Exchange Gathering

Over three days, Yang Tianyou explored the whole of Yellowstone Market. He encountered many novel things and considerably broadened his horizons.

After returning to the Purple Moon Pavilion, he summoned the deputy manager of the purchasing department and asked for the account books, which he examined carefully.

And so, Yang Tianyou became the purchasing manager of the Purple Moon Pavilion.

In the blink of an eye, a month passed. One day, Yang Tianyou was cultivating cross-legged in the Cultivation Room when the Storage Bag at his waist suddenly glimmered.

Opening his eyes, Yang Tianyou took out a message talisman and pressed it to his brow. A moment later, he murmured, "Is the Exchange Gathering about to begin?"

It was a little embarrassing to admit, but although Yang Tianyou had become the purchasing manager, he usually had little to do. Apart from checking the accounts, he only had to report on the situation to Thirteenth Brother every fifteen days.

He was free to arrange the rest of his time as he wished. Clearly, the Lineage was taking care of him, a young genius, and did not want to delay his cultivation.

Yang Tianyou silently kept all this in mind and cultivated even harder. Only by growing stronger could he better help the Lineage develop.

Besides cultivating, Yang Tianyou had not neglected his Talisman Crafting skills. With the wondrous aid of the Great White Gold Eyes and Yellowstone Market's abundant supply of spiritual resources, his Talisman Crafting skills had made great strides over the past month.

Now, even without the Jade Register Heavenly Book's enhancement, he could consistently draw First-Tier Superior-Grade talismans, maintaining a success rate of roughly fifty percent. Even among talisman makers of the same grade, that was no low success rate.

Because he often needed to buy materials for Talisman Crafting, Yang Tianyou had come to know several talisman makers. At one of their invitations, he had agreed to attend an Exchange Gathering.

According to that talisman maker, the gathering was held once every two months and organized by an inner disciple of the Three Rivers Sect. All the cultivators who attended were talisman makers.

The gathering's main purpose was to exchange insights, and its secondary purpose was to trade items. Attendees could bring out spiritual materials and objects they did not need and exchange them with others, giving the gathering something of a commercial character.

Following the directions in the message talisman, Yang Tianyou arrived at a rather elegant teahouse.

After he explained why he had come, an attendant led him inside. After several twists and turns, a small double door appeared before him, and Yang Tianyou opened it and entered.

The room was large enough to hold dozens of people with ease. More than a dozen cultivators had already arrived. They each glanced at him, then paid him no further attention.

After all, he had only been in Yellowstone Market for a month, and not many people knew him. But when they saw the Yang Household crest on his chest, they all knew he was a member of the Yang Household.

With no one paying him any attention, Yang Tianyou found an empty seat at random, sat down, and closed his eyes to rest.

An incense stick's time later, someone gently tapped him on the shoulder. Yang Tianyou looked up to see a young, handsome face.

It was the talisman maker who had invited Yang Tianyou to the Exchange Gathering, a member of the Li Household of Qingyun Town named Li Shiqiong.

A smile appeared on Yang Tianyou's face as he said softly, "Fellow Daoist Li, you arrived just in time. It looks like the Exchange Gathering is about to begin."

"Haha, better to arrive at the right moment than early. I timed it perfectly."

Li Shiqiong was quite a character. He lacked the stiff manner typical of cultivation household members and instead seemed quite carefree. He plopped down casually in the seat beside Yang Tianyou.

The two exchanged a few more words before the gathering's host, Qi Yusheng, an inner disciple of the Three Rivers Sect, entered with a young man in golden robes.

Qi Yusheng walked to the front, while the young man in golden robes casually found an empty seat. As luck would have it, he sat right beside Yang Tianyou.

Qi Yusheng then announced the start of the Exchange Gathering. As the host, he naturally went first, speaking of his many insights into Talisman Crafting.

Since he cultivated a wood-attribute Cultivation Method, the Three Rivers Sect inner disciple's insights into talismans mostly concerned the inscription of wood-attribute runes.

But all arts shared common principles, so how could the way of Talisman Crafting be any different?

After Qi Yusheng finished, Yang Tianyou had gained a great deal from his talk.

One talisman maker after another took the stage. Their wide-ranging insights into Talisman Crafting gave Yang Tianyou much inspiration. Some of their peculiar, ingenious ideas especially made his eyes light up, and he was eager to try one or two of them on the spot.

Soon, it was the golden-robed young man's turn. He stood, walked onto the stage, and sat cross-legged before beginning to explain his insights.

As soon as the golden-robed young man opened his mouth, the contrast with the cultivators before him was clear. His foundational skills in Talisman Crafting were exceptionally solid. Yang Tianyou had never even heard of some of his theories, but it was plain that what he said made excellent sense.

This man must come from a major power!

The same thought flashed through the minds of everyone present.

Without the careful training of a major power, he could not have displayed such skill. In some areas, especially knowledge of cultivation, the gap between powerful and weak forces was visible to the naked eye.

The golden-robed young man before them was a living example. Although he was only at the Qi Refinement stage, his Talisman Crafting foundations alone were perhaps even stronger than those of some second-tier talisman makers.

After his momentary shock, Yang Tianyou had no time to dwell on his feelings. He cocked his ear and listened carefully to the golden-robed young man.

To Yang Tianyou's delight, the golden-robed young man also cultivated a Metal Attribute Cultivation Method, so he naturally had the greatest insight into making Metal Attribute talismans.

In fact, that subject took up a full fifty to sixty percent of his talk.

The golden-robed young man soon stepped down. Still wanting more, Yang Tianyou smacked his lips. He believed the young man had left much unsaid. After all, this was only an Exchange Gathering, not a lesson for a personal disciple. Only a fool would share everything he knew.

After straightening his robes, Yang Tianyou followed the golden-robed young man onto the stage.

He sat cross-legged and slowly shared the insights he had long since organized, his words flowing like a babbling brook.

"The Dao of talismans inscribes the veins of heaven and earth..."

Huh? Who is this man? Judging by his insights, he must at least be a First-Tier Superior-Grade talisman maker. But why is his cultivation only at the middle Qi Refinement stage?

The cultivators below the stage were puzzled. Questions and curiosity flashed through many of their minds, with more of the latter.

He can actually make talismans above his own stage. Such talent is extraordinary indeed. He is worth befriending!

Thoughts turned in the golden-robed young man's mind. Once Yang Tianyou began explaining the making of metal-attribute talismans, his desire to befriend him grew stronger still.

Yang Tianyou soon finished sharing his insights and rose to return to his seat.

"Fellow Daoist, I am Jinge. Might I ask your name? That way, we can exchange more knowledge of the art of talisman making in the future!"

A warm, refined voice greeted him. Yang Tianyou turned in slight surprise and saw the golden-robed young man who called himself Jinge looking at him with a smile.

The man had taken the initiative to show goodwill, and Yang Tianyou had already been coveting his knowledge of Talisman Crafting, so naturally he had no reason to refuse.

Yang Tianyou cupped his hands slightly and said with a smile, "I am Yang Tianyou of the Purple Moon Pavilion!"