Chapter 32

Mid-tier spirit talismans were indeed more popular on the market than low-tier ones. In just half a day, only one of the dozen or so Golden Light Talismans on Song Qingming's stall remained. Qin Zhen alone had purchased four at once.

The cultivation techniques practiced by rogue cultivators were mostly common goods, lacking any powerful divine abilities. When hunting monsters, they basically relied more on magic tools, spirit talismans, and formations. Apart from formations, among items of the same tier, the power of spirit talismans when used was much greater than that of magic tools, making them a common means for cultivators.

When Song Qingming was at Mount Yunwu, he was able to escape the pursuit of that bandit from Eagle Nest Ridge precisely because he used a relatively powerful mid-tier spirit talisman to launch a sneak attack, which bought him a chance at survival. Situations like this were common in the cultivation world; at critical moments, talismans were much more useful than other spiritual items.

However, although talismans were useful, they were consumables—one-time spiritual items that were gone once used. Although they were much cheaper than magic tools, they couldn't be used casually and could only be used at critical moments. Because of this, regardless of their cultivation level, every cultivator would choose to keep a few spirit talismans on their person to guard against the unexpected.

Some time ago at Guiyunfang, Song Qingming had also spent thirty spirit stones to purchase two top-tier spirit talismans for himself to guard against potential dangers. With these two top-tier spirit talismans on him, Song Qingming finally felt much more secure on the road back from Guiyunfang. Even if he encountered a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, he would have some confidence in being able to escape with two top-tier spirit talismans in hand.

Having not come for several months, Song Qingming's stall-setting this time was surprisingly smooth. Not only were all the mid-tier spirit talismans sold out, but even the low-tier spirit talismans he had hoarded previously were sold off in large numbers. Before sunset, there weren't many spirit talismans left on Song Qingming's stall, only twenty or thirty low-tier ones remaining.

Seeing the sun setting and people starting to pack up their stalls and leave one after another, Song Qingming also stood up to tidy up, preparing to leave Caolu Mountain. This trip could be considered quite a fruitful one.

He didn't expect that just as he walked out of the courtyard, someone would walk toward him, interrupting his departure.

The person who came was an elderly cultivator with white hair and a youthful face, with a ruddy complexion and dressed as a Daoist priest. He was none other than Daoist Pinglu, one of the three masters of Caolu Mountain. Song Qingming was truly surprised to see this person and didn't know what business this old Daoist had with him.

"Little Friend Song, at such a young age, your cultivation has made progress again. You are not inferior to me when I was your age. In this Qinghe County, you can be considered a rare young genius. I'm afraid you have a promising future for Foundation Establishment." Daoist Pinglu looked at Song Qingming with a smile, clearly also regarding him as a genius cultivator with three spiritual roots.

Hearing Daoist Pinglu's flattery, Song Qingming thought about it and felt there was no need for him to explain too much. It didn't actually matter if others regarded him as a three-spiritual-root genius; as long as he didn't admit it openly, it would be fine. In the major cultivation families of Qinghe County, in order to protect important clan cultivators with outstanding spiritual roots, they generally wouldn't reveal the attributes of these geniuses' spiritual roots to the outside world. This was also to protect them, lest they be targeted by enemies when they went out.

Song Qingming waved his hand and responded modestly, "Senior is a peak Qi Refining cultivator; how can my cultivation compare to yours? If I, Qingming, can have the chance to reach Senior's cultivation level in this life, I would have no regrets. How would I dare to think of the path of Foundation Establishment?"

This Daoist Pinglu's cultivation had already reached the peak of Qi Refining. Decades ago, he had also tried to break through to Foundation Establishment, but he didn't have a Foundation Establishment Pill and failed. However, he relied on his willpower to survive by luck. Among the nearly a thousand cultivators in the entire Qinghe County, there were no more than a handful of legendary figures like him who had dared to attempt Foundation Establishment without a Foundation Establishment Pill and were still alive.

Although these people failed to successfully reach Foundation Establishment, their courage to risk death and gamble on their path was heroic in the hearts of many Qi Refining cultivators in Qinghe County. Song Qingming also admired him greatly in his heart. If it were himself, he might not necessarily have such courage to burn his bridges and make such a life-and-death choice.

"Humble and polite, down-to-earth—a good seedling for cultivation. I heard you need to purchase a large amount of mid-tier talisman-making materials. I happen to have some on hand recently. I wonder if you still need them?"

"Yes, of course I do!"

So that was it. These three elders of Pinglu rarely appeared at the gatherings; it was always their disciples and followers who maintained order in the courtyard. This old man suddenly coming here was indeed for the sake of a few spirit stones. Song Qingming finally understood the true purpose of Daoist Pinglu seeking him out and couldn't help but reveal a smile.

Following the old Daoist to an inn on Caolu Mountain, the two found a quiet guest room. He had thought the old man wouldn't have many materials and that he would still have to make a trip to Qinghefang this month. He didn't expect this old Daoist Pinglu to be hiding his true capabilities; he was extraordinary, taking out over a hundred portions of mid-tier talisman-making materials at once, which truly startled Song Qingming. Good heavens, it was almost catching up to an average material shop in Guiyuanfang.

Song Qingming counted these materials, and adding the ones he had just received at the gathering, it was enough for him to use for half a month. After discussing the price with Daoist Pinglu, he readily accepted this batch of materials.

Seeing Song Qingming take out dozens of spirit stones, Daoist Pinglu took them, glanced at them, and quickly tucked them into his storage bag. He looked up and said with a smile again.

"Little Friend Song, if your family needs to purchase them long-term, you can inform me in advance. I have quite a few connections in the Caolu Mountain area, so it won't be difficult to help your family collect some talisman-making materials."

Song Qingming was overjoyed upon hearing this. If this old Daoist truly had such a channel, it would save him a lot of mental effort in the future. After thinking about it, he settled the matter with Daoist Pinglu, and the two agreed to trade secretly in this inn long-term from now on.

However, Song Qingming didn't dare to ask for too much at the beginning, only requesting a fixed supply of one hundred portions of mid-tier talisman-making materials and one hundred portions of low-tier materials per month. If it were too much, he was afraid it would arouse the suspicion of this old fox who had been in the cultivation world for nearly a hundred years.

Secondly, although he could now make mid-tier spirit talismans, he still needed to make some low-tier ones to serve as a cover. Otherwise, if he only sold mid-tier spirit talismans in the future, just at this gathering, he would likely soon expose his identity as a mid-tier talisman master.

"Little Friend, rest assured. I have had a long-standing friendship with your clan leader. Since I have promised you, I will definitely be able to help you collect them within a month. When the time comes, you can just come directly to me to pick up the goods." Seeing Song Qingming's willingness to purchase long-term, Daoist Pinglu also began to guarantee solemnly that there would be no problems.

It must be said that this Daoist Pinglu was quite a good businessman. Caolu Mountain being able to have its current scale today must certainly be inseparable from his contribution.

However, he and the Song clan leader, Song Gushan, were of the same generation of cultivators, both being elderly men nearing a hundred years of age, with not much lifespan left—only about a dozen years or so. At such an age, still running around for a few spirit stones, it was likely he was paving the way for his younger generation of cultivators.

In the cultivation world, there were only a few cultivators in each generation who could reach Foundation Establishment. After most cultivators lost their path to further progress, they would choose to accept disciples widely or establish families to spread their branches and leaves, helping them collect cultivation resources and pinning their hopes on the next generation of cultivators.

(End of chapter)