Several people passed through the bamboo forest and parted ways in front of the market.
Within the bamboo forest, an inconspicuous hillock gradually dissipated into dust, revealing the figures of two cultivators. Both dressed in black, their faces covered in strange black masks. They exchanged a glance and shook their heads with regret.
"Liu San, we haven't gained anything in two days. It seems that independent cultivators rarely venture out of the market alone these days. This is getting difficult."
"Yes, if this keeps up, the master will be angry again
," one cultivator said harshly. "How about capturing some sect disciples?"
"No, the master has worked so hard to find such a good place. We must not alert the enemy! If we alert the various sects and ruin the master's plans, we'll both be dead and buried."
"Ah..."
The two sighed, their bodies swaying strangely a few times before they swiftly sank into the earth and vanished.
Zhou Shu, naturally unaware of what was happening behind him, quickly headed towards the market.
The materials on him needed to be disposed of quickly, especially the python marrow. This extremely rare talisman ink material loses more spiritual energy the longer it's stored, and its value decreases.
If his previous storage bag were still there, it would have been able to isolate most of the spiritual energy, allowing the python marrow to be stored for much longer, but that thing was gone.
Arriving at Sanyuanzhai, before even entering, a familiar clerk greeted him with a warm smile. "Mr. Zhou, you're here again. What can I do for you?"
Zhou Shu nodded. "Please help me find an ink master. I think your shop has one."
An ink master specializes in processing talisman ink materials and preparing them. Like talisman masters, they are a profession, but their status is far lower. This is because mortals can also practice ink masters. Of course, most outstanding ink masters are cultivators.
The waiter gestured for an invitation and said with a laugh, "Of course. Master Zhou, you're joking. How could we not have a master ink master? Please follow me."
Entering Sanyuanzhai, Zhou Shu glanced around casually, "Is Shopkeeper Hua not here today?"
"Shopkeeper Hua is out on some business and hasn't returned yet. Don't worry, I promise to follow your instructions, Master." The waiter patted his chest, as if he were the shopkeeper.
"Thank you very much."
Under the waiter's guidance, the two walked straight into a side hall.
The side hall was not small. At least five people were busy working inside. Many tables were covered with fresh ingredients, ranging from spiritual herbs to the flesh and blood of monsters. The mixture filled the hall with a strange smell.
The waiter walked over quickly and said a few words. After a while, an old man slowly approached.
The old man, looking to be in his seventies or eighties, his face wrinkled with wrinkles, bowed slightly to Zhou Shu and said calmly, "Sir, what materials would you like to process?"
Though a mortal, the old man appeared humble and wise, as if he held a treasured wisdom. This gave Zhou Shu a sense of unfathomable depth, and he was slightly taken aback.
This feeling was only experienced when meeting his teacher in a previous life; Liu Yu had never given him such a feeling before. That indescribable wisdom seemed to indicate that he had reached the pinnacle of his field. His outward appearance was calm, but his inner self was full of confidence. There was nothing he couldn't handle.
First there was Wu Ming, and now there was this mortal old man. The market town was indeed a place where dragons and crouching tigers were hidden.
The waiter, assuming Zhou Shu was worried, hurriedly introduced him, "Young Master Zhou, Master Xu is our most renowned ink master. Though not a cultivator, the talisman inks he creates are praised by even Foundation Establishment masters."
Zhou Shu nodded gently and returned the greeting. "Master Xu is a wise elder, and I have nothing to worry about."
He held such elders in the highest esteem, whether immortal or mortal.
The old man froze. Though he was highly respected at Sanyuanzhai, no cultivator had ever addressed him as Master Xu. Calling him "Master Ink Master" was already a great honor, and he was somewhat surprised.
But he quickly calmed down and smiled. "Haha, Young Master Zhou, you're too kind. I'm just Xu Shan, not worth mentioning."
Zhou Shu smiled, took out a jade bottle, and handed it over. "Here are the materials I need to process. Please have a look, Master Xu."
Xu Shan took the bottle with both hands, observing its color and smelling its aroma. Then he produced a jade spoon and poured out a drop of python marrow for careful examination.
After a long pause, he slowly raised his head. "Young Master Zhou is truly remarkable! He even managed to obtain the marrow of the Golden Ring Kui Python."
His voice was quiet, but it startled the surrounding ink masters, who gathered around him.
"What? Is it really the marrow of the Golden Ring Kui Python?"
"It's a rare and superior material for talisman ink. I'm dying to try my hand at it."
"That's a very rare second-level demon beast. Judging by this guest's cultivation, I wonder how he obtained it..."
"But python marrow is incredibly difficult to prepare. It's even harder than a Thunder Attracting Fruit. One mistake and it'll ruin everything."
Clearly, python marrow was a rare and precious material, and the difficulty of preparing talisman ink was immense. The ink masters were itching to try, but hesitant.
Zhou Shu smiled faintly and praised, "Master Xu is truly skilled. I admire you."
He produced the material, but didn't specify what it was, perhaps as a test of the old man's skill. The marrow of the Golden Ring Kui Python was extremely rare and difficult to identify, but Xu Shan had easily identified it.
This intensified his admiration for Xu Shan.
Xu Shan placed the python marrow back into the jade bottle, gazed at Zhou Shu, and whispered, "Young Master Zhou, the marrow of the Golden Ring Kui Python is extremely rare and invaluable. Are you truly confident in letting me prepare the talisman ink?"
Zhou Shu nodded, "I have confidence in Master Xu. Go ahead."
The nearby ink masters chimed in, "If Master Xu can't do it here, then we're even less capable."
Two of the cultivators present had even reached the fourth level of the Qi Refining Realm.
"Okay,"
Xu Shan said calmly. "Python marrow is rich in three types of spiritual energy: gold, water, and earth, as well as unusual poisons. There are several different types of talisman ink that can be prepared, over twenty in total. May I ask which one Young Master Zhou would like?" Zhou
Shu pondered for a moment. "Water and earth are both fine. If we have enough, would you like a bottle of each?"
The nearby ink master frowned. "Sir, your expectations are too high."
"That's right. With such a small amount of python marrow, you still want two kinds of talisman ink. That's a really good idea."
"Even if it's just one, the chance of failure is high, and two?"
Zhou Shu didn't know much about talisman ink. Hearing the discussion, he said apologetically, "Master Xu, you don't have to worry about my request. If the python marrow is left any longer, its effectiveness will be lost. As long as the material is not wasted, it's fine."
Xu Shan smiled slightly, a faint light flashing in his eyes. He said confidently, "I understand what Master Zhou wants. Please come back in five days to pick up the talisman ink."
Zhou Shu bowed. "In that case, I won't bother you anymore. Thank you, Master Xu."
The waiter led Zhou Shu out. A noisy discussion immediately broke out behind them, and silence fell for a long time.
When they reached the main hall, the waiter bowed. "Master Zhou, according to industry regulations, if you make talisman ink in our shop, we will charge a fee if it is successful."
"Please speak." Zhou Shu smiled and nodded. There is no such thing as a free lunch, and no one will do your work for free.
The waiter smiled with a hint of quirk. "The fee is not spirit stones, but something else."