Starting as a Talisman Master

Lu Chi smiled and said gently, "Brother Xu, rest assured, I will take care of it."

After leaving Yangyuan Residence, Lu Chi did not go straight back, but instead went to a general store in the market.

That shop specializes in selling all kinds of items needed for cultivation, including talismans, spirit ink, and low-level magic tools. Storage bags are also among the items on display.

"Young man, need a storage bag? Come, come, take a look at these. They're all brand new, twelve feet in size, sturdy and durable, only six low-grade spirit stones each, money-back guarantee!"

"Shopkeeper, this bag looks a bit old; the edges are worn white, and the spirit patterns are faded. Six spirit stones are too expensive; how about five?"

The shopkeeper's smile froze for a moment, and he quickly waved his hand:

"Oh my, young man, you have a good eye! This is indeed secondhand goods from last month, but the space it holds is a solid twelve feet. The runes are a bit faded, but it should last three to five years without any problem. Six are absolutely essential, or my shop will lose money!"

Lu Chi didn't say much, simply placing five spirit stones lightly on the counter:

"Shopkeeper, this is all my possessions. I won't be picky about the bag; I'll just take this one with the whitest edge. It gets sturdier the longer it's used, doesn't it? Take all five, and you won't have to worry about them taking up space."

"Alright, alright, young man, you know how to bargain! Fine, alright, five it is, take it! This bag is the leftover stock I got from my supplier. I was hoping to keep it to make an extra one, but who knew I'd run into such a shrewd person like you. Remember, next time you come, I won't be so easy to talk to!"

Lu Chi turned and left, the new bag at his waist swaying slightly, but he felt a sense of peace in his heart.

Yangyuanju also sells storage bags.

While claiming to primarily sell elixirs and spiritual foods, the shop's contents are actually quite varied, including low-level magical artifacts, cultivation manuals, and storage bags, though they are categorized by their primary and secondary uses.

However, he had already purchased the Qi-Nourishing Pill at Yangyuan Residence. If he were to take out five spirit stones to buy a storage bag on the spot, it would be too conspicuous.

To be on the safe side, it would be better to change the location.

In just a short while, most of the ten spirit stones he had acquired were gone, and the remaining few could only be used for his cultivation.

Storage bags are fine; you can keep them on your person and use them every day. But pills are different. Once you swallow one, the spirit stone is instantly transformed into medicinal power, leaving no trace.

Lu Chi couldn't help but mutter to himself, "This pill-making business is truly incredibly profitable; no wonder everyone wants to learn how to refine pills."

Then, a sense of anticipation resurfaced.

"I wonder if the path to becoming a pill refiner will be unlocked on that panel in the future..."

Back at his residence, Lu Chi first put all the talismans on the table into his storage bag. After confirming that everything was correct, he took off the newly acquired storage bag and examined it closely in his palm.

He could only watch, but his cultivation was still shallow and he didn't understand the art of weapon crafting, so he had no clue about the intricacies of it.

After pondering it over and over for a long time, he could only tell that the material and the runes were unusual, but he could not find anything else. So he had to give up and tied the storage bag to his waist.

Then, he took out the small bottle containing the Qi-Nourishing Pill, unsealed it, poured out a pill, put it in his mouth, sat cross-legged, and slowly refined it by circulating his spiritual energy.

Before long, the elixir dissolved, gentle and lingering, gradually dispersing into the dantian along the meridians.

His cultivation level steadily advanced by one step. Although he did not break through to the next realm immediately, he could clearly feel that his spiritual energy had become much thicker.

"At this rate of progress, if I can refine all the pills in this bottle and reach the mid-stage of Qi Refining, it's not just wishful thinking."

Lu Chi regulated his breathing for a moment until his energy returned to normal, then spread out the talisman paper again and picked up his brush to draw.

Now that he has mastered several commonly used talismans, he no longer seeks quantity but instead focuses on quality over quantity.

I plan to refine the types of runes I have already mastered one by one, and strive to achieve a basic level of proficiency as soon as possible.

Once you reach that point, you will no longer need to rely on your talent to force it; you can steadily create the talisman on your own.

If combined with [Burning Thoughts], the drawn talismans can be expected to reach the middle grade, firmly establishing the position of a first-tier middle-grade talisman master!

Time flies.

On this day, Lu Chi stood by the window, his gaze fixed outside, his brows slightly furrowed.

Half a month has passed since Cao Zhen came to buy the talisman, but no one has come to look for him again, and the house is unusually quiet.

Putting aside other customers, his spirit-gathering talismans are reasonably priced and effective, so Zhou Jinyan should have some repeat customers, right?

"That's strange..."

It's hard to believe that the talisman malfunctioned. If there really was a problem, Zhou Jinyan would have sent someone to deliver a message long ago, instead of remaining completely silent.

After several rounds of deliberation, Lu Chi finally couldn't sit still any longer. He immediately tidied himself up, pushed open the door, and went out, intending to personally find Zhou Jinyan and ask her for an explanation.

Zhou Jinyan's residence was located on the edge of the market town, with several acres of spirit fields scattered around it. The field ridges were neatly repaired, and spirit water flowed slowly along the ditches. The air was filled with the faint fragrance of grass and trees.

He had barely approached, and before he had even stopped, the two people inside the house had already noticed him.

The door opened with a bang.

Zhou Jinyan walked out first, followed by Xu Yanqiu.

When Zhou Jinyan saw Lu Chi, he was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter: "You've come at the perfect time, I was just thinking of looking for you."

Lu Chi was slightly taken aback and asked, "Why?"

Zhou Jinyan patted his shoulder, her smile undiminished: "Today is your twentieth birthday, have you even forgotten?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Chi's expression froze slightly, his mind went blank, and he finally snapped back to reality.

It turns out that the other party had been so secretive about this matter some time ago.

He was speechless for a moment, unsure of what to say.

Since embarking on the path of cultivation, the days and months have passed like water, fleeting in the blink of an eye. He felt that he had been cultivating for a long time, but looking back, he realized that he was only a young man in his mortal years.

Lately, I've been stuck in the talisman shop, being ordered around by others, burying myself in talisman-related matters every day, my mind focused on spirit stones and cultivation, and I've even forgotten about my own birthday.

Unfortunately, Zhou Jinyan remembered everything clearly and had made preparations well in advance.

Whether there were other reasons, Lu Chi did not delve into it. However, the sentiment was right in front of him, which was rare and brought a sense of warmth to his heart.

He came to his senses, cupped his hands in thanks, and expressed his gratitude.

Zhou Jinyan waved his hand and laughed, "It's nothing. I come from an ordinary family. There's an old custom in my hometown that when a child turns ten, it's considered like crossing a threshold, and a feast is held to celebrate."

"Ten years old is a hurdle, and twenty years old is another hurdle. These are times when one's destiny is further burdened. You are turning twenty today, and I have kept that in mind. I will make some preparations."

Xu Yanqiu, who had been standing to the side, stepped forward and handed over the jade box.

His expression was indifferent, and his tone was flat: "Birthday is not a very important matter. For cultivators, age is just a matter of adding or subtracting a stroke."

"But since it's a full year, it's also a hurdle to overcome. From now on, I should act more cautiously, be less driven by others, and think more about my own future."

Lu Chi took the jade box, hesitated for a moment, and then opened it on the spot. Inside the box lay a spiritual herb, its veins warm and moist, its spiritual energy contained within.

It was the same Rejuvenating Grass he had seen at Yangyuan Residence a few days ago, worth a low-grade spirit stone on the market.

Zhou Jinyan recognized the contents of the box at a glance, was first taken aback, and then exclaimed:

"Rejuvenating Grass? It's this stuff! Wow, Master Xu is something else, so generous with his gifts. No wonder he was hiding it from me earlier and wouldn't let me see it no matter what."

Xu Yanqiu snorted but didn't reply.

Lu Chi closed the jade box, bowed again, thanked him, and then asked, "Why is Brother Xu here as well?"

Xu Yanqiu curled his lip and said casually, "It's been a long time. I just came to see you all."

The truth is that after meeting Lu Chi at Yangyuan Residence that day, he sensed that something must have happened to the other party.

Whether it was leaving the talisman shop or buying pills, he was not the same as before. Suspicious, he came to Zhou Jinyan to inquire.

It just so happened that Zhou Jinyan was preparing for her birthday. After thinking about it, he simply asked Yangyuanju for half a day off, took out his own spirit stones, and bought the Rejuvenating Grass as a birthday gift.

He simply didn't bother to mention any of these reasons.

The three entered the courtyard. Zhou Jinyan turned and went into the house. After a short while, she brought out a pottery jar, broke the seal, and the aroma of wine immediately spread.

"It's made with spirit rice and has been left out for a while; it's just the right consistency to eat."

The wine has a crisp aroma, with a hint of grain sweetness.

Lu Chi smelled it and nodded, saying, "Since it's birthday wine, let's drink it on the spot."

The three of them each took a cup, sat down and drank a little. After a few sips, the atmosphere gradually relaxed.

Zhou Jinyan put down his wine cup and sighed, "We have known each other for many years, and it is not easy for us to gather together again today. Let's put everything else aside and just enjoy ourselves today."

Xu Yanqiu snorted and said, "How can a cultivator be greedy for wine and indulge in food? It will only lead to mistakes."

As he spoke, he glanced at Lu Chi again, his tone indifferent: "I've heard about your situation. Being expelled from the Luo family's talisman shop isn't anything shameful."

"The path is one's own to walk, so just keep working hard in the future. If you're short on spirit stones, I can help you out."

Lu Chi heard this, but his expression was somewhat subtle.

Xu Yanqiu seemed to know the reason why he left Luo's Talisman Shop, but he did not know that he had become a talisman master.

Upon seeing this, Zhou Jinyan suddenly burst into laughter, bending over backwards.

"You spoke too soon. I was the one who told you about Lu Chi's recent situation, but I didn't tell you everything, wanting to see how you would react."

He pointed at Lu Chi, his tone tinged with smugness: "This man is now a proper talisman master. His future prospects are not necessarily worse than yours, you 'alchemist'."

After he finished speaking, the courtyard fell silent for a moment.

"You've become a talisman master!"

Xu Yanqiu blurted out, momentarily losing his composure.