Several days later, inside a Cultivation Chamber in the Blood-Robed Pavilion. Fairy Feixia had long since departed, leaving Lu Yang sitting on a Meditation Cushion, beginning to study the talisman arts inheritance he had obtained from his discussion of the Dao with Fairy Feixia.
As for the love between a man and a woman, Lu Yang had never paid it any mind. This was only because he knew very well that there was no such thing as true love in the Saint Sect, only exchanges of benefits. Saving her life was just one aspect.
Another was that since he was overseeing the market, even those at the Perfection of Qi Refining could do nothing to him, so Fairy Feixia needed his help. Another part of the reason was that discussing demonic arts was simply faster.
After all, the Saint Sect possessed techniques like the Yin-Yang Great Pleasure Ode that could directly plunder cultivation level and knowledge, which was much more convenient than verbal communication. However, if Fairy Feixia thought she could demand any benefits from him based on these past few days of exchange, that was absolutely impossible.
After all, he had also taught Fairy Feixia formations these last few days. The goods were delivered and the payment was made, perfectly fair!
"Talisman arts..."
As one of the hundred arts of cultivation, talisman arts were a rather popular field. After several days of in-depth exchange, Lu Yang had gained a deeper understanding of them. In his view, the so-called talisman arts were actually a type of temporary miniature formation.
Although their power was far inferior to that of a proper formation, their advantage lay in their portability. They didn't require a spiritual vein or spiritual energy for support, nor did they have any geographical restrictions. As long as the user infused them with magical power, they could be activated.
Lu Yang focused his mind and looked at the panel of the Book of a Hundred Lives. Golden Light Talisman (Entry), Five Thunders Talisman (Entry), Sword Qi Talisman (Entry), Wind-Returning Fire-Reverting Talisman (Entry) Fairy Feixia had passed on four types of talismans to him in total.
Among them, the Golden Light Talisman, Five Thunders Talisman, and Sword Qi Talisman were all quite common, only ninth-grade in rank. Only the last one, the Wind-Returning Fire-Reverting Talisman, was a seventh-grade great talisman. This talisman could imprint and preserve a cultivator's state from a certain period of time.
When needed, it could be reapplied, allowing the cultivator to return to their peak condition for a short while.
For instance, if you had just gone through a fierce battle, were covered in injuries, and had less than a tenth of your magical power left, using this talisman would instantly return you to a perfect, uninjured state with your magical power at its peak.
Although the subsequent backlash would make your injuries three times worse, it was more than enough to handle an emergency at a critical moment. The fact that Fairy Feixia was able to escape all the way back to the market was partly thanks to this talisman.
And her willingness to teach him such a life-saving talisman showed that although she harbored other intentions in this discussion of the Dao, she still had some sincerity. Of course, the effects of the Wind-Returning Fire-Reverting Talisman could not be stacked. And because its effect was so outstanding, its cooldown was also longer.
After one use, one had to wait three months before it could be used a second time.
"Heaven is round and the Earth is square, the laws are in nine chapters. As I now put down my brush, ten thousand spirits hide and obey."
A few sheets of talisman paper floated in the air. Lu Yang formed a hand seal with one hand and circulated his magical power with the other, writing on the paper. From time to time, he would lose control of his magical power, causing a talisman to be destroyed.
But very quickly, Lu Yang would pull in a new sheet of talisman paper to replace it. After a long time, Lu Yang slowly finished his work. Before him now lay four talismans, each shimmering with spiritual light, each with a different color and script.
"Success."
Lu Yang first put away the most precious Wind-Returning Fire-Reverting Talisman, then picked up the remaining three talismans. He looked at them intently and a thought suddenly occurred to him.
"Unlike the Wind-Returning Fire-Reverting Talisman, the Golden Light Talisman, Five Thunders Talisman, and Sword Qi Talisman are all quite conventional. They don't require very profound talisman art techniques. As long as the materials are prepared and one practices enough, they can be mass-produced. The only problem is how to find so many people to draw talismans for you for free."
Fortunately, this was something Lu Yang never worried about. It just so happened that the banner spirits within the Myriad Spirits Banner were idle all day with nothing to do. He could pass down the art of drawing talismans to them and give them some work to pass the time.
Doing so could even save him a sum of money. After all, if he hired Saint Sect disciples to draw talismans, he would have to pay them wages. But the banner spirits... what a joke.
His willingness to give them work was already a blessing for them. They wanted wages? Then they couldn't blame him for laying them off!
Walking out of the Cultivation Chamber, Yun Miaoqing, who was waiting outside the door, brought Lu Yang some unexpected news.
"Zhao Xuhe?"
Lu Yang raised an eyebrow, pondering why this Senior Brother Zhao would suddenly come looking for him, especially when he had been so full of vigilance towards him during their last conversation. Seeing Lu Yang frown, Yun Miaoqing said softly, "If Dao Brother does not wish to see him, shall I send him away?"
"... No need."
Lu Yang smiled slightly.
"Let's see him then."
Soon, Zhao Xuhe was led into the reception room of the Blood-Robed Pavilion. Lu Yang secretly observed him for a moment and, seeing nothing amiss, finally walked in.
"Senior Brother Zhao! I've missed you to death!"
Lu Yang laughed heartily, hugging Zhao Xuhe as soon as he entered the door. He said excitedly, "To tell you the truth, I fought too fiercely with that True Disciple from the Divine Martial Sect a while back. Although I killed him, I was also heavily injured.
I had to recuperate for a long time before I recovered. I've made Senior Brother Zhao wait for a long time."
"Not at all, not at all."
Zhao Xuhe smiled awkwardly but politely, though deep down he was itching with hatred. He had seen Fairy Feixia walk out of the Blood-Robed Pavilion with his own eyes! However, his Dao heart was firm after all, and he quickly shook off the negative emotions.
"Junior Brother Lu, I have come this time to ask for a favor."
Zhao Xuhe got straight to the point, saying in a deep voice, "Does Junior Brother know of the Witch Ghost Secret Realm? News about this secret realm has been on everyone's lips recently."
"Of course I know," Lu Yang nodded.
Zhao Xuhe struck while the iron was hot.
"To be honest with Junior Brother, I actually have some clues about the Witch Ghost Secret Realm in my hands, and they might be related to a Foundation Establishment opportunity!"
"Oh."
Lu Yang's flat reaction stunned Zhao Xuhe. This wasn't right. In his mind, a Foundation Establishment opportunity was such a monumental matter.
Shouldn't Lu Yang immediately and anxiously ask him for the specific details upon hearing about it? Little did he know, Lu Yang's state of mind was very calm at the moment. One must remember that when he first learned about the Witch Ghost Secret Realm, it was after turning Ouyang Haoze into a banner spirit.
It was definitely a rarely known secret.
But now?
The entire Skull Mountain was buzzing with talk about the Witch Ghost Secret Realm. Everyone was discussing it, as if anyone, even a mortal, could successfully achieve Foundation Establishment just by finding the secret realm. 'When the grandmas in the neighborhood start discussing stocks, that's when you should get out.'
Is a secret known by everyone still a secret? This was just waiting to harvest leeks! Lu Yang saw it very clearly.
The more the Witch Ghost Secret Realm was hyped up, with opportunities supposedly everywhere, the more determined he was not to take a single step out of the market. Thinking of this, Lu Yang immediately shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Senior Brother, but I'm not interested in the secret realm."
"This..."
Zhao Xuhe's mouth hung open. He hurriedly tried to persuade him, "Junior Brother, cultivation is not easy. A person only lives once.
How can you shrink back at a critical moment?"
"The Ancient Witch Ghost Sect was a great sect of the demonic path. Although it was eventually destroyed by the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion, a centipede dies but never falls down. There are bound to be some good things left. Perhaps even a wondrous treasure for Foundation Establishment. Is Junior Brother not tempted at all? You must know that such an opportunity comes once in a lifetime. If you miss it, it's gone forever!"
'An opportunity comes once in a lifetime... for you.' 'But I'm different. If it doesn't work out in this life, there's always the next.'
Lu Yang grumbled inwardly, but on the surface, he shook his head resolutely.
"My mind is made up. You must know, what is fated to be yours will be yours, and what is not, you should not force."
Zhao Xuhe stood there, speechless. There was nothing he could do. He had said all he could, but Lu Yang was still unwilling to venture out.
He had no other choice but to curse 'damned old turtle' in his heart.
"... If that's the case, then forget it."
"However, I have another deal I'd like to discuss with you, Junior Brother."
Zhao Xuhe gritted his teeth, forced to switch to his second plan. With a pained expression, he said, "I have a secret art that can increase the success rate of Foundation Establishment."
"I want to use it as collateral to take a loan of thirty thousand contribution points from you, Junior Brother."
"... A secret art for Foundation Establishment?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Lu Yang, who was about to see his guest out, suddenly had his eyes light up. Looking at Zhao Xuhe, he felt that he was incredibly pleasing to the eye. This man was truly his lucky star.
Speculating on the Death-Substituting Yin Puppet, the Nine Transformations Dragon Transformation Art, the Skull Mountain Market. And now, a secret art for Foundation Establishment! Of all the great opportunities he had relied on so far, which one didn't have his dear Senior Brother Zhao behind it?
The fact that he was where he was today was almost entirely thanks to him