Talisman Making Insights

Regarding the matter of giving gifts, Zhou Er couldn't make up his mind and could only find Lin Shiyu to discuss it together.

Zhou Er wandered around outside, and when Lin Shiyu finished work, he went up to greet her.

"Junior Sister Lin, I have something I want to discuss with you."

Zhou Er said.

"What is it?"

Lin Shiyu asked somewhat strangely.

"It's not convenient to talk about it here."

Zhou Er glanced around. This was on the main road in Wutong District, and he didn't know when someone might pass by.

Lin Shiyu didn't know what Zhou Er wanted to say and felt a little uneasy. She said:

"Why don't we go to my room to talk?"

"Okay!"

Zhou Er nodded and followed Lin Shiyu into her courtyard.

Unlike Zhou Er's courtyard, which only had some weeds, Lin Shiyu had planted some flowers, plants, and medicinal herbs. However, they grew slowly, and she couldn't earn much Spirit Stone in a year. They were mostly for decoration and to help Lin Shiyu understand the habits of these herbs.

Entering Lin Shiyu's boudoir, it was very clean. The room was spotless, and it was filled with many small objects. Compared to Zhou Er's empty hut, it had a lot more signs of life.

"Senior Brother Zhou, would you like some tea? It's some flowers I grew myself. I dried them and made them into flower tea."

Lin Shiyu said.

"Sure!"

Zhou Er nodded.

Lin Shiyu cast a Spell, quickly boiled a pot of hot water, brought a small table and tea set, and poured a small bowl of tea for Zhou Er.

Zhou Er took a sip. The floral fragrance carried a hint of sweetness.

"Senior Brother, what did you want to talk about? So mysteriously?"

Lin Shiyu asked.

"Junior Sister Lin has the ideal of becoming an Alchemist, and I also want to become a Talisman Master."

Zhou Er said slowly.

"That's great!"

Lin Shiyu nodded.

"So, I plan to visit Senior Brother Zhu in our Wutong District. He's a First-tier Talisman Master, but I don't know what gift to give him? I want to ask Junior Sister Lin for her advice."

Zhou Er said.

"Senior Brother Zhou has a strong background. Even if you go directly to Senior Brother Zhu, he won't mind!"

Lin Shiyu said.

"Sigh! Actually, I don't have much of a background."

Zhou Er explained:

"Master Jide sent me to the Xiayun Sect Outer Sect. He knew my grandfather, but three generations have passed, and there's no contact anymore. After he sent me to the Xiayun Sect Outer Sect, he stopped caring about me and told me not to bother him."

The reason Zhou Er was willing to say this was because he wanted Lin Shiyu to think of a solution. He needed to be open and honest, not hide anything.

Given their current relationship, Zhou Er believed Lin Shiyu wouldn't gossip about this.

Even if Lin Shiyu did tell others, it wouldn't matter. Zhou Er had no enemies within the Xiayun Sect, and no one would be idle enough to attack him over this.

Moreover, although Master Jide said he wouldn't interfere, if Zhou Er suffered injustice, he might still take action.

"So that's how it is. It's indeed not good to rely on connections. After all, if the Master dislikes you, that would be terrible."

Lin Shiyu suddenly understood. She had wondered why Zhou Er, despite being a Connections, couldn't even get a good mission and lived so frugally.

However, she didn't care about these things. If she did, she would have noticed long ago that Zhou Er wasn't wealthy.

"Junior Sister Lin, these are not the main points. The main point is that we need to pick a suitable gift now."

Zhou Er said.

"Senior Brother Zhu is a Qi Refining Tenth Layer expert. The gift can't be too cheap, nor too valuable, otherwise, he won't accept it. Hmm! Right, have you heard of the Purple Spirit Pill?"

Lin Shiyu thought for a moment and thought of a pill that could be given as a gift.

"Purple Spirit Pill? I don't know."

Zhou Er shook his head.

"The Purple Spirit Pill is a pill with better effects than the Spirit Gathering Pill. It can be used by cultivators above Qi Refining Tenth Layer, for Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivation."

Lin Shiyu explained.

"Even Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivators can use it? Then its price must be considerable!"

Zhou Er was shocked. It could actually be used by Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivators.

"Even the genuine pills cost ten low-grade spirit stones each!"

Lin Shiyu nodded. The price of this pill was indeed high, after all, it was a second-tier pill.

Qi Refining Tenth Layer was, in a sense, pseudo-Foundation Establishment. Using some second-tier Foundation Establishment pills was very normal.

For cultivators above Qi Refining Tenth Layer, advancing further was incredibly difficult and required potent medicine.

Otherwise, they could only take a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Foundation Establishment Pills, however, were strictly controlled by the sect and couldn't be traded through normal channels. Their price was astronomically high.

If he could get his hands on a Foundation Establishment Pill, Zhu Shunyang would personally teach Zhou Er talisman crafting, but that was clearly impossible.

Zhou Er knew that pills were classified into four qualities: Superior, Good, Genuine, and Inferior.

Inferior pills were trash with too much pill poison, only fit to feed spirit beasts, barely better than waste pills.

Only pills of Genuine quality or above had pill poison within reasonable limits and could be used by people.

Genuine was equivalent to the passing line. If a qualified pill was this expensive, Zhou Er couldn't imagine how much a Good quality Purple Spirit Pill would cost.

"Junior Sister Lin, I only have six low-grade spirit stones on me right now."

Zhou Er sighed. He was having such a hard time.

"It's okay, Senior Brother Zhou. I have some saved up. I can lend them to you, and I can ask Elder He if she can sell me a Purple Spirit Pill at a lower price."

Lin Shiyu patted her chest and said generously.

"How can I accept that? You still need to save spirit stones to study alchemy."

Zhou Er wanted to refuse. He didn't like taking advantage of girls.

"What are you afraid of? Aren't we good friends? Besides, Senior Brother Zhou isn't not going to pay you back. I'm still waiting for Senior Brother Zhou to become a Talisman Master soon so you can protect this humble one!"

Lin Shiyu said.

"Alright! I will definitely pay you back as soon as possible."

After discussing it, Lin Shiyu went to ask Elder He the next day.

"Elder He, I'd like to buy a Purple Spirit Pill from you. Is that possible?"

Lin Shiyu asked timidly. In front of this cold-faced female elder, she didn't dare to look up.

"Cost price, six low-grade spirit stones."

Elder He Lin said concisely.

Gave six Spirit Stones, Lin Shiyu got her Purple Spirit Pill as she wished. After work, she excitedly ran to Zhou Er's courtyard and knocked on the door.

Zhou Er spent his days at home researching spells and cultivation techniques. Hearing the knock, he immediately got up to open the door.

"Senior Brother Zhou, hehe!"

Lin Shiyu held a small box and grinned foolishly. Without needing to be told, Zhou Er knew the Purple Spirit Pill was inside.

"Junior Sister Lin, please come in."

Zhou Er welcomed Lin Shiyu into his small room.

Lin Shiyu looked around and found that Zhou Er's room and courtyard were very simple. Apart from a few standard items, it was as if he had just moved in.

However, now was not the time to focus on this.

"Senior Brother Zhou, Elder He gave me an internal price, only six Low-grade Spirit Stones."

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Lin Shiyu said with a smile.

"That's great."

Every Spirit Stone was a heavy boulder on Zhou Er's shoulders right now. One less meant one less burden.

This way, he no longer owed Lin Shiyu anything.

Or rather, he still owed Lin Shiyu a lot of favors. If it weren't for Lin Shiyu, he wouldn't have had the chance to get this Purple Spirit Pill at an internal price.

[Purple Spirit Pill: After consumption, it can greatly increase the spiritual energy absorption speed within a short period, suitable for cultivators at the Late Qi Refining Stage and above to advance their cultivation.]

[Equipped, gain Attribute: Condensing Essence (White)]

[Condensing Essence (White): Cultivation speed increased by fifty percent.]

[Solidification Condition: Cultivation reaches Late Qi Refining Stage. (Qi Refining Second Layer/Qi Refining Ninth Layer)]

[Equip?]

With the Purple Spirit Pill in hand, Zhou Er immediately saw its effects. Another attribute that could accelerate cultivation.

Looking at this attribute, Zhou Er was a little stunned.

For a moment, he began to hesitate whether he should give away the Purple Spirit Pill.

"Senior Brother, what's wrong?"

Lin Shiyu asked.

"It's nothing."

Zhou Er withdrew from the effects of the attribute, shook his head, and said.

Lin Shiyu chatted briefly with Zhou Er about the boring experiences of being a Fire Control Attendant. Seeing that the sky was getting darker and it was inconvenient for her to stay in Zhou Er's courtyard, she said:

"Okay! It's getting late, I won't disturb Senior Brother Zhou anymore. I'll come find Senior Brother to play again when I have the chance."

"Alright!"

Zhou Er nodded.

After sending Lin Shiyu off, Zhou Er opened the small box containing the pill.

He saw a pill lying inside.

The pill was the size of a longan, its body was deep purple and condensed, with a faint spiritual light on its surface. The pill fragrance was restrained, with only a hint of freshness.

Zhou Er closed the small box and opened it again, his heart filled with indecision.

"You can't catch a tiger without entering the mountain. What I need now is to get Spirit Stones as quickly as possible. With Spirit Stones, won't I have as many Purple Spirit Pills as I want?"

Zhou Er finally closed the box, determined to visit Zhu Shunyang first.

Zhu Shunyang lived in the most central house in Wutong District. Zhou Er had been there before and found it easily.

After reporting his name, a Servant Disciple went to notify Zhu Shunyang.

After waiting for a while, Zhu Shunyang came out of his study and saw Zhou Er.

"Junior Brother Zhou, what brings you here?"

Zhu Shunyang was a little surprised. Zhou Er had been in Wutong District for more than three months, and this was the first time he had actively sought him out.

Although they had only met once, Zhu Shunyang still remembered Zhou Er vividly.

After all, this was a Connections person sent by a Golden Core True Person, with a stronger backing than his own. Naturally, he dared not forget him, nor dare to disturb him easily, so he could only pay attention quietly and cautiously.

"I came to visit Senior Brother Zhu."

Zhou Er said with a smile.

Zhu Shunyang welcomed Zhou Er to his study on the second floor. As soon as he let Zhou Er sit down, Zhou Er took out a small box.

"I came to visit uninvited, a small gift, nothing worthy of mention."

Zhou Er handed the box to Zhu Shunyang.

Zhu Shunyang took it and thanked him immediately without looking at the contents:

"Junior Brother Zhou, why bring a gift? You're being too formal."

"I can't come empty-handed when visiting Senior Brother Zhu."

Zhou Er smiled awkwardly. He didn't know if his gift would suit Zhu Shunyang's taste.

Zhu Shunyang was naturally pleased, even a little apprehensive. He didn't know if Zhou Er's visit was his own idea, or if Master Jide, who was behind him, had sent him.

However, it wouldn't make much sense for a Golden Core expert like Master Jide to seek him out, a mere Qi Refining disciple.

"Junior Brother Zhou, you must have another reason for coming to see me this time!"

Zhu Shunyang guessed that Zhou Er had come to see him on his own accord.

"Senior Brother Zhu is right. I heard that Senior Brother Zhu is a First-tier Talisman Master, and I wanted to ask for your advice on talisman making."

Zhou Er said.

"Junior Brother Zhou, I am just a humble First-tier Talisman Master, nothing to boast about. I wouldn't dare accept your request for advice. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask."

Zhu Shunyang said patiently.

"Senior Brother Zhu, I also want to learn talisman making, but I have no experience and don't know where to start. So, I hope Senior Brother Zhu can guide me."

Zhou Er said somewhat awkwardly. He only knew that talisman making required a Talisman Brush, Talisman Paper, and special ink, but nothing else.

Hearing Zhou Er's words, Zhu Shunyang understood that Zhou Er was a complete novice.

After thinking for a moment, Zhu Shunyang took out a thick book from his Storage Bag and said:

"Junior Brother Zhou, this is my talisman making experience written down over the years. I hope it will be of some help to you. You can borrow it to read, and return it to me after you've copied it."

[Talisman Making Insights: Decades of a top First-tier Talisman Master's painstaking notes.]

[Equipping grants the attribute: Rune Mastery (First-tier).]

[Rune Mastery (First-tier): Master most First-tier runes.]

[Solidification Condition: Master the crafting of five types of talismans.]

[Equip?]

Seeing that the Equipment Slot could equip these Talisman Making Insights, Zhou Er was overjoyed.

Actually, even if he couldn't equip it, just getting the notes of a First-tier Talisman Master would have made Zhou Er very content.

These insights were not something that could be bought with a few dozen Spirit Stones.

Of course, having the attribute was even better.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Zhu. I will copy it and return it to you as soon as possible."

Zhou Er hurriedly took the Talisman Making Insights and said.

"I don't know if it will be of any help to you."

Zhu Shunyang shook his head.

"Yes! Absolutely!"

Zhou Er nodded.

"Junior Brother Zhou, although I've given you the Talisman Making Insights, there's something I still need to tell you. You might not like to hear it, but I still have to advise you."

Zhu Shunyang said:

"You are still young. The most important thing is cultivation. Once your cultivation improves, you can consider other things. We cultivators rely on our cultivation to speak."

Zhu Shunyang saw that Zhou Er was already eager to learn talisman making at Qi Refining Second Layer, which was abandoning the Great Dao for a minor path.

The Hundred Arts of Cultivation are auxiliary to cultivation and should not be misplaced.

"Senior Brother is right. I haven't slacked off on my cultivation at all. I will use my spare time to learn talisman making."

Zhou Er did not refute, following Zhu Shunyang's words.

"Just don't get too engrossed in talisman making."

Zhu Shunyang nodded. He was also afraid of delaying Zhou Er's cultivation and causing unnecessary trouble.

He neither wanted to offend Zhou Er nor the True Person behind Zhou Er.

After obtaining the Talisman Making Insights, Zhou Er prepared to take his leave.

As he was about to leave, Zhu Shunyang thought for a moment and called out to him:

"Wait! Junior Brother Zhou, I also have a gift for you."

Zhu Shunyang took out a Talisman Brush from his Storage Bag and said:

"This Wind Wolf's Wolf Hair Brush is too thick, and I don't use it often anymore, so I'll give it to Junior Brother Zhou. Junior Brother Zhou can take it back to practice with."

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