Chapter 172: Bounty

Hearing Zheng Fa ask this, Lin Bufan's expression was complex.

But Li Nuo clearly sighed in relief.

"Lin Daoxiong hasn't been cooperating much these days," Li Nuo quietly complained about Lin Bufan; Zheng Fa turned to glance at this former Demon Gate disciple, whose facial muscles slowly stiffened, revealing a sense of guilt.

It seemed Li Nuo's words were true.

Ever since he left Jiushan Sect, Li Nuo could no longer control him.

"Tell me about the talismans you've tested," Zheng Fa said to Li Nuo, ignoring Lin Bufan.

"Previously, I already tested it—Lin Daoxiong's blood has a remarkable effect on soul-based talismans," Li Nuo said eagerly: "At first, I made the Soul-Nourishing Talisman, then the Soul-Shaking Talisman, the Soul-Stab Talisman… now, there are about eight or nine kinds."

"Soul-based… what about other types of talismans?"

Zheng Fa fell into thought; he had always believed Lin Bufan's blood could make soul talismans because of the special spiritual runes within it.

"Other types don't work—only soul-related talismans succeed easily."

"How much blood is needed for one talisman?"

"Including losses, one liter of blood per talisman is guaranteed," Li Nuo said after thinking.

"Is the blood of a Foundation Establishment cultivator the same as that of a Qi Refining cultivator?"

"I don't know—Lin Daoxiong is Foundation Establishment, and his blood produced talismans that became Xuan-grade talismans," Li Nuo answered honestly: "I speculate that if it were Qi Refining, the talismans would correspond to Huang-grade."

"I recall you told me before that beast blood can produce a thousand spirit talismans?" Zheng Fa asked, recalling the data Li Nuo had given him.

"The talismans made from Lin Daoxiong's blood can only print a hundred Xuan-grade talismans," Li Nuo said, his expression somewhat depressed.

Less than spirit beast blood—so this Demon Gate disciple's blood isn't all advantages…

"Are there other costs besides blood?"

"Yes—spirit paper costs money, spirit ink costs money; the rest are minor," Li Nuo answered honestly: "Almost all are mundane materials."

Zheng Fa nodded.

Among the talismans made from Lin Bufan's blood, the Soul-Nourishing Talisman and Soul-Stab Talisman are relatively valuable.

The others are also slightly more expensive than ordinary spirit talismans—because for most cultivators, the soul remains profoundly mysterious.

He glanced at Lin Bufan, a thought forming in his mind—could the Great Zizai Demon Ancestor have made unique breakthroughs in the realm of the soul?

Lin Bufan, under his gaze, grew even more fearful, bowing his head and admitting: "Young Master, I was wrong!"

Zheng Fa looked at him, saying nothing.

No one willingly gives up blood.

But this was Lin Bufan's own choice; in a sense, it was the price of his life.

This man came from the Demon Gate—he indeed has more cunning thoughts than others.

"Do you think, now that you're mine, after I left Jiushan Sect… no one dares to punish you? Maybe they even have to pamper you?"

He said this to Lin Bufan, his tone devoid of emotion.

Though Lin Bufan came from the Demon Gate, he is now Zheng Fa's servant.

Yet within Jiushan Sect, his status was oddly special—weren't the servants of Zhao Fu also servants?

"I…"

Cold sweat broke out on Lin Bufan's face; Zheng Fa had struck upon some hidden, private thoughts.

He dropped to his knees with a thud, head bowed, unable to speak for a long while.

Zheng Fa watched him, silent for a long time.

The sweat on his face grew more profuse.

"Get up," Zheng Fa waved his hand, letting him rise, as if lightly letting the matter pass.

Lin Bufan stared at Zheng Fa, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"I don't like torturing people," Zheng Fa said to him earnestly.

"…"

"Nor do I play games—I'll tell you plainly," Zheng Fa stroked the soul talisman in his hand and said softly: "If you still harbor these thoughts… hmm, I'm a kind-hearted man…"

One side, Yuan Shijie rolled her eyes.

"I'll give you a quick death."

Yuan Shijie: "?"

"Understood?"

"Yes!" Lin Bufan shuddered.

"For this special training of Jiushan Sect disciples, do you know what to do?"

"Understood!" Lin Bufan shouted: "I'll give it my all!"

"You may leave now."

…

Watching them slowly leave the room, Yuan Shijie asked: "Young brother, are you really planning to kill Lin Bufan?"

"Sister, this place has no shortage of Great Zizai Demon Cult disciples."

"…"

Zheng Fa paid no mind to Yuan Shijie's silence.

He walked toward the hall where Master Pang was.

Yuan Shijie called from behind: "Young brother, where are you going?"

"I have matters to discuss with Master Pang."

"I'm coming too!"

…

In the hall, Master Pang, after hearing Zheng Fa's idea, opened his mouth in shock.

"You mean… using spirit talismans in the marketplace to offer… not buy, but reward… for the blood of Great Zizai Demon Cult disciples?"

"Yes."

"Two liters of Foundation Establishment Great Zizai Demon Cult disciple's blood in exchange for a hundred Xuan-grade talismans?"

"We won't lose out—each talisman imprint can print a hundred Xuan-grade talismans," Zheng Fa calculated for him: "Two liters means two hundred talismans; after deducting the cost of paper and ink, we still make at least ten or so spirit stones in profit."

Master Pang listened, then slowly closed his mouth.

He thought for a moment and said: "If there are too many spirit talismans, won't the price drop?"

"At most, we won't make a profit—but this reward… isn't it under our control? We can simply stop it later."

Zheng Fa explained.

Master Pang was convinced; he pinched his chin and said: "What about Qi Refining cultivators? Don't we want theirs?"

"Master, the greatest threat in Lei Chi are still the Foundation Establishment ones… as for Qi Refining, are our Jiushan Sect disciples really that weak?"

Zheng Fa wanted to use the reward to reduce casualties among Jiushan Sect disciples.

But he wasn't a mother hen—could he protect every single Jiushan Sect disciple?

"You've grasped this point—good," Master Pang nodded, his tone approving.

"Li Nuo… Li Nuo," Master Pang shook his head, looking at Zheng Fa with unusual admiration: "I heard you were the one who gave him spirit stones to research—Zhang Shijie couldn't stop you."

"Who could have imagined he'd actually accomplish something huge!"

Master Pang sighed: "Li Nuo and his father have wandered around Jiushan Sect for over a hundred years—we old folks were blind and foolish!"

"Master, you can't say that…"

"Especially that Huang woman! Li Nuo's father had ties with her!"

"…"

Zheng Fa twitched his lips and said honestly: "Master, it's understandable no one valued Li Nuo before—if not for now, I wouldn't have brought out this talisman technique."

"…Yes, whether to pay with money or with life—our Jiushan Sect disciples aren't fools."

Previously, the talisman technique was unpopular because it threatened the livelihood of most Jiushan Sect disciples.

But the current situation is very different.

On one hand, Zheng Fa's method is essentially hiring mercenaries to fight the Great Zizai Demon Cult.

Put plainly, it's to save their lives.

No one could object.

On the other hand, the Great Zizai Demon Cult has come right to their doorstep—the conflict is intensifying.

Most people are busy fighting for their lives against the Demon Gate.

No time to draw talismans.

It's roughly like this: normally, automation steals workers' jobs.

But when war breaks out and workers go to the front, automation compensates for labor shortages.

"So why did you come to me? What do you want to ask?"

"I'm afraid we'll offend the Great Zizai Demon Cult too much."

Zheng Fa honestly voiced his concern.

This plan is terribly hostile to the Great Zizai Demon Cult.

"Offend them or not—do we even have a choice now?" Master Pang sighed: "Do you know why your master refused to leave Jiushan Sect even at the cost of his life?"

"…"

"One more question—once this reward is announced, will anyone really risk their life against the Great Zizai Demon Cult?"

Master Pang looked at him, his expression strange.

"A hundred mystery-grade talismans and dozens of spirit stones—who wouldn't be tempted?"

"..."

"Young Master Zheng, you don't understand those free cultivators," Master Pang sighed. "They're poor to the point of poetic despair."

Zheng Fa called over Yang Ju and others, told them the reward details, and asked them to spread the word in the marketplace later.

"..." Yang Ju hesitated, reluctant to leave, as if he had something to say. "Young Master Zheng, this reward... isn't quite fair..."

"Hm?"

"This reward is for outsiders—but can Ninth Mountain Sect disciples participate too?"

"..."

Zheng Fa looked at Yang Ju.

Wasn't his whole plan meant to keep these people from walking blindly to their deaths?

And yet...

Yang Ju met Zheng Fa's gaze, slightly embarrassed but speaking loudly: "Slaying demons and purifying evil has always been my dream..."

"..."

Seeing others nodding eagerly, Zheng Fa rubbed his forehead. "Anyone who wants to enter Lei Chi must pass his trial."

He pointed to Lin Bufen beside him.

Yang Ju and the others stared at him, eyes gleaming, fists clenched, ready to leap.

Lin Bufen: "..."

What Zheng Fa hadn't expected: the moment the reward was posted,

someone who clearly had no interest in such meager spirit stones showed up at the door.

"Young Master Zheng!"

When Master Pang told him Yan Wushuang was coming to visit, Zheng Fa had been puzzled.

"Young Master Yan," Zheng Fa greeted him warmly—he owed Yan Wushuang for the information about Chen Ting.

"Is the reward posted in your marketplace real?"

Yan Wushuang asked straightaway about the newly posted reward.

"It's real—but Young Master Yan, you..."

Who is this person?

True disciple of the Tianhe Sect.

Could he possibly be short on this?

"Young Master Zheng, you don't understand," Yan Wushuang sighed. "I travel far and wide, making allies and building an organization—everything costs money. I'm broke!"

"..."

Zheng Fa remembered: when this man had withstood the heavenly lightning, his crane-feather cloak hid not even a single inner robe.

Back then, he'd assumed it was Tianhe Sect's style.

Now it seemed—was it because he was poor?

Realizing this, Zheng Fa said to Yan Wushuang: "The reward is real."

"Then good," Yan Wushuang paused, then asked suddenly: "If I bring you a live one... how much will you pay?"

Zheng Fa froze.

He stared at Yan Wushuang's square face, radiating righteous vigor.

Are you the evil slave trader of demonic captives?