The Deal Was Done, and the Limited Stock Was Snapped Up

"When we hand over the Communication Talismans, we'll collect the Gold Yuan at the same time."

"Our Sect's Communication Talismans will sell for only thirty Gold Yuan. Neither your sect nor the Zhang Household may raise the price."

Mo Lingyuan added one more condition.

"Thirty Gold Yuan?"

Lin Shanghai had been about to drink his tea, but at that price, the cup stopped dead in his hand.

He knew the Communication Talismans made by the Heavenly Mist Sect had to be better than his own.

What he could not understand was why the Heavenly Mist Sect would sell theirs for only thirty Gold Yuan when even his own sold for fifty.

But that was clearly none of his concern.

"My sect will follow your instructions to the letter, Senior Mo!"

He hurriedly finished his tea, set down the cup, and gave his solemn agreement.

"Then come collect the first batch of Communication Talismans in three days!"

With the deal settled, Mo Lingyuan rose at once.

"Yes, Senior Mo!"

Lin Shanghai bowed as he answered. By the time he raised his head, Mo Lingyuan had turned into a streak of light and vanished.

"Sect Master, what did Senior Mo discuss with you?"

Seeing that Mo Lingyuan's streak of light had disappeared, the other members of the Cloud Offering Sect poured into the Reception Hall. They gathered around Lin Shanghai and questioned him with boundless curiosity.

"Selling Communication Talismans together."

Lin Shanghai kept his answer brief.

"Selling Communication Talismans together?!"

"Isn't the Azure Feather Sect in western Search Province? Why would he travel thousands of miles to sell Communication Talismans with us?"

"Exactly! It's beyond belief!"

The members of the Cloud Offering Sect stared at one another.

"Ah... so it was only about selling Communication Talismans together. I thought he was going to take our sect on as a subordinate sect!"

Qin Tingjian was bitterly disappointed.

"Take our sect on as a subordinate sect? Dream on."

Lin Shanghai shook his head with a derisive chuckle. "I only just returned, so I haven't had a chance to tell you. Senior Mo has joined the Heavenly Mist Sect near our sect and become its Reception Elder!"

"What? Senior Mo joined the Heavenly Mist Sect near us and became its Reception Elder?"

"How is that possible? He's the greatest expert in all Search Province!"

Qin Tingjian and the others erupted.

"Wait, the Heavenly Mist Sect near us? Where is it? Why haven't we heard of it?"

Everyone but Qin Tingjian asked in confusion.

"The Heavenly Mist Sect stands on the Burial Sky Green Plains in the Seeking Dao Mountains. Its grounds..."

Qin Tingjian explained it to the others.

"What? Too vast for the eye to take in, with buildings piercing the clouds?"

"Is the Heavenly Mist Sect really that magnificent?"

"Unbelievable. Simply unbelievable!"

"One day, this old man must go see it for himself!"

"Me too!"

Huang Yanyu and the others cried out in amazement.

"Remember, the Heavenly Mist Sect is no ordinary sect. You must not reveal that it makes the Communication Talismans, nor that Senior Mo has joined it."

Lin Shanghai's expression turned stern as he warned them.

"Yes, Sect Master!"

Several breaths later.

The Heavenly Mist Sect.

Inside the sect.

The Discussion Hall.

"Sect Master, I presented the terms of our partnership. Lin Shanghai agreed."

Mo Lingyuan turned into a streak of light and entered the hall to report.

"Good. Thank you for the effort, Elder Mo."

Li Moqing smiled.

"It was this old man's duty. No thanks are needed."

"But there is one thing I don't understand. We could sell the Communication Talismans ourselves, so why partner with the Cloud Offering Sect? And why price them at only thirty Gold Yuan?"

Mo Lingyuan asked, puzzled.

"The Cloud Offering Sect has an excellent reputation in Clearwind Town, and it has always supplied the town's Communication Talismans."

"I'm only using this small business to cast a stone and test the road. There's no need to fight the Cloud Offering Sect over it, so we may as well sell them under its name."

"And the Communication Talismans themselves cost next to nothing. The price only determines how much we earn."

"At thirty Gold Yuan, they'll spread beyond Clearwind Town much faster."

"My target is all of Search Province!"

Li Moqing answered with a light laugh.

"I see."

"For now, Elder Mo, I'll still have to trouble you to make the sect's Communication Talismans."

"Leave it all to this old man, Sect Master!"

Three days later.

The Heavenly Mist Sect.

Inside the sect.

Li Moqing's loft.

"Hmm? My cultivation has reached its peak?"

Li Moqing opened his eyes and spoke softly.

"Looks like it's time to break through to the Fourth Stage of Qi Refinement!"

Li Moqing took out the Low-Grade Source Stones Dongfang Muxue had presented when she became his disciple. He raised an eyebrow. "Three Low-Grade Source Stones will be enough, won't they?"

"They should be. Muxue said she absorbed only two when she broke through."

"My Spiritual Wisdom is two stars higher than hers. With the same cultivation method and Source Qi density, there's no reason I'd need more than she did, right?"

His hesitation lasted only a moment before he shook his head, full of confidence. "Whatever. I'll try breaking through first. Worst case, I'll start over!"

When cultivators failed to break through, the power of the Source Stones inside them would slowly dissipate, forcing them to begin again.

That was why ordinary cultivators prepared enough Source Stones before attempting a breakthrough. Li Moqing, however, was plainly no ordinary cultivator!

Boom!

Li Moqing drove his Source Power through the Source Stones in his hand, turning them into droplets that he absorbed into his body.

In an instant, the power of the Source Stones filled him to the brim!

"I knew it! There's no way I'd need more than Muxue!"

Li Moqing chuckled smugly and circulated the Divine Breath Pure Heart Scripture, merging with the power of the Source Stones.

Boom!

A mighty pressure burst from his body, and in an instant, his cultivation reached the Fourth Stage of Qi Refinement!

"Now that I've reached the Fourth Stage of Qi Refinement, I can go without food. At last, I won't have to sneak around to eat!"

Li Moqing stood, a great weight finally lifted from his heart.

"Muxue reached the Fourth Stage of Qi Refinement long ago, but she still has no weapon she can use to fly."

"Unfortunately, Xingfeng and Muxue have both run out of chances to believe. I can't bring the Armory into being just yet."

Li Moqing frowned slightly. "Well, today's the day we hand the Communication Talismans over to the Cloud Offering Sect. I wonder how Elder Mo's work has gone?"

With that thought, Li Moqing turned into a streak of light and flew into the Discussion Hall.

The Discussion Hall.

From the seat of honor, Li Moqing asked Mo Lingyuan, "Elder Mo, how are the Communication Talismans coming along?"

"Sect Master, I'm no Talisman Master, so I managed to make only three hundred over these three days. I don't know if that will be enough..."

Mo Lingyuan answered at once, looking somewhat apologetic.

"Hmm? A Talisman Master? Come to think of it..."

At those words, Dongfang Muxue raised an eyebrow as someone suddenly came to mind. Guilt and worry flashed through her eyes.

"Ah!"

In the end, all she could do was let out a helpless sigh.

Beside her, Lü Liu glanced at Dongfang Muxue, and an unusual look entered her eyes as well.

The changes in their expressions lasted only an instant, but Li Moqing caught them both.

Hmm... there must be more to why Muxue ran away from home.

He recalled the conversation he had overheard between Dongfang Muxue and Lü Liu when he first met them.

But Dongfang Muxue had never explained it to him, and Li Moqing did not want to speculate too much.

"No matter. Three hundred will be plenty."

Li Moqing set the thought aside and answered with a smile.

"Elder Mo, I've come to collect the Communication Talismans!"

At that moment, a transmitted voice came from outside the sect. It was Lin Shanghai.

The fact that he had come in person spoke volumes about his sect's reverence for the Heavenly Mist Sect.

"Elder Mo, go make the handover."

Li Moqing gave the order upon hearing him.

"Yes, Sect Master!"

Half a day later.

Clearwind Town.

"The Zhang Household is selling Communication Talismans! Hurry before they're gone!"

"Hasn't the Zhang Household always sold Communication Talismans? What's the rush?"

"These are different! You can use one up to a hundred times, send a message as far as ten thousand miles, and it costs only thirty Gold Yuan!"

"What happened? Why did the Communication Talismans suddenly get so much better? Did Sect Master Lin's cultivation improve?"

"That must be it!"

"Who cares what happened? At this price, for this quality, I'm grabbing one first and asking questions later!"

"Hey, wait for this old man!"

"Get to the back and stop trying to beat me to them! I desperately need one to contact my distant cousin ten thousand miles away. No, make that ten!"

"Stop fighting! The Zhang Household says the Communication Talismans are in limited supply. There were only three hundred this time, and they've all been snapped up! The next batch arrives in three days. If you want one, be quick—first come, first served!"

"What? Limited supply?"

"How can this be? No, Cousin! My cousin!"