Chapter 10

"Since this stone is of no use to my master, I don't know what it's for. If you find it useful, keep it; if not, throw it away, and don't dwell on it!"

These simple words dispelled Ding Ning's doubts.

It must have been something the master discovered by chance, finding it unusual and leaving it for Ding Ning, even though the master himself didn't know what the stone was for.

Ding Ning got his answer, tidied up the items, and since the master was no longer there, he locked the door of the Guandi Temple and returned to the spirit spot.

Perhaps the master would return in three to five days, Ding Ning silently told himself.

After two more days of cultivation, with the spirit energy in the spirit spot largely depleted, Ding Ning finally advanced from the middle stage of the first level to the late stage.

After breaking through in the morning, Ding Ning was initially overjoyed, but then realized that cultivators should not experience extreme joy or sorrow, so he worked hard to calm his mind. Once fully recovered, he wrote the character "静" (calm).

As Ding Ning put down the final stroke, his somewhat agitated heart had completely calmed down.

It wasn't that the surroundings had become quiet, but rather that his heart had become calm, a profound inner tranquility!

The "静" (calm) talisman and the "镇" (stabilize) talisman belong to the same level of talismans, but because Ding Ning's mindset was particularly good when he wrote this talisman, its effect was slightly better. As long as the person viewing it wasn't more advanced in cultivation than Ding Ning, it would have a calming effect, and they didn't even need to crush it to benefit.

Ding Ning was very satisfied with writing such a talisman. With three talismans, he felt he was ready to sell them.

For the rest of the day, Ding Ning wrote talismans near the spirit spot. Having reached the late stage of the first level, the recovery speed of his primordial energy increased, allowing him to write five talismans at a time, with a higher success rate.

By the time the spirit energy in the spirit spot was completely depleted, Ding Ning had accumulated thirteen "泉" (spring) talismans, six "镇" (stabilize) talismans, and five "静" (calm) talismans.

After the spirit energy in the spirit spot was exhausted, Ding Ning stopped, feeling a mix of joy and unease. He held the spirit stone in his hand, forcibly suppressing the urge to immediately break through to the peak of the first level.

Using this spirit stone to circulate his energy once would deplete the stored spirit energy, which would be enough to push Ding Ning to the peak of the first level, but he didn't want to do that yet.

Compared to reaching the peak of the first level, smoothly advancing to the second level was more important, so he decided to wait until he reached the peak before using it.

In contrast to the progress in his cultivation level, Ding Ning felt his divine sense was too weak.

In essence, divine sense is mental strength. Ding Ning had gained a bit of mental strength by giving a yuan to Dian Dian, but it was very weak.

Others' divine sense strengthens as their cultivation level improves, but his was different. The divine sense of the path of the Wealth God is gained through spending money, which made Ding Ning quite frustrated.

Perhaps he was afraid of being poor, or perhaps his love for money had increased after cultivating the path of the Wealth God, but Ding Ning was extremely resistant to the idea of spending money.

"Does the Wealth God have to be a money lover? And even have to give away the money he earns? This is too painful."

Ding Ning muttered helplessly. With the spirit energy in the spirit spot now depleted, he knew it was time to leave.

Before returning home, Ding Ning went back to the Guandi Temple to check. He found the temple door still closed, and his master had not returned.

"Three to five days, and it's been exactly three days, but he still hasn't come back."

Ding Ning's unease grew. With no spirit energy left in the spirit spot, he planned to go out and sell talismans and couldn't search for his master for the time being.

"I'll go to the city to sell talismans first. Maybe when I come back, my master will already be here."

He cleaned the Guandi Temple and organized everything neatly, hoping his master would be pleased upon seeing it. Satisfied, Ding Ning left the temple and returned home.

His master might know a little about his activities, but his mother definitely didn't, and he didn't want to worry her by telling her.

However, with only a few days left before the end of the summer vacation, Ding Ning needed a reason to go out.

He had already thought of a reason.

"What? You're going to the city to sell these Chinese knots?"

"Yes, Mom, we have to sell these Chinese knots, or I won't be able to pay for my tuition."

"But your health?"

"It's fine, Mom. Haven't you noticed I'm a bit thinner? My heart feels much better. As long as I don't do anything too strenuous, it should be fine."

Thirteen Niang looked at her son with concern. Although his health had improved and he did look thinner, she was still worried.

"As for Aunt Wu, you don't need to worry. She said our Chinese knots won't sell, but Mom, your hands are so skilled. Our Chinese knots are the best."

Seeing that his mother was still hesitant, Ding Ning moved closer to her, put his arm around her thin shoulders, and pressed his face against hers, then picked up one of her small hands: "Look at Mom's hands. If people knew these Chinese knots were made by such beautiful hands, they would be疯抢 (crazy to buy)."

"Go away, you naughty child, teasing your mother."

Thirteen Niang laughed and playfully hit her son. She enjoyed his affection, and he was her only hope.

"Then, how many of these Chinese knots can you sell, and how long will it take?"

"It's hard to say, but I estimate it will take no more than five days, and at least three. Don't worry, Mom, I'll definitely be back within five days."

Thirteen Niang nodded. It was a necessary step, but she was still worried about her son going to the city. Hearing his promise to return within five days, she felt a bit more at ease.

With his mother's approval, Ding Ning immediately started packing.

He kept his writing brush, talismans, and spirit stone close to him, then prepared two large woven bags, filling them with several hundred Chinese knots, emptying the stock at home.

Together, mother and son carried the Chinese knots to the bus stop in the village.

Qingshan Village had a bus service to the county town. A white minibus arrived, and Ding Ning loaded his things onto the bus, then waved goodbye to his mother.

The two bags of Chinese knots cost an extra bus ticket, and Ding Ning had over a hundred yuan from his mother for travel and food expenses.

At the county bus station, he had to transfer, spending another two bus tickets. After nearly three hours of travel, the bus finally arrived in the city.

Ding Ning got off at the Tianqiao Market.

Tianqiao Market was a bustling area in the city, close to both the train station and the bus station. However, it wasn't a large mall but a vast area of miscellaneous stalls, selling all kinds of goods, a mixed and chaotic place.

Ding Ning had already decided to come here because talismans couldn't be sold in proper places; only in the most chaotic areas was there a chance to sell them.

Upon arriving at Tianqiao Market, Ding Ning carried the two large bags and walked into the market, looking for a place to temporarily stay, as carrying the bags was very inconvenient.

He soon found a garden inn with a small sign, located in a small alley, giving it a somewhat shady feel.

Ding Ning didn't care and went in, haggling with the innkeeper and renting a small room for 30 yuan a day.

He dragged the two large bags inside and put them down, feeling his heart beating too fast. He didn't dare to move recklessly, as a heart problem while away from home could be dangerous without immediate help.

After resting for a while, once his heart had calmed down, Ding Ning put several dozen Chinese knots into a prepared bag and left the inn.

As he walked deeper into Tianqiao Market, the goods became more varied.

Antiques, calligraphy, flowers, birds, fish, and even people selling large dogs and cattle and sheep.

Ding Ning walked for a while and saw a knife vendor packing up to leave. He quickly approached and took over the spot.

Several people were browsing nearby and gathered around when they saw Ding Ning setting up his stall.

Ding Ning wasn't in a hurry. He first put on a pair of sunglasses and a hat, making it hard for familiar people to recognize him.

He took out the Chinese knots, a total of 45, and arranged them in three stacks of 15 each.

Someone immediately laughed: "Little fatty, you've brought your stuff to the wrong place. These Chinese knots might sell in the handicraft area, but here in the antique and miscellaneous goods area, no one cares about them!"

Ding Ning ignored him. After arranging the Chinese knots, he took out three prepared talismans from his waist and placed one on each stack.

"Wow! A talisman seller, let's see."

When the people saw the yellow talismans, they immediately became interested, and several gathered around.