Chapter 100: Change in Qingyang City
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
He returned from the pleasure boat at Qingyang Lake.
Shen Ping’s cultivation life returned to normal.
Mid-October.
The cold wave of Qingyang City descended.
The ground of the small courtyard was covered in a layer of frost early in the morning. He pushed open the wooden window of the room. Waves of cold air swept in, and the warmth mixed with a special smell in the room quickly dissipated.
Yu Yan was wearing a pink embroidered mandarin duck single tulle dress. Her black hair casually draped over her fair and fragrant shoulders. She looked out of the window and said faintly, “It’s another winter. Compared to Cloud Mountain Parlour, Qingyang City is even colder.”
Shen Ping turned around and smiled. “Why? Do you miss Cloud Mountain Parlour?”
“I did live there for so many years. There are always some memories.” As Yu Yan spoke, she walked to Shen Ping’s side. The outline of the grapefruits embroidered with mandarin ducks pressed against her arm. “There are more and more disciples from the various large sects in the city. The distance from Huiquan Alley to South City is not considered close. Although there are restrictions of array formations, it’s inevitable that accidents will happen if we walk back and forth for a long time. Why don’t we not rent a shop for the time being? We’ll make plans after the situation in the city stabilizes.”
Shen Ping pondered for a moment and nodded. “That’s fine. I’ll give you enough time to absorb the medicinal effect of the Snow Ganoderma Pill. I estimate that you’ll be able to break through to the next level after five or six more.”
Yu Yan smiled and said, “This is all thanks to your hard work day and night. However, that Snow Ganoderma Pill is indeed indescribably wonderful. Every time, I can feel the medicinal power of the pill squeezing.”
As she spoke, there was a hint of charm in her eyes. Her voice also became ethereal. “Sometimes, I’m very worried. When the Snow Ganoderma Pill becomes small, will it… hit my heart?”
Shen Ping shook his head and said very seriously, “There’s no need to worry. The Inner Charm Fire Body is quite effective against such pills. Moreover, we’ve been exchanging Dao techniques for so long. I know very well that your Great Dao lies in the long term, not in broadness.”
Yu Yan chuckled. “Husband, you really understand me. As the saying goes, one has to be diligent in their studies. I think it’s still early. Shall we communicate a little more?”
“Cultivators should have a degree of relaxation. I’m going to the quiet room.” As he spoke, Shen Ping had already flashed to the small courtyard.
He sat cross-legged in the quiet room and opened the virtual interface. He skipped everything else. His gaze landed on the golden frame.
[Talisman Dao Mystique: Sea of Talisman (Thousand Talismans) (504/30,000)]
[Talisman Master: Level Two Mid-Grade (298,596/300,000)]
After so many days of hard work, he was very close to breaking through. As long as he worked hard a few more times tonight, he would be able to reach it. His mystique had also advanced to the next level. It could instantly burn a thousand talismans and erupt with terrifying talisman light.
Sometimes, Shen Ping really wanted to see the true power of this mystique. However, every time this thought appeared, he would quickly cut it off. No matter how powerful it was, this was his last life-saving method.
Moreover, it was very difficult for him to accumulate a thousand talismans now. It was mainly because he could not spare the time. But in the future, when he was free and rich, he had to make these 1,000 talismans and put them at the bottom of his storage bag.
While he was deep in thought, the communication talisman vibrated slightly. He took it out and took a look. It was Mu Jin.
There was only one sentence. “I want it.”
A smile appeared on his face, and a ball of fire burned in his lower abdomen. Although he had not experienced the shadow of the straight date tree many times, its round curves were really memorable.
Shen Ping was so immersed in his cultivation these days that he almost forgot about the smell. However, when he saw these three words, he could see it clearly in his mind. Even his nose seemed to smell something different.
He shook his head, and suppressed such thoughts and replied, “Tomorrow, in the Hidden Spirit House.”
After replying, he emptied his mind and went into a meditative state.
Lushui Alley.
Hearing the familiar voice of the communication talisman, Mu Jin almost couldn’t get up from the pink cushion. She bit her lower lip, her eyes surging with joy. Although it was just a simple reply, she could read the urgency in it, so she immediately felt happy.
She put on her makeup seriously. She changed into a tight-fitting emerald-patterned dress with a brocade robe over it. After putting on some makeup, Mu Jin walked out of the cubicle.
Coincidentally, the main door was pushed open. A female cultivator who lived there also walked out. Seeing Mu Jin, she smiled and said, “Fellow Daoist Mu, you’re going to Pengyun Shop so early.”
Mu Jin replied with a sweet smile, “I had nothing to do, so I’m going to the shop to clean up.”
The female cultivator shook her head. “Although earning spirit stones is important, you can’t fall behind in your cultivation. You haven’t even been to that quiet room a few times.”
Mu Jin hurriedly said, “My cultivation level is low. I can meditate in the cubicle for two to four hours.”
“How could this do? After all, you paid the rent.” The female cultivator continued, “But you could work in the shop where it’s relaxing and safe. Unlike me, I have to work outside every day. If I’m not careful, I’ll die. I have no choice. I don’t have Fellow Daoist Mu’s looks and figure. In the future, if you make friends with a Foundation Establishment senior, you have to help me!”
Mu Jin replied politely and left the house. Many cultivators in the small courtyard focused their gazes. She was already used to it.
Late at night, the cold wind howled. However, the bedroom was like a warm spring. Pink, purple, and white embroidered patterns intertwined like a group of flowers competing for beauty. When the peony bloomed, the room slowly stopped.
Shen Ping looked at his wife, who was tired on the bed. He hugged her and nourished her with spiritual energy for a while. When she was breathing evenly, he got up and went to the quiet room.
He glanced at the virtual frame. The word “breakthrough” had already appeared behind the Talisman Master. There was no hesitation.
He chanted in his heart.
Boom.
The virtual frame vibrated.
The talisman master became a High-grade Level Two talisman master. At the same time, the unique scene of the golden frame swept over again. Enveloped by the golden light, he could not help but walk to the jade table in front of him. On the table were talisman materials, including talisman treasure materials.
Shen Ping’s eyes trembled slightly, but soon, under the golden light, he began to make talismans over and over again.
He didn’t seem to need spiritual energy, divine sense, or spirit here, let alone worry about the talisman materials being scrapped. He only needed to make talismans. Every time he outlined a talisman on the talisman paper, he would imprint this skill in his mind.
After an unknown period of time, after every talisman was made, the jade table in front of him, the talisman, the golden light slowly faded. His gaze returned to the quiet room.
Shen Ping subconsciously closed his eyes and reminisced about that feeling. It was very mysterious. However, he knew that he could not make High-grade Level Two talismans at all. The higher the level of the talismans, the harsher the requirements.
He could rely on his Foundation Establishment Divine Sense and his proficiency in the Dao of Talismans to create Armor Spirit Talismans and Lightning Talismans, but it was impossible to create a Mid-grade Level 2 talisman. Only when his spiritual energy was perfected and his divine sense broke through to the mid-stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm could he rely on the High-grade Level 2 Talisman Master to try to make it.
Whether it would succeed or not, Shen Ping did not know, but through Shopkeeper Qu, he knew that there was such a Talisman Dao genius among the special-class guest elders of the True Treasure Pavilion. However, there had never been such an outstanding cultivator in the Wei Kingdom or even the surrounding countries.
The five continents and four seas were vast. There would always be some genius cultivators that people looked up to. He meditated in the quiet room until 7am before walking out.
At breakfast, Shen Ping noticed Yu Yan’s side glances and hurriedly laughed dryly. “I’m going out in the afternoon. Yun’er, Ying’er, Qjng’er, do you need to buy anything?”
Bai Yuying was the first to speak. “Husband, Ying’er wants to raise a Spirit Ear Rat.”
Shen Ping immediately shook his head. “Ying’er, your energy should be focused on cultivation now. You can’t be playful. I’ll go to the auction later to see if there are any suitable spirit beasts after.”
Wang Yun said, “The decorations in the hall and bedroom are a little too monotonous. Over the past few days, more and more senior cultivators have come to visit. If you have time, you can buy some decorative items. In addition, there’s not much Rare Spirit Wine and spirit beast meat at home.”
Shen Ping agreed one by one. Luo Qing and Yu Yan did not have any special needs.
Noon passed. Shen Ping could not wait to leave the small courtyard. When he walked out of Huiquan Alley, he sensed his mentality and could not help but laugh. Therefore, he decided to go to the second floor of the True Treasure Pavilion first. He slowly drank a cup of spiritual tea and chatted with Shopkeeper Qu.
“Some time ago, the upper echelons of the various sects discussed. In the end, the Danxia Sect and the Acacia Faction jointly controlled Qingyang City. But on the surface, it was controlled by a late-stage Golden Core rogue cultivator. The rent for the alleys and street shops would not change.
“After the New Year, the two sects will officially take over. This is a good thing. In the future, all kinds of resources of the Jin Kingdom will endlessly enter Qingyang City. The types and range of missions that rogue cultivators can accept in the Deacon Hall will also expand.”
Shopkeeper Qu smiled and said, “As long as nothing goes wrong, the market in Qingyang City will be even more prosperous.”
Shen Ping nodded and asked, “What about the Golden Sun Sect? Have they really given up on all the mineral veins?”
Shopkeeper Qu replied casually, “The various large sects have all retreated from the Golden Sun Sect’s territory, so the Golden Sun Workshop is still in their hands..”