Evil-Breaking

The next day, early in the morning, After Wu Tao finished dealing with Huzi, he returned and didn't see Zhang Li. He didn't mind, went back, picked up his bag, and planned to go to the market to set up a stall. Unexpectedly, he bumped into Zhang Li opening her door as he was leaving.

"Fellow Daoist Li, where are you going?" Zhang Li yawned. She hadn't had any customers last night, yet she was still so tired. Was it a professional hazard, getting excited at night and unable to sleep?

Wu Tao said, "I'm going to the market."

"Awooo..." Zhang Li let out a long yawn before saying, "Perfect timing. Help me bring back thirty catties of Spirit Rice. I'm tired and need to sleep more."

Saying that, she turned back into her house, took a Spirit Stone Bag, and handed it over.

"Done!" Wu Tao took the Spirit Stone Bag and turned towards the market.

It had to be said that Wu Tao and Han Tiezhu truly had fate. Their stalls were together again. Wu Tao was number thirty-nine in District Ding, and Han Tiezhu was number thirty-eight in District Ding.

At Han Tiezhu's stall, a young girl in a hempen dress was sitting, diligently watching the stall, not daring to move, looking very shy.

"Uncle Han, you're really early."

Wu Tao greeted him while setting up his stall.

Han Tiezhu saw Wu Tao's stall next to his and was overjoyed. He laughed heartily, "Little Friend Li, we really have fate, being next to each other again."

"This is my daughter, Mingxiu. She's fifteen this year and of marriageable age. This child is also ambitious and is studying for her Spirit Planter Certificate. She should get it next year. Mingxiu, this is Fellow Daoist Li Mo, Li. Say hello to him."

Han Mingxiu saw her father saying everything about her and immediately became shy, softly calling out, "Dad..."

Wu Tao looked at Han Mingxiu. Han Mingxiu was plain-looking, neither ugly nor particularly beautiful, just an ordinary girl from a Spirit Planter family. However, he was sure that Han Mingxiu's appearance probably resembled her mother, unlike the unsightly Han Tiezhu.

As for Han Tiezhu saying she looked like him, that was purely a problem with his eyesight.

Wu Tao felt that such a shy girl was truly precious in this Cultivation World. He smiled and said, "Then I'll call you Sister Mingxiu. Your name is nice. It probably wasn't your dad who named you, was it..."

Han Mingxiu looked at Wu Tao, then lowered her head, and blushing, greeted him, "Big Brother Li."

"This child rarely comes out, spending all her time in the fields. She's very shy, so her mother asked me to bring her to the market to watch the stall with me, to help her practice her temperament, so she won't suffer losses in the future," Han Tiezhu explained. He then added, "Mingxiu's name really wasn't given by me. I don't have that kind of culture. I asked a Steward from the Wuquan Mountain Spirit Planting Hall to name her."

The conversation ended there, as they were here to set up stalls, not to chat idly.

Han Tiezhu whispered to Han Mingxiu, "Xiu'er, you need to be sharp. This Big Brother Li might be an Artifact Refiner. If he takes a liking to you, you won't have to live by working in the fields like your parents."

Han Mingxiu heard this and was furious, her face red. She stomped her foot and said, "Dad, you just said Big Brother Li is an Artifact Refiner. With his status, how could he possibly fancy someone like me from a Spirit Planter family... Dad, so what you and Mom said about tempering my personality was a lie..."

Han Tiezhu said, "Xiu'er, Dad is doing this for your own good. Little Friend Li is at a low point right now. He's setting up stalls with us. If he becomes successful in the future and doesn't need to set up stalls anymore, then there will be no opportunity. Of course, it's not forced. It depends on your fate!"

Han Mingxiu listened to her father, secretly observing Wu Tao, and sighed in her heart, feeling that she was not worthy of this Big Brother Li.

Her father was probably wasting his time.

Time quietly passed, and it was suddenly noon. Wu Tao's stomach growled with hunger.

Beside him, Han Tiezhu and his daughter had already brought their own lunches and were eating. Seeing Wu Tao looking over, Han Tiezhu invited, "Young friend Li, would you like to eat together?"

Wu Tao knew they had only brought their own food. How could he shamelessly freeload? He shook his head, "No need. Aren't they selling lunch up ahead? I'll buy it there."

With that, he packed up his stall, slung it over his back, and headed to the food stalls. A crowd of loose cultivators were gathered, buying food, which made Wu Tao sigh. These cultivators, if they hadn't reached the grain avoidance stage, were no different from mortals.

Clutching his bundle, he finally squeezed to the front and said loudly, "One meal, thank you!"

The food seller looked up and immediately grinned. He chuckled, "Fellow Daoist, it's you! Why aren't you selling food today?"

Wu Tao's face immediately soured. He suddenly thought about having the food seller deliver the meal to his stall and then displaying his magic robes for him to see. But after thinking about it, while it would feel satisfying, it wasn't necessary. Even though the seller was just a food vendor, the world of cultivation had many variables. What if the person got lucky and became successful? Or what if they were someone whose fortunes could change drastically?

'Sigh, it's better to keep a low profile. There's no need for a dispute over pride.'

Understanding this, Wu Tao didn't reply. He took the meal, paid with fragmented spirit stones, and returned to his stall to eat.

After eating, he waited for over an hour. Three loose cultivators dressed as wanderers stopped in front of Wu Tao's stall, two men and one woman. They looked interested in Wu Tao's magic robes.

Wu Tao quickly stood up, his face full of enthusiasm, "Three esteemed guests, are you here to buy magic robes? Take a look, brand new magic robes, all crafted by my own hands, quality guaranteed."

The three exchanged glances. The woman said, "That's right, we are indeed looking to buy magic robes."

'We...' Hearing this word, Wu Tao's heart leaped with joy. He quickly said, "If all three of you buy, I'll give you a discount, fourteen Low-Grade Spirit Stones each."

"You say you refined them yourself. Do you have a refiner's certificate from the Five Spring Artifact Refining Hall?"

Wu Tao: "..."

It's just a certificate, isn't it? Can't I get one?

"No!"

He wouldn't dare to deceive customers.

Upon hearing this, a hint of joy appeared on the female cultivator's brow. She said, "If you don't have a certificate, then many things can't be guaranteed, and we wouldn't feel at ease buying. Thirteen Low-Grade Spirit Stones each. If you agree, we'll make the deal?"

Thirteen multiplied by three is thirty-nine... Calculating in his mind, Wu Tao no longer hesitated, "Deal!"

Looking at the Transaction Voucher in his hand, and carrying the heavy bag filled with thirty-nine spirit stones, Wu Tao's heart felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction. Beside him, Han Tiezhu and his daughter watched with envy practically overflowing from their faces.

"Fellow Daoist Li, are you buying Spirit Rice today?"

"Yes, give me thirty catties." Wu Tao said generously, waving his hand.

Han Tiezhu immediately instructed Han Mingxiu, "Xiu'er, quickly weigh thirty-one catties of Spirit Rice for Brother Li."

"Ah, I understand, Father."

Wu Tao said, "Mingxiu, pack thirty jin in one bag, and the remaining jin in another."

"Okay, Li."

After paying Han Tiezhu the hundred Fragmented Spirit Stones that Zhang Li gave him, and carrying the thirty-one jin of Spirit Rice, Wu Tao first went to the Market Rental Office to pay taxes.

"Three Low-Grade Spirit Stones and ninety Low-Grade Spirit Stones in taxes. If the miners from the Original Owner's old mine knew, just the taxes alone would be higher than their monthly wages. They'd be so envious and jealous!"

"Low-key! Low-key! Hehe..."

Wu Tao chuckled foolishly and headed straight for the Yuanyou Talisman Pavilion.

"Fellow Daoist, what talismans are you looking to buy? Shall I introduce you?"

"I want an Evil-Breaking Talisman."

"Certainly, one First-Rank Intermediate Evil-Breaking Talisman, twenty Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Hmm... Thank you for your patronage, Fellow Daoist. Here is your Evil-Breaking Talisman. Welcome again."

For some reason, as Wu Tao received the Evil-Breaking Talisman, his hands trembled slightly. He wasn't sure if it was due to excitement. He took the Evil-Breaking Talisman and carefully tucked it close to his body. After calming his excited emotions, he left the Yuanyou Talisman Pavilion.

A ray of sunlight shone down. Wu Tao reached out and caught the sunlight, finding it surprisingly warm.

He stood at the entrance of the Yuanyou Talisman Pavilion for a moment before changing direction and heading to the Zhang Family Artifact Material Shop. He spent another ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones to purchase four sets of materials for refining Magic Robes.

Afterward, he left the market and, after taking many turns and ensuring no one was behind him, he turned into New Virtue Alley and returned to his residence.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

Zhang Li opened the door and saw Wu Tao, his face covered in sweat and panting. She couldn't tell if it was her imagination, but she felt Wu Tao seemed to be in a very good mood.

"I brought back the Spirit Rice you wanted," Wu Tao said, handing her the bag containing thirty jin of Spirit Rice.

Zhang Li didn't take it. Instead, she said, "It's so heavy. Help me carry it inside and pour it into the rice bin."

"Ah, this... Fellow Daoist Zhang, it's not really appropriate to enter your room, is it?" Wu Tao really wanted to say this, but he held back. If he said it, Zhang Li would surely choke him to death. Zhang Li had lent him money several times, and he was indebted to her, so he would do as she said.

Seeing Zhang Li step aside, Wu Tao entered her room.

Upon entering, Wu Tao's nostrils twitched, and he smelled a floral fragrance. The room was very clean and tidy, with an antique charm, much like the room of a knowledgeable and virtuous young lady from a prominent family.

Zhang Li's room was better than his. Although it was also a single room, it had a kitchen. He found the rice bin, which indeed had no rice in it. He poured the Spirit Rice into the bin and said, "Fellow Daoist Zhang, it's done."

"Thank you. Would you like a cup of water?" Zhang Li asked, her hands clasped over her large chest, her eyes questioning him.

Wu Tao waved his hand, walking towards the exit. "No, no, I still have things to do. I'll be going back now."

Returning to his own room, Wu Tao took out the Evil-Breaking Talisman. The talisman was yellow, made from beast hide, with runes drawn in cinnabar. The runes were twisted, continuous, and mysterious, with a faint aura of spiritual energy lingering around them.

"Evil-Breaking Talisman, it's up to you!"