Mortal: Starting with the Golden Jade Book

In no time, the shop owner packed everything up and handed it over. Lin Zui checked it briefly and confirmed that everything was in order.

"Fellow Daoist, is there anything else you need?"

"Oh, it's like this. I'd like to buy some pills to assist cultivators in the Qi Refining stage. Also, I have a batch of low-to-mid-level beginner-grade talismans to sell. I wonder where would be a good place to buy them?"

The shop owner pondered for a moment upon hearing this.

"If you want to buy pills, then you should go to the Pill Treasure Pavilion. You can buy all the common pills on the market there, and the quantity is sufficient. Although the price is a bit higher, the quality is guaranteed."

"As for talismans, all major shops will buy them. Unless they are rare talismans, the prices of ordinary ones are very transparent. In fact, you can sell them directly to me. Our shop has been cooperating with your valley for many years and will definitely not treat you unfairly."

Lin Zui thought about it and agreed. Anyway, he didn't plan to sell them all at once, so it didn't matter who he sold them to.

"Alright, then please give me an estimate for these talismans."

Lin Zui waved his hand, and a stack of talismans appeared in front of the shopkeeper. They were mostly low-grade beginner talismans, mixed with a small number of mid-grade talismans, but they were all the most common items.

The shopkeeper, without changing his expression, inspected the shop and found nothing unusual. He then offered a price of two hundred spirit stones. After a few symbolic rounds of bargaining, Lin Zui agreed.

After that, he went to several shops and bought some materials for studying formations. He also sold some talismans in batches, and soon the number of spirit stones he had rose to about two thousand.

Afterwards, he went to the Pill Treasure Pavilion and spent several hundred spirit stones to buy dozens of bottles of pills suitable for the Qi Refining stage. Such a generous purchase immediately attracted the attention of several Qi Refining stage cultivators in the store.

Seeing this, Lin Zui, who originally wanted to buy some more, had no choice but to give up. Although the reputation of Huangfeng Valley disciples had some deterrent effect, if they flaunted their wealth too much, it was hard to guarantee that no one would take the risk.

With a sigh, Lin Zui put away the pills and left the Pill Treasure Pavilion, heading towards Yellow Maple Valley.

Nothing happened along the way.

Upon returning to the low-level disciple area where he resided, he happened to encounter several fellow disciples engaged in lively conversation. Lin Zui had no particular relationship with them and was about to leave when their conversation made him stop in his tracks.

"The Ascension Ceremony is held once every ten years. We certainly can't miss it if we can go and see it. It's just a pity that our cultivation level is not high enough to qualify us to join the team."

"Can't we go by ourselves?"

"It's easy to say, but how many dangers will there be on the way from here to Tianwutai in Lanzhou? Besides, the conference is starting in a month, and at our speed, we simply won't make it in time."

"Oh, I see. Well, we really missed a good show."

"Yes, the Ascension Ceremony is a real life-or-death affair, much more exciting than the internal competitions within the sect."

"Oh well, it's none of our business anyway."

"Let's go, let's get to work."

As the group gradually disappeared into the distance, Lin Zui's eyes flickered.

"The Ascension Ceremony, is it...?"

At this point in time, Han Li must already be on his way to find Tai Nan Mountain. Without the Ascension Token, it's unknown whether the Old Demon can still enter Huangfeng Valley, or whether some big shot in the void has given him another piece, allowing the plot to return to the main storyline.

If that's the case, then he really needs to think carefully about how to get along with the old devil in the future.

Just then, a somewhat arrogant voice came from behind.

"Oh, isn't this Junior Brother Lin? You're back so quickly. You must have already purchased all the necessary materials, right?"

Lin Zui frowned, knowing without turning around that it must be Senior Brother Wang.

"Hmph, does Senior Brother not know whether I can purchase everything I need?"

Lin Zui countered with a question.

"With Junior Brother Lin's competence, this little matter should be a piece of cake. What, could there be some unexpected situation?"

Seeing Senior Brother Wang's serious, knowing question, Lin Zui was annoyed, but remained outwardly calm.

"It's not really an accident, it's just that the prices of a few materials have gone up."

"Oh dear, there's nothing I can do about it. When I was procuring for the sect, I would occasionally encounter this kind of situation. In order not to delay important sect matters, I actually spent quite a few spirit stones of my own money."

Lin Zui pursed his lips, naturally not believing a single word of what he said, but he didn't want to argue with him.

"Senior brother is very righteous."

"Junior brother, you didn't forget to buy everything, did you?"

"Of course not. Although I am not wealthy, how could I be so reckless? However, Junior Brother's financial resources are limited. If it happens again, I'm afraid I will be unable to help."

"Ah, Junior Brother Lin is too modest. How could you be so fortunate as to have gained the favor of Martial Uncle Yu and inherited the Dao of Arrays without lacking such a small amount of spirit stones?"

Senior Brother Wang's words were sarcastic and had a hidden meaning. After a moment's thought, Lin Zuiwei finally understood the implied meaning.

So this guy is jealous and hateful because he received the inheritance of that formation genius. No wonder he's targeting me like this.

Judging from his expression, I'll probably cause him a lot of trouble in the future. I was originally planning to deal with him after I reached the fifth level of Qi Refining, but now it seems I can't wait any longer.

"Senior brother, you flatter me. I am simply self-aware enough to know that I have no hope of reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, so I used Foundation Establishment Pills to exchange for some array formation manuals with my uncle. How could that be considered my uncle's inheritance?"

Lin Zui adopted a humble posture.

"Actually, I don't know much about formations. I've studied them for a long time, but there are still many things I don't understand. I've wanted to ask my senior brothers for some advice for a long time, but I haven't dared to ask. Since you brought it up today, why don't you come to my room and give me some pointers on formations?"

Upon hearing this, Senior Brother Wang's eyes lit up immediately. He had long coveted the array in Lin Zui's room, and now that he could finally study it up close, how could he not be willing?

As for whether Lin Zui had any ill intentions towards him, he was not worried at all. Not to mention that his cultivation level of the eighth level of Qi Refining completely overwhelmed the other party, even if he really had some means to deal with him, this was Huangfeng Valley. Would he really dare to kill him?

"Very well, I originally had some things to take care of, but since you have sincerely invited me, I will go with you to take a look."

After a while.

In Lin Zui's room.

Senior Brother Wang lay on the ground in a sorry state, tightly bound by several golden chains, with several talismans that imprisoned spiritual power affixed to his body, making it impossible for him to mobilize any of his internal magic power.

He never expected that Lin Zui would actually dare to attack him, and that she would show no mercy. She threw out several mid-level talismans, and in this narrow room, he didn't even have a chance to dodge or fight back before he was tightly bound.

Senior Brother Wang was filled with fear and regret, yet he continued to make threats.

"Lin Zui, what do you think you're doing? This is Yellow Maple Valley! Even if you kill me, you won't escape!"

"Hahaha, senior brother, you've misunderstood. Why would I kill you? That would be such a waste."

Lin Zui took out the Blood Soul Banner again, and the bloody, sinister aura flowing from the banner immediately filled the surroundings.

"I just want to get closer to my senior brother so that he won't do these underhanded things to me behind my back and make things difficult for me in the future."

Stimulated by the eerie blood energy of the Blood Soul Banner, Senior Brother Wang could no longer maintain his composure. Although he didn't know what Lin Zui was going to do, his intuition told him that it was definitely not a good thing.

"Junior brother...I was wrong. Believe me, I will never dare to make things difficult for you again."

"I believe you, how could I not believe my senior brother? Don't worry, in a little while, we'll be on the same side..."

Lin Zui's voice was soft and seductive, but to Senior Brother Wang, it only sent chills down his spine.

"Oh, by the way, it might hurt a little in a bit, but the soundproofing here is excellent, so you can shout as much as you want without disturbing anyone..."

"No, no—"