Talisman Master Exchange Meet

"Even Foundation Establishment Pills are up for auction? Is that for real?"

Li Qingyuan's breathing caught, shock written across his face.

The Sea Domain Archipelago was led by the Five Great Islands, with thirty-six small and medium-sized islands scattered around them like stars.

There were five Foundation Establishment Immortal Clans in total. Each occupied one of the Five Great Islands, each possessing a Second-grade Spirit Vein, with a dozen or twenty Qi Condensation Families under its command as vassals.

Of course, the Five Great Islands and Thirty-Six Islands also housed many Rogue Cultivator factions, trading companies, merchant alliances, mercenaries, and other forces.

Because they concerned Foundation Establishment, Foundation Establishment Pills were supreme treasures in the eyes of Qi Refining Stage cultivators—miraculous pills capable of changing one's fate against the heavens. Their value was so great that even ten thousand Spirit Stones could not buy one.

Thus, Foundation Establishment Pills were exceedingly rare throughout the Sea Domain Archipelago.

Only one appeared every few decades, or perhaps every century.

And whenever a Foundation Establishment Pill appeared, it would stir up a bloody storm.

Li Guangao said, "They say there is one, but whether there truly is one, this old man does not know."

"Still, even if we sold the entire Li Clan, we could not afford a treasure pill like a Foundation Establishment Pill. And even if we could afford it, we could not keep it."

"The main purpose of this trip to Willow Crane City is for us grandfather and grandson to attend the Talisman Master Exchange Meet and learn a few things."

Li Qingyuan nodded. "Grandpa Clan Leader makes sense."

"Hyah!"

Grandfather and grandson urged their horses onward, traveling three hundred li a day.

Ten days later, they arrived at Willow Crane City.

Li Qingyuan praised, "What a huge city."

The three characters Willow Crane City above the gates were grand and imposing.

The city walls stretched for a hundred li, extending dozens of li to either side. Built into the mountain range and beside the water, the city occupied favorable terrain and was easy to defend but hard to attack.

Li Guangao introduced the place as they traveled. "This is the outer city, home to three to five hundred thousand mortals."

"The number of cultivators in the Inner City is no fewer than several thousand."

"Willow Crane City possesses a First-grade High-rank Spirit Vein, firmly controlled by the Liu Clan Immortal Clan. They have opened spiritual energy cave residences and rent them out to Rogue Cultivators and various factions in exchange for vast amounts of Spirit Stones and resources."

Li Guangao said, "Willow Crane City has the best spirit vein, the best resources, and the most prosperous Market. Over time, it became the gathering place for all Rogue Cultivators on Willow Crane Island."

"Of course, you need Spirit Stones or a marketable skill. Otherwise, it will be difficult to survive here."

Li Qingyuan thought, I get it. It's like school district housing.

Rogue Cultivators toiled for an entire lifetime, spending over fifty percent of their total earnings—or even over fifty percent of three generations' savings—just to rent an exorbitantly priced cave residence.

What was even more outrageous was that the Liu Clan Immortal Clan's cave residences could only be rented, never sold.

Over the years, through a thousand years of accumulation, the Willow Crane Island Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan—the Liu Family—must have amassed a massive amount of Spirit Stones and countless resources.

Li Guangao said, "Let's find an inn and rest."

"Later, I'll visit the contact point to learn about the arrangements for the Talisman Master Exchange Meet."

Li Qingyuan naturally agreed.

That evening, Li Guangao returned to the inn and came to Li Qingyuan's room. "To accommodate Talisman Masters coming from distant places, this exchange meet will last ten days."

"The venue has been chosen as Willow Crane City's largest inn—the Mountain-Viewing Lake Inn."

"As it happens, tomorrow morning is the first day of the Talisman Master Exchange Meet."

Li Guangao said, "We'll head over tomorrow morning."

"I'll follow Grandpa Clan Leader's arrangements." Li Qingyuan nodded.

Early the next morning, Mountain-Viewing Lake Inn.

Worthy of being Willow Crane City's largest inn, it had been built around a freshwater lake, surrounded by mountains on three sides. Elegant courtyards lay scattered in harmonious order. From the mountainside, one could gaze over the lake, where green willows hung low and a fresh breeze drifted in.

People streamed in and out of the inn's entrance.

Li Qingyuan said curiously, "There are so many people!"

Li Guangao explained, "Naturally. Besides the Talisman Master Exchange Meet, there are also Alchemist Exchange Meets, Artifact Refiner Exchange Meets, and so on."

"The Talisman Master Exchange Meet is over there. Let's go."

Soon, grandfather and grandson arrived at the separate courtyard hosting the Talisman Master Exchange Meet.

At the courtyard entrance, two young men said, "All participating Talisman Masters must draw either one sheet of Tier 1 High-grade Talisman Paper or one sheet of Tier 1 Mid-grade Talisman Paper of Masterwork Quality on the spot."

"Only those whose talisman-drawing skill meets the requirements may enter."

"Here are free talisman-drawing materials," one of the young men said.

Li Guangao picked up a High-Grade First-Rank Talisman Brush. Unhurried and unruffled, he completed a Tier 1 High-grade Talisman Paper—Flame Ice Soul Severing Talisman—after a hundred breaths.

Seeing this, the young man respectfully said, "Tier 1 High-grade Talisman Paper, Genuine Quality. Pass."

"Here is your participation token. With this token, you may enter and leave the venue freely over the next ten days."

Li Qingyuan also stepped forward and drew a Tier 1 Mid-grade Talisman Paper, the Diamond Talisman, of Masterwork Quality. This meant that he had hope of becoming a First-grade High-rank Talisman Master, and he passed as well.

One young man said politely, "To possess such attainments in the talisman path at such a young age, little brother, you will surely have a promising future in talisman drawing."

"Here, this is your participation token."

Faced with capable Talisman Masters, the two young guards were exceedingly courteous.

One young guard put away the talisman papers and explained with a smile, "According to the rules, these talisman papers belong to the exchange meet."

Li Qingyuan: "..."

Well, damn. They were getting them for free, huh?

By the time Li Guangao and Li Qingyuan arrived, seven or eight people had already come, making roughly a dozen Talisman Masters present.

Do not think a dozen people was a small number. These people were either First-grade High-rank Talisman Masters or extremely close to reaching that level, enough to support a second-rate or third-rate Qi Condensation Family.

Li Qingyuan sat beside Grandpa Clan Leader, watching with his eyes and listening with his heart as he waited patiently.

About an hour later, the number of Talisman Masters exceeded twenty.

At that moment, two elderly men arrived together, laughing loudly. "Haha, we have kept you all waiting for a long time."

As the two approached, the vast majority of Talisman Masters rose to greet them politely.

"Elder Gong, Elder Zhao, you have finally arrived."

"We have waited for a long time."

"..."

Li Qingyuan looked puzzled.

"Elder Gong and Elder Zhao are the most renowned Talisman Masters in the Sea Domain Archipelago. It is said that they are already Quasi Second-grade Talisman Masters and are not far from becoming true Second-grade Talisman Masters."

Beside Li Qingyuan, a plump young man in his twenties waggled his brows and introduced them. "There are three Quasi Second-grade Talisman Masters in the Sea Domain Archipelago. Every Talisman Master Exchange Meet is hosted by the three of them."

"At the same time, all three are renowned great experts at the Qi Condensation Tenth Layer."

Li Qingyuan cupped his hands. "So that is how it is. Thank you, fellow Daoist, for informing me."

The familiar young fat man said, "I am Gong Yuan. May I know how to address fellow Daoist?"

Li Qingyuan said, "So you are Fellow Daoist Gong. My surname is Li."

"Gong?" After speaking, Li Qingyuan paused slightly.

Gong Yuan chuckled. "The Elder Gong they speak of is my grandfather."

Li Qingyuan: "..."

Well, damn. A second-generation talisman master.

After everyone exchanged pleasantries, Elder Gong and Elder Zhao looked at each other and said, "Fellow Daoists, enough idle talk. This exchange meet now begins."

"If you have any doubts regarding the talisman path, feel free to ask this old man. The two of us dare not call ourselves Talisman Masters, but we should be able to offer a few answers and ease some of the confusion in your hearts."

After hearing this, the crowd began another round of flattery.

Soon, someone stood up. "Elder Gong, Elder Zhao, then I'll go first."

This man was around fifty. With a respectful posture, he asked, "I have a Berserk Talisman. It can berserk spiritual power, boil one's blood and qi, and briefly raise one's cultivation. But whenever I draw it, I always fail at the final strokes."

"Please, you two elders, take a look..."