Starting as a Talisman Master

Lu Chi cupped his hands in greeting and asked, "May I ask, Brother Han, what is the origin of this Listening to the Tide Society?"

When Han Jingxing heard him ask about it, he perked up and said with a smile, "I've heard about this from the elders in my clan a few times, so it won't hurt to tell you."

"It is said that thirty li west of Qingque Mountain Market, there is an old lake, desolate and nameless, not recorded in any books. The lake shore is covered with dense reeds, and there are shallow beaches and broken stones in the center of the lake. It is usually rarely visited by people. The tide-listening gathering is held there."

"When the fair was held, it was only scattered on a gentle slope in Hunan. Some people laid out their goods on the ground, while others stood with their hands behind their backs, waiting for people to ask about prices. By daybreak, everyone had dispersed without leaving a trace."

Upon hearing this, Lu Chi understood that the Listening Tide Gathering was actually a hidden market, completely different from the rules and regulations of the open markets.

"How do I get in?"

Han Jingxing said, "We will not verify identities or accept any items from the venue; we will only recognize one thing."

"Listening to the Tide Order"

Lu Chi's fingertips paused lightly on the cup, but his expression remained unchanged. He simply asked, "What does this 'Listening to the Tide Token' look like? Is it a wooden plaque, a bronze talisman, or a jade token?"

Han Jingxing was taken aback, not expecting him to ask such detailed questions, and then frowned as he thought back.

"I never touched it myself; I only saw my father take it once at home."

He slowly said, "It looks like a jade pendant, not very big, about half a palm's length, with a bluish-gray color, not very eye-catching, and some old wear marks on the edges. The front is engraved with water-like patterns, and when viewed at an angle, they look like circles of dampness receding inwards."

"There seems to be an ancient character on the back, with very strange strokes; I didn't recognize it at the time."

He then added another sentence.

Lu Chi's heart skipped a beat when he heard this.

A bluish-gray jade plaque.

Tide-like markings.

Ancient characters on the back.

This description is almost identical to the old jade plaque he obtained from the thief.

His expression remained calm; he simply lowered his eyes, took a sip of tea, and suppressed that fleeting unease.

It turned out that the item was no ordinary token.

It was actually the Order of Listening to the Tide.

If the thief wanted to find a secluded place to sell his ill-gotten gains, he would need such a "listening to the tide" order to pave the way. In this way, everything would make sense.

Han Jingxing was still talking, unaware that Lu Chi's mood had changed.

"The Listening Tide Token is a rare item, and even if you see one, you might not recognize it. To outsiders, it's probably just an old jade pendant. But to those who know its value, this token is often more valuable than dozens of spirit stones."

Lu Chi put down his teacup and asked calmly, "Since the Listening Tide Gathering has such high barriers to entry, most of the transactions inside are probably not conducted openly?"

"What Brother Lu said is true."

Han Jingxing nodded. "They have everything there, and it's precisely because they have everything that they can't be openly discussed. They often steal and sell stolen magical artifacts and talismans that are inconvenient to sell in the market, and they do so anonymously."

As he said this, he glanced at Lu Chi and smiled, "For a talisman master like Brother Lu, if he has some high-quality talismans but doesn't want to attract too much attention in the open, the Listening Tide Society is a place he could go."

"Perhaps we can exchange it for rare spiritual materials and seeds that are hard to find in the market, or even a Foundation Establishment cultivation technique."

"I see." Lu Chi nodded slightly without commenting.

He spoke calmly, but he had already firmly remembered the matter in his heart.

Spiritual seeds and cultivation techniques can be transferred; this Listening to the Tide Gathering is indeed quite sophisticated.

A thought quickly crossed his mind. If he had too many century-old spiritual plants in his possession and frequently sold them in the market, it would ultimately be too conspicuous.

It would be safer to exchange it at a secluded place like the Listening Tide Gathering.

Upon further reflection, the old lake is located thirty li west of Qingqueshan Market, and the road leading uphill is not far from the Shen family's mountain gate.

The thought flashed through Lu Chi's mind, but he suppressed it.

It's not the right time yet.

If the timing is right when I go to Shen Yanqiu's wedding banquet in the future, I can take a look at him on the way.

Seeing his calm expression, Han Jingxing assumed that he had just heard about the matter and was still weighing the pros and cons, so he smiled and patted the edge of the table.

"If Brother Lu is interested, I will keep an eye out for news about the Listening Tide Order. If it works out, I will explain it to you in detail."

Lu Chi raised his eyes, cupped his hands and said, "Then I will trouble you, Brother Han."

Lu Chi picked up his teacup and smiled faintly.

"The area outside the market is not peaceful to begin with, and going thirty miles west, there are many desolate places along the way. According to what Brother Han said, the rules there are also complicated, and most people who come here are unwilling to reveal their backgrounds, so it must be quite dangerous."

"This kind of place is far away from me, and it probably has nothing to do with me right now."

Han Jingxing didn't think much of it after hearing this, assuming it was just his cautious approach, and nodded, saying, "That's true."

As the two were talking, a commotion suddenly arose not far away.

A gray-robed monk stood by the table, holding a yellowed old book in his hands, and said loudly:

"Fellow Daoists, behold this fragmented scroll obtained from an ancient cultivation cave. It is suspected to be an ancient Daoist transmission. Although incomplete, it is still possible to glean some insights. Today, the opportunity lies here; those with the right affinity will obtain it!"

As soon as he said this, several people at the table turned their heads to look at him.

The phrase "ancient Taoist methods" is ultimately too jarring.

Lu Chi couldn't help but glance at it, his eyes flickering slightly.

Cultivation techniques are rare to begin with. Especially those with the words "ancient" attached to them. Even if one knows they are mostly fake, they still make one's heart flutter with desire.

Han Jingxing followed his gaze, then chuckled and whispered, "Brother Lu, don't take it seriously. This person is probably just trying to bluff."

Lu Chi turned to look at him.

How do you know?

Han Jingxing raised his chin, his tone carrying the certainty of a scion of a prominent family.

"The ancient cultivation methods that can truly be passed down are rarely written on such ordinary pages. They are mostly recorded in cryptic seal script and talismans."

"Mysterious scripture talisman?" Lu Chi asked casually.

"good."

Han Jingxing nodded, "Those are talismanic artifacts specifically used to carry scriptures and incantations. They were originally used by ancient cultivators to pass on their skills, but were gradually replaced by spiritual objects such as jade slips for skill transmission. Nowadays, in the Dongyue County, let alone actually seeing one, there are very few people who have even heard of it."

"If it were truly an ancient Taoist technique, why would it be so casually rolled up in an old book and then sold at a tea party?"

He lowered his voice again as he said this.

"These kinds of people are good at choosing words. They use terms like ancient cultivation caves, fragments, and suspected inheritances, leaving room for interpretation in every sentence. But once you actually pay the price to buy it, it's most likely just an incomplete breathing technique or a few paragraphs of messy text that no one can verify."

After listening, Lu Chi understood and withdrew his gaze from the gray-robed cultivator.

Seeing this, Han Jingxing laughed and said, "There are many such tricks at tea parties. People who have truly good things usually don't make such a fuss. The louder they shout, the more careful you should be."

After hearing this, Lu Chi nodded slightly, but he memorized the name "Mysterious Seal Sutra Talisman" in his mind.

Mysterious Origin Foundation Transformation Technique, Purple Marrow Ganoderma, Listening to the Tide Gathering, Mysterious Seal Scripture Talisman...

Today's tea party had more intricacies than he had originally anticipated.

……

……

The tea party continued for another half hour. Although some people exchanged items and discussed prices and philosophy afterward, it could not overshadow the previous commotion.

As night deepened, the candlelight at the banquet flickered slightly in the wind, and the cultivators departed in twos and threes.

The cultivators departed in twos and threes, some riding the wind, others summoning magical artifacts, and in the blink of an eye, they disappeared into the night.

Before leaving, several people made a point of bowing to Lu Chi, as if to solidify their friendship.

Lu Chi returned the greetings one by one, showing proper manners.

Han Jingxing and Lu Chi left the courtyard together and went to an open space. They each circulated their spiritual power, their robes billowed slightly, and their feet lifted several feet off the ground as they rode the wind.

A night breeze brushed against my face, and the lights of the market town receded one by one from below, while the noise from the previous gatherings gradually faded away.

After walking for a while, Han Jingxing turned his head to look at Lu Chi, and suddenly smiled, "Brother Lu, since you are a rogue cultivator and are now of good age, have you ever found a Daoist partner?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Chi knew what he was going to say, but only glanced at him indifferently and did not respond.

Han Jingxing, however, became even more interested and said with a smile, "There are quite a few eligible female cultivators in my Han family, all of whom are quite beautiful and talented. If Brother Lu is interested, I can help you make a match."

"If you join my Han family as a guest talisman master, you will be provided with plenty of spirit stones and pills. You will also be able to cultivate my Han family's methods, which will give you more support when you attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage."

The night wind howled, making the intention to win them over quite clear.

Lu Chi knew what was going on.

Han Jingxing was eyeing his status as a top-grade talisman master and wanted to use marriage to further strengthen their relationship. This wasn't unusual; aristocratic families often operated in this manner.

However, he has too many secrets, and it's not advisable for him to get too involved with his family's power, whether it's his power panel or the spiritual fields in his backyard. Besides, his cultivation is still shallow, and his work on talismans and spiritual plants is gaining momentum. Getting married and having children is not on his mind right now.

Thinking of this, Lu Chi cupped his hands and said, "I am grateful for Brother Han's high regard, but my foundation is not yet stable, and I only want to focus on my cultivation and the Dao of Talismans. I have not yet thought about the matter of a Daoist partner."

Han Jingxing was taken aback at first, then laughed and said, "It's nothing, I was just mentioning it casually."

He spoke casually, but he wasn't disappointed. Even if the marriage alliance didn't work out, the friendship remained. Besides, Lu Chi had already agreed to the favor, making it much easier to ask for talismans in the future. Thinking of this, he felt even more confident in his judgment.

The two rode the wind and soon arrived above the fork in the road.

Further ahead lay Lu Chi's courtyard. Han Jingxing, who was about to turn to the other side, stopped and, suspended in the night, cupped his hands and smiled, saying, "I'll leave you here. I'll come to find you another day. Brother Lu, don't forget what you promised me."

Lu Chi chuckled and returned the greeting: "I'll remember."

Han Jingxing nodded in satisfaction, flicked his sleeve, turned and left, his figure quickly disappearing into the night.

After returning to the courtyard, Lu Chi took out all the seeds obtained from the tea party and brought them to the backyard, where he sorted and planted them one by one. He loosened the soil, buried the seeds, covered them with soil, and guided the spiritual energy to nourish them, his movements becoming much more skillful.

By the time they finished, the spirit field in the backyard was already fully planted.

He stood between the rows of seedbeds, gazing at the newly planted seedlings, a sense of anticipation rising within him.

If this accumulation continues, the path of Lingnong will soon be close to taking another step forward.

Lu Chi stood in the courtyard for a moment, and after calming down, he turned around and went back into the house. He closed the door behind him and took out a jade slip.

It was the foundation-building method that Han Jingxing had previously taught him.