CHAPTER 59: CHAPTER 59 DEMON-TRANSFORMING SPIRIT INK_1

Jia Ren visited the Pill Cauldron Pavilion before leaving the Inner City.

The prices of elixirs still seemed stable, without any price hike.

Three bottles containing thirty Spirit Bud Elixirs cost fifty-seven Spirit Stones, one bottle of ten Great Origin Pills was twenty-nine Spirit Stones, and finally, he bought the Purifying Spirit Pill for detoxification and the Resurrection Pill for healing.

Having just witnessed the remarkable effects of the Purifying Spirit Pill and the Resurrection Pill, he definitely had to buy one of each, just in case.

To avoid trouble, he purchased the elixirs from three different vendors.

The total expenditure was one hundred and ninety-six Spirit Stones.

Spirit Stones really do fly away fast!

Adding the trip to the Inner City and the Spirit Stones he had lent out, the total outlay was four hundred and eleven Spirit Stones and Five Broken Spirits.

His income was forty-six Spirit Stones.

The sky was growing dark, so Jia Ren quickly left the Inner City.

Re-entering the Outer City, he felt as if he had stepped into another world.

Compared to before he left, the Outer City was much livelier. Newcomers were continuously arriving at the Great Wilderness Market. Loose Cultivators could be seen excitedly choosing places to live, visiting neighbors, and enjoying a harmonious scene.

The Five Elements Sect was quite generous, waiving half a year’s rent for housing and all fees for market stalls in the Outer City for six months.

Were they afraid the newly arrived "leeks" would run away?

Jia Ren hurried back to his lodging and saw Elder Wu sitting and drinking tea.

After three days, Elder Wu’s complexion looked much better.

"I’ve just learned some news. A caravan will arrive at Great Wilderness City in three days, and I will leave with them," Elder Wu said.

"This is my parting gift to you, consider it repayment for the rice," he added.

Elder Wu poured Jia Ren a cup of tea and pushed a Jade Slip over to him.

His Grandmaster Level Spirit Eye Technique quietly activated, his eyes glowing white as he stared at the tea to confirm it was safe.

This was his usual caution.

Elder Wu was not irritated by this. He looked on with approval, his admiration for Jia Ren growing.

Jia Ren picked up the Jade Slip Elder Wu had pushed over. He already had a guess, but still couldn’t help showing delight after reading it.

Demon-transforming Spirit Ink.

The Jade Slip contained the method for creating a special kind of Spirit Ink, the same type Elder Wu used to sell to him.

"The Seeking Demon Talisman Technique I obtained was incomplete, missing the Spirit Ink part. I’ve spent decades creating the Demon-transforming Spirit Ink, which has about eighty percent of the effect of the original Demon-Seeking Spirit Ink," Elder Wu explained.

"From now on, you’ll have to improve it yourself."

"I won’t say much in thanks," Jia Ren replied.

Jia Ren put away the Demon-transforming Spirit Ink Jade Slip and silently bid Elder Wu farewell over tea.

The two discussed the Dao of Talismans, with Elder Wu offering insights into the creation and improvement of the Demon-transforming Spirit Ink, providing ideas.

"Have a safe journey, Daoist friend."

As night fell, Jia Ren returned to his dwelling and began crafting Demon-Spotting Talismans.

He drew more than fifty Demon-Spotting Talismans in one go, with twenty of them being successful.

After setting up traps, he fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, Jia Ren, as usual, drew Demon-Spotting Talismans until he reached his mental limit.

After three busy days, his Proficiency Level in the Seeking Demon Talisman Technique rose to Master Level.

Master Level Demon-Spotting Talismans had a success rate of over fifty percent.

When he went to Elder Wu’s lodgings again, there was no one there.

Had he left?

The Great Wilderness Market is not a kind place; perhaps it’s better he left.

Should I leave too?

If he were to leave the Great Wilderness Market, he decided he first needed to earn a substantial amount of Spirit Stones with the Demon-Spotting Talismans.

Without Spirit Stones, no matter where one went to cultivate, it would be difficult to make progress.

Carrying the finished Demon-Spotting Talismans, Jia Ren hurried to the Northern District Market.

The market had regained some of its vitality, barely reaching a third of its normal levels.

The new Loose Cultivators were quite active, scavenging through the stalls for good deals.

The previously vanished talisman, tool, and elixir stalls had reemerged.

The cost of a stall in the Inner City was Two Crystal Shards, while the Outer City waived stall fees for half a year. This attracted quite a few veterans from the Inner City.

Naturally, the newcomers would need to be taught the harsh realities of life.

"Finally, new rice!"

"We can buy ordinary rice now!"

The merchant guilds had brought in new rice, so the Datong Rice Shop now had both Spirit Rice and ordinary rice available.

This greatly relieved the stress of food scarcity, and Magical Beast Meat was likely to see a price drop.

"What pricey rice! Spirit Rice is Three Fragmented Spirits for a pound? Even ordinary rice costs a Crystal Shard? One Crystal Shard for ten pounds?"

Rice had indeed arrived, but the price was quite high.

Spirit Rice is expensive; we just won’t eat it then.

Even ordinary rice requires Crystal Shards, revealing the sinister motives of the Five Elements Sect.

Previously, they gave concessions everywhere, warming people’s hearts.

So the Sickle lies here!

Loose Cultivators coming to the Outer City from other regions are truly miserable. As soon as they arrive, they’re stifled.

This fits with the consistent style of the Five Elements Sect.

"The price of rice is so expensive!"

"Alas, who knew the Great Wilderness Market would also be a pitfall!"

"The five Sects in the Black Horn Domain are in a chaotic battle, beating each other’s brains out. I thought the Great Wilderness Market would be safe."

"Out of the tiger’s den and into the wolf’s lair!"

Jia Ren listened for a few moments, remaining silently speechless.

Newcomer Loose Cultivators moved to the Great Wilderness Market solely to avoid disaster.

Other regions weren’t peaceful either, with Sects and clans often warring over resources.

The Loose Cultivators were in utter misery, fleeing here to avoid being implicated.

Although the prices in the Great Wilderness Market were high, at least the war had ended. This was better than stepping into the vortex of war with their lives on the line.

Moreover, the Great Wilderness possessed abundant Magical Beast resources, far surpassing other places.

The Five Elements Sect is not benevolent. Why assume that other Sects and clans would be any better?

Without strength, everyone is mere cattle and sheep.

Changing places for safety is just self-deception.

Poor Elder Wu, I hope he’s unharmed.

Jia Ren found a spot, spread out his animal hide, displayed the Demon-Spotting Talismans and the aged Bait Tempting Technique, and then closed his eyes to recover the Essence, Energy, and Spirit expended in Talisman Crafting.

The price of rice was steep, and the price of Magical Beast Meat had not dropped much, while the demand for Demon-Spotting Talismans remained high.

One Spirit Stone was not a high price for them.

The quality of the Demon-Spotting Talismans he sold was much worse than those sold in the Inner City, chiefly due to the Spirit Ink.

Newly arrived Loose Cultivators in the Outer City had few Spirit Stones to spare and were reluctant to buy these inferior Demon-Spotting Talismans.

He only sold five in half a day.

Jia Ren wasn’t in a hurry. If they couldn’t be sold in the Outer City, he’d have Yang Shengwu sell them in the Inner City.

His main goal for the day was to gather intelligence. In the future, he would not set up a stall, to minimize his public exposure.

"Daoist Jia, did you receive the legacy of Elder Wu?"

Jia Ren opened his eyes to see the visitor was Wang Qian.

"I’m just helping Elder Wu sell Demon-Spotting Talismans to earn a bit of commission," Jia Ren said, not wanting to reveal his identity as a Talisman Master and unhesitatingly letting the departed Elder Wu take the blame.

Wang Qian was not doing well; his severed arm still hadn’t healed, and his face was gaunt.

"Daoist Jia, could we... make a deal? Could you lend me a few Demon-Spotting Talismans on credit...?"

Wang Qian rarely asked for favors and appeared somewhat embarrassed. He wasn’t very acquainted with Jia Ren, so asking to borrow talismans after just a few encounters was always a difficult request to make.

"Didn’t the Five Elements Sect give you any compensation?"

Having participated in the war, the Five Elements Sect surely wouldn’t be stingy with rewards to pacify people’s hearts.

At these words, Wang Qian let out a cold laugh, saying self-mockingly, "They said they’d compensate each person with one hundred Spirit Stones."

"But fifty Spirit Stones were deducted for an Evil Warding Talisman to eliminate ’evil qi,’ and the cost of Spirit Rice and Elixirs consumed would also be deducted later. In the end, I had no Spirit Stones left; I nearly had to pay them!"

How ruthless!

One wonders if this was deliberate on the part of the Five Elements Sect or if someone was simply filling their own pockets.

Jia Ren saw Wang Qian’s destitution.

"Are you planning to hunt Magical Beasts? Be very careful, and I hope you return safely," Jia Ren said.

He passed three Demon-Spotting Talismans to Wang Qian.

He didn’t mind helping with such a small matter.

But this was a one-time offer.

Consider it thanks for Wang Qian selling him the Spirit Turtle.

"Thank you... Daoist Jia, I’ll remember this favor," Wang Qian said, giving Jia Ren a solemn bow. He took the Demon-Spotting Talismans with his only remaining left hand and handed over a Sound Transmission Talisman.

"I will repay you the Spirit Stones."

If someone helps you, it’s a kindness; if they don’t, it’s their prerogative.

Jia Ren was willing to extend a hand when he was in crisis, and that was something to be truly grateful for.