Starting as a Talisman Master

Qin Su Niang said no more, but simply glanced at Lu Chi with a smile.

That one glance was captivating, her lips slightly curved in a half-smile, her eyes radiating a subtle warmth, and beneath her thin clothes, her chest rose and fell gently with her breath.

She exudes the languid allure of a mature woman, yet her restraint is just right, making one's throat tighten, but leaving one with nowhere to turn.

This woman is definitely looking for me because she has something to say... Lu Chi knew this perfectly well, but he remained expressionless, his gaze sweeping over Qin Su Niang's charming smile before quickly looking away.

Having had two girlfriends in his past life, he wasn't some naive young man who had never tasted pleasure. This little bit of flirting wasn't enough to make him lose his composure on the spot.

When Zhou Jinyan saw that more people had come than expected, he frowned, hesitated for a moment, and finally gritted his teeth and went back into the house to bring out three or four jars of wine, which he then placed heavily on the stone table.

He broke open a clay seal on a jar, and the aroma of the wine immediately filled the air. He grinned broadly and said heartily:

"You've all come at the perfect time! This wine is the first batch of my own spiritual rice brewed from the green ears of rice. It's sweet with a strong kick, and when you put it in your mouth, your dantian warms up, and your spiritual energy becomes more active."

Everyone burst into laughter at this, eagerly taking the bowls. Zhou Jinyan's eyes darted around, thinking, "Isn't this also a chance to play 'GG'?" She added while the bowls were still hot:

"If any fellow cultivator finds it intoxicating and wants to stock up on a few jars, leave your address, and I'll deliver them to your door every few days. They'll be delivered fresh to your door, and each jar is only eight ounces of spirit sand—buy one get one free!"

Xu Yanqiu had previously spoken coldly, saying that cultivators should not indulge in excessive drinking, but now he fell silent, raising his cup alone, one cup after another, his expression cold and hard, as if he were competing with the wine.

Lu Chi was talking with the others when the conversation quickly turned to the Spirit Gathering Talisman.

The more he heard, the more uneasy he felt.

Several farmers who tested the talismans mentioned that they were reliable and easy to use, no different from those sold in the market shops. They also reported no stagnation in the flow of spiritual energy, indicating that there was clearly no problem with the talismans.

Taking advantage of the fact that he wasn't too drunk, Lu Chi simply said, "If any of you need other talismans besides the Spirit Gathering Talisman in the future, you may come to me for help."

The words fell silent, but no one responded immediately. They exchanged glances, hesitated for a moment, and finally one of them sighed and whispered:

"Master Lu, you may not know this, but we all rely on spirit fields for a living, and our income is really limited."

"Spirit Gathering Talismans are indispensable in the fields, and we must buy them no matter how tight things get. As for the other talismans... we can't afford them right now."

I can't afford it... which basically means I don't have the money.

Lu Chi was speechless for a moment. He was so sorry that he had overlooked this point.

It turns out that it wasn't that repeat customers weren't coming, but rather that these people were already so poor that, apart from the necessities, they had no extra money to buy another talisman.

He felt a pang of regret, but smiled and said, "It's alright. If you ever need my help in the future, please feel free to come and find me."

The banquet continued, but the conversation gradually drifted off-topic.

Lu Chi's thoughts shifted, and he was already secretly considering other options.

Of all the arts of cultivation, which one isn't a money-devouring beast? Rogue cultivators face nine deaths and one life, and it takes ten years to make even a single step forward. That's the reason why, and the path of talisman masters is no exception.

Drawing a talisman may not require much mental effort, but the real consumables like spirit ink, talisman paper, and spirit sand are money that you have to spend one penny at a time.

In the past two weeks, the little stock he had in his little house had been depleted. If there was no income, he would have to tighten his belt, let alone draw new talismans, and even practice on a regular basis.

"If we want to go further, we need to expand our customer base."

"Relying solely on referrals and word-of-mouth is slow and ineffective, ultimately not a sustainable solution."

Lu Chi suddenly thought that if he could set up his own talisman shop in the market, it would be more convenient for customers to come and go, and it would be easier to gain people's trust. Business and income would be much more stable.

But he suppressed the thought as soon as it arose.

Opening a shop in the market requires more than just purchasing the location itself with spirit stones; the cultivation fee signed with the market alone is at least ten years and can easily amount to tens of thousands of spirit stones.

With his current savings, he can't even get close to the threshold.

For a moment, I couldn't think of any safe solution.

Just as I was pondering this, a soft female voice suddenly came from beside my ear. It wasn't an external voice, but rather a transmission of sound through magical power:

"If Master Lu is interested in selling talismans, he might as well cooperate with my Qixia Sect. I am currently preparing to open a new talisman shop, and it would be best if I could get Master Lu's help."

"After the banquet, we will move to the Cangyue Pavilion on the east street of the market. My friend Cao Zhen and I will be waiting for you there."

It was Qin Suniang who transmitted the message.

Lu Chi felt a chill run down his spine: This woman's presence at the banquet today was indeed arranged by Cao Zhen, who wanted to recruit me into his group.

The Hidden Moon Pavilion is still in operation, and now they're opening a new talisman shop... The Qixia Sect is still so well-off.

He glanced up without making a sound, and Qin Su Niang happened to turn her head, her lips slightly curved, her eyes gentle and charming, her gaze meeting his for a fleeting moment with a half-smile.

Lu Chi quickly withdrew his gaze, his face showing no sign of joy or anger. He secretly thought to himself: This matter is not urgent. I can go to Cangyue Pavilion after the banquet.

Most talisman masters in the market are unwilling to run their own shops: maintaining their business, advertising, and attracting customers are all heavy responsibilities.

The common way out is to register under someone else's name at a talisman shop, or simply join a sect or family.

If we can truly establish ourselves by leveraging the influence of the Qixia Sect, thus avoiding many complications, it is indeed worth a try.

……

……

As the effects of the alcohol wore off, the sky grew darker.

An elderly man at the third level of Qi Refining was the first to stand up, cup his hands in farewell, and said he would come back another day to learn about the Dao of Talismans.

Qin Suniang and Cao Zhen then got up and bid farewell to Lu Chi with smiles. The former's gaze lingered on him for a moment before she slowly left.

Seeing that they had all left, the others did not linger any longer, and each tidied up their manners and dispersed one after another.

They arrived in a lively atmosphere, but left quickly. The courtyard gate closed, and in no time, only three people remained sitting facing each other.

Lu Chi raised his hand in a respectful bow and said, "I am grateful for Brother Zhou's efforts in making these arrangements today. I will remember your kindness."

Before Zhou Jinyan could respond, Xu Yanqiu let out a soft, drunken groan, the smell of alcohol emanating from his nose, his voice tinged with a hint of sharpness:

"He's just a farmer now. With a talisman master by his side, he naturally wants to take the opportunity to make a name for himself and curry favor with the master, which would also enhance his own reputation... Heh."

Zhou Jinyan's teeth itched with rage, but her smile turned cold:

"You're so high and mighty. There are plenty of menial workers in the Shen family, and you're just one of them. After all this time, have you ever managed to refine a single decent batch of pills?"

Xu Yanqiu's expression changed slightly, and he gritted his teeth and said, "The Shen family alchemist has recently asked me to accompany him in refining pills, so I will have my own opportunity."

Zhou Jinyan showed no mercy: "The reason I asked you to accompany me is to add fuel to the fire. Within the Shen family, there are already Shen family members in charge. You are surnamed Xu, and it will be as difficult as climbing to heaven for you to sit in the position of alchemist."

"You—" Xu Yanqiu suddenly looked up, her face flushed.

He gritted his teeth and said coldly, "Just you wait! When I truly open the furnace and establish the cauldron, I will let you know."

He turned away with a flick of his sleeve, not even taking another sip of wine, and went straight out of the courtyard.

Lu Chi stared at the retreating figure, both amused and exasperated: "Brother Zhou, why did you provoke him?"

Zhou Jinyan snorted irritably: "This kid is a stubborn mule. He has a mid-grade spiritual root. If he were willing to cultivate steadily, his future might not be inferior to yours or mine. Instead, he insists on going to the Shen family to be a handyman."

"The art of alchemy is the core heritage of the Shen family. Do you think they would casually pass on the true methods of alchemy to someone outside their family?"

Lu Chi shook his head and smiled. Judging from Xu Yanqiu's expression just now, he probably hadn't listened to a single word of what he was saying.

Zhou Jinyan suddenly remembered something and said, "You took the initiative to come to my door today, it doesn't seem like it's just for my birthday, could it be that you have something else on your mind?"

After a slight hesitation, Lu Chi recounted the previous predicament of being unable to attract customers.

After listening, Zhou Jinyan pondered for a moment and said, "This is a small matter. I'll put in a good word for you in the market. With more familiar faces, we can always make more business."

Lu Chi shook his head: "No need to worry, I already have some leads."

Zhou Jinyan was taken aback, then narrowed her eyes: "Face/details? Could it be that person at the banquet?"

Lu Chi did not answer, but only nodded slightly.

Zhou Jinyan chuckled softly, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes:

"Do you know that the sect leader of Qixia Sect has recently passed away? That was Qin Suniang's deceased husband... Now that woman is alone in her empty room, although Cangyue Pavilion still bears the name of the sect, in reality she is mostly struggling to support it alone."

"There are quite a few people who secretly covet her beauty and the sect's resources. You'd better be careful and not let others benefit from your schemes."

He paused, lowering his voice slightly, carrying a hint of ambiguity that only men could understand:

"However... if you can truly form a karmic bond with her, it would be an excellent path. Although the Qixia Sect's resources are meager, they are still sufficient to nourish one's cultivation."

"A widow will always feel empty inside. If you are willing to put in more effort to nurture and care for her, her long-closed door may quietly open for you."

"In the future, I will no longer need to travel around for spirit stones, elixirs, and opportunities."

As expected of the old ladybug from Xiangyun Tower… Lu Chi listened, his expression becoming increasingly strange, yet he also gleaned some information about the current situation of Qixia Sect, and a thought stirred within him.

With the passing of a powerful cultivator in the late stage of Qi Refining, the Qixia Sect has lost its pillar of strength. Upon careful consideration, this is hardly a good place for him to return.