Future Plans

Han Changming smiled bitterly and nodded, thinking to himself, If I'd come here alone to claim the treasure, I would've ended up just like Uncle Twenty-One.

After killing the enemy, they divided up the spoils.

There were over a thousand spirit stones, five first-rank magical artifacts, six second-rank magical artifacts, more than twenty first-rank talismans, along with some materials for crafting magical artifacts and dozens of jade slips.

The two fallen clansmen's spirit stones were left to their families. Since Han Changming had discovered the cave abode of the deceased cultivator, he received two top-grade first-rank magical artifacts.

The Blue Glaze Bead was a top-grade first-rank defensive magical artifact.

The Azure Wind Boat was a top-grade first-rank flying magical artifact.

There were also some materials from low-rank demonic beasts.

Han Changming was delighted to obtain two top-grade first-rank magical artifacts, but when he thought of his two deceased uncles, he felt a pang of sorrow.

The dozens of jade slips contained a jumble of information. One of them held the Shape-Shifting Technique, which could change one's appearance once mastered. Han Changming made a copy.

A quarter of an hour later, Han Deling and the others emerged from the cave. Han Deling brought out a flying artifact, and they all flew back the way they had come.

More than a month later, they returned to Kuixing Market.

Han Changming had gained a great deal from this treasure hunt. He now understood completely why his grandfather had said the cultivation world was cruel and that cultivators had to band together to keep warm.

Han Changming realized just how woefully inadequate his strength was. He needed to make plans for the future.

The Taiyi Spirit-Transforming Gourd produced Spirit Water, which could improve his chances of successfully making talismans. It should have other uses as well, such as in alchemy.

The Han Clan had made its fortune crafting magical artifacts, so it had quite a few artifact crafters. It had very few alchemists. As far as Han Changming knew, the clan had only three first-rank alchemists. There were far more talisman makers than alchemists, but alchemists enjoyed much better treatment.

Talismans could be used in combat, while pills could be consumed to increase one's cultivation. If Han Changming learned alchemy, the clan would invest more resources in cultivating him.

Han Changming had only recently broken through to the sixth layer of Qi Refining. He couldn't break through again so soon, or he would certainly make the elders suspicious. If Han Changming could cultivate that quickly, the clan wouldn't have sent him out to handle affairs.

He planned to work hard at making talismans. His ability to earn spirit stones was limited for now, but things would improve once he became a top-grade first-rank talisman maker.

Without an alchemist to guide him, he would have to figure things out on his own and was bound to fail many times.

Of the four great cultivation arts—talisman making, artifact crafting, alchemy, and formation arrays—talisman making was the easiest, while formation arrays were the hardest. Alchemy was second only to formation arrays in difficulty. Han Changming knew this all too well.

If he paid for alchemy lessons himself, he would need a great many spirit stones.

Starting now, he would make talismans like mad and save up spirit stones to prepare for the future.

With his plans in place, Han Changming got to work.

The next morning, after breakfast, Han Changming left the Spirit Talisman Pavilion.

The treasure hunt was over, and Han Changjiong was no longer accompanying him.

A quarter of an hour later, Han Changming entered a teahouse, booked a private room, and ordered a pot of spirit tea and a plate of pastries.

He sat there for an hour, as several groups of customers came and went.

A series of crackling sounds came from Han Changming's bones. His features blurred, then changed, transforming him into an ordinary-looking young man who was tall and thin.

It was the Shape-Shifting Technique, a spell that changed one's appearance.

He planned to sell the talismans in his possession and use the spirit stones to buy Blank Talisman Paper.

Talisman prices were more or less the same from one shop to another, and there were discounts for bulk purchases. For example, the Spirit Talisman Pavilion gave away one low-grade first-rank talisman with every ten mid-grade first-rank talismans purchased.

Han Changming didn't plan to sell his talismans to the clan. For one thing, it would be easy to expose himself. For another, talisman shops rarely bought talismans from people, and when they did, they paid poorly. Rogue Cultivators were his best bet, but he had to sell in batches and price them below the shops' rates to make them attractive.

A quarter of an hour later, Han Changming arrived at Loose Cultivator Plaza. He found an empty spot, laid out the coarse cloth he had prepared, and set up a stall.

Most of the talismans on the stall were low- and mid-grade first-rank talismans, along with some demonic beast materials.

Fireball Talismans sold for one spirit stone each, or nine spirit stones for ten. Han Changming charged eight spirit stones for ten. Earth Wall Talismans sold for four spirit stones each, or thirty-five for ten. Han Changming charged thirty-three. The more one bought, the bigger the discount.

"I'll take all these talismans. Can you give me a better price?" a woman's voice chimed, sweet as silver bells.

Han Changming looked up. A young woman in her early twenties, dressed in a purple skirt, stood in front of his stall. She was at the fifth layer of Qi Refining.

"All of them? Of course. Three hundred spirit stones."

If he sold all the talismans on his stall at market price, they would fetch at least three hundred and fifty spirit stones—a full fifty more.

The young woman in the purple skirt crouched down and carefully inspected the talismans.

There were no markings on them. Han Changming had made them for his own use, while the talismans sold by the Spirit Talisman Pavilion were marked.

"I don't have that many spirit stones. Could I trade you something instead?" The young woman looked at him hopefully.

Han Changming frowned. "That depends on what it is. I don't accept just anything."

The young woman took out some Blank Talisman Paper and low-rank spirit herbs, then haggled with Han Changming over the price.

He had finally landed a big customer, so Han Changming didn't quibble too much. He accepted two hundred and fifty spirit stones, ten bundles of low-grade first-rank Blank Talisman Paper, and several common spirit herbs that were five years old.

"Fellow Daoist, forgive me for asking, but are you a talisman maker?" the young woman asked curiously.

Han Changming had attended the Talisman Maker Exchange Meeting, where he'd met Rogue Cultivators. First-rank talisman makers weren't particularly rare.

"I am. Why?" Han Changming admitted readily.

The young woman smiled brightly. "No reason. If your talismans are good, I'll keep buying from you. It'd be even better if you had any top-grade first-rank talismans."

Han Changming nodded and said nothing more. The young woman got up and left.

Two hours later, Han Changming packed up and left.

A bundle of mid-grade first-rank Blank Talisman Paper cost two spirit stones, while a bundle of top-grade first-rank Blank Talisman Paper cost five.

Han Changming planned to make top-grade first-rank talismans, so he bought forty bundles of top-grade paper and forty bundles of mid-grade paper.

After buying what he needed, Han Changming wandered along the street.

Half an hour later, he entered a teahouse and sat there for a little over half an hour.

When he left the teahouse, he had returned to his original appearance.

The next morning, over breakfast, Han Changming said to Han Dehai, "Uncle Thirteen, I'd like to learn how to make top-grade first-rank talismans. Could you teach me?"

With someone to guide him, he could avoid plenty of detours.

"I have a batch of top-grade first-rank talismans to make, so I don't have much time. Changjiong, you teach Changming. Your talisman-making skills are nearly as good as mine."

"Leave it to me. But let me finish eating first." Han Changjiong thumped his chest and agreed.

Han Changming bought two bags of meat buns for Han Changjiong. Once Han Changjiong had eaten his fill, he began teaching Han Changming how to make top-grade first-rank talismans.