Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Lucky Star
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A few days later, in a quiet room within the Blood-clothed Tower.
Fairy Feixia had long since departed. Lu Yang sat on a meditation cushion, beginning to study the talisman arts inheritance he had obtained from his discussion of the Dao with Fairy Feixia.
As for the pleasures between men and women, Lu Yang never let them occupy his mind.
He knew very well that in the Primal Saint Sect, there was no such thing as true love—only exchanges of benefits.
Saving her life was one aspect. Another was that he held command over the marketplace, a place even those at the peak of the Qi Refining Realm couldn't touch. Fairy Feixia needed his help.
Part of the reason was also that discussing the Dao through dual cultivation was faster.
After all, the Primal Saint Sect possessed dual cultivation techniques like the Yin-Yang Grand Pleasure Ode, which could directly plunder knowledge. Compared to verbal communication, physical exchange was far more convenient.
However, if Fairy Feixia thought she could demand some benefit from him based on their few days of exchange, that was absolutely impossible.
After all, he had also taught Fairy Feixia about array formations during these past few days.
The transaction was settled, fair and square!
"Talisman arts..."
As one of the hundred arts of cultivation, talisman arts were quite a popular field. After several days of in-depth exchange, Lu Yang had gained a much deeper understanding of them.
In his view, the so-called talisman arts were essentially a type of temporary, miniature array formation. Although their power was far inferior to actual arrays, their advantage lay in portability. They didn't require the support of earth veins or spiritual energy, nor did they have geographical restrictions. As long as the user infused them with spiritual power, they could be activated.
Lu Yang focused his mind and looked at the panel of the [Book of a Hundred Lives].
[Golden Light Talisman (Initiate), Five Thunders Talisman (Initiate), Sword Qi Talisman (Initiate), Wind-Returning Fire-Reversing Talisman (Initiate)]
Fairy Feixia had passed on four types of talismans to him in total. Among them, the Golden Light Talisman, Five Thunders Talisman, and Sword Qi Talisman were all relatively common, merely ninth-grade in rank.
Only the last one, the Wind-Returning Fire-Reversing Talisman, was a seventh-grade grand talisman.
This talisman could imprint and preserve a cultivator's state at a specific moment in time. When needed, it could be overlaid, allowing the cultivator to return to their peak condition for a short period.
For instance, if you had just endured a fierce battle, were covered in wounds, and had less than a tenth of your spiritual power remaining, using this talisman would instantly return you to an unharmed state with peak spiritual power. Although the backlash afterward would worsen your injuries by thirty percent, it was more than enough for an emergency at a critical moment.
Fairy Feixia's ability to escape all the way back to the marketplace was thanks to this talisman.
Her willingness to proactively teach such a life-saving talisman showed that despite her other motives in this discussion of the Dao, there was still some sincerity in her actions.
Of course, the effects of the Wind-Returning Fire-Reversing Talisman could not be stacked.
And because of its outstanding efficacy, its cooldown period was also longer. After one use, one had to wait three months before using it a second time.
"Heaven is round, Earth is square, the nine chapters of law and order. As I now put brush to paper, all spirits shall submit and hide."
Several sheets of talisman paper floated in the air. Lu Yang formed a hand seal with one hand and channeled spiritual power with the other, writing on the paper. From time to time, he would lose control of his spiritual power, causing a sheet to be destroyed.
But very quickly, Lu Yang would guide a new sheet of talisman paper to replace it.
After a long time, Lu Yang slowly finished his work. Before him now lay four talismans, each shimmering with spiritual light, their colors and characters distinct.
"Success!"
Lu Yang first put away the most precious Wind-Returning Fire-Reversing Talisman, then picked up the remaining three talismans. As he studied them with focused attention, a thought suddenly occurred to him.
"Unlike the Wind-Returning Fire-Reversing Talisman, the Golden Light, Five Thunders, and Sword Qi Talismans are all quite conventional. They don't require particularly advanced talisman techniques. As long as the materials are prepared and one practices enough, they can be mass-produced. The only problem is how to find so many people to draw talismans for you for free."
Fortunately, Lu Yang had never been worried about this.
As it happened, the banner spirits within the Myriad Souls Banner were idle all day with nothing to do. He could pass down the art of talisman drawing to them, giving them some work to pass the time.
Doing this could even save him a sum of money.
After all, if he hired disciples from the Primal Saint Sect to draw the talismans, he would have to pay them wages.
But the banner spirits... what a joke. His willingness to give them work was already a blessing for them. They wanted wages? Then they couldn't blame him for downsizing!
Stepping out of the quiet room, Yun Miaoqing, who was waiting outside the door, brought Lu Yang some unexpected news.
"Zhao Xuhe?"
Lu Yang raised an eyebrow, wondering why this Senior Brother Zhao would suddenly come looking for him. The last time they spoke, he had been full of vigilance towards him.
Seeing Lu Yang frown, Yun Miaoqing said softly, "Daoist Brother, if you don't wish to see him, shall I send him away?"
"...No need." Lu Yang smiled faintly. "Let's see him."
Soon, Zhao Xuhe was led into the reception room of the Blood-clothed Tower. Lu Yang secretly observed him for a moment and, finding nothing amiss, walked in.
"Senior Brother Zhao! I've missed you so much!"
Lu Yang laughed heartily, embracing Zhao Xuhe the moment he entered. He said excitedly, "To be honest with you, I fought too fiercely with that true disciple from the Divine Martial Sect some time ago. Although I managed to kill him, I was also severely injured. It took a long time recuperating to recover. I've made you wait, Senior Brother Zhao."
"Not at all, not at all."
Zhao Xuhe gave an awkward but polite smile, though inwardly he was grinding his teeth in frustration. He had seen Fairy Feixia walking out of the Blood-clothed Tower!
But his Dao heart was firm, after all, and he quickly shook off the negative emotions.
"Junior Brother Lu, I have come this time to ask for a favor."
Zhao Xuhe got straight to the point, his voice heavy. "Junior Brother, have you heard of the Witch Ghost Mystic Realm? The news about this mystic realm has been on everyone's lips recently."
"Of course, I have." Lu Yang nodded.
Zhao Xuhe struck while the iron was hot. "To be honest, Junior Brother, I have some clues about the Witch Ghost Mystic Realm, and they might be related to a Foundation Establishment opportunity!"
"Oh."
Lu Yang's calm reaction left Zhao Xuhe momentarily stunned.
This wasn't right.
In his mind, a Foundation Establishment opportunity was such a momentous affair. Shouldn't Lu Yang have immediately and anxiously asked him for the specific details?
Little did he know, Lu Yang's mindset was very stable at this moment.
One must understand that when he first learned of the Witch Ghost Mystic Realm, it was information he had dug up after converting Ouyang Haoze into a banner spirit. It was an absolute, little-known secret.
But now?
The entire Skull Mountain was abuzz with talk of the Witch Ghost Mystic Realm. Everyone was discussing it, as if even a mortal could successfully establish their foundation just by finding the realm.
'When the aunties in the neighborhood all start talking about stocks, it's time for you to get out of the market.'
Is a secret that everyone knows still a secret?
This was just waiting to harvest the leeks!
Lu Yang saw through it all. The more the Witch Ghost Mystic Realm was hyped up to be a land of boundless opportunities, the more resolute he became in his decision not to take a single step out of the marketplace.
Thinking of this, Lu Yang immediately shook his head. "I'm sorry, Senior Brother, but I'm not interested in the mystic realm."
"This..." Zhao Xuhe's mouth fell open. He hurriedly tried to persuade him, "Junior Brother, cultivation is not easy. One only lives once, how can you shrink back at a critical moment?"
"The ancient Witch Ghost Dao was a major sect of the demonic path. Although it was eventually destroyed by the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion, a centipede dies but never falls down. There are bound to be some good things left. Perhaps even a Foundation Establishment treasure! Aren't you tempted, Junior Brother? You must know that opportunities like this are once in a lifetime. If you miss it, it's gone forever!"
'Opportunities are once in a lifetime... for you.'
'I'm different. If it doesn't work out in this life, there's always the next.'
Lu Yang complained inwardly but shook his head firmly on the outside. "My mind is made up. You must know, what is fated will be, and what is not, one should not force."
Zhao Xuhe stood there, speechless.
There was nothing he could do. He had said all he could, but Lu Yang still had no intention of leaving the mountain. He was out of options, and could only curse "damn old turtle" in his heart.
"...If that's the case, then forget it."
"However, I have another deal I'd like to discuss with you this time."
Zhao Xuhe gritted his teeth and resorted to his backup plan, a pained look on his face. "I have a secret technique that can increase the success rate of Foundation Establishment."
"I want to use it as collateral to borrow thirty thousand contribution points from you, Junior Brother."
"...A Foundation Establishment secret technique?"
At these words, Lu Yang, who had been about to show his guest out, felt his eyes light up. Looking at Zhao Xuhe, he found him incredibly pleasant to the eye. This man was truly his lucky star.
Profiteering from the Death-Substituting Yin Puppets, the Nine Transformations of the Dragon Art, the Skull Mountain marketplace.
And now, a Foundation Establishment secret technique!
Of all the opportunities he had relied on so far, which one didn't have his dear Senior Brother Zhao behind it? He truly deserved immense credit for Lu Yang's success today