A Gathering

Of course, Zhou Er wouldn't be bound by a Fireball Talisman. Most of his energy was still devoted to cultivation and studying spells.

After swallowing a Spirit Gathering Pill, Zhou Er began cultivating with the Qi Gathering Technique.

[Spirit Gathering (White): Automatically gathers spiritual energy; Cultivation Speed increased by 20%.]

[Solidification Condition: Consume 100 Fine-grade Spirit Gathering Pills. (37/100)]

Over the past six months or so, Zhou Er had eaten thirty-seven Spirit Gathering Pills, bit by bit.

Only sixty-three more remained before the Spirit Gathering trait could be fully solidified.

Over the next few days, Zhou Er cultivated steadily, and nothing major happened.

Five days later, Zhou Er headed to the Fu Family Mountain Villa as planned.

The Fu Family's villa lay outside the sect, a little way from the sect grounds.

Zhou Er hadn't reached Late-stage Qi Refining and couldn't use Sword Flight, so he had no choice but to run there with the Godly Travel Technique.

When he arrived at the villa, Zhou Er wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and handed an invitation to a Fu Family servant.

"Please follow me, Immortal Master Zhou."

After checking the invitation, the servant led Zhou Er to the gathering.

The venue had long been prepared, and everyone's seats had already been arranged.

Zhou Er had assumed he'd be seated at the very end, but to his surprise, he'd been given a relatively prominent spot.

He'd also arrived fairly early; only half the seats were occupied.

Beside Zhou Er sat a Foundation Establishment uncle-master.

The Cultivation World valued rank above all else. Those one major realm higher were automatically treated as belonging to the next generation up.

Zhou Er knew the man was an uncle-master from his attire. He wore a Black Dao Robe, the mark of a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Xiayun Sect.

"Uncle-Master!"

Zhou Er stepped forward to greet him.

"Zhou Er, sit down! I specifically asked Fu Donglai to seat you beside me, so we could have a chat."

The Foundation Establishment uncle-master, who looked like a young man, smiled as he spoke.

"Uncle-Master, you know who I am?"

Zhou Er sat cross-legged and looked at him.

"My name is Xia Songting."

The young Foundation Establishment cultivator introduced himself.

Hearing the name Xia Songting, Zhou Er finally realized who the man was.

He was the Foundation Establishment Elder who truly managed the Wutong District of the Outer Sect, and the backer behind Zhu Shunyang.

Zhu Shunyang had always worked for him.

But Xia Songting spent most of his time in seclusion and rarely met with anyone.

He must have learned about Zhou Er from Zhu Shunyang.

"Uncle-Master Xia!"

Zhou Er hurriedly greeted him.

"We're both from the Wutong District, so there's no need for formalities."

Xia Songting waved a hand.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Xia Songting asked, "Do you have any questions about making talismans, Nephew Zhou? Feel free to ask."

With Rune Mastery, Zhou Er had no questions about First-grade Talismans. He did, however, have some doubts about the Immobilization Technique.

"Uncle-Master Xia, I have very few questions about making talismans. I've just been studying a spell lately—the Immobilization Technique—and still have quite a few questions. I wonder if you know it."

Zhou Er looked at Xia Songting as he asked.

Xia Songting was a Second-tier Talisman Master and knew most First-grade Talismans. He had also studied the Immobilization Technique in his youth and had plenty of experience with it.

Xia Songting said nothing. His lips and hands moved a few times.

The next instant, Zhou Er couldn't move at all. He couldn't even turn his eyes.

After immobilizing Zhou Er for five breaths, Xia Songting immediately formed the hand seals to undo the Immobilization Technique.

"What do you think of my Immobilization Technique, Nephew?"

Xia Songting smiled after releasing him.

"Uncle-Master's mastery is astonishing. I'm in awe."

Zhou Er cupped his hands and praised him.

"I'm just picking on you youngsters."

Xia Songting waved a hand, modestly dismissing the praise.

Then he began answering Zhou Er's questions, and Zhou Er listened attentively.

In his spare time these past few days, Zhou Er had been studying the Immobilization Technique. Now, as Xia Songting taught him, it was as if a stream of enlightenment had poured into his mind, and he grasped the last little piece.

Seeing that Zhou Er had benefited greatly and was eager to try the technique, Xia Songting said, "Would you like to try it on me, Nephew?"

"I wouldn't dare overstep."

Hearing Xia Songting's offer, Zhou Er replied nervously.

The Cultivation World was governed by strict ranks and seniority. Casting a spell on an elder was a grave discourtesy.

"It's nothing. I won't mind. Besides, I'd like to see whether you were really listening and whether I actually helped you."

Xia Songting waved a hand and smiled.

Seeing how insistent he was, Zhou Er could only say:

"Your nephew begs your pardon in advance. I hope you'll forgive me, Uncle-Master."

Still, this was Zhou Er's first time casting a spell on a Foundation Establishment senior, and he felt a little excited.

Then Zhou Er began to form the Immobilization Technique, chanting and making hand seals.

"Immobilize!"

When he finished casting, Zhou Er whispered the word. He could feel that, this time, the spell seemed to have worked.

Xia Songting felt his little finger go limp and immediately circulated his Spirit Energy to resist. In just a few moments, he broke Zhou Er's Immobilization Technique.

"Your comprehension is excellent, Nephew Zhou."

Xia Songting said with a smile.

"It's because you taught me so well, Uncle-Master."

Zhou Er replied.

After that, the two chatted some more about the Immobilization Technique, turning it into a talisman, and the challenges involved.

The guests gradually arrived. Many Talisman Masters who didn't often see one another exchanged pleasantries and asked how things had been going.

Zhu Shunyang arrived as well and sat on Zhou Er's other side.

"Shunyang."

"Senior Brother Zhu!"

Xia Songting and Zhou Er greeted him in turn.

"Uncle-Master, Junior Brother Zhou, please carry on. Don't mind me."

Zhu Shunyang didn't interrupt them and sat quietly to one side.

The Talisman Masters chatted for a while. At last, Fu Donglai, the host of the gathering, arrived and took the seat of honor.

Fu Donglai was the current head of the Fu Family and was at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

"Everyone, it's been another year since we last met."

Fu Donglai looked around at the gathering and spoke.

"Another year older," Xia Songting joked, and several other Foundation Establishment Talisman Masters joined in.

As for the Qi Refining Talisman Masters, they didn't dare say much. They only laughed now and then in response.

"This year, we have a new face among us. Let's welcome Zhou Er, Junior Brother Zhou, to the ranks of our Xiayun Sect Talisman Masters."

Fu Donglai turned his gaze to Zhou Er, and the others immediately applauded.

Zhou Er quickly stood up, cupped his hands to everyone, and said, "It's an honor to meet all of you, Uncles and Senior Brothers."

After introducing Zhou Er, Fu Donglai invited him to sit down, then had the servants bring out the dishes and begin the banquet.

The servants soon presented the Spirit Meals.

With delicious food on the table, Zhou Er immediately felt that coming hadn't been such a bad deal after all.

And there was more than just good food.

Fu Donglai had also prepared quite a few entertainments, the first of which was a troupe of dancers.

The dancers were all female cultivators at the Qi Refining Mid-stage. Every one of them was beautiful as an immortal, with graceful figures. As they danced, their sleeves fluttered like rosy clouds swirling around them, each displaying her own unique charm.

Though Zhou Er was deeply impressed, his Taotie Heart made him more interested in what the next dish would be.

The Talisman Masters ate and drank, enjoyed the beautiful female cultivators' performance, and brought the gathering to a cheerful close.

The gathering's purpose was simply to bring together Talisman Masters who rarely saw one another and strengthen their ties. It was an annual chance to relax.

After all, they spent every year busy cultivating and making talismans, leaving no time for things like this.

Of course, Zhou Er had gained quite a bit this time.

First, he had fully mastered the Immobilization Technique. He'd also made friends with some Talisman Masters, and he'd enjoyed plenty of Spirit Meals for free.

Three wins all around—he'd hit the jackpot.

"Your nephew has no flying artifact, so I'll give you a ride, Nephew Zhou."

After they left the Fu Family Mountain Villa, Xia Songting said to him.

"No need to trouble yourself, Uncle-Master. I can use the Godly Travel Technique and get back on my own."

Zhou Er politely declined.

"My Cave Mansion is near the Wutong District, so it's right on my way."

Xia Songting wouldn't take no for an answer. He summoned a Green Leaf Flying Boat and held out a hand to Zhou Er.

Seeing this, Zhou Er boarded Xia Songting's flying boat. It quickly carried him back to his courtyard, where he said goodbye to Xia Songting.

The trip would have taken Zhou Er over an hour on foot, but Xia Songting's flying boat made it in less than the time it took an incense stick to burn. It made Zhou Er want to buy a travel artifact of his own.

But artifact prices started at over a hundred Spirit Stones, which put Zhou Er off.

Over the past few months, he'd saved only fifty-eight Spirit Stones after covering his expenses—nowhere near enough.

Life was hard. He could only save up little by little.

That was how it went for ordinary people: they never had enough Spirit Stones.

It wasn't just a flying artifact. Zhou Er didn't even have a Storage Bag yet.

The reason was simple: even the cheapest Storage Bag, with half a cubic meter of storage space, cost a hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones.

In short, all these storage items were exorbitantly expensive.

To be honest, Zhou Er also wanted to see whether he could equip a Storage Bag in his Equipment Slot and what kind of trait it might have.

But for now, he needed to master how to make Immobilization Talismans. Once he'd mastered them and solidified his Rune Mastery trait, he could go to Wanbao Pavilion and take a look at Storage Bags.

Wanbao Pavilion was a store run by a neutral organization called the Wanbao Chamber of Commerce. Its branches could be found in all the major sects.

It sold all kinds of things, like a general store, but most items were quite expensive and very refined. Other than the Outer Sect market, it was one of the few places where you could buy all sorts of goods.

When Outer Sect Disciples wanted to buy an artifact, Wanbao Pavilion was their first choice.