Translator: Cinder Translations
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Song Wen returned to his room and took out the jade slip for Thunder Palm, placing it on his forehead.
In an instant, a large amount of information surged into Song Wen's mind.
Moments later, the jade slip disintegrated into powder, and all the content of Thunder Palm's technique was imprinted in Song Wen's brain.
With his eyes closed, Song Wen began to carefully contemplate the essence of Thunder Palm.
Several hours later, Song Wen opened his eyes and started to try casting Thunder Palm.
He softly recited the incantation and made several hand seals, but there was no response.
Looking at the empty palm of his hand, Song Wen sighed inwardly: Could it be that he lacked talent for lightning techniques?
Undeterred, Song Wen tried again.
After hundreds of attempts, he finally saw a tiny silver light flicker in his palm.
Moments later, the silver light suddenly vanished.
Song Wen's eyes lit up. Although he still hadn't successfully cast Thunder Palm, he had managed to gather a trace of lightning power, which indicated that he did have the talent for practicing lightning techniques.
However, his talent seemed limited. Despite having spiritual awareness at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, which should make learning this mid-grade technique relatively easy, it took hundreds of attempts to produce a faint trace of lightning.
Knowing that he had some talent for lightning techniques, Song Wen was not in a hurry to master Thunder Palm. With his current strength, it was inconsequential whether he learned it or not. Moreover, mastering a technique is not something that happens overnight.
Song Wen took out the notes of Ji Yin and began to study them carefully. This was his first attempt at alchemy, and with no one to guide him, he had to gather as much information as possible from the notes.
Time passed, and after two hours, Song Wen set aside the notes.
It was now the fifth day, and the sky was already bright.
After reviewing Ji Yin's notes, Song Wen realized he was missing something for the alchemy process: wood for the alchemy furnace.
Song Wen got up and headed to the market. Ji Yin's alchemy process used a type of wood called water ash, so he planned to buy some water ash to use as fuel for the furnace.
He also intended to buy a set of "Aura Concealment Formations" to conceal the fluctuations and anomalies during the alchemy process.
Failures in alchemy often result in accidents such as furnace explosions or fires. Song Wen did not want everyone to know he was practicing alchemy. Although the Aura Concealment Formations were only a first-tier formation, they could shield most cultivators in the market from detecting his activities.
As for Foundation Establishment cultivators and above, they might notice his alchemy, but Song Wen was not concerned. Alchemy was not demonic cultivation; even if Foundation Establishment cultivators noticed, they wouldn't pay much attention.
Half an hour later, Song Wen returned home.
He cleared the table and chairs from the living room, set up the Aura Concealment Formation, and placed the alchemy furnace in the center of the room, preparing to start the alchemy process.
After placing the water ash wood under the furnace and igniting it, Song Wen began to add the herbs to the furnace.
Half an hour later, the furnace suddenly shook violently, and a large amount of black smoke billowed out, leaving Song Wen a bit covered in soot.
The first attempt at alchemy ended in failure.
In fact, Song Wen had only added half of the herbs.
Song Wen took out a jade bottle, lightly waved his fingers in the air, and a breeze appeared out of nowhere.
The smoke was carried away by the breeze and poured into the jade bottle.
The smoke that had filled the room quickly vanished.
Just as Song Wen was preparing to try alchemy again, there was a sudden, urgent knock at the door.
A voice called out.
"Friend Zhang Cheng, open the door quickly. Today I'm taking you to meet a talisman master."
Song Wen put away the herbs he was about to add to the furnace, extinguished the fire, and packed up the alchemy furnace before opening the door and heading outside.
With Ai Kun's interruption, there was no hope of refining the pill today.
However, pill refinement shouldn't be rushed. It was the perfect opportunity to take a break and adjust his state of mind.
It was also a good chance to meet the expert in talisman crafting that Ai Kun had mentioned. Since he was disguising himself as a talisman crafter, refusing an opportunity to connect with such a master might easily raise suspicion among those with keen interests.
Opening the courtyard door, Song Wen had not yet spoken when Ai Kun hurriedly urged him.
"Come quickly! Fang Ning from the Beastmaster Sect's Talisman Peak is going to share his talisman-making experience with the freelance talisman makers in the market. You should go listen in; it will greatly benefit your future talisman crafting."
Very soon, the two arrived at a private courtyard inside a cultivator's inn.
Entering the courtyard, they saw more than a dozen freelance cultivators seated on the ground. At the head of the group sat a disciple of the Beastmaster Sect, around twenty-eight years old.
This person was none other than Fang Ning, as mentioned by Ai Kun. He had a cultivation base of the eighth level of Qi Refinement and could craft almost all first-rank talismans, showing considerable talent in talisman making.
The group of more than ten people were quietly discussing their respective experiences in crafting talismans. Some appeared to have solved long-standing problems and were grinning with joy; others, whose ideas conflicted, were arguing without end.
When they saw Song Wen and Ai Kun enter, several people nodded amicably at Ai Kun.
As for Song Wen, who followed behind Ai Kun, he was completely ignored by the group. It was obvious they regarded him as someone tagging along to eavesdrop on the lessons, so naturally, no one gave him a warm reception.
Ai Kun took a seat on the ground and began exchanging ideas with the others, while Song Wen sat behind him, listening to everyone's shared experiences.
Gradually, Song Wen realized that although these people might not be revealing their most closely guarded secrets, they were still sharing plenty of genuine talisman-making knowledge, which was quite helpful for him.
Fang Ning, being greatly respected by these freelance cultivators, had a steady stream of people surrounding him, asking for guidance.
Fang Ning generously provided answers, resolving each person's questions one by one.
Time flew by quickly, and two hours passed. The hour was nearing noon, and during this time, more freelance cultivators had arrived, bringing the total number of attendees close to twenty.
Fang Ning glanced at the sky and suddenly said, "Everyone, the hour grows late, so let's end this discussion here."
"But there's one more thing I'd like to discuss with you all."
"The war between the righteous and the demonic factions is in a stalemate, and the demand for talismans on the front lines has sharply increased. I hope that all of you will keep righteousness in your hearts and contribute to eliminating evil."
As soon as these words left his mouth, the previously cordial and friendly atmosphere turned cold.
The talisman makers all showed bitter expressions, looking at each other but saying nothing. Not a single person responded.
It turned out there was no such thing as a free lunch—Fang Ning wasn't sharing his talisman-making knowledge for no reason.
Seeing this, Fang Ning did not get angry and continued, "Rest assured, we won't ask you to work for free. We, the Beastmaster Sect, will purchase each talisman at seventy percent of the market price. Although your profit margin will be reduced, the large demand makes up for it, especially for talismans such as Flight Talismans, Haste Talismans, Ghost-Slaying Talismans, Evil-Exorcising Talismans, and Spirit Sword Talismans. There is no upper limit to how many we will buy."
The freelance cultivators' expressions relaxed a little, but only slightly.
Ever since the start of the war between the righteous and demonic factions, the prices of various spiritual materials and medicines had gradually risen, and the cost of the materials needed for crafting talismans had also increased considerably.
Selling talismans to the Beastmaster Sect at seventy percent of the market price would leave talisman makers with almost no profit.
Moreover, in recent times, talismans had been selling extremely well, so they were not inclined to sell at a reduced price to the Beastmaster Sect.
However, strength speaks louder than words. For a long time, the Beastmaster Sect had instilled fear in the hearts of freelance cultivators, leaving them with no choice but to nod in agreement.
Seeing that, though unwilling, everyone had nodded in agreement, Fang Ning felt reassured.
When Fang Ning had been given this task by the elder of the Talisman Peak, the set price had been eighty percent of the market rate. The ten percent difference would allow him to make an enormous fortune. Although he would have to share some of the profits to grease the wheels of the sect, he could still pocket an unimaginably large amount of spirit stones.
At this moment, all he wished for was that the war between the righteous and demonic factions would drag on endlessly.
(End of the Chapter)
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