Chapter 34: Changing Face and Form

Going to set up a stall at the market, Xiao Zhangqing had thought of this method before.

Because the Lingfu Pavilion explicitly rules that any Symbol Master inside the pavilion may not take his own Talisman Scripts to other Talisman shops for sale; this is a grave taboo, and if discovered, severe punishment is certain.

Secretly drawing talismans for extra income, the Lingfu Pavilion can turn a blind eye, but brazenly cooperating with other Talisman shops is an act of aiding the enemy! In this regard, the Lingfu Pavilion has strict monitoring.

Especially since Xiao Zhangqing doesn't yet have a "white glove," he cannot sell through someone else's hands; once investigated, he'll be caught without fail.

After much thought, the only solution is to set up a stall at the market.

This is essentially exploiting a loophole in the Lingfu Pavilion.

Because the Lingfu Pavilion only stipulates that Symbol Masters' works cannot circulate to other shops, but it does not forbid setting up a stall at the market.

A market stall has very limited impact on shop influence and cannot cause a shock.

Previously Xiao Zhangqing thought setting up a market stall was too troublesome, and he lacked experience; the crowd and distractions kept him indecisive, dragging his feet to see if a better sales channel existed.

Now it seems he has no choice but to set up a market stall.

Having accumulated so many Talisman Scripts, if he doesn't buy them he can't even afford Pill, and his cultivation speed will be affected! After becoming a First-rank Talisman Master, Xiao Zhangqing now values his own cultivation above all.

Currently his mortal body is thirty‑six years old, seemingly far from the sixty‑year Foundation Establishment limit, with twenty‑four years remaining.

However, his current cultivation is still low, only at the Qi Refining Fourth Level!

In a short time he should be able to break through to the Qi Refining Fifth Level, but the great perfection of Qi Refining Ninth Level remains far away.

Xiao Zhangqing's plan is to assault the Foundation Establishment Realm within ten years, at most fourteen years.

He must ensure completion before turning fifty.

In short, he must not wait until the sixty‑year limit to make the assault.

First, it leaves ample time to guard against mishaps—if the first assault fails, there is a second chance, providing a margin for error; second, the earlier he assaults the Foundation Establishment Realm, the higher the probability becomes.

Even though Xiao Zhangqing possesses a Grand Attainment‑level Longevity Technique, his spirit‑root quality has now risen to a medium‑grade spirit root, and he has decent comprehension… Reaching the great perfection of Qi Refining Ninth Level within ten years is no small challenge.

Thus Xiao Zhangqing has almost no savings; his salary and Spirit Stones earned from scavenging are all spent on Pill.

On the cultivation path, talent is undeniably the most important factor. But good talent plus spending is a two‑pronged approach with the best effect! Now that he has amassed so many Talisman Scripts, if he doesn't sell them, he can't afford Pill.

"But even if I set up a stall, I can't sell them openly… I must disguise it!"

Xiao Zhangqing thought to himself.

Although the Lingfu Pavilion's regulations do not specifically forbid Symbol Masters from setting up market stalls, any Symbol Master who does so flamboyantly would undoubtedly insult the Lingfu Pavilion, and the pavilion cannot avoid causing trouble.

"Fortunately, I also prepared, having hidden a trick early on."

Xiao Zhangqing, in his hand, toyed with a black cloak.

This cloak is a concealment‑type artifact; when worn it can completely mask a cultivator's aura, especially at night it blends with the surrounding darkness, making it almost undetectable.

Of course, this cloak artifact is only effective for the Qi Refining Realm; for Foundation Establishment cultivators it is virtually useless.

Moreover, the wearer cannot make large movements nor cast spells.

Otherwise, the moment of a violent movement or spell casting would instantly expose them.

With these restrictions, the cloak's value drops significantly; it is almost only useful for fleeing, survival, or a slight edge in ambushes and assassinations.

And its utility is not great.

It is far less useful than an artifact focused on primary damage or speed.

Finally, Xiao Zhangqing spent forty Low‑grade Spirit Stones to acquire this cloak.

Considering the cloak's many limitations and its ordinary concealment effects, forty Low‑grade Spirit Stones are not cheap, but for Xiao Zhangqing, the equipment effect 【Changing Face and Form Technique (Mastery)】 carried by the cloak is extremely worthwhile!

Changing Face and Form Technique, simply put, is the cultivation version of a disguise art!

It can not only alter appearance, but also height and even aura to become another person!

At Mastery level, Changing Face and Form Technique makes any cultivator in the Qi Refining Realm unable to see through one's true nature. If elevated to Grand Attainment or Perfection levels, the spell can be useful even in the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Thus, when he first encountered this black silk cloak, despite its high price, Xiao Zhangqing still acquired it.

"Equip it!"

Xiao Zhangqing did not hesitate; in the next instant the black silk cloak appeared in the inventory's equipment slot.

Earlier Xiao Zhangqing, thinking of conserving equipment slots, had not equipped the black silk cloak because it was not immediately useful.

"Six equipment slots, all full…"

Xiao Zhangqing looked at the row of equipment slots.

They were: Symbol Master's Handbook, Longevity Technique Jade Tablet, Divination Turtle Shell, Enlightenment Mat, Dual‑wing Tiger‑hair Brush, black silk cloak.

Now he has only six equipment slots, allowing him to equip two items simultaneously.

Other items can be unequipped, but once a slot is occupied, no other item can be equipped there.

Therefore, even if Xiao Zhangqing later obtains new equipment with useful effects, he cannot use them in the short term.

He must wait until his cultivation breaks through to Qi Refining Seventh Level, i. e., the Late Stage of Lian Qi, when the system should add new equipment slots.

"Now is not the time to conserve equipment slots; I need to make money!"

Xiao Zhangqing felt no regret and immediately began using the new equipment's ability, Changing Face and Form Technique.

"What a marvelous feeling…"

Unlike mundane disguise arts that require various props and makeup, Xiao Zhangqing only needs to circulate his mana in a special way; in the mirror his face begins to reshape like dough, the previously sharp, delicate, handsome features becoming rugged at a visible speed.

The contours of his eyes also changed, becoming somewhat fierce like hawk eyes; his nose bridge rose, and his cheeks and chin began to sprout a beard.

A moment later he could no longer recognize himself, and Xiao Zhangqing stopped.

Then his height began to change as well; his original 1.8‑meter stature was abruptly raised by nearly twenty centimeters, and his shoulders broadened considerably.

A burly man appeared.

"Hey, brother! Long time no see!"

Xiao Zhangqing shouted to himself, his voice now much deeper.

When his aura, driven by the distinctive flow of mana, finally changed completely, Xiao Zhangqing, now bearing over fifty First‑rank Talisman Scripts, hurried toward the market.

……

……

At the Nanshan Fang market, setting up a stall doesn't need the high rent that a shop requires.

The stall fee is only twenty Spirit Sand per month; even the lowest-level Scattered Cultivator can afford it.

But this naturally creates a mixed crowd at the stall market, with all sorts of people.

Overall, the market does have many low-quality upper-grade items, and there are not a few stall owners who like to cheat customers…… As long as your eye is good, you can generally still buy cheap goods.

For the same item, the price at the market stalls is generally ten to twenty percent lower than that of various major shops, which is widely recognized.

If luck is good and the stall owner is in a hurry to sell, it's not impossible to buy something at fifty percent off.

Xiao Zhangqing, using the alias Bai Wují, paid twenty Spirit Sand at the stall management office, registered his name, found an empty spot, and began his stall‑holding career.

Selling at a stall means losing one or two tenths of the price; Xiao Zhangqing had braced himself psychologically and could accept it.

It's still better than having the goods stuck in hand and unsellable.

(End of chapter)