Learning Talismans, Borrowing Spirit Stones

Three days passed in a flash.

Shen Fan circulated the Five Elements Heavenly Spirit Art. With a large accumulation of elixirs and spirit stones, he seemed to be faintly touching the edge of the fourth layer of the Mid Qi Refining Stage.

"What a shame!"

Shen Fan punched a tree trunk, and fallen leaves fluttered down.

"This Five-Element Mixed Spirit Root is truly trash talent! Otherwise, with so many elixirs and spirit stones, I would have broken through to the fourth layer of the Qi Refining Stage long ago. Even if that wasn't the case, if I had a few corpse puppets to feed my cultivation, I could have broken through smoothly!"

As the morning sun turned into a scorching sun, Shen Fan ended his day of cultivation.

There was no other way. Cultivating in the Waste Elixir Chamber, the fire poison accumulated too quickly, and he had to circulate the Azure Water Fire Ward to remove it, which greatly affected his cultivation progress.

Returning to the Waste Elixir Chamber, Shen Fan opened "Five Elements Talisman True Explanation, Volume 1" left by Li Qingshan.

This so-called single volume contained only Level 1 talismans, covering offensive and auxiliary types, all of which were most suitable for Qi Refining Stage cultivation.

However, the obscure content within made Shen Fan stop.

"That's right! I'm an Outer Sect Disciple now! I can completely ask the elders and deacons of Formation Peak in the Outer Sect for help!"

Shen Fan suddenly thought.

He had long admired the power of formations.

Artifact refining, alchemy, formations, and talismans – the Four Arts of Cultivation – were all professions that consumed a lot of spirit stones, but their importance and power were undeniable.

Shen Fan had once heard that a cultivator at the perfected Qi Refining Stage had used a massive number of talismans to blast a True Human at the Foundation Establishment Stage to death.

Therefore, although these four professions were quite expensive, their utility was unquestionable.

Shen Fan had absolutely no worries about this.

He arrived at the Outer Sect and couldn't help but feel confused.

People bustled about on the ground and in the sky, figures in green robes appearing endlessly.

"Senior Brother, what's going on?"

Shen Fan, confused, stopped an Outer Sect Disciple and asked.

"Did you just come out of seclusion? You don't even know this?" the disciple looked at Shen Fan in surprise.

"Uh... something like that!"

"A while ago, our Heavenly Xuan Sect caught an Icefire Sect spy. Now, the Four Great Immortal Sects of our Great Li Kingdom are in a tense relationship due to resources. To deter the other immortal sects, the elders of the Law Enforcement Hall have decided to escort him to the market street and execute him as a public example!" the disciple explained.

"But the Icefire Sect has offered a reward of 100,000 spirit stones, making various rogue cultivators restless, and even the remnants of the Nine Nether Corpse Puppet Sect have shown themselves!"

"So that's how it is!"

Shen Fan understood and then cupped his hands in thanks before leaving. It had nothing to do with him, so he might as well go back to studying his talismans!

Arriving at the Talisman Peak in the Outer Sect, it was quiet, as if far removed from the worldly conflict.

However...

BOOM!!

Occasionally, an explosion would come from the rooms where talismans were being drawn, followed by talisman disciples, dizzy from the blast, staggering out.

Like alchemy, talisman crafting also carried the risk of explosion.

During talisman drawing, if the spiritual patterns did not flow smoothly and spiritual energy became blocked, an explosion could occur.

"Disciple Shen Fan greets Senior Brother. As I have just joined the Outer Sect and yearn for the Way of Talismans, I wish to learn them. May I know what I need to do to join Talisman Peak?" Shen Fan asked respectfully.

The lazy deacon at the entrance said indifferently, "You don't need to do anything. Those with Three-Attribute Spirit Roots or above receive free teaching; those with Four-Attribute Spirit Roots need to pay ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones!"

"What about the Five-Element Spirit Root?" Shen Fan's face showed embarrassment.

"Hmm?" The deacon raised an eyebrow and then looked over, "Five-Element Mixed Spirit Root? With this talent, you could still join the Outer Sect?"

"Cough! During the recent open exchange day, this disciple was fortunate enough to place in the top three, so..."

"I see!" The deacon suddenly realized, "However, I've never actually encountered a disciple with your talent at Talisman Peak. Wait here, I'll go ask the elder!"

A moment later, the deacon disciple came out.

"The elder said that if you want to learn, you need to pay fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones!"

"That expensive?"

Shen Fan's eyes widened.

He used to take a dozen Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice to the market to trade for spirit stones, and he would be excited for a long time over a dozen spirit stones.

Although he had just killed Li Qingshan and had over a thousand spirit stones, it would definitely arouse suspicion for a newly joined handyman disciple to produce fifty spirit stones now.

"Senior Brother, could you give me a few more days? Once I learn talismans and earn money, I can pay the tuition, alright?" Shen Fan asked with difficulty.

"No money?" Seeing this, the deacon disciple's eyes lit up with excitement.

Wait!

Shen Fan was a little confused.

This situation shouldn't have you waving your hand dismissively and saying, "Go, go, go! Learning talismans without money?"

Why would you show this expression?

"No money? That's easy, junior brother!"

The attendant disciple came over, put his arm around Shen Fan's shoulder, and led him towards a side room on the right.

"The Outer Sect disciples' contribution is ten Spirit Stones a month. If you save up a little, you can pay it off in five months, right? And within these five months, we guarantee you'll learn it. If you're talented, you'll earn back this money long before five months are up!"

Shen Fan seemed to realize what they were getting at. As they entered a side room, the attendant disciple immediately called out, "Where is everyone? We've got business!"

A Talisman Peak disciple who had been sleeping with his face on the table wiped away some drool and sat up. "How much do you need to borrow?"

"This..." Shen Fan looked at the two of them with some surprise.

"Is this appropriate?"

"What's inappropriate about it? Junior brother! We're opening the door for you!" the attendant disciple persuaded.

"Then how is the interest calculated?" Shen Fan asked cautiously.

"Market rate, nine out, thirteen back. You borrow ten Spirit Stones, we give you nine, and you'll have to return thirteen!"

"That much?" Shen Fan's eyes widened instantly.

"Don't rush!"

The attendant disciple quickly soothed Shen Fan's emotions. "We have a promotion these few days. New disciples get the first month interest-free, and we'll even give you a set of talisman equipment. It mainly depends on how long you want to borrow for!"

Shen Fan pondered, "You said my contribution is ten Spirit Stones a month, and it will take five months to pay off!"

The attendant disciple chuckled, "It's not that exaggerated. You won't be working here for five months straight! Outer Sect disciples have a set quota of tasks each month, and there are quite a few rewards for completing them. While you're studying, you can go out and complete a few more tasks, and you might pay it off in a month!"

The attendant disciple patted Shen Fan's shoulder.

"So, as long as you're confident you can earn enough Spirit Stones to cover your loan within a month, we won't charge a single cent of interest and will even give you a set of talisman gear! Take today for example. The Outer Sect Law Enforcement Hall is publicly executing an undercover agent. They need three hundred disciples to clear the area and provide protection, with a reward of fifty Contribution Points. Ten Contribution Points is one Low-Grade Spirit Stone. It's easily earned back, isn't it?"

What he said made Shen Fan feel tempted.

However, Shen Fan didn't care about the interest; he just needed a reasonable excuse.