In the afternoon, at the Wuyue City branch of the Tongtian Sect Task Hall.
Huang Wutong, with tears in his eyes, hugged Jiang Cheng tightly. If Jiang Cheng hadn't supported him, he would have knelt down to thank him.
He, who had been working in Wuyue City for several years, had never seen such a spectacle.
Someone had spent three thousand low-grade Spirit Stones on a first-level talisman and didn't feel like they'd been ripped off; instead, they wanted to kneel and thank the Talisman Master who had made three thousand Spirit Stones off them. What kind of world was this?
He was only in her twenties, but she felt a deep generational gap between herself and the young people of today.
Anyway, she couldn't understand what show Huang Wutong and Jiang Cheng were putting on.
Even if Jiang Cheng's talisman-drawing skills were top-notch, he couldn't possibly make a first-level talisman better than a third-level one, could he?
You have to understand, three thousand Spirit Stones could buy quite a lot of third-level talismans.
Jiang Cheng's performance had taken He by surprise.
Before today, she'd never imagined that many tasks, which first and second-level Talisman Masters wouldn't dare accept, were actually completed by this guy who wasn't even a first-level Talisman Master and only had a middle school diploma and a second-place certificate.
It was a bit unbelievable.
Tears ran down Huang Wutong's face, "Brother Jiang, it's all thanks to you that I could receive praise from the counselor and the academy's president. Before, I just hoped to graduate, never daring to dream of being an outstanding graduate. But now, the president himself has granted me the title. If my grandma in heaven knows this, she would definitely smile in the afterlife. Plus, that guy Huang Qingqing won't dare look down on me anymore. And the guy who sits next to me..."
Jiang Cheng patted Huang Wutong on the shoulder.
"It's not me helping you, it's your own effort that has made you who you are now. I only provided a slight boost to your achievements. Huang, believe in yourself. You deserve the title of 'Outstanding Graduate'."
Encouraged by Jiang Cheng, Huang Wutong cheered up. Meanwhile, Jiang Cheng successfully sent off a once again confident Huang Wutong and, through He, received his first-ever task reward in his life—a full three thousand low-grade Spirit Stones.
Jiang Cheng counted the three thousand low-grade Spirit Stones to ensure the number was correct, and carefully stored them in his storage bag. These Spirit Stones were his first hard-earned pot of gold through his own efforts, holding extraordinary significance.
"Jiang, if you need anything else, feel free to tell He."
He was also in a good mood, Jiang Cheng's completion of the task meant an increase in her performance metrics at work, which was a reason to be happy.
Jiang Cheng didn't hold back and directly said, "He, I was wondering if there are any tasks similar to 'Powerful Immobilization Talisman' in the first-level talisman area?"
He pondered for a moment, being quite familiar with the tasks coming and going in the Task Hall.
"There are quite a few, but Jiang, which type exactly are you looking for?"
Jiang Cheng didn't mince words, "The type that can make a lot of money."
He: ...
Most people talk about healing types, control types.
Only Jiang Cheng mentioned a "money-making type."
But his honest statement did not cause He any displeasure.
Instead, in this world where everyone prided themselves on being honorable but flattered each other, Jiang Cheng's frankness was like a ray of light shining into a prison cell.
"Speaking of making money, a few days ago there was a first-level Fluorescence Talisman that was posted for a high price of four thousand low-grade Spirit Stones."
A first-level Fluorescence Talisman for four thousand?
Even more lucrative than the "Powerful Immobilization Talisman!"
Fluorescence Talismans were very cheap, much more so than regular Immobilization Talismans.
At least Huang Wutong's Immobilization Talisman had the words "powerful," like a modified version. And this "Fluorescence Talisman" didn't even need any modifications to be this profitable—it was like a money-printing machine.
He continued, "But that task has already been taken by another Talisman Master."
Jiang Cheng inwardly expressed regret for missing out on the big-money opportunity.
"Besides that, there were a few tasks just posted at noon, valued between three hundred to five hundred Spirit Stones. However, these tasks are time-limited and have strict time requirements. The most urgent one…"
He glanced at the sun outside the hall.
"is due in one hour."
With no appealing tasks available, Jiang Cheng decided to check out these time-limited tasks.
[Urgent! Need a special Healing Talisman! The effect is to knock people out with two slaps! I'm a student, and I have an exam this afternoon! Those with the talisman, please respond quickly! Price negotiable!]
[Two hundred low-grade Spirit Stones]
A Healing Talisman that knocks people out with two slaps?
Jiang Cheng remembered that in "Immortal Gods," there was never such an outrageous talisman.
One talisman that could both heal and attack?
If such a talisman really existed, he, as a game designer, might as well quit and let a dog do the job—dogs wouldn't make something that disrupted game balance like that.
Jiang Cheng looked at the next task.
[Need a talisman! It should make a person twitch all over, roll their eyes, and foam at the mouth! Should be a first-level healing talisman!]
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[Three hundred low-grade Spirit Stones]
Healing Talisms that cause the whole body to convulse, froth at the mouth, and roll back the eyes?
Is this still a healing talisman?
Jiang Cheng felt that this fellow was joking.
There were too many wealthy idlers in Wuyue City, as someone actually pledged three hundred Spirit Stones at the Task Hall just for a joke. He didn't know what they were aiming for.
Just for a laugh?
Jiang Cheng looked at the last task.
[Substantial reward for talisman! I am a student at the Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy, soon facing my graduation exams, seeking a talisman that allows me to pass the exams easily! It might be a first-order talisman, possibly of the attacking type or related to poisoning; I'm not quite sure. But in any case, it would allow me to defeat my teacher without any effort! Price negotiable!]
[Five hundred low-grade Spirit Stones]
Easily pass the exam?
First-order talisman? Attack? Poison?
Defeat the teacher without effort?
Jiang Cheng carefully summarized the fellow's task requirements.
He easily figured out his purpose—cheating!
If it's a way to pass the exams easily without effort, what else could it be but cheating?
Although five hundred low-grade Spirit Stones were tempting.
Although Jiang Cheng was capable of creating a poisoning talisman.
Although Jiang Cheng really needed money at the moment.
Yet, Jiang Cheng felt that one must not lack a bottom line.
Tasks that destroy rules and attempt cheating, Jiang Cheng would rather die poor than accept them!
It turned out this fellow was also a student from Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy, just like Huang.
But unfortunately, his character was far too inferior compared to Huang's.
Although Huang's cultivation was not high, he didn't give up and still earned the title of "Excellent Graduate" through meticulous preparation and hard effort.
Huang's unknown to others, strong will, and persistent hard work were evident from this title.
And this guy, however, was full of shortcuts and scheming.
He really didn't deserve to study in the same school as Huang.
Jiang Cheng wandered around but didn't find any suitable tasks to take. He planned to visit the cities near Wuyue City tomorrow to see if there were tasks similar to the "Powerful Immobilization Talisman."
That evening, just after Jiang Cheng had dinner, a message arrived on his reusable-type communication talisman.
He: Suddenly a few money-making tasks came up, do you want to take them?
Jiang Cheng: I'll come over now.
Task Hall, Jiang Cheng looked at the new tasks posted and fell into thought.
These tasks ranged from three hundred to six hundred Spirit Stones in value.
The content of the tasks was surprisingly simple and uniform.
[Request for a talisman called "Muscle Relaxation Talisman"!!! Urgent!!!]
Muscle Relaxation Talisman, it seems that aside from himself, only Cao Wang and Huang Wutong knew about it...
So, who let the information slip?
It was likely Huang Wutong.
But it might not be certain, as Cao Wang is also quite reliable in boasting.
However, Jiang Cheng didn't care.
"Muscle Relaxation Talisman" is reasonable and legal. It's not something shady.
Would there be any problem if fellow cultivators used the Muscle Relaxation Talisman to relieve physical and mental stress during their spare time from studying and working?
It clearly looks like a good thing.
"Jiang, do you want to take these tasks?"
He looked at Jiang Cheng with expectation, as these tasks were all related to her job performance!
Jiang Cheng nodded.
"Take them!"
Since the Spirit Stones were practically being handed to him, he had no reason to turn them down.
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