In the next few days, Shen Ping's life was the same as before, but his heart was anxious and restless. The success rate of making talismans had clearly decreased. Only when he was dual-cultivating with his wife and concubine and looking at the flickering words on the virtual interface would he feel a sense of security.
As a low-level cultivator, the reason why he was able to survive in Red Willow Alley for so long without any mishaps was because of his cautiousness. Other cultivators would occasionally go to the wilderness to sharpen themselves or practice spells to increase their combat strength, but he had never been there.
After all, the chances of encountering robbers in the wild were very high. As a cultivator at the third level of Qi Refinement, no matter how proficient he was in spells and how agile his reactions were, he could not defeat those robbers who often fought and killed.
More importantly, if he succeeded in killing once, he might become addicted. No wealth could accumulate faster than plundering. This was the so-called gold belt for murder and arson! Once, twice… if the number of times increased, it would become more and more like a gamble. In the end, he would die tragically.
Unless he could guarantee that he would win all the time.
However, cultivators themselves defied the heavens and fought for their lives. If they did not fight and snatch opportunities, it was impossible for them to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Shen Ping was also aware of this, but deep down, he did not like to take risks and kill. Now that he had the Golden Finger, he could continuously improve. He had no intention of taking the risk.
"I have to go out. While it's relatively safe outside the market, I should buy more spirit rice, meat, and other daily necessities. There are also talisman materials."
He couldn't calm down. Shen Ping simply walked out of the house and walked along the winding path towards the market.
He was very vigilant along the way. He held the Fire Talisman, the Earth Trap Talisman, the Freezing Talisman, and so on in his hand. As long as anyone dared to block his path, he would activate the talisman without hesitation and greet them with it.
From Red Willow Alley to the main road, he had to pass through six or seven alleys. Every alley had a large number of houses. The closer he was to the main road, the more expensive the rental price of the houses would be. Those who could afford to live in them were all middle and high-level cultivators.
However, there were very few people in these alleys now. More than 60% of them were in the first batch. The second batch of cultivators had gone to Cloud Mountain Swamp several times, but he had not encountered any danger.
It was the same this time, but his mentality was different. He stepped onto the main road. Shen Ping heaved a sigh of relief and casually walked to a stall selling talismans. "Fellow Daoist, how much is the amulet?"
"Sixteen low-grade spirit stones, no bargaining!" The cultivator said calmly, full of confidence.
"What about the Fire Talisman?"
"Ten low-grade spirit stones… Are you buying it or not?" After asking a few questions, the cultivator became impatient. Shen Ping left immediately. A scolding voice came from behind. "Poor bastard!"
He did not take it to heart at all. He followed the main road into the market and went straight to the Spring Embroidery Pavilion.
When Shopkeeper Chen saw that Shen Ping had arrived, he walked out of the counter enthusiastically to welcome him. "Fellow Daoist Shen, you're finally here. Let me tell you, the price of talismans is soaring now. It's very popular!"
Without another word, Shen Ping took out a stack of talismans from his storage bag. These were half of his achievements in the past two months. Among them, there were thirty amulets, sixteen fire talismans, and ten freezing talismans.
Shopkeeper Chen's eyes lit up. "As expected of Fellow Daoist Shen, you have some on you!"
Shen Ping smiled. "Shopkeeper Chen, are there enough talisman materials?"
"Don't worry. How much do you want?" Shopkeeper Chen said with a smile.
"100 sets of amulet materials, 50 sets of fire talisman materials, and 30 sets of freezing talisman materials." Shen Ping reported the materials he needed.
Shopkeeper Chen hurriedly said, "Now, the materials for the amulet in the market have increased to two low-grade spirit stones each, and the Fire Talisman is one low-grade spirit stone. A total of 274 low-grade spirit stones have been spent on the materials, and Fellow Daoist Shen's talismans are a total of 670 low-grade spirit stones."
As he spoke, he took out four crystal-clear mid-grade spirit stones. Shen Ping did not take it. Instead, he said, "Shopkeeper Chen, the amulet outside has increased to 16 low-grade spirit stones. You gave me 15."
Shopkeeper Chen laughed dryly. "You also know that the stalls outside are definitely higher than the market." Seeing that Shen Ping was unmoved, he gritted his teeth and said, "Alright, we'll go with 16." He took out another twenty-six pieces.
A smile appeared on Shen Ping's face. To the shops in the marketplace, the flow of customers was the most important. If he made a name for himself, he could earn a huge sum by selling a few dharma artifacts or high-grade medicinal pills.
Before leaving the shop, Shopkeeper Chen reminded, "Fellow Daoist Shen, hurry up and make talismans. We're very short of goods now!"
He ignored him and walked around the market, buying a large amount of spirit rice and meat. Then, he went to the other shops to sell talismans. Just as Shopkeeper Chen had said, the various shops were very short of goods. The shopkeeper was even more excited to see talismans than dharma tools.
On the way back, Shen Ping became nervous again, but he was still fine. His entire body relaxed completely when he closed the door.
This house was built by the Golden Sun Sect. Anyone who destroyed it without permission would be provoking the Golden Sun Sect. Every half a year, an outer sect deacon would come to inspect the house. Even those arrogant robbers did not dare to destroy the house.
"The net profit from the hard work of making talismans for nearly two months this time is one more mid-grade spirit stone than before. However, because I bought what I needed for four months of living, the net profit hasn't changed much.
"I've accumulated 17 medium-grade Spiritual Stones. I have to work hard!" Shen Ping calculated in his heart. He was getting closer and closer to purchasing the high-rank Poison Dispelling Pill. The next time he went out, he would be able to escape the bitter days of being corroded by the venom of demon beasts.
"Husband, you're back."
"The meal is ready. Hurry up and eat."
His wife and concubine had not eaten and had been waiting at home.
Shen Ping looked at the table full of sumptuous dishes and said, "You guys sit down too."
...
Late at night, it was as warm as spring inside the blanket. Although the house was small, his wife and concubines were very satisfied with life. Shen Ping hugged his wife and concubine on both sides and opened the virtual interface.
[Obtained Dao of Talisman Experience +2]
[Current wife's favorability: 100]
[Bonus: 4]
[Talisman Master: Level One Mid-Grade (9,612/10,000)]
...
[Received metal-type spiritual root aptitude+2, wood-type spiritual root aptitude+2.]
[Current Dao Companion Favorability: 80]
[Metal Spiritual Root: Low-grade (1,108/1,000). Can be broken through.]
[Wood Spiritual Root: Low-grade (1,002/1,000). Can be broken through.]
This is the result of nearly two months of hard work.
Among them, the metal-element spiritual root could break through a few days ago, but he had been enduring it. He planned to break through together after the wood-elemental spiritual root reached the standard.
He touched Bai Yuying's shoulder. Shen Ping shook his head in his heart. Cultivators were still different from mortals. For example, if he treated his wife, Wang Yun, a little better, the returns would be very obvious.
In response, he expressed his understanding.
After all, cultivators wouldn't trust others wholeheartedly, even if they were intimate dao companions. Moreover, low level cultivators lacked a sense of security. Although he was a medium-grade Talisman Master, his strength was too low. Who knew when he might die outside.
Under such circumstances, how could Bai Yuying place all her hopes on him?
Of course, it might also be because the time was too short.
The next day, when his wife and concubine went to empty the urinal, Shen Ping calmed down and looked at the breakthrough on the virtual interface. He chanted "break through" in his heart.
Boom.
An invisible force poured down.
His body was in intense pain as if it was being torn apart. This pain passed very quickly. The moment it disappeared, the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth quickly surged into his meridians.