Talisman Master Gathering

Chapter 147 Talisman Master Gathering

Song Wen returned to his room, took out the jade slip containing the Palm Lightning technique, and pressed it against his forehead.

Instantly, a massive influx of information flooded into his mind.

A moment later, the jade slip crumbled into fine powder. The complete manual for Palm Lightning was now firmly imprinted within his consciousness.

Song Wen closed his eyes, carefully pondering the core principles of the lightning technique.

Several hours later, he opened his eyes and attempted to cast it.

He softly chanted the incantation under his breath and formed several hand seals, but his efforts yielded no reaction whatsoever.

Looking at his empty palm, Song Wen sighed inwardly. Could it be that he lacked any innate talent for lightning techniques?

Refusing to give up, he tried again.

After several hundred attempts, a faint, miniscule spark of silver light finally flickered in his palm.

A breath later, the silver light vanished.

Song Wen's eyes flashed with brilliance. Although he had not successfully cast the full technique, he had managed to condense a trace of lightning energy. This proved beyond doubt that he possessed the affinity required to cultivate lightning spiritual arts.

However, his talent in this discipline was likely mediocre. After all, he possessed a Divine Sense equal in strength to a late Foundation Establishment cultivator. In theory, mastering a tier-1, middle-grade technique like Palm Lightning should have been effortless. Yet, reality had shown that it took hundreds of attempts just to produce a single, feeble spark.

Having confirmed his affinity, Song Wen was in no hurry to rush his practice. Given his current true strength, learning Palm Lightning immediately was of little consequence. Besides, mastering techniques was never a task completed overnight.

Song Wen took out Ji Yin's manuscript and began to study it meticulously. This was his first attempt at refining pills, and without a master to guide him, he had to glean as much information from the notes as possible.

Time flowed silently. Two hours later, Song Wen set the manuscript down.

By then, dawn had broken, and a new day had arrived.

According to Ji Yin's notes, he was still missing one thing before he could attempt a refinement: fuel for the cauldron.

Song Wen rose and headed toward the market square. When Ji Yin refined Blood Qi Pills, he utilized a specific wood known as water ash. Song Wen intended to replicate the process exactly, seeking out water ash to serve as his fuel.

He also planned to purchase a set of flags for a Spirit Locking Formation to mask the energy fluctuations and any potential anomalies during the process.

When pill refining failed, accidents like explosions or sudden fires were common. Song Wen did not want the entire neighborhood to know what he was doing. Though the Spirit Locking Formation was only a tier-1 array, it was sufficient to block the prying eyes of most cultivators in the market.

As for Foundation Establishment experts or those above, they might notice his activities, but Song Wen was not overly concerned. Refining standard pills was not the same as practicing demonic arts; even if an Elder noticed, they would not pay it any mind.

Half an hour later, Song Wen returned to his residence.

He cleared the tables and chairs from the main room, deployed the Spirit Locking Formation, and placed his cauldron directly in the center of the floor, ready to begin.

Arranging the water ash wood beneath the cauldron, he ignited the fuel and began to drop the herbal ingredients inside.

Half an hour later, the cauldron suddenly shuddered violently. A thick plume of black smoke erupted from the vents, leaving Song Wen soot-stained and disheveled.

His first attempt at pill refining had ended in failure.

He had not even managed to introduce half of the required Spirit Grass.

Song Wen retrieved a jade bottle and flicked his finger through the air, summoning a localized breeze.

Guided by the wind, the heavy smoke was drawn directly into the mouth of the bottle.

Within breaths, the haze lingering in the room was completely cleared.

Just as Song Wen was preparing to reset for another attempt, a series of urgent knocks rattled his outer door.

Ai Kun's voice drifted inside.

"Little friend Zhang Cheng, open up quickly! Today, I am taking you to meet a true master of talisman drawing!"

Song Wen put away the Spirit Grass he was about to use, extinguished the fire, stored his cauldron, and walked out toward the courtyard.

With Ai Kun disrupting his morning, any further pill refining today was out of the question.

Then again, refining could not be rushed. This was a good opportunity to rest, clear his mind, and adjust his condition.

Furthermore, it was an ideal chance to meet the talisman master Ai Kun spoke of. Since he was maintaining a disguise as a talisman master himself, declining an invitation to network with peers might draw unwanted suspicion from observant neighbors.

When he unlatched the courtyard gate, before Song Wen could speak, Ai Kun spoke up hurriedly.

"Come along, quickly. Brother Fang Ning from the Beast Taming Sect's Talisman Peak is hosting a gathering to share his insights on talisman creation with the rogue cultivators of the market. It is the perfect opportunity for you to sit in and listen. It will be of immense benefit to your future cultivation."

Shortly after, the two arrived at a secluded private courtyard located within a local cultivators' tavern.

Upon entering, they saw over a dozen rogue cultivators seated on the ground. Positioned at the head of the gathering was a Beast Taming Sect disciple in his early twenties.

This was the Fang Ning Ai Kun had mentioned. He possessed an eighth-layer Qi Refining cultivation and was capable of drawing almost every type of tier-1 talisman. His natural talent in the craft was indeed exceptional.

The dozen or so cultivators were conversing in low tones about their respective techniques. Some looked overjoyed, as if they had just solved a problem that had plagued them for years, while others held clashing philosophies and were locked in quiet debate.

As Song Wen and Ai Kun entered, several individuals offered Ai Kun a friendly nod.

As for Song Wen, who followed closely behind, the crowd completely ignored him. To them, he was merely a low-level junior tagging along with Ai Kun to eavesdrop on their trade secrets, so they naturally gave him a cold shoulder.

Ai Kun found a spot on the ground and joined the discussion. Song Wen took a seat directly behind him, silently listening to the experiences being shared.

Gradually, Song Wen realized that while these people withheld their absolute best secrets, they were still sharing genuine, practical experience in talisman creation, which proved quite useful to him.

Fang Ning was highly revered by these rogue cultivators, and a steady crowd surrounded him to seek guidance.

Fang Ning answered their questions generously, resolving their doubts one by one.

Two hours flew by, and the sun approached its zenith. Throughout the morning, more rogue cultivators continued to arrive, bringing the total attendance close to a hundred.

Fang Ning glanced up at the sky and suddenly spoke.

"Everyone, the hour is late. Let us conclude our exchange here for today."

"However, the reason I invited all of you fellow talisman masters here today is to discuss another matter."

"The war between the Orthodox and Demonic Sects is reaching a critical state, and the demand for talismans on the frontline has skyrocketed. I hope everyone here can hold righteousness in their hearts and contribute your strength toward purging these heretics and demons."

As soon as these words left his mouth, the warm and collaborative atmosphere instantly froze.

Many of the talisman masters developed bitter expressions, exchanging uneasy glances. Not a single person spoke up to answer.

As expected, there was no such thing as a free meal. Fang Ning had not shared his insights out of pure charity.

Seeing their reaction, Fang Ning remained unbothered and continued.

"Rest assured, everyone, the Sect will not demand your labor for nothing. Our Beast Taming Sect will purchase every talisman you produce at seventy percent of the current market price. While your profit margins may drop slightly, the sheer volume of the demand will make up for it. This is especially true for five specific types: Flying Talismans, Swift Movement Talismans, Ghost Slaying Talismans, Evil Breaking Talismans, and Spirit Sword Talismans. There is no upper limit-the Beast Taming Sect will buy as many as you can create."

The expressions of the rogue cultivators softened slightly, but only barely.

Since the outbreak of the war, the cost of various spiritual ingredients and materials had steadily risen, which meant the raw materials required to manufacture talismans had also become significantly more expensive.

If they were forced to sell to the Beast Taming Sect at seventy percent of market value, the actual profit left in their hands would be negligible.

Furthermore, with the ongoing conflict, talismans of all kinds were currently selling incredibly well on the open market. None of them were truly willing to part with their stock at a discount to a major sect.

Yet, circumstances dictated survival. For centuries, the Beast Taming Sect had exerted a powerful, intimidating pressure over the region's rogue cultivators, leaving them with no choice but to nod in reluctant agreement.

Seeing that despite their internal dissatisfaction, everyone was forced to acquiesce, Fang Ning felt immensely satisfied.

When the Elder of Talisman Peak had assigned him this duty, the approved acquisition price had actually been set at eighty percent of the market rate. This ten percent discrepancy alone would allow him to line his pockets to the brim. Even after distributing bribes to various connections throughout the Sect hierarchy, the amount of Spirit Stones he stood to gain was still unimaginably vast.

At this moment, he only hoped that this war between the righteous and demonic factions would drag on for as long as possible.

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