Starting as a Talisman Master

The lake was still and the night mist was thick.

With a soft clatter of hooves, Lu Chi reined in his horse outside the woods and dismounted.

He casually tied his ordinary horse to a dead tree in a secluded spot, then went on his way alone, hiding in a patch of tall, withered reeds by the lake.

He took a deep breath, and his spiritual energy flowed according to the route in "The Hidden Shadow Transformation Record".

A series of fine cracking sounds emanated from his bones, his body grew half an inch taller, and his facial muscles slightly twisted and rearranged.

In the blink of an eye, that handsome young face transformed into a rugged man with a slightly sallow complexion and a shallow scar at the corner of his eye.

Lu Chi looked up at the lake, which remained as quiet as it had been during the day, revealing nothing about it.

According to Han Jingxing, the tide-listening gathering is only held at night and ends at dawn; only those holding a tide-listening permit are allowed to enter.

So he took out the Listening to the Tide Token, which became slightly warm as soon as he touched it.

The next instant, the scene before his eyes shifted slightly, and the mist by the lake seemed to be parted by something, vaguely revealing a layer of light.

Illusion array.

Following the token, we walked along the lake until we reached a gentle slope on the south side.

That spot was the flattest, with a few clumps of withered grass growing between the rocks, seemingly as ordinary as could be.

Lu Chi took a step forward, and the patterns on the token lit up. It felt as if he had stepped into a thin layer of water, his body felt both heavy and light, and the misty shadows swirled before his eyes.

When I looked up again, the lake was still the same lake, but now there were people and lights.

A narrow strip of land has been cleared out along the lake, with rows of low shacks scattered among them, winding stone paths, and dim lamplight.

There weren't many stalls, and the goods weren't plentiful; it was far less bustling than the Qingqueshan Market.

But after just one glance, he became even more cautious.

The cultivators walking here have at least the fourth level of Qi Refining.

They were all very quiet, some wearing cloaks, others with their sleeves tied up, their faces mostly covered, their eyes extremely cold.

Some people carried knife cases on their shoulders, exuding a faint murderous aura. Further inside, several more figures sat, their auras as deep as wells, indicating they were at the late stage of Qi Refining.

Lu Chi glanced at it once and then looked away.

That kind of person, who could walk around freely in the marketplace, just sits quietly here.

Within a radius of a hundred miles, the Shen family wields great power. Could this Tide Listening Gathering be inextricably linked to the Shen family?

However... the cultivation world is all about profit. If this were truly the Shen family's business, would the Han and Luo families allow it to dominate? The true origins of this black market are probably even deeper than those of the three great families.

Lu Chi became increasingly cautious, discreetly noting down the terrain, the location of hidden sentries, and the distribution of people and stalls along the outer edge of the stone path.

He made two requests during his nighttime visit to the Tide Listening Gathering.

Firstly, he had accumulated several century-old spiritual plants. Such conspicuous hard currency was not suitable for repeated transactions in the Qingque Mountain market; selling it in the black market, where no one would question its origin, was the safest option.

Secondly, there is the search for second-tier spiritual seeds. If one can follow the clues and find traces of profound foundation-building techniques, then the trip will not have been in vain.

After walking for about half an incense stick's time, he stopped in front of a stall that specialized in selling spiritual materials.

The stall owner wore an old cloak, with most of his face hidden in the shadows. Several wooden boxes were casually placed on the table, their mouths sealed with dead wax.

Seeing Lu Chi stop, the man raised an eyebrow and asked, "Sell it, or ask the price?"

"Produce a few ancient spiritual plants." Lu Chi didn't mince words.

The stall owner stretched out a withered hand from under his cloak.

Lu Chi took out a long box, but did not open it completely. He only lifted it slightly, barely revealing a section of roots covered in soil and a few leaf veins.

The stall owner rubbed his fingertips together, sniffed lightly near the crevice for a moment, and his cloudy eyes flickered slightly.

"Its inherent energy is strong, and it's reached the right age. Do you want spirit stones, or do you want to exchange it for something else?"

"Exchange items. I request a second-tier spirit seed; if not, I'll offer spirit stones."

The stall owner chuckled, seemingly mocking his greed, but didn't refuse: "What a coincidence. I happen to have a second-tier spirit seed on hand. How about I trade it for your hundred-year-old spirit plants?"

"Really?" Lu Chi's heart skipped a beat, but he didn't rush to agree, coldly uttering two words: "Inspect the goods."

The stall owner pulled a small jade box from under the table. As soon as the lid was lifted a crack, a bone-chilling cold emanated from it.

Inside lay a lotus seed, crystal white as frost, with pale blue veins showing through its outer skin.

"This is the Mystic Ice Lotus."

The stall owner pushed the box forward, his tone tinged with pride, "A second-tier spiritual plant, its cold nature is extremely pure. When used in alchemy, it stabilizes the fire; when used in medicine, it removes dryness. If one cultivates cold-based techniques, it can also be used to warm and nourish the meridians with remarkable effects."

Lu Chi glanced at it and immediately knew the truth. This kind of chill couldn't be faked; it was inherent in the lotus seed's very nature.

Having read "The Essentials of Herbs and Trees," he naturally knew that if the Mysterious Ice Lotus could mature and be consumed for a long time, it would be most effective in tempering the mind and spirit, making it especially valuable for breaking through barriers and consolidating one's foundation in the future.

just.

This is a lotus seed, not a mature plant. For an ordinary cultivator to grow it, it would take at least several decades.

Exchanging a dead object for a ready-made, centuries-old spiritual plant is a completely illogical offer.

"Smack."

"You want to trade a lifeless, unsprouted plant for several of my centuries-old spiritual plants? Who can afford to wait decades? Do you think I'm some naive, fat sheep?"

Lu Chi's expression suddenly turned cold. He slammed the wooden box shut and made as if to leave.

"Oh dear, fellow Daoist, please wait! This is a misunderstanding." Upon seeing this, the stall owner quickly reached out to stop him.

He sighed deeply, feigning extreme heartache: "This Xuanbing Lotus is indeed rare. I only wished to establish a good relationship, but as you say, a lotus seed is ultimately just a lotus seed..."

He gritted his teeth, as if cutting off a piece of his own flesh, and pulled out a small bag of spirit stones from his sleeve, slamming it onto the table.

The stall owner looked pained: "Thirty low-grade spirit stones. I'll add another thirty. This is my first time doing business, so I'll take a small loss. Hope we can meet again in the future."

Lu Chi stared at the pile of spirit stones, his brows furrowed. He pondered for a long time before the coldness on his face finally faded a little, and he slowly nodded.

"make a deal."

The stall owner immediately pushed the spirit stones and jade box over, moving extremely quickly, as if afraid he would change his mind.

After Lu Chi finished packing his things, he still looked pained, but inside he was already overjoyed.

A broken lotus seed, if you raise it for decades, you won't see it again; keeping it in your hands is just a waste.

Now, in exchange for a few solid, century-old spiritual plants, they can be sold for a high price.

This young man has never learned his lesson. Today, I'll teach him a lesson from his senior.

Lu Chi, who had walked a few steps away, gently stroked the cool jade box with his fingertips inside his sleeve, a faint hint of mockery flashing in his eyes.

Decades?

Unbeknownst to others, he possessed the extraordinary ability to accelerate the growth of immortal beings with spiritual liquid.

Once this Xuanbing Lotus falls into his hands, it will mature in less than half a month, tempering his mind and laying the foundation for his foundation.

I'll get another thirty spirit stones for free.

He made a fortune from this deal.

Lu Chi composed himself and walked along the stone path to several more stalls, but unfortunately the goods on the outer ring were mediocre, and he found nothing else of value.

Just as he was wondering whether to change direction, a short monk suddenly approached him.

"Fellow Daoist, you look unfamiliar. Are you looking for real treasures? There's no point in wasting time in this outer circle. If you really want to find something good, you should go to the 'Tide Platform'."

Lu Chi paused, glancing coldly at the other person, his fingertips secretly gripping a talisman hidden in his sleeve.

"Where is the Tide Platform?" he asked casually.

The short monk didn't mind his coldness and gestured with his chin towards the deeper part of the night market.

"See that green lamp? After the green lamp, at the end of the third stone path, there is a low platform, which is the Tide Platform."

"Around midnight, there will be a clandestine auction there. If you have enough money, you might as well go and try your luck."

Lu Chi looked in that direction and saw that the fog was even thicker, with several deep auras lingering there.

He withdrew his gaze, casually took out a piece of spirit sand, and flicked it into the man's arms.

Thank you.

Lu Chi ignored the man and disappeared into the night fog in the direction of the green lamp.

At the end, the fog was as thick as lead, and a low blue stone platform, no more than half a person's height, lay quietly in the darkness.

Is this the Tide Platform? Lu Chi didn't rush forward. He found a sheltered, dark corner, hid in the shadows, and watched coldly from the sidelines.

Scattered below the stage, a dozen or so figures stood, all clad in black robes and wearing bamboo hats to conceal their faces. They were clearly separated from each other by more than ten feet, and did not exchange a word.

The night wind grew colder, and the moisture seeped into the bones.

The water clock pointed to the end of the first half of the night; midnight had arrived. Suddenly, a faint, eerie light appeared on the low platform.

A gray-robed cultivator broke through the mist at some unknown time and appeared in the center of the platform like a ghost. He was in the late stage of Qi Refining, with a cold aura and a murderous aura that came from years of licking blood from the edge of a knife.

The gray-robed cultivator's voice was dry and weak: "The time has come. Same rules as always. Anyone entering the Tide Platform must first pay the entrance fee, five low-grade spirit stones per person."

In the shadows, Lu Chi frowned slightly.

Before even crossing the threshold, they want to pay five spirit stones for nothing? The owner of this black market is truly black-hearted.

Even a rogue cultivator in the early stages of Qi Refining might not be able to save up five spirit stones even after working themselves to the bone for half a month.

They dare to charge such exorbitant prices; hopefully, they have some good products to back it up.

He didn't make the first move. After the others handed over their spirit stones and passed through the layer of water-like light behind the gray-robed cultivator, he slowly stepped forward.

With a flick of his finger, five spirit stones clattered into the wooden tray beside the other person.

The gray-robed monk didn't even lift his eyelids, waving his hand to let him pass.

Stepping across the light barrier, the surrounding cold wind and the sense of being secretly spied on were instantly isolated by the formation.

The space inside is not large, and it is semi-circular. There are no seats, only a dozen or so cushions of varying heights.

Before long, no one else entered. The gray-robed monk turned and passed through the light barrier, standing in the center of the Tide Platform.

"Tidal auctions are all about a clean break, no questions asked once the goods are delivered. Those who know the rules understand. Enough talk, let's begin."

As soon as he finished speaking, a burly cultivator leaped from the shadows below the stage and landed steadily on the low platform.

Without saying a word, the cultivator patted his storage bag at his waist.

"Smack."

A long wooden box landed heavily on the stone platform.

The lid of the box was lifted, revealing a broken flying sword that exuded a menacing aura. Although the blade was broken in half, it still gleamed with a cold, eerie light and emitted a faint, chilling sword cry.