Soul Capturing Talisman

After leaving Zhang's Business Branch, Duobao Pavilion was the only somewhat sizable shop in this small market within the shantytown.

Duobao Pavilion's interior was far more luxurious than Zhang's Business Branch, and it drew more customers as well. Even in this weather, several patrons were still browsing its wares.

However, it had little interest in low-grade talismans such as Great Strength Talismans, offering a lower purchase price than Zhang Mazi. Thus, Chen Lin had never sold talismans here.

The shopkeeper was an old man with a square face. He was attending to a well-dressed man and woman, and merely glanced at Chen Lin when he entered without saying anything.

Chen Lin did not mind.

The other party recognized him and knew he had little spending power; after all, he had come here quite a few times.

There were also two sweet-looking female attendants busy serving other customers. Chen Lin strolled over to the counter selling talisman-making materials and stopped to inspect them.

Suddenly, his ears twitched.

The conversation between the man and woman caught his attention.

"Cousin, going outside the city at this time may be dangerous. It could also delay the family's affairs. I think it would be best not to stir up trouble unnecessarily."

The woman had spoken. Her voice was lovely and her figure graceful; judging from her profile, she was likely quite pretty as well.

The man was handsome, with an air of confidence about him. He shot her a sidelong glance and sneered. "What are you afraid of? Your cousin is a Late Qi Refining cultivator. If there's danger, I'll protect you!"

Chen Lin's gaze shifted slightly.

Late Qi Refining? Then he had to be a cultivator from some family. Rogue Cultivators at that level of cultivation were few.

Still, Chen Lin felt this fellow was talking rather big. The Zhang Family's Foundation Establishment Realm Patriarch had only just gone missing—could a Late Qi Refining cultivator possibly be stronger than one at Foundation Establishment?

The woman seemed to want to say more, but the man immediately cut her off.

"It's fine. We're not going far. If you're afraid, go back first. I'll come find you once I return."

Cousin pursed her lips and said nothing more.

Chen Lin secretly pondered which family these two belonged to, and whether he might be able to buy pills that could raise his cultivation from them. As he was thinking, that cousin spoke again.

But this time, he was not speaking to Cousin. He addressed the old shopkeeper instead.

"Shopkeeper, I came from the Duobao Pavilion in the Inner City. The people at your branch told me someone here can make Soul Capturing Talismans. Please ask them to come out."

Chen Lin watched silently.

He had never even heard of a Soul Capturing Talisman and had no interest in it. He was only thinking of how to get close to the man and purchase some pills.

The old shopkeeper was first stunned, then gave a bitter smile. "You must be Lu Li, Third Young Master of the Lu Family. Was the one who gave you this information an old woman missing one eye?"

"That's right."

Lu Li nodded.

The old shopkeeper shot him a sidelong glance and sneered, saying proudly, "She did not deceive you. There is indeed someone here capable of making Soul Capturing Talismans—and that person is me!"

Hearing the old shopkeeper's words, Chen Lin was immensely surprised.

He had truly never known that this old shopkeeper was also a talisman master.

But the side-glancing, sneering side effect was truly powerful. While it flared up, he simply looked down on everyone and even spilled all his secrets. Under normal circumstances, this shopkeeper was an exceptionally shrewd man.

Lu Li, however, revealed a delighted expression and said eagerly, "So the shopkeeper is that talisman master. That's wonderful! I have prepared ample materials for the Soul Capturing Talisman. As long as you help me make it, I will reward you handsomely!"

His voice was somewhat loud, drawing the attention of the other customers in the shop.

Yet under Lu Li's expectant gaze, the old shopkeeper shook his head.

"My deepest apologies, but this old man no longer has the ability to make this kind of talisman. You should seek someone else more capable."

The sidelong-glancing state faded, and the shopkeeper became humble again, utterly unaware that there had been anything wrong with his inflated words just now.

Lu Li's expression darkened.

"What do you mean by this? Are you toying with me, or do you think I'm unqualified?"

A sharp aura instantly burst from him.

He seemed ready to strike at the slightest disagreement.

Seeing this, the old shopkeeper immediately explained, "Fellow Daoist Lu, please quell your anger. It is not that this old man is unwilling to make it, but that I no longer have the ability."

"Why?"

Lu Li's tone was full of suspicion.

The old shopkeeper glanced at him. "Since you know of the Soul Capturing Talisman, you should also know that it is extremely difficult to make. Under normal methods, success is almost impossible. To raise the success rate, one must use the talisman master's divine soul as the catalyst, correct?"

When Lu Li remained silent, the old shopkeeper continued, "Over the years, making this talisman has weakened my divine soul to the utmost limit. It can no longer withstand the depletion needed to make even one more. Even if you took this old man's life, it would be of no use."

At this point, the old shopkeeper gave a miserable laugh. "That One-eyed Old Woman has some grievance against me. Sending you here to find me was merely her way of making me sick."

The old shopkeeper's words made Lu Li frown deeply.

With the other party having put it this way, he could no longer force the matter.

Even though he was a Disciple of the Lu Family, Duobao Pavilion was no duckweed without roots. He could not be too presumptuous here.

Yet the Soul Capturing Talisman was of great importance to this journey. If he could not obtain one, this excellent opportunity would be wasted for nothing.

"Shopkeeper, this Soul Capturing Talisman is of great use to me. Do you know anyone else who can make it?"

He pursued the matter unwillingly.

The old shopkeeper shook his head. "The Soul Capturing Talisman is difficult to refine, and once successfully made, it can only be preserved for a single day. Few talisman masters study it. I'm afraid no one else in this city can make it."

At that, he changed his tone and let out a sidelong, cold laugh. "However, I have improved this talisman's crafting method through decades of experience refining talismans. It is very easy to make. I can sell you the method of Talisman Crafting, and you can find a talisman master to make it yourself."

Lu Li froze.

Frowning, he asked skeptically, "Is this talisman really that easy to make? I need to use it urgently tomorrow."

The old shopkeeper chuckled. "It's extremely simple. Any talisman master can get the hang of it easily. It's just that success still requires a bit of luck, and the talisman master must use their own soul as the catalyst."

Lu Li frowned again. After hesitating for a moment, he still agreed to the old shopkeeper's suggestion.

The old shopkeeper then took out a jade piece slightly wider than a finger and handed it to Lu Li.

Chen Lin recognized the item. It was called a Jade Slip, something used in the Cultivation World to record information. It was also high-end goods.

Claiming he was half-selling, half-giving it away, the old shopkeeper sold the item to Third Young Master Lu for one thousand Spirit Stones.

Chen Lin sighed inwardly at the wealth of clan disciples, then stopped paying attention and began buying materials for Great Strength Talismans.

Eighty Spirit Stones were not enough to buy ten sets of alchemy ingredients. He would have to keep saving.

Once he had finished buying them, he turned and left.

The snow outside had lessened somewhat.

Yet the wind was still bitterly cold, blowing so hard people could barely keep their eyes open.

Even so, small groups of people had appeared on the streets. Some were clearing the snow before their doors, while others struggled forward through the snow.

Without exception, they would occasionally cast sidelong glances and sneer coldly.

Chen Lin pulled his cotton cap tighter. Following the footprints he had made earlier, he warily watched his surroundings as he trudged with difficulty toward his residence.

Suddenly.

Two figures flashed past him and landed in front of him.

Chen Lin's expression changed. He thought someone truly dared to rob him in broad daylight.

But once he saw their faces clearly, his shock turned into confusion.

They were actually Third Young Master Lu and his Cousin!