Talisman Master

Perhaps because there were too many factions, Flame City was even more chaotic than Qingyang Town. Along the way, the two witnessed several fights. The passersby, however, took it all in stride, some even stopping to watch and cheer, as if they had no fear of being caught in the crossfire.

Lin Dong naturally had no interest in this. Lin Changqiang usually enjoyed a bit of excitement, but compared to that, unlocking a secondary profession was far more tempting.

So they merely glanced at the commotion and turned away. Lin Changqiang followed Lin Dong through several streets before the latter finally stopped in front of a grand and imposing building.

"Curio Building?" "Taobao!" Both muttered under their breath.

Gazing at the three ancient-looking characters, anticipation flickered in their eyes. The Curio Building's fame was so widespread that even those who had never left Qingyang Town had heard of it.

Lin Dong hesitated briefly before stepping inside, completely unaware of Lin Changqiang's sly grin behind him.

Crossing the threshold, a vast hall spread out before them. Countless counters lined the space, each filled with a dazzling array of items—spiritual medicines, weapons, martial arts... everything imaginable.

"Young master, want to buy some apples?" The two turned to see a burly, fierce-looking uncle with two scars on his face, selling fruit.

"No, thanks." Lin Changqiang's mouth twitched as he quickly pulled Lin Dong toward another counter. "What's with this terrifying sense of déjà vu?"

"Changqiang, what's wrong?" Lin Dong asked, bewildered. "Isn't he just selling apples? Wait, why would the Curio Building have a fruit vendor?"

As they walked, scanning the counters, a green-clad attendant approached with a beaming smile, pulling a black longsword from a display case.

"See how sharp this sword is? It's forged from Hundred-Refined Black Iron—so sharp it can split a hair blown against it. What's more, a talisman master has inscribed a rune on it. Channel your Yuan Power, and even the toughest armor will be pierced. With this, young master, you'll be unstoppable."

The two glanced at the black iron sword. A crooked rune was carved into it, glowing faintly—clearly not top-tier goods.

Lin Changqiang rolled his eyes. "Got any armor so tough that even your sharpest sword can't pierce it? I'll take a set."

The attendant showed no embarrassment. He put the sword away and patiently began introducing other items.

Lin Dong ignored him, his gaze slowly sweeping across the counters. After a moment, his eyes stopped. In the spot he was looking at lay a palm-sized green cloth pouch, its surface shimmering with an unusual luster.

"This is a Low-Grade Cosmic Bag, made from Cosmic Wood and inscribed with a rune by a Two-Seal Talisman Master. Don't let its size fool you—it can hold something as big as this counter." Seeing Lin Dong's interest, the green-clad attendant eagerly explained.

Hearing this, Lin Dong suddenly recalled how Lin Changqiang had pulled the Yang Gang Treasure Robe from his shirt earlier. He turned to look at him, but the latter was nodding seriously, as if oblivious.

"Two-Seal Talisman Master? What's a talisman master?" Lin Changqiang asked, feigning ignorance. He already knew, but the tutorial was best left to an NPC.

The attendant's smile froze for a moment, suspecting he was dealing with a couple of broke customers. Still, he patiently explained, "A talisman master is a special profession. They can condense the world's Yuan Power into unique runes. These runes have different abilities. For example, that black iron sword earlier had a rune inscribed on it, enhancing its durability and sharpness by a tier."

"In the path of martial arts, many branches have emerged. Talisman mastery is one of them. However, this profession demands exceptional strength and spiritual power, so it's relatively rare."

"Talisman masters are divided into five seals. One-Seal is the lowest, Five-Seal the highest. Generally, even a One-Seal Talisman Master must at least be at the Earthly Yuan Stage. A Two-Seal Talisman Master, on the other hand, can be treated as a VIP by any major force in Flame City."

After hearing this, even Lin Changqiang looked at the attendant with newfound respect. This service was almost as good as his employees back in his past life.

Lin Dong frowned. He wanted the item, but the price was steep. After a moment's thought, he pulled a bottle from his bosom. Inside were ten pills of varying colors, refined from spiritual medicines using the Stone Talisman.

"Have someone appraise these pills," Lin Dong said, placing the bottle on the counter with a confident smile.

The green-clad attendant examined the pills, a hint of surprise flickering across his face. He then lightly rang a bell behind him.

Before long, a middle-aged man with a warm smile approached, walking eagerly toward Lin Dong. "Is it this young brother who wishes to sell something?"

His gaze fell on the bottle on the counter. He picked out a pill, brought it to his nose, and sniffed gently. "These pills seem to be refined from spiritual medicines. The medicinal power is quite gentle, suitable for those at the Body Tempering Stage. How about this: I'll give you five Yang Yuan Stones per pill. Deal?"

"No way. If I buy this Cosmic Bag, I'll only have two Yang Yuan Stones left." Lin Dong rolled his eyes and reached for the bottle. "I'll sell them elsewhere."

The middle-aged man quickly covered the bottle. "Young brother, don't be hasty. What price are you thinking?"

"Uh, at least ten to one."

The middle-aged man shook his head helplessly at Lin Dong's outrageous demand. "Seven to one. Seven to one at most. That's already a fair price."

"Deal!" This time, Lin Dong didn't hesitate, accepting with a delighted grin. The middle-aged man sighed with a wry smile, instructing the attendant to fetch the Cosmic Bag. In front of Lin Dong, he placed twenty-two Yang Yuan Stones inside the bag.

Of course, Lin Changqiang knew the guy was secretly thrilled. After all, Lin Dong hadn't even haggled over the Cosmic Bag's price.

Lin Dong eagerly took the Cosmic Bag, fiddling with it in satisfaction. Then, his attention shifted to the left side of the bag, where a faint, peculiar rune was barely visible.

Staring at the strange rune, Lin Dong's mind involuntarily focused, converging on it. His vision blurred, and the rune hidden on the Cosmic Bag grew clearer and clearer.

In this bizarre state, a peculiar ripple emanated from Lin Dong's mind—his spiritual power.

The invisible spiritual power seeped out from his head, slowly tracing a shape in the air before him. Though rough and blurry, the outline was strikingly similar to the rune on the Cosmic Bag!

"Dong! Congratulations, host. First contact with spiritual power cultivation. Reward: three lottery draw opportunities."