Chapter 140: with translation of chapter title

Wang Ping'an looked at the Fox Demon's wary appearance and couldn't help wanting to laugh.

Of course.

It's not mockery!

No matter the era, those who are careful to protect their lives should not be laughed at; those who don't take their lives seriously deserve ridicule.

After the Fox Demon's "reminder," he felt that from now on, whatever he does, he must be cautious.

For example, now, instead of coming in person, they sent a Paper Person.

From now on.

One must do the same unless absolutely necessary; otherwise, the true body cannot be dispatched under any circumstances.

If the Paper Person could be made indistinguishable from a real person, that would be even better.

As Wang Ping'an reached out and passed the Thunderbolt Talisman, Hu Jiushisan, who stood before him, grabbed it with one hand—more a snatch than a receipt.

"Alright, you can go!"

Hu Jiushisan carefully examined the Thunderbolt Talisman, confirmed there was no problem, and was about to let him pass when, just as Wang Ping'an had walked past it and not yet left, he suddenly spoke again:

"Wait a moment!"

Wang Ping'an halted his steps.

Hu Jiushisan ran up to Wang Ping'an again, stared at the Thunderbolt Talisman in his hand, then lifted his gaze to Wang Ping'an, his face full of fervor, smiling obsequiously, and said:

"Fellow Daoist, you've come to our market to do business—you wouldn't be here to sell talismans, would you?"

Their market is somewhat well-known in this area, often attracting all sorts of people, including many talisman crafters who sell the talismans they draw in exchange for cultivation resources.

Or other precious items!

Wang Ping'an nodded.

Hu Jiushisan eagerly asked, "I don't know how many talismans you have, Fellow Daoist, and what price you intend to sell them at?"

Wang Ping'an said nothing—actually, even if he wanted to speak, he couldn't; he simply glanced lightly at Hu Jiushisan, making the latter feel uneasy.

"Fellow Daoist, I mean, if the price is right, I'll buy all your talismans!"

Hu Jiushisan laughed embarrassedly, blurted out without thinking, and as soon as he finished speaking, looking at the Paper Person before him, he realized and said:

"Look at me, I'm muddle-headed—I forgot you can't speak, Fellow Daoist. How about this: I'll buy your talismans at the market rate of one Low-grade Spirit Stone each, no matter how many you have?"

With a thought, Wang Ping'an produced a stack of talismans—the very ones he had recently drawn inside the World Pearl: mainly Golden Light Talismans and Thunderbolt Talismans, plus a few Concealment Talismans; Ping'an had never drawn one of those.

Who made this thing a prayer for peace? It probably isn't easy to sell!

"Fellow Daoist, do you mean you agree to my price?"

Hu Jiushisan looked at the large stack of talismans Wang Ping'an handed over, couldn't help swallowing, his eyes showing excitement mixed with a hint of strangeness.

It was the first time he had seen talismans sold like cabbage, by the stack.

Although the Thunderbolt Talisman is merely an elementary talisman, drawing talismans is no simple matter; a genuine talisman crafter might not manage to produce even one or two in a day.

Drawing talismans is a laborious task, both mentally and physically.

Those true talisman masters can easily draw elementary talismans, but such talismans are of no use to them.

Just as one who has tasted delicacies would hardly stomach coarse broth and plain rice.

Wang Ping'an handed over the talismans again! Hu Jiushisan, suppressing his inner excitement, hastily took the talismans Wang Ping'an offered, fearing Wang Ping'an might regret it or misunderstand, and explained:

"Fellow Daoist, wait a moment—I'll count how many talismans there are. Once I'm done, I'll give you the money!"

One, two, three, four...

Finally, Hu Jiushisan counted the last one—"one hundred fifty-eight"—and said, "Fellow Daoist, wait, I'll get the money right now!"

Meanwhile.

He noticed that besides the Thunderbolt Talisman, Wang Ping'an's talismans included two other types, and none of them were inferior to the Thunderbolt Talisman he had first given.

He naturally had no objections!

Hu Jiushisan didn't rush to stash the stack of talismans into his storage bag; instead, with a thought, a spirit-filled stone appeared in his palm, and he said:

"Fellow Daoist, take this. I'm giving you one hundred fifty-eight Low-grade Spirit Stones!"

Wang Ping'an reflexively caught the Low-grade Spirit Stone Hu Jiushisan threw.

Even while controlling the Paper Person with his mind, he could still feel the spiritual energy suffusing that stone.

"Is this a Low-grade Spirit Stone?"

This novel you have arrived at

Wang Ping'an exclaimed in surprise.

Not long after, Hu Jiushisan took out one Low-grade Spirit Stone after another from his storage bag and threw them over; Wang Ping'an caught them and stored them in his bag.

Exactly enough for one hundred fifty-eight!

Only then did Hu Jiushisan stop and say, "Fellow Daoist, you may go to the market to purchase what you need, and by the way inquire whether I've cheated you on the price of your talismans; if you ever want to sell talismans again, you can come find me!"

Wang Ping'an nodded and quickly walked into the market.

"I say, Jiushisan, have you got water in your brain? Why buy so many talismans? Are you planning to fight some great demon? You used to hide behind others' backs—do you just have too much money to spend?"

Niuda, seeing Wang Ping'an's back disappear into the market, couldn't help but sneer.

If it weren't to save face for Hu Jiushisan, he would have mocked them outright while they were doing business.

Hu Jiushisan looked at Niuda with contempt, "A dumb ox is a dumb ox; he can't see that this time he's made a killing," he said expressionlessly.

"I'm just so rich I have nowhere to spend it—what's that to you? If you're willing to call me 'Boss,' I might even toss you a Low-grade Spirit Stone."

"'Boss'? You? You're not worthy!"

Niuda jeered.

"Brother Hu, you're the smartest of us three; I believe you wouldn't make a loss-making deal!"

Meanwhile, another guard watching the gate wondered curiously, "Could it be you're thinking of buying low and selling high?"

Niuda sneered, "Zhu wu, you really love to suck up—him? Still the smartest of us three? The basic talismans in the market are one Low-grade Spirit Stone each; who is he planning to sell these to?"

"What junk are those basic talismans in the market? How dare you compare them to the Talisman I received?"

Hu Jiushisan snorted coldly, his thoughts moved, a Thunderbolt Talisman appeared in his palm, he extended his hand and passed it over, arrogantly said:

"Open your dog eyes—no, cow eyes—open your cow eyes wide, look carefully, see what's different about my Thunderbolt Talisman!"

"It's just a Thunderbolt Talisman, what difference could there be..."

Niuda snorted disdainfully, his words not yet finished, when he saw clearly the Talisman on Hu Jiushisan's palm, his eyes widened instantly, the words on the tip of his tongue swallowed back, and he changed his tone:

"This, this, this—how is that possible?"

(End of chapter)