Too Much Artificer's Air

After the Family Grand Competition, the Fifth Elder invited Shen Yun to cultivate on Misty Peak several times.

"The Main Branch isn't somewhere you can come and go freely. There's no freedom staying there. Falling Cloud Peak suits me better."

Shen Yun refused outright, infuriating the Fifth Elder until he blew his beard and glared.

The First Elder also came personally. Seeing how firm Shen Yun's attitude was, he settled for the next best thing and promised him ample resources.

"From now on, your monthly resources will be tripled. You may freely browse the first three floors of the Scripture Pavilion."

Shen Yun immediately said, "Thank you, First Elder."

This time, not a single person objected. Shen Yun's performance had already earned unanimous recognition.

Only the Third Elder was somewhat concerned. "Such a fine seedling—I fear he'll grow crooked if we let him run wild."

The First Elder waved a hand and said solemnly, "Shen Yun is a true genius. Pointing fingers at him will only bind him. All we can do is support him with all our strength."

Only then did they understand just how highly the First Elder regarded Shen Yun. Not a single person spoke out again.

The spring slipped away beneath endless rain; only when the skies cleared did they realize summer had deepened.

In the blink of an eye, three months had passed. Shen Yun was cooling off in the bamboo forest outside his home.

A gentle breeze blew, and the bamboo leaves rustled.

Before a stone table for Go, Shen Yun and Shen Wude were playing a match. Shen Wude's eyes rolled, and he put on a show as he stretched lazily.

With a slap, the Go stone box overturned, mixing its pieces with those on the stone table.

"Sorry, Big Brother. I didn't do it on purpose."

Shen Wude apologized repeatedly, but his eyes were brimming with amusement. That was close. I almost lost another thirty Spirit Stones.

Shen Yun glanced at him, then produced an Image Recording Stone as if performing a magic trick. With a faint laugh, he said, "It's fine. I happened to record it."

Shen Wude's mouth twitched as he watched the board return to its original state. Depressed, he said, "I lost this round."

Reluctantly, he took out thirty Spirit Stones. As he handed them to Shen Yun, it felt as though his heart were bleeding.

Shen Yun accepted them without the slightest courtesy and chuckled. "Another round?"

Shen Wude shook his head like a rattle-drum, silently swearing never to lock horns with Shen Yun again.

Go was already the tenth event they had competed in. Whether it was Chinese chess, pai gow, dice... Shen Yun always seemed like a novice at first, letting him taste a little sweetness.

Yet within three games at most, Shen Wude would be left completely unable to fight back, slaughtered until not even a scrap of armor remained.

Could he be fishing for me? Fatty has roamed the world for twenty years, and today I finally admit defeat.

Shen Wude was thoroughly convinced. He had been beaten numb, so he prepared to return to his old trade at the Market.

Shen Yun rose to his feet. "Let's go together. I happen to want to sell some talismans too."

Shen Wude's eyes lit up. Rubbing his hands together, he said, "Big Brother is actually a Talisman Master? Just sell them directly to your little brother. Fair prices for young and old alike."

He had recently fleeced several fat sheep and happened to need to replenish his stock.

Shen Yun did not mind. He casually handed over a stack of talismans, only to find Shen Wude wearing a deeply disdainful expression.

"Why are they all premium talismans? Do you have anything cheaper?"

Shen Wude picked and chose, then gloomily returned the talismans in the end.

Shen Yun's mouth twitched. So this kid only planned to buy junk to swindle people with—he had never intended to do honest business.

When they arrived at the Market at the foot of the mountain, Shen Wude was surrounded the instant they entered through the city gate.

"It's this kid! The Qi Replenishing Pills he sold me worked like laxatives. I squatted there all day, and my legs are still numb!"

"Don't even mention it! The Flying Sword I bought from him was glued together. A wolf demon chased me for fifty miles because of it!"

"I had it even worse! Who knows what was mixed into the Spirit Wine I bought? My father-in-law drank it and all his hair fell out. Now my Dao Companion wants to break up with me!"

"..."

A whole brigade of victims descended on him, looking as if they wanted to drag Shen Wude away and light him up as a human lantern. Public outrage boiled over, and killing intent surged like a tide.

Shen Wude greased the soles of his feet. He moved with a nimbleness utterly unlike that of a two-hundred-pound fatty, fleeing in a blaze of sparks and lightning as he dodged their pursuit and interception.

"That guy has already become a rat scurrying across the street. Stay away from him next time."

Shen Yun shook his head. Better a dead Dao Companion than a dead poor Daoist—he had no desire to involve himself in such troublesome matters.

He strolled into Spirit Talisman Tower at an unhurried pace and found the staff gathered in a circle, as though some distinguished guest had arrived.

In the VIP Seats sat a Green-Robed Woman with a serene face, around twenty-eight years old. Her bearing was exceptional. She appeared to be a Talisman Master and was selling talismans.

The old steward was not drinking tea and fingering his beads as usual. Instead, he was personally appraising her wares.

Shen Yun took a glance. They were all premium talismans, worth a great deal.

"Brother Yun is here. Come in and have a seat."

Shen Zhong hurried over in small steps. His Dharma robe fluttered in the wind, and an ancient talisman character was embroidered on his chest.

Shen Yun's heart stirred. He congratulated him, "Brother Shen Zhong, you've finally gotten your wish and become a Talisman Master. That truly is a joyous occasion."

Shen Zhong smiled bashfully. "It was all thanks to Elder Wang's guidance. This assessment was nerve-racking, but I passed without danger."

Having become a Talisman Master, he was now an official employee of Spirit Talisman Tower. No one dared make things difficult for him anymore.

Just as the saying went: once you prospered, there were more and more good people around you.

Shen Yun laid his talismans on the counter. Shen Zhong was no longer surprised and immediately began appraising them.

When he turned to a plain, unadorned talisman, he abruptly stopped and could not help crying out, "A Supreme Water Shield Talisman!"

The moment he spoke, everyone gathered around.

The Old Shopkeeper stared blankly at the talisman and muttered, "Return to Simplicity, its radiance hidden away. Such exquisitely peerless brushwork—truly craftsmanship that steals the work of Heaven."

The Green-Robed Woman's autumn-water eyes fixed upon the talisman. Her red lips parted slightly. "Does this Water Shield Talisman belong to this young master?"

Shen Yun sized her up and nodded.

The Green-Robed Woman looked incomparably earnest. "This humble one is Shangguan Nian. There is something I wish to ask of you, Young Master."

At the name Shangguan, Shen Yun raised a brow. Without betraying anything, he said, "Please speak, Miss."

Shangguan Nian took out an azure talisman and handed it to Shen Yun. "This is a Spring Return Talisman I refined. To be honest, I have tried many times, yet never once succeeded in refining a Supreme Spring Return Talisman."

The people around them could not help looking toward the Spring Return Talisman. Its runes were clean and crisp, while the wood-element Vitality Power flowed through it without end. It was unquestionably the finest among premium goods.

Quite a few people present knew their craft, yet none dared comment casually.

Only the old steward studied it for a moment before slowly saying, "The runes are flawless, and the spiritual power has been controlled to perfection. It is even thirty percent stronger than an ordinary high-grade Spring Return Talisman."

His assessment won everyone's approval, but Shangguan Nian remained unmoved, still waiting for Shen Yun's reply.

"Too much artificer's air."

The instant those words fell, the entire scene froze.

Many people began criticizing him inwardly, stunned by Shen Yun's wild words.

Miss Nian's master is Venerable Lingkong, an elder of the Tianlan Prefecture Talisman Master Association. Did this kid eat a bear's heart and leopard's gall to dare say something like that?

Tianlan Prefecture was vast, spanning tens of thousands of miles. Canglang Mountain was merely one tiny piece of its territory.

To become an elder of the Tianlan Prefecture Talisman Master Association, one's influence was beyond what ordinary people could imagine.

As Venerable Lingkong's personal disciple, Shangguan Nian's status was no less than that of a Golden Core Clan's Young Master. Who would dare judge her like this?

Yet Shangguan Nian did not mind in the slightest. With a sincere expression, she said, "My master assessed me the same way. I ask that you enlighten me, Young Master."

Shen Yun picked up the talisman on the counter and drew out a Spring Return Talisman. Shangguan Nian immediately lowered her head to examine it, and wonder flashed continuously through her beautiful eyes.

She could not help comparing the two. In terms of precision and orthodox technique, her own Spring Return Talisman was superior. Yet the other party's talisman held a unique artistic conception, like a single outstanding branch overpowering all the rest.

"If you only imitate, it will forever belong to someone else. The true path is one you comprehend for yourself."

Shen Yun's voice was like a great bell and grand drum, exploding in Shangguan Nian's heart.

I have always pursued perfection, hoping to make everything exactly the same as the standard techniques. Perhaps that is why Master sent me out to travel and gain experience.

Only after a long while did Shangguan Nian come back to herself. She gave him a graceful bow. "Thank you, Young Master, for unraveling the doubts that have plagued me all this time."

Shen Yun waved a hand, then looked toward the counter, signaling them to continue the appraisal.

Having heard such a piercing assessment, the old steward's heart churned with uncertainty. Could these talismans truly have been refined by this kid?

He had long harbored suspicions. The signs of improvement in these talismans were far too obvious. This time, there were even more than ten supreme talismans, far stronger than the initial batch.

This kid truly is no simple person.

The old steward glanced at Shen Yun, thinking that Shen Zhong was a fool blessed with fool's luck to have befriended such a Heavenly Pride.

Supreme talismans were extraordinarily expensive, selling for two hundred Spirit Stones each. Shen Yun's Cosmic Bag immediately swelled.

When he asked whether they had any high-level Talisman Jade Slips, Shen Zhong shook his head. "Those above the second tier are rare. They are generally passed down only from master to disciple."

Shen Yun felt somewhat regretful. If he could refine second-tier talismans, not only could he use them to protect himself, he could also earn more Spirit Stones.

"Even now, I don't have a single decent Magic Tool. That really is rather shabby."

A top-grade Magic Tool provided immense enhancement to cultivators. Yet common goods were worse than his bare hands, while the good ones were beyond his means. Shen Yun's obsession with earning Spirit Stones grew more and more intense.

Shangguan Nian said softly, "If Young Master Shen wishes to purchase talisman arts, why not come with me to the Talisman Master Association?"

Shen Yun's expression shifted. Cupping his fists, he said, "In that case, I'll trouble Miss Shangguan."