Zhao Chunsheng kept his expression neutral as he asked, "How much?"
"We're neighbors, after all. Let's call it thirty-six spirit stones for these hundred top-quality talismans!"
Zhao Chunsheng paused.
He studied Shen Xuan, then nodded, a smile spreading across his face.
"Talisman Master Shen, you're a straightforward man!"
The price wasn't high; it was unexpectedly cheap.
A hundred top-quality low-grade talismans would cost about fifty spirit stones at a Talisman Shop.
Shen Xuan had given him a straight thirty-percent discount.
As for the talismans' quality, Zhao Chunsheng was in the Late Qi Refining Stage. He only needed a slight sweep of his Spiritual Sense to tell.
"Then many thanks, Talisman Master Shen! Come by my home sometime," Fellow Daoist Zhao said with a smile.
"Of course!" Shen Xuan readily agreed.
After all, Zhao Chunsheng was a Late Qi Refining cultivator and the strongest expert in the area.
Besides, he was interested in befriending Zhao Chunsheng and his wife, Jiang Xueqi.
Once the deal was done, Shen Xuan asked as if in passing, "Fellow Daoist Zhao, have you ever heard of Green Feather Fish?"
"Green Feather Fish? It's a mid-grade Spirit Fish from Longze River. It's incredibly fast."
"I've been developing a new talisman that uses Green Feather Fish as a material. If you hear of any, could you buy some for me?"
"Oh, does Talisman Master Shen want to make Water Control Talismans?"
"That's right."
Shen Xuan smiled and nodded.
A Water Control Talisman was a mid-grade talisman that could control the flow of water within a certain area and reduce the energy expended underwater. It was a standard talisman for Water Cultivators on rivers and seas.
"There are many kinds of Beast Blood Cinnabar for Water Control Talismans, but Green Feather Fish is the best." Shen Xuan spoke with earnest sincerity.
Of all the Spirit Fish in Longze River, Green Feather Fish were the fastest, reaching speeds of a thousand li per hour!
Since he wanted to plunder the Water Control Talent, of course he had to choose the fastest fish!
"Since Talisman Master Shen has asked, how could I refuse to help? But Green Feather Fish are mid-grade Spirit Fish, and they don't come cheap!"
"About how many spirit stones per fish?"
"It depends on the size. Two spirit stones per jin."
So expensive!
With one spirit stone, you could buy three jin of Silver Jade Fish.
That was six times the price!
Snow Beef came from mid-grade captive-bred Monster Beasts, and one spirit stone could buy two jin.
But the two kinds of Spirit Fish were different grades, and Green Feather Fish were famous for their speed, making them difficult to catch.
"No problem! I'll trouble you to keep an eye out, Fellow Daoist Zhao. And no matter what, please keep this matter confidential."
"Of course. I know the rules."
After seeing off Zhao Chunsheng and his wife, Jiang Xueqi,
Shen Xuan returned to the Ding Family Shop.
"Cinnabar and Talisman Paper for Water Control Talismans? Talisman Master Shen, are you developing a new talisman?"
"What, am I not allowed?"
"You are, of course! Absolutely!"
Shopkeeper Ding cheerfully brought out the Cinnabar for Water Control Talismans and ten bundles of Talisman Paper.
"These are mid-grade talisman materials. I'll give you a special price: thirty spirit stones!"
"That expensive?"
Shen Xuan cried out.
"That's not expensive! These are mid-grade talisman materials! The mid-grade talismans you make with them sell for one spirit stone apiece!"
Shen Xuan shook his head, took out thirty spirit stones, and handed them to Shopkeeper Ding.
"Do you have any better Talisman Brushes?"
"If you want to do a good job, you must first sharpen your tools."
As his Cultivation Realm improved, the spiritual energy he channeled became purer. His old first-order low-grade Talisman Brush had grown outdated.
"Of course!"
Soon, Shopkeeper Ding brought out several brocade boxes containing first-order middle-grade and high-grade Talisman Brushes.
Shen Xuan coveted the high-grade brushes.
But his pockets were empty, so he could only spend thirty spirit stones on a water-attribute middle-grade Talisman Brush.
"Fellow Daoist Shen, we're practically family! Once you've made the Water Control Talismans, remember to come see me. I'll give you a price you'll love!"
Shopkeeper Ding beamed.
"Will do!"
With his Storage Bag completely empty, Shen Xuan walked out of the Ding Family Shop without looking back.
A month later.
In the Talisman Crafting Room.
Shen Xuan looked at the talisman materials depleted on the table and couldn't help shaking his head.
On the Mysterious Jade Talisman:
[Water Control Talisman: Beginner (4/100)]
He had deliberately slowed down, making only four talismans a day.
Even so, his Talisman Completion Rate was painfully low.
He had made only eighteen Water Control Talismans from a hundred and twenty sheets of Talisman Paper.
A fifteen-percent Talisman Completion Rate.
He was nowhere near the passing mark of thirty percent.
"That's normal. This is what it's like for most people."
Without help from the Mysterious Jade Talisman, his Talisman Crafting skills could only improve little by little.
He was losing twelve spirit stones a month. Even the biggest fortune wouldn't last!
Shen Xuan felt a little dejected.
Under normal circumstances, if he wanted to build experience through Talisman Crafting, it would take at least two or three years to advance to a Mid-grade Talisman Master.
During that time, he would have to keep using up talisman materials for practice.
Shen Xuan estimated that at this rate, he would lose at least three hundred spirit stones before breaking even.
"It looks like I'll have to work on several fronts. I can't give up on Breath Concealing Talismans and Invisibility Talismans!"
He did the math. His Talisman Completion Rate for Breath Concealing Talismans and Invisibility Talismans was close to seventy percent, with top-quality ones making up thirty percent.
One hundred and twenty sets of materials cost ten spirit stones. He could make sixty ordinary talismans and twenty top-quality ones, then sell them for twenty spirit stones.
With his current cultivation at Qi Refining Level 4, he could make three hundred and sixty sets a month and earn a net profit of thirty spirit stones!
Making Water Control Talismans, he could only finish a hundred and twenty sets a month, losing eighteen spirit stones!
"Not bad! If I make Breath Concealing Talismans, Invisibility Talismans, and Water Control Talismans at the same time, I can still earn twelve spirit stones a month. That's enough to live on!"
Shen Xuan soon made up his mind to take the path of using talismans to support talisman crafting.
Two months later.
Zhao Chunsheng came to visit again.
"Here's the Green Feather Fish you wanted!"
"Ah! Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Zhao!"
Shen Xuan hurriedly took the Fishing Bag. Inside was a Green Feather Fish weighing a full three jin, with a broad, flag-like dorsal fin and a long, sharp snout like a sword.
"How much?"
"Let's call it six spirit stones!"
"Good!"
Shen Xuan calmly handed over seven spirit stones.
Zhao Chunsheng glanced at them but said nothing, taking the spirit stones.
"Will you need more in the future?"
"I will! The more, the better!"
After seeing Zhao Chunsheng off, Shen Xuan carried the Fishing Bag into the cultivation room, grinning with delight.
A ray of golden light shot from the Mysterious Jade Talisman and enveloped the Green Feather Fish.
Soon, the fierce Green Feather Fish fell silent, its body reduced to a lump of dead flesh.
The ancient Golden Small Characters on the Mysterious Jade Talisman began to glow.
[Plunderable Talent: Water Control, Thrust.]
Shen Xuan chose Water Control without hesitation.
[Talent: Water Control (6/100)] [Water Control Talisman: Beginner (16/100)] [Dao Rhyme: 92]
The three-jin Green Feather Fish raised his Water Control progress by six points and his Water Control Talisman comprehension by eight points, equivalent to two months of painstaking Talisman Crafting.
His Dao Rhyme increased by twelve points.
Shen Xuan had tested it: Dao Rhyme could increase the proficiency of his own talents.
He had added some to Breath Concealment Technique and Invisibility Technique, and both had gained the corresponding proficiency.
Breath Concealment Technique and Invisibility Technique were relatively easy to cultivate, so he hadn't been willing to use much Dao Rhyme on them. He had saved it all up.
He planned to put it all into Water Control Technique after plundering the Water Control Talent.
After all, since he never went out, cultivating Water Control Technique well wouldn't be easy.
It wasn't as if he could dig a pool in his home and practice in it!
A three-jin Green Feather Fish had cost seven spirit stones and given him two months' worth of Water Control Talisman practice.
More importantly, he had plundered the Water Control Talent. Once it reached perfection, he could learn an extremely useful Water Law and improve his Spirit Root Aptitude.
Worth every spirit stone!
As a Late Qi Refining Monster Hunter, Zhao Chunsheng actually lived on the outskirts of the Market just like him. He must be short on spirit stones.
Shen Xuan hoped that, for the sake of the spirit stones, Zhao Chunsheng would buy him more Green Feather Fish as soon as possible.
Before you continue