Chapter 32: Daoist Pinglu

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

The cultivation techniques practiced by loose cultivators were mostly common goods, without any powerful supernatural powers. When hunting monsters, they basically relied more on magic tools, spiritual talismans, and formations. Except for formations, among items of the same level, the power of spiritual talismans was much greater than that of magic tools, and it was also a common means for cultivators.

When Song Qingming was on Mount Yunwu, he was able to escape the pursuit of the robber from Eagle Nest Ridge because he used a relatively powerful mid-grade spiritual talisman to sneak attack, which bought him a glimmer of survival. Situations like this were everywhere in the cultivation world. At critical moments, talismans were much more useful than other spiritual items.

However, although talismans were easy to use, they belonged to consumables and were one-time spiritual items. Once used, they were gone. Although they were much cheaper than magic tools, they were not something that could be used casually and could only be used at critical moments. Because of this, regardless of the level of cultivation, every cultivator would choose to prepare a few spiritual talismans on their body to guard against the unexpected.

Some time ago in Guiyun Market, Song Qingming also spent thirty spirit stones to purchase two high-grade spiritual talismans for himself to guard against possible dangers. With these two high-grade spiritual talismans, Song Qingming felt much more at ease on the way back from Guiyun Market. Even if he encountered a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, he would have some confidence to escape with two high-grade spiritual talismans in his hand.

Having not come for several months, Song Qingming's stall setting this time was surprisingly smooth. Not only were all the mid-grade spiritual talismans sold out, but even the low-grade spiritual talismans he had hoarded in the past were sold quite a few this time. Before sunset, there were not many spiritual talismans left on Song Qingming's stall, only twenty or thirty low-grade spiritual talismans.

Seeing the sunset, people had already started to pack up and leave one after another. Song Qingming also stood up and packed up, preparing to leave Caolu Mountain. This trip could be considered a considerable harvest.

Unexpectedly, just as he walked out of the courtyard, someone came head-on, interrupting his steps to leave.

The visitor was an elderly cultivator with a crane-like appearance and a ruddy complexion, dressed as a Daoist. He was Daoist Pinglu, one of the three masters of Caolu Mountain. Song Qingming was really surprised to see this person and didn't know what the old Daoist was looking for him for.

"Little Friend Song, you are young and your cultivation base has improved again. You are no less than I was back then. You can be considered a rare young genius in Qinghe County. I'm afraid you have hope for Foundation Establishment in the future." Daoist Pinglu looked at Song Qingming with a smile, obviously regarding him as a genius cultivator with a Three-Spirit Root.

Hearing Daoist Pinglu's flattery, Song Qingming thought about it and felt that there was no need for him to explain too much. It didn't matter if others regarded him as a Three-Spirit Root genius. Anyway, he didn't admit it on the surface. In the major cultivation families in Qinghe County, in order to protect the important family cultivators with outstanding spiritual roots, they generally would not disclose the attributes of the spiritual roots of these genius cultivators in the clan to the outside world. This was also to protect them, so as not to 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 I compare to your cultivation base? If I can have the opportunity to reach your cultivation base in this life, I will have no regrets. How dare I think about Foundation Establishment and Dao attainment."

This Daoist Pinglu's cultivation base 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 to do so. However, he still relied on his willpower to survive by luck. Among the nearly a thousand cultivators in the entire Qinghe County, there were only a handful of legendary figures like him who dared to try Foundation Establishment without a Foundation Establishment Pill and were still alive.

Although these people failed to successfully establish their foundation, their courage to risk their lives for the Dao path was also a hero in the hearts of many Qi Refining cultivators in Qinghe County. Song Qingming also admired him very much in his heart. If it were him, he might not necessarily have this courage to burn his bridges and make such a life-and-death choice.

"Humble and polite, down-to-earth, you are a good seedling for cultivation. I heard that you need to purchase a large amount of mid-grade 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's how it was. The three old men of Pinglu had always rarely appeared at the gatherings. It was always their disciples and followers who maintained order in the courtyard. This old man suddenly came here, and it was indeed for a few spirit stones. Song Qingming finally figured out the real purpose of Daoist Pinglu looking for him and couldn't help but show a smile.

Following the old Daoist to an inn on Caolu Mountain, the two found a quiet guest room. He originally thought that the old man didn't have many materials and that he would have to go to Qinghe Market again this month. Unexpectedly, this old Daoist Pinglu was hiding his strength and was extraordinary. He took out more than a hundred sets of mid-grade talisman-making materials at once, which really startled Song Qingming. Good fellow, it was almost catching up to an ordinary material shop in Guiyuan Market.

Song Qingming counted these materials, plus some he had just received at the gathering, which 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 put them into his storage bag. He looked up and said with a smile again.

"Little Friend Song, if your family wants to purchase them long-term, you can tell me in advance. I still have some connections in the Caolu Mountain area, and it is not difficult to help your family collect some talisman-making materials."

Song Qingming was overjoyed when he heard this. If this old Daoist really had such a path, it would save him a lot of thought in the future. After thinking about it, he agreed on this matter with Daoist Pinglu, and the two would secretly trade in this inn long-term in the future.

However, Song Qingming didn't dare to ask for too much at the beginning, only asking him to provide a fixed one hundred sets of mid-grade talisman-making materials and one hundred sets of low-grade talisman-making materials every month. If it was too much, he was also afraid that it would arouse the suspicion of this old fox who had been cultivating for nearly a hundred years.

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

"Little Friend, don't worry. I have had a long-standing friendship with your family's elder. Since I have promised you, I will definitely be able to collect them for you within a month. When the time comes, you can come directly to me to pick up the goods." Seeing that Song Qingming was willing to purchase long-term, the old man Pinglu began to swear that there would be no problem.

It must be said that this Daoist Pinglu was quite a good businessman. Caolu Mountain could have the scale it had today, and it must be inseparable from his contribution.

However, he and the Song family leader Song Gushan were of the same generation of cultivators, both of whom were old people nearly a hundred years old, and they didn't have much lifespan left, only about a dozen years. At such an age, he was still running around for a few spirit stones, thinking that he was also paving the way for his younger generation of cultivators.

In the cultivation world, there were only a few people in a generation of cultivators who could establish a foundation. Most cultivators, after losing the path to further progress, would choose to accept disciples widely or establish families to branch out, helping them collect cultivation resources and pinning their hopes on the next generation of cultivators.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 33 =====