Chapter 45: A Stroke of Fortune
Chapter 45: A Stroke of Fortune
Several days later, within a meditation chamber of Bloodcloak Pavilion.
Fairy Feixia had already departed gracefully, leaving Lv Yang seated upon his Reed Meditation Cushion. He now focused intently on studying the talisman arts he'd received during his discussions with her.
As for romantic entanglements, Lv Yang had never let such matters cloud his mind. He understood all too well that genuine affection didn't exist within the Holy Sect—only calculated exchanges of benefit.
Fairy Feixia's gratitude for saving her life was only part of her motivation. More importantly, she needed his strength to maintain stability in the bazaar, as the Refining Qi Perfection cultivator had proven unable to deal with him. Another factor lay in the efficiency of dual cultivation—physical intimacy accelerated knowledge sharing. After all, the Holy Sect possessed the Yin-Yang Grand Harmony Manual, a cultivation technique that directly enabled energy absorption through intimacy, making bodily connection far more effective than verbal discussion.
Still, Fairy Feixia shouldn't expect special favors just for a few days of companionship. He'd taught her array arts in return—fair exchange indeed.
Lv Yang concentrated, observing the scroll before him.
[Golden Radiance Talisman (Beginner's), Five Thunder Talisman (Beginner's), Sword Qi Talisman (Beginner's), Retroactive Flame Revival Talisman (Beginner's)]
Fairy Feixia had transmitted four talisman techniques. The first three were common Ninth-Rank talismans, but the final one—the Seventh-Rank Retroactive Flame Revival—stood apart.
This talisman could imprint and preserve a cultivator's peak state during a specific timeframe. When activated, it restored the user to full strength, even if they were severely injured or drained of energy. Though afterward, the backlash would triple their injuries, making it a lifesaver in critical moments. Fairy Feixia's survival during her escape back to the bazaar had depended on this very technique.
Sharing such a life-saving talisman showed that while her intentions weren't entirely pure, she had offered some sincerity in return.
Of course, its effects couldn't be stacked, and its formidable power required a three-month cooldown between uses.
"Heaven is round, earth is square, by the Nine Edicts I command; now my brush meets paper, all spirits bow", Lv Yang chanted.
Several talisman papers floated midair as he formed seals with one hand while inscribing them with the other. Occasionally, surges of uncontrolled energy would shred a talisman paper into fragments, but he swiftly replaced each ruined sheet with fresh replacements.
Eventually, four radiant talismans materialized—each glowing with distinct hues and characters.
"It's done!" Lv Yang carefully stored the precious Retroactive Flame Revival Talisman before examining the others. A thought struck him—unlike the revival technique, these three were standard. With proper materials and practice, mass production was feasible. The real challenge? Finding unpaid laborers to draw talismans.
Fortunately, the idle flag spirits within his Ten-Thousand Spirit Banner needed employment. Teaching them calligraphy arts would give them purpose while saving him significant costs—unlike sect disciples who required payment, these spirits would consider employment itself a blessing.
As Lv Yang exited the meditation chamber, Yun Miaoqing delivered unexpected news.
"Zhao Xuhe?"
Raising an eyebrow, Lv Yang pondered Senior Brother Zhao's sudden visit. Their last conversation had brimmed with mutual suspicion.
Seeing his hesitation, Yun Miaoqing offered softly, "If you'd rather not see him, should I send him away?"
"No need", Lv Yang smiled. "Let's meet him."
Zhao Xuhe was soon led to Bloodcloak Pavilion's reception hall. After confirming no hidden dangers lurked, Lv Yang entered.
"Senior Brother Zhao! You've come at last!" he exclaimed, embracing Zhao warmly. "Truth be told, I overexerted myself battling Divine Martial Gate's True Transmission cultivator. Though I prevailed, I sustained grave injuries requiring lengthy recovery. Please forgive my absence."
"Not at all", Zhao replied with polite awkwardness, his smile strained. He'd seen Fairy Feixia leaving just moments ago. Yet his cultivation determination held firm—negative emotions faded quickly.
"Junior Brother", Zhao changed the subject, "I seek your help. Do you know about the Wugui Secret Realm? Its discovery has stirred great excitement."
"Of course", Lv Yang nodded.
Zhao leaned forward. "I possess clues about this realm—possibly connected to Foundation Building opportunities."
"Oh", Lv Yang responded neutrally.
Zhao blinked in surprise. Shouldn't such news provoke urgent curiosity? Yet Lv Yang remained unimpressed.
The Wugui Secret Realm had originally been a secret he unearthed from Ouyang Haoze after transforming him into a banner spirit. Now, however, the entire Skull Mountain buzzed with rumors of easy Foundation Building attainable by commoners. When even street vendors discuss stock trading, it's time to cash out.
The more "opportunities" everyone advertised, the more determined Lv Yang became to stay within the bazaar. He'd seen too many such fads—nothing but chum for harvesting naive cultivators.
"I'm afraid I'm not interested", Lv Yang declined.
"Please reconsider!" Zhao urged. "Cultivation is fleeting—we must seize critical moments. Though the ancient Wugui Sect fell to Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion, great treasures might remain. Foundation-building treasures await discovery!"
'Maybe for you,' Lv Yang thought, 'but I've got eternity on my side.'
Aloud, he replied, "I prefer playing it safe—what's meant to be will come naturally."
Zhao stood speechless. With no further arguments, he switched tactics. "Then let's discuss another matter. I possess a secret technique that enhances Foundation Building success rates. I'd like to borrow 30,000 Contribution Points using it as collateral."
"A Foundation Building technique?" Lv Yang's eyes lit up. From Soul-Stealing Yin Puppet and Nine Metamorphosis Dragon Art to Skull Mountain Bazaar—every major opportunity he'd gained came through this man. Truly his stroke of fortune!
(End of Chapter)
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