In the afternoon, at the Task Hall of the Tongtian Sect branch in Wuyue City.
Huang Wutong hugged Jiang Cheng with tear-filled eyes, and had it not been for Jiang Cheng's support, he would have knelt down to give Jiang Cheng a kowtow of thanks.
The female cultivator 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-tier Talisman, and instead of feeling like they'd been ripped off, they wanted to kneel and thank the Talisman Master who'd just made three thousand stones off them—what kind of world was this?
He was only in her twenties, but she felt she had a deep generational gap with the young people of today.
For the life of her, she could not understand what act Huang Wutong and Jiang Cheng were putting on.
Even if Jiang Cheng's skill in drawing Talismans was excellent, he surely couldn't make a first-tier Talisman better than a third-tier one, could he?
After all, three thousand Spirit Stones could buy many third-tier Talismans.
Jiang Cheng's performance caught He by surprise.
Before today, she had never imagined that a mission which many first-tier and second-tier Talisman Masters didn't dare to accept, would actually be completed by this fellow who was not even a first-tier Talisman Master and only had a junior high school diploma and a second-place certificate.
It seemed a bit unbelievable.
Huang Wutong wept on the spot, "Brother Jiang, it's all thanks to you that I was able to receive praise from the Counselor and the headmaster. Once, all I hoped for was to graduate, never daring to wish for anything like 'Outstanding Graduate', but now, the headmaster himself has bestowed this title upon me. If my dear mother has a spirit in heaven, she would definitely be smiling down at me. And that Huang Qingqing can no longer look down on me. And that guy who sits next to me..."
Jiang Cheng patted Huang Wutong's shoulder.
"It's not me helping you; it's your own effort that has made you who you are now. I've only provided a slight bit of help for your achievements. Huang, you must believe in yourself. You deserve the title of 'Outstanding Graduate'."
With encouragement from Jiang Cheng, Huang Wutong pulled himself together. And Jiang Cheng, too, successfully sent off the reinvigorated Huang Wutong, and through He, he received his life's first task compensation—a full three thousand low-grade Spirit Stones.
Jiang Cheng counted the three thousand low-grade Spirit Stones to make sure the number was correct, and carefully stored them in his storage bag. These Spirit Stones, earned through his own hard work, held extraordinary significance as his first pot of gold.
"Jiang, if there's anything else you need, feel free to tell He anytime."
He was in a good mood as well because Jiang Cheng's task completion had added to her work performance—it was something to be happy about.
Jiang Cheng didn't hold back and directly said, "Sister He, I'd like to ask if there are any more tasks similar to the 'Powerful Immobilization Talisman' in the first-tier Talisman Area?"
He thought for a moment; working in the Task Hall, she was very familiar with the tasks coming and going.
"There are quite a few, but Jiang, which specific type are you looking for?"
Jiang Cheng did not mince words, "The type that can make a lot of money."
He: …
Normally when people refer to types, they mean healing or control types.
Only Jiang Cheng would say "money-making type."
However, Jiang Cheng's honest remark did not elicit any annoyance from He.
If anything, in this world where everyone pretentiously flatters each other, Jiang Cheng's frankness was like a beam of light shining into a prison cell.
"Speaking of making money, there was a first-tier Fluorescence Talisman two days ago that was put up for the high price of four thousand low-grade Spirit Stones."
A first-tier Fluorescence Talisman for four thousand stones?
That's even more profitable than the "Powerful Immobilization Talisman"!
Fluorescence Talismans are extremely cheap, much cheaper than a regular Immobilization Talisman.
Huang Wutong's Immobilization Talisman, at least, had the word "Powerful" added to it, belonging to a modded version. This "Fluorescence Talisman" didn't even need modding. Yet, it could still sell for four thousand stones—simply more money-making than a minting machine.
He added, "But this task has already been taken by another Talisman Master."
Jiang Cheng inwardly lamented the missed opportunity to make big money.
"Besides that, there are a few others put up just this afternoon, worth between three to five hundred Spirit Stones. However, these tasks are time-sensitive and have very high time constraints, and the most urgent of these tasks..."
He glanced at the sun outside the great hall.
"Has only one more hour before the deadline."
Without any better tasks to take on, Jiang Cheng decided to check out these time-sensitive ones.
[Urgent request for a Healing Talisman! The effect must knock someone out with two hits! I'm a student who has an exam this afternoon! If you have the Talisman, accept quickly! The price is negotiable!]
[Two hundred low-grade Spirit Stones]
A Healing Talisman that knocks someone out with two hits?
Jiang Cheng remembered that in "Immortal Gods," there was no such absurd Talisman.
A single talisman that could heal and attack at the same time?
If such a Talisman really existed, he, as the value designer, might as well not work and leave the job to a dog, for even a dog wouldn't create something that so destroys the balance of the game.
Jiang Cheng looked at the next task.
[Looking for a Talisman! Can cause full-body convulsions, eyes rolling back, and frothing at the mouth! Should be a first-tier healing-type Talisman!]
[Three hundred low-grade Spirit Stones]
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Healing talismans that cause full-body spasms, foaming at the mouth, and rolling eyes back?
Are these really healing talismans?
Jiang Cheng felt that this guy was joking.
There must be too many idle rich people in Wuyue City, for someone to actually pawn three hundred Spirit Stones just to make a joke at the Task Hall. He had no idea what they were trying to achieve.
Are they looking for fun?
Jiang Cheng looked at the last mission.
[High price for talisman! I'm a student at Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy, and I'm facing graduation exams. I seek a talisman that will let me pass the exam with ease! It's a first-order talisman, the effects seem to be of the attack type or maybe related to poisoning, I'm not clear. But in any case, I want to defeat the teacher without any effort! Price negotiable!]
[Five hundred low-grade Spirit Stones]
Pass the exam with ease?
First-order talisman? Attack? Poisoning?
Defeat the teacher without any effort?
Jiang Cheng carefully summarized this guy's task request.
He quickly deduced his purpose—to cheat!
What else could it be, if not cheating, to seek an effortless way to pass an exam?
Although five hundred low-grade Spirit Stones were tempting.
Although Jiang Cheng had the ability to make poisoning talismans.
Although Jiang Cheng urgently needed to earn money.
But, Jiang Cheng felt that one must not abandon their principles.
Taking on tasks that break rules and attempt to cheat, no matter how poor he was, Jiang Cheng would never accept them!
Unexpectedly, this guy turned out to be a student from Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy, just like Jiang.
Unfortunately, there's a vast difference between his character and Jiang's character.
Although Jiang's cultivation level isn't high, he didn't give up, having thoroughly prepared and studied hard for the exams to earn the title of "Outstanding Graduate."
Jiang's unknown to outsiders, his strong will and persistent hard work are evident in this title.
But this guy, all he thought about was cutting corners.
He really wasn't worthy of studying at the same academy as Jiang.
Jiang Cheng browsed around but didn't find any suitable tasks to take on. He planned to go to a nearby city to Wuyue tomorrow to look for opportunities; perhaps there would be missions like the "Powerful Immobilization Talisman."
In the evening, after dinner, Jiang Cheng received a message on his reusable communication talisman.
He: Out of the blue, several lucrative tasks have come in. Want to take them?
Jiang Cheng: I'll head over now.
At the Task Hall, Jiang Cheng studied the newly posted missions carefully.
These tasks ranged from three hundred to six hundred Spirit Stones in value.
The content of the tasks was surprisingly simple and consistent.
[Urgently need a "Muscle Relaxation Talisman"!!! Extremely urgent!!!]
Muscle Relaxation Talisman, it seemed, besides himself, only Cao Wang and Huang Wutong knew about it…
So who leaked the information?
Most likely it was Huang Wutong.
But it's not definite, when it comes to bragging, Cao Wang is also quite reliable.
But Jiang Cheng didn't mind.
The "Muscle Relaxation Talisman" is reasonable and legal. It's not something shameful.
What's wrong with fellow cultivators using the Muscle Relaxation Talisman to relieve stress during their study and work breaks?
By all accounts, it's a good thing.
"Jiang, you taking these tasks?"
He looked at Jiang Cheng expectantly, as all these tasks accounted for her work performance!
Jiang Cheng nodded.
"Accepted!"
If Spirit Stones were being handed to him, he had no reason not to take them.
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