Chapter 23
New Neighbor
On the tenth day of moving to Yunhe Alley. The excitement of his wife and concubine gradually subsided. Shen Ping heaved a sigh of relief. If this continued, he really couldn’t take it.
At the end of the morning, he tidied himself up and prepared to go out. Before he left, he instructed, “Stay at home. You can go to the courtyard to relax. However, if you encounter fellow Daoists from other houses, remember to be respectful. Don’t break the rules just because this is a market.”
His wife and concubine nodded repeatedly. He had just walked down the stairs when Yu Yan walked out of the first-floor building. Her hair was tied up in a bun, and a pink ribbon was tied into a simple knot. She wore a ring-shaped dharma artifact on her wrist, and even her ring finger had a ring dharma artifact. She looked fully armed.
Shen Ping greeted, “Fellow Daoist Yu, are you going to Cloud Mountain Swamp?”
It would only take an hour to travel from Cloud Mountain Parlour to the edge of the swamp by flying dharma artifacts. However, it was very easy for accidents to happen when one went out to fight. Sometimes, one had to go deep into the swamp to hunt demon beasts. Not only did it take a lot of time, but it was also extremely dangerous.
Therefore, Yu Yuan would leave the market for a few days. The longest time was two to three months.
“I’ve stayed a little too long this time. If I don’t go out soon, I’ll have nothing to eat.”
As Yu Yan spoke, she looked over. “Fellow Daoist Shen, do you have any more talismans on you?”
Shen Ping hurriedly said, “Yes, I’m about to go to the market to sell it. What type of talisman does Fellow Daoist Yu want? How many do you need?”
“Give me five amulets, twenty Fire Talismans, three Freezing Talismans and three Earth Trap Talismans.” Yu Yan thought for a moment and said. At the same time, she took out two medium-grade spirit stones from her storage bag and threw them to Shen Ping. “Keep the change. The rest will be counted next time.”
Shen Ping handed the talismans over and said hesitantly, “Fellow Daoist Yu, I still have a Spirit Protection Talisman here. Do you want it?”
Yu Yan was stunned. “You have a Spirit Protection Talisman?”
“That’s right. I asked for it from that senior last time. I want to try learning it. I might have accumulated a lot recently and have made rapid progress in the Dao of Talismans. Perhaps I’ll be a high-grade Talisman Master when I successfully make it in the future!” Shen Ping smiled. His words were also in preparation for taking out high-grade talismans in the future.
After all, the Hundred Arts of Immortal Cultivation focused on accumulation over time. When one accumulated enough, it relied on the inspiration generated by accumulation and the most basic talent.
There were many such examples.
Yu Yan couldn’t help but say, “It seems that this Senior Talisman Master values you very much. Fellow Daoist Shen, you have to seize the opportunity. If you can break through to become a high-grade Talisman Master, it’s not impossible for you to reach Foundation Establishment.”
High-grade Talisman Masters meant that they could earn more resources and get to know more people.
Shen Ping nodded and took out the Spirit Protection Talisman. Seeing Yu Yan’s hesitant expression, he smiled and said, “This Spirit Protection Talisman is temporarily on credit. You can give me spirit stones every month in the future.”
Most of the spirit stones on Yu Yan were used to buy dharma artifacts and medicinal pills. Now, she really could not afford the Spirit Protection Talisman. Moreover, she did not want to take advantage of Shen Ping. However, the Spirit Protection Talisman was too important. It could save her life at a critical moment.
“Okay! Thank you, Fellow Daoist Shen.” In the end, she accepted Shen Ping’s favor.
They walked out of the house side by side. The entire courtyard was empty. The other cultivators’ houses were still closed.
“You’ve been staying in the house for the past few days, so you don’t know the situation. There are currently four rented rooms in our small courtyard, and two are empty. However, it’s said that they’ve all been reserved.
“Room number one is a Mid-grade Alchemist. He is cultivating in the Pill Treasure Hall in the marketplace.
“Room number three is a pair of brothers. Their cultivation levels are both at the late-stage of the Qi Refinement Realm. Their strength and aura are very strong. They should go out often.
“Room number five is a female cultivator. Her cultivation level is at the eighth level of Qi Refinement. She works in the Heavenly Sound Pavilion. If you encounter her, you have to be careful.”
Towards the end, Yu Yan glanced at Shen Ping. “The female cultivators of the Heavenly Sound Pavilion are all troublemakers. Don’t blame me for not reminding you. My ex fell into a trap and almost destroyed the family. If you fall into it, forget about Yunhe Alley, you won’t even be able to return to Red Willow Alley. Do you remember Alchemist He Qin? You haven’t forgotten what happened to him, right?”
Shen Ping listened to the worry and concern in Yu Yan’s words and said solemnly, “Fellow Daoist Yu, don’t worry. I’ll remember it.”
The two of them arrived at the market as they spoke. After parting ways, Shen Ping went straight to the True Treasure Pavilion.
Before he reached the counter, the sweet female cultivator who received him last time quickly walked over and said enthusiastically, “Fellow Daoist Shen, I’ll serve you exclusively from now on. My name is Mu Jin. You can tell me if you need anything.”
Shen Ping was stunned. He could not help but think that the service of the True Treasure Pavilion was too good. “Fellow Daoist Mu, here are two Spirit Protection Talismans and three Golden Light Talismans. Also, may I ask, what’s the current price of a mid-grade robe?”
Mu Jin immediately explained in detail, “The most ordinary mid-grade robe costs 12 mid-grade spirit stones. It has the ability to avoid dust and lighten one’s body. The better ones require 20 pieces and have the spirit gathering function. The best ones cost more than 50 pieces and are partially immune to spells…”
Shen Ping asked again, “What about the dharma artifacts?”
“The price of a mid-grade dharma artifact…”
A moment later, he left the True Treasure Pavilion.
In his storage pouch, he had three mid-grade magic robes and a defensive dharma artifact worth 85 mid-grade spirit stones, the Jade-patterned Spirit Pendant. It could withstand three full-strength attacks from high-level cultivators. In addition, he had a pair of spirit boots that increased his speed of escape.
The total cost was 190 medium-grade spirit stones. It made Shen Ping’s heart ache. He had originally wanted to buy an attack-type item, but he immediately gave up on the idea.
After that, he came to the Spring Embroidery Pavilion again. Shopkeeper Chen already knew that Shen Ping had moved to Yunhe Alley. He still had the same excuse, so he became even more enthusiastic. After selling the mid-grade talismans, he earned another ten mid-grade spirit stones.
Then, Shen Ping bought some spirit rice and ingredients before entering a shop. The shopkeeper had an amazing memory. When he saw Shen Ping, he smiled and said, “Fellow Daoist, is the Dual Cultivation Secret Technique still useful?”
Shen Ping was not surprised at all. Cultivators, especially those who had developed divine senses, had a photographic memory. He said without a trace, “It’s alright.”
That set of secret techniques, Blood Locking and Essence Sealing, was indeed not bad. However, it was a little tiring to do it too many times. The shopkeeper smiled and said, “Fellow Daoist, do you want a real Dual Cultivation Secret Technique?”
He looked around and lowered his voice. “The secret techniques I have here are all inherited from the demonic path. Whether it’s in-depth communication between dao companions or doing other things, the effect is very good. If Fellow Daoist buys one,”
The shopkeeper reached out his palm and flipped it back and forth. He said with a smile, “Even if the number of Dao companions reaches this number, you will still be full of vigor. In addition, I can also give you a hardcover illustration. This is the work of an artist from the Heavenly Sound Pavilion.”
Shen Ping’s lips twitched. Why did he feel that this shopkeeper was a little wretched? No. He was wretched! He chose a book called “Dragon Playing with Pearls”. “Ahem… How much is it?”
“50 mid-grade spirit stones!”
Shen Ping frowned. “It’s too expensive.”
The innkeeper shook his head.
“Can’t it be cheaper?”
The shopkeeper shook his head again.
“I’ll buy it!”
He thought about his future life. Shen Ping gritted his teeth and took out 50 mid-grade spirit stones.
The shopkeeper beamed with joy and personally sent Shen Ping out the door. He said enthusiastically, “Fellow Daoist, you’re welcome to come again next time. My illustration will be changed every six months!”
Shen Ping walked far away and sighed, “Devil’s Den, it’s a proper Devil’s Den. You want me to come here again? No way!”