69: Chapter 69 Investing with Your Trump Card

Three days later, early morning.

Lin Xuan pushed open the courtyard gate. The cold wind of early spring, carrying the scent of damp soil, rushed toward him. He took a deep breath and walked toward the market.

The market today was slightly livelier than in winter.

With the snow melted, some Disciples who had returned from outside missions were setting up stalls to sell their spoils. Occasionally, one could hear scattered discussions about border wars or the geniuses of the Sect.

However, the overall atmosphere still carried the tension unique to war preparations.

Lin Xuan's goal was clear; he crossed the main street and turned into a relatively quiet alley.

At the end of the alley was a two-story building named "Ten Thousand Talisman Pavilion".

This was one of the few shops in the market that sold second-tier Talismans.

It was said that the shopkeeper was a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator with a deep background, and few people dared to cause trouble there.

Stepping into the shop, a faint fragrance, a mixture of cinnabar, spiritual ink, and special paper, lingered at the tip of his nose.

The shop was furnished in an archaic style. On the sandalwood shelves against the wall, jade boxes were arranged neatly, with labels on the lids indicating the name and grade of the Talisman. There were only two or three customers in the shop, all quietly selecting items.

Behind the counter sat a Middle-aged Cultivator, looking to be in his forties with an ordinary appearance.

He was wearing a gray Daoist robe and was engrossed in reading an old, yellowed book. When Lin Xuan entered, he only lifted his eyelids slightly before lowering them again.

"Shopkeeper, I would like to see some Talismans for self-preservation, preferably second-tier ones." Lin Xuan walked to the counter and stated his purpose directly.

The Middle-aged Cultivator then put down his book and scanned Lin Xuan. His Qi Refinement Stage level three cultivation was clear at a glance.

There was no expression on his face. He just lazily raised his hand and pointed to a white jade board hanging on the side of the counter.

On the jade board, several lines of text appeared in spiritual light:

Second-tier Low Grade 'Vajra Talisman': After activation, it forms a protective spiritual shield that can withstand several full-force attacks from an Early Stage Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator. Lasts for ten breaths. Price: 500 contribution points.

Second-tier Low Grade 'God-Speed Talisman': After activation, one becomes as light as a swallow, with speed comparable to the short-distance flight of an Early Stage Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator. Lasts for thirty breaths. Price: 480 contribution points.

Second-tier Low Grade 'Flame Explosion Talisman': Area of effect attack, power equivalent to one strike from an Early Stage Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator. Price: 550 contribution points.

(Other attack and auxiliary Talismans, price negotiable.)

Lin Xuan scanned them, his heart tightening slightly.

He knew second-tier Talismans were expensive, but he didn't expect them to be this expensive. A single Talisman was worth more than half of his entire net worth!

"Kid, see clearly?" The shopkeeper's voice was flat and waveless, carrying a hint of imperceptible detachment. "Second-tier Talismans are not easy to make.

The Talisman paper needs to be refined from special spiritual plants, the spiritual ink needs to be blended with the essence blood of Yao Beasts and rare minerals, and most importantly, the time of a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator is very precious.

Think it's expensive? There are High Grade first-tier ones on that shelf over there. Vajra Talisman is 120 points, God-Speed Talisman is 100 points. Affordable."

He pointed to an ordinary wooden shelf nearby.

Lin Xuan shook his head. High Grade first-tier Talismans offered limited improvement for his current strength and the dangers he might face. What he wanted was a trump card that could truly turn the tide or ensure his escape at a critical moment.

"Shopkeeper, can these Vajra Talisman and God-Speed Talisman be discounted? I am sincere about buying; I will buy both together." Lin Xuan tried to keep his tone calm.

The shopkeeper sat up slightly and looked at Lin Xuan carefully, as if trying to judge if this kid at Qi Refinement Stage level three was joking.

A moment later, he spoke slowly: "Buying both together... I'll give them to you for 950 contribution points. No bargaining. If you can't afford it, please feel free to leave."

950 points!

Lin Xuan calculated quickly in his mind: He currently had 987 points. If he paid it all, he would have 37 left.

But the mission reward was 350 points, so the actual expenditure was 600 points. And with these two Talismans...

He simulated in his mind:

If he encountered a High Grade first-tier Yao Beast or multiple strong enemies and was losing, he could activate the Vajra Talisman. Ten breaths of absolute defense would be enough for him to cast the Thunder Net Technique to control the battlefield, or use the Thunder Spear Technique to attack a single point, or even calmly arrange a retreat.

If he were unlucky enough to encounter and offend a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator (a very low possibility, but not zero), he would immediately activate the God-Speed Talisman to flee while crushing the Sect's distress signal.

Thirty breaths of speed comparable to an Early Stage Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator would be enough to create distance. If the other party was just passing by or didn't intend a fight to the death, they likely wouldn't pursue a Qi Refinement Stage Disciple near the Sanyang Sect.

These 950 points were buying him a chance at survival at a critical moment and a guarantee of mission success.

"I'll buy it." Lin Xuan stopped hesitating and placed his identity jade tablet on the counter. "But you must guarantee the Talisman quality is perfect and full of spiritual power."

A faint smile finally appeared on the shopkeeper's face: "The reputation of Ten Thousand Talisman Pavilion is honest and fair."

He turned and took two palm-sized dark red wooden boxes from a jade cabinet covered in sealing Talismans behind him. Opening the lids, a Talisman lay flat inside each.

The Vajra Talisman was pale gold, the Talisman paper thick, with patterns as complex as layers of tortoise shells. A single point of cinnabar in the center was dazzlingly red, with a steady, mountain-like aura flowing faintly.

The God-Speed Talisman was cyan, the Talisman paper as light and thin as a feather, with patterns as elegant as the wind, as if they would float away if looked at for too long.

Lin Xuan picked them up carefully and probed with his Divine Sense.

The spiritual power contained within the Talismans was vast and stable, the Talisman scripts were drawn with rounded and smooth strokes, and the spiritual power nodes were flawless. They were indeed High Grade, and they shouldn't have been made long ago, so the spiritual power loss was very small.

"No problem." He put the Talismans back into the wooden boxes.

The shopkeeper took Lin Xuan's identity jade tablet and swiped it on the Formation Plate.

Spiritual light flashed on the jade tablet, and the contribution point number changed from 987 directly to 37.

Lin Xuan didn't change his expression. He carefully put the two wooden boxes into his Storage Pouch—no, he thought for a moment, took the two Talismans out, put them into two specially made waterproof and fireproof animal skin pouches, and then tucked them into the innermost pocket of his chest, ensuring he could take them out and activate them instantly.

"Kid, Talismans are good, but don't rely on them too much. Your own strength is the foundation." The shopkeeper rarely said anything more; his tone remained flat, but it seemed to carry a hint of a reminder.

"Thank you for the advice, Shopkeeper." Lin Xuan cupped his hands and turned to leave.

Walking out of the Ten Thousand Talisman Pavilion, he touched the two slightly bulging pouches in his chest and felt a little more settled.

But with only a few dozen contribution points left, he still needed to replenish some essential supplies.

He went to the grocery store he often frequented and, with the remaining few dozen contribution points, bought three bottles of Bigu Pills, two bottles of general poison-clearing powder, and ten Low Grade first-tier communication Talismans (which could be used for short-distance communication or set up at specific locations as a warning).

Returning to the courtyard, it was still early.

Lin Xuan began his final packing.

He sorted the newly bought supplies: Bigu Pills, poison-clearing powder, and Qi-recovery pills (leftover from before) into his Storage Pouch.

The Talismans were placed alone in an inner pocket for easy access.

He carefully checked the startling thunder whip; the whip body was intact, the thunder patterns were clear, and the spiritual power infusion was smooth. The qingyun sword, as a backup, was also wiped clean.

He entered the Spirit-Taming Tower Space, fed the Herb-Seeking Mouse and the Pangolin, and told them through the contract that they might need to cooperate in combat at any time.

Both little guys were very excited, especially the Pangolin, which conveyed an eager-to-try emotion.

Exiting the space, Lin Xuan stood in the courtyard and checked his whole body one last time.

His Dharma robe was neat, his Storage Pouch was hung properly, the Talismans in his chest were within reach, and the startling thunder whip was hung at the most convenient position on his waist.

All preparations were ready.

He looked up at the sky. The afternoon sun of early spring, passing through the branches that had not yet grown new leaves, cast mottled light and shadows.

This trip to the Coniferous Forest mine would be about 400 miles round trip; if the mission went smoothly, he could return in two to three days.

The goal was 350 contribution points, and... to verify his own combat strength and accumulate combat experience.

He pushed open the courtyard gate and walked out with long strides.

His figure soon disappeared at the end of the winding mountain road of Emerald Bamboo Peak.