Headless Evil Spirit, Misty-Sun Treasure Umbrella

"There's one more thing this old man must remind you of, Fellow Daoist. On my way here, before dawn, about ten-odd li from here, this old man saw a Headless Cultivator wandering about!

"That had to be an evil entity. Good thing this old man spotted it from afar and avoided it. Fellow Daoist, you'd best be more careful lately. Evil entities are even more formidable than demon beasts!"

Ge Changyuan said with lingering fear. The last time he had traveled through the night with Su Qing, nothing had happened, and it had emboldened him somewhat. Today, he had set out while it was still dark, never expecting to run into an evil entity so unlucky as this.

"Headless Evil Spirit? What kind of build did it have? What was it wearing?"

Ge Changyuan's words made Su Qing's hairs stand on end, and he hurriedly asked.

"It looked quite burly and wore a short jacket and shorts. Other than having no head, it was no different from us rogue cultivators. This old man was too far away and didn't dare look too closely, so I couldn't see the details clearly."

Ge Changyuan recalled. Before leaving, he once again urged Su Qing to be careful, but when he caught sight of the dozens of Exorcism Talismans pasted on Su Qing's door, he immediately fell silent.

With all those Exorcism Talismans there, what kind of evil entity could possibly break through the Su family's door?

After seeing Ge Changyuan off, Su Qing's expression darkened somewhat.

At the mention of a Headless Evil Spirit, the first thing he thought of was the two Head Lanterns hanging at the Gao Family Butcher Shop.

Their heads had been made into lanterns—of course they would be headless!

"No, what needs spending still has to be spent. Today, I'll go to Hundred Treasures Pavilion and get that Misty-Sun Treasure Umbrella!"

With more than ten thousand Spirit Crystals in hand, and the evil entity at the Gao Family Butcher Shop seemingly still unresolved, he immediately had the urge to acquire an Exorcism Magic Artifact.

His mind was unsettled, making it unsuitable to refine puppets. After locking the courtyard gate, he mounted his Iron-Footed Horse and rode straight for the Market's Central District.

At Hundred Treasures Pavilion, money flowed from his hands like water.

"Eight pieces of Spirit-Calling Wood, eight hundred jin of Profound Iron Essence, five hundred jin of wrought iron, twenty logs of Chinese toon wood, and various Talisman Water materials. The total comes to four thousand six hundred and forty-six Spirit Crystals.

"I'll take the liberty of waiving the odd amount, and I'll arrange for someone to deliver the goods to your door. What do you think, Fellow Daoist Su?"

Tong Xin was overjoyed. Yesterday, Su Qing had spent only thirty-odd Spirit Crystals here, and Tong Xin had secretly thought him stingy. Who would have thought that today, Fellow Daoist Su would spend so generously?

Puppet Masters truly knew how to make money. Recently, among those rogue cultivators risking their lives in the Hunting Grounds, scarcely any could afford an order as large as Fellow Daoist Su's.

Su Qing nodded. The price for this batch of materials was fairly reasonable. Most of them would be used to refine Lizard Warriors. The wrought iron and Chinese toon wood for refining Wood Oxen and Iron Horses were all mundane materials, worth only a few Spirit Crystals.

After buying the materials, he immediately had Tong Xin take him to see the three Exorcism Magic Artifacts he had wanted to buy yesterday but had not dared purchase.

"The Warm Sun Jade Pendant uses spirit jade as its primary material and bears a Tier 2 Exorcism Rune, a Tier-1 Great Sun Rune, and four other runes.

"Worn daily, it can nourish one's blood and qi and clear one's spiritual power. When encountering an evil entity, it can ward off evil and dispel danger, releasing beams of exorcising light to drive evil entities away. It costs only one thousand nine hundred Spirit Crystals."

Tong Xin took out an amber-yellow Warm Sun Jade Pendant and introduced it enthusiastically.

Su Qing had little interest in the Warm Sun Jade Pendant. As for nourishing blood and qi, his current physique only needed some Spirit Rice and spirit meat to replenish itself.

The exorcising effects could also be achieved by the Dharma Robe he wore and the Exorcism Talismans tucked in his robes. At most, its effects were somewhat stronger, but it still could not compare to an Evil Suppressing Talisman and did not meet his needs.

"Bring out the Misty-Sun Treasure Umbrella for me to see directly."

He had no interest in the Warm Sun Jade Pendant, while the Pixiu Belt was simply too expensive. From the very beginning, he had set his sights on the Misty-Sun Treasure Umbrella.

Upon hearing this, Tong Xin knew the deal was more than half secured and promptly had a clerk carry out the treasure umbrella.

"The Misty-Sun Treasure Umbrella is a Tier-1 Mid-Grade Magic Artifact. Its canopy is made from the chest hide of a Flamingo. It is said that this bird possesses the bloodline of the divine beast Chongming Bird, which has a restraining effect on evil entities.

"It bears a Tier-2 Great Sun Rune, a Tier 2 Exorcism Rune, and four other Tier-1 runes, all branded by an Artifact Refiner.

"Magic Artifacts with five runes like this are rare even among Tier-1 Mid-Grade Magic Artifacts. Its materials are also somewhat costly, and its functions and wonderful uses are far beyond what the Warm Sun Jade Pendant can compare with.

"It can subdue evil entities and suppress and kill them. Naturally, its price is somewhat higher as well. If Fellow Daoist wants it, you may take it for three thousand four hundred Spirit Crystals!"

Throughout Tong Xin's introduction, Su Qing's gaze remained fixed on the Misty-Sun Treasure Umbrella.

Its canopy was bright red, emblazoned in rich, heavy colors with the image of a Chongming Bird. Twin-pupiled eyes, crimson feathers, a sharp beak, and a long tail—it looked savage and violent, even fiercer than an evil entity.

The Artifact Refiner who had made this Magic Artifact possessed quite superb craftsmanship. Su Qing could see that he had separately drawn the Tier-2 Great Sun Runes as the Chongming Bird's two eyes, then used the Tier 2 Exorcism Rune to form the bird's overall structure, supplementing it with other Tier-1 runes to depict the details.

Only in this way could the divine form of the Chongming Bird be branded upon the umbrella canopy, drawing upon the faint trace of Chongming Bird bloodline contained within the Flamingo hide and unleashing its ability to cow and suppress evil entities.

Though he knew nothing about an Artifact Refiner's craft, he understood runes well enough.

The Exorcism Rune aside, the Great Sun Rune was a Higher-rank rune, on the same level as Biomimetic, Intelligence, and Immortal Dao runes!

The runes branded on this Magic Artifact were high in quality and numerous in quantity. Its standing among Tier-1 Mid-Grade Magic Artifacts was roughly equivalent to the standing of the Lizard Warrior he refined among Tier-1 Mid-Grade Puppets.

The finest of the Tier-1 Mid-Grade!

"Three thousand four hundred Spirit Crystals is still a little too expensive. How about three thousand one hundred? Shopkeeper Liu said that with my Guest Elder status, I can get a ten percent discount when buying Magic Artifacts in the pavilion."

The item was good, but naturally, cheaper was better.

"Others may not qualify, but Fellow Daoist Su certainly does. If Fellow Daoist Su is willing to use Lizard Warriors as payment, this old man can even make the decision to lower the price further."

Just as Tong Xin was in a difficult spot, Shopkeeper Liu walked over and spoke to Su Qing with a beaming smile.

"Why must Shopkeeper Liu do this? I imagine you knew long ago about my transaction with Fate Comes Pavilion. Shopkeeper Liu understands the rules better than I do. I can sell Lizard Warriors to others, but I cannot sell them to Shopkeeper Liu!"

Su Qing cupped his hands and gave a wry smile.

Shopkeeper Liu nodded slightly, then shot Tong Xin another glare.

Before the Lizard Warrior had been refined, Su Qing had shown him part of its Blueprint. At the time, he had not been particularly interested, but if he had seen the finished product, how could he have let Fate Comes Pavilion pick up such a bargain?

Yet more important than the Lizard Warrior business was Su Qing himself!

Tier 2 Biomimetic Runes and Tier 2 Intelligence Runes—such skill was unique within White Cloud Market Town. If he and Fate Comes Pavilion hit it off after going back and forth, would Hundred Treasures Pavilion not be left empty-handed?

"I understand the rules. I only wonder whether Fellow Daoist has any new puppets recently that require testing. If so, feel free to mention them. Although all types of materials have been scarce in our shop lately, we can still provide what Fellow Daoist needs."

Because the Desiring Demon Immortal Kingdom had won battle after battle, and Liu Yun'er had gained considerable benefits through her Combat Merit—rumor had it she was currently in seclusion, attempting to break through to Golden Core—her ferocious momentum had soared to the heavens. As a result, the Demoness Puppet business had become difficult to conduct even outside.

After all, when those at Qi Refinement challenged Foundation Establishment cultivators, no one feared Foundation Establishment cultivators coming to their door. But when facing a Golden Core Venerable, most rogue cultivators could not stay tough.

For the time being, Su Qing could not do business involving either Demoness Puppets or Lizard Warriors. Shopkeeper Liu thought that he could only make a costly investment in Su Qing's development of new puppets, lest their dealings grow fewer and their relationship fade.

After all, Hundred Treasures Pavilion's First-Level Guest Elder status held little binding power. If Fate Comes Pavilion were willing to spend the money and pay some Spirit Crystals to change Su Qing's status, it would be all too easy.