Steadily Selling Talisman Paper, Earning Two Thousand Spirit Stones!

"Great Talisman Master is here to sell talisman paper again?"

An old man, around seventy years old with a full head of white hair and beard, looked at Li Guangao and spoke in a strange, mocking tone.

Li Qingyuan looked at the newcomer, confusion on his face.

He looked toward Grandpa Clan Leader Li Guangao, his eyes questioning.

Li Guangao looked at the man and snorted coldly. "What, is this Market run by your family?"

"I'll come when I please and leave when I please. What business is it of yours?"

Li Guangao struck straight at the sore spot as well, saying with mockery, "Great Alchemy Master, when will you refine a genuine High-Grade First-Rank Pill?"

The old man snorted. "Rest assured, certainly before you draw a Tier 1 High-grade Talisman Paper."

The two stared at each other, then each flicked his sleeve and snorted, thoroughly sick of the sight of the other.

Behind the old man, a young man of around twenty wore a helpless expression. He then stepped forward, bowed, and respectfully said, "Great Aunt Grandfather, it has been a long time."

Li Guangao looked at the young man and smiled warmly. "Xiao Luo is here too."

"Come, Great Aunt Grandfather will give you a few talismans."

As he spoke, Li Guangao took out six talismans: Mid-Grade First-Rank Diamond Talismans, Wind Blade Talismans, and Explosive Fire Talismans. There was even one Masterwork Quality talisman of each type.

The young man said in surprise, "Great Aunt Grandfather, these are Masterwork Quality Mid-Grade First-Rank Talismans?"

Li Guangao glanced at the old man, stroked his beard smugly, and said, "That's right. This old man drew them himself."

The old man: "..."

"Hmph, they're only Masterwork Quality Mid-Grade First-Rank Talismans. Who hasn't seen those before?" A trace of surprise flashed in the old man's eyes, but he still forced a mocking tone.

Li Guangao asked in return, "What, can you refine Masterwork Quality Mid-Grade First-Rank Pills now?"

"You—" The old man's expression froze. Flicking his sleeve, he said, "Luo'er, we're leaving."

"Don't delay the Great Talisman Master's business."

The young man smiled apologetically and said, "Great Aunt Grandfather, and this elder sister, I'll take my leave first."

With that, he turned and left, catching up to the old man.

Li Guangao said, "Hey, the talismans—the talismans haven't been taken yet."

But the grandfather and grandson had already gone far away.

Li Qingyuan asked softly, "Grandpa Clan Leader, do you know them?"

"Why did that young man call you Great Aunt Grandfather?"

Li Guangao sighed. "Let's go back to the inn. We'll come again tomorrow."

Seeing that Grandpa Clan Leader did not wish to speak, Li Qingyuan naturally did not ask further.

After returning to the inn, the four of them ate dinner together.

After dinner, Li Qingyuan said, "Grandpa Clan Leader, Great Elder Grandfather, I want to go out with my father, take a walk around the Market."

Qu Mountain Marketplace's annual auction was about to begin. Recently, many of the shops in Qu Mountain Marketplace had been operating day and night without closing.

The Clan Leader said absentmindedly, "Go ahead. Just make sure you father and son don't leave the Market."

In a place like Qu Mountain Marketplace, Qi Condensation Families and powerful Rogue Cultivators gathered in droves. Even Bandit Cultivators had to change their appearance when they came here, not daring to reveal their true faces, much less kill people and seize treasures.

As long as they did not leave the Market, they would basically be safe.

Li Dingzhou said, "Clan Leader, rest assured. I'll take good care of Yuan'er."

Soon, father and son left the inn.

Li Qingyuan said, "Father, don't you like gambling on Mystery Boxes?"

"Yuan'er wants to take a look too."

As soon as these words were spoken, Li Dingzhou said eagerly, "Wouldn't that be inappropriate? I'm afraid I'll lead you astray."

"We'll only gamble once. We'll have some fun, then leave."

Li Dingzhou nodded happily. "Fine, just once."

Li Qingyuan: "..."

Before they even reached the gambling house, all kinds of clamor drifted over from beyond its doors and across the long street.

"Open, open, open~"

"Thank you for your patronage. Ah, my Spirit Coins!"

"Haha, I got one—give me another box. Quick, give this old man another box."

"One jin of Spirit Rice. I lost, I lost."

"..."

The father and son entered the main hall. Li Dingzhou introduced the place as they walked. "Mystery Box gambling: one Mystery Box costs ten Spirit Coins. The boxes are made from special materials that can block Spiritual Sense."

"Unless one is a Foundation Establishment Venerable, no one can peer inside."

There was only one Foundation Establishment Venerable on Willow Crane Island.

Once one reached the Foundation Establishment realm, one would not deign to play such a game.

Li Dingzhou took out twenty Spirit Coins and said, "Give me two."

One Spirit Stone was worth one hundred Spirit Coins.

Spirit Stones were about the size of mahjong tiles.

Spirit Coins were the size of coins, thin as cicada wings, translucent and transparent to light.

Li Qingyuan understood Old Dad very well. What man did not have a few hobbies?

Some liked women, wine, or chess. Some liked painting, art, gambling, jade, or fishing...

Li Dingzhou liked gambling on Mystery Boxes, but due to poverty and his fairly strong self-control, he only gambled four or five rounds each time, spending at most half a Spirit Stone.

There were losses and wins; small gambling was pleasant.

"Here, Yuan... Qingqing." Li Dingzhou handed Li Qingyuan a Mystery Box.

Li Qingyuan opened it and found one jin of Spirit Rice. Good fellow—he had actually lost five Spirit Coins.

In the Market, one jin of Spirit Rice cost five Spirit Coins.

Li Dingzhou had a greater sense of ceremony when opening Mystery Boxes. He rubbed his hands, then slowly pulled them apart bit by bit. The instant even a tiny crack appeared, he covered it again, then gradually released his hands while peeking through the gap.

A Mystery Box should have taken one second to open, yet he dragged it out for half a minute.

"Ah, thank you for your patronage."

Li Dingzhou took out another ten Spirit Coins. "Give me another."

Li Qingyuan said softly, "Father, I'll walk around by myself. You play first."

Li Dingzhou was busy opening his Mystery Box. He waved a hand and said, "Fine, I know. Don't go too far."

Li Qingyuan turned and left the gambling house.

Soon, Li Qingyuan arrived at a shop specializing in talisman paper.

The shop's second floor was very spacious. A young woman approached him with a smile. "Elder sister, are you here to buy talismans?"

Li Qingyuan took out a Masterwork Quality Diamond Talisman and asked, "Is your shopkeeper still buying talismans?"

The young woman's eyes lit up. "This is a Masterwork Diamond Talisman?"

"May I ask how many you have, elder sister?"

Li Qingyuan smiled. "May I meet your shopkeeper?"

The young woman pondered for a moment, then said, "Please wait a moment. I'll report this."

Half a quarter-hour later, the young woman came down from the second floor and politely said, "Elder sister, this way, please."

Li Qingyuan followed her upstairs.

The moment he reached the second floor, a young woman of exquisite beauty approached him.

She wore a purple dress and stood graceful and slender, her figure enchanting. A thin veil covered her face, while her eyes shone like stars. Willow-leaf brows and almond-shaped eyes made her seem like a fairy who had stepped out of a painting.

This woman is so beautiful. Li Qingyuan thought. On tiny Willow Crane Island, there is actually such a peerlessly poised beauty?

The Purple Skirt Woman looked at Li Qingyuan and smiled faintly. "Fellow Daoist, are you here to sell talismans to my Spirit Talisman Building?"

"May I ask how many talismans you have? And how many are Masterwork Quality?"

Li Qingyuan waved his hand, and First-grade Low-rank Talismans and Mid-Grade First-Rank Talismans flew out from his Storage Bag. There were more than a thousand of them in total, equivalent to nearly ten years of stockpiled inventory for the Li Immortal Clan.

"So many?" The Purple-robed Young Lady was slightly taken aback, surprise filling her beautiful eyes.

With a wave of her hand, the Purple-robed Young Lady assessed the talismans' quality and said, "One thousand two hundred talismans. Setting aside their ranks and speaking only of quality: twenty percent are Low-Grade Quality, sixty percent are Genuine Quality, and twenty percent are Masterwork Quality."

"Fellow Daoist, your skill is impressive."

The Purple-robed Young Lady looked at Li Qingyuan, her beautiful eyes glimmering with interest.

Li Qingyuan asked, "Can Spirit Talisman Building take all these talismans?"

The Purple-robed Young Lady pondered. "Your talismans are of good quality, Fellow Daoist, but for a one-time purchase of so many, Spirit Talisman Building can only offer eighty percent of the Market price."

Li Qingyuan considered briefly, then nodded. "Agreed."

This price met his expectations.

Buying all one thousand two hundred talismans in one gulp was no simple matter. It required considerable financial strength.

The Purple-robed Young Lady began counting the talismans.

First-grade Low-rank Talismans made up the largest portion, accounting for seventy percent of the total: eight hundred and forty talismans.

Mid-Grade First-Rank Talismans made up only thirty percent of the total, numbering just three hundred and sixty.

Among the First-grade Low-rank Talismans, ordinary Illumination Talismans, Cleaning Talismans, and Blood-Stopping Talismans made up the majority. These three types alone numbered five hundred. Their cost was the lowest, and they sold for one Spirit Stone each, totaling five hundred Spirit Stones.

There were three hundred and forty Lightness Talismans, Iron Armor Talismans, and Ice Thorn Talismans in total. At an average price of two Spirit Stones each, that came to six hundred and eighty Spirit Stones.

For the Mid-Grade First-Rank Talismans, twenty percent were Low-Grade Quality, twenty percent were Masterwork Quality, and sixty percent were Genuine Quality. Averaged out, they were calculated at the Genuine Quality price of five Spirit Stones each.

Three hundred and sixty Mid-Grade First-Rank Talismans came to one thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones.

The total was 500 + 680 + 1800 = 2980.

A quarter-hour later, the Purple-robed Young Lady said, "At Market prices, Fellow Daoist's talismans are worth two thousand nine hundred and eighty Spirit Stones. I'll round it up for you to three thousand Spirit Stones."

"At eighty percent of the Market price, three thousand Spirit Stones comes to two thousand four hundred Spirit Stones."

"What does Fellow Daoist think? Shall we trade?"

Li Qingyuan's eyes brightened slightly. "We can trade."

The Purple-robed Young Lady smiled faintly. With a wave of her hand, a First-grade High-rank Storage Bag flew from her waist, and two thousand four hundred Spirit Stones flew toward Li Qingyuan.

Li Qingyuan caught them all and stored them in the Storage Bag at his waist.

"Fellow Daoist is generous. A pleasant cooperation." Li Qingyuan cupped his hands. "I'll take my leave."

Because he was still young and had deliberately altered his voice, it did not sound distinctly male, carrying a somewhat androgynous quality that would not expose his women's clothing as a disguise.

The Purple Skirt Woman smiled. "May I ask Fellow Daoist's name?"

Li Qingyuan pondered briefly. "My surname is Li."

"So it is Fellow Daoist Li. My surname is Qin." The Purple Skirt Woman asked with a smile, "May I ask whether Fellow Daoist Li can draw Tier 1 High-grade Talismans?"

"This..." After pausing, Li Qingyuan said, "My strength is meager, and I am merely a First-tier Rogue Cultivator. Lacking an inheritance, I cannot produce Tier 1 High-grade Talismans."

Hearing this, the Purple Skirt Woman said regretfully, "What a pity. Fellow Daoist Li's talent in the Talisman Path is astonishing. If you possessed a complete First-tier Talisman Path Inheritance, you would surely become a top-tier First-tier Talisman Master in the future."

Li Qingyuan also feigned regret. "Indeed. For Rogue Cultivators like us, it is far too difficult."

"Fellow Daoist Qin, if there is nothing else, I shall take my leave." Li Qingyuan cupped his hands in salute.

The Purple Skirt Woman smiled radiantly. "Xiao Lan, help me see Fellow Daoist Li out."

The maid nodded and respectfully escorted Li Qingyuan downstairs and out of Spirit Talisman Building.

After Li Qingyuan had gone far away, he looked back and thought, I asked around along the way and learned that this Spirit Talisman Building only opened within the last two years. Its reputation for honesty is fairly good as well.

That woman in purple bought all the talismans for two thousand four hundred Spirit Stones without even blinking. Her identity and backing must be extraordinary. She probably would not dare rob me under the guise of a deal?

Li Qingyuan thought, With the Flame Ice Soul Severing Talisman protecting me, I can kill even Qi Condensation Level 7 and hold off Qi Condensation Eighth Layer cultivators for a time. The risk is still controllable.

Li Qingyuan was in high spirits. The talismans he had accumulated for years had finally all been sold, exchanged for two thousand four hundred Spirit Stones.

After arriving somewhere deserted, Li Qingyuan tested it. As expected, the two thousand four hundred Spirit Stones could not be stored in the Mysterious Feminine Space, so they could not be doubled.

So that's how it is. Spirit Stones obtained by selling finished talismans that have already been copied once cannot be copied again. The space forbids endless nesting dolls.

Even so, I won't be short of Spirit Stones for quite a long time to come.

Since I'm not short on Spirit Stones, I can buy more materials for drawing Flame Ice Soul Severing Talismans.

Alas, his Fear of Insufficient Firepower had flared up again.