Chapter 16: Exchanging Spirit Stones
Marketplace.
As the matter of opening the wilderness loomed ever nearer, the marketplace also welcomed a rare spectacle of prosperity.
Everywhere on the streets were cultivators setting up stalls and shouting their wares.
“I have these Qi‑benefiting Pills; they not only regulate one’s aura but also enhance magical power.”
“A first‑rank mid‑grade Golden Light Talisman—willing to trade or not?”
“How is that even close enough… Ouch, don’t walk away—you can trade. Cannot I make a trade?”
After disguising himself, Lin Chang’an blended into the crowd, looking at the pills he’d exchanged, nodding silently in his heart.
With so many drifting cultivators around, it was chaotic in some ways, yet that same chaos gave him the chance to fish in troubled waters.
Or rather, he didn’t need to risk going into the black market; in broad daylight with so many cultivators in the market, and so many outsiders present, some merchant guilds would take advantage of the situation.
That little stack of mid‑grade Golden Light Talismans in his hand might be odd to carry around, but tossed onto the marketplace stall, not even a ripple would appear.
“Whether there's a scheme or not, I must take advantage of this prosperous time to clear out my inventory; only by strengthening myself can I ensure my safety.”
Blending in with the crowd as a false drifting cultivator, Lin Chang’an slipped away through a secluded alley, changed his attire and face again.
Having survived here for twenty years, he knew the pathway through that alley like the back of his hand.
Repeating this process, before a day passed, he had nearly cleared out his inventory.
“A first‑rank mid‑grade Fireball Talisman—I’ll trade two mid‑grade Golden Light Talismans for three of yours.”
“Dao‑you (fellow‑cultivator), are you joking?”
Finally, in front of one stall, Lin Chang’an revealed his true visage and began bargaining with the stall’s outsider vendor.
In the end, two for two were traded, and the other party threw in a Bottle of Fasting‑Breaking Pills.
Apparently satisfied with this exchange, Lin Chang’an went into a restaurant run by the Zhou Family, leaned against the window, and ordered a table full of spirit wine and spirit meat.
As an externally‑hired Talisman Master for the Zhou Family, he could enjoy some discounts at the family’s restaurant business.
Following the principle of not letting a good deal go to waste, Lin Chang’an intentionally detoured through several streets before arriving here.
Inside the lively restaurant.
“Have you heard? The Shen family couple also got themselves a Black Wind Wolf cub.”
“What’s the big deal? The Black Wind Wolf is only a first‑rank beast. It’s still not as fierce as the Flame‑Fury Tiger. I’ve heard that several demon‑hunting squads are preparing to join forces.”
“You’re really clueless. Look at how many Black Wind Wolf cubs have shown up in the marketplace lately.”
An elderly cultivator with a long beard said arrogantly, attracting curious glances from the others at his table.
“You young ones only see one side; don’t you think about it? With so many Black Wind Wolf cubs, someone clearly uprooted a large wolf den. That’s not something normal demon‑hunting squads can manage.
And that Beast‑Controlling Zhou Family even publicly claimed they got two second‑rank Black Wind Wolf cubs with the pure bloodline—guess how that happened.”
At once, the tavern filled with sounds of envy and discussion.
“The Beast‑Controlling Zhou Family really struck it rich this time.”
“Right? In this entire marketplace, who else but the Zhou Family could do something on this scale?”
Lin Chang’an listened to all this news, but his heart darkened in secret.
Even he felt something was off; the Zhou Family must have noticed already.
“I’m just an externally‑hired Talisman Master. If something goes wrong, my contract only promises talisman‑making services, I’m not one of those recruits who risk their lives.”
Bracing himself for any fallout, Lin Chang’an ate until he was full, then headed home.
He was only a Qi‑Refining Stage Fourth Level minor cultivator; worrying more wouldn’t help.
Only by improving his strength could he rely on hard truth.
…
For several successive days, outsiders saw Lin Chang’an occasionally strolling through the marketplace; otherwise he was either cultivating diligently or teaching apprentices.
In the secret chamber.
Lin Chang’an slowly opened his eyes, feeling a fresh surge of magical power growing within, and couldn’t help but sigh.
“What kind of life did I used to live? If every day’s cultivation had been aided by spirit stones and pills, I would’ve broken through long ago.”
Without comparison, there is no pain.
Now his monthly resource consumption for cultivation far exceeded what he used to spend in half a year.
He habitually opened his proficiency panel to check his progress.
【Name: Lin Chang’an】
【Lifespan: 40/98】
【Realm: Qi Refining Stage Fourth Level (2/100)】
【Cultivation Method: Evergreen Art (Proficient: 869/1000)】
【Skills: Golden Light Talisman (Proficient 18/1000), Swift Talisman (Proficient 1/1000)】
【Techniques: Fireball (Proficient 458/1000), Breath Concealment (Proficient 219/1000), Invisibility (Proficient 130/1000), Object Manipulation (Proficiency 488/500)…】
After glancing at his cultivation level, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but reveal a smile.
“As the proficiency of Evergreen Art rises, my cultivation speed is getting faster and faster, showing an accelerating effect.”
Thanks to the handwritten notes from that Junior Sister, his understanding of the Evergreen Art had improved by leaps and bounds—it was, after all, the insights of a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator.
However, before he could rejoice for long, memories of the recent chaos in the marketplace and a vague unease in his heart quickly ruined his good mood.
“At this pace, I’m afraid it’ll take another two to three years to break through to the Qi Refining Fifth Level, but with the pioneering expedition looming, the marketplace might not stay peaceful for much longer.”
“I must speed up my cultivation, but right now I only know how to make the mid-grade Golden Light Talisman. I have to find a way to learn one or two more mid-grade talisman crafting methods to quietly build up resources.”
Having experienced the accelerated cultivation enabled by spirit stones, he naturally didn’t want to return to the slow days.
Especially at his age, he couldn’t afford to waste any more time.
With that thought, Lin Chang’an took out all the spirit stones he had exchanged over the past few days from his storage pouch.
Clatter—sitting cross-legged, a pile of sparkling spirit stones appeared before him.
“In just three months, I’ve earned over ninety spirit stones, and that’s not even counting the pills I exchanged for cultivation—who would believe this if I told them?”
Even Lin Chang’an couldn’t help his eyes lighting up the first time he saw so many spirit stones, shocked inwardly.
An ordinary first-rank mid-grade Talisman Master, excluding costs, would only earn about ten or so spirit stones a month.
But under state lock during talisman drawing, he could earn over a hundred spirit stones a month with full effort.
“Every pioneering expedition is a rare grand event—rare and precious artifacts, spirit pets, cultivation arts of all kinds, and even Foundation Establishment Pills appear.”
This was also a chance for him.
He didn’t dare hope for Foundation Establishment Pills, but he could still be tempted by talisman arts.
“To play it safe, I should secretly learn one or two other first-rank mid-grade talismans—this way I can avoid exposing myself, since some advanced Talisman Masters can tell whether a batch of talismans came from the same hand.”
Talismans were divided into attack, defense, escape, and many other categories.
Each type used completely different materials and techniques.
Even if they were made by the same person, it was hard to tell.
But if it’s the same type of talisman, it’s easy to recognize.
Therefore, the ones he secretly sold to during this time were mostly demon-hunting cultivators.
Because this group used the talismans themselves and were major consumers of talismans.
“I need to at least learn one or two more first-rank mid-grade talismans. As long as I don’t neglect cultivation, I can earn about a hundred spirit stones a month excluding costs.”
Lin Chang’an thought to himself.
His spiritual root was low-grade, but that could be completely offset by spirit stones.
The priority now was raising his cultivation, only then could he survive in this turbulent cultivation world.
He had already wasted forty years of his life.
If he didn’t fight now, he might as well return to the mortal realm early and enjoy a life of wealth and luxury.