Returning the Spirit Stones

In the blink of an eye, more than twenty days had passed.

Inside the room.

Zhao Huaian watched as every blank sheet of Talisman Paper was transformed into a Water Arrow Talisman. A smile crept across his weary face. "Excellent. After more than a month of working myself to the bone, I've now made over six hundred Water Arrow Talismans. My talisman-making skill has also reached the Minor Accomplishment level. Making twenty-five a day is no problem at all, and their quality has improved tremendously."

Aside from a brief mishap earlier, Zhao Huaian had spent more than a month making over six hundred Water Arrow Talismans, using up all the materials he'd bought at the Market.

With more than six hundred Water Arrow Talismans in hand—and most of them high-quality ones—Zhao Huaian was brimming with confidence and felt much more secure.

"No! I can't get carried away. I still haven't paid off my debt, and I haven't sold these talismans yet. I have to stay alert even in times of peace."

Zhao Huaian cautioned himself in silence.

He glanced at the gloomy sky, made sure nobody was outside, then slipped out without a sound.

After doubling back and taking a winding route, he made sure no one was following him, put on his Human Skin Mask, and appeared at the Market in his former guise.

The sun was just rising, and a pale fish-belly white had spread across the sky.

Beneath the morning sun, Zhao Huaian skillfully paid one Low-grade Spirit Stone to set up his stall not far from the entrance.

The spot wasn't as good as his previous one, but he had already made a name for himself, so he figured business wouldn't be bad this time either.

That was what Zhao Huaian thought.

Seeing that there were still few people about, he quickly split the Water Arrow Talismans in his bundle into three batches and laid them out on the black cloth according to quality.

One batch was the same quality as before, priced at three for one Low-grade Spirit Stone or ten for three.

Another batch was made up of Proficient Level Water Arrow Talismans. There were two for one Low-grade Spirit Stone.

The last batch, naturally, consisted of Water Arrow Talismans he'd made after reaching Minor Accomplishment. Their overall power had reached the mid-stage of the third Qi Refining Layer.

As for the price, Zhao Huaian hadn't raised it by much. He set it at two for one Low-grade Spirit Stone.

Once everything was laid out and priced, Zhao Huaian saw the sparse crowd and immediately began loudly calling out to passersby.

He now looked like a black-clad, scar-faced man, with a distinctive appearance.

And with him working hard to attract customers, the crowd gradually thickened. Before long, someone approached.

Zhao Huaian vaguely recognized the man.

It was the young man who'd been his first customer.

"Well, well. Fellow Daoist's got fixed prices now."

The young man smiled teasingly as he looked at the Water Arrow Talismans displayed with their prices.

"My skills have improved, so the higher-quality ones naturally cost a little more. The ones at the old quality are still the same price," Zhao Huaian replied with a smile.

"That's true! The ones I bought from you last time were a bit better than everyone else's. They helped me out a lot on my mission."

The young man nodded in agreement, then carefully examined the stall.

After looking them over, he pointed at the dozen or so highest-quality Water Arrow Talismans. "How powerful are these?"

"They're about as powerful as a mid-stage third Qi Refining Layer cultivator. Otherwise, I wouldn't dare ask one Low-grade Spirit Stone for two."

Zhao Huaian smiled and added, "You bought my talismans last time, so you should know their quality. You don't need to worry about that."

"That's true. When I saw you'd set up your stall today, I skipped all the others and came straight here."

The young man smiled as well.

He thought it over briefly. Remembering the mission that offered a generous reward, he finally gritted his teeth and said, "Then I'll take all the highest-quality Water Arrow Talismans."

"Sure thing! There are thirteen in all. Since you're being so generous, I'll make it six Low-grade Spirit Stones. Hope you'll come again."

Zhao Huaian's eyes lit up. He gathered up all the highest-quality talismans, packed them, and handed them to the young man.

"Sounds good. You're a generous seller. I'll come back next time!"

The young man laughed and readily took six Low-grade Spirit Stones from his robe.

After making his first sale of the day, Zhao Huaian kept working hard to bring in customers once the young man left.

As the crowd grew, more and more customers visited Zhao Huaian's stall, including quite a few returning ones.

Business was booming, and Zhao Huaian sold more and more Water Arrow Talismans.

He had brought over six hundred this time, but even so, he didn't sell every last one until the sun was about to set.

He had sold a total of six hundred and thirteen Water Arrow Talismans for two hundred and twenty-five Low-grade Spirit Stones.

Feeling the two hundred-odd Low-grade Spirit Stones in his bundle, Zhao Huaian was exhilarated, unable to keep the joy from showing on his face.

This was what he'd earned through more than a month of hard work!

With these two hundred-odd Low-grade Spirit Stones, he could finally repay his debt, and the huge weight on his heart had at last lifted.

After quickly slinging the bundle onto his back, Zhao Huaian spent twenty Low-grade Spirit Stones at the Market.

He bought two bottles of Qi Boosting Pills that worked better at improving his cultivation, as well as Talisman Paper and other talisman-making materials worth ten Low-grade Spirit Stones.

After buying what he needed, he didn't return to the Residential Area right away. Instead, he planned to go to the Alchemy Hall.

It hadn't been three months yet, but more than two months had already passed.

Rather than wait for Chen Feiyu's men to come collect the debt, it was better to avoid complications and pay it off early.

He made his way through the surging crowds and left the Market.

Zhao Huaian warily scanned his surroundings. After finding nothing amiss, he quickly changed his clothes in a secluded spot and took off his Human Skin Mask.

Once he'd finished, he immediately hurried toward the Alchemy Hall.

Fortunately, he had already changed his appearance, and nobody paid him any attention along the way.

Following the route he remembered from before, Zhao Huaian soon arrived at the Alchemy Hall.

"Senior Brother, I'm here to see Senior Chen. I came before."

Looking at the heavily guarded Alchemy Hall, Zhao Huaian respectfully cupped his hands and smiled obsequiously at the disciple standing nearby.

"Mm. Go on in!"

The gatekeeping disciple glanced at Zhao Huaian and nodded, his expression indifferent.

If Zhao Huaian had come to see someone else, he might have questioned him.

But Zhao Huaian was here to see Chen Feiyu—the man who lent Spirit Stones to Outer Sect disciples and found people to test pills for the Alchemy Hall.

He wouldn't dare stop anyone who'd come to see that man. If he delayed Chen Feiyu's money-making, he'd be in for it.

After entering the Alchemy Hall without hindrance, Zhao Huaian soon found Chen Feiyu.

"Senior Chen, more than two months ago, I borrowed a hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones from you. I've taken care of what I needed to do, so I've come to repay the Spirit Stones early."