Chapter 119: Li Fire Ring Talisman Treasure

Chapter 119: Chapter 119: Li Fire Ring Talisman Treasure

In the Immortal City marketplace.

A burly man walked out of the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, muttering to himself as he went, "Strange. Why did they change Stewards?"

This burly man was none other than Li Ping in disguise. He had recently refined quite a few Tier Two Lower Grade Peiyuan Pills, exhausting his entire stock of previously purchased Spirit Medicine.

That was why he had made a special trip to the market today. He planned to sell some Tier Two Pills for Spirit Stones and, while he was at it, purchase more Centennial Spirit Medicine for his Alchemy.

Out of habit, his first choice was still the Spirit Treasure Pavilion.

To his surprise, however, the familiar shopkeeper, Miaorou, was nowhere to be seen. In her place was a scrawny, stick-thin old man.

He couldn’t help but feel rather disappointed that he didn’t get to see Miaorou this time.

Although the transaction went smoothly, Li Ping had a deep sense of unease. He shook his head. ’I’m not coming back next time.’

After leaving the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, Li Ping headed toward the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion and a few other shops.

He had refined a rather large number of Peiyuan Pills; selling them all in one place would be too conspicuous. He had to spread out his sales.

Besides, no single shop could provide the quantity of Spirit Medicine he needed to purchase anyway.

...

Jade Cliff Palace.

Li Ping briefly revealed the aura of his Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation, and an attendant quickly led him to a private room on the second floor.

A moment later, a stout Foundation Establishment Cultivator walked into the private room with a cheerful smile, and Li Ping glanced over at him.

Li Ping was familiar with this man as well.

It was from him that Li Ping had purchased the Blood Wing Escape Skill back then.

Back then, however, Li Ping had been wearing a mask and a bamboo hat to conceal his appearance, not acting as openly as he was now.

Upon seeing Li Ping, the stout cultivator smiled and said, "I am Zhuang Yu. May I ask for your name, fellow Daoist?"

Li Ping gave a cold nod. "My surname is Li."

"Ah, so it is Daoist Li." Zhuang Yu didn’t seem to mind Li Ping’s cold demeanor. Instead, he chuckled, "I wonder what you require, Daoist Li? I will certainly do my best to meet your needs."

Li Ping knew that many of the commercial pavilions in the market were run by Core Formation-level powers from the various kingdoms surrounding the Immortal City.

Just like the shops in Jixia City, they not only earned Spirit Stones but were also responsible for collecting rare resources for Core Formation Cultivators.

For example, the Spirit Treasure Pavilion belonged to the Sword Washing Pool of the Chi Kingdom, while this Jade Cliff Palace belonged to the Purple Cloud Valley of the Yue Kingdom.

From what Li Ping understood, Purple Cloud Valley was the most powerful Sect in the Western Realm of the Western Wilderness.

The Late-stage Core Formation Cultivator, Senior Huang, who had previously slain the Tier Three Fierce Arrowhead Eagle and ended the Immortal City’s beast tide siege, was the Grand Elder of Purple Cloud Valley.

’The relationship between the Immortal City and Purple Cloud Valley must be quite good,’ he surmised. ’Otherwise, that Senior Huang wouldn’t have traveled such a vast distance to help the city fend off the beast tide.’

Li Ping spoke coolly, "I want to sell five bottles of Pills and also purchase a batch of Spirit Medicine. This is the list."

With that, he placed five bottles of Peiyuan Pills and a piece of paper with a list of the corresponding Spirit Medicine on the table.

Zhuang Yu smiled and nodded, then began to inspect the quality of the Pills on the table. After confirming there were no issues, his gaze fell upon the Spirit Medicine list.

After reading the list, the smile on his face grew even more eager. "We have a considerable stock of the Spirit Medicine you require, fellow Daoist. Please wait a moment, and I will have them brought for you."

It would be a lie to say centennial-grade herbs weren’t precious; their age alone made them valuable.

But they weren’t so rare as all that. Most Cultivation Clans with a long history could produce some.

The Centennial Spirit Medicine within Jade Cliff Palace was, in fact, acquired from the surrounding Cultivation Clans and from Loose Cultivators who adventured in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range.

While waiting for the servants to deliver the Spirit Medicine, Zhuang Yu continuously tried to engage Li Ping in conversation, attempting to probe for information about him.

An Alchemist capable of refining Tier Two Pills held a status that ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators could not compare to.

Li Ping, however, had no intention of deep conversation and merely gave half-hearted responses.

Little did he know, his attitude only further convinced Zhuang Yu that he was indeed a Tier Two Alchemist.

After all, a Tier Two Pill Master stood at the apex of the cultivation world’s pecking order of professions, entitled to look down on others, even fellow Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

...

A good while later, the transaction was complete.

Li Ping placed the Spirit Medicine and Spirit Stones he had received for the five bottles of Peiyuan Pills into his Storage Bag and stood up to leave.

But Zhuang Yu suddenly called out to stop him, "Daoist Li, our shop recently received a special Treasure. Might you be interested in taking a look?"

"Oh? A treasure?" Li Ping couldn’t help but stop in his tracks. He spoke with keen interest, "Please bring it out for me to see, Daoist Zhuang. If it’s a true Treasure, the price won’t be a problem."

As a Tier Three Alchemist and a Tier Two Middle Grade Talisman Maker, he was flush with Spirit Stones. He certainly wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to acquire a real Treasure.

In truth, many Treasures in the Cultivation Realm simply couldn’t be bought with Spirit Stones.

It was just like that auction he had attended in Jixia; most transactions were done through barter, with very few items sold for Spirit Stones.

If it was like this at the Foundation Establishment level, he estimated that Core Formation Cultivators probably didn’t use Spirit Stones for transactions at all.

High-tier Spirit Stones, of course, were an exception.

High-tier Spirit Stones had many special uses and had already transcended the category of mere currency, classifiable as Treasures in their own right.

"You won’t be disappointed, Daoist Li," Zhuang Yu said with a smile.

A moment later, a Low-Tier Steward from Jade Cliff Palace walked in carrying a tray. On the tray sat a Jade Box.

Seeing such a cautious presentation made Li Ping a little curious. However, the Jade Box blocked Divine Sense, so no matter how curious he was, he couldn’t see what was inside.

At a signal from Zhuang Yu, the Low-Tier Steward placed the tray on the table and then respectfully withdrew.

Li Ping sat there, perfectly composed, waiting for Zhuang Yu to introduce the Treasure.

Zhuang Yu chuckled, lifted the lid of the Jade Box, and pushed the entire box in front of Li Ping. He smiled and said, "Daoist Li, this is the Treasure I spoke of. Please, take a look."

After speaking, he watched Li Ping with a pleased expression, saying no more.

Li Ping looked into the box with a placid expression. Inside the Jade Box lay a Spirit Talisman with restrained Spiritual Pressure. Drawn on the talisman was a crimson ring wreathed in lifelike, burning flames.

The moment he saw the Spirit Talisman, Li Ping was immediately reminded of the Talisman Treasure with the little golden sword that Xiao Yunzhi had presented at the exchange meet in Jixia City.

He had coveted that Talisman Treasure of Xiao Yunzhi’s back then, but in the end, he had to regretfully give it up for the sake of a thousand-year Spirit Grass.

’To think I’d come back to the Immortal City and encounter a similar item.’

’If what’s in the Jade Box is truly a Talisman Treasure, then it can certainly be called a great Treasure.’

After all, as a ’pseudo-Magical Treasure’ that could only be refined by a Core Formation Cultivator permanently severing off a portion of their Lifebound Magical Treasure’s power, a Talisman Treasure possessed one-tenth the might of a Magical Treasure.

When controlled by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, although it couldn’t shake mountains like a true Magical Treasure, it was more than enough to crush any Tier Two Dharma Artifact.

In a fight between Foundation Establishment Cultivators, possessing a Talisman Treasure was enough to stand head and shoulders above the rest.

Of course, while a Talisman Treasure’s power was astonishing, it was a finite resource. Using it would continuously drain its power, and once that power was depleted, the Talisman Treasure would be rendered completely useless.

Thinking this, Li Ping looked at Zhuang Yu. "The Treasure you’ve brought out, Daoist Zhuang—if I’m not mistaken, it should be a Talisman Treasure. I am indeed very interested in it. Name your price, Daoist Zhuang."

Hearing Li Ping say all this in one breath, a flash of astonishment crossed Zhuang Yu’s eyes before he smiled and said, "Since Daoist Li recognizes this Treasure, it saves me the effort of explaining."

After another glance at Li Ping, Zhuang Yu said with a smile, "This Li Fire Ring Talisman Treasure has only been used once or twice. Most of its power remains. For just two thousand Spirit Stones, you can take it, fellow Daoist!"

’A Tier Two Upper Grade Dharma Artifact costs around one thousand five hundred Spirit Stones. Although a Talisman Treasure’s power surpasses an Upper Grade Dharma Artifact, it has limited uses. On top of that, this Li Fire Ring Talisman Treasure has already been used, making the price quite steep. Still, a Treasure like this is something that has a price but no market; it’s normal for it to be expensive.’

Having thought it through, Li Ping hesitated no longer.

He inspected the Spirit Talisman and confirmed that it indeed had most of its power remaining. He then directly took two thousand Spirit Stones of various colors from his Storage Bag and placed them on the small table, where the large number of stones almost formed a small mountain.

He looked at Zhuang Yu and said flatly, "Daoist Zhuang, you can count them to see if the amount is correct."

Zhuang Yu nodded. "Then I won’t stand on ceremony."

With that, he enveloped the pile of Spirit Stones with his Divine Sense and began to inspect them carefully.

A moment later, his inspection complete, he smiled and said, "The number of Spirit Stones is correct. The Li Fire Ring Talisman Treasure belongs to you, Daoist Li."

Li Ping nodded, placed the Jade Box into his Storage Bag, and then took his leave.

Watching Li Ping’s departing figure, Zhuang Yu’s eyes filled with envy. "Tier Two Alchemists really are wealthy, to be able to take out two thousand Spirit Stones so easily."

’What Foundation Establishment Cultivator, including myself, wouldn’t want a Talisman Treasure?’

’If I had enough Spirit Stones, I would have taken advantage of my position and decisively taken this Talisman Treasure for myself long ago.’

"Still, selling this Talisman Treasure will get me a good commission, and I’ve also managed to get on good terms with a Tier Two Alchemist. That’s not bad at all." As Zhuang Yu mulled this over, a flicker of doubt appeared in his eyes.

"Strange... His surname is Li. Since when did the Immortal City have a Tier Two Alchemist like him? Could he be a newcomer?"

...

He visited two more shops, selling off all the Pills he had on him and, in the process, buying enough Centennial Spirit Medicine to last for several years.

Li Ping found a deserted spot where his body twisted for a moment, returning to his original appearance. Only then did he leisurely make his way back to Immortal Peach Mountain.

As he walked, he reflected on the gains and losses of his trip.

After selling the Pills, his Storage Bag was significantly fuller.

’On top of that, my luck was excellent this time. I managed to buy a ’Li Fire Ring’ Talisman Treasure at Jade Cliff Palace, adding another trump card to my arsenal.’

Acquiring the Talisman Treasure also made Li Ping realize that the Immortal City still had plenty of good things to offer.

It was just that those good things ultimately ended up in the hands of Core Formation Cultivators.

The Talisman Treasure only slipped through the cracks because Core Formation Cultivators had no need for it.

’Maybe I should open a shop to acquire all sorts of rare and exotic treasures.’ Li Ping quickly shook his head. ’My cultivation is too low. If I really dared to compete with Core Formation Cultivators for items, I would probably attract a lot of trouble.’

’There’s no need for that right now. I should just focus on cultivating diligently. I’ll think about it again after I reach Core Formation.’