99: Ten years have passed, and the egrets have a heart-to-heart talk

Looking at the resolute Chen Cuo, Yue Wudao did not persuade him further, only saying, "If you truly want to comprehend the Dao of Talismans, I can give you the Blood Talisman Legacy I obtained in Qian Country!"

"No, I need a Legacy for drawing Spirit Talismans, preferably a complete set, even if it's basic, it's fine."

Chen Cuo politely declined and stated his request. Blood Talismans, in the hands of Innate Experts, were no longer very useful. Researching them would simply be a waste of vital essence; it would be better to directly work with Spirit Talismans.

Moreover, what Chen Cuo wanted was a complete set of Talisman crafting techniques, including the methods for making Talisman paper and selecting Materials for drawing Talismans. Just some basic Blood Talismans would only allow for studying Talisman rune structures.

That stuff was not much different from the inscription circuits he used for Artifact Refining; in short, it was useless.

"Then you can go to the Huisheng Pavilion on Azure Dragon Street in the scattered cultivator area. You should be able to buy a complete set of Talisman crafting Legacy, but the price is expensive, and there are no high-end goods, just like what I have, the method for making Small Spirit Talismans, a rather useless item."

Where there is black, there is white. Even Xueshan City couldn't control everyone. With exchanges of interests, black markets would naturally emerge.

Otherwise, where would those Martial Artists who had no special skills and no intention of joining as servants or Dao soldiers come from? It's impossible that all of them obtained their Legacies from the mortal Martial Forest!

The Huisheng Pavilion in the scattered cultivator area was probably similar to a black market opened in Great Snow Mountain. There, one could sell items inconvenient to sell in formal settings. Whether one could buy suitable items depended entirely on luck.

"There's another way. Those un-registered Innate Experts who are currently honing a skill, you can buy directly from them. Those guys have quite a few good things in their hands."

Yue Wudao continued, and Chen Cuo actually had this idea too. He initially planned to directly strong-arm these un-registered Martial Artists into selling, but doing so would somewhat go against his original intentions and might be detrimental to the state of mind required for Soul Nurturing, so he gave up on it.

Since he wanted to do legitimate business, he still had enough Spirit Stones, he just needed someone to connect him…

"Hehe, Elder Brother Yue, you know I'm not familiar with these people. I wonder if you could help your younger brother make some connections?"

"No problem, leave it to me!"

Three days later, in the backyard of Chen Cuo's room at the Bailu Smithy.

Chen Cuo was studying the Secret Manual in his hand, engrossed in reading a book.

Various tools were also laid out beside him.

In three days, with Yue Wudao's connections, he successfully purchased three Secret Manuals: "Basic Talisman Preparation," "Elementary Alchemy," and "Plant Cultivation Method."

One Talisman technique, one Alchemy method, and finally, one technique for cultivating Spirit Plants.

They were all the basics of basics, and it wouldn't take much time to learn them, but to truly master them, he would probably have to max out his proficiency first.

"It's a pity that Yue Wudao didn't find the Artifact Refining method and Formation method I wanted. If I had a Formation to study, this crude Five Elements Circulation Formation might be optimized further."

In the courtyard, he had piled up a mound of soil at the base of the rockery and transplanted the Black Secret Spirit Lotus's rhizomes onto it, placing them directly where the rockery's flowing water cascaded, downstream from where Little Azure was sleeping and breathing.

This small exotic snake, obtained from Sparrowhawk, had been cultivated by him and was developing quite well.

The Five Elements Circulation Formation he constructed, strictly speaking, was also a type of Formation, but it lacked a system, couldn't even be considered crude, and the technique was very casual. Its successful effectiveness relied entirely on a few Spirit Treasures.

So he thought about learning Formations. Among the hundred arts of Cultivation, the four most difficult are Formations, Talismans, Alchemy, and Artifacts, with Formations being the foremost. In Formation Cultivation, you either know it or you don't.

It belongs to the most high-end techniques in Cultivation. It's normal for a small black market not to have a Legacy Cultivation Technique.

Since there was no immediate solution, learning other things was fine. Life was still long; there would always be opportunities in the future. With a cheat by his side, what was there to fear!

Upon first learning "Plant Cultivation Method," he immediately discovered some errors in the cultivation of the Spirit Lotus rhizomes. Now, he personally made some muddy soil and specifically enclosed a lotus rhizome stone pond, placing it a bit further away.

This lotus grows deep in the mud, not in moist soil. However, Chen Cuo's actions caused the three little ones to frown, one by one. Little Spirit's chubby face was full of bitterness, like a bitter gourd.

"Bear with it. Once it grows lotus flowers again, the smell will be gone."

Chen Cuo put away his tools, a satisfied smile on his face. These three days hadn't been wasted after all. Moreover, he heard that Perfected Person Qingling of Lingsu Valley had already discovered Han Nao's death and was furiously searching for the culprit, but to no avail.

Neither various tracking Spells nor cultivated hunting dogs, eagles, or leopards found any clues.

The Wu Hui Marsh was already chaotic, and with Chen Cuo's ability to deduce good and bad fortune and conceal some of his aura, the matter could only be left unresolved.

After settling a pile of miscellaneous matters, Chen Cuo also began to immerse himself in Cultivation.

To better earn money and Cultivate, his work plan was significantly upgraded. He would only refine Magical Artifacts for ten days a month, shortening the time, and no longer refine low-grade Magical Artifacts.

He focused more on high-quality goods, greatly increasing sales.

Thus, Chen Cuo refined Magical Artifacts while studying Alchemy and Talisman crafting methods, and from time to time, he would find some good Spirit Plants to Cultivate in his backyard, often leading Dai Xiong and White Egret to say he was neglecting his proper duties.

Cultivation knows no time; in a blink, five more years passed.

The contract with Bailu Smithy had expired, and there were roughly less than twenty years until the Realm Crossing opened.

For the remaining days, Chen Cuo still needed to make a choice.

White Egret sat opposite Chen Cuo and softly said, "Chen Cuo, the contract you signed with my Bailu Smithy has now expired. What are your plans next?"

White Egret was anxious, afraid that Chen Cuo would propose leaving. Her entire warehouse was already filled with the high-quality Magical Artifacts Chen Cuo had refined. These items were her Foundation Establishment resources for the future.

Since her birth, her father had told her that even if their Bai Family branch, dispatched to this Realm, returned to the Immortal Realm after the hundred-year term, they would hardly have any Foundation Establishment Opportunity.

Her father hadn't waited for it sixty years ago, and although she had hope of returning to the Immortal Realm, with her Aptitude, Foundation Establishment was probably hopeless.

Until Chen Cuo's appearance, his astonishing Artifact Refining skill, and his learning achievements in one year, which were even more formidable than her, a Master Chen who had been immersed in Artifact Refining for many years, she immediately understood that Chen Cuo was a Genius.

She immediately signed a supplementary agreement with him, even at a loss, to buy some particularly excellent Magical Artifacts.

Chen Cuo was her Foundation Establishment resource. White Egret understood this point. With her Cultivation to the Great Perfection Realm, Soul Nurturing and returning to true essence was no problem, but to achieve Foundation Establishment and truly step onto the Immortal Path was impossible.

After all, her ability to Cultivate to the Innate Great Perfection Realm was also due to the advantages of Xueshan City and her father's prestige.

"What do you think, Shopkeeper? What plans should I have?" Chen Cuo held Little White, stroking its fur.

Two years after the Spirit Lotus was cultivated, it began to flower and produce lotus seeds, with a new cycle of growth every six months.

After Little White grew three tails, it consumed a large amount of Spirit Lotus seeds, and its entire body was filled with endless vitality, making its physique robust.

What was even more compatible with this item were Little Spirit and Little Azure, who benefited greatly.

Chen Cuo also didn't deliberately conceal the Spirit Lotus and Little White and the others. After all, the lotus fragrance couldn't be concealed, so it was better to display it openly. He even specially collected the extra lotus seeds and sold them to White Egret and Dai Xiong.

The other party was fearless, and White Egret understood that Chen Cuo was waiting for a better offer, wanting to see what conditions she could offer.

With Chen Cuo's current Artifact Refining standard, other workshops and forces would probably be scrambling for him. Joining any workshop's registry would be effortless.

"Master Chen, are you interested in joining Lingbao Mountain? My Bai Family Old Ancestor has already said that he can recommend Fellow Daoist Chen directly to Lingbao Mountain to become an Inner Sect Disciple!"