The Value of the Three Foundational Talismans

Yue Shuo had no idea he had made the rounds in other people's conversations.

Because of his poor Spiritual Root, he had lost the opportunity to receive focused cultivation.

Even if he had known, he probably would not have cared much. After activating his Cultivator Character Panel,

he had already understood where his advantage in cultivation lay.

He had never been in a hurry before.

If not for the accident at home,

he could have steadily raised his Tai Chi Fist proficiency to the maximum before beginning cultivation.

Now that he had a cultivation technique,

he was even less anxious.

As for his poor Spiritual Root, he had plans for that as well.

One step at a time.

After five cultivation sessions lasting a full five or six hours, Yue Shuo opened his eyes. There was movement from the little wooden hut.

It was already evening.

The sky was gradually darkening.

Gu Jiu seemed to be watching the Spirit Field at all times.

Less than two minutes after Yue Shuo awoke from cultivation, he saw Gu Jiu emerge from the wooden hut and peer toward the Spirit Field.

Although the activity inside the Spirit Field was not especially noticeable, Gu Jiu could vaguely make out a little.

Seeing Yue Shuo move, he stepped forward, swiftly dropped to his knees, knocked his head once, then got back up himself.

Yue Shuo: "..."

Was this visiting a grave or paying New Year's respects?

"It's good that you're back! Did you advance?"

Yue Shuo paused for several seconds before asking.

From within the Spirit Field, he sized Gu Jiu up. He looked to be in good spirits, his eyes seemingly brighter, his waist and back straighter as well.

"Reporting to Young Master! This lowly one has advanced!"

Yue Shuo had thought Gu Jiu might grow rebellious after advancing.

Instead, though his voice had become a little more resonant, the man stared at him with sparkling eyes, inexplicably reminding Yue Shuo of some large dog...

What a pity.

If he had truly been a creature like a dog, Yue Shuo might have found it easier to trust him.

People, after all, were far too complicated.

Still, Yue Shuo had nothing to worry about. It was not as if he intended to raise a loyal servant.

He had helped Gu Jiu advance only so Gu Jiu could serve him better.

After all, if Gu Jiu was too weak,

and came back severely injured every time he went out,

how could Yue Shuo dare let him purchase supplies on his behalf?

"Young Master, this lowly one has brought back what you wanted. Where should I put it?"

Gu Jiu as a whole seemed somehow more vivid.

Yue Shuo could not think of any other words for that feeling. He simply felt that this man seemed to possess a stronger presence.

Was that what happened after a martial artist advanced?

Yue Shuo instinctively channeled spiritual power into his eyes and looked at Gu Jiu again.

For an instant, a flame-like radiance invisible to the naked eye rose from Gu Jiu's body. Only one phrase flashed through Yue Shuo's mind:

Life Vitality!

This man's Life Vitality had become brighter.

Was advancing a single stage really that noticeable?

Still, Yue Shuo had not met many First-Class Martial Artists, so he had no one for comparison.

He stopped pondering the matter, left the Spirit Field, and had Gu Jiu place his belongings in the small courtyard.

One empty room was packed full.

Yue Shuo directed Gu Jiu to install everything.

The man learned quickly and was skilled at carpentry and other manual work.

He also kept his mouth shut when running errands and worked efficiently.

That was why Yue Shuo was willing to nurture him. A useful subordinate could naturally be cultivated as long as no major problems arose.

After all, one or two Spirit Stones meant little to him.

And Gu Jiu did not talk much.

He did not ask what the things Yue Shuo had ordered him to procure were for.

Whatever he was told to do, he did.

Yue Shuo then sent him out again to find some things—cheap supplementary materials that Yue Shuo could not conveniently obtain himself.

Gu Jiu looked to be in even better shape once he got busy.

Yue Shuo returned to the Spirit Field to continue restoring his Divine Sense.

Once Gu Jiu finished his work,

Yue Shuo summoned him over.

After thinking for a moment, Yue Shuo took out several Water Condensation Talismans and asked Gu Jiu, "Can these be exchanged for Spirit Stones or gold?"

Always trading with Gathering Spirit Grass was too conspicuous.

Yue Shuo did some calculations.

Harvesting a batch of Gathering Spirit Grass every month and a half or every two months should count as normal.

Of course, he planned to register at the External Affairs Pavilion at the beginning of next month and learn about the productivity of other planters first.

But he still needed Grain-Repelling Pills, talisman paper, and talisman ink.

If he had another legitimate source of income, that would naturally be even better.

"Young Master, these are... Spirit Talismans!?" Gu Jiu's eyes widened, shocked and overjoyed.

Yue Shuo shook his head.

"They're only Foundational... Talismans!"

The gap between Foundational Talismans and First-Grade Spirit Talismans was enormous. Yue Shuo felt it would be a little exaggerated to call them Spirit Talismans.

Still, he did have several relatively special Foundational Talismans.

He had put them away with great care long ago.

What he showed Gu Jiu now were merely ordinary-quality Foundational Talismans he had made, not superior ones.

"They work like this!"

Yue Shuo thought for a moment.

He took out a Foundational Water-Condensing Talisman and tore it open in front of Gu Jiu. This was the simplest method of using one.

Naturally, its effect was also the weakest.

Then, a ball of water condensed before them.

It was roughly enough to fill one or two cups.

Gu Jiu stared at the scene without blinking. Shock came first, followed by delight. "This is a Water Condensation Talisman!?"

Yue Shuo nodded.

"You've heard of it?"

Gu Jiu nodded vigorously with delight.

He knew that Young Master was still young.

Though Yue Shuo was highly gifted and had read many books,

he still knew relatively little common knowledge beyond his living environment.

So Gu Jiu explained earnestly:

"These are something merchant ships crossing the seas have always liked to stockpile in large quantities. After all, if too much space aboard a ship is used to store water, it can carry far less cargo!"

"Of course, some solitary travelers also like to prepare a set of Foundational Talismans like these!"

"Water Condensation Talismans, Fire-Starting Talismans, and Garment-Cleansing Dust-Removing Talismans are all supplies merchant ships and martial artists like to keep on hand! They sell well! They move extremely fast!"

This world was not merely a world of cultivators.

The number of Mortal martial artists was actually far greater.

"Condensing water, starting fires, removing dust?" Yue Shuo's expression turned a little strange as he asked again, "There are more than just these Foundational Talismans, right?"

Gu Jiu nodded.

"Of course there are, but this lowly one does not understand the overly complicated ones. These three are commonly useful even to martial artists!"

Yue Shuo wanted to ask Gu Jiu about Invisibility Talismans and Qi-Concealing Talismans.

But he held himself back.

He did not press further.

He still knew some common knowledge about Spirit Talismans. He knew that First-Grade Spirit Talismans, like Tier-One Elixirs,

were not things Mortals could use or absorb.

Using a First-Grade Spirit Talisman was not as simple as tearing it open like a Foundational Talisman.

It required a bit of Spiritual Primer.

After hearing Gu Jiu explain the prices of the three Foundational Talismans and learning that he was confident he could sell them on Little Hemmu Island, Yue Shuo finally glanced at him.

"You won't get caught again, will you?"

Gu Jiu's face immediately turned red.

He hurriedly began to explain.

Someone had reported him.

After all, people had actually been watching his comings and goings all along.

He could run quickly.

But his trip by boat to Little Hemmu Island could not be hidden from those watching him.

After arriving, even though he concealed his tracks, he was still noticed when he bought the elixir for his breakthrough.

Fortunately, he followed Young Master's instructions and took the elixir immediately after buying it, advancing on the spot.

Then, someone reported him, and he was taken away.

"Reported?" Yue Shuo frowned.

Gu Jiu felt deeply embarrassed and lowered his head in shame:

"Young Master himself lacks Spirit Stones and cultivation resources, yet he gave this lowly one resources for a breakthrough..."

"This lowly one is too useless..."

Yue Shuo listened speechlessly to the choked-up voice of the burly man before him.

He waved a hand to interrupt him and asked bluntly, "In other words, they thought you had stolen Spirit Stones?"

Was that why those two seniors had come to verify things before?

If he had denied it then to protect himself,

would this fellow have been unable to return?

Yue Shuo was not the only one who had guessed as much.

Gu Jiu understood it far more deeply than Yue Shuo did.

He knew.

Without Young Master, he likely truly would not have returned this time. His future fate might have been the harshest mining district, or being sold off.

That was why he was so moved.

Such great kindness could not be repaid with words. Through nearly two months of getting along, Gu Jiu had also formed an unwavering resolve in his heart.