Chapter 27: Niutou Mountain!
Several days later.
Ruyi Restaurant.
“Hong Xiong, I’ve found out that there’s a Loose Cultivator gathering and trade fair happening at Niu Tou Mountain, about three hundred li outside Ruyi County. It should last for another five or six days.”
“If you want to attend, take this Communication Talisman. When you reach Niu Tou Mountain, use it, and someone will open the Formation and let you in.”
Hong Yi knocked on the door and said to Lu Changsheng.
As he spoke, he took out a brownish-yellow Talisman.
“Thank you, Hong Xiong. This must have cost you something. These few Talismans are ones I drew myself; consider them a token of my gratitude.”
Lu Changsheng took out three Low-Grade First-Order Talismans and handed them to Hong Yi, saying this.
This Communication Talisman was a basic Talisman and not very valuable.
However, the other party helped him gather information and obtain this, which must have taken some effort.
In terms of social etiquette, he naturally wouldn’t let anyone suffer a loss.
Moreover, Hong Yi held a considerable position in the mundane world, and he was willing to maintain this connection.
Perhaps his children would need Hong Yi’s help if they settled in the mundane world in the future.
Hong Yi’s eyes lit up when he saw Lu Changsheng’s three Talismans.
But he still waved his hand and said, “Lu Xiong, you’re too polite. This didn’t cost much; you really shouldn’t.”
“If Hong Xiong is so polite, how could I possibly ask for your help in the future?”
Lu Changsheng said this, placing the Talismans in Hong Yi’s hand.
“In that case, I won’t be overly modest!”
Seeing this, Hong Yi didn’t decline and accepted the Talismans.
Then he cupped his hands and said, “Lu Xiong, I, Hong Yi, still have some connections in this Ruyi County. If you need anything in the future, just say the word.”
Now that Lu Changsheng had become a Talisman Master and was so generous, Hong Yi was naturally very willing to foster a good relationship with Lu Changsheng.
“Alright, if anything comes up in the future, I certainly won’t be polite.”
Lu Changsheng cupped his hands.
“Oh, right, Lu Xiong, if you’re going to attend such a gathering, you need to be careful.”
“These Loose Cultivator gathering places are a mixed bag, and without a Great Cultivator to oversee them, there are often rogue Cultivators who attack lone Cultivators.”
“If Lu Xiong is going to sell Talismans, and if the quantity isn’t too much, I can represent the Ruyi Marquis Manor and trade with Lu Xiong, taking all of them.”
Seeing Lu Changsheng immediately offer three Talismans, Hong Yi guessed that Lu Changsheng probably had quite a few Talismans and might be going to sell them, so he spoke up.
Most of the upper-class individuals in the mundane world knew about Cultivation channels and would Cultivate.
The Ruyi Marquis Manor was like this; he wasn’t the only Cultivator.
However, they were all Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators, only slightly better than ordinary Loose Cultivators.
Naturally, there was a demand for common items like Talismans.
However, if he wanted to buy Low Grade Talismans, he could still get them.
Buying from Lu Changsheng wasn’t for the sake of a bargain.
Rather, it was a way to deepen their relationship and communication.
Lu Changsheng was currently a First-Order Low-Grade Talisman Master.
In the future, even if he didn’t become a Second-Order Talisman Master, there was a good chance he could become a First-Order High Grade Talisman Master.
Once he could draw First-Order High-Grade Talismans, things would be different.
Befriending a First-Order High Grade Talisman Master and having a stable source of Talismans would also help his position in the Ruyi Marquis Manor.
If their relationship improved in the future and Lu Changsheng could provide him with a large quantity of Talismans at a price lower than the market rate, he would make a huge profit.
Perhaps he could even contend for the position of heir to the Ruyi Marquis Manor.
“Thank you for your concern, Hong Xiong. I’ll be careful.”
“I don’t have many Talismans; they’re mainly for my own self-defense. If Hong Xiong needs them, I could sell some to you at a discounted price.”
Lu Changsheng smiled and took out ten Low-Grade First-Order Talismans.
When he revealed himself as a First-Order Talisman Master in the Lu family, he had already accumulated nearly five hundred Talismans.
And in the past six months, with the Lu family providing Materials each month, he had accumulated another five hundred or so Talismans.
In other words, he now had nearly a thousand Talismans on him.
An incredibly astonishing number.
Among these Talismans, roughly half were Low Grade and half were Medium Grade.
If converted into Spirit Stones, it would be two to three thousand Spirit Stones.
However, one should not flaunt their wealth, so he naturally wouldn’t reveal such things.
If Hong Yi wanted some, he was willing to sell a few at a low price.
Because Lu Changsheng himself knew that it would be impossible to sell nearly a thousand Talismans at such a Loose Cultivator trade fair.
He wouldn’t dare to do so either.
“How could I impose? The market price will do.”
Hong Yi said this.
He wouldn’t try to take a small advantage right from the start.
“Hong Xiong, take a look at these Talismans and see if you can use them.”
Lu Changsheng handed the Talismans in his hand to Hong Yi.
“I didn’t expect Lu Xiong to be able to draw Spring Return Talismans!? It seems Lu Xiong has hope of becoming a Middle-Grade Talisman Master soon!”
Hong Yi said in surprise when he saw one of the Talismans.
Although he didn’t understand how to draw Talismans, he knew their prices.
For example, a Low-Grade First-Order Talisman, depending on its difficulty, cost between 1 and 2 Spirit Stones.
And the Spring Return Talisman was a Low Grade Talisman worth two Spirit Stones, and its drawing difficulty was higher.
“I only managed to draw a few with great effort.”
Lu Changsheng waved his hand and said.
Considering the aspect of making money, most of the Low-Grade First-Order Talismans he had were those with higher difficulty.
“I’ll take all these Talismans, but I don’t have that many Spirit Stones on me right now. I’ll have to go back and get Spirit Stones from my father before I can trade with Lu Xiong.”
Hong Yi said, a little embarrassed.
Although he was the son of the Ruyi Marquis, he didn’t have many Spirit Stones.
Plus, he usually had to Cultivate, so he couldn’t save up Spirit Stones.
“There’s no rush. Hong Xiong, take these Talismans for now. I plan to ride a horse to Niu Tou Mountain for the trade fair and visit my home along the way.”
“The Spirit Beast will temporarily stay with Hong Xiong; I’ll have to come back for it later.”
Lu Changsheng said generously.
He wasn’t afraid that Hong Yi would fall out with him over these few Talismans.
If the other party truly did that, he would consider it a way to recognize someone using these Talismans.
“Then thank you, Lu Xiong. Don’t worry, I’ll have someone take good care of the Spirit Beast.”
Hong Yi cupped his hands and said.
If he took these Talismans back without spending money, his father would be more likely to believe that his friendship with Lu Changsheng, this Talisman Master, was extraordinary.
“I’ll trouble Hong Xiong then.”
Lu Changsheng slightly cupped his hands, then requested a horse and rode it towards Niu Tou Mountain in Nanyou Prefecture.
He didn’t have a Storage Pouch, and he wasn’t sure if he could ride a Spirit Beast into Niu Tou Mountain.
To avoid such trouble, he simply rode a horse; he wouldn’t feel bad if he lost it.
Having ridden Spirit Beasts for so long and now being a Cultivator, riding a horse was no longer difficult for him.
The next day, as the light of dawn was still cool.
Lu Changsheng rode his horse from Ruyi County City to Niu Tou Mountain.
He first found a farmhouse at the foot of the mountain to leave his horse.
Then he went up the mountain alone, arrived at an uninhabited place, and put on the pre-purchased human skin mask from his Storage Pouch.
Immediately, his handsome face transformed into that of a sallow-skinned, somewhat dull young man.
Immediately after, he took out a large black hooded cloak and draped it over himself.
With the hood on, not only his entire body but also his face and hair were completely covered, making it impossible for anyone to see his appearance.
After doing all this, Lu Changsheng continued up the mountain and arrived at a slope on the north side of Niu Tou Mountain.
According to the villagers, this slope was covered in white mist year-round, but Lu Changsheng, through his Spiritual Eye technique, saw faint Spiritual Qi fluctuations and immediately knew it was a Formation.
“This should be it.”
Lu Changsheng looked at the mist before him, knowing this was his destination.
He took out the Communication Talisman Hong Yi had given him and activated it with Spiritual Qi.
Immediately, the Talisman flew out of his hand, rushed into the mist on the small slope, and disappeared.
Lu Changsheng waited calmly for the time it takes to steep a cup of tea, only to see the mist before him churn and part, revealing a very narrow, seemingly endless forest path.
After observing the path for a moment, Lu Changsheng stepped in.