Eternal Life: I Can Control My Essence Qi-Chapter 82: Talisman Master Zhang in the Marketplace

Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Talisman Master Zhang in the Marketplace

"Yes."

Upon hearing Old Qi’s words, Zhang Yao replied calmly:

"There’s a magical artifact; selling it openly would be a bit troublesome. It’s best to sell it through the Ruins Marketplace."

The best way to cover a secret is often to use another seemingly plausible secret.

After all, Old Qi won’t report him, since Qingyun Pavilion basically doesn’t bother with such matters. He wouldn’t gain anything from it, and it would only cause Zhang Yao to fall out with him.

"Hehe..."

Upon hearing Zhang Yao’s confession, Old Qi chuckled, showing an expression as if it was expected:

"I knew it; you kid couldn’t be really that honest."

"Got caught now, haven’t you?"

The cultivation realm of Wei Kingdom is fiercely competitive, with major forces often clashing over resources.

The tributor’s annual salary at Qingyunfang City is three times that of a Spirit Farmer, but at the cost of acting as henchmen for the two major families, constantly engaging in magical battles, with a high death and injury rate.

In such an environment, loose cultivators at the early stage Qi Refining, who manage to cultivate to the middle stage, are certainly not to be underestimated.

"You’ve made Old Qi laugh."

Zhang Yao chuckled, made a deliberately emotional remark:

"Cultivation was difficult back then; for a bit of leftover scraps from others, we often had to fight with fellow cultivators, risking our lives."

"Until I cultivated to the middle stage of Qi Refining, I really didn’t want to live like that anymore, so I came to the marketplace to be a Spirit Farmer, just seeking some peace."

Old Qi nodded with deep agreement:

"Exactly, life was tough as a loose cultivator, it was the same for me in Da Li..."

He talked incessantly for a while, reminiscing about the past, and Zhang Yao patiently listened.

"Right."

Old Qi came to his senses, patted his head, and said:

"I almost forgot, since you want to go to the Ruins Marketplace, I’ll give you this token."

As he spoke, he took out a dark metallic command token from his storage bag and casually tossed it to Zhang Yao.

"This..."

Zhang Yao showed a hint of gratitude, took the black command token, and said:

"Thank you, Old Qi."

"No need to thank me."

Old Qi waved his hand dismissively, saying:

"I still have two of these; carrying more is useless, so it’s just right to give you one."

He then explained in detail the opening date of the marketplace and how to enter it.

After Zhang Yao carefully memorized it, he thanked him again and played several games of chess with Old Qi before seeing him off.

After Old Qi left, Zhang Yao took out the black command token, playing with it in his hand, and thought to himself:

"This Ruins Marketplace is truly a treasure trove for me."

From Old Qi, he learned that there’s a bounty list in the marketplace. Most tasks involve espionage and hiring assassins, but there are some normal bounties as well.

The patrons of the marketplace are powerful Qi Refining cultivators from various forces across the Wei Kingdom. He could easily post a bounty to acquire the "Scripture of All Transformations and True Nature," far more efficient than searching himself.

"Besides the Scripture, I can also gather Evil Secret Techniques."

Zhang Yao’s thoughts raced:

Evil Dao Techniques take a unique path, choosing shortcuts; progress is fast, breakthroughs easy, with magic being cruel and vicious, feared by all.

The only downside is cultivating evil techniques easily leads to deviation, and evil cultivators rarely die peacefully, probably one in a hundred survives.

In the Hundred Countries of Central Plains’s cultivation realm, evil cultivators occupy a considerable portion. Though not favored by orthodox cultivators, they are stronger than demon cultivators who are universally targeted.

"The drawbacks of evil techniques are too great; I can’t cultivate them."

"But evil secret techniques are treasures for me..."

Zhang Yao smiled upon thinking this.

With his two talents, he could ignore ordinary deviations, as long as it doesn’t cause madness or dementia, no matter the severe physical aftereffects, he can restore them afterward.

Thus, some secret techniques that burn primordial energy and blood essence or even cost lifespan can be used recklessly as a powerful trump card to greatly enhance his combat capabilities.

"I must visit the marketplace soon to post the bounty."

With this thought, Zhang Yao tightly gripped the black metallic command token.

......

Two months later.

The Ruins Marketplace opened, Zhang Yao disguised himself and took a stroll, posting bounties for Evil Secret Techniques and the "Scripture of All Transformations and True Nature."

After posting, he patiently awaited news, simultaneously slowing his cultivation pace, dedicating more energy to pondering the path of spirit patterns, hoping to quickly gain an additional means of earning money.

Half a year later:

Having mastered the "Basic Spiritual Pattern Explanation," Zhang Yao chose to become a Talisman Master.

Among paths like array, talisman crafting, and artifact refining, artifact refiners held the highest status, but learning artifact refining is very costly, requiring substantial wealth to sustain.

The cost of learning talisman crafting was the smallest.

Even so, in the first couple of years, Zhang Yao almost lost his shirt, investing all of his spirit stone salary he earned as a Spirit Farmer while borrowing over a hundred spirit stones from Old Qi.

Fortunately, he had the attribute panel for reference, coupled with decent talent in this aspect. After many failures, he gradually realized many tricks, and his success rate steadily rose until he finally became a competent Talisman Master, able to earn money through his talisman crafting skills.

In the blink of an eye, it was seven to eight years since Zhang Yao joined Qingyunfang City.

That afternoon, Zhang Yao arrived early at his stall on North Street, set up his stand, and laid out several dozen spirit talismans, waiting for customers.

Over the years, Zhang Yao had become somewhat famous in Qingyunfang City, specializing in selling low-level and middle-level spirit talismans, with a decent reputation.

"Talisman Master Zhang, good morning."

"Old Li’s here, feel free to browse."

After waiting for a moment, a regular customer arrived, and Zhang Yao skillfully greeted him.

In the marketplace, the most sought after are the first high grade spirit talismans, their effects equivalent to late stage Qi Refining spells, convenient and quick, without depleting one’s magical power.

Regarding high grade spirit talismans, middle stage Qi Refining cultivators need them, and late stage cultivators must also stock some, so they are always in demand with no concern over sales.

However, limited by cultivation, Zhang Yao couldn’t create first high grade spirit talismans yet. Though his success rate with low-level and middle-level talismans was high, the spirit stones earned were minimal.

"Hey..."

After busying for two hours, only selling a dozen talismans, Zhang Yao sighed softly, having no choice but to pack up and head back.

Renting a stall on North Street requires a monthly spirit stone payment, and his monthly hard work often yields only a profit of four or five spirit stones.

"Too many people sell regular talismans, the competition is fierce; without making high grade spirit talismans, one can only earn some hard money."

"Blank talisman papers and spiritual sand are almost exhausted; in a few days, I have to restock."

"Running a platform is the most profitable; in Qingyunfang City, just the commissions earn a fortune daily..."

Though Zhang Yao felt helpless, he had no other choice.

Such poverty is something he truly experienced for the first time, leaving a deep impression.

"Talisman Master Zhang!"

"Old Zhang’s back."

"Old Zhang, thank you for helping me tend the spirit field a few days ago..."

Returning to the residential area on the west side, many acquaintances greeted him along the way, and Zhang Yao responded to them one by one.

After living in Qingyunfang City for seven to eight years, Zhang Yao gradually integrated into the Spirit Farmer community without anyone deliberately causing him trouble, the overall atmosphere was quite good.

"Mm..."

Returning to his residence, Zhang Yao looked up at the sky, feeling a sense of anticipation:

"Tonight is the opening of the Ruins Marketplace again."

"Hopefully, there will be new gains this time..."