Immortality: Starting with Plundering the Talents of Monsters

"I'll give you another week. If you still owe me your Immortal Abode Fee, get out of Liuyun Market."

"Yes, thank you for the extension, Steward Sun."

……

Liuyunfang Market, a shantytown.

After watching Steward Sun, who had come to collect the Immortal Abode Fee, walk away, Xu Mo sat back down at the wooden table.

Wisps of white smoke drifted out slowly, and a delicate fragrance lingered around.

"The incense has not yet burned out; continue drawing the talisman."

He gently closed his eyes, calming his mind and focusing his attention.

"That's about it."

When Xu Mo's mental state reached its peak again, he picked up the talisman brush and dipped it in specially made metallic cinnabar.

The tip of the talisman brush touched the talisman paper, and in an instant, the brush moved like a dragon and a snake.

His entire set of movements was fluid and crisp, and his brushstrokes were extremely skillful and smooth.

"Success or failure, it all depends on this moment!"

The magical power within Xu Mo's body flowed evenly and steadily into the talisman brush, then traveled all the way to the tip of the brush, and finally landed on the talisman paper.

puff puff!

As the talisman brush reached the last line, a flame ignited, and the talisman paper spontaneously combusted and turned to ash.

  

"Still unable to create a high-quality Golden Light Talisman..."

Xu Mo was somewhat frustrated after failing to create another exquisite talisman, but he quickly calmed himself down.

"The art of talisman making is easy to learn but difficult to master, so one must not be impatient."

"Now... let's draw a few more ordinary talismans and quickly raise the funds for our immortal abode."

With a wave of his hand, he swept away all the ashes, pulled out a stack of yellow talisman paper from the side of the wooden table, and began to make talismans.

A moment later, the incense burned out, and Xu Mo's mental state deteriorated. He suddenly felt a wave of fatigue and stopped drawing the talisman.

"I've made three Golden Light Talismans, but I'm still a long way from raising enough for the Immortal Abode fee..."

Three first-tier low-grade golden light talismans were neatly stacked together.

Xu Mo put away his talisman-making tools and three golden light talismans, then stood up and looked out the window.

Outside the room.

The setting sun was gradually swallowed by dark clouds, and the few remaining rays of light on the horizon were slowly obscured by darkness, like embers about to burn out.

Dark clouds covered the sky, and a light drizzle fell.

A chilly wind carrying the chill of late autumn blew, rustling the leaves and startling crows into flight.

A slight chill seeped into the room through the cracks in the window sill, brushing against Xu Mo's cheek.

He couldn't help but feel sentimental at the sight of the scene, and a sense of melancholy welled up in his heart.

"I have been cultivating in this world for ten years."

The path to immortality is fraught with peril, and the prospect of eternal life is slim... When will I finally see any improvement?

Ten years ago, Xu Mo transmigrated to the world of cultivation, intending to join a sect and make his mark.

However, he only possessed a mixed set of four spiritual roots, resulting in low aptitude and being rejected by the immortal sects.

Fortunately.

Xu Mo had a slight talent for making talismans, so he came to the shantytown of Liuyun Market and rented a fairy residence.

During these ten years, he diligently made talismans and practiced immortal arts, but made little progress.

Even now, Xu Mo's cultivation level has barely reached the third level of Qi Refining.

Because of the low purity and impurity of his spiritual roots, he has always found it difficult to break through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

And his talisman-making skills.

Although they are skilled at making three types of first-tier low-grade talismans: Golden Light Talisman, Light Body Talisman, and Water Arrow Talisman.

However, he has never been able to draw a high-quality talisman, let alone a mid-grade first-tier talisman, which is much more difficult to draw.

"Sigh... I don't know why, but the usual fee for the Immortal Abode is always two low-grade spirit stones."

This month, however, the price suddenly jumped to five low-grade spirit stones, more than doubling.

Xu Mo looked up at the dilapidated little house and its rudimentary facilities, and couldn't help but curse under his breath.

"With this shabby environment, they still have to collect five low-grade spirit stones a month... Even cultivators who have undergone tribulation would be ashamed of themselves!"

With a bitter expression, he took off the storage bag from his waist, emptied it several times, and finally managed to pour out two low-grade spirit stones.

This month, full of confidence, he purchased a large amount of talisman paper and cinnabar, hoping to draw exquisite talismans.

As a result, they still hadn't succeeded by the end of the month, wasting their money.

This also resulted in Xu Mo failing to pay the Xianju fee on time.

"Let's sell all the talismans we have first, and then make more talismans to make up the rest when we get back."

Xu Mo took out all his talisman stock and prepared to sell them at Liuyun Market.

Liuyunfang Market.

Xu Mo walked along the bluestone pavement of the market and came to a talisman shop.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, you've come even on a rainy day!"

Manager Zhou, who had known Xu Mo for many years, greeted him with a smile.

"Are you selling talismans, and also want to get some talisman paper and special cinnabar?"

Xu Mo took out a stack of talismans from his storage bag and handed them over.

"Today we're only selling talismans; we don't need the talisman paper or cinnabar."

Here are five Lightness Talismans, three Golden Light Talismans, and two Water Arrow Talismans, priced at two low-grade spirit stones.

Shopkeeper Zhou took the talisman, slightly surprised, but did not ask any further questions.

"Alright, here are two low-grade spirit stones. Take them."

Manager Zhou took out two crystal-clear spirit stones and handed them to Xu Mo.

Xu Mo carefully put the two spirit stones into his storage bag and turned to leave.

"Fellow Daoist, please wait."

I've heard that the resident fees in the shantytowns outside the market area have increased significantly this month.

If you, fellow Daoist, find it difficult to settle your score... I have a plan that might solve your immediate problem.

Manager Zhou called out to Xu Mo, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

"If Fellow Daoist Xu is interested, please come to the shop with me for a chat."

Xu Mo paused in his tracks and turned back into the shop.

"Manager Zhou guessed correctly, I really can't afford the Immortal Abode Fee for the time being."

What insightful opinion does Manager Zhou have?

"As you know, Fellow Daoist Xu, this shantytown is under the jurisdiction of my Zhou family."

These fees for a dwelling place are set by the family's higher-ups; I, a nobody at the bottom, have no power to change them.

Manager Zhou paused for a moment, then continued:

"I have known you for ten years, and I trust your character and abilities quite a bit."

Now that you're twenty-six, it's time to get married and have children.

If you are willing to marry into my Zhou family, you can move to the Zhou family estate and save on the expensive immortal residence fee.

I can also enjoy many benefits from the Zhou family, which is much better than being a rogue repairman in the shantytown!

Marrying into the Zhou family?

According to Manager Zhou, marrying into the Zhou family would not only give them a powerful backer, but also allow them to gain many benefits within the clan.

That sounds really good.

In reality, there are only two paths for a rogue cultivator to join a cultivation family.

One is to master one of the various arts of cultivation and become a guest retainer of the family, thus contributing to the family's continuous output.

The family, in accordance with regulations, provides the guest retainers with corresponding remuneration each month.

The second option is to marry into a family, where women from the family are betrothed to the man who marries into the family, becoming "breeding pigs" to produce offspring for the family.

The more offspring born, the better their spiritual roots and the greater the aptitude, the richer the reward.

Essentially, it's about sowing seeds relentlessly in exchange for rewards.

Although Xu Mo could make talismans, his skills did not meet the minimum requirements of the Zhou family, so he could not take the route of becoming a guest retainer.

To join the Zhou family, one must become a "stud pig".

Clearly, this was exactly what Manager Zhou intended.

"Heh, no wonder the celestial abode fee suddenly increased so much this month..."

So this was your Zhou family's clever scheme all along, huh? All you wanted was to recruit more 'breeding pigs' (untrained cultivators) from the shantytowns to marry into your family.

Xu Mo sneered inwardly and cursed inwardly.

"Thank you, Manager Zhou. Please allow me to consider this matter."

Xu Mo did not refuse outright, but left some room for maneuver.

"No rush, go back and think it over carefully. I'll wait for your reply."

……

That night.

Xu Mo stopped what he was doing and put down the talisman brush.

"Two talismans have been made. That's all for today."

Hopefully, we can raise the funds for the Immortal Abode within the stipulated time...

At this moment, his mind was extremely exhausted from continuously making talismans.

In this state, it is impossible to continue drawing talismans.

Xu Mo was about to wash up and rest when he suddenly felt a sudden inspiration.

Gilded characters appeared from nothingness, forming a mysterious jade talisman that landed before his eyes.

Name: Xu Mo

[Spiritual Root: Gold 11/100]

[Spiritual Root: Wood 9/100]

[Spiritual Root: Water 8/100]

[Spiritual Root: Fire 6/100]

[Plunderable Talents: None]

[Talent: None]