Chapter 929: Records of Thatched Mountain Talismans; Elder Sang Blocks the Way
The business Sovereign Thatched Mountain spoke of was fairly straightforward. Over the past months, she had inquired about Luo Chen through her connections in the city. She learned that he was a rogue cultivator and had not established any force but had a Foundation Establishment family under his command. That family had been little known at first, but relying on the name of Devil Lord Azure Yang, it had grown increasingly prosperous over the years.
Whether it was the family's own industries or the Azure Yang Shop, everything had slowly fallen into place. Especially after Luo Chen forced Huangfu Song to withdraw, even more rogue cultivators began visiting the shop. This was why Sovereign Thatched Mountain did not doubt Luo Chen at all when he spoke of his ability to generate income. Her proposal was simple: She wanted to work with him and consign her talismans for sale at the Azure Yang Shop.
The woman's background was not any major secret. Like Huangfu Song, she came from a mortal country in the Northern Sea and was actually a princess of the ruling dynasty. Yet she had always disliked the competition and power struggles within the court. From a young age, she preferred reading Daoist texts and was drawn to tales of immortals. Later, to avoid a political marriage, she joined a Daoist temple supported by the imperial family and became a Daoist nun.
After joining the temple, she focused on cultivation and talisman-making. As the years passed and the world around her changed, she let go of all ties to her former life and set out alone on the path of cultivation. The resources she relied on came from her outstanding talisman-making skills. Even without forming alliances within the Society, she had no problem earning a living, which spoke volumes about the quality of her work. However, the number of Adepts in the Society was limited, and during times when peace prevailed, talismans saw very low usage. Over time, her income was greatly impacted, and as a direct consequence, the rent of her third-tier cave residence felt like a blade hanging by a thread above her head. Even someone as detached as her could not ignore such immediate concerns.
"For high-tier talismans, I already have my own channels, so there's no need to trouble you. But after all these years of crafting, I've ended up with quite a large stock of low-tier talismans. I could sell them through the division, but they push the prices down too much, and handling the sales myself would be far too much trouble. So I thought of your Azure Yang Shop. Of course, I wouldn't make use of your people for nothing; for any talismans sold through your shop, you can take a twenty percent cut."
Twenty percent! This was indeed a massive concession. After all, she crafted the talismans herself, and the shop provided no support. For Luo Chen, there were no additional costs. Yet he frowned and fell into thought.
Seeing that he did not respond, Sovereign Thatched Mountain frowned slightly. "Fellow Daoist, my offer is already very sincere. Do not be too greedy."
Unexpectedly, Luo Chen shook his head and smiled casually. "You're overthinking it. It's not too little; you're actually offering too much. As I see it, a ten percent cut is more than enough."
Sovereign Thatched Mountain was stunned. Who would turn down benefits handed to them so readily?
"However, I do have one condition... or rather, a request." Luo Chen smiled. "Would you be willing to supply a few third-tier talismans for sale at the shop? I don't need many. Just a few each year would be enough."
"A few?" Sovereign Thatched Mountain lowered her head and fell into thought.
Among the many auxiliary arts that supported cultivation, aside from the four great fields of alchemy, formations, artifact creation, and talismans, there was little real hierarchy. As for those four, the general consensus was that alchemy and formations generally stood above artifact creation and talismans. Alchemists required immense resources to train, while formation masters depended heavily on talent; more importantly, the results of their work had a profound impact on both individual cultivation and the strength of major forces. By comparison, artisan and talisman masters were somewhat easier to nurture, and talisman-making, in particular, was easy to learn. Many cultivators practiced it on the side, which kept the market for low-tier talismans weak.
Of course, this only applied to the lower end of the product spectrum. Most people could make basic talismans, but high-tier talismans, much like high-tier pills and quality enchanted treasures, were extremely difficult to make and therefore the demand was always greater than the offer. For Sovereign Thatched Mountain to make a third-tier talisman required considerable effort. If she set aside additional pieces for the Azure Yang Shop while maintaining her existing channels, it would inevitably cut into her cultivation time. But the impact was not that severe, and if she could not earn enough spirit stones, she would have no choice but to give up her third-tier cave residence, so she couldn't cultivate anyway. She had obviously accepted a ten-year garrison mission just to raise her demon hunter rank and obtain higher discounts.
She raised her head and looked at Luo Chen. "Do they have to be high-tier talismans?"
Luo Chen nodded. "Indeed, I would really like you to provide some. In fact, I want them so much that if you sell third-tier talismans through my shop, I won't take any commission on them."
"Eh?" She grew puzzled again. She had thought he gave up a percentage of the commission to gain more profit from high-tier talismans, yet when it came to that, he directly gave it up as well. What was his intention? But after a moment's thought, she understood. "So you're planning to use my high-tier talismans to draw in more customers to the shop... and then make your profit off the other goods, is that it?"
Luo Chen clapped his hands in praise. "Fellow Daoist, you've got quite a head for business."
She gave a bitter smile. She disliked such worldly matters, but she was no fool, and it didn't take a genius to figure out what Luo Chen wanted. Still, his openness spoke of a straightforward character. After thinking for a moment, she nodded. "Very well, I'll be able to provide three pieces per year. Of course, their effects may vary, so you'll have to be a bit flexible on that."
She had always enjoyed making talismans and often improved or developed new ones beyond standard types. Some succeeded, and some failed. If those unsatisfactory pieces could be sold through the shop for a good price, it would benefit both sides. Naturally, Luo Chen agreed without hesitation.
"There are still three months left. I'll head back, sort through my existing stock, and prepare a few third-tier talismans for you."
"Won't this affect your cultivation?"
She shook her head with a wry smile. "Of course it will, given the tight time. But compared to decades or centuries of cultivation, three months is nothing."
With that, she turned and left ahead of him. Luo Chen remained behind, strolling leisurely along the shore. By the time Black King returned from his play, he found Luo Chen wearing a faint smile. "Master, you seem to be in quite a good mood today. Is it because of my recent progress?"
"You really think highly of yourself." Luo Chen laughed as he scolded his pet, then turned and walked back beneath the glow of the setting sun. He was indeed in a good mood, and part of it actually did stem from Black King's progress, but more of it was due to the cooperation with Sovereign Thatched Mountain. Once her high-tier talismans were sold through the shop, the ripple effects would go far beyond just a few third-tier talismans. After all, which group of cultivators was the largest within the Society?
It was not the seven Sages, nor the hundreds of Adepts, but the countless Qi Refinement cultivators and Initiates. For people at that level, enchanted treasures were hard to come by, and few had any real mastery over formations. The only truly practical option was talismans, items that could be used by practically anyone regardless of their level. Once word spread that the shop stocked large quantities of high-quality talismans and even third-tier ones, it would be packed with customers. At the same time, his plan to sell defensive enchanted treasures would receive a huge boost. Before long, the shop might become one of the most well-known premium stores of the Society.
Luo Chen's gains would not be limited to spirit stones. The store not only sold goods but also bought them, and with so many rogue cultivators trading there, he could use the shop to issue requests for the resources he needed. And what did he need most? Of course, the three main ingredients for the Nascent Soul Pill!
Thanks to Surging Lake, his cultivation speed had advanced rapidly. In a short time, he had reached the fifth stage, and breaking through to the sixth was only a matter of time. And once he reached the late stage, he would have to prepare in earnest to form a Nascent Soul. He already had a method of his own, and with Han Zhan's guidance, he could avoid many detours. But if he wanted to improve his chances, the Nascent Soul Pill was essential. His cultivation speed rivaled that of a heavenly spirit root cultivator, but he was not truly one. Whether he would face the same kind of difficulties he encountered during Foundation Establishment and Core Formation, he would only find out when time came for Nascent Soul Formation.
Thus, the Nascent Soul Pill had to be refined. Over the years, he had gathered most of the auxiliary materials, as well as one of the main ones—the Divine Iris he had obtained from Qian Ting's storage pouch. It was a well-known spirit medicine that greatly aided in forming a Nascent Soul. It was only natural that Qian Ting had collected such an item. But as for the other two main ingredients, the Purple Monkey Flower and the Five Elements Lotus Pod, Luo Chen had not heard even a whisper of them over the years. Even with the help of the division's intelligence network, he found nothing.
"Once the Azure Yang Shop builds a name for itself and rogue cultivators start gathering, I might be able to get my hands on one or two. And even if not, just getting leads on them would be worth all the effort. There's still plenty of time until I get to the peak of Golden Core... I'll take it slow. Given enough time, something will turn up," Luo Chen murmured.
***
Before long, a full year had passed since Luo Chen arrived at Winding Island. His rather uneventful assignment had finally come to an end.
"I believe you've already met Fellow Daoist Wang, who's taking over your post. As for the other one, he hasn't arrived yet, but it's nothing urgent. With me here, nothing serious will happen in the short term. Also, these are the talismans I've prepared. There are 151 first-tier talismans and 500 second-tier ones. I've also rushed out two third-tier talismans. One is the Thousand-Li Movement Talisman. As the name implies, it grants a burst of extreme speed. The user really can cover a thousand li in just a few breaths. The other is the Water Giant Talisman. The user needs to take control of it and nurture it for about half a year. When it's activated, it forms a water giant with the same cultivation as the user. It's quite powerful, and in areas with water, it can sustain itself for an incense stick's time. As for the third one, it's not quite ready yet. I'll have it delivered to you once it's finished. And to keep your junior staff from selling them too cheaply out of ignorance, I've also prepared some instructions so they understand exactly what each talisman is worth."
Luo Chen accepted the storage pouch, along with a freshly written booklet: Records of Thatched Mountain Talismans.
He raised his brows. "That's very thoughtful of you."
Sovereign Thatched Mountain shook her head. "It's a matter of making a living. Of course I have to take it seriously."
"Alright. Since everything is settled, I'll be on my way. When your ten-year term is up, you are welcome to visit me at Surging Lake."
Luo Chen cupped his fist in farewell, then leaped into the air and flew toward the edge of Winding Island. At the shoreline, he paused for a moment. Soon, a massive figure rose from the sea. It was Black King. With his recent progress, he had grown increasingly unwilling to remain inside the cauldron. As he put it, the space felt like a prison. Unless he was sleeping, he did not want to enter it again.
Luo Chen did not force him. Since the return journey would just take several days, he did not wish to waste mana on a flying boat when his pet snake would do just fine. He landed lightly on Black King's back and sat down cross-legged. With just a wisp of mana invested into it, the Glazed Skyveil covered him, shielding him.
Black King let out a joyful cry and dove beneath the water, bolting toward the Myriad Immortal Society headquarters.
***
With Black King's speed, the return to the mountain range would be even faster than if he went by flying boat. But since he had time to spare, Luo Chen took out the book Sovereign Thatched Mountain had given him and began to read. It was clearly a record of her work in talisman making.
After skimming through it, Luo Chen noticed something unexpected. The book did not only contain records of the talismans she had personally created. It also included a complete guide to make basic low-tier talismans. That section, however, could only be accessed through divine consciousness.
"Huh? Is she trying to return a favor?" Luo Chen was momentarily speechless, not knowing whether to laugh or sigh. He had offered generous terms, but it was ultimately for his own benefit. He had not expected Sovereign Thatched Mountain to be the type who could not accept a favor without returning one. In response, she had gifted him a complete guide to basic talisman-making.
"A person like her is worth befriending."
Luo Chen let out a quiet sigh and continued reading. This time, his attitude was no longer so casual. He began to take it more seriously. It was because among the four arts, the one most suited to him was not formations or artifact creation, nor even the alchemy that was his pride and joy, but talisman-making. At its core, talisman-making was about sealing the spells a cultivator had mastered onto special talisman paper through specific techniques. In other words, the deeper one's understanding of spells, the greater the benefit when making talismans. And spells were where Luo Chen's talent truly lay, beyond anything else.
For now, he still had to focus on utilizing the Demon Emperor's remains and advancing his cultivation. He did not have the time to pursue talisman-making alongside them. Still, gaining some understanding now could only help him in the future.
***
As Luo Chen focused on reading Records of Thatched Mountain Talismans, time passed quickly. Black King pressed on without pause, and the unfamiliar scenery along the way fell behind them like a mist of blending colors. Just as they were leaving the Winding Sea Region, Black King suddenly came to a halt.
Luo Chen frowned and raised his head, looking up toward the surface. From above, a voice sounded. "Azure Yang, traveling alone must be lonely. Why not come aboard for a while?"
Luo Chen tapped lightly against Black King's iron-like scales, and Black King began to rise slowly. Moments later, a red-robed Daoist emerged from the sea, surrounded by a faint blue barrier.
High above, a massive and luxurious flying boat hovered in the sky. From it came a wave of astonished exclamations. Luo Chen ignored all of them, focusing only on the wrinkled old man standing at the bow. "Sang Jiugong!"
