A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

Chapter 88: Chapter 87: The Coming Storm

Leaving the Magical Artifact Shop, Lü Zhong started buying Golden Light Talismans.

Less than fifteen minutes after he’d arrived, the shops selling Talismans had already gotten word. The price of Golden Light Talismans began to rise slightly. Since the news wasn’t confirmed yet, the increase was only one or two Spirit Stones.

He thought about how he had almost missed out on the Golden Devourer Sword.

This time, Lü Zhong didn’t hesitate for a second. With a wave of his hand, he bought as many as he could.

He even dipped into the funds he had set aside for Talisman Making Materials. After all, drawing Talismans wasn’t his only way of earning Spirit Stones. Once this was all over, he could just make a few more Spirit Seeking trips into the wilderness and earn plenty.

After a frantic buying spree, he ended up with a total of fifty-six Golden Light Talismans.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to buy more; by then, the merchants had received confirmed news and had started hoarding their stock, refusing to sell. The prices of all war-related goods began to skyrocket.

As Dusk approached, the news was finally confirmed.

Just as the rumors had suggested, the Golden Rainbow Sect had decided to issue a Summon Order. They were conscripting cultivators for a massive ”scorched-earth” campaign against the Evil Cultivators entrenched in the Ghost Cloud Valley area of Yanling Mountain.

As soon as this news broke, prices in the market soared.

Disciples in Golden Rainbow Sect robes appeared, gathered around a large notice board, and began announcing the details of the conscription.

Lü Zhong listened from the side, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper.

As the undisputed hegemon of the Yanling Mountain Region, the Golden Rainbow Sect was essentially the sovereign ruler here. Whether it was mortals, Loose Cultivators, or even the seemingly lofty Cultivation Clans, all were considered subjects in the eyes of the Golden Rainbow Sect.

Once the Summon Order was issued, the entire Yanling Mountain Region had to mobilize. Even the Cultivation Clans on the Cangtie Plateau were no exception; they too had to send people to participate in the Golden Rainbow Sect’s campaign.

No one could stay out of it.

Whether you were an Alchemist or an Artifact Refiner, you had to contribute to the war effort.

Lü Zhong was naturally no exception; he was also on the list.

Fortunately, his cultivation wasn’t low, and he was a Talisman Maker skilled in Talisman Making. He wouldn’t have to worry about being assigned to a cannon fodder battalion; otherwise, it would have been a certain death sentence.

...

「Nightfall.」

Lü Zhong was still hard at work in his Talisman Making Room.

With the war looming, the price of the Qingyang Body Protection Secret Talisman had also risen. Although not as exaggerated as the Golden Light Talisman, which had doubled in price, it now sold for forty Spirit Stones.

Under these circumstances, even though the cost of Talisman Making Materials had gone up, the profits from Talisman Making had increased even more.

Every second counted. He was going all out to earn Spirit Stones.

The Golden Rainbow Sect had given everyone a ten-day grace period to prepare. Lü Zhong had already prepared everything he needed, so he figured he might as well use the opportunity to make a few more Protective Secret Talismans.

Just then, the Token at his waist began to vibrate.

’Who could be visiting at this hour?’

Lü Zhong put down his Talisman Brush and strode toward the courtyard gate.

As he walked, he cast a Malice Detection spell and initiated a scene-replay.

’Huh? It’s Fellow Daoist Huang? And what’s Fellow Daoist Bai doing here too...?’

He could guess Huang Shuyuan’s reason for visiting, but why was Bai Xiaohan here?

Puzzled, but having confirmed that neither of them bore him any ill will, Lü Zhong finally opened a gap in his White Cloud Shield.

He led the two into the main hall. Since he had distinguished guests, he naturally had to brew a pot of Spirit Tea.

”May I ask why you two have come to visit so late at night?” Lü Zhong asked.

The two women deferred to each other for a moment before Huang Shuyuan finally spoke up.

She looked a little embarrassed, a blush creeping across her fully healed face as she said shyly, ”Fellow Daoist Lü, could I possibly borrow a Golden Light Talisman from you? I heard the news too late, and with the prices soaring, I can’t afford one...”

Lü Zhong wasn’t surprised by this.

Huang Shuyuan’s situation had only recently improved; it was perfectly normal that she couldn’t afford a Golden Light Talisman at its inflated price.

Considering what had happened with Mo the Third, plus the fact that he had a good impression of her, he decided that if he was going to help, he should see it through to the end.

After a moment’s thought, Lü Zhong took three Golden Light Talismans and one Qingyang Body Protection Secret Talisman from his Storage Bag and handed them to Huang Shuyuan.

”This... this is too much.” Huang Shuyuan’s face flushed red, and she refused to accept them.

Three Golden Light Talismans and a Qingyang Body Protection Secret Talisman were worth at least a hundred Spirit Stones on the market.

Although she would repay the loan, that would have to wait until after the war.

Between the current inflated price and the post-war price, the difference would be nearly fifty Spirit Stones.

With her proud nature, asking to borrow a single Golden Light Talisman was already her limit. She would have insisted on paying him back double afterward, so how could she possibly accept such a huge favor?

”Fellow Daoist Huang, just accept them,” Bai Xiaohan chimed in, persuading her from the side. Her perpetually smiling face had turned serious. In a solemn voice, she said, ”According to the intelligence I’ve received, the Evil Cultivators in Ghost Cloud Valley won’t retreat at the first sign of trouble this time. I’m afraid we’re in for a bitter fight. When it comes to life-saving items like these, the more the better.”

After much persuasion from Bai Xiaohan, Huang Shuyuan finally agreed and bowed gratefully to Lü Zhong.

”Thank you, Fellow Daoist Lü!”

”Fellow Daoist Huang, you’re too kind. We’re already acquainted, and I trust you won’t default on the loan. I have nothing to worry about lending them to you.” Lü Zhong helped Huang Shuyuan up, and he meant every word.

’The hearts of men in the Cultivation Realm are treacherous. People like Huang Shuyuan are a rare breed; they can’t be allowed to go extinct.’

Immediately after, Bai Xiaohan stated her reason for coming.

”Through my connections, I was fortunate enough to secure a relatively safe post. However, I still need an assistant who is skilled in combat. I heard that Fellow Daoist Lü has the achievement of slaying Thousand-Faced Lang, so I came here tonight specifically to invite you.”

She gently set down her teacup, seeming a little nervous as her gaze fixed on Lü Zhong.

”So, Fellow Daoist Lü... what do you think?”

”Well...” Lü Zhong didn’t agree immediately, weighing the pros and cons in his mind.

’What Bai Xiaohan said is most likely true.’

’After all, she’s an Alchemist; it’s normal for her to have more connections than a Talisman Maker. Plus, her cultivation is only at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer. Since she specializes in the Alchemy Dao, she’s bound to have limited means of self-preservation.’

’Since I can’t find any issues with it, I’m strongly tempted.’

The battlefield was fraught with danger. Even though he felt his combat abilities were decent, that was no reason to put himself at unnecessary risk. Accepting Bai Xiaohan’s invitation was a good choice.

”In that case, thank you for your kind offer, Fellow Daoist.”

Lü Zhong agreed, then glanced at Huang Shuyuan.

”I have an impertinent request. Could we add Fellow Daoist Huang to the group?”

”Ah... there’s only one spot.” Bai Xiaohan looked troubled, but she didn’t refuse outright. She nodded and said, ”How about this: I’ll go and talk to them again and see if we can add another assistant.”

...

After seeing the two women out, Lü Zhong drained the Spirit Tea from his cup and returned to Talisman Making.

’I almost forgot about this.’

He suddenly recalled something: not long ago, during a Spirit Seeking trip, he had encountered Corpse Qi. This meant there was a high probability of Demon Cultivators among the Evil Cultivators in Ghost Cloud Valley, and he hadn’t prepared for them at all.

He only had three or four Cleaning Talismans and Evil Exorcism Talismans in his Storage Bag.

’You never have enough talismans when you actually need them.’

It wasn’t cost-effective for him to draw them himself on short notice. Lü Zhong decided that tomorrow he would sell a few Qingyang Body Protection Secret Talismans and use the Spirit Stones to buy Cleaning Talismans and Evil Exorcism Talismans. Since those two types of talismans were mass-produced, their prices wouldn’t be too exorbitant, even after a major price hike.

After all, both were priced in units of talismanic coins.