Zhou Jinyan took it and examined it closely.

  It was an Ice Arrow Talisman.

  The paper was smooth, the lines sharp and cold.

  The talisman foot was neatly sealed, faintly revealing the flow of spiritual intent.

  His gaze sharpened.

  The more he looked, the more astonished he became, and he couldn't help but draw in a sharp breath.

  “The quality… it’s even neater than the ones in the talisman shops!”

  He paused, suspicion creeping into his voice.

  “Where did you get this talisman? Could it be that you have some connection with a talisman master who sold it to you at a discount?”

  Lu Chi smiled faintly, neither confirming nor denying it.

  Instead, he smoothly continued, “Brother Zhou has a good eye. There is indeed a senior who occasionally shows me favor, but it’s not convenient to mention their name.”

  He did not directly state that the Ice Arrow Talisman was his own work.

  Since the talisman was not yet complete, it was unwise to speak too boldly.

  Once the talisman was finished, there would be a natural explanation.

  If it failed, he could dismiss it himself, avoiding any embarrassment.

  Zhou Jinyan was half-convinced and half-doubtful.

  He looked down at the talisman again and said, “To have such a connection, one can only envy you.”

  Lu Chi’s expression remained unchanged, but his tone suddenly shifted, becoming indifferent:

  “If Brother Zhou is not in a hurry, come back here in two days.

  By then, I might be able to obtain another Spirit?Gathering Talisman.

  Its quality should be comparable, and the price will definitely be lower than in the talisman shops.”

  Zhou Jinyan pondered briefly, then finally nodded.

  “Then I will return in two days.”

  Cultivators did not measure time as mortals did; two days were but a blink.

  He had always known Lu Chi to be steady and prudent, so waiting did not seem difficult.

  Yet, a strange feeling in his heart refused to subside completely.

  If Lu Chi truly had ties to a talisman master, how could he have been denied entry past Shopkeeper Luo’s counter?

  What was the meaning of being forced to lower talisman prices and then driven out of the shop?

  The mystery was temporarily unsolvable.

  He wanted to ask a few more questions but ultimately held his tongue.

  Seeing him turn to leave, Lu Chi watched for a moment before his expression softened.

  Back in his room, Lu Chi tucked the Ice Arrow Talisman close to his body, sorted out a few miscellaneous matters, and then hurried out.

  He had not forgotten his main task.

  Having made the arrangement, he needed to prepare the talisman paper early.

  Although there was some stock at home, he should replenish it.

  Lu Chi walked at a measured pace.

  After turning down a couple of streets and alleys, he entered a bustling market square.

  The place was already lively with noise.

  The scent of cooking fires mingled with spiritual energy.

  Spiritual beasts occasionally let out low cries, but the clamor was not disruptive—one only felt that within the liveliness, there was a natural order befitting a place of cultivation.

  The pedestrians displayed a variety of styles.

  There were monks in kasaya robes, Daoists leaning on staffs, and young cultivators dressed as scholars, talismans hidden in their sleeves, all moving with purpose.

  Occasionally, flying shuttles or magical implements streaked through the air.

  These were mostly Qi Refinement experts who disliked walking, arriving on their magical tools, exuding an imposing aura.

  Mount Qingque was located in the western borderlands of Dongyue County, within the territory of the Jingzhao Kingdom.

  And the Jingzhao Kingdom, in turn, lay in the far southeastern corner of the vast Xuanyun Continent.

  Surrounded by mountains on all sides, its spiritual veins were not particularly abundant, but the terrain was accessible.

  Cultivators constantly traveled to and from this place; since ancient times, it had been a settlement for scattered cultivators.

  The Xuanyun Continent was one of the Nine Great Continents, vast and remote.

  Numerous sects thrived here, alongside many mortal dynasties.

  Cultivators and ordinary people lived side by side, leading to both interactions and conflicts.

  Though the Mount Qingque Market was small, it was jointly managed by three major cultivation families: the Luo, Shen, and Han clans.

  Anyone who came here to trade, regardless of origin or background, could make a living as long as they obeyed the market rules.

  Talisman paper, elixirs, and magical artifacts filled the market, catering mostly to low?grade items for Qi?Refinement cultivators.

  Occasionally, treasures surfaced, often triggering covert scrambles and disputes.

  Lu Chi walked through the crowd.

  All manner of strange and striking figures passed before his eyes.

  After a while, a ripple of emotion stirred within him.

  In this vast Yun Continent, cultivators numbered in the millions, sects stood like forests, and mortal dynasties coexisted.

  Some with extraordinary talent reached the Golden Core stage within a century.

  Others remained trapped in Qi Refinement their entire lives, scurrying between marketplaces just to scrape by.

  He himself was but a tiny speck of dust amid the multitude.

  Even with a stroke of fortune setting him on the path of cultivation, the journey ahead would be fraught with mortal peril.

  It was better to proceed with caution.

  Keeping a low profile was the way to lasting safety.

  Lu Chi did not head straight for the established shops.

  Their prices were inflated and their goods had passed through too many hands—hardly a worthwhile purchase.

  Having honed his skills for years at the Luo Family Talisman Shop, though not yet a recognized talisman master, he had developed a discerning eye.

  He wouldn’t be easily deceived.

  So he turned a few corners and made for the side alley on the west side of the market.

  Most of the stalls there were run by rogue cultivators.

  The goods were a jumble, but bargains could still be found.

  Not long after entering the alley, a delicate fragrance drifted over—sweet yet fresh, reminiscent of grain yet not quite, like incense yet different.

  It soothed the spirit and brought a faint warmth to the dantian.

  Lu Chi’s nostrils twitched slightly.

  A thought occurred to him: “Spirit rice.”

  This rice was grown by spirit farmers and slow?cooked with controlled flame?magic by dietary cultivators.

  Not only did it satisfy hunger, it also warmed and nourished one’s qi, alleviating energy blockages.

  Long?term consumption offered great benefits for Qi?Refinement cultivators.

  But it was priced like gold.

  He had heard of it in the market for years but had never actually tasted it.

  A small stall came into view, its spirit?pot still warm, the aroma of rice lingering in the air.

  Several cultivators in fine robes sat around a low table, chatting and laughing softly in a relaxed, leisurely atmosphere.

  Lu Chi’s steps faltered for a moment.

  His gaze lingered there briefly, and a flicker of craving arose within him.

  He remembered it had been a long time since he last took a Fasting Pill.

  In the end, he turned and walked away.

  His spirit stones were already tight.

  He still needed to buy talisman paper—he had no extra coin for such luxuries now.

  Walking further in, less than half a cup of tea later, he finally stopped before an unremarkable stall.

  The stallkeeper was a silent, elderly cultivator who didn’t bother hawking his wares.

  On his mat lay several stacks of talisman paper and a few talisman brushes.

  To most they seemed ordinary, but Lu Chi sifted through and pulled out a stack with a faint bluish tint and fine, even texture.

  A subtle spiritual energy seeped from the paper’s back—perfect for first?rank talismans.

  The old cultivator looked up at him, his voice low and raspy.

  “You have a good eye, friend. This is leftover talisman paper from the ancient Azure Talisman Sect.”

  Lu Chi’s hand paused slightly.

  The Azure Talisman Sect… a sect that had vanished nearly a millennium ago, with no notable history to speak of.

  But the paper was indeed good.

  He nodded without further questions.

  Then he turned his attention to the talisman brushes, weighing them briefly in his mind before finally picking up one made of dark bamboo.

  Its tip was fashioned from young spirit?beast bristles, responsive and easy to control—just right for a talisman master.

  Now that he had set foot on this path, his tools couldn’t remain shabby.

  When his finances improved in the future, he’d likely need to outfit himself with a proper talisman?master’s robe as well.

  The elderly cultivator did not name a price.

  Instead, he extended three fingers and gently tapped them in front of his mat.

  Lu Chi understood at once.

  He took out thirty taels of spirit sand and personally handed it over.

  This purchase nearly emptied all his savings.

  He carefully stored each item he had bought, tucking them into the pouch inside his sleeve.

  As his fingertips brushed the edge of the talisman paper, a pang of reluctance washed over him.

  "The cost must be spent.

  This spirit stone will surely return sooner or later."

  "If there is any achievement in the future, spirit?rice can be eaten regularly, and a cave?abode can be lived in!"

  His resolve firm, he walked on without pause.

  Following the narrow alley path, he quickly made his way back to his own small courtyard.

  Pushing the door open, the interior was as quiet and lonely as before.

  The window paper fluttered slightly, letting in a few slanted rays of the setting sun that fell upon the empty talisman rack on the desk.

  He set down his pouch, rolled up his sleeves, and laid everything out one by one.

  Talisman paper, talisman brush, paperweight, spirit ink—all the tools were arranged in good order.

  He sat quietly before the desk for a moment, then regulated his breathing and circulated his qi through several minor cycles.

  Only when his spirit and energy were fully restored did he slowly open his eyes.

  Taking a deep breath, he picked up the talisman brush.

  His fingertips trembled slightly as he channeled a wisp of spiritual power.

  A faint, glowing warmth flickered at the center of his brow.

  Inspiration arrived in an instant.

  The brush tip touched the paper, and his energy poured forth.

  This time, the process went surprisingly smoothly.

  As soon as Lu Chi began to move the brush, his thoughts formed a single coherent thread.

  The line followed the talisman’s “feet,” his intent flowing with the brush.

  In less time than it takes to drink a cup of tea, a complete Spirit?Gathering Talisman had taken shape.

  The lines were continuous, the spiritual intent concentrated.

  The moment the talisman was completed, a wisp of faint light spilled from its center and lingered for a long time.

  He focused slightly and noticed that although he felt somewhat fatigued, he was far from the state of mental shattering and near?collapse he had experienced when first drawing the Ice?Arrow Talisman.

  Not only had he not fallen into deep sleep, but his spirit still felt clear and refreshed—only a little depleted.

  Lu Chi was inwardly puzzled.

  “I used [Fiery Will]? again, so why was the consumption so much less this time?”

  He sat quietly for a moment, recalling that when he had started writing just now, his mind and brush had been unobstructed, without the slightest hesitation—far more practiced than when he had first drawn the Ice?Arrow Talisman.

  “Perhaps...”

  He narrowed his eyes slightly, a guess forming.

  “I’ve already drawn a first?rank talisman before, so my divine sense has some feeling for talisman?crafting.

  Now that I’m using my talent again, it isn’t starting completely from scratch.”

  The art of talismans emphasizes skill through practice.

  Without the tempering of a thousand hammers and a hundred refinements, even the finest divine sense cannot control complex patterns.

  And although his talent could help him form talismans from nothing, it was not a bottomless well.

  In the end, it had to merge with mental discipline and experience to gradually become effortless.

  He looked down at the Spirit?Gathering Talisman on the desk, its spiritual light still lingering.

  A wave of relief washed over him, mingled with a hint of joy.

  “This is just as well.

  If I had to collapse into sleep every time I drew a talisman, it would be far too conspicuous.

  If any trouble arose because of it, that would be counterproductive.”

  “However… the talismans I can draw now are still only low?grade.

  If I were to attempt a mid?grade first?rank talisman, or even higher?quality ones, I’m afraid the consumption would still be heavy.”

  He picked up the talisman paper, feeling the residual spiritual intent flowing across it.

  After a moment of silence, he carefully put it away.

  The room remained as quiet as ever.

  Outside, dusk was falling.

  Light slanted through the paper window, casting a soft shadow over the writing tools on the desk.

  …

  The two?day deadline had arrived.

  Lu Chi had prepared early and was waiting at home.

  Before long, two knocks sounded at the courtyard gate.

  Zhou Jinyan pushed the door open and entered.

  He was still wearing his everyday clothes, but his eyes held more scrutiny than usual.

  As soon as he stepped inside, he said, “Lu Chi, I’ve been thinking about it these past two days—that Spirit?Gathering Talisman…”

  Before he could finish, Lu Chi reached beside the desk, took out a bamboo box, lifted the lid, and handed over a Spirit?Gathering Talisman whose glow was gently restrained.