Journey to the West: Starting with the True Lord of the Pure Land

On both sides of the street, pavilions and halls stand side by side, with flying eaves and brackets, and various signs and banners hanging on them.

The items for sale are all-encompassing, including all kinds of elixirs, talismans, and rare and exotic animals.

"Please take a look, sir."

Seeing Chen Jiao's gaze sweeping across the street, the ghostly soldiers leading the way took the initiative to introduce him, their tone quite familiar.

"The streets of our Tongyou City are the most complete in the Netherworld."

Whether it's magical artifacts and elixirs used by cultivators in the mortal realm, or the Yin Sha treasures needed by Yin gods and ghost cultivators in the underworld, or even some rare and exotic items that are uncommon in both realms, you can find most of them here.

Many shop owners were originally criminals or had irreconcilable feuds, so they hid in Tongyou City and opened shops to make a living using their skills or savings.

As long as they don't break the city's rules, the city lord will allow them to settle down.

Therefore, customers must carefully distinguish the authenticity and quality of the various goods here.

Chen Jiao nodded slightly upon hearing this, his gaze sweeping over the shops, before speaking to the Yin soldiers:

"This humble Taoist wishes to purchase some ritual implements for drawing talismans, whether it be talisman brushes, talisman paper, spiritual ink, or special carriers for holding talismans, they are all acceptable."

Do you know of any reputable shops in town that sell high-quality goods?

The ghostly soldier seemed to have been clever and shrewd in life; upon receiving the order, he immediately bowed and replied:

"Reporting to the True Man, there are indeed many shops in the city that draw talismans and make artifacts, each with its own style and focus."

"I dare to offer my humble opinion on behalf of the true person."

He led the four into the depths of the market, recounting their experiences with great familiarity:

"The first one is called 'Xuan Gui Zhai'. The owner is quite mysterious."

The items sold in the temple are mostly talismans and artifacts for suppression, decrees, and connections with the underworld, and they are quite expensive.

However, its quality is extremely consistent, and many underworld deities who make official talismans also patronize it privately.

The ghostly soldiers pointed to a three-story pavilion in the middle of the street, built entirely of black stone. Its facade was not ostentatious, but it exuded a solemn and imposing aura.

The ghost soldier continued:

"The second place is 'Qingfu Pavilion'. This pavilion is also a top-notch place, where you can often see ancient talismans, rare materials, and unique fragments that are hard to find elsewhere."

only……"

The ghostly soldiers paused, as if carefully considering their words.

"This pavilion master's temperament... is quite eccentric. He is obsessed with talismans and has extremely high standards."

Sometimes, even when customers bring large sums of money, just for a magic talisman, he might not be willing to sell it.

Instead, one should examine the visitor's knowledge of talismans, or criticize the guest for using the talisman inappropriately.

Rather than saying that customers choose what's in his shop, it's more accurate to say that he's picking customers who catch his eye.

If there is nothing that pleases his eye, no matter how many spirit stones he has, it is difficult to exchange them for a single sheet of paper or a single inkstone.

But if it suits one's stomach and spleen, one might be able to acquire a rare treasure at an ordinary price.

The Qingfu Pavilion he was referring to was located at a crossroads and had an exquisite architectural style.

"As for the third one."

The ghostly soldier pointed to the end of the main street, where a building constructed entirely of jade-like spiritual materials, with soaring eaves and swirling pure energy, stood.

"It is named 'Yunfu Residence'. Its owner is said to be an outer sect elder of the Tianfu Sect in Dongsheng Shenzhou, who opened a branch here for this reason."

The Heavenly Talisman Sect is a major sect of talismans with profound heritage. The talismanic artifacts it sells mostly inherit the orthodox methods of the Xuanmen (Taoist school) and are of superior quality.

They possess unique skills in crafting various talismans, including those for attack, protection, and aiding in cultivation.

Master Shouyue and Songyan listened attentively.

Such a detailed introduction is clearly beyond the knowledge of ordinary ghost soldiers, demonstrating the meticulousness of the gatekeeper's arrangements.

Song An's eyes lit up as he listened, finding the Netherworld City far more interesting than he had imagined.

After listening, Chen Jiao nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the three shops as if he were considering his options.

Xuan Guizhai specializes in items of the underworld, so naturally, this was not his choice.

Yunfuju has a complete system and could be considered as an alternative.

However, the master of Qingfu Pavilion has an eccentric temperament and is obsessed with talismans...

Such individuals often possess extraordinary treasures or have exceptional insights into the art of talismans.

The art of talismans emphasizes intuition, insight, and profound knowledge. Being able to communicate with such a person who is obsessed with this art may be more beneficial than simply buying objects.

Although I was once known for my fighting and killing skills and my ability to control thunder with metal, I was not deeply involved in miscellaneous arts such as talismans, alchemy, and artifacts. However, my understanding of Taoism was profound and I could draw inferences from one thing to another.

Now, under the pseudonym Jiangxiao, he travels around, intending to make up for these unorthodox skills in order to solidify a broader foundation for his Taoist practice.

The art of talismans, which connects with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and outlines the patterns of the Great Dao, is beneficial to his understanding of the fire element, his research into the principles of array formations, and even his alchemy and weapon crafting.

Go visit Qingfu Pavilion; you might find something unexpected.

"Let's go and take a look at Qingfu Pavilion first."

Chen Jiao said to the Yin soldiers, then turned to the three who guarded the moon.

"Would you three like to make yourselves at home, or perhaps accompany me for a look?"

Master Shouyue hesitated for a moment, thinking of the help he had just received and his desire to befriend Master Jiangxiao.

She answered softly:

"Since we have nothing else to do, we might as well follow the Master and see the splendor of the Qingfu Pavilion."

Shouyue remained calm on the surface, but inwardly she grew increasingly curious about this Jiangxiao Zhenren.

His swordsmanship is superb, his fire magic is profound, and now he has shown interest in the art of talismans.

What is the origin of Fellow Daoist Jiangxiao?

Song Yan's eyes sparkled, clearly filled with anticipation for the Qingfu Pavilion he was about to visit, hoping to glimpse the true master's profound knowledge of talismans.

A moment later, the ghostly soldiers stopped in front of an inconspicuous two-story wooden building.

The building is old, the wood is dark purple, and several strings of strangely styled bronze wind chimes hang from the eaves, moving automatically without wind and emitting a light, ethereal sound.

Above the door hangs an ebony plaque with three large characters engraved in ancient seal script: Qingfu Pavilion.

The handwriting is slender and vigorous, with a sharp edge at the turns, subtly revealing a spiritual quality.

"Master, we have arrived at Qingfu Pavilion."

The shop was small, and compared to the other shops on the left and right that were gleaming and bustling with customers, it appeared particularly low-key, even somewhat deserted.

If it weren't for the guidance of the ghostly soldiers, it would have been easy to miss it.

Chen Jiao looked up and nodded slightly.

This Qingfu Pavilion truly has a hidden charm amidst the city.

As you push open the door, a scent that blends aged wood fragrance, a slightly astringent ink aroma, and a faint, mellow, and profound fragrance wafts towards you.

The interior space is slightly more spacious than it appears from the outside, and the lighting is soft and not dim.

The walls and the hall are lined with rows of display cabinets and wooden shelves.

The items displayed there were not many, and most of them were placed in exquisite brocade boxes or jade boxes. Only a corner was opened for people to see, which made them seem quite precious.

Talisman paper, spirit ink, talisman brushes, and even some uniquely shaped talismanic implements were arranged in a neat and orderly manner, each one wiped clean and imbued with a precious radiance.

The pavilion was quite quiet at the moment, with only two or three guests browsing the shelves in silence, without exchanging words with each other, creating a somber atmosphere.

The most eye-catching feature is a large desk placed deep inside the shop, by the window.

An elderly man dressed in a simple blue robe, with his hair neatly combed, stood behind a table, bending over and holding a pen, intently sketching something on a talisman.

The place where he drew the talisman was right in the center of this shop that was open to customers, rather than the quiet room that an ordinary talisman master would need.

He seemed oblivious to the comings and goings of customers in the store, focusing solely on the strokes of his pen.

The pen tip trembled slightly, and cinnabar mixed with some kind of spiritual liquid meandered and flowed on the talisman paper, outlining a complex and mysterious trajectory, with a faint spiritual light flowing with the pen strokes.

The old man had a solemn expression and a long, drawn-out breath, blending seamlessly with his surroundings, creating a strange and harmonious tranquility amidst the hustle and bustle.

Just as Chen Jiao and his companions stopped to observe, a guest, who seemed to have been searching for a long time without success, finally couldn't help but bow to the old man drawing the talisman from afar and ask in a loud voice:

"May I ask, Master, does your shop possess any superior talismans capable of warding off the Thunderous Law? Or the spiritual materials necessary to refine such talismans?"