Resolution

Wang Daoyuan had not originally intended to interfere. It was not that he did not care about the Lineage's interests; it was simply not his responsibility. Sticking his neck out recklessly would be a slap in Fourth Brother's face.

But since Ninth Uncle had now asked him to step forward, there was no problem. With Wang Daoyuan's talent, without the Lineage, he would likely still be an ordinary person, never knowing in his entire life that he possessed the Spirit Pearl Space.

In his previous life, he had had no family, only a master. In this life, he had parents and such a large family. Wang Daoyuan's feelings for the Lineage ran deeper than most.

For the sake of safeguarding the Lineage's interests, why fuss over personal gains and losses?

After thinking it over, he sent a voice transmission to Ninth Uncle. "It is only right that I resolve trouble for the Lineage, but this matter will not be easy to handle.

Three Tier Two Low-Grade Offensive Talismans, one Tier Two Low-Grade Defensive Talisman, and one Tier Two Mid-Grade Escape Talisman. They may be exchanged with either Lineage contribution points or Spirit Stones.

As long as you agree, I guarantee that I will settle this matter properly."

Wang Zhide pondered for a moment before agreeing.

As a Tier Two Low-Grade Talisman Master, he could produce Tier Two Low-Grade Talismans himself. Tier Two Mid-Grade Talismans had to be exchanged from the Lineage treasury.

He was an elder; approving a single talisman was hardly difficult. Compared with his grandson's future, these things were nothing. Nor were these talismans being given away for free. He himself suffered no loss, and there was no harm to the Lineage.

Wang Daoyuan had his own considerations as well. Stepping forward cost him nothing. At most, the Liang family's wastrel would bear a grudge against him, but as long as he remained in the Wang Clan, the Liang family would resent him anyway. He did not mind piling on a little more hatred.

Without paying anything, he could exchange for several Tier Two Talismans. To a Qi Refining cultivator, these were treasures that could serve as trump cards. Studying Tier Two Talismans would also greatly benefit his own talisman-making skills.

Tier Two Talismans were not something that could be found all over the streets. Second-Order Talisman Paper alone was difficult to obtain. Moreover, Wang Zhide's success rate in crafting Tier Two Low-Grade Talismans was not high, only thirty percent—barely meeting the minimum standard for a Tier Two Low-Grade Talisman Master.

Of the Tier Two Low-Grade Talismans he crafted, only a small portion was sold. Most were placed in the Lineage treasury for Lineage descendants to exchange for. And not just anyone could exchange for them; one had to either undertake an exceedingly dangerous and important task or make tremendous contributions to the Lineage.

Now that such an opportunity had presented itself, how could Wang Daoyuan let it slip away?

He walked up to the wastrel, clasped his hands, and bowed. "What would you like, honored customer? Our shop has just opened, and you are our first customer. I'll make the decision and give you a twenty percent discount."

The wastrel shouted, "Are your ears stuffed with donkey hair? Didn't you hear this young master say to get some spirit pills for the dog?"

Wang Daoyuan continued, "This humble one is slow-witted and did not understand your words. Are the spirit pills for a person, or for the dog?"

The wastrel sneered, "Is this the standard of greeting guests at your Pill Talisman Pavilion? You cannot even understand a customer's request. Of course they are spirit pills for the dog."

The moment he finished speaking, the hall erupted in laughter. Even the wastrel's attendants could not hold it in.

The wastrel was not actually stupid. He realized that he had been insulted—and that he had insulted himself. He was about to lose his temper, but then remembered that he had come to cause trouble for the Wang Clan, not to get beaten up, and barely suppressed his fury.

Seeing that he still refused to stop, Wang Daoyuan continued, "Please forgive me, young master. Since the spirit pills are for the dog, this canine customer entered the Pill Talisman Pavilion first. It is therefore the first customer, and naturally I must do business with this canine customer first. Young master, please wait a moment."

The wastrel snapped angrily, "Are you making a fool of me? What business can a dog conduct? My needs are the dog's needs. Hurry and bring the spirit pills."

Seeing that he was having trouble keeping his anger in check, Wang Daoyuan smiled. "This humble one is slow-witted. How are this young master's needs the dog's needs? Could it be that young master has some relationship with this dog?"

The hall burst into laughter once again.

The wastrel completely lost control. He drew a magic artifact longsword and prepared to strike at Wang Daoyuan.

How could Wang Zhide stand idly by? He released the aura of Qi Refining Peak. The wastrel was only at Qi Refining Layer Two, the sort Wang Daoyuan could knock over with a single slap. How could he withstand Wang Zhide's aura?

The wastrel's attack was interrupted. He lost his footing and nearly fell, only managing to remain upright because one of his attendants caught him.

Wang Zhide rebuked him, "If you are here to purchase goods, our humble shop will naturally receive you properly. But if you intend to use force here, the Netherworld Sect's law enforcement team is no mere decoration."

Although the Liang Family Ancestor was an elder of the Netherworld Sect, he had only barely squeezed into its upper ranks. There were plenty within the Netherworld Sect who would not give him face.

Qingli Market was an important source of funding for the Netherworld Sect. If this wastrel dared publicly violate the rule forbidding combat in the market, even the Liang Family Ancestor would find it difficult to protect him. Besides, he was merely a wastrel; the Liang family would never pay any price for him.

The wastrel came to his senses. If he had attacked just now, he might very well have lost his life. His face went pale, and cold sweat poured down his body.

Wang Daoyuan continued asking, "Our humble shop is a small business. The only thing suitable for our canine customer is the Spirit Nurturing Pill. How many would you like?"

The wastrel was so frightened that he could not speak. The attendant beside him answered, "Twenty will do."

Wang Daoyuan took out twenty Spirit Nurturing Pills and said, "Spirit Nurturing Pills are two for one Spirit Stone, so twenty cost ten Spirit Stones. With the twenty percent discount, it comes to eight Spirit Stones."

The attendant paid the Spirit Stones, supported the wastrel, led the dog away, and hurriedly departed.

Wang Daoyuan added, "Please come again next time, honored customer."

The group's departing footsteps became even quicker.

Wang Daoyuan clasped his hands toward Wang Zhide and Wang Zhihe. "Ninth Uncle, Tenth Uncle, this grandson shall take his leave first."

With that, he turned and headed toward the cave dwelling in the back courtyard.

Wang Zhihe sighed. "It is a pity that Daoyuan's aptitude is poor. Otherwise, he would absolutely be an excellent candidate for clan head."

Wang Zhide sighed and said, "It truly is a pity. This child's talent for talisman-making far surpasses mine, and his feelings for the Lineage are deep. With the quick wit he showed today, along with his far greater sophistication in dealing with people compared to Daocheng, a few years of experience would be enough for him to become a shopkeeper. If he could achieve Foundation Establishment, he truly would be the best candidate for clan head.

Alas, nine things out of ten in life go against one's wishes. How can everything possibly go as one desires?"

By then, Wang Daoyuan had already returned to his cave dwelling to complete his monthly talisman-making assignment.

The Lineage's task required a success rate of forty percent, yet his success rate in crafting Tier One Mid-Grade Talismans had already reached sixty percent. Even among Tier One Mid-Grade Talisman Masters, he was at the very top, and that was while using an Inferior Talisman Brush.

Now that the shop provided a Tier One High-Grade Talisman Brush, he conservatively estimated that his success rate in crafting Tier One Low-Grade Talismans could reach seventy percent.

After making a few preparations, Wang Daoyuan began his seclusion to draw talismans. The Tier One High-Grade Talisman Brush truly was beyond compare with an Inferior Talisman Brush.

When drawing runes with an Inferior Talisman Brush, a large portion of his spiritual power was lost through the brush. The supply of spiritual power could even be interrupted, directly ruining the talisman. Furthermore, infusing spiritual power into a talisman required spiritual sense to control it. If the talisman brush had problems, it would also cause excessive consumption of spiritual sense.

Due to the depletion of spiritual power and spiritual sense, Wang Daoyuan could draw talismans continuously for at most one shichen before needing to rest, and he could draw talismans for no more than three shichen each day.

But when using the Tier One High-Grade Talisman Brush, spiritual power flowed into the brush without the slightest obstruction. Almost none was lost as it passed through the brush, and there were no interruptions at all. Even after drawing talismans for five shichen in a day, he remained bright-eyed and full of vigor.

Ten days later, Wang Daoyuan had used up all three hundred sheets of talisman paper. He successfully completed two hundred and sixty talismans, for a success rate exceeding eighty percent.

If other talisman makers saw Wang Daoyuan's speed and success rate, they would likely be frightened to death.

Even a Tier One Mid-Grade Talisman Master could only craft around twenty Tier One Low-Grade Talismans in a day. Any more than that, and excessive spiritual sense consumption would affect the success rate.

Yet Wang Daoyuan crafted thirty a day while maintaining a success rate above eighty percent. Ordinary Talisman Masters would not even dare dream of such a thing.

This was also thanks to Wang Daoyuan's powerful spiritual sense. Perhaps because he had reincarnated without undergoing the processes of the legendary underworld, or perhaps because of the Spirit Pearl, Wang Daoyuan's spiritual sense was extraordinarily powerful. It far surpassed cultivators of the same level, and his control over spiritual energy was stronger as well.

He was currently only at Qi Refining Layer Four, yet his spiritual sense was already no weaker than that of an ordinary cultivator at Qi Refining Layer Seven.