Longevity with a Turtle

Chapter 91: Chapter 87: Daniu’s Promise

Talisman Master Chu Lang put away his Flying Sword, landed on the bow of the boat, and stood in front of Chen Jianghe with a friendly smile.

”Fellow Daoist Chen, your Talisman Dao skills have improved rapidly. I’m afraid it won’t be long before you become a Middle-Grade Talisman Master,” Talisman Master Chu Lang praised first, without directly stating his purpose.

”This is all thanks to Talisman Master Chu’s Talisman Dao Inheritance,” Chen Jianghe said with a chuckle.

He guessed why Talisman Master Chu Lang had come; the man likely wanted to continue their deal. Every year, he could get a share of thirty to forty Spirit Stones from him, which was enough for the basic Cultivation needs of five clansmen. Although Talisman Master Chu Lang was a High-Grade Talisman Master and made more profit from Talisman Painting every year, he still needed resources for his own Cultivation. He couldn’t possibly subsidize his family with everything.

”With Fellow Daoist Chen’s talent in the Talisman Dao, I’m afraid in twenty or thirty years, you can become a High-Grade Talisman Master,” Talisman Master Chu Lang continued to praise.

Chen Jianghe smiled along but didn’t say anything. He was now even more certain of his thoughts. Talisman Master Chu Lang just wanted to renew their contract and continue trading with him.

”It’s just that you lack a High-Grade Talisman Dao Inheritance.” Seeing that Chen Jianghe remained silent, Talisman Master Chu Lang stopped beating around the bush and said directly, ”I wonder if Fellow Daoist Chen would like to make another deal with me?”

”What kind of deal?” Chen Jianghe asked, clasping his hands in a respectful greeting.

”Thirty years.” Talisman Master Chu Lang held up three fingers and said to Chen Jianghe, ”We split the profits from Talisman Making evenly for thirty years, and I can pass on a complete Tier One Talisman Dao Inheritance to you.

”Of course, it still cannot be taught to outsiders.”

”Thirty years? That’s too long. I’m afraid I won’t be able to make this deal with Talisman Master Chu. I’ll be leaving Jingyue Lake in a while to travel the Celestial South Domain.” Chen Jianghe didn’t hide his intention to leave.

The Yun Family already knew he was leaving. Through Yun Wu’s mouth, it was estimated that many people also knew of his decision to leave Jingyue Lake. Therefore, it wasn’t a secret.

Talisman Master Chu Lang traded with Chen Jianghe, so naturally, he also paid attention to news about him and knew he would leave Jingyue Lake in the future. He just didn’t want to lose Chen Jianghe, a good talisman-making partner, so he came to give it a try.

”Does Fellow Daoist have a specific destination after leaving Jingyue Lake? If it’s close to Jingyue Lake, we can still make a deal,” Talisman Master Chu Lang asked, still holding onto hope.

Chen Jianghe chuckled softly. ”I’ll be a wild crane in the clouds, traveling the Celestial South. I’ll go wherever the wind takes me. I don’t know where I’ll settle down yet.”

”In that case, let’s drop the matter.” Disappointed, Talisman Master Chu Lang shook his head and cupped his hands. ”I will take my leave.”

”Take care, Talisman Master Chu.”

Chen Jianghe watched Talisman Master Chu Lang leave via Sword Control, then turned around and walked into the cabin.

Half of the profits from Talisman Painting for thirty years was a bit high. Although there was room for negotiation, it probably wouldn’t go down much. Gao Peiyao had mentioned that the Immortal Sect Marketplace had a complete Tier One Talisman Dao Inheritance. Under the condition that it couldn’t be taught to outsiders, the price was one thousand six hundred Spirit Stones. Based on the profit he currently shared with Talisman Master Chu Lang, the annual average was forty Spirit Stones. Over thirty years, that would be one thousand two hundred Spirit Stones.

It seemed like a bargain for him.

But it actually wasn’t. His Talisman Dao skills were constantly improving, and he would soon reach the level of a Middle-Grade Talisman Master. By then, the share he gave Talisman Master Chu Lang wouldn’t just be forty Spirit Stones a year. It could be sixty, or even seventy Spirit Stones.

So thirty years was definitely out of the question. Twenty years would be a fair price, considering he already had the Middle-Grade Talisman Dao Inheritance and only lacked the High-Grade Talisman Dao Inheritance.

However, Chen Jianghe still wouldn’t take the deal. He couldn’t possibly stay at Jingyue Lake for another twenty years. He was forty-four this year, soon to be forty-five. In twenty years, he would be past sixty years old. If his appearance didn’t change by then, it would definitely invite disaster.

Once he reached Fifty Years Old, Chen Jianghe didn’t plan on going out anymore, because Cultivators at this age would start to show signs of aging. As for the Yun Family promising a complete Tier One Talisman Dao Inheritance in exchange for eighty years of service, that was directly giving Chen Jianghe ownership of the Tier One Talisman Dao Inheritance. He could establish a family and pass it on to his descendants. Gao Peiyao didn’t mention the price for full ownership of the Tier One Talisman Dao Inheritance; it was also possible that the Immortal Sect Marketplace only sold it under an oath of secrecy.

He thought, ”No, I can’t go to the Qinghe Marketplace next Mid-Autumn Festival.” After deliberating repeatedly, Chen Jianghe decided he still couldn’t accept the invitation.

He didn’t have a High-Level Spirit Beast Circle, so he couldn’t carry Little Black with him. This was a huge problem. Leaving Little Black alone at Jingyue Lake was definitely out of the question. A round trip to the Qinghe Marketplace would take six or seven days, even if he hurried. After all, the Jingyue Marketplace didn’t have Flying Ships that went directly to the Qinghe Marketplace.

Seven days was too long. Once Little Black was exposed, his life would be in danger. He absolutely could not leave Little Black alone anywhere.

He thought, ”It seems I’ll have to tell Daniu.” Originally, he planned to discuss it with Daniu, but thinking about it carefully, even if Daniu went, he couldn’t go with him. Unless he could buy a High-Level Spirit Beast Circle before the next Mid-Autumn Festival.

As Chen Jianghe was lost in thought, a familiar aura approached. It was Yun Xiaoniu, who had arrived at the Zone A No.6 Water Area via Sword Control.

”Greetings, Mr. Chen,” Yun Xiaoniu said, stepping forward respectfully to bow when he saw Chen Jianghe.

”Your father hasn’t returned yet?” Chen Jianghe saw a piece of letter paper in Yun Xiaoniu’s hand and guessed it must be a letter from Gao Peiyao to Yu Daniu.

”My father is still out searching for traces of Wang Kui. He sent a message recently saying he is currently still in the Qiyun Mountain area,” Yun Xiaoniu said, lifting Gao Peiyao’s letter. ”Aunt Yao sent a letter inviting you and my father to the Qinghe Marketplace for a small gathering next Mid-Autumn Festival. I’m afraid my father won’t be able to go.”

”The Celestial South Domain’s Cultivation Realm is so huge, and Wang Kui has already been on the run for three years. It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack. There’s no need to waste time on him,” Chen Jianghe said.

”You don’t understand, Mr. Chen. This search for Wang Kui is mainly for the Celestial South Sect to see. Whether we can find him or not, we still have to look,” Yun Xiaoniu said helplessly.

The Steward from the Celestial South Sect made a trip to the Jingyue Marketplace and went back empty-handed, so he was definitely a bit dissatisfied. Now that traces of the Demon Cultivator’s Storage Pouches had appeared, the Yun Family naturally had to take action to give Steward Lan of the Celestial South Sect an explanation. Even if they couldn’t find him, it showed their reverence for the Celestial South Sect.

”Never mind, I’ll write back to Peiyao and tell her the situation. We’ll find another time to gather,” Chen Jianghe said with a nod.

Even if Yu Daniu returned, he didn’t plan on going to the Qinghe Marketplace for the appointment. To him, safety always came first no matter what. There would be plenty of time for gatherings in the future. There was no need to rush.

”Sorry to trouble you then, Mr. Chen.

”Oh right, there’s one more thing I need to tell you.” Yun Xiaoniu spoke with a puzzled tone, ”My father sent a message saying that when he returns, he will give you a great opportunity, but you need to prepare Spirit Stones.”

”A great opportunity?” Chen Jianghe laughed and said, ”This Daniu, he’s even keeping me in suspense.

”How many Spirit Stones did your father tell me to prepare?”

”Well...” Yun Xiaoniu scratched his head. Recalling his father’s message, he said awkwardly, ”He didn’t specify, but it’s a lot anyway.”

”Oh?” Chen Jianghe turned serious. A lot of Spirit Stones meant the item Yu Daniu was going to give him this time was quite valuable. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have mentioned Spirit Stones, let alone a lot of them. Obviously, this opportunity didn’t come from Yu Daniu himself; it was highly likely that he had secured it from the Yun Family. However, it required a hefty price in Spirit Stones.

”Alright, I understand.”

”Then I will take my leave.”

After Yun Xiaoniu left, Chen Jianghe sat on the bow of the boat, deep in thought. What kind of opportunity was it? What could make Yu Daniu say it required a lot of Spirit Stones? And there was a high probability it was secured from the Yun Family.

He wondered, ”Could it be a Tier One Talisman Dao Inheritance?” Yu Daniu had been present when he traded the Tier One Middle-Grade Talisman Master inheritance with Talisman Master Chu Lang, so he naturally knew that he lacked a Tier One High-Grade Talisman Dao Inheritance.

If it was a Tier One High-Grade Talisman Dao Inheritance, then this opportunity was huge indeed. With Yu Daniu’s identity, coupled with his father-in-law’s status, it was possible for him to secure a Tier One High-Grade Talisman Dao Inheritance from the Yun Family for him. If he promised not to pass it on to outsiders, it might even be at a very low price.

But no matter how low the price was, it couldn’t be a thousand Spirit Stones! A complete Tier One Talisman Dao Inheritance that couldn’t be taught to outsiders was worth one thousand six hundred Spirit Stones. Even if he only needed the High-Grade Talisman Dao Inheritance, it would still cost over a thousand Spirit Stones.

”It shouldn’t be.” Chen Jianghe shook his head.

He was just a Lower-Grade Talisman Master, and Yu Daniu understood his recent situation. He had to give half of his annual Talisman Painting profits to Talisman Master Chu Lang, and he had also lent thirty Spirit Stones to Gao Peiyao and twenty Spirit Stones to Zhou Miaoyun. It was impossible for him to have that many Spirit Stones on hand.

Even though this year was the last year of his deal with Talisman Master Chu Lang, even if he were given another two years to save up Spirit Stones, he would at most save a hundred or so Spirit Stones. That was still a huge shortfall from a Talisman Dao inheritance worth at least a thousand Spirit Stones.

He thought, ”Could it be a Magical Artifact, or some kind of Spirit Pill or Spirit Liquid?” Returning to the cabin, Chen Jianghe stopped guessing. He would naturally find out once Yu Daniu returned.

What he needed to do now was focus on Talisman Painting and accumulate Spirit Stones. Otherwise, it would be embarrassing if Yu Daniu really delivered a great opportunity and he didn’t have the Spirit Stones to pay for it.

Subsequently, he first wrote a reply letter to Gao Peiyao, explaining his and Yu Daniu’s current situations. He politely declined the invitation, saying they would arrange another time to gather in the future. After finishing the letter, he handed it over to a White Egret to deliver to the Jingyue Marketplace, and then it would be sent to the Qinghe Marketplace via the Jingyue Marketplace’s Flying Post.

Afterward, Chen Jianghe pushed aside his distracting thoughts and began Talisman Painting.

Time flew by swiftly. Like a wild horse breaking free from its reins, three years passed in the blink of an eye.

In the July night sky, the stars were scattered like dust and the moonlight was hazy. Under the veil of night, the Upturned Boat floated on the lake, swaying gently with the autumn wind. The lamplight in the cabin stretched Chen Jianghe’s shadow, making it sway back and forth.

Holding a Wolf Hair Talisman Pen, he focused completely, drawing profound Talisman patterns on a piece of Black Pig Hide that had been soaked in Spirit Blood. He poured Magical Power into every stroke, branding it onto the Spirit Blood Pig Hide following the tip of the pen.

As a flash of Spirit Light streaked across the Spirit Blood Pig Hide, the Spirit Talisman was completed.

Chen Jianghe took the Spirit Talisman in his hand, channeled his Magical Power to his fingertips, and tore the Spirit Talisman.

SWISH!

Three five-foot-long Water Arrows condensed and fiercely shot toward the lake’s surface a hundred meters away.

BOOM!

Like a meteorite impact, three water craters, each ten feet wide and thirty feet deep, appeared on the lake’s surface, kicking up a curtain of water over a hundred feet high.

Chen Jianghe’s face lit up with joy. ”It’s a success!”