Starting as a Talisman Master

An hour later, the talismans in the hands of the people in the courtyard had been changed several times.

Lu Chi stood under the corridor and saw that most of the problems had been pointed out, so he knew that today's work was almost done.

If we continue, these people might not be able to process it all. It would be better to let them go back and think about it for a few days, digest what they have just heard, and then see how things go.

That's all for today. Each of you should first sort out what I just said, and don't try to say too much.

Upon hearing this, the people in the courtyard quickly put down their talisman brushes and stood up to pay their respects.

"Thank you for your guidance, Master Lu."

"I have noted it down."

"Take care, Master Lu."

This time, the politeness in their words had faded considerably, but their genuine respect was evident.

The apprentices, in particular, who had just had their secrets revealed, were filled with barely suppressed excitement, clearly having already been replaying those few words of advice in their minds.

Lu Chi nodded slightly, and without lingering, turned to leave.

Just before leaving the hospital, he paused slightly and glanced one more time at Cao Town.

The other person was still lying by the stone table, gesturing back and forth over the fire crow talisman, as if he was trying to readjust the brushstrokes according to his previous words "spirit guides the brush".

The burly man, who usually appeared rough and rugged, suddenly showed a rare touch of refinement.

Lu Chi's heart stirred.

Cao Zhen was originally a body cultivator, a fact he had known beforehand.

Body cultivation techniques are rare in the market, and even rarer are those passed down through generations. It's not easy for ordinary independent cultivators to come across one.

Ironically, this path is the best way to demonstrate combat prowess. If one truly masters it, one will often possess formidable strength in close combat.

Although he now possesses talismans and has acquired several minor skills, he still lacks some understanding of the path of body cultivation.

When he was instructing everyone in the courtyard, he did say a few words to Cao Zhen, firstly because Cao Zhen had the best foundation among them, and secondly because he also wanted to make a good connection with him.

If Cao Zhen truly gains some insight from this guidance and even goes further, reaching the threshold of a low-grade talisman master, then this favor will be considered settled.

If I ever want to inquire about body cultivation techniques or body cultivation combat techniques in the future, I'll have someone else to ask.

The thought quickly passed, and Lu Chi didn't linger, heading straight out of the backyard.

When they returned to the inner hall, Qin Su Niang was nowhere to be seen. She had disappeared somewhere, and only a half-warm teacup remained. The account books on the table were closed, as if she had just left.

Lu Chi glanced at him, but didn't seem to care.

Just as he was about to leave, a disciple of the Moon Concealment Pavilion quickly stepped forward, handing him a storage bag with both hands, and said respectfully, "Master Lu, please wait. The sect leader just instructed that this is a new batch of talisman-making materials, which I am to pass on to you."

Lu Chi reached out and took it, weighing it in his hand without changing his expression.

Thank you for your trouble.

The disciple repeatedly said he dared not, and bowed as he withdrew.

Lu Chi put the storage bag into his sleeve, but smiled faintly to himself.

With his current talisman-making skills, he still has quite a lot of the talisman materials he was previously allocated. In particular, some materials have very low wear and tear in his hands, making them much more economical than those used by ordinary talisman masters.

Qin Suniang then brought over another bag, which was probably both a regular supply and a way of showing goodwill.

However, he naturally had no reason to turn away something that was offered to him so readily.

Once it's in his hands, it's considered a good deal.

Lu Chi left Yueyin Pavilion and walked slowly along the street, but his mind had already turned to another matter.

In two days, it will be Shen Yanqiu's wedding banquet.

Now that the invitation has been accepted, I should naturally attend, and I can't leave without a gift. But what to give is something I still need to consider.

He has just received over two hundred spirit stones, so he has some extra money and many options to choose from.

"A talisman? A spiritual plant? Or should I find something more respectable..."

As Lu Chi walked and pondered, he suddenly heard a loud commotion coming from the other end of West Street.

As soon as the gong sounded, someone loudly proclaimed the opening, interspersed with phrases like "Han family," "new shop," and "opening of elixir business," creating quite a stir and attracting the attention of the cultivators along the street.

Lu Chi paused, looking up.

A crowd was already gathering on the west side of the street, and murmurs could be faintly heard.

"The Han family has opened a pill shop in the market?"

"Didn't you only ever sell magical artifacts before?"

"I heard they've invited quite a few renowned alchemists to oversee things, but I wonder if it's true..."

Lu Chi's heart stirred slightly upon hearing these words.

The Han family, Danpu.

When these two words are put together, and considering Han Jingxing's recent busy appearance, it confirms his earlier guess at the tea party.

West Street was conveniently located, so Lu Chi changed his mind and followed the noise.

The further you go, the more chaotic the noise becomes.

Before even squeezing to the front of the shop, one could smell a newly emerging fragrance of medicinal herbs, warm and moist, mixed with the fresh scent of freshly painted wooden plaques. It was clear that the shop had only been open for a short time, and even the storefront still had a fresh, newly renovated feel.

The crowd moved in front, occasionally parting to make way for each other.

Lu Chi looked up and saw a new shop standing on the street.

The vermilion gate is newly painted, and lanterns hang from the eaves.

The plaque above the door hangs high, its gold lettering still fresh and quite eye-catching in the sunlight.

Rejuvenating Elixir Pavilion.

Just then, a sword light flashed through the air, creating a gust of wind that made everyone on the street look up.

Lu Chi looked in the direction of the sound and saw a person standing on a sword, hovering in the air, his robes billowing, his eyebrows and eyes bright and lively. It was none other than Han Jingxing.

He had clearly dressed up specially for the opening of his new shop. He had changed into a brighter outer robe, the jade pendant at his waist swayed slightly, and the flying sword under his feet circled half a circle above the shop door before coming to a steady stop. He really had the air of a scion of a noble family making a grand entrance.

Standing on his sword, Han Jingxing channeled his spiritual energy into his voice and called out loudly to those below, "Fellow Daoists, today my Han family's Rejuvenating Pill Pavilion is open to welcome guests! New pills are in stock, and the prices are fair!"

"For the first three days after opening, all commonly used healing, restorative, and detoxifying pills in the shop will be offered at a 30% discount from the old market price!"

"If any former customers are willing to help, a small gift will be provided!"

As he spoke, he raised his hand, and two Han family cultivators behind him unfurled a red silk banner in front of the door, listing several common elixirs and their opening prices.

The onlookers immediately stirred, and many began to push forward.

Seeing the atmosphere getting lively, Han Jingxing became even more excited, and he circled in the air on his sword, his laughter carrying far and wide.

"Please don't rush, everyone, take it one at a time!"

"Since my Han family has established this reputation on Qingque Mountain, we would never deceive people with inferior pills. The alchemist is sitting inside; you can see the quality as soon as you enter!"

He spoke quickly and clearly, showing none of the hushed, gossipy manner he displayed at the tea party; it was as if he were a completely different person.

Many people on the street were intrigued by his display, and even the cultivators who were just passing by stopped and gathered in front of the Rejuvenation Pill Pavilion.

Lu Chi stood a little behind the crowd, looking up at Han Jingxing in mid-air, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

This guy is usually very talkative, and now that he's found a serious topic, he's even more at ease.

However, precisely because of this, the grand opening of the Han family's new shop was largely carried by him alone.

"I wonder if the Spring Elixir Pavilion is hiring alchemists this time..."

As the noise of the market faded into the distance, on his way back, this thought suddenly popped into Lu Chi's mind.

He is currently secretly exploring the art of alchemy, but he is not yet very skilled, only capable of producing first-tier pills.

Going to Yangyuanju would probably be difficult.

The Shen family has been in the pill business for many years, and their standards have always been high. They would never easily accept a rogue alchemist of unknown origin.

However, the Han family's new shop has just opened and they are in need of manpower, so there is indeed a possibility.

Lu Chi's eyes flickered slightly, but he quickly suppressed the thought.

The idea is good, but we can't rush into doing it right now.

In the world of cultivation, an ordinary person can master just one skill to establish themselves in the market. But he has also mastered the arts of talismans and alchemy, and is knowledgeable about spiritual plants.

As a top-grade talisman master, he was already quite conspicuous in the market.

If he were to appear under the title of "alchemist," the dual identities of talisman master and alchemist, simultaneously held by a rogue cultivator with a low-grade spiritual root, would inevitably attract too much attention.

Others will not only praise his ability, but will first suspect that he has some shady backing.

For him now, such things are not a good reputation, but a source of trouble.

"Even if I'm going to try, I should do it under a different identity first," Lu Chi thought to himself.

It might be safer to remain anonymous, concealing one's identity as a talisman master, and then try to find a way to become an alchemist.

……

……

Two riders rode side by side, shattering the morning mist.

The frost on both sides of the official road had not yet melted, and the horses' hooves pounded on the hard earth with a crisp sound.

The distant mountain shadows were like ink, and Qingque Mountain was gradually fading into the background.

"In the blink of an eye, Xu... Shen Yanqiu has actually gotten married. Just a few years ago he was causing quite a stir in the market, and now he's about to hold his wedding ceremony."

Zhou Jinyan pulled on the reins, looked at the winding mountain road ahead, and couldn't help but sigh.

Lu Chi smiled slightly, did not reply, but gently spurred his horse and followed steadily.

Not long after he returned home from West Street, he went to find Zhou Jinyan, who had just broken through to the fifth level of Qi Refining. The two then agreed to go to the Shen family's banquet together.

Although Zhou Jinyan was from a farming family and never liked to join in the fun, this was Shen Yanqiu's wedding banquet after all, so he agreed to go.

Originally, the two of them had set off from Qingque Mountain Market on the wind, but after leaving the mountain, they took two horses from the nearest mortal town and changed to take the official road.

While it's convenient for cultivators to ride the wind, the spiritual power of those in the Qi Refining Realm is ultimately limited, so they can't fly far or fast.

A figure standing in mid-air is most conspicuous; if any cultivators were lurking in the mountains, they would become easy targets.

After walking for a while, Zhou Jinyan suddenly turned her head to look at Lu Chi, her eyes filled with a mischievous glint.

"Lu Chi, what kind of person do you think Shen Yanqiu will marry?"

Lu Chi glanced at him sideways and said calmly, "Since she has a mid-grade spiritual root, she is most likely a female cultivator chosen by the Shen family themselves."

Zhou Jinyan clicked his tongue: "The female cultivator of the Shen family... has been pampered since childhood, with elixirs and miraculous medicines piling up. Her cultivation level can't be low, and her appearance is outstanding. Her figure and skin are full of spiritual energy. Holding her in your arms is truly intoxicating... Tsk tsk, just thinking about it is exciting."

"Brother Zhou is talking so enthusiastically, it seems you also want to join their ranks."

"Don't mention it, don't mention it."

Zhou Jinyan quickly waved her hand and snorted.

"Who cares about my humble origins? What's the fifth level of Qi Refining? In front of those powerful families, I'm nothing more than a man to be ordered around. This female cultivator has a stubborn personality, her words are barbed, and she doesn't even bother to lift her eyelids."

"If I really have to put up with that kind of treatment, I'd rather go back to the fields and pull weeds."