Chapter 436

435. Chapter 430: The Five Elements Law Master

Ding Huan completed his study of the Nine Courts Immortal Code in just three days.

He did not devote himself entirely to this code; during that time, he repeatedly sent out his spiritual sense to gather information.

After three days, he heard no news of the Qianyuan Immortal Estate being destroyed, and he knew his guess was correct.

Whether or not the Qianyuan Immortal Estate was destroyed by Bu Yue's people, this case would be indefinitely delayed.

"Liu Liu, wait for me at the Xi Lou. I'm going out these few days to see if there's any work to be found," Ding Huan told Lu Busi, then left the Xi Lou.

Ding Huan wandered for five days; though he found no job, he covered most of Tianjie.

In those few days, Ding Huan finally understood what Ku Lu had meant.

He couldn't be certain elsewhere, but in Tianjie, no one checked your origins or identity.

Here, all you needed to stroll or stay at the Xi Lou was immortal crystals.

Where you came from, whether you were a threat—unless you were recognized on the street, no one cared.

Several days of aimless wandering also made Ding Huan understand the difficulty of finding work in Tianjie.

He could now forge second-grade immortal talismans; with further study, he could certainly forge third-grade ones.

Logically, this skill should be enough to secure a proper job in Tianjie.

But every job here didn't just require skill—it required certification.

Every shop hiring immortal talisman masters explicitly demanded certification from the Immortal Court's Talisman Bureau.

To obtain a talisman master certification, you had to register with the Talisman Bureau a year in advance and then take the rank examination.

Similarly, every other industry required various Immortal Court certification licenses.

Of course, if you owned your own shop and forged and sold talismans yourself, no one would care.

But Ding Huan had inquired: even a mediocre shop in Tianjie cost a million top-grade immortal crystals per year in rent.

That wasn't the worst part—the key issue was that renting a shop required not only a large deposit of immortal crystals but also a guarantor.

Ding Huan knew no one in Tianjie; where could he find someone to guarantee him?

Another option was to buy a shop outright.

Every shop in Tianjie was profitable, and almost no one sold theirs. Even if someone did, the price was far beyond Ding Huan's means.

As he turned the second corner, Ding Huan still entered an immortal talisman shop.

"What are you looking to buy, friend?" A shop assistant approached as soon as Ding Huan stepped inside.

Ding Huan smiled: "I'm not buying anything. Do you need any talisman masters? I'm a third-grade talisman master and can forge immortal talismans."

Ding Huan was just testing his luck—while hiring talisman masters required certification, it wasn't always strictly enforced.

If he convinced the shop's owner he could truly forge talismans, wouldn't that be enough?

If all else failed, he was willing to forge one on the spot.

To increase his chances, he had upgraded his claim—from being able to forge second-grade talismans to claiming he could forge third-grade ones.

Upon hearing Ding Huan call himself a third-grade talisman master, the assistant bowed respectfully: "Please show me your third-grade talisman master identification plaque, and I'll immediately inform the master."

Ding Huan sighed helplessly: "I can forge third-grade talismans—I simply haven't taken the exam yet. If you don't believe me, I can forge one right now."

Upon learning Ding Huan didn't even possess a third-grade talisman master plaque, the assistant's respect vanished instantly:

"I'm sorry, friend, but all talisman masters we hire must possess an official Talisman Bureau certification plaque."

Ding Huan spread his hands: "What's the difference? Hiring me isn't illegal. The talismans I forge aren't fake—they work. Who cares who made them, as long as they function?"

"Besides, I'll accept lower pay. You can reduce the immortal crystals you offer me."

The assistant didn't answer. Instead, he placed a first-grade talisman before Ding Huan: "Take a look."

Ding Huan picked up the talisman curiously; honestly, this first-grade Speed Talisman was crudely forged, far inferior to his own first-grade talismans.

But Ding Huan noticed a few characters in the lower-right corner: "First-grade Talisman Master Gu Yu."

Seeing Ding Huan had read it, the assistant said: "Every customer who buys talismans checks who made them and whether they're a certified talisman master."

Talisman masters like you, unrecognized by the Talisman Bureau, cannot sell their talismans at all. To others, they're just wild talismans—with zero quality guarantee."

Ding Huan sighed deeply. This was branding.

Even though he knew his talismans were better than others', no one knew him—and without the Talisman Bureau's certification plaque, his talismans would be nearly impossible to sell. No wonder the talisman shops rejected him.

They hired him to make talismans to sell immortal crystals.

Even if he spun the most dazzling tales, who had time to test his work—or advertise for him?

Leaving the talisman shop, Ding Huan wondered whether he should go to the Immortal Court Plaza instead.

The Immortal Court usually posted recruitment notices at the Immortal Court Plaza.

Tianjie wasn't suitable for him anymore—what if he somehow landed a minor official post?

As long as he had a place to stay, he could set up a Spirit Gathering Immortal Array; once he could set up that array, he could cultivate.

As Ding Huan was still pondering his next move, a massive recruitment magical screen appeared before him.

"Pangu Dao Court hiring Five Elements Law Master: Must be familiar with the Five Elements Law, able to clearly interpret difficulties in all Five Elements Dao techniques. Requires certification from the Immortal Court's Dao Law Bureau and experience teaching disciples…"

Again, they wanted a certification plaque.

What an audacious tone—Pangu Dao Court? Why not just hire you to fly to heaven?

Ding Huan was annoyed, but he could only shake his head and turn away.

"Friend, I saw you shake your head—do you have interest in our Dao Court's Five Elements Law Master position?"

To Ding Huan's surprise, this was the first time anyone had stopped him.

Ding Huan turned and saw a young man with fair skin, his face still carrying baby fat, his cultivation at Jin Xian mid-stage, his Dao aura smooth yet lacking any imposing presence.

Clearly someone raised in comfort, never beaten down.

His cultivation technique must be extraordinary—otherwise his Dao aura wouldn't be this refined.

Even if his Dao rhythm is perfectly rounded, if this guy went to the Gu Gu Xian domain and ran into a desperate loose cultivator, he wouldn't last a single moment.

On this point, Ding Huan rather agreed with Lu Chongdao's take, and let Lu Busi go to the market to temper himself.

"Right, this old one does indeed have an interest in the position of Five Elements Law Master, it's just that the immortal crystals your academy offers don't quite satisfy me. Ten thousand immortal crystals per class, and it takes four hours—too little…"

Ding Huan decided to go against the grain.

Since begging others wouldn't work, he'd just put on the act of a grand master.

Whether it worked or not, he didn't care anymore—tomorrow he'd go to the Immortal Court Plaza and try his luck. In fact, Ding Huan knew it definitely wouldn't work out.

"Haha, I just knew ten thousand immortal crystals absolutely couldn't hire a grand master. I'm Ju Zhenbao, and I'll take it upon myself to give you twenty thousand upper-grade immortal crystals per class."

In Ju Zhenbao's eyes, a grand master capable of teaching the Laws could naturally refer to himself as "this old one."

If Ding Huan hadn't called himself "this old one," he would still have had his doubts.

As for appearance? Wasn't his grandfather's appearance also very youthful?

Ding Huan was instantly stunned—it's done already?

"If you teach well, the immortal crystals can be increased later." Ju Zhenbao reached out and patted Ding Huan's shoulder, his tone carrying certainty.

"Haha, this old one knew at once that my young friend has a discerning eye for talent—I'll take this job. Just one question, is there a place to live here? I usually need to cultivate in quiet." Ding Huan immediately raised another request.

His divine sense had long since swept over and detected there was lodging here; since that was the case, naturally he wouldn't stand on ceremony.

"Don't worry, our Pan Gu Dao Law Court not only has a place to stay, the environment is also very good—Seeing Gu Qi…"

At Ju Zhenbao's call, a young attendant hurried over.

"This is the new Five Elements Law Master our Pan Gu Dao Law Court has hired. Take him to process his Dao Master identity token for our Pan Gu Dao Law Court, and arrange his lodging. I have to go…"

Hearing Ju Zhenbao's words, the young attendant called Seeing Gu Qi's face changed drastically: "Young Master, this, this…"

"What? If my sister comes, just tell her I've completed the task of recruiting a Five Elements Law Master, and have that sign taken down.

How many things do I have to do every day—where do I have the time to stay here day after day wasting time over a single Law Master?"

Seeing Gu Qi hurriedly lowered his voice: "Young Master, if it really won't work, waiting a few more days is fine too, there's no need to rush and bring back just anyone?"

"Bullshit, did I bring back just anyone? This Law Master is twenty thousand upper-grade immortal crystals per class—otherwise do you think it's that easy to recruit a Five Elements Law Master?

Hurry up and handle it. If there's the slightest delay, I'll skin you alive. I've already left a divine sense imprint on the recruitment letter—just leave a divine sense imprint on the teacher as well."

Ju Zhenbao grew angry.

Only now did Ding Huan understand—so it wasn't a discerning eye for talent after all. Turns out this kid's sister had given him a task: to recruit a Five Elements Law Master for Pan Gu Dao Law Court.

This kid was also in a rush to go do his own things—probably nothing important either—so he casually recruited him in.

Not only that, but to show off his ability to recruit people, the moment Ding Huan mildly expressed dissatisfaction with the salary, this kid directly added another ten thousand immortal crystals for him.

From the fact that this guy had even pre-signed the recruitment letter, it was clear that even if they didn't recruit him, they'd casually recruit someone else.

It really is true that you don't know how expensive firewood and rice are until you run the household.

So it seems, even if he hadn't mentioned the salary being too low, being recruited in today was a done deal.

"Oh right, how should I address the teacher?" Before leaving, Ju Zhenbao finally remembered he hadn't asked Ding Huan's name.

Ding Huan said calmly: "This old one is Ding Huan, having devoted seventeen thousand years to the study of the Five Elements Laws."

"Excellent, just as I said. Teacher Ding, I have things to do and must leave. If anyone here dares to slight you, when I come back I'll definitely skin them alive." Ju Zhenbao finished speaking, glared at Seeing Gu Qi once more, and only then turned and left.

……

Several men and women stopped outside Pan Gu Dao Law Court, one of them saying:

"Pan Gu Dao Law Court? There used to be an extremely formidable Five Elements Law Master here.

I heard Pei Qian studied here for a while, then made a stunning debut at the Demon Court and won the affection of Xue Lin'er of the True Demon Hall. Truly envious of Pei Qian."

"Stop envying him—the man's been married for half a year already."

"The Immortal Court examination is coming up—why don't we go in and audit a Five Elements Law class? Sigh, think back to how useless Pei Qian used to be, yet he could soar to the heavens. Why couldn't we?"

"Stop dreaming. The Five Elements Law Master here before was indeed very formidable. But now that Law Master was poached by the Nine Court Dao Law Court. Even if we want to study Five Elements Law classes, we have to go to the Nine Court Dao Law Court…"

"If you want to go, you go. I'm not going anywhere. My father told me straight—don't even think about Dao techniques and divine abilities, I'm not cut out for it."

A group of people outside Pan Gu Dao Law Court buzzed with discussion, each with their own take.