Chapter Seventy-Seven: Cooperation

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"Fate Talisman House!"

Zhou Changwang glanced at the shop's signboard and strode straight in.

As his talisman-crafting skills had improved, so too had the probability of him producing high-quality talismans. If he were to hawk his wares in the loose cultivators’ market as before, the commotion he’d cause would surely be considerable.

Last time, he had already attracted the attention of a talisman master from the Rakshasa Gang. He certainly did not wish to draw another Left Talisman Master, or Master Zhang...

For this reason, he had never intended to return to the wandering cultivator market. Instead, he sought to sell his talismans through various small shops.

Fortunately, there were plenty of such shops.

Fate Talisman House was one of them—a talisman shop with a decent reputation among the loose cultivators, known for its reliability.

Rumor had it the shopkeeper himself was an experienced first-grade talisman master. With a few regular collaborating talisman crafters providing a steady supply, he was able to keep the shop running.

Upon entering, Zhou Changwang saw a man of about thirty, scholarly in appearance, carefully cutting talisman paper.

When the shopkeeper noticed Zhou Changwang, he set his work aside and greeted him, "Welcome, fellow cultivator! May I know what kind of talisman you’re seeking today?

All our talismans here brim with spiritual power, at least thirty percent as potent as their spell counterparts. Each is drawn by experienced talisman masters, and we have premium talismans as well, with quality guaranteed."

"Do you also purchase talismans?" Zhou Changwang asked, glancing at the counter. There were actually few talismans on display, but those that were present were of quite high quality. At least one or two qualified as premium talismans, with over forty percent the power of similar spells.

Of course, besides talismans, there were also talisman brushes, paper, ink, and other materials.

There were more than a dozen talisman brushes; any one of them was far superior to the secondhand brush he’d bought from a loose cultivator.

As for talisman paper, there were more than a dozen varieties: common talisman paper, beast-hide talisman paper, white xuan talisman paper... The quality ranged from ordinary to excellent. Even the lowest grade was no worse than the batch Qian Xiaoyue had sold him. The finest could be used for high-grade talismans—even second-grade ones.

The talisman ink was just as well-stocked, enough to meet most talisman masters’ needs.

The shop was small, but the selection was comprehensive.

"Of course we buy talismans.

I didn’t expect you to be a talisman master yourself. How should I address you?" the shopkeeper asked with a respectful nod. "These days, the atmosphere outside is tense, everyone feels insecure, and talismans are selling briskly. Prices have even risen a bit. As long as your talismans meet my standards, I’ll buy as many as you can provide."

"My surname is Zhou.

As for the talismans, would this quality be acceptable to you?" Zhou Changwang responded crisply, retrieving several talismans and handing them over.

These included protective, lightness, fireball, and lightning talismans—all ordinary talismans he had crafted.

As for the premium ones, he naturally wouldn’t offer them up so casually.

"So, Master Zhou it is.

These talismans all radiate strong spiritual power, basically reaching thirty percent the potency of standard spells. Especially these two—such a pity—they fell just short of qualifying as premium talismans... But I must say, the quality is excellent and fully meets our requirements.

If you’re selling talismans of this quality, I’m willing to pay one low-grade spirit stone for every four protective, lightness, or fireball talismans. For lightning talismans, which are much more valuable, one low-grade spirit stone for every three. How does that sound?"

Zhou Changwang made no comment, but reached into his robe and produced another talisman. "And for premium talismans such as this?"

"Naturally, those fetch a much higher price.

Ordinary premium talismans, one low-grade spirit stone per talisman; lightning talismans, two low-grade spirit stones each," the shopkeeper’s eyes gleamed as he replied.

"Alright, let’s do as you say."

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After a brief consideration, Zhou Changwang agreed.

Indeed, the shopkeeper’s prices were more than fair. He had inquired at a few other places before; the best offer he’d received was five talismans for one low-grade spirit stone, with no distinction between types.

Even for a premium talisman, the most he’d been offered was eighty spirit shards.

By comparison, the Fate Talisman House’s shopkeeper was truly conscientious.

Small wonder the shop enjoyed such a good reputation among loose cultivators.

Thus, Zhou Changwang produced about a hundred talismans in total.

Among them were twenty premium talismans, five of which were lightning talismans; the rest were ordinary.

As for more? He did have additional stock, but dared not present too many at once.

A hundred or so could be explained as being saved up over time. Any more would be suspicious.

"Altogether, forty-seven low-grade spirit stones," said the shopkeeper, handing the stones to Zhou Changwang before suddenly asking, "Master Zhou, would you be interested in establishing a regular partnership with us?"

"If you work with our shop, for ordinary talismans we can raise our offer to one low-grade spirit stone for every three. For powerful talismans like the lightning talisman, one low-grade spirit stone for every two.

As for premium talismans, we’ll buy them at a fair price.

For example, we sell a premium fireball talisman here for one hundred and fifty spirit shards. The lowest bargaining price is one hundred and twenty shards, and that’s what we’d pay you for each one you sell us.

Should you wish to purchase other talismans, we’ll sell them to you at cost price.

Even if you buy talisman paper, brushes, or ink from us, you’ll get our lowest rates. You’ll never be shortchanged—what do you think?"

The shopkeeper, Wei Xingyuan, pressed his offer.

After a moment’s thought, Zhou Changwang agreed. There was no downside for him; each talisman he drew would earn him more profit—why not?

To seal the arrangement, Wei Xingyuan immediately added twelve low-grade spirit stones to make up the difference for this transaction at the partnership rate.

Naturally, Zhou Changwang declined the stones and exchanged them for talisman paper, ink, and other supplies instead.

Finally, they agreed to conduct business every half a month, and Zhou Changwang departed.

Leaving the Fate Talisman House, he didn’t head straight home, but wandered through several more streets, selling his talismans one by one to various other shops.

Of course, the prices there were somewhat lower.

He didn’t mind; others might make a hefty profit, but he would never lose.

In the end, tallying up his earnings, his supply of spirit stones was replenished, totaling three hundred low-grade spirit stones.

"It seems, after all, that talisman crafting is the most lucrative.

Farming is decent, but the time cost is simply too high," Zhou Changwang concluded after some silent comparison.

Of course, this was due to his attribute panel, which gave him an extremely high success rate. Ordinary talisman masters couldn’t make such easy profits.

In fact, selling so many talismans at once did entail some risk. If someone took notice, it could become a major problem.

For this reason, although he knew how profitable talisman crafting was, he would never give up farming.

Not to mention, he still had the Thunder Spirit Rice.

That rare spiritual crop was simply irreplaceable, beyond the reach of even vast wealth.

Before long, Zhou Changwang found himself at the Six Directions Pavilion.

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After a moment’s thought, Zhou Changwang stepped inside.

"Welcome, fellow cultivator. I am Xiaowei..."

Hardly had he entered when a graceful female cultivator came forward to greet him.

It was a coincidence—it was the same woman who had received him before and later helped Qian Xiaoyue move house: Lu Weier.

She recognized Zhou Changwang at once and said directly, "You’re here to see Xiaoyue?"

When Zhou Changwang nodded, she didn’t make things difficult, only remarking, "At least you have some conscience. She didn’t come in today—she’s at the little courtyard."

After a pause, she added, "Wait here for a moment. I’ll take you there."

With that, she asked the manager at Six Directions Pavilion for leave, then led Zhou Changwang out.

"Has something happened to Xiaoyue?"

He had sensed something amiss in Lu Weier’s tone and couldn’t help but ask.

"It’s nothing of the sort," Lu Weier shook her head, then continued, "Actually, I think it’s a good thing, but she’s a bit stubborn. And I think she has some special feelings for you. Last time she even went all the way to the outskirts of the bazaar to look for you. When she couldn’t find you, she worried for quite a while. If you could talk some sense into her, it would be for the best."

"So what exactly happened?" Zhou Changwang still didn’t understand.

He was surprised to hear she had come looking for him.

He thought back—he really hadn’t left the new courtyard’s address, but then, she had left in such a hurry last time that there hadn’t been time to say anything.

"Wasn’t Xiaoyue working under Alchemist Tao?

Some time ago, an Alchemist Shen came to visit. He saw Xiaoyue and, for some reason, took a fancy to her and wants to make her his concubine.

Xiaoyue refused. Alchemist Tao tried to persuade her, but Alchemist Shen kept coming back every few days... Today, hearing that Alchemist Shen was coming again, Xiaoyue just avoided the shop and stayed away."

As she spoke, Lu Weier sounded somewhat exasperated, sighing softly, "Actually, Alchemist Shen isn’t bad. He’s only in his thirties and already a first-grade junior alchemist, able to make healing and nourishing pills—a bright future ahead.

Though he’s already married, offering Xiaoyue the position of concubine is already generous. For us female cultivators, life in the cultivation world is hard. Relying on ourselves, it’s nearly impossible to reach Foundation Establishment, let alone become high-level cultivators. Having an alchemist to rely on is a blessing most could only dream of..."

"I think such matters should be left to Xiaoyue’s own wishes.

What you value, Miss Lu, may not be what others seek," Zhou Changwang said after a thoughtful pause, shaking his head.

In his eyes, Qian Xiaoyue had always been a diligent, optimistic, and resilient cultivator with her own cultivation goals.

When faced with danger, she had never tried to run or hide, but always found her own way to cope.

Her looks, while not breathtaking, were delicate and charming—if she were willing to settle in marriage, she would not have waited until now.

Many had come forward, even those at mid- or late-stage Qi Refining, offering proper marriage, not mere concubinage.

Yet Qian Xiaoyue had refused them all.

In his heart, Zhou Changwang did not believe a first-grade junior alchemist was worthy of her—let alone if he only offered the status of concubine.

(End of this chapter)