New Foundational Talismans

"Now that it's spring, birds that wintered on some of the fire islands will all come to islands teeming with richer life. In truth, it isn't only birds..."

Gu Jiu's rapid answer made Yue Shuo lower his eyes.

Why was Gu Jiu gasping between words?!

Still, this gave Yue Shuo an idea for making Azure Feather's existence seem natural.

After pondering briefly, he asked:

"After I fed this little bird, it became very attached to me. Gu Jiu, do you know how I can keep a little bird as a pet forever?"

"Keeping it in a cage won't do. I don't like restricting other living creatures' freedom."

Hearing his young master's question, Gu Jiu thought hard before answering.

"Among Mortals, there are people who can tame birds and beasts."

"However, Young Master, you are a cultivator. This lowly one has heard that Beast-Taming Talismans can help you control the birds and beasts you desire!"

"Of course, if Young Master likes that little bird, this lowly one can catch it for you first!"

Gu Jiu looked eager to give it a try.

He was about to act.

Yue Shuo hurriedly stopped him.

After all, that Azure Spirit Bird was a half-spirit bird capable of pecking his finger bloody in an instant. After entering the Spirit-Drawing Stage and Qi Refining Level One, his physique and reactions had grown far stronger than before.

Yet he had still failed to react at all.

To say nothing else.

Its agility was terrifyingly high.

In any case, Yue Shuo had no confidence in catching the little spirit bird unless it was under control.

If Gu Jiu went up there, he would only be delivering himself on a platter.

If his subordinate got hurt, Yue Shuo would have to waste resources treating him.

Too troublesome.

"No need. I'll keep feeding it until it's willing to live with me. I believe it possesses intelligence..."

Yue Shuo spoke with a solemn expression.

Gu Jiu glanced at the beautiful little bird, which had flown back to the crown of the tallest tree, then thought for a moment and decided not to shatter his young master's lovely expectations.

After all, it was merely a young man's fancy.

Going along with his young master, Gu Jiu pretended to ask curiously, "Then what will Young Master feed it? Does Young Master need this lowly one to prepare some rice and grain?"

Gu Jiu remembered that his young master had previously said there was no need to cook for him anymore.

So he had moved away all the rice and grain.

By now, there should not have been any food left in his young master's little courtyard.

Yue Shuo shook his head.

"No need. I fed it a Grain-Repelling Pill, and it seemed to like it... Hm? Gu Jiu, what's wrong? Did you get into a fight outside? Are you injured?"

The moment Yue Shuo finished speaking, he saw Gu Jiu swaying on his feet, his face deathly pale.

He felt both helpless and speechless.

Was this martial servant a little too prone to accidents?

Injured again?

Although Gu Jiu repeatedly denied being injured, Yue Shuo still drove him back to the little wooden house to rest and recuperate.

After Gu Jiu left.

Yue Shuo continued examining the items purchased on his behalf.

The first time, he had given Gu Jiu sixty basic low-grade talismans. He knew that selling one to a shop fetched a little over half a tael of gold.

Sixty Foundational Talismans had been exchanged for four Spirit Stones.

Along with one bonus Spirit Stone.

Thus, this morning, he had given Gu Jiu a full three hundred Foundational Talismans, which were expected to exchange for twenty Spirit Stones.

He had a great deal of stock of the three basic talismans.

Not only did he have over three hundred and fifty of each of the three basic talismans, he even possessed nearly seven hundred Water Condensation Talismans.

They had used up all his blank Yellow Talisman Paper.

Fortunately, Talisman Crafting had finally been raised to the high-grade First-Order stage. Basic Yellow Talisman Paper would not be of much use in the future.

Still, he had stocked another thousand sheets.

Aside from putting the premium Foundational Talismans into the space within his small letter tube.

He had already piled several boxes of the other talisman papers in the little courtyard.

In Yue Shuo's view, the effects of Foundational Talismans were not much to speak of.

The premium ones were decent.

However, he was not in a hurry to sell those. He needed to see whether the trading channel Gu Jiu had found was stable.

This time was the test.

Yue Shuo set aside the Yellow Talisman Paper and Talisman Ink bought with one Spirit Stone. Those two items took up the most space.

He first counted the Spirit Stones Gu Jiu had placed in the wooden box.

There were nineteen in total.

Yue Shuo raised a brow.

Nineteen?

He took out the Grain-Repelling Pills beside them and counted them.

Five. The number was correct.

In the final small box.

Were several Foundational Talismans he had never seen before, five in all. There was also a note with writing on it inside the box.

Foundational Talismans were not worth much.

One tael of gold each; five cost five taels of gold, or half a Spirit Stone.

A bottle of Grain-Repelling Pills cost three Spirit Stones.

Yellow Talisman Paper and Talisman Ink cost one Spirit Stone.

The three hundred Foundational Talismans he had given Gu Jiu had been exchanged for twenty-three and a half Spirit Stones?

That was three and a half Spirit Stones more than his expected twenty.

It had to be said.

Yue Shuo truly began to value Gu Jiu's ability to get things done.

He now openly possessed one Spirit Stone.

Adding today's nineteen.

He had saved up twenty Spirit Stones.

In another ten days, he could sell another batch. This time, there would be no need to exchange for other Foundational Talismans, and he could buy less Yellow Talisman Paper and Talisman Ink.

He only needed to buy one bottle of Grain-Repelling Pills.

Then he could earn another twenty Spirit Stones.

As far as he knew, a First-Grade Talisman Brush should be purchasable for under fifty Spirit Stones.

Afterward, he could scrape together the rest, find time to visit Chong Ying and Tian Wan, and borrow a few Spirit Stones... They should have some, right?

Of course, if he could not borrow them, he could think of another way.

Or wait a few more days.

Then sell another batch. A high success rate in Foundational Talismans could be explained, but selling too great a quantity would be difficult to cover up.

The first three batches could be explained as stockpiles from before.

But selling another large batch would be abnormal.

Unless he revealed his Qi Refining Level One cultivation.

Yue Shuo's plan in this regard was to present himself as being at the Spirit-Drawing Stage before reaching Qi Refining Level Two, concealing one level of cultivation.

After reaching Qi Refining Level Two.

He would consider whether to hide even more.

After all, with a Five-Element Spirit Root, cultivating too quickly would easily draw attention.

If others suspected he had stumbled upon some opportunity...

Yue Shuo did not want to use his own safety to test the hearts of Qin Clan cultivators.

"For now, three Qi-Concealing Talismans are enough. I'll pause Talisman Crafting and focus first on cultivation and... spells!" It was also time to grind proficiency in the spells that came with his cultivation method.

As he made his decision, Yue Shuo picked up the note in the wooden box of Foundational Talismans.

It simply listed the names and effects of the Foundational Talismans in the box.

After reading it, Yue Shuo was somewhat delighted.

"Looks like I can't stop Talisman Crafting after all! At the very least, I need to raise two of these talismans to the First-Order level, then try drawing them!"

The names of the five Foundational Talismans were all very common.

'Evil-Repelling Talisman,' 'Peace Talisman,' 'Illness-Removing Talisman,' 'Swift-Step Talisman,' and 'Hard-Armor Talisman.'

Yue Shuo did not care much about the first three.

The descriptions of the latter two, the Swift-Step Talisman and Hard-Armor Talisman, said that one could stick them onto one's legs to speed up travel, or strengthen the defensive power of one's clothes and armor.

Though the names were a little crude.

They happened to be exactly the two types Yue Shuo had been seeking!

Naturally, Foundational Talismans only had obvious effects on those below the Innate Martial Artist realm. At most, Innate Martial Artists needed a few talismans for everyday assistance.

For a cultivating disciple like Yue Shuo.

They were basically useless.

But!

If Foundational Talismans could evolve into First-Order Talismans... Even though Yue Shuo had not torn open and used the three First-Order Talismans evolved from his basic talismans to test their effects.

He could still infer a portion of their power from the premium Foundational Talismans.

Premium Foundational Talismans.

Were roughly ten times as effective as ordinary Foundational Talismans!