Talent Loan

"Talent Loan?"

Huang Shanyu paused, sizing Su Hao up. "With your status, there's no need for you to go this far, is there? Heavenly Medicine Mountain is one of the few safe places in the outer sect. There's no need to rush into acquiring magical artifacts when Alchemist Lin is looking after you."

"Elder Huang, sigh, things aren't as good as you think.

Master suddenly took me in as his disciple, and Senior Disciple Brother Lin Miao... sigh, it's hard to put into words. In any case, without a few magical artifacts to protect myself, I truly can neither sleep nor eat in peace."

Su Hao poured out his troubles, shifting the blame onto Lin Miao, who had already become a lonely wandering ghost.

"Oh?"

In just a few sentences, Huang Shanyu had already imagined a scenario of disciple brothers turning on each other. He immediately understood. "At Qi Refining Level 3, and having joined the sect for less than a year, you normally wouldn't qualify to borrow spirit stones."

"However, since you're a disciple of Heavenly Medicine Mountain and have a close relationship with Alchemist Lin—

Naturally, you should receive certain preferential treatment.

I'll make an exception and lend you 200 spirit stones, waiving the processing fee and interest. But you'll need to repay the sum within three months."

Huang Shanyu leaned closer and hooked an arm around Su Hao's shoulder. "What do you think? Other disciples wouldn't receive this kind of treatment. Nephew Su, you must keep this confidential."

"Of course, of course. I'll never forget Elder Huang's kindness. Three months—I'll definitely repay you!"

After thinking it over, Su Hao understood. This was once again his bargain-bin Master's influence.

Was the Dao of alchemy really that impressive?

A mere Qi Refining Level 7 cultivator had unexpectedly gained the attention of several members of the outer sect's management in succession.

It was all because of Lin Zhi Shan's attainments in alchemy, and because some people wanted to invest in Lin Zhi Shan's disciples ahead of time.

Yet Lin Miao, also a registered disciple who had followed Lin Zhi Shan for over a year, seemed not to have received such treatment. He had died miserably.

Su Hao could not understand the reason behind it.

"I'll give you the Body Breaking Cone. The Soul Extinguishing Needle and Soul Shaking Bell come to 162 spirit stones in total; I'll round it down to 160.

You don't seem to have a storage bag, do you? I'll sell you one cheap—30 spirit stones.

That comes to 190 spirit stones altogether. You'll have 10 low-grade spirit stones left."

Huang Shanyu waved his hand, and before long, everything had been prepared.

That person brought over a yellowish-brown pouch shaped like a scented sachet.

Everything was inside it.

"Storage bags are so cheap?" Su Hao had nearly forgotten how important a storage bag was. Without something to conceal them, magical artifacts would be exposed at once and could no longer achieve the effect of striking unexpectedly.

"Low-grade storage bags aren't expensive, but they don't hold much either—about two cubic meters. They can't be bound to an owner. Your spirit stones, pills, and magical artifacts are all inside."

Huang Shanyu personally handed the storage bag to Su Hao.

"I'd also like to take a look at formations..."

"Formations?" Huang Shanyu was amused by Su Hao's naivety. "Even the worst formation costs 500 low-grade spirit stones..."

"They're that expensive?" Su Hao was stunned.

"Of course. Among all the tools cultivators use, formations are the most expensive and extravagant. Even the most worthless Illusion Array can trap cultivators at Qi Refining Levels 3 to 5 for the time it takes to burn an incense stick, and it can be used repeatedly.

And talent in the Dao of formations is even rarer than talent in alchemy."

Huang Shanyu explained briefly.

"What about talismans?"

"Talismans aren't that expensive. Talismans are divided into ranks one through nine, with high, middle, and low grades. There are countless varieties, and their power varies.

The prices of the five-element talismans are roughly similar. A rank-one low-grade five-element talisman costs anywhere from 5 to 30 spirit stones.

Lightning talismans are the most expensive. They are the most powerful, ward off evil and dispel baleful intent, and are particularly effective against sinister arts—especially since most Golden Light Sect disciples cultivate sinister techniques.

Even the cheapest Lightning Strike Talisman costs 50 spirit stones."

With nothing better to do, Huang Shanyu led Su Hao around the talisman sales counter and introduced some basic knowledge about talismans along the way.

"Damn, then talisman masters are even richer than alchemists? And it seems easier than refining pills, doesn't it? Not long ago, I personally saw Senior Disciple Brother Zheng Tu kill another senior disciple using a large number of talismans and treasure talismans."

Su Hao was filled with envy. Having seen so many expensive magical artifacts, he felt the value of spirit stones more keenly than ever.

"Zheng Tu? He truly is a genius in the Dao of talismans—the outer sect disciple with the highest level of talisman-making skill. His cultivation talent is also quite high. If nothing unexpected happens, he'll enter the inner sect in the future.

Making talismans isn't as simple as you think. I hear the failure rate is very high, and the initial investment is enormous. Low-level talisman masters basically have to be supported by the sect; it's very difficult for them to recoup their costs.

The lightning talismans in our Heavenly Treasure Pavilion are scarce. They are basically all made by Zheng Tu."

Huang Shanyu gave Su Hao a meaningful glance.

If Zheng Tu's aptitude had been a little worse, he might have been like Lin Zhi Shan—establishing his own foothold in the outer sect and enjoying treatment above that of ordinary disciples.

Su Hao was no longer in the mood to browse. Carrying the storage bag, he left, wanting only to return to Heavenly Medicine Mountain immediately.

Huang Shanyu watched Su Hao's departing figure. "Lin Zhi Shan has finally taken another disciple. Su Hao looks more promising than that little brat Lin Miao. I hope the kid pulls through and doesn't make me waste all this effort."

"Elder Huang, there are rumors that Alchemist Lin is cultivating some secret art. He has taken in many registered disciples, but those people have all disappeared."

His assistant walked over, deeply disapproving of spending so many spirit stones on Su Hao when they had only just met.

"I know. It looks like Alchemist Lin will succeed very soon. When that happens, his aptitude will rise with the tide, and he may even have a chance to enter the inner sect.

Since Su Hao was capable of rising from the many Medicine Slaves to become a formal disciple, he must have some talent in alchemy to earn Alchemist Lin's favor."

Huang Shanyu explained.

"Alchemist Lin also has another disciple, Lin Miao. He entered the sect earlier, and it is said that he is related to Alchemist Lin..." The assistant was even more puzzled.

"Lin Miao? That little brat who thinks so highly of himself actually has atrocious aptitude. He cultivates the Twelve Spirit Apertures Method, the worst method in the Spirit Wood Scripture.

Even if he keeps swallowing pills, Qi Refining Level 6 or 7 will be his limit. As for alchemy, he probably will not achieve much either.

This Su Hao is different. His spiritual power is obscure and concealed; even my Qi Gazing Technique cannot see through him. Either his talent is outrageously poor, or he has some other special means.

The key is that, with merely Qi Refining Level 3, he dared to swagger about under Lin Zhi Shan's name. His nerve is anything but ordinary."

Huang Shanyu spoke at length.

Heavenly Medicine Mountain.

Some disciples who had secretly tailed Su Hao saw him enter Heavenly Medicine Mountain and immediately had the good sense to leave.

Su Hao returned to Bamboo Heart Courtyard without mishap.

"Secret technique 'Incomplete Extreme Intent True Scripture' has been read. Begin comprehension?"

"Comprehend!"

"Secret technique 'Breath Concealment Technique' has been read. Begin comprehension?"

"Comprehend!"

In the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Su Hao had already comprehended both jade-slip techniques.

It had to be said that jade slips were exceedingly convenient. With just a thread of divine sense, one could finish reading them within a few breaths. The time afterward was spent with their contents automatically deciphering themselves within one's mind.

The Breath Concealment Technique was comparatively simple; ordinary disciples could grasp its true meaning in three to five days.

But the Incomplete Extreme Intent True Scripture was not so simple. It was recorded on the jade slip in ancient divine script, its contents wondrous—like writing, yet also like Dao sound.

Even if one recited it aloud or wrote it down anew, its underlying flavor would undergo a completely different transformation.

Thus, even seniors who had already learned the Incomplete Extreme Intent True Scripture found it difficult to guide others in cultivating it.