the Mortal Realm."

"Logged. Application approved."

-

Wang Kui, sitting at the end of the corridor and rapidly recording the information, snatched a Sound Transmission Talisman from his side. "Wang Kui to the Logistics Pavilion. One Sword Sect has applied to become a Level 1 Trusted Influence. I’ve approved it. Please expedite the creation of an exclusive Trust Token for the One Sword Sect."

Xiaoyu’s voice quickly came from the other end of the Sound Transmission Talisman.

"Received. Production has been expedited. It will be delivered shortly."

Several hundred breaths later.

A man in a Mortal Realm Standard Robe, riding a Skeleton Horse, charged out from a canyon, entered Mortal City from another side, and quickly arrived at the back door of the building, where he respectfully handed over a Token.

Wang Kui took the Token and passed it to a person beside him. "Take this to the One Sword Sect."

-

"Another report! Level 1 Trusted Influence of the Mortal Realm, ’One Sword Sect,’ has used 100,000 Ghost Stones of credit to purchase 65 Skeleton Horses, 1 Ghost Camel, and 16 Level 2 Earth Spikes. Remaining credit: 20 Ghost Stones."

"Logged."

-

...

"..."

Chen Fan was no longer at the entrance to greet guests. This job had been handed over to Wang Mazi. As the Commerce Pavilion Master of the Mortal Realm, Wang Mazi was in charge of the Mortal Realm’s commerce and needed to familiarize himself with the various influences and meet them face-to-face.