Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: The Inheritance Secured
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Chen Jianghe looked at Chu Lang, sizing him up.
The fluctuations of spiritual power from his body indicated a late-stage Qi Refining cultivation. He wore a deep cyan silk brocade robe, a fishtail crown, and appeared to be middle-aged or older, with a broad forehead, a narrow face, and a tuft of a goatee.
Judging by his appearance, he was likely over sixty.
"May I ask what business Talisman Master Chu has with me?"
Chen Jianghe asked, cupping his hands.
He didn't introduce himself. Chu Lang had sought him out with a clear purpose, so he surely knew who he was.
Besides, he had more or less guessed Chu Lang's intentions.
"I've heard that you are a self-taught talisman crafter, and have even reached the level of a first-tier, low-grade master." Chu Lang stroked his goatee, a friendly smile playing on his lips.
Chen Jianghe nodded.
At this moment, he was certain of Chu Lang's purpose. It was likely the same as the Yun Clan's.
He just didn't know what kind of offer the man would make.
"Fellow Daoist, are you aware that without a proper inheritance, crafting mid-grade spirit talismans requires at least thirty to forty years of dedicated study?"
Chu Lang didn't state his purpose directly, instead explaining to Chen Jianghe just how arduous the path forward was without a talisman-crafting legacy.
Chen Jianghe knew Chu Lang was right. In fact, he felt the man was being rather conservative with his estimate.
Without an inheritance, to succeed in crafting mid-grade spirit talismans through self-study in thirty or forty years would make one a genius in the art.
Given his own talent for talisman crafting, he feared it would take him fifty years to master mid-grade talismans.
As for high-grade spirit talismans?
On his own, that would be a lifetime away.
"I am aware that the path of talisman crafting is fraught with hardship without an inheritance. Please, Talisman Master Chu, speak plainly," Chen Jianghe said, cupping his hands.
Just as he had guessed, the Yun Clan had spread the news that he would be leaving Mirror Moon Lake in the future, and had also revealed his status as a low-grade Talisman Master.
Especially the part about him being self-taught.
This would undoubtedly attract the attention of some of the Yun Clan's guest Talisman Masters, who would seek to trade their talisman-crafting legacies with him.
The Yun Clan's actions were not malicious.
Rather, they wanted to show Chen Jianghe their appreciation for talent, proving that only the Yun Clan truly supported independent cultivators.
"This old man possesses a first-tier talisman-crafting inheritance, which I can impart..."
"Brother Jianghe~"
Suddenly, a streak of sword light cut a perfect arc across the sky and landed on Chen Jianghe's fishing boat.
It was Yu Daniu.
He looked agitated and anxious, asking impatiently, "Brother Jianghe, are you leaving Mirror Moon Lake?"
Chen Jianghe smiled, patted Yu Daniu on the shoulder, and gave him a look, signaling that there was an outsider present.
The moment he had refused Yun Wu, he knew Yu Daniu would get word of his plans to leave Mirror Moon Lake.
"Talisman Master Chu?"
Yu Daniu turned to Chu Lang with a look of surprise, then cupped his hands. "Daniu greets Talisman Master Chu."
Chu Lang was a high-grade guest Talisman Master of the Yun Clan.
He hadn't abandoned Mirror Moon Lake even during the Yun Clan's time of crisis, and was now an honored guest of the family.
As a son-in-law of the Yun Clan and a manager of the Mirror Moon Immortal Pavilion, Yu Daniu naturally knew of Chu Lang.
"Fellow Daoist Yu, are you acquainted with Fellow Daoist Chen?"
Chu Lang nodded politely to Yu Daniu, aware of the Yun Clan's rising son-in-law.
"He's my elder brother," Yu Daniu stated plainly.
"I see."
A flicker of hesitation crossed Chu Lang's eyes as he seemed to be reformulating his terms. After a brief moment of thought, he said, "This old man can bestow upon you the techniques and insights for crafting mid-grade spirit talismans."
"You must swear an oath not to reveal what I teach you to anyone else."
"And what price must I pay?"
Chen Jianghe was slightly disappointed that Chu Lang hadn't mentioned the methods and insights for high-grade spirit talismans.
Still, obtaining the techniques for mid-grade talismans was good enough. As long as the terms were reasonable, he was willing to make the deal.
"Half of your profits from talisman crafting for fifteen years," Chu Lang said directly.
"Talisman Master Chu, that's an exorbitant price. Before I married into the clan, I also dabbled in talisman crafting, though I had no talent for it."
Yu Daniu immediately stepped forward to bargain for Chen Jianghe. "Back then, someone offered me the inheritance for both low-grade and mid-grade spirit talismans for only half the profits over fifteen years."
"You're only offering the mid-grade inheritance, not even including the low-grade, and you're asking for half the profits for fifteen years. Isn't that a bit much?"
Chen Jianghe frowned at the right moment, showing his dissatisfaction with Talisman Master Chu's terms.
"The inheritance and insights for low-grade and mid-grade spirit talismans, for half the profits over thirteen years."
Talisman Master Chu added the low-grade inheritance and insights, and also reduced the profit-sharing period.
"Still..."
Chen Jianghe stopped Yu Daniu, who was about to bargain further, and said sincerely, "Talisman Master Chu, as you know, I am already a low-grade Talisman Master. After this deal, you won't have to wait two or three years to see results. This is an immediate gain for you."
"For the inheritance and insights of low-grade and mid-grade spirit talismans, I can offer fifty percent of my profits for ten years."
Hearing this, Chu Lang weighed it in his mind and found some truth in Chen Jianghe's words. Dealing with a cultivator who hadn't yet started talisman crafting was indeed different from dealing with an established low-grade Talisman Master.
One was a potential profit, the other an immediate one.
Suddenly, another boathouse appeared on the lake, slowly approaching.
Chu Lang hesitated no longer. He immediately agreed to Chen Jianghe's terms, saying briskly, "Fine. It's a deal."
Chen Jianghe nodded. His offer of fifty percent of profits for ten years was based on careful calculation.
During the period of the agreement, he had to ensure there were no gaps in his and Xiao Hei's cultivation resources.
His current annual profit from talisman crafting was over twenty-five spirit stones. Giving half to Talisman Master Chu would still leave him with twelve or thirteen.
Combined with his income from fish farming, it would be enough for him and Xiao Hei to cultivate steadily without lacking resources.
Moreover, within ten years, he might be able to advance his skills to the level of a mid-grade Talisman Master.
When the agreement ended, he could rely on his mid-grade skills to prepare for leaving Mirror Moon Lake, and the resources he could acquire would be even more abundant.
Subsequently, Chen Jianghe swore an oath not to leak the talisman-crafting inheritance he received from Chu Lang.
Chu Lang then gave Chen Jianghe the jade slip containing the inheritance for low-grade and mid-grade spirit talismans.
The transaction was complete.
When the other boathouse drew near and docked at Water Area C-12, Chu Lang thought to himself, 'Just as I expected.'
At the same time, he breathed a sigh of relief.
He had completed the deal with Chen Jianghe one step ahead of the competition.
This added another layer to the foundation for the cultivation family he hoped to establish in the future.
Chen Jianghe was also very satisfied with the deal. He had obtained the mid-grade inheritance ahead of schedule, along with the low-grade one.
With the inheritance, he could now craft spirit talismans of other elements.
Especially the low-grade Five Elements Escape Talismans. These were life-saving talismans for critical moments. Once he succeeded in crafting them, he would have several more means of protecting his life.
After agreeing on a time for the annual profit payment, Chu Lang steered his boat away from Water Area C-12.
Chen Jianghe frankly told the other Talisman Master, who had also come to make a deal, that he had already reached an agreement with Talisman Master Chu.
The boats before Water Area C-12 departed, and calm returned to the lake channel.
Yu Daniu immediately pulled Chen Jianghe into the boat's cabin.