Chapter 88: The Five-Transforming Umbrella

"Really, this is the lowest price. You know the price of gold. Why don't you take a look at the other two defensive magical artifacts? They are also works of two alchemists I know, and the prices are a bit cheaper."

Wu Wan took out two printed documents, which were his appraisal certificates. The images and functions of the two magical artifacts were clearly written on them.

Chen Mobai glanced at them. One was a long-sleeved magical robe, and the other was an umbrella.

The long-sleeved magical robe had better defensive effects than the helmet, but it didn't enhance spiritual awareness. The price was 89,000 merit points.

The wooden umbrella, on the other hand, was the cheapest, costing only 75,000 merit points. Its defensive power wasn't low, but it had high requirements for the user, as it needed to be opened each time for defense.

However, once the umbrella was opened, it would continuously draw the user's spiritual energy, so it needed to be closed when not in use.

Chen Mobai felt it was very suitable for him. Besides the reasonable price, he was skilled in manipulation, and the style of this magical artifact matched the天河界 (Tianhe World) better. Wu Wan's golden helmet was too conspicuous.

"Is this umbrella from the same city, or from the Weiyu Grotto Heaven?"

"From the same city."

"Then I'll take this one. Where is it? We'll take a taxi there, and I need it right away."

Chen Mobai's urgent attitude made Wu Wan pause, but since he was willing to pay for the taxi, he had no objections.

"It's a student's work from the Danzhu Academy. The umbrella handle and frame are made from a first-stage phoenix tree, and the umbrella surface is made from first-stage talisman paper."

"Calling it a magical artifact is a bit of a stretch; it's more like a talisman device."

"The umbrella surface has five defensive talismans drawn on it, theoretically capable of defending against elemental magic attacks. However, after my verification, it can only withstand attacks from late-stage Qi Cultivation practitioners."

While waiting for the taxi, they discussed the pros and cons of the magical artifact.

Although Wu Wan didn't sell his own magical artifact, he was still happy because the wooden umbrella was listed in his online store, and he could take a commission.

"This student is quite creative. The concept of the Five-Transforming Umbrella is excellent, aiming to neutralize all elemental magic. Unfortunately, it's broad but not deep. It can resist elemental magic from cultivators below the seventh level of Qi Cultivation, but once that limit is exceeded, the defensive talismans will immediately lose balance."

"But this wooden umbrella has a hidden feature. After the defensive talismans fail, you can find a talisman master to redraw the talismans you want, converting it into an offensive tool."

"Of course, I won't write this in the certification. If the law enforcement department comes knocking, I'll definitely say it was an illegal modification by the buyer."

Wu Wan's guidance opened Chen Mobai's eyes, and he was deeply impressed by the concept of the "Five-Transforming Umbrella."

This magical artifact was half-talisman, and its usage could be changed by replacing the umbrella surface and the talismans drawn on it. Such ingenuity was something Chen Mobai would never have thought of without guidance.

Spending 260 merit points on a taxi, they arrived at the Danzhu Academy. The student, who had been notified by Wu Wan, was already waiting at the gate.

They introduced themselves.

"Kuang Jingsheng, a sophomore student."

"Chen Mobai, an ordinary person."

Kuang Jingsheng was a young man with thick eyebrows and big eyes, not very talkative. When he took out the wooden talisman umbrella, he seemed a bit reluctant to part with it.

After adding each other as friends, Chen Mobai immediately paid the merit points to Wu Wan's store in front of him, then took the wooden umbrella and left. As for how Wu Wan and Kuang Jingsheng would settle their accounts, that was none of his business.

His only requirement was to get the points, so he paid an additional 3,750 merit points in taxes.

Even if the Immortal Sect Tax Bureau investigated, he had paid the money, and the procedures were all proper, so he had nothing to worry about. Even if Wu Wan got into trouble over taxes, he would be in the clear.

Chen Mobai took another taxi back home, then teleported to Qingguang Island, arriving just in time, with about an hour to spare.

Kuang Jingsheng had also provided a long cloth bag for the wooden umbrella, and he said that if there were any issues in the future, Chen Mobai could contact him for repairs. After their initial interaction, Chen Mobai felt that this person was quite nice and could be considered for long-term cooperation.

He put the wooden umbrella into the cloth bag, which had a string that could be tied to his belt.

Chen Mobai also attached his needle box to his left wrist and carried a backpack filled with over 200 talismans, fully equipped, he arrived at the office hall of Manager Wang, where he had initially rented the wooden house, a familiar place.

When he arrived, he was a bit late, and everyone was waiting for him.

"Sorry, I bought some magical artifacts and talismans from a few friends, which took some time."

Chen Mobai immediately apologized. Seeing him fully equipped, the originally impatient independent cultivators calmed down, as the better-equipped his companions were, the safer it was for them.

"Brother Chen, our team of twenty-eight cultivators needs to guard a node of the 'Heavenly Wood Divine Light Array.' Here are the basic details."

Manager Wang handed a small booklet to Chen Mobai, then patted a green cloth bag at his waist, and a floating flying boat appeared before everyone.

"It's actually a storage bag!"

A female cultivator recognized the green cloth bag at Manager Wang's waist and was greatly surprised.

After all, even the smallest storage bag required 100 spirit stones. Manager Wang's storage bag could hold a twenty-meter-long flying boat, which was probably worth as much as a Foundation Establishment Pill.

"This is a special storage bag used by the sect to transport large quantities of goods. Uncle Zheng gave me one. The daily spirit stone supply for all of you is also in here."

Manager Wang patted the storage bag at his waist with a smile, but his words made a few independent cultivators look tempted.

However, in the team, besides Manager Wang, a ninth-level Qi Cultivation practitioner, there were four late-stage Qi Cultivation practitioners from the Divine Wood Sect, who could easily control the situation, so no one dared to have any ulterior motives.

But the temptation was unavoidable.

Chen Mobai calculated that in this team of twenty-eight cultivators, besides the five Divine Wood Sect disciples, the rest were independent cultivators, including himself, four late-stage Qi Cultivation, seven mid-stage Qi Cultivation, and twelve early-stage Qi Cultivation.

Just the daily spirit stone cost for hiring them was 46 spirit stones. In a typical demon beast attack, they would need to hold out for at least a month, meaning there were at least a thousand spirit stones in the storage bag.

Such wealth was no wonder the independent cultivators were tempted.

Under Manager Wang's command, they boarded the flying boat. With the generous use of spirit stones, it only took a few moments to reach the location of the array flag they needed to guard.

It was on a cliff by the shore, surrounded by green stones, forming a ten-meter-diameter area, with a bare tree planted in the middle.

After reading the booklet, Chen Mobai knew this was the array flag.

The "Heavenly Wood Divine Light Array" was the most famous array of the Divine Wood Sect. With the support of countless spirit trees in the Great Tree Ridge, where the sect's headquarters was located, even a Nascent Soul Ancestor would not dare to easily intrude.

On Qingguang Island, the Divine Wood Sect had transplanted 36 spirit trees from the Great Tree Ridge, and at their peak, they could reach the third stage.

This was why the Divine Wood Sect disciples and independent cultivators had confidence in defending the island.

"Here they come!"