Chapter 69: Spirit Talismans and the Silver Crystal Shield
Chapter 69: Spirit Talismans and the Silver Crystal Shield
"Good! Good! Good!"
Liao Yunming exclaimed, his eyes filled with admiration as he looked at Chu Ning.
"Initially, I merely thought that your talent in talisman-making was decent, and that you could go to the market to hone your skills before returning to learn more advanced techniques here. But I never expected your talent to exceed my expectations. You truly can learn the Spirit Talisman Arts!"
As he spoke, Liao Yunming took out a jade slip from his storage bag.
"This is the jade slip containing the Spirit Talisman Arts. However, according to the sect's rules, you are not allowed to take this out of the sect. Close your eyes and relax, and I'll transmit the contents of the jade slip to you directly."
Chu Ning immediately closed his eyes. Liao Yunming brought the jade slip close to Chu Ning's forehead and performed a complex hand seal. A flash of white light enveloped the jade slip, and in the next moment, it condensed into a ball and vanished into Chu Ning's mind.
At that instant, Chu Ning felt his mind fill with knowledge about the Spirit Talisman Arts.
"Thank you, Executor Liao!" Chu Ning bowed in gratitude.
Liao Yunming nodded slightly, then took out another jade slip. He inscribed something on it in front of Chu Ning before handing it to him.
"I've inscribed a talisman formula called the Beast Trapping Talisman. It's a mid-grade beginner talisman. It's quite effective against low-level demons, and you should be able to sell it for a good price at the market once you learn how to make it."
Chu Ning quickly took the jade slip and bowed again to express his gratitude. He then turned his gaze to He Changyou, his eyes conveying a clear message.
Even the Spirit Talisman Pavilion has shown their support. What about us in the Spirit Planting Division...
At that moment, even Liao Yunming looked at He Changyou with a smile in his eyes.
The latter understood that he couldn't very well not show his support now. He reached into his storage bag and took out an object—a shield the size of a palm.
"Silver Crystal Frost Bamboo Shield, a mid-grade defensive artifact!" He Changyou announced.
As his words fell, Chu Ning's eyes lit up.
An artifact, and a mid-grade defensive one at that, was definitely a valuable item.
Typically, artifacts were used by cultivators in the Refining Qi and Foundation Establishment stages, while those in the Golden Core stage and above often refined treasures.
Artifacts were categorized into beginner, intermediate, advanced, and top-grade.
Back when he attended the auction at Yunhai Pavilion, a set of advanced metal-type artifacts called the Golden Feather Sword had sold for 700 spirit stones.
However, defensive artifacts were rarer than offensive ones, so this intermediate defensive artifact was easily worth the same as the Golden Feather Sword, if not more.
Seeing the gleam in Chu Ning's eyes, He Changyou smiled faintly.
He handed the shield to Chu Ning and explained, "You cultivate wood-based techniques and spells, which generally put you at a disadvantage against metal and fire-based spells. This shield is primarily refined from Frost Spirit Bamboo infused with a considerable amount of silver crystal, and it's also embedded with two defensive spell formations. It offers better protection against metal and fire-based spells. All you need to do is infuse it with spiritual power, and the shield will automatically enlarge to deflect attacks."
"Thank you, Executor He!" Chu Ning happily accepted the shield.
He also thought to himself, "It's true that the squeaky wheel gets the grease."
In addition to the defensive artifact, He Changyou gave Chu Ning a large storage bag to facilitate his trading of spirit plants at the market.
Chu Ning, of course, accepted it without hesitation. His previous storage bag was fine for small items, but it wouldn't be enough for storing large quantities of spirit plants.
After bidding farewell to the two executors, Chu Ning did not head directly for the outer gate.
Upon leaving the Hall of Hundred Arts, he turned back and made his way to the residential area for external disciples.
He was about to leave the sect, and it was only right to bid farewell to those he was acquainted with.
Zhuang Yunde would likely be leaving soon as well, so they should at least wish each other a safe journey.
And there was also Senior Sister Mu Ling, from whom he could no longer earn spirit stones by buying talisman paper.
No, he corrected himself. He could no longer help her buy talisman paper, so he ought to inform her.
Chu Ning shook his head and then proceeded to tell him about how the two Executors had just arranged for him to go outside the sect.
Zhuang Yunde's expression turned slightly surprised, and he quickly added, "Congratulations, Junior Brother. You've landed yourself a sweet deal."
Chu Ning was taken aback for a moment. "Senior Brother Zhuang, how is going outside the sect a good thing?"
"There's something you don't know, Junior Brother Chu," Zhuang Yunde said, shaking his head with a smile.
"External disciples are entitled to a fixed monthly allowance of 10 spirit stones, but if they are dispatched outside the sect to places like Fang City, the allowance is tripled.
Additionally, Junior Brother Chu, you are responsible for tasks in both the Spirit Planting Division and the Spirit Talisman Pavilion.
As far as I know, these two divisions have a fixed monthly contribution to the sect, and if there are special circumstances, they can even contribute less."
As he said this, Zhuang Yunde smiled meaningfully.
"With your expertise in spirit plants and talismans, Junior Brother, it shouldn't be a problem to plant a few more spirit plants or make a few more talismans, right? Even if you can't plant more, you're only at the fourth layer of Qi Refining, so it should be fine to contribute less, right?"
Chu Ning looked at him in surprise.
This Senior Brother Zhuang was quite the character; he seemed to have his fingers in every pie.
However, after hearing what Zhuang Yunde said, it seemed like he had indeed landed himself a good deal.
Seeing the thoughtful look on Chu Ning's face, Zhuang Yunde continued with a smile, "It's just that this time, the sect suddenly decided to send out more disciples.
Otherwise, there would usually be many people vying for such assignments."
Chu Ning nodded. He believed what Zhuang Yunde said.
"Thank you for the information, Senior Brother," Chu Ning said, a hint of regret in his voice. "It's a pity that both of us are leaving the sect. Otherwise, there would have been many things I would have liked to learn from you."
Chu Ning was being sincere. Although Zhuang Yunde was always looking out for his own interests, he was well-informed about the inner workings of the sect and wasn't the type to hide information.
Chu Ning had actually gained quite a lot from their interactions.
Compared to that, the small cut he gave Zhuang Yunde was nothing.
With this thought, Chu Ning reached into his storage bag and took out 20 talismans.
"Senior Brother Zhuang, these are some talismans I just learned to make.
They are the Flame Talisman, Frost Talisman, Earth Armor Talisman, and Reviving Spring Talisman—all low-grade beginner talismans.
Senior Brother might not think much of them, but please accept them as a small token of my gratitude."
A hint of surprise flashed across Zhuang Yunde's face.
He hadn't expected that in such a short time, Junior Brother Chu would have already mastered the art of making so many different talismans.
Although the talismans Chu Ning gave him were all low-grade, the quantity was considerable, and together, they were worth several dozen spirit stones.
Zhuang Yunde took them with a sincere smile on his face. "Thank you, Junior Brother. You might not know this, but with everyone going out on missions, there's a shortage of pills, talismans, and artifacts in the sect and the market.
These talismans are like a timely rain for me."
After he finished speaking, Zhuang Yunde's expression turned slightly concerned as he said, "Junior Brother Chu has given me all these talismans, but what about yourself..."
Chu Ning smiled. "Senior Brother, don't worry. I still have some left.
And where I'm going isn't dangerous, so I won't need them right away.
It's just a pity that I've only been learning for a short time and can't make more or higher-grade talismans, or I would have given you more."
Zhuang Yunde quickly waved his hand. "Junior Brother, don't say that. This gift is already very thoughtful."
After a slight pause, Zhuang Yunde's voice sounded again, this time using a voice transmission technique, which surprised Chu Ning.
(End of Chapter)
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