Chapter 86
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Chapter 86: Running Away
At Lu’s Talisman Shop.
“Greetings, fellow traveler. How may I assist you today?”
As Wang Chen entered the shop, the square-faced shopkeeper behind the counter greeted him warmly, “We’ve just received a fresh batch of medium to high-quality Qi Training talismans. Would you care to take a look?”
Wang Chen glanced around and inquired, “Shopkeeper, do you purchase legal symbols here?”
The talisman shop was modest in size, far less impressive than the one where he usually bought his talisman-making supplies.
Yet, small shops had their unique charm.
Even a low-level cultivator like Wang Chen, at the "fourth realm of Qi Training," was treated with respect.
Moreover, the shopkeeper was known for his flexibility in business dealings.
“Absolutely!”
The square-faced shopkeeper responded without a moment’s hesitation, “As long as the quality is up to par, we can discuss the price!”
“Hmm.”
Wang Chen nodded and retrieved two stacks of talismans from his storage bag, placing them on the counter.
Each stack contained a hundred pieces!
The shopkeeper was immediately taken aback.
He had assumed Wang Chen, with his unremarkable appearance and average cultivation level, was here to sell a few talismans to make ends meet.
He never expected Wang Chen to present two hundred legal symbols at once!
Any seasoned shopkeeper had a keen eye.
Thus, he quickly estimated the number of talismans.
The square-faced shopkeeper’s demeanor grew even more courteous: “May I examine them more closely?”
After Wang Chen gave his consent, the shopkeeper began to meticulously inspect the two stacks of legal symbols.
The more he examined them, the more astonished he became.
Both stacks were composed entirely of Falling Fire talismans, but there was a noticeable difference in quality.
The stack on the left featured Falling Fire talismans with vibrant ink and an inner glow, the craftsmanship nothing short of exquisite.
What was truly remarkable was that every single talisman in that stack appeared almost identical, as if they had been printed, with virtually no flaws to be found!
Of course, talismans had to be hand-drawn by talisman makers, with each stroke embodying true essence, making printing impossible.
A talisman maker with such skill would already be worthy of being a guest of the Purple Palace family!
On the other hand, the hundred Falling Fire talismans in the right stack were of slightly lesser quality.
But they were still acceptable.
After thoroughly inspecting both stacks, the square-faced shopkeeper paused for a moment and then cautiously proposed, “Fellow traveler, I can offer you ninety spirit fragments for this stack of Falling Fire talismans, and seventy spirit fragments for this stack. How does that sound to you?”
The Falling Fire talisman stands as one of the most frequently utilized legal symbols among cultivators, typically priced at around one spirit fragment each.
It is remarkably stable.
The standard purchase price at a talisman shop usually ranges between sixty to seventy spirit fragments.
For an average talisman maker, the cost to craft a Falling Fire talisman hovers around forty to fifty spirit fragments.
The Square-faced Shopkeeper quoted a high price of ninety spirit fragments for one stack and seventy for another, solely because the talismans’ superior quality promised a good profit.
Prices for talismans of this caliber are quite transparent, and he dared not undercut them arbitrarily.
Otherwise, Wang Chen could easily seek another buyer.
“I want one hundred spirit fragments…”
Wang Chen stated, “plus seventy spirit fragments for the talismans and Spiritual Ink.”
Out of the two hundred talismans he presented, half were crafted during his mastery of the talisman-making technique, while the other half were produced at a basic level.
As for his advanced creations, Wang Chen intended to reserve them for personal use, planning to sell them later once he had amassed a larger quantity.
Although Wang Chen requested an additional ten spirit fragments, considering that some of the spirit stones would be offset by the talismans and Spiritual Ink, the Square-faced Shopkeeper pondered briefly and agreed.
Both parties were pleased with the deal.
The Square-faced Shopkeeper evidently aimed to foster a strong cooperative relationship with Wang Chen, or more accurately, with the talisman maker behind him, and even threw in a few extra talismans.
He then respectfully escorted Wang Chen out.
Wang Chen was equally content.
Since embarking on Beginner Talisman Making, he had invested just over one hundred spirit stones in gaining experience.
This transaction essentially recouped his initial outlay.
The crucial point was that his skill had advanced, and achieving mastery would not require much more time.
In the future, the costs associated with talisman-making would decrease.
If Wang Chen desired, he could easily amass wealth through his talisman-making technique.
However, this was not Wang Chen’s ultimate ambition.
…
Upon returning home, before even stepping through his door, Wang Chen noticed a carriage parked in front of Old Sun’s house.
People were bustling about, moving items in and out!
What was happening?
Wang Chen paused to consider but ultimately decided to investigate.
He observed that the front door of Old Sun’s house was wide open, with several individuals standing in the courtyard.
There were both adults and children, making the place quite lively.
But Wang Chen did not recognize any of them!
“Who are you looking for?”
At that moment, a middle-aged man noticed him and approached the door to inquire, “Is there something you need?”
Wang Chen bowed slightly and said, “I am a neighbor from the north. Is Old Sun here?”
He had only been away for two days.
How could it seem like Old Sun’s house had changed owners?
“Ah, you mean Old Sun,”
the middle-aged man replied with a smile. “He has transferred all the spirit fields and the house to me.”
Wang Chen was taken aback. “Where did he go?”
“You must be Wang Chen, right?”
The middle-aged man avoided answering directly and instead handed him a letter. “Old Sun asked me to give this to you. He said you’d understand after reading it.”
“Thank you,”
Wang Chen said as he accepted the letter, sealed with wax, and returned home with a mind full of questions.
He even forgot to ask the new neighbor’s name.
Sitting in his room, Wang Chen opened Old Sun’s letter.
In it, Old Sun explained that he had left the Yunyang Sect with his wife and stepson, boarding a flying ship from the Four Seas Trading Association to the Mortal Realm, and that he would never return.
He had renounced his cultivation life and returned to the mundane world!
Wang Chen was utterly shocked. He never expected Old Sun to make such a choice.
He had fled to the Mortal Realm!
It was rare for cultivators to settle in the Mortal Realm; usually, it was mortals who desperately sought entry into the world of cultivation.
For cultivators, the Mortal Realm, devoid of spiritual energy, was nothing short of a desolate and hostile place!
If one had ample spiritual food and elixirs to sustain themselves, the situation might be bearable, at least allowing them to maintain their cultivation level.
But even then, one had to use spells sparingly to avoid excessive depletion.
Without these cultivation resources, a cultivator’s level would plummet rapidly.
In the end, they would become no different from ordinary mortals.
Their lifespan would also drastically shorten.
And Old Sun was no longer young!
In the letter, Old Sun provided a detailed explanation.
He felt that the Yunyang Sect had grown increasingly harsh toward outer sect cultivators, and as a lowly spiritual plant farmer, the burden had become unbearable, leaving him no choice but to leave.
Moreover, his stepson lacked the necessary elements for cultivation, making it impossible for him to pursue the path of immortality.
This was another reason that compelled Old Sun to depart.
However, the final decision stemmed from another matter.
A matter connected to Wang Chen!
Old Sun also expressed his deep gratitude and guilt toward Wang Chen in the letter, saying that he could never repay him in this lifetime and would have to serve him as a servant in the next.
He also cautioned Wang Chen, reminding him that while one may know a person’s face, one cannot truly know their heart!
It was evident that Old Sun was deeply emotional while writing the letter, as his handwriting was quite hurried and messy.
After reading the letter, Wang Chen sat in silence for a long time.
Then, clasping his hands together, he channeled his power and instantly reduced the letter to ashes!
