The two entered a small room.
This one was different. It was sealed tightly shut, not even a hint of spiritual energy could be detected. It seemed to be filled with numerous formations, making it difficult for even a cultivator at the Condensed Veins Realm to peer inside.
Zhou Shu mused that choosing such a secluded location meant that Shopkeeper Hua Ruoan must have something important to say.
The two, host and guest, sat down. Hua Ruoan gazed at Zhou Shu with a smile, but remained silent.
Zhou Shu looked calm, "Manager Hua, what's the important matter that brings you here?"
Hua Ruoan narrowed his eyes slightly and tapped the table twice with his fingertips, "Brother Zhou, can you introduce that talisman master to me? You will definitely benefit from it."
Zhou Shu paused, seeming a little surprised, "What talisman master?"
"Haha," Hua Ruoan smiled and shook his head, "Don't beat around the bush in front of others, why do you ask when you already know the answer?"
Zhou Shu looked thoughtful and said in surprise, "I really don't know."
Hua Ruoan sighed lightly, "Did you draw that thunderstorm talisman? Let's not talk about the talisman that you brought, just the way the talisman is drawn is extremely sophisticated, it must have been accumulated through at least decades of skills. Even if you are gifted, you are limited by your age after all. It is impossible for you to reach such a level."
Zhou Shu nodded lightly and said nothing.
"And judging by the talisman, the brush used to draw it is at least rank three. Little brother, do you have a rank three brush? Even in the entire Qingxia Market, I'm afraid you won't find one. Haha."
Hua Ruoan, after all, had been immersed in talismans for years and quickly noticed the various anomalies with the thunderstorm talisman. He was certain that Zhou Shu couldn't have drawn it; there must be a master behind Zhou Shu.
"Haha, rest assured, little brother. I mean no harm. I just want to befriend that talisman master."
Hua Ruoan smiled kindly, his smile unusually sincere.
In his opinion, using ten sheets of the cheapest talisman paper to draw two mid-grade thunder talismans, and having a rank three brush, such a talisman master was worth their all.
Zhou Shu raised his head and smiled, "Manager Hua is indeed a discerning person. I won't hide anything from him. However, that talisman master is as elusive as a dragon, unpredictable and elusive. Even I rarely see him once. If Manager Hua has anything to ask for, please tell me and I will help you pass it on next time we meet."
Manager Hua's speculation did not harm Zhou Shu, and he was happy to go along with it. Moreover, with his current level of cultivation, it might be more advantageous to keep it hidden.
Hua Ruoan thought for a long time, "Since that's the case, I can't force it. If Brother Zhou meets that talisman master next time, just say that Sanyuanzhai is in urgent need of a talisman master. If he is interested, any conditions are acceptable."
Zhou Shu was obviously hiding something, but he couldn't force Zhou Shu to tell him. If he offended Zhou Shu, he would undoubtedly offend the talisman master behind him, which was absolutely unwise.
Zhou Shu nodded. "I'll definitely convey Master Hua's message if I have the chance."
"That's fine. I hope we'll have good news next time we meet."
Hua Ruo smiled reassuringly. "Brother Zhou, are you interested in joining a sect? If so, I know some elders who could introduce you."
Zhou Shu pondered for a moment and shook his head. "Thank you for your kindness, Master Hua. I haven't made any plans to join yet. I'll ask you later."
He wanted to join a sect, but now wasn't the right time.
With his current qualifications, he would only be an outer disciple or even a menial disciple in any sect. Even if he demonstrated some talisman-making skills, he wouldn't necessarily be taken seriously. After all, there were many cultivators capable of crafting first-level talismans in both large and small sects. He was nothing.
Outer disciples faced a multitude of daily chores, including farming and mining. His cultivation level wouldn't be able to handle it, and his time would be wasted. It would be better for him to be a casual cultivator, hiding in the market, diligently crafting talismans, and waiting for the right opportunity to join a sect.
Hua Ruoan looked slightly surprised, then smiled. "Indeed, Brother Zhou, with such a great talisman master as your mentor, joining the sect doesn't really matter. By the way, what did you ask me for?"
Zhou Shu paused. "Boss Hua, it's about talismans, of course. I need some talisman books, a few jade slips, and some talisman paper and ink."
"That's easy. You can choose them yourself when we get out," Hua Ruoan said casually.
Zhou Shu stood up and said goodbye. "Thank you, boss. I'll pay the price in spirit stones."
"Haha, since Brother Zhou has become a talisman master," Hua Ruoan stood up and smiled. "As we agreed, Sanyuanzhai will give you 20% off everything you need."
He emphasized the word "talisman master" and looked at Zhou Shu intently.
Zhou Shu remained calm, bowed, and walked out.
"Not to mention the people behind him, this guy is no ordinary guy,"
Hua Ruoan pondered for a moment before slowly leaving.
In the hall, the clerk followed Zhou Shu with a fawning look on his face, offering his services endlessly.
"Mr. Zhou, our shop has recently received a lot of talisman paper. They're all made by renowned craftsmen, and the quality is guaranteed..."
Zhou Shu knew this clerk was a chatterbox, and now that he was happy, he was even more talkative. But there wasn't a trace of annoyance on his face. He simply smiled and said, "Please help me pick out some talisman paper, about a hundred sheets. I won't need any talisman ink. I'll go check it out myself later."
"Okay, wait for me." The clerk happily left.
Zhou Shu wandered around the talisman area for a long time, reading numerous texts on talisman combat. He also selected two jade slips depicting talisman drawings:
the Golden Armor Talisman and the Green Vine Talisman.
The Golden Armor Talisman, as its name suggests, creates a protective golden armor upon use, capable of resisting most attacks from Qi Refining Realm cultivators. It's a decent talisman, but its drawback is that the armor slows movement and requires a certain amount of spiritual energy to maintain, otherwise it quickly disappears.
The Green Vine Talisman produces a resilient green vine that binds the opponent and slows their movement. The duration depends on the quality of the talisman, with lower-quality talismans typically lasting around three breaths. The downside is that it takes a while to activate, making it difficult to hit the opponent in combat.
While both talismans are effective, they also have significant drawbacks. Therefore, their widespread use is far less than that of more common talismans like the Ice Cone and Green Armor, and few purchase them.
However, Zhou Shu smiled a rare smile upon seeing them.
The waiter approached with a smile. "Mr. Zhou, the talisman paper you requested—fifty sheets of white pine paper and fifty sheets of soft cloud paper—is made of the finest material. As instructed by the shopkeeper, I'll only take two sheets of mid-grade paper. Please keep them."
"Thank you,"
Zhou Shu nodded with a smile.
He then purchased the corresponding talisman ink according to the talisman's requirements. Even including the jade slips for the drawing instructions, all ten mid-grade spirit stones were pristine, leaving not a single one untouched.
"Spirit stones are truly the most important, no matter what you do."
Zhou Shu sighed inwardly. Ten mid-grade spirit stones were a considerable fortune for a Qi Refining Realm disciple. Even as a direct disciple, he had never seen so many. But after just one round of Sanyuanzhai, they were all gone.
Just the better talisman paper alone cost two low-grade stones, and that was at a discount. Not to mention the jade slips and talisman ink—talismans were truly something you couldn't afford without some deep pockets.
"But compared to a few days ago, it's much better. How many talismans can these one hundred pieces of talisman paper turn into?"
Zhou Shu smiled and slowly walked out.
The clerk behind him looked at him enviously, while boasting to the clerk beside him, "See, I told you this young man has a future, you still didn't believe me, and thought his cultivation was too low, don't you think it's a good deal for me, haha. He became a talisman master, and I get a commission of spirit stones for buying and selling things. You guys are jealous."
"Shit luck."
"Hey, why is there another cultivator at the first level of Qi Refining Realm at the door?"
"This one is mine!"
"Mine!"