Junior Brother, My Name is Lin Zihao

Greenwood Market.

"Damn it, my brain just short-circuited. Only after buying the talisman brush and paper did I realize that without a proper drawing method, there's no way to actually create a spirit talisman."

Staring at the single Low-grade Spirit Stone left in his hand, Zhao Huaian felt like crying but had no tears.

Too impatient.

He'd been far too impatient just now. The moment he got his hands on the spirit stones, he'd rushed off without a pause to buy talisman paper worth one Low-grade Spirit Stone and a talisman brush worth four Low-grade Spirit Stones.

But only after the purchase did he realize—he had no talisman drawing method. He didn't even know how to draw the lowest-grade Cleaning Talisman.

And so...

Those five Low-grade Spirit Stones of his had been thrown away completely. The path to riches he'd fantasized about had been stillborn halfway.

Thinking about how his road to wealth had just been cut short and the five Low-grade Spirit Stones he'd lost, Zhao Huaian couldn't help a pang of pain in his heart.

"How infuriating!"

"This time I was way too reckless. I absolutely cannot make such a low-level mistake again."

"Remember! Remember! From now on, think thrice before acting in everything!"

Zhao Huaian admonished himself inwardly as he idly strolled through the stalls on West Street.

Now that the five Low-grade Spirit Stones were all spent and the various materials for drawing talismans were ready, he naturally wasn't willing to just give up.

So he wanted to try his luck among these stalls, to see if there was any particularly cheap or discounted talisman-drawing technique—even the lowest-grade Cleaning Talisman would do.

Holding this thought in his heart, Zhao Huaian carefully browsed each stall.

Suddenly, his steps halted before one stall, his eyes locked onto an old, worn-out book on display.

On the cover of that old book were six large characters: Complete Guide to Low-Grade Spirit Talismans.

And this was exactly what he had been dreaming of day and night.

If he had this Complete Guide to Low-Grade Spirit Talismans, then with the help of the Attribute Heavenly Book, he would surely master the way of talismans and carry out his plan to get rich.

But thinking that he only had a single Low-grade Spirit Stone left on him, Zhao Huaian couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

So poor...

Holding a try-your-luck attitude, Zhao Huaian tentatively asked, "Senior Brother, may I ask how much this Complete Guide to Low-Grade Spirit Talismans costs?"

The stall owner was a burly middle-aged man with a full beard stubble, wearing an old Daoist robe.

Hearing Zhao Huaian's voice, the middle-aged man flashed a mouthful of white teeth and grinned. "Junior Brother has good eyes. This Complete Guide to Low-Grade Spirit Talismans contains the drawing methods and explanations for over a dozen low-grade spirit talismans. The price is one hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones."

"One hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones!!!"

Hearing this, Zhao Huaian was startled. After a moment's thought, he put on a thick face and smiled. "Junior Brother is a bit tight on funds right now. I won't take the whole Complete Guide to Low-Grade Spirit Talismans—how about I offer you one Low-grade Spirit Stone as a token of respect, and you let me take a look or copy down the drawing method for just one type of spirit talisman?"

"Hm? Are you messing with me? Go on, get out of here. If you have no spirit stones, why bother asking?"

A flicker of displeasure passed through the middle-aged man's eyes, and the smile that had been on his face vanished instantly.

One Low-grade Spirit Stone? Wasn't that just charity for a beggar?

How could he possibly let this Zhao Huaian browse or copy the most valuable item on his stall—even just one of the talisman drawing methods?

"Then how many spirit stones would Senior Brother want? At least give Junior Brother a price."

Zhao Huaian didn't leave but kept up his thick-skinned, ingratiating smile.

If the amount needed wasn't too much, he could borrow from others, scrape together the funds, and first learn one of the talisman drawing methods.

"No browsing allowed. If you want it, you have to buy the whole book!"

Seeming to see that Zhao Huaian was truly fixated on the Complete Guide to Low-Grade Spirit Talismans in his hands, the middle-aged man flatly refused.

Besides, there was one thing the middle-aged man didn't mention: to copy a talisman drawing method, one had to be a Spirit Talisman Master. Ordinary people simply didn't have the ability to replicate it.

Otherwise, he would have already copied it a hundred times over, sold them cheap, and made a killing.

After a moment's thought, seeing Zhao Huaian's anxious expression, he let out another chuckle. "If Junior Brother really wants to buy the whole book, we could knock a bit off the spirit stone price."

"This..."

Zhao Huaian's heart was racing. Just as he was about to say something, someone suddenly patted him on the shoulder from behind.

"Junior Brother, are you short on spirit stones?"

Startled, Zhao Huaian turned around in confusion and saw a rather handsome young cultivator looking at him.

Meeting the young cultivator's gaze, Zhao Huaian nodded frankly. "Junior Brother is indeed short on spirit stones. Does Senior Brother have some business?"

"It's like this—I have some acquaintance with Senior Chen Feiyu of the Alchemy Hall. Senior Chen is happy to help and specializes in assisting junior brothers who are short on funds."

The young cultivator spoke with a very friendly smile.

"Is that so... But I don't know Senior Chen at all. Why would he help me?"

Zhao Huaian frowned slightly, casting a suspicious glance at the young cultivator.

When something's out of the ordinary, there must be a catch. This young cultivator in front of him really didn't seem quite right.

"Senior Chen is willing to help anyone who's short on spirit stones—he just takes a bit of interest in return."

Saying this, the young cultivator feigned embarrassment as he scratched his head. "Of course, as the introducer, I, your Senior Brother, can also get a referral fee."

"I see!"

Zhao Huaian nodded in sudden understanding.

This so-called helpful Chen Feiyu was nothing more than a loan shark, wasn't he?

But right now, he was indeed short on funds. If he relied solely on his monthly stipend, buying this Complete Guide to Low-Grade Spirit Talismans would take who knows how long.

If he could borrow a few Spirit Stones from Chen Feiyu, he could solve his immediate problem and purchase this Complete Guide to Low-Grade Spirit Talismans.

Moreover, with the Attribute Heavenly Book, he could quickly master the way of talismans and draw low-grade spirit talismans.

By then, even if Chen Feiyu charged high interest, he could pay off the debt within a certain period.

After weighing the pros and cons in his mind, Zhao Huaian finally nodded. "Then I'll trouble you, Senior Brother. May I ask your esteemed name?"

"Haha, easy—my name is Lin Zihao!"

Seeing that Zhao Huaian had finally agreed, Lin Zihao couldn't help but let out a hearty laugh.

Earlier, while tailing him, Lin Zihao had calmed down after realizing that Zhao Huaian seemed quite close to Lin Dongpeng of the Incense Hall.

The Greenwood Sect had strict rules—killing was forbidden among the Outer Sect. Those with strong backing could get away with it, but those without faced severe punishment.

Moreover, this Zhao Huaian seemed to have some connection with Lin Dongpeng of the Incense Hall, making Lin Zihao even more reluctant to act rashly.

After all, punishing a small fry like Zhao Huaian at the cost of a harsh penalty within the Greenwood Sect would be a loss outweighing the gain.

But the blood feud of his entire Lin Family's extermination could not go unavenged.

Otherwise, his heart would remain unsettled, and his future cultivation would be hindered.

As the saying goes, the supreme art of war is to outwit the enemy. After much deliberation, Lin Zihao decided to kill with a borrowed knife—let Zhao Huaian go borrow Spirit Stones from Chen Feiyu of the Alchemy Hall.

This Chen Feiyu specialized in lending money outside, backed by strong connections and the protection of the Alchemy Hall.

Once it was known that Zhao Huaian couldn't repay the Spirit Stones and had no guarantor, he would inevitably be forcibly taken to the Alchemy Hall to test various newly developed Elixir Pills, squeezed dry until nothing remained.

And these newly developed pills were almost always defective—those forcibly taken for testing before had basically never survived.

This way, he not only killed with a borrowed knife, avenging his family's annihilation, but also pocketed a referral fee.

To come up with such a perfect plan—truly worthy of me!

Leading Zhao Huaian toward the Alchemy Hall, Lin Zihao secretly gloated.

However...

Zhao Huaian was no ignorant fool either; he fully understood the dangers of borrowing.

The reason he agreed was that he had a certain confidence and foundation—otherwise, why would he dare borrow high-interest Spirit Stones from others?