Buying Spirit Talismans

"Brother Lu, you jest. We're not well-off and are in urgent need of Spirit Stones to buy Cultivation Techniques. We don't have any extra Spirit Stones to buy consumable Spirit Talismans. Those are only affordable for disciples of powerful families," Luo Yuan said with a wry smile, shaking his head.

Lu Xiaotian also wanted that Alchemy Furnace, one that could be used until he became a high-level Alchemist. It would save him from worrying about an Alchemy Furnace for a long time. Moreover, after getting rid of the Black Robe Old Man, he would immediately start refining Qi Gathering Pills.

However, he also worried that if he didn't have enough Spirit Talismans at the time and couldn't eliminate the Black Robe Old Man in one go, he would have to sell off most of his belongings just to gather over a hundred Spirit Stones. If he failed, he wouldn't get a second chance.

He was only at the Qi Refining Second Layer and had no way of understanding the true Strength of someone at the Great Perfection Qi Refining Stage. However, Luo Yuan was a master at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining and surely knew more than him.

So, Lu Xiaotian asked, "To be honest, Brother Luo, I have an enemy at the Great Perfection Qi Refining Stage, who is probably at the Qi Refining Eleventh Layer. Although he doesn't know my whereabouts, I have to buy more Spirit Talismans for self-defense, just in case. In your opinion, how many Spirit Talismans would be needed to deal with a master at the Great Perfection Qi Refining Stage?"

"A master at the Great Perfection Qi Refining Stage?" The brother and sister's expressions immediately changed.

"That's right. My master was harmed by him, and what I have now was left by my master. I didn't want to sell it, but I can't find any other way to protect myself."

Lu Xiaotian said with a wry smile. He was unwilling to lie to people casually, but seeing that he had just sold a Cultivation Technique and even mid-grade Origin Energy Pills, some people were already eyeing him. Therefore, he had to find a suitable reason to deter some people's ill intentions. One reason was to show the outside world that this was all the wealth he had, and another was that after exchanging for Spirit Talismans, he wouldn't be easy to mess with.

As expected, after hearing Lu Xiaotian's words, a hint of apprehension flashed in the eyes of several people around. However, it was unclear whether they were apprehensive of the master at the Great Perfection Qi Refining Stage behind Lu Xiaotian or the large number of Spirit Talismans Lu Xiaotian was about to exchange for.

Luo Yuan thought for a moment and said, "It's hard to say. I'm currently at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining and can easily handle three or four Qi Refining Early Stage Cultivators. But if there's one or two more, it becomes quite troublesome, and it might even result in a mutual destruction. If the opponent has better Spiritual Artifacts, I'd have to flee."

"By analogy, a master at the Late Qi Refining Stage, around the eighth or ninth layer, could probably contend with five or six people like me. Someone at the Great Perfection Qi Refining Stage might be able to handle seven or eight. However, it would be quite a struggle for them. As for Spirit Talismans, although their power is slightly inferior to a cultivator casting spells directly, they are fast to cast. But it would probably take one or two hundred Low-grade Spirit Talismans to threaten the life of someone at the Great Perfection Qi Refining Stage."

"If the opponent has powerful defensive Spiritual Artifacts, it might be even more troublesome."

"What if the opponent doesn't have any offensive or defensive Spiritual Artifacts?" Lu Xiaotian asked, narrowing his eyes. Back then, when he fought Situ Jing, he was thrown into a panic by just a few Low-grade Spirit Talismans. To think that a master at the Great Perfection Qi Refining Stage was so formidable.

"No Spiritual Artifacts? How is that possible? If there are no Spiritual Artifacts, then it would be much easier. Perhaps a hundred Spirit Talismans would be enough to take his life. After all, a cultivator's body is still a Mortal Body. Even if struck by the lowest-grade Fireball Talisman, it could cause a severe injury," Luo Yuan said, stunned for a moment.

Hearing Luo Yuan's words, Lu Xiaotian had a plan. If he were to face the Black Robe Old Man himself, he wouldn't have the slightest interest in fighting him. The opponent could take his life with a single strike of that Golden Flying Sword. Even with these Spirit Talismans, they might not be truly effective, at most they could injure the Black Robe Old Man. However, the opponent was currently in a Primordial Spirit state, which was easier to deal with than being in their physical body. Speaking of which, selling the Earth Element Cultivation Technique he had, plus the Spirit Stones he possessed, would be enough.

"Thank you for your guidance, Brother Luo. How about this, I'll take this Alchemy Furnace you have, but not in exchange for this Earth Element Cultivation Technique, but for this Water Element Cultivation Technique."

"Water Element Cultivation Technique? We don't need that," Luo Yuan said with a regretful shake of his head.

Lu Xiaotian explained, "Hear me out. I mean, you can use your Spirit Stones to buy the True Scripture of Benevolent Earth, and whatever Spirit Stones are still lacking can be made up with other equivalent Spiritual Materials. Then, I'll exchange this Water Element Cultivation Technique for your Alchemy Furnace. Anyway, Miss Luo Qing is also setting up a stall. If she can't use the Water Element Cultivation Technique, she might be able to sell it for more than the Alchemy Furnace."

"So that's how it is. Alright then," Luo Qing quickly agreed. Just as Lu Xiaotian said, a Cultivation Technique was easier to sell than the Alchemy Furnace she had.

Luo Qing spread out the bundle on the ground. "You can pick whatever you like from here."

"What I want most is naturally Spirit Stones. I'll keep the Earth Element Cultivation Technique for now. While there's still some time this afternoon, let's set up the stall again. Brother Luo, you should also go find friends to raise some funds. However, regardless of the outcome, I will sell you the Cultivation Technique this evening." Lu Xiaotian said.

"That would be excellent. I'll go raise Spirit Stones now."

Luo Yuan's face was anxious, and he quickly left, his feet seemingly carrying him on the wind, to find familiar friends to gather Spirit Stones.

Lu Xiaotian took advantage of the free time to help Luo Qing set up the stall and also asked about Moon Gazing City.

By evening, Luo Yuan returned with a joyous expression. He had raised another seven Spirit Stones. However, the effect of the stall was not good; they had only sold one Green Wolf Brush all afternoon. The siblings counted, and they only had thirty Spirit Stones, still three short.

"How about we set up the stall for a little longer? The night market in Moon Gazing City is also very prosperous, perhaps some people will still buy."

Luo Qing said with some reluctance. On the stall, there were only a few Green Wolf brushes used for drawing Spirit Talismans, and two pieces of Snow Spirit Wood used for making ink for talismans. Taking one item would be worth less than three Spirit Stones, and taking both would mean a loss for her. Normally, she and her brother wouldn't mind, but now, buying the Cultivation Technique had put them in debt, using all their possessions. At this moment, Luo Qing could only be meticulous.

"No need. How about this, I'll take another Green Wolf Brush, and then we'll be even." Lu Xiaotian saw the awkwardness of the Luo siblings and said with a faint smile.

"Then thank you very much, Brother Lu. If there's a chance in the future, I will definitely repay you!" Luo Yuan said, overjoyed upon hearing this.

Lu Xiaotian cupped his hands in return, completed the exchange, and happily put the Alchemy Furnace into his bag. Together with his previous savings, he had one hundred and eight Spirit Stones, enough to buy over a hundred Low-grade Spirit Talismans.

"Sister, if it weren't for your full support, I don't know when I would have been able to buy a suitable Cultivation Technique. Now that we are both penniless, you'll probably have to endure a period of hardship with me."

After Lu Xiaotian left, Luo Yuan held the True Scripture of Benevolent Earth to his chest as if he had obtained a treasure, but he looked at Luo Qing with a guilty expression.

Luo Qing, however, smiled with relief. "Why are we saying such things, brother and sister? Cultivation is difficult. If it weren't for the coincidence that this Lu Xiaotian had a Late Qi Refining Cultivation Technique, and if we had to buy it from a shop, we wouldn't know when we could gather enough Spirit Stones."

"Besides, I still have one more book here, which can be sold for dozens of Spirit Stones. As soon as it's sold, we'll have Spirit Stones." After speaking, Luo Qing waved the Water Element Cultivation Technique in her hand.

"Oh, Immortal Master, you're here again. How was it, are the Spirit Talismans from our shop quite effective?"

The shopkeeper of the Spirit Talisman shop was a middle-aged man with a plump figure. He was a secular martial artist and was calculating accounts when he saw Lu Xiaotian and his eyes lit up. Doing business required sharp eyes, good memory, and quick reflexes. He remembered that Lu Xiaotian had come in the morning, and this time he was a returning customer.

Lu Xiaotian finally understood why Moon Gazing City, as a Rogue Cultivator city, had so many secular mortals.

Some were indeed the family members of the Rogue Cultivators in the city. Another type was like the middle-aged shopkeeper in front of him, doing miscellaneous and rough work. A commercial establishment only needed to spend mortal gold and silver to hire such a shopkeeper, while hiring a cultivator required Spirit Stones. The cost difference was worlds apart, truly a profitable business.

"Yes, is there a discount for buying in bulk?" Lu Xiaotian asked.

"This, Immortal Master, as you know, all the Spirit Talismans in our shop are clearly priced and fair. There are no discounts," the middle-aged shopkeeper said obsequiously. Although cultivators could not attack mortals within Moon Gazing City, the middle-aged shopkeeper still had a deep-seated reverence for cultivators.

"Other Rogue Cultivators also sell Spirit Talismans at their stalls, and the prices are lower, but they have a limited quantity. I find it troublesome, so I came to your shop. I want to buy nearly a hundred Spirit Talismans. If your shop doesn't offer a discount, I'll have to look elsewhere." Lu Xiaotian frowned. When he was setting up the stall with Luo Qing earlier, Luo Qing knew he was going to buy a lot of Spirit Talismans and specifically told him that even in a shop, discounts could be negotiated for bulk purchases. Lu Xiaotian naturally didn't want to be a sucker who readily paid Spirit Stones.

"Nearly a hundred Spirit Talismans?" The middle-aged shopkeeper was shocked and quickly said, "Immortal Master, please wait a moment. I'll go inform the owner of the shop. You can discuss anything with the owner directly then."

"Alright, I'll wait for you for a moment." Lu Xiaotian nodded.

"Little brother, I am the owner of this shop. My shopkeeper said you want to buy nearly a hundred Spirit Talismans? Is that true?" Soon, a white-haired, kind-faced old man emerged from a back door of the shop, asking with a smile.

"Of course, it's true. Which Spirit Talisman here is the most effective against Primordial Spirits?" Lu Xiaotian asked.

"The most powerful against Primordial Spirits are naturally Lightning Spirit Talismans. Lightning Laws expel evil and have a restraining effect on souls and ghosts. However, the production difficulty of Lightning Spirit Talismans is higher than that of low-grade Fireball Technique and Earth Shield Technique, so the price is several times higher. Ordinary Low-grade Fireball Talismans and Earth Shield Talismans only cost one Low-grade Spirit Stone. But a Low-grade Lightning Spirit Talisman costs five."

The white-haired old man's heart tightened. It was common for cultivators to fight fiercely over treasures, and many were even killed, body and soul. However, for a young man like the one in front of him to specifically buy Lightning Spirit Talismans to deal with a fleeing Primordial Spirit seemed too ruthless.