Talisman Master

After leaving the Lecture Hall, Shen Qingruo asked curiously, "Where are you planning to go, Brother Shen Yun?"

Shen Yun weighed the Cosmic Bag in his hand and replied casually, "I'm heading to the market. What about you?"

Now that he had Spirit Stones in hand, Shen Yun intended to learn a cultivation art.

Shen Qingruo said with a smile, "I happen to have nothing to do. How about I go with you?"

Hearing this, Shen Yun found it strange. Just a minute ago, she had rejected Shen Qiu, yet she had changed her mind faster than flipping a page.

Come to think of it, aside from when we first met, Qingruo has never given me a cold face.

Shen Yun sighed inwardly. In this life, apart from Father Shen, Shen Qingruo was the person he had spent the most time with. Without realizing it, he had already come to see her as family.

Shen Qingruo blinked and quietly followed behind him, thinking to herself, Brother Shen Yun has been acting so mysteriously lately. I'd like to see what he's up to.

The Shen family was located in the eastern part of Canglang Mountain, and its clan grounds covered a vast expanse.

Amid the towering mountains lay an enormous stretch of open land, upon which stood a majestic, imposing city.

Carriages and horses flowed through the streets, and people streamed past like shuttles. Numerous merchant caravans had gathered outside the city gates, lining up to enter.

"As expected of Shen Family Market. Travelers come and go without end."

"With the Shen family's protection, no rogue cultivators would dare attack lightly. Even if prices are a little higher, it's worth it."

"I heard the market has everything. I cannot wait to get inside."

"..."

The moment Shen Yun entered the city, his view suddenly opened up.

A broad bluestone road stretched all the way to the horizon. Shops stood in rows along both sides of the street, offering every variety of goods.

Spirit Food Shops, Spirit Talisman Shops, Alchemical Workshops... the sight was dazzling. As they passed a resplendent seven-story Spirit Pavilion, two Gaudily Dressed female cultivators were soliciting customers.

Shen Qingruo's willow brows knitted together. With a blank expression, she grabbed Shen Yun and hurried away.

Watching the two of them, one of the female cultivators covered her mouth and said with a Slight Smile, "Youth is wonderful."

Shen Qingruo only kept her head down as she hurried forward. Shen Yun said helplessly, "Stop. We've already passed the Spirit Talisman Tower."

Only then did Shen Qingruo stop. She turned back and gave a soft hum. "Father used to enjoy going to the Immortal Music House. Mother scolded him so many times for it. Brother Shen Yun, you mustn't learn from him."

Shen Yun's mouth twitched. Uncle An looks so honest and upright. Who would have thought he liked visiting pleasure houses to listen to songs?

After reflecting for a moment, Shen Yun hurriedly turned the page on that matter and walked toward the Spirit Talisman Tower.

The moment he entered, he saw dozens of crystal counters filled with Spirit Talismans of every kind, a dazzling array spread before him.

The Old Shopkeeper sat behind a counter, fingering his prayer beads and drinking tea without missing a beat. He looked perfectly at ease, paying no mind to whether customers bought anything or not. He was the very picture of a laid-back man who went with the flow.

Just as Shen Yun was about to choose something, a thin, small shop clerk approached him and greeted him, "What would you like to buy, customer?"

Once he saw who it was, Shen Yun hesitated. "Are you Shen Zhong?"

The clerk focused his eyes on him, then said delightedly, "So it's Brother Yun. What brings you to the Spirit Talisman Tower today?"

Shen Yun gave a Slight Smile. "I'm very interested in becoming a Talisman Master, so I came to buy some materials."

He and Shen Zhong had been neighbors for two years. Later, Shen Zhong's family had fallen into poverty and moved down the mountain. Shen Yun had not expected to encounter him here.

"Is Brother Shen Zhong an apprentice here?"

Shen Qingruo knew Shen Zhong as well, so she spoke up to ask.

Shen Zhong nodded and said with feeling, "I've been an apprentice here for two and a half years. If Brother Shen Yun wants to become a Talisman Master, then you've come to the right person."

His hands moved as swiftly as flying birds as he took out a Jade Slip, Talisman Paper, a Talisman Brush, and Talisman Ink from the counter. Then he introduced them, saying, "These are the tools needed to make talismans."

Shen Yun accepted the materials and asked without hesitation, "How many Spirit Stones in total?"

He had looked into the market beforehand. Although Dharma Talismans were not as profitable as alchemy or artifact refining, they sold well, could be made quickly, and had low entry costs. They were the best choice for earning Spirit Stones.

Shen Zhong first ran over to ask the Old Shopkeeper, then returned and said, "Six hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones in total. This is already the greatest discount I could get for you."

Shen Yun nodded and clasped his hands. "Thank you, Brother Shen Zhong. I'll take all of these."

This price was far lower than he had expected. Shen Yun paid readily, then bid farewell.

Watching his swift and decisive manner, Shen Zhong shook his head and swallowed the words he had wanted to say.

The Old Shopkeeper glanced at him and said carelessly, "Another kid dreaming of becoming a Talisman Master. Is he your friend?"

Shen Zhong nodded. "He's still full of enthusiasm, and I didn't want to throw cold water on him. If he wants to give up later, I'll simply buy those materials back."

During the two years they had been neighbors, Shen Pingsheng had taken great care of him. He had even helped pay part of the funeral expenses for Shen Zhong's parents. Shen Zhong had always kept that kindness firmly in his heart.

The Old Shopkeeper took a light sip of tea and said leisurely, "You really are kindhearted. I reckon that kid will be back within a month at most."

Shen Zhong smiled at that. "Elder Wang, don't underestimate him. That Year, even the First Elder praised his intelligence."

The Old Shopkeeper said nothing more, seeming to tacitly accept that answer.

What Shen Zhong did not know was that if the Old Shopkeeper had not considered him fairly talented, why would he have kept him in the Spirit Talisman Tower as an apprentice? Countless people in the Shen family wanted to use connections to get in.

The Way could not be taught intimately to just anyone. Without the Old Shopkeeper's guidance, even if Shen Zhong were given another five years, he would never have been able to create a Fireball Talisman.

If cultivation arts were so easy to learn, the streets would be full of Talisman Masters and Alchemists. Who would still fight to the death over a few Spirit Stones?

With the matter settled, Shen Yun treated Shen Qingruo to a lavish meal at Tianxiang Tower. When it came time to pay, he found that it cost thirty Spirit Stones.

In any world, money is what matters most.

Shen Yun sighed inwardly, and his determination to become a Talisman Master grew even firmer.

Shen Qingruo tugged at his sleeve and asked in confusion, "Brother Shen Yun, are you learning talisman-making because you lack Spirit Stones? I still have some here. Take them if you need them."

The ring on her finger glittered beneath the sunlight. Shen Yun smiled bitterly in his heart. That Space Ring alone must cost at least three hundred Medium-grade Spirit Stones. I never thought I'd have a day when I lived off a woman.

"I'm only interested in becoming a Talisman Master. There's no need for the Spirit Stones." Shen Yun refused her goodwill.

After returning home, Shen Yun sat cross-legged in meditation and began cultivating.

This time, the Golden Edge Art circulated exceptionally smoothly. He broke through the bottleneck without the slightest obstruction, and his Sea of Qi expanded once more.

"I've broken through to the Qi Refining Second Layer. Let's see where today's limit lies."

Spiritual energy surged into his Sea of Qi like a tide. After it expanded several more times, that familiar feeling of stagnation returned.

"My Sea of Qi can expand at most nine times a day. It would be nice if it could be faster."

Shen Yun smacked his lips, then realized he was being too greedy. He silently reminded himself that one should know contentment and find lasting happiness.

He then cultivated the Blazing Fire Cultivation Method and the Green Wood Cultivation Method. In less than a quarter of an hour, the three kinds of spiritual energy were once again evenly matched. After that, Shen Yun began studying the way of talismans.

"Compendium of Basic Talismans. That's quite a good name."

Shen Yun read for half an hour and committed all its contents to memory, gaining a rudimentary understanding of talismans.

"Gathering spells within talismanic runes, inscribing them onto Talisman Paper, then activating the runes with spiritual energy—rather ingenious."

The Compendium of Basic Talismans recorded eighteen kinds of Qi Refining Realm talismans, covering a variety of five-element spells.

Shen Yun did not rush to try them. Instead, he began comprehending the meaning represented by each stroke of every talismanic rune. The mysterious veil over the intricate patterns gradually lifted.

"It's not that difficult. I'll try a Fireball Talisman first."

Shen Yun picked up the Talisman Brush and touched it to the Talisman Paper. The entire process flowed in one continuous breath.

Two minutes later, a talismanic rune nearly identical to the one in the Jade Slip leaped onto the paper.

The moment he stopped writing, spiritual energy poured into the Talisman Paper. The mysterious rune began to emit a faint red glow, only settling back into silence after a long while.

Shen Yun picked up the Talisman Paper. A faint warmth spread into his fingers as he murmured, "A Mid-grade Fireball Talisman. I didn't expect making talismans to be so simple."

If other Talisman Masters heard those words, they would probably cough up three liters of blood on the spot.

The difficulty of talisman-making was known throughout the world. Not only did one need to perfectly comprehend the meaning of the talismanic runes, one also needed flawless control over spiritual power. It was common to see people fail to enter the field even after more than ten years.

Shen Zhong had spent two and a half years as an apprentice in the Spirit Talisman Tower, receiving no monthly wages and serving tea and water every day just to learn this craft. Even so, others could not even compete for such work.

Shen Yun sighed and continued studying the other talismans.