Genius Talisman Master

Flower-Washing City, Hundred Treasures Pavilion.

This pavilion was the largest trading association in the city. Behind it stood disciples of the Plain Maiden Sect, and its reputation was impeccable.

The place was too small to absorb all his goods, and it could easily attract unnecessary trouble.

If he was going to sell, he would sell everything at once to a buyer with real strength—preferably one that could help him establish ties with the Plain Maiden Sect.

Still dressed in an ordinary blue robe, he walked into the pavilion.

A middle-aged man who looked like a steward came forward, a professional smile on his face. "What would this fellow Daoist like to buy? Our shop has spirit pills, magical artifacts, materials—everything you could need."

"I'm selling something." Shen Qingzhou was brief and direct.

The smile on the steward's face faded somewhat. He led Shen Qingzhou into a side hall, politely served tea, and asked, "May I ask what treasure you wish to sell? Could I take a look?"

Without further nonsense, Shen Qingzhou took two stacks of talismans from his storage pouch and placed them on the table.

At first, the steward paid them little mind, assuming they were ordinary talismans handmade by some Rogue Cultivator hoping to exchange them for spirit stones. He casually picked up a Thick Earth Nurturing Body Talisman and probed it with spiritual power. His expression instantly turned solemn.

"Th-this... these runes..."

His lips trembled as he turned the talisman over and over. With his other hand, he hurriedly picked up an Earth Dragon Armor-Trapping Talisman, and his expression grew ever more shocked.

He had never seen either of these talismans before.

Their rune structures differed entirely from any standardized talisman on the market. They should be inheritances of the Wèi Earth lineage, and the Dao essence contained within was smooth and full.

Whether in effect or quality, they were both superior among first-grade talismans!

"Fellow Daoist, th-these talismans... how many do you have?"

Even the steward's voice trembled. He knew perfectly well how valuable this batch of goods was.

"Fifty of each." Shen Qingzhou lifted his teacup and gently blew away the steam.

A hundred talismans!

The steward sucked in a sharp breath.

To produce a hundred talismans of such high quality in one go, and from an entirely new system besides—this was not something an ordinary Talisman Master could accomplish.

This man was clearly a master of the Talisman Dao with profound attainments!

"Please wait a moment, Fellow Daoist. This is beyond my authority; I need to consult the pavilion master. Please wait briefly."

The steward no longer dared show the slightest neglect. He hurriedly rose and strode toward the inner hall.

Before long, an old man in brocade robes emerged with the steward. After exchanging a few simple pleasantries, he gave Shen Qingzhou a brief appraisal.

In the end, however, all his attention settled on the talismans on the table. The longer he looked, the more absorbed he became.

After a long while, the old man finished appraising them and let out a long breath, his eyes filled with shock.

He solemnly cupped his hands toward Shen Qingzhou. "I am Qian Wansan, master of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. Fellow Daoist, your mastery of the Talisman Dao is so profound that it seems wrought by nature itself. This old man truly admires you! May I ask your honored name?"

"Han Li." Shen Qingzhou still gave his false name.

"Fellow Daoist Han, well..."

Qian Wansan was exceedingly courteous. After weighing his words, he said, "Our pavilion will purchase both types of talismans in full. It is only the price..."

He was somewhat troubled. Offering too little might offend Shen Qingzhou, but offering too much would cut into his profits.

"Thirty spirit stones for each Thick Earth Nurturing Body Talisman. Twenty for each Earth Dragon Armor-Trapping Talisman. The price is nonnegotiable." Shen Qingzhou named his price directly.

The price was far higher than that of ordinary superior first-grade talismans, yet Qian Wansan actually relaxed upon hearing it.

"Good, good..."

The other party had not named an outrageously high price. That meant he knew the market, and that he was sincere about doing business.

These talismans were absolutely worth that price—there was even plenty of room for a premium.

"Fine! We'll do as Fellow Daoist Han says!" Qian Wansan declared, making the decision. "That comes to two thousand five hundred low-grade spirit stones. In addition, our pavilion is willing to present you with a highest-tier guest token. From now on, Fellow Daoist Han will receive a ten percent discount on all transactions at our pavilion."

The transaction was completed quickly. Shen Qingzhou did not take the token. After putting away the spirit stones, he rose and left.

Qian Wansan personally escorted him to the door. Watching his figure vanish into the crowd, he sighed. "Since when did Flower-Washing City gain such an expert of the Talisman Dao? Investigate him. Find out the background of this Fellow Daoist Han. We must befriend him and never offend him."

The following month passed peacefully in Flower-Washing City.

After obtaining the spirit stones, Shen Qingzhou did not rush to spend them. He intended to save them for useful resources later.

He kept a low profile, rarely venturing out, and continued studying the Talisman Dao and practicing spells in his small courtyard.

There was little meaning in bitter cultivation now. He had only recently broken through, so it would be unwise to raise his spiritual power too quickly. Instead, he ought to settle his foundation.

The only things that could move him now were top-grade Qi Refining spiritual materials, with which he could try strengthening his magical artifacts again; and the approaching Union Festival. Shen Qingzhou was almost certain that it was a Ritual passed down by some great figure of the Plain Maiden Sect.

If nothing unexpected happened, then if he wanted to glimpse the mysteries of the Lunar Yin Dao, he could only comprehend the Ritual when the time came.

During this period, he also tried fishing, but unfortunately, the security within Flower-Washing City was far better than he had imagined.

Failing to catch any fish left him somewhat disappointed, as though he had missed out on a windfall.

Yet the batch of talismans he had sold caused no small stir among the city's cultivator circles.

The Hundred Treasures Pavilion released the two new talismans in limited quantities. Even at a price fifty percent higher than their purchase price, they were still snatched up clean.

The Thick Earth Nurturing Body Talisman in particular made Qi Refining cultivators' eyes turn red. Its effects of nourishing the flesh and stabilizing one's foundation were simply too enticing.

Many people wanted to meet this mysterious Talisman Master Han, but the Hundred Treasures Pavilion kept its lips sealed so tightly that no one could pry out even a scrap of information.

The name Han Li thus became the hottest topic in Flower-Washing City's upper circles.

That was exactly the result Shen Qingzhou wanted.

What he wanted was not fame itself, but the status and convenience that fame could buy.

A month passed, and the atmosphere of the Union Festival grew ever stronger. Colored lanterns hung everywhere throughout the city.

An exquisitely crafted invitation was respectfully delivered to Shen Qingzhou's door by a female cultivator.

The sender named upon it was Liu Qingyan, one of the Plain Maiden Sect's overseers stationed in Flower-Washing City.

"Heh, it finally came."

Shen Qingzhou pinched the invitation between his fingers, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his lips.

By Heartmoon Lake stood an elegant waterside pavilion. Incense burned within, while the sound of a zither drifted through the air.

Shen Qingzhou sat facing a woman dressed in a moon-white gown.

The woman was lovely in appearance, and her cultivation had already reached Qi Refining, Seventh Layer. She was Liu Qingyan.

She personally poured Shen Qingzhou a cup of spirit tea, her movements pleasing to the eye.

Liu Qingyan's voice was soft and gentle.

"Fellow Daoist Han, I truly have to admit defeat before your skill in drawing talismans."

"Especially that Thick Earth Nurturing Body Talisman. The nurturing intent within it is remarkably similar to some of our Plain Maiden Sect's cultivation arts. May I ask which expert taught you?"

"I'm merely a Rogue Cultivator. I was lucky enough to figure it out myself. What master could I possibly have?" Shen Qingzhou casually brushed her off.

Since he had even used a false name, he naturally could not let her keep digging into his past. He might as well cut the matter off completely.

Liu Qingyan did not press the issue. Instead, she smiled.

"A talent like Fellow Daoist Han remaining tucked away in such a small place is truly a pity."

"Our Plain Maiden Sect most enjoys recruiting capable people. If you agree, I can recommend you for a guest elder position. Then, monthly provisions and cultivation resources—even some of the sect's cultivation manuals and records—will all be opened to you."

This was an outright attempt to recruit him face-to-face.

Shen Qingzhou did not respond to the offer, instead steering the conversation elsewhere.

"I only arrived here recently and am still unfamiliar with Flower-Washing City. I'm not in any hurry to join a sect."

Liu Qingyan covered her mouth and laughed softly.

"That is fine as well. Whenever you make up your mind, our sect will always welcome you."

She was not surprised by his attitude in the least. If a top-tier first-grade Talisman Master were that easy to recruit, she would be the one suspecting something fishy.

She immediately changed the subject.

"Oh, right. Have you heard? There's been quite an amusing matter causing quite a stir recently."

"Oh."