Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Daniu's Promise
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Talisman Master Chu Lang put away his flying sword and landed on the bow of the boat. He stood before Chen Jianghe with a friendly smile.
"Fellow Daoist Chen, your talisman-crafting skills are improving rapidly. I imagine it won't be long before you become a mid-grade Talisman Master."
Talisman Master Chu Lang began with a compliment, not immediately stating his purpose.
"It's all thanks to Talisman Master Chu's talisman arts inheritance," Chen Jianghe said with a chuckle.
By now, he had a guess as to why Talisman Master Chu Lang had come. It was likely about continuing their deal.
Receiving thirty to forty spirit stones from him each year was enough to cover the basic cultivation needs of five clan members.
Although Talisman Master Chu Lang was a high-grade Talisman Master and earned more profit from crafting talismans annually, he still had his own cultivation to consider.
He couldn't subsidize his clan with everything he had.
"With Fellow Daoist Chen's talent in the way of talismans, you could probably become a high-grade Talisman Master in twenty or thirty years."
Talisman Master Chu Lang continued his praise.
Chen Jianghe smiled along but said nothing. He was now even more certain of his guess.
Talisman Master Chu Lang wanted to renew their contract and continue their business.
"You just lack the high-grade talisman arts inheritance."
Seeing Chen Jianghe remain silent, Talisman Master Chu Lang stopped beating around the bush and said directly, "I wonder if Fellow Daoist Chen is interested in making another deal with me?"
"What kind of deal?" Chen Jianghe asked, cupping his hands.
"Thirty years."
Talisman Master Chu Lang held up three fingers and said to Chen Jianghe, "We split the profits from your talisman crafting for thirty years, and in return, I will grant you the complete first-tier talisman arts inheritance."
"Of course, you still cannot pass it on to others."
"Thirty years? That's too long. I'm afraid I can't make that deal with you, Talisman Master Chu. I plan to leave Mirror Moon Lake in a while to travel the Tiannan Region."
Chen Jianghe didn't hide his intention to leave.
The Yun Clan already knew he was leaving. Through Yun Wu, many others had probably heard about his decision to depart from Mirror Moon Lake.
So, it wasn't much of a secret.
Since Talisman Master Chu Lang had a deal with Chen Jianghe, he had naturally paid attention to news about him and knew he planned to leave Mirror Moon Lake.
He just didn't want to lose such a good partner in talisman crafting, so he had come to try his luck.
"When you leave Mirror Moon Lake, do you have a specific destination? If it's close to the lake, we could still continue our deal."
Talisman Master Chu Lang asked, still holding out hope.
Chen Jianghe chuckled lightly. "Like a drifting cloud or a wild crane, I'll wander Tiannan, going wherever the wind takes me. I don't know where I'll end up."
"In that case, let's forget about it."
Talisman Master Chu Lang looked a little disappointed. He shook his head and cupped his hands. "I shall take my leave."
"Take care, Talisman Master Chu."
Chen Jianghe watched Talisman Master Chu Lang leave on his flying sword, then turned and went back into the cabin.
Half of his talisman-crafting profits for thirty years was a bit steep. Although there might have been room for negotiation, it probably wouldn't have come down by much.
Gao Peiyao had mentioned that a complete first-tier talisman arts inheritance was available in the Immortal Sect's Market City. On the condition that it not be passed on, the price was one thousand six hundred spirit stones.
Based on the profit he was currently sharing with Talisman Master Chu Lang, it averaged forty spirit stones a year. Over thirty years, that would be one thousand two hundred spirit stones.
It looked like he was getting the better end of the deal.
But that wasn't the case. His talisman skills were constantly improving, and he would soon reach the level of a mid-grade Talisman Master. At that point, the share given to Talisman Master Chu Lang wouldn't be just forty spirit stones a year.
It could be sixty, or even seventy spirit stones.
So thirty years was definitely out of the question. Twenty years would be a fair price, considering he already had the mid-grade talisman arts inheritance and only lacked the high-grade part.
But Chen Jianghe wouldn't make the deal anyway. He couldn't stay at Mirror Moon Lake for another twenty years.
He was forty-four, soon to be forty-five. In twenty years, he would be past sixty.
His unchanging appearance would surely attract disaster.
Chen Jianghe didn't plan to go out much after reaching the age of fifty, as cultivators usually started showing signs of aging by then.
As for the Yun Clan's previous offer of a complete first-tier talisman arts inheritance in exchange for eighty years of service, that would have given Chen Jianghe full ownership.
He would have been able to establish a clan and pass it down to his descendants.
Gao Peiyao hadn't mentioned the price for full ownership of a first-tier talisman arts inheritance. It was possible the one in the Immortal Sect's Market City was only sold with an oath not to share it.
"No, I can't go to Qinghe Market City for the Mid-Autumn Festival next year."
After much thought, Chen Jianghe decided he couldn't accept the invitation to Qinghe Market City.
He didn't have a high-grade Spirit Beast Ring, so he couldn't carry Xiao Hei with him. This was a major problem.
Leaving Xiao Hei alone at Mirror Moon Lake was out of the question.
A round trip to Qinghe Market City, even a quick one, would take six or seven days.
After all, Mirror Moon Market City had no direct spirit boat service to Qinghe Market City.
Seven days was too long.
If Xiao Hei were exposed, his own life would be in danger. He could never leave Xiao Hei alone anywhere.
"Looks like I'll have to tell Daniu."
He had originally planned to discuss it with Daniu, but upon further reflection, even if Daniu went, he couldn't go with him.
Not unless he could buy a high-grade Spirit Beast Ring before next year's Mid-Autumn Festival.
As Chen Jianghe was lost in thought, a familiar aura approached. It was Yun Xiaoniu, arriving at Sector A, Area Six on his flying sword.
"This junior greets Uncle."
Seeing Chen Jianghe, Yun Xiaoniu stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Your father isn't back yet?"
Chen Jianghe saw the letter in Yun Xiaoniu's hand and guessed it was from Gao Peiyao to Yu Daniu.
"My father is still out searching for traces of Wang Kui. His last message said he was still in the Qiyun Mountain area."
As Yun Xiaoniu spoke, he held up Gao Peiyao's letter. "Auntie Yao sent a letter inviting you and my father to a small gathering in Qinghe Market City for the Mid-Autumn Festival next year. I'm afraid my father won't be able to make it."
"The Tiannan Region's cultivation world is vast. Wang Kui has been on the run for three years already. It's like looking for a needle in a haystack. There's no need to waste time on him."
"You may not know this, Uncle, but this search for Wang Kui is mainly for the Tiannan Sect's benefit. Whether we find him or not, we have to look," Yun Xiaoniu said with a hint of resignation.
The deacon from the Tiannan Sect had made a trip to Mirror Moon Market City and left empty-handed. He was surely a bit displeased.
Now that a clue about the demonic cultivator's storage pouch had surfaced, the Yun Clan naturally had to take action to give Deacon Lan an explanation.
Even if they couldn't find him, it would show their reverence for the Tiannan Sect.
"Alright then. I'll write a reply to Peiyao, explain the situation, and we can arrange to meet some other time."
Chen Jianghe said with a nod.
Even if Yu Daniu returned, he had no intention of going to Qinghe Market City for the gathering. For him, safety always came first, no matter the circumstances.
There would be plenty of time for gatherings in the future.
Why rush things?
"I'll have to trouble you then, Uncle."
"Oh, right. There's one more thing I need to tell you, Uncle."
Yun Xiaoniu said in a puzzled tone, "My father sent a message saying that when he returns, he wants to give you a great opportunity, but you'll need to have spirit stones ready."
"A great opportunity?"
Chen Jianghe laughed and said, "That Daniu, playing mysterious with me."
"How many spirit stones did your father say I should prepare?"
"Well..." Yun Xiaoniu scratched his head, recalling his father's message, and said awkwardly, "He didn't say exactly how many. Just... a lot."
"Hmm?"
Chen Jianghe's expression turned serious. A lot of spirit stones. It seemed whatever Yu Daniu was planning to give him was quite valuable.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have mentioned spirit stones, let alone a lot of them.
Clearly, this opportunity didn't come from Yu Daniu himself. It was highly likely something he had negotiated for from the Yun Clan.
But it would require a lot of spirit stones as payment.
"Alright, I understand."
"Then this junior will take his leave."
After Yun Xiaoniu left, Chen Jianghe sat on the bow of the boat, lost in thought.
What kind of opportunity could it be? For Yu Daniu to say it would require a lot of spirit stones?
And it was very likely obtained from the Yun Clan.
"Could it be the first-tier talisman arts inheritance?"
Yu Daniu had been present when he made the deal with Talisman Master Chu Lang for the mid-grade talisman arts inheritance, so he knew Chen Jianghe lacked the high-grade portion.
If it was the high-grade talisman arts inheritance, that would indeed be a great opportunity.
With Yu Daniu's status, plus his father-in-law's position, it was possible for him to secure the high-grade talisman arts inheritance from the Yun Clan for him.
If he swore not to pass it on, the price might even be extremely low.
But no matter how low the price, it would still be over a thousand spirit stones, wouldn't it?
The complete first-tier talisman arts inheritance, without the right to pass it on, was worth one thousand six hundred spirit stones. Even if he only needed the high-grade part, it would still cost over a thousand.
"It can't be."
Chen Jianghe shook his head.
He was just a low-grade Talisman Master, and Yu Daniu knew all about his recent situation.
He had to give half of his annual talisman-crafting profits to Talisman Master Chu Lang, and he had also lent thirty spirit stones to Gao Peiyao and twenty to Zhou Miaoyun.
There was no way he had that many spirit stones on hand.
Even though this was the last year of his deal with Talisman Master Chu Lang.
If he spent the next two years saving up, he could at most accumulate a little over a hundred spirit stones.
That was still a huge deficit compared to the talisman arts inheritance, which was worth at least a thousand spirit stones.
"Could it be a magical artifact, or some kind of spirit pill or elixir?"
Chen Jianghe returned to his cabin and stopped guessing. He would find out when Yu Daniu returned.
What he needed to do now was craft talismans and save up spirit stones.
Otherwise, it would be awkward if Yu Daniu brought him a great opportunity and he didn't have the spirit stones for it.
He then wrote a reply to Gao Peiyao, explaining his and Yu Daniu's current situations.
He politely declined the invitation, saying they could arrange a gathering at a later date.
After finishing the letter, he gave it to his egret to deliver to Mirror Moon Market City, from where it would be sent to Qinghe Market City by the flying post service.
Then, Chen Jianghe cleared his mind of distracting thoughts and began crafting talismans.
Time flew by, swift and fleeting.
Like a wild horse breaking free, three years passed in the blink of an eye.
On a July night, the sky was full of stars, and the moonlight was hazy.
Under the night sky, the black-canopied boat floated on the lake, swaying gently with the autumn breeze.
The lamplight in the cabin stretched Chen Jianghe's shadow long, making it sway back and forth.
He held a wolf-hair talisman brush, his focus absolute, as he painted profound talismanic patterns on a piece of black porpoise skin that had been soaked in spirit blood. Each stroke was infused with spiritual power, branded onto the spirit-blood porpoise skin by the tip of his brush.
A flash of spiritual light flickered across the spirit-blood porpoise skin.
The talisman was complete.
Chen Jianghe took the talisman in his hand, circulated spiritual power to his fingertips, and tore it.
*Swoosh~*
Three half-zhang-long water arrows materialized and shot toward the lake surface a hundred meters away.
*Boom!*
Like a meteor strike, three water-filled craters, one zhang wide and three zhang deep, appeared on the lake's surface, kicking up a water screen dozens of zhang high.
A look of joy spread across Chen Jianghe's face. "Success!"
(End of this chapter)