Chapter 36: Exchange Gathering (Seeking Recommendations)
Chapter 36: Exchange Gathering (Seeking Recommendations)
“What? Talisman Master Zong. . . so sudden? ”
Fang Xi's face was filled with shock.
Zong Wu was the Talisman Master Zong he frequently bought talismans from. Of course, what Fang Xi thought of more was his fiery-tempered Daoist Companion, Lu Zhi, who had an even more fiery personality.
“Oh! ”
He looked at Chen Ping, understanding why the latter had a hint of joy he was trying hard to suppress.
“Sigh. . . Daoist Friend Lu has lost her beloved partner; I must go and comfort her properly. It’s just. . . to mourn a Grandmaster now, my spirit stones are not conveniently at hand. ” Chen Ping looked at Fang Xi, his eyes holding the implied meaning of debt collection.
Fortunately, Fang Xi had come to repay his debt. He immediately took out five Spirit Stones: “Last month, thanks to Brother Chen, Daoist Friend Di, and Daoist Friend Jiu Xuan for lending a hand. Here are five Spirit Stones; please, Brother Chen, return them to the two Daoist Friends on my behalf. . . ”
“Of course! ”
This left Fang Xi feeling a bit exasperated.
He hadn't even had a chance to ask about the barrier-breaking talisman; he could only secretly grumble about this scoundrel who prioritized romance over friendship.
......
Talisman Master Zong was quite wealthy; he had specifically rented a cave abode within the Green Bamboo Mountain market town.
The moment he entered, Fang Xi immediately felt a wave of pure spiritual energy wash over him, and he couldn't help but sigh inwardly: ‘So this is what a first-order spirit vein cave abode feels like? If I had such rich and pure spiritual energy to aid my cultivation, I would probably have already cultivated the Evergreen Art to the peak of the third layer and attempted to break through to the middle stage of Qi Refinement, right? ’
The South Barrens Cultivation World classifies spirit veins into several orders, corresponding to realms like Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, and so on.
A first-order spirit vein could generally only satisfy the needs of Qi Refinement cultivators.
A second-order spirit vein could provide for Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivators to meditate and cultivate.
Green Bamboo Mountain possessed a first-order spirit vein, which was usually sealed by an array formation and only supplied for internal use within the market town.
Rogue cultivators and Spirit Farmers like Fang Xi could only enjoy a bit of the residual spiritual energy outside the market town's array, barely counting as cultivating on an unranked spirit vein.
In terms of effectiveness, it was only slightly better than the mortal world.
“Daoist Friend Jiu Xuan, Daoist Friend Di! ”
Upon entering the cave abode, Fang Xi saw two familiar faces.
Old Daoist Jiu Xuan was still dressed in his Daoist robes, looking like an immortal, while Di Qi showed a smile on his face when he saw Fang Xi: “Daoist Friend Fang is truly a man of his word! ”
‘It seems Chen Ping did return the Spirit Stones to these two; he didn't embezzle them. . . Hmm, he’s still a friend worth keeping. ’
Fang Xi had genuinely been a little worried that Chen Ping would just pocket his Spirit Stones.
After all, three people had borrowed Spirit Stones from him together back then.
The few of them walked into the inner room and saw many cultivators gathered, seemingly all part of Talisman Master Zong’s network.
His Daoist Companion, Lu Zhi, was dressed in mourning clothes, serving spiritual tea and spiritual snacks to the guests.
After not seeing her for several days, Daoist Friend Lu looked a little haggard, but her charm remained undiminished.
Especially with the saying "to be charming, wear mourning clothes," her current attire made people's imaginations run wild.
For instance, that fellow Chen Ping couldn't take his eyes off her.
“Huh? They're here too? ”
Fang Xi's gaze swept over and he saw Shen Hao Ran and Yun Meng, who were by Chen Ping’s side, and couldn't help but murmur.
“Hmph, merely two arrogant individuals. . . ”
Di Qi also saw Shen Hao Ran and immediately spoke with some embarrassment.
“Oh? ! ”
Fang Xi looked thoughtfully at Di Qi, then at Shen Hao Ran, and immediately understood.
These few were all Chen Ping's friends, so they must have interacted frequently.
However, Shen Hao Ran and Yun Meng, regardless of their family background or cultivation, were a cut above Di Qi. Moreover, judging from the incident at Mingqing Pavilion last time, they were certainly not individuals who would condescend to others.
Di Qi had probably suffered a loss and held a grudge.
‘Good thing he didn't say anything like "eyes that look down on people," this kid still has some cunning. ’
Fang Xi secretly nodded, then consulted with Jiu Xuan Shang Ren, and together they contributed one low-grade Spirit Stone as a condolence gift.
......
“Everyone! ”
After a round of tea, Lu Zhi rose from the main seat and bowed gracefully: “I thank you all on behalf of my late husband for coming! ”
“No need to be polite! ”
“Not at all, not at all. . . ”
Fang Xi and the others quickly returned the bow.
“Cough, cough. . . May I ask why Talisman Master Zong passed away? ” Shen Hao Ran held a white jade folding fan, looking every bit the refined young master, and inquired.
Immediately, Lu Zhi replied: “My late husband didn't listen to my advice and went out of the market town to seek opportunities. He was killed by rogue cultivators. . . According to the information I've gathered, the enemies are likely the ‘Kou Brothers’! ”
“It’s them? ! ” Di Qi gasped.
Seeing Jiu Xuan Shang Ren looking somewhat bewildered, he explained to him: “These Kou Brothers are three biological brothers, said to have all reached the late stage of Qi Refinement. When they join forces, they can even fight a Qi Refinement Perfected cultivator. They've been rampaging everywhere, their hands stained with blood, killing countless people. . . ”
“Ah, so ferocious? ” Jiu Xuan Shang Ren’s eyes widened.
Although he called himself an ‘Shang Ren’, he was actually just a little rookie at the initial stage of Qi Refinement. Facing such vicious fiends, he probably wouldn't even be enough to fill their teeth.
Fang Xi observed coolly. After the names of the enemies were revealed, his group of friends immediately fell into an awkward silence.
Not one of them vowed to avenge Talisman Master Zong.
He couldn't help but inwardly lament the cold reality of the cultivation world, which was evident in this scene.
A living Talisman Master Zong was a first-order mid-grade talisman master with boundless prospects, but a dead one was worthless.
And certainly not worth the cultivators offending strong individuals like the Kou Brothers!
“Hmph! ”
Lu Zhi, seeing this, gave a dissatisfied cold snort.
But then, she calmed down again, took out a plain silk handkerchief, and wiped her eyes: “My late husband is gone, and I, a weak woman, cannot manage this family business. I plan to sell everything and return to my hometown. . . Since you all have come, I shall host an exchange gathering here! ”
Hearing this, many people's eyes lit up.
Including Fang Xi!
Unfortunately, thinking of his empty purse, Fang Xi couldn't help but shake his head and smile bitterly: ‘Sigh. . . I don't even have the strength to act like a vulture. . . ’
Cultivation world auctions were grand events!
And among fellow Daoist Friends, small exchange gatherings would occasionally be held, mostly in the form of bartering, to exchange what they had for what they lacked.
This time, with Talisman Master Zong’s demise, quite a few fellow cultivators had come, likely having caught wind of the situation!
The next moment, Lu Zhi’s melancholic voice sounded: “This Green Bamboo Mountain Cave Abode, Xuan-character Number Eight, its lease still has five years remaining, starting bid fifty Spirit Stones. . . ”
“I want it! ”
“I bid fifty-one Spirit Stones! ”
Soon, the lease was acquired by a yellow-robed old Daoist for fifty-five Spirit Stones.
Lu Zhi then took out a talisman brush: “A first-order superior-grade talisman brush, its bristles made from the hair of a Silver Moon Wolf. . . ”
This time, it attracted the pursuit of many talisman masters.
Fang Xi saw Chen Ping’s face flush red as he secretly conferred with Shen Hao Ran and Yun Meng, but he didn't make a bid.
‘Did the negotiation fall through? ’
Just as he was secretly pondering, he saw Lu Zhi take out a yellowish, old jade slip: “My late husband’s talisman-making notes, containing the methods for crafting multiple spiritual talismans. . . ”
“One hundred Spirit Stones! ” A talisman apprentice who had previously competed for the brush exclaimed, his eyes gleaming.
“One hundred fifty Spirit Stones! This is Talisman Master Zong’s entire legacy of talismans, you kid, dreaming are we! ” Another old talisman master immediately reprimanded him.
After a round of bidding, the price reached one hundred seventy-six Spirit Stones and could not go any higher.
After all, cultivators were all shrewd individuals; they wouldn't lose their minds for a talisman legacy.
“Two. . . two hundred Spirit Stones! ”
Suddenly, another voice rang out.
Fang Xi looked over; it was Chen Ping!
Chen Ping’s face was pale, his lips trembling, but his expression was incredibly resolute.
“Good! ” Lu Zhi was slightly surprised but readily agreed: “Two hundred Spirit Stones. My late husband’s talisman legacy will be handed over to Daoist Friend Chen. ”
“Mm-hmm, thank you. ”
Chen Ping chuckled foolishly, but Fang Xi felt something was off.
Even if Daoist Friend Chen had some savings, it was only around a few Spirit Stones, and he had pretty much spent everything at Fairy Red Bee’s place. How did he have so many Spirit Stones?
Unless. . . Shen Hao Ran and Yun Meng had lent them to him.
And these two were not good people; lending so many Spirit Stones to Chen Ping surely came with extremely harsh conditions!
Furthermore, Chen Ping himself must have something worth coveting!
Otherwise, there were plenty of penniless rogue cultivators around, but none were seen successfully borrowing such a large sum of Spirit Stones.
As Fang Xi pondered, the exchange gathering reached its end. Lu Zhi completely cleared out Talisman Master Zong’s inventory of talismans.
She even sold a few talismans the deceased had treasured.
One of them made Fang Xi’s breath catch.
“A first-order superior-grade barrier-breaking talisman, a rare and exquisite talisman. My late husband spent a great deal of money to buy this, intending to copy and learn from it. . . Sigh. . . If any fellow Daoists are interested, you can have it for thirty Spirit Stones. ”
Lu Zhi took out a wooden box. When she opened it, there was only a single talisman inside. On its pale yellow body, strokes of silver talisman ink were like iron hooks and silver lines, incredibly complex.
Moreover, between the silver runes, faint wisps of distortion seemed to emanate.
This was precisely the barrier-breaking talisman Fang Xi desperately needed!
Unfortunately, after repaying his debts, he was once again penniless.
‘What a pity, what a pity! If only I had more time. . . ’ As he seethed internally, he heard a talisman master stroke his beard and speak: “A first-order barrier-breaking talisman can only break first-order restrictions and grand arrays. It doesn't have much significant use. . . If it were second-order, its value would multiply tenfold, even a hundredfold. ”
First-order array formations were not considered much. The Situ family, protecting the Green Bamboo Mountain market town, used second-order array formations.
If those rogue cultivators obtained a second-order barrier-breaking talisman, the entire Green Bamboo Mountain market town might face disaster!
However, Fang Xi knew that this first-order barrier-breaking talisman was still very useful. This old talisman master was trying to drive down the price!
Indeed, the next moment, he heard the other party’s voice continue: “At the Heavenly Talisman Hall, a first-order superior-grade barrier-breaking talisman in perfect condition sells for around thirty-five Spirit Stones. Daoist Friend, your price is a bit high. . . ”
“Hmph, the spiritual energy of this barrier-breaking talisman of mine hasn't leaked a bit, and I’m selling it to you for five Spirit Stones less! How can you say it’s high? ”
Lu Zhi’s phoenix eyes widened, and that fiery, shrewish vigor returned.
“Sigh. . . ”
Watching this scene, Fang Xi could only inwardly lament: ‘Not every opportunity I see is destined to be mine. . . ’
Without Spirit Stones to make a bid, he could only wait until his next sale of monster beast meat, accumulate enough Spirit Stones, and then try his luck at the Heavenly Talisman Hall.
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