Junior sister, I really need to control you

"Fellow Daoist, are you familiar with the Jade Altar Temple?"

This sentence confirmed to Li Yinsheng that this person was not a shill.

Yutan Temple doesn't need shills to do business with formations.

Yutan Temple is recognized as the Taoist temple most skilled in formations under the Zhengyang lineage.

In the art of array formations, the Jade Altar Temple holds a similar position to the Forging Furnace Temple, which he visited previously.

The difference is that although Zhulu Temple is recognized as the best Taoist temple for weapon crafting under the lineage, Bifeng Temple is still slightly inferior in weapon crafting and relentlessly pursues it.

Yutan Temple holds an unparalleled position in the field of formations.

If the Seven Star Temple, second only to the most skilled in formations, is a fierce tiger, then the Jade Altar Temple is a Tiger tank.

It is said that when the Zhengyang lineage fought against a certain demonic sect in the past, the formations of the Jade Altar Temple were repeatedly successful. Even the True Persons of the demonic sect had been trapped and killed in succession, and countless demonic sons and grandsons died in the process.

However, unlike the Zhulu Temple which opens its doors to business, the Yutan Temple does not receive all guests.

Yutan Temple, adhering to the principle of striving for excellence, has a small number of disciples, but their mastery of formations is superb, so they receive far fewer orders than other Taoist temples specializing in formations.

Many people want to buy or customize formations from Yutan Temple, but without an introduction from an acquaintance, Yutan Temple basically does not accept orders.

Their reasons are also quite valid—

I'm sorry, our Taoist temple is small and we have few disciples. It's not that we don't want to do business with you, it's just that we're really too busy.

Upon hearing the middle-aged cultivator in front of him mention the Jade Altar Temple, Li Yinsheng immediately perked up and cupped his hands, saying, "The name of the Jade Altar Temple is known to few in the Zhengyang lineage. Fellow Daoist, do you have any inside information to share?"

"It seems this young fellow Daoist is aware of the reputation and style of the Jade Altar Temple, so I won't waste any more words."

The middle-aged cultivator walked from behind the table to Li Yinsheng's side, looked around, and made sure there were no other cultivators nearby before speaking in a low voice.

"Those aloof array masters at Yutan Temple seem to be short of money lately. As long as someone goes to their shop to buy arrays, they will accept the order regardless of whether there is an acquaintance or not."

"Those array masters inside, who used to wish they could rest for a month after completing one array, are now working non-stop, taking on the next job as soon as they finish one!"

"Is...is this really true?"

Li Yinsheng was taken aback, his first reaction being disbelief: "If this is true, why hasn't it spread yet?"

"Sigh, we have to thank the people of Yutan Temple for being so aloof. Although they secretly lifted the rule of not accepting orders without a referral from an acquaintance, they are unwilling to promote it actively, probably because they think it would lower their status."

"Over the years, the rules and aloofness of the Jade Altar Temple have become well-known. No one would go looking for trouble without an introduction," the middle-aged cultivator said with a smile.

"However, there are advantages to being aloof. Although they have opened up to accepting orders, the quality of their formations remains as good as ever, without any decline, and they have not raised prices either."

"Has this matter not spread yet?" Li Yinsheng asked.

"Hehe, with such a good opportunity to take advantage, who would actively spread the word? If the threshold of Yutan Temple is worn down by people, then we won't be able to buy the formation again, will we?"

The middle-aged cultivator said, "If I hadn't seen you as an honest and kind person, I would never have told you this."

"However, nothing stays hidden forever. I reckon that after a while, the news will eventually spread. If you want to buy an array, you'd better go soon."

Li Yinsheng cupped his hands again: "Thank you for telling me, fellow Daoist. I will remember this favor."

He didn't completely believe what the other person said, but going to the shop at Yutan Temple was free.

At most, you'll just be played for a fool, and they still won't take your order.

After exchanging a few more words, Li Yinsheng, with his mind focused on the formation, took his leave.

The middle-aged cultivator didn't insist on keeping him, but simply told Li Yinsheng that he was a Taoist priest from Huangzhu Temple named Qi Jiushan, and that he could come back to see his talismans when he had time, as he guaranteed they would be better than what he was drawing now.

Li Yinsheng muttered "definitely, definitely," then bowed and left.

Even as he left, he couldn't bring himself to tell the middle-aged Taoist priest one thing.

He always felt that those talismans looked like children's comic books.

……

After bidding farewell to the overly familiar middle-aged Taoist priest, Li Yinsheng arrived at the shop of Yutan Temple.

Looking at the shop in front of him, Li Yinsheng adjusted his straw hat.

It was completely different from the shop at the casting furnace temple.

The shops at Yutan Temple were completely undecorated, consisting of nothing more than plain wooden walls and doors.

The plaque is a wooden board that looks like a floorboard cut off, and the words on it are not even carved, but written with a large brush: "Yutan Temple".

However, at least the handwriting is strong and elegant.

Moreover, unlike the female manager of the Zhulu Temple who would come to greet guests at the door as soon as they saw them.

Although the shop at Yutan Temple was open, and there were groups of young cultivators inside chatting, meditating, or studying array diagrams, none of them paid any attention to Li Yinsheng at the door.

It was as if there was no one at the door at all.

Li Yinsheng thought to himself, "This is ridiculous."

The fact that their business is still thriving at this level shows how incredibly skilled these people are.

He stepped into the shop, but no one paid him any attention. Only the female shopkeeper, who was sitting behind the counter looking at the array diagrams, looked up at him.

The shopkeeper looked to be only twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with fair skin, a long neck, and a delicate face without makeup or expression.

"Shopkeeper, I'll take care of it..." Li Yinsheng said, bowing slightly.

"Go to the shelf on the left to buy formations," the female shopkeeper interrupted rudely. "We have all the common formations, and the prices are uniformly 20% to 30% higher than at Seven Star Temple, but it's worth the extra cost. Take it or leave it..."

Li Yinsheng's brows furrowed slightly beneath his straw hat—no matter how skilled he was, he couldn't do business with this attitude, could he?

"The same formation will be at least 50% more effective than the Seven Star Temple formation. If it is less than 50%, we will refund the money you paid for the formation. We will only refund the money; you can keep the formation yourself."

"If it is found that the array materials are not the best materials of the same specifications on the market, or if any inferior materials are used, we will replace the array free of charge and compensate you with double the amount of the talisman."

"If the formation develops problems within twenty years without being damaged in combat, we will replace it with a new formation free of charge and compensate you with five times the amount of talisman money."

"If any unmarked defects are found in the formation itself, we will compensate you ten times the amount of the talisman, and you can choose any three formations from all the formations on the shelf."

The female shopkeeper, with a cold face, finished speaking the rest of the content in rapid succession.

Li Yinsheng's furrowed brows quietly relaxed.

That's how business should be done!

“Ahem, shopkeeper,” Li Yinsheng took a few steps closer and said, “I don’t want to buy an array, I want to customize a small spirit refining array.”

Upon hearing that they had come to customize a magic array, the female shopkeeper's usually indifferent expression finally softened slightly.

"Custom-made small-scale spirit refining arrays have different prices depending on the type of special spirit essence they produce. What type of special spirit essence do you want?"

"The best cultivation methods to accelerate progress are those that are balanced and harmonious," Li Yinsheng said.

"Then let's use the Transparent Spirit Refining Array," the female shopkeeper said without hesitation.

"The spiritual essence refined in this array is called 'Clarity Spiritual Essence,' which is most suitable for assisting in the cultivation of balanced and peaceful techniques. It can also clear the mind and slightly reduce the mental strain during cultivation."

Li Yinsheng nodded: "Then the price and the time required to build the formation..."

"It will take seven days. Including the cost of materials and the array master's fee, it will cost a total of 120,000 talismans. If you pay on credit, the interest will be 1,000 talismans per month," the female shopkeeper said.

“120,000 is indeed quite fair, given the reputation of Yutan Temple,” Li Yinsheng nodded.

"Hmm." The female shopkeeper nodded indifferently, acknowledging Li Yinsheng's statement. "Borrowing on credit or full payment? When will it be built? Where will it be built?"

"If it's on credit, do I need to pay a deposit? How much is the deposit?" Li Yinsheng asked.

"Thirty thousand talisman coins," the female shopkeeper said.

Li Yinsheng walked to the counter and tried to sound as sincere as possible: "Shopkeeper, I don't have that much deposit on hand right now. Could you lower the deposit amount? Of course, the total price will remain the same."

"No price reduction." The female shopkeeper coldly refused. "If you don't have the money, come back when you've raised it."

Li Yinsheng sighed.

Judging from the other party's attitude, it seems that negotiations will indeed be difficult.

The shops at Yutan Temple don't look like places for business at all.

Moreover, for such indifferent people, it would probably be ineffective to try to reason with the shopkeeper with sincerity, as was done at the Forging Furnace Temple before.

Fortunately, the deposit was only 20,000 talismans short, which wasn't too difficult to obtain and wouldn't take much time.

Thinking of this, Li Yinsheng didn't want to waste any more time: "Then I'll take my leave."

"Wait a minute." The female shopkeeper called to Li Yinsheng, who was about to turn around, and took out a stack of water chestnut cakes, a pot of tea, and an empty cup from under the counter.

She filled a cup with tea and pushed it, along with the stack of pastries, towards Li Yinsheng: "Please enjoy."

Li Yinsheng was stunned: "Shopkeeper, what's going on? I don't have any money to place an order today."

"The shop's new rule is that we must serve tea and snacks to all customers, regardless of whether they place an order or not," the female shopkeeper explained in a businesslike manner.

"Why didn't you give it to me when I first arrived? I'm leaving now!" Li Yinsheng said.

"I forgot," the female shopkeeper said.

Li Yinsheng remained silent for a long time.

Well, it's free tea and snacks, might as well drink it.

He took off his straw hat and placed it on the counter, then picked up a simple piece of water chestnut cake and put it in his mouth.

A refreshing aroma immediately filled his sense of smell, and a sweetness that seemed to originate spontaneously from the tip of his tongue spread in his mouth without any cloying sweetness.

Wait... do these people even use the finest ingredients to make tea and snacks?

This round must have almost ten talisman coins, right?

I should have brought Junior Sister Mu with me.

Li Yinsheng shifted his gaze from the seemingly ordinary plate of water chestnut cakes and looked at the female shopkeeper, wanting to ask if he could pack the rest to take home.

Then he saw the female shopkeeper staring straight at him.

"Shopkeeper? Shopkeeper?" Li Yinsheng asked.

At Li Yinsheng's call, the female shopkeeper suddenly woke up and abruptly looked away from Li Yinsheng's face: "Wh...what is it?"

"This water chestnut cake is good. Can I take the rest with me?" Li Yinsheng asked.

"Yes...yes," the female shopkeeper took a soft breath and touched her earlobe, "I have some more here, do you want more?"

“No need,” Li Yinsheng shook his head. “I haven’t placed an order yet, just one plate is fine.”