Chapter 3

Due to the creation of a top-tier talisman, Lu Ping was in high spirits and spent the following month continuously attempting to create more top-tier talismans. Unfortunately, he only succeeded twice, but his success rate in creating high and mid-grade talismans significantly increased.

Early on the last day of the month, Lu Ping carried a package filled with talismans and walked towards the market outside the academy.

With the academy's grand competition approaching, the market was bustling with activity, and even some Foundation Establishment cultivators flew through the sky, drawing envious glances.

Lu Ping paid a spirit stone and found a spot in the market. He put on a mask provided by the market management and opened his package, laying out thirty-six low-grade talismans, thirty-six mid-grade talismans, and six high-grade talismans. Most of the high-grade talismans were auxiliary spells, and Lu Ping was reluctant to part with powerful attack and defense talismans.

As soon as Lu Ping laid out his talismans, they caught the attention of others. Soon, a green-robed cultivator came to inquire about the prices.

"Three low-grade talismans for one spirit stone, one mid-grade talisman for one spirit stone, and one high-grade talisman for three spirit stones," Lu Ping replied in a cold, altered voice.

Ever since a middle-aged talisman maker he met in the market two years ago disappeared without a trace, Lu Ping had been cautious in the market. That cultivator was highly skilled, with the power of the eighth level of Blood Condensation, and was well-known among Blood Condensation cultivators. He had given Lu Ping much guidance, but after accidentally creating a top-tier talisman and letting it slip in the market, Lu Ping never saw him again. His relatives searched for a thousand miles but found no trace of him, dead or alive.

After advancing to the seventh level of Blood Condensation, Lu Ping believed his talisman-making skills surpassed those of the missing cultivator, and he became even more concerned about his own safety.

The green-robed cultivator smiled bitterly and said, "Brother Daoist, aren't these a bit expensive?"

Lu Ping still replied coldly, "The quality of these talismans is superior to others of the same grade."

The green-robed cultivator picked up a mid-grade talisman, felt the spiritual energy within, and said, "Indeed." He wanted to say more but, seeing Lu Ping's cold expression, shook his head and said, "One mid-grade Diamond Talisman, one Golden Sword Talisman, and one Swift Wind Talisman. For the low-grade talismans, I'll take three of each of these three types."

"Six low-grade spirit stones in total," Lu Ping said, inwardly delighted at the good start, but still maintaining a cold demeanor.

The green-robed cultivator reluctantly took out six spirit stones, received twelve talismans from Lu Ping, and was about to leave when he suddenly turned back, gritted his teeth, and said, "One high-grade Ice Spike Talisman! This month's allowance is all for you." He looked as if he was making a big sacrifice.

Lu Ping received nine spirit stones and was naturally pleased.

With the green-robed cultivator leading the way, other cultivators began to buy talismans, two or three at a time. Lu Ping watched his spirit stones pile up and was extremely excited, but he maintained a cold expression.

Among the buyers were several academy students Lu Ping recognized, including the senior disciple Yao Yong and the fourth disciple Shi Lingling from his own squad. They each bought one high-grade talisman, four mid-grade talismans, and several low-grade talismans, leaving Lu Ping speechless. He had thought his allowance as a late-stage Blood Condensation cultivator was already high, but it seemed he couldn't compare to the eighth and ninth-level seniors. Moreover, according to rumors, both of them came from good families with better backgrounds than his own commoner origins.

In just the morning, Lu Ping earned sixty-six low-grade spirit stones, a wealth he had never touched before. He used ten spirit stones to buy talisman paper and spirit ink, and the remaining fifty-plus spirit stones were for preparing for the grand competition.

Lu Ping arrived at a pavilion in the center of the market, the Treasure Pavilion. He had never been here before; it was too expensive! The lowest items sold here were low-grade magical tools that only late-stage Blood Condensation cultivators could barely activate. They mainly catered to Blood Fusion cultivators.

With a nervous heart, Lu Ping entered the Spirit Treasure Pavilion. An elderly man greeted him with a smile and said, "Welcome, young Daoist. What can I do for you?"

Lu Ping calmed himself, bowed to the elder, and said, "Greetings, Senior. I would like to buy an attack magical tool. It's my first time here, so I don't know much. Please guide me, Senior."

It wasn't that Lu Ping was shallow, but he genuinely knew little about this, and the Treasure Pavilion was known for its excellent reputation, even among Blood Condensation cultivators. He sought the elder's advice openly, as pretending to know more would only make the elder unhappy and put him at a disadvantage.

The elder chuckled, clearly satisfied with Lu Ping's response, and said, "This way, young Daoist!"

Lu Ping followed the elder to one side of the first floor, where low-grade magical tools were displayed. The elder selected three tools: a sword, a seal, and a fan, and said, "These three are among the best low-grade magical tools." He looked at Lu Ping and continued, "With your solid foundation, you won't face the same power limitations as other seventh-level Blood Condensation cultivators when using these tools."

When the elder looked at him, Lu Ping felt a chill from head to toe, as if the elder could see through him. Could this be the divine sense of a Blood Fusion cultivator? Lu Ping became even more cautious and respectfully said, "Please guide me further, Senior."

The elder nodded and said, "This sword is called 'Swift Lightning.' It has the lowest attack power among the three but the highest attack speed, making it flexible and versatile, and it requires the least spiritual power. This seal is called 'Mountain Collapse,' with the greatest power but the highest spiritual power requirement."

He looked at Lu Ping and continued, "With your current spiritual power, it should be sufficient. The third tool is called 'Flame Fan,' which can spray a stream of spiritual fire to injure enemies. Its quality is between the other two. Which one do you prefer, young Daoist?"

Lu Ping thought to himself, "I can barely use these tools, so I don't need one that is flexible. I just need one that can injure the enemy in one strike. So, I'll pass on the sword and the fan and choose the 'Mountain Collapse.'"

The elder watched Lu Ping with a smile, and when he saw Lu Ping come to a decision, he asked, "Which one will it be?"

Lu Ping said, "Thank you, Senior. I've made my decision. I'll take the 'Mountain Collapse.' May I ask how much it costs?"

The elder stroked his beard and smiled, "You have good eyes, young Daoist. The 'Mountain Collapse' will serve you well until the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. As it's your first visit to our pavilion, I'll give you a ten percent discount. It will be forty-five spirit stones."

Lu Ping was taken aback. Although it was his first time buying a magical tool, he wasn't unaware of their prices. Ordinary low-grade magical tools usually cost around thirty spirit stones, and a fifty-spirit-stone tool was a first for him. Looking at the elder and recalling the many positive reviews of the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, Lu Ping gritted his teeth and said, "I'll buy it!"

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