Starting as a Talisman Master

"Are you a Lu Fu Master?"

Lu Chi nodded: "Junior Lu Chi, do you recognize me, senior?"

Zhao Hongyue's expression changed slightly, and he tapped his finger lightly on the edge of the table.

"I purchased this Ice Arrow Talisman from the newly opened Moon Concealment Pavilion in the market. The runes are tightly bound, the chill is contained and does not dissipate, and the spiritual energy flows smoothly."

He paused briefly, his gaze falling on Lu Chi.

"I asked someone to inquire about the person who draws talismans, and all I know is that his surname is Lu and he is a newly promoted talisman master from Qingque Mountain."

"I never imagined that Master Lu would be so young."

Han Jingxing was still somewhat dazed and couldn't help but whisper, "Brother Lu, this talisman... did you really draw it?"

Lu Chi simply smiled and offered no further explanation.

Judging from Zhao Hongyue's words, Yueyin Pavilion had only been open for a little over a month, yet it had already established itself in the market. Even cultivators in the late Qi Refining stage had frequented the place and had heard of its name.

At this moment, Zhao Hongyue looked at him, and the coldness in his eyes finally dissipated a bit, and his tone was also a little gentler than before.

"If Master Lu can really produce two more high-grade talismans of this quality, then we can talk."

The cost of a high-grade talisman at Moonshadow Pavilion is about forty spirit stones. Exchanging two talismans for those few spirit plant seeds already seems like a bargain on paper.

Lu Chi knew what was going on, so he raised his hand and took out two talismans: a high-grade Spirit Gathering Talisman and a high-grade Ice Arrow Talisman.

The talisman paper is clean, and the talisman patterns are clear and distinct.

Upon realizing the idea, the expressions of the people at the table all changed.

Zhao Hongyue reached out and took it, examining it closely. His gaze lingered on the turning points of the runes for a long time before he slowly nodded.

"His talismanic intent is calm and composed, neither frivolous nor impatient. It is rare for a talisman master like Lu to possess such skill at such a young age."

He put the talisman into his sleeve and pushed the box containing the spirit stone seeds in front of Lu Chi.

"This is yours."

The deal was done as soon as the words were spoken.

Han Jingxing finally came to his senses, stared at Lu Chi for a long time, and gave a wry smile: "Brother Lu, you really kept me in the dark."

He originally thought Lu Chi's talisman skills were only passable, but he never expected that he could consistently produce high-grade talismans.

Lu Chi cupped his hands and said, "I only gained some insights by chance, and it's nothing to boast about."

Quiet discussions had already begun to break out during the meal.

"High-grade Talisman Master?"

"That newly opened Moonlit Pavilion on East Street in Fangshi?"

"So this is the chief talisman master."

Several gazes fell on Lu Chi, their scrutiny now showing a hint of seriousness.

High-grade talisman masters differ from mid- and low-grade masters; the talismans they create are effective enough to affect cultivators in the late Qi Refining stage. Such individuals have always been rare in the Qingque Mountain market.

The aroma of tea lingered, but the whispers of its fragrance had already spread. From that moment on, Lu Chi gained a reputation in this market town.

"What? That kid is actually a top-grade talisman master?"

Master Qingxu's teacup trembled slightly, causing ripples to spread across the tea. He had been chatting with Liu Qing, but now his voice was lowered, unable to conceal his surprise.

The two young Taoist disciples behind him exchanged a glance and stopped adding water.

Qingxu frowned slightly and turned to look at Liu Qing: "Fellow Daoist Liu, is this true?"

Liu Qing held the cup, her knuckles turning white.

He was unwilling to admit it. But the two talismans had just been placed on the table, their auras clearly distinguishable, even Zhao Hongyue had nodded in approval on the spot. There was no turning back now.

His voice was muffled as he said in a low voice, "It is indeed of superior quality. He is currently the chief talisman master of the Moon Concealment Pavilion. He was personally recruited by Qin Su Niang, and I know nothing about his other background."

Qingxu's eyes darkened slightly, several things connecting in his mind.

Thinking back to when they first entered the gate, he realized that his words had subtly pushed the two of them together and even hinted at testing Lu Chi's background.

At the time, I thought Liu Qing's expression was just because he was timid, but now it seems he has learned his lesson.

Fortunately, I did not force him on the spot, nor did I utter any insults. Although I tested him, I did not go so far as to break off relations.

He took a small sip of tea, his thoughts already wandering elsewhere.

Han Jingxing's attitude towards Lu Chi was clearly unusual. If they had only met by chance, he wouldn't be so protective of him.

The Han family has been making frequent moves in the market lately, dabbling in both alchemy and talisman-making. If they could recruit another high-grade talisman master, their influence would be significantly greater.

Liu Qing, however, had a completely different state of mind.

He gazed into the distance, where Lu Chi was being questioned by several cultivators. His words were calm and composed.

That composure is hard to ignore.

Both were practitioners of talisman cultivation, yet the other was only twenty years old and had already reached the upper rank. He, on the other hand, had been cultivating for many years and was still hovering around the middle rank.

It felt like a stone was pressing on my chest.

He suddenly felt a bit annoyed with the wine in his hand.

Ultimately, the path of spiritual practice depends on oneself.

After returning home, I should seclude myself and practice intensive meditation.

Quit drinking alcohol.

Abstain from sex.

Minimize social interactions with others.

If you don't break through to the highest level, you'll never rise to prominence again.

Qingxu put down his teacup, a slight smile playing on his lips. He lowered his voice, his tone tinged with laughter:

"Fellow Daoist Liu, we've finished our tea. How about we go somewhere more lively? Xiangyun Tower has a few new beauties with exquisite wines. They're all soft-waisted and smooth-skinned, and their skills in bed are absolutely divine. I heard they've specially reserved a few of the best for regular customers tonight."

Liu Qing's eyes lit up, his Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he quickly replied, "Since the Daoist Master has such an elegant interest, how could I refuse?"

……

……

Lu Chi remained calm and simply put the seeds away.

He put the wooden box into his sleeve, then looked up and cupped his hands in greeting to Zhao Hongyue.

"Senior Zhao is straightforward."

Zhao Hongyue played with the two talismans, his gaze lingering for a moment at the turning point of the talisman's pattern before he put them away. His expression was no longer as indifferent as before, but rather more solemn.

"Master Lu, you flatter me. It is a fine talisman, and the seed has fallen into the hands of a discerning person, so it is not a waste." He nodded slightly as he spoke. "If you have any more high-grade talismans like this to sell in the future, you can have someone pass on a message. If I am still near Qingque Mountain, I will come looking for you."

This clearly expresses the intention to befriend the other party.

Lu Chi responded with a nod and said no more. Both of them knew that there were too many people around and that this was enough to say.

He then returned to his previous seat with Han Jingxing.

No sooner had they sat down than some of the cultivators who had been observing the scene began to rise and step forward.

Just now, Zhao Hongyue changed his tune in front of everyone and made a deal with Lu Chi, which is equivalent to him acting as a witness on the spot.

By this point, no one regarded him as an ordinary young monk anymore.

Someone cupped their hands and introduced themselves, saying that they hunted demons around the market year-round and what they lacked most were attack talismans and healing items, their words implying a desire to make friends.

Someone smiled and handed over a communication talisman, saying that they had a shop in the market and that if Lu Chi ever sold any talismans in the future, he should let them know in advance so that the price could be negotiated.

Some people were even more direct, asking where MoonHidden Pavilion was, whether they could pre-order high-grade talismans, and if they couldn't usually buy them, whether they could ask Master Lu to reserve a few for them privately.

Lu Chi responded to each question one by one.

Return gifts where appropriate, and record what needs to be recorded.

He doesn't talk much, but his attitude is warm; he neither gives the impression of being disrespectful nor makes too many promises too easily.

After dealing with the situation for a while, seeing that he was composed and unwilling to give in easily, the crowd wisely dispersed.

After the last person left, Lu Chi picked up his teacup and took a sip of warm tea.

Finally, there was some peace and quiet.

Han Jingxing watched for a long time, and at this moment he could no longer suppress his emotions. He first shook his head, then laughed, and finally raised his hand and gently patted the table.

He leaned forward, a smile in his eyes, "Brother Lu, if I ever need a talisman in the future, you must give me a generous price for the sake of today, and don't charge me the same price as others."

This statement was half true and half false; it was both a joke and a sign of closeness.

Lu Chi smiled upon hearing this, put down his teacup, cupped his hands, and said, "Brother Han has already done me a great favor by bringing me here today. If you are asking for a talisman, I will certainly not treat you as an outsider."

Upon hearing this, Han Jingxing felt even more relieved and nodded repeatedly, but still pretended to sigh.

"That's more like it."

He spoke lightly, but in his mind he had already gone through the whole day, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt that he had a good eye, and a sense of pride arose in his heart.

Han's judgment of people was ultimately passable. My father sent me to the market to gain experience; in retrospect, this move certainly had some profound meaning.

Despite his triumph, a hint of worry crossed his brow a moment later.

Today's tea party was crowded and noisy, and the commotion just now was quite significant. Zhao Hongyue nodded in recognition of the talisman, and everyone stepped forward to make his acquaintance. The news would spread throughout half of the market by tomorrow at the latest. If the news spread even faster, it might even reach the Luo family's ears tonight.

The Han and Luo families saw each other frequently in the market. Although they weren't exactly at odds, they each had their own plans.

Now that she has become close to Lu Chi, and even entered the banquet together in public today, if this were seen by someone with ulterior motives, they would inevitably have many thoughts.

The Luo family will most likely come and ask a question.

What does the Han family mean by this?

Is it simply about befriending a talisman master, or is it about using this opportunity to get involved in the world of talismans?

Or perhaps, it was intentional to cause trouble for the Luo family.

Han Jingxing wasn't confused about these intricacies; he just couldn't be bothered to think about them now.

He frowned and thought for a moment, but ultimately decided to postpone this troublesome matter in his mind.

Forget it.

If they actually come to the Luo family to ask questions, the elders will handle it. My father is usually very good at these kinds of probing and maneuvering; it's not his place to worry about others first.

What I have accomplished today is to forge a good connection with a high-level talisman master.

No matter how you look at it, this is a win-win situation.

Thinking of this, Han Jingxing felt much better, and the worry between his brows dissipated considerably. He reached out and poured Lu Chi half a cup of tea, his tone becoming more intimate than before.

"How was it, Brother Lu? Did you enjoy the tea party today?"

Lu Chi took the teacup, gently ran his fingertip along the rim, glanced around the table, and then smiled and said, "It's worth a look."

These words were spoken in a flat tone, neither perfunctory nor particularly enthusiastic.

Han Jingxing, however, failed to grasp the underlying meaning, assuming that he was new to such situations and still easily embarrassed. He laughed and lowered his voice, saying:

"Brother Lu, you haven't seen enough. This place is quite a rare trading venue in the Qingque Mountain area. As you just saw, even cultivators at the late Qi Refining stage are willing to show up. This is not comparable to an ordinary small gathering."

"Looking at the entire Dongyue Prefecture, apart from the Tide Listening Festival, I really can't think of anywhere that can easily surpass this place."

Lu Chi had only casually agreed, but upon hearing this, he slightly raised his eyes.

"The Tide-Listening Gathering?"

This was the first time he had ever heard of that name.