Chapter 59: Investigate Until the End
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
“Husband,” Yu Yan looked at Shen Ping, whose expression was getting uglier. She could not help but shout.
Phew.
Ha.
Shen Ping did not say anything. Instead, he took five deep breaths. Then, he closed his eyes. Myriad thoughts gradually calmed down. At this moment, he could not panic. Listening to his heartbeat, it was as if he had returned to the narrow and dim hut in Red Willow Alley. He saw himself, who had failed in making talismans but still gritted his teeth and continued.
Compared to then, was the current situation considered bad?
Qi Refinement Level Six.
A Level Two Talisman Master.
…..
Late-stage divine sense.
Mid-grade puppet master.
Dharma artifacts, robes, array discs.
Compared to the precarious days in the past, were these methods considered desperate? A voice seemed to be replying in his heart. After hearing this, Shen Ping opened his eyes again and became much calmer. “I’ll go to the True Treasure Pavilion tomorrow. You go to the Deacon Hall to form a hunting group.” As he spoke, he took out the Spirit Protection Talisman, the Golden Light Talisman, and other high-level talismans from his storage bag and handed them to Yu Yan.
“Husband, don’t worry too much. No matter what happens, I’ll be with you.” Yu Yan held Shen Ping’s hand, her eyes filled with gentleness.
Shen Ping smiled. “I’ll go make talismans.”
At night, his wife and concubine were curled up on both sides. Luo Qing sat cross-legged at the head of the bed in a daze.
On the other hand, Shen Ping was thinking about the worst case scenario. He had more or less sorted out some clues now. Ever since the news of the Golden Sun Sect’s Supreme Elder having a relationship with his daughter-in-law had spread from the market, perhaps the game between the upper echelons had begun. It was very likely that the higher echelons of the Golden Sun Sect had tacitly agreed that the Yue Kingdom’s demonic sects could enter the Wei Kingdom so smoothly.
Otherwise, with the grudge between the two sects, how could the Golden Sun Sect let the Luosha Demonic Valley in? Did they really think that Nascent Soul cultivators were made of paper?!
Therefore, once something major happened, the Golden Sun Sect was the last thing he could count on. There was no need to consider the connections in the Spring Embroidery Pavilion. As for the other sects, there was no need to think about them.
Therefore, the only ones left were the True Treasure Pavilion and Spring Garden.
These two families were the strongest factions in Cloud Mountain Parlour, especially the True Treasure Pavilion. Just the reputation wooden token they gave could make some Foundation Establishment experts fear them.
“Let’s go to the True Treasure Pavilion to investigate the situation first. If there’s really no other way, I’ll go to Spring Garden. Even if I have to pay a price, I have to ensure my safety.” After thinking about it, Shen Ping closed his eyes and rested.
At dawn the next day, he hurriedly drank some spirit rice porridge.
He came to the market with Yu Yan. There were many cultivators coming and going on the main street. In the past half a year, the Danxia Sect had recruited disciples from time to time and had indeed attracted many itinerant cultivators. In order to enter the Danxia Sect, they were willing to stay in the market for a few years.
They separated not far from the entrance of the True Treasure Pavilion.
Yu Yan went to the Deacon Hall. Shen Ping crossed the threshold and soon saw Mu Jin.
“Talisman Master Shen, there’s no auction today.” Mu Jin’s sweet smile became more teasing. The two of them had known each other for three years and were considered to be more familiar with each other, even though they were both business dealings.
“Fellow Daoist Mu, do you want to sit in the private room upstairs?” Shen Ping smiled.
Mu Jin gave Shen Ping a strange look, then took him to a private room on the left of the second floor. After sitting down, she made two cups of spiritual tea. “What’s the matter, Talisman Master Shen?”
Shen Ping took a sip and said casually, “Fellow Daoist Mu, I went down to the Deacon Hall and asked yesterday. The flying ship that comes and goes to the Golden Sun Sect every year has been suspended. 1 wonder if the True Treasure Pavilion has a flying ship that leaves the market?”
Mu Jin asked in surprise, “Talisman Master Shen wants to leave Cloud Mountain Parlour?”
“Yes.” Shen Ping sighed softly and said, “The market is not safe now. The Golden Sun Sect’s law enforcement patrol team did things perfunctory. Not only me, but many cultivators want to go to the main sect.”
Mu Jin glanced around from the corner of her eye and said telepathically, “Talisman Master Shen, the flying ship of the True Treasure Pavilion comes to the market every six months.”
Joy flashed across Shen Ping’s eyes as he hurriedly asked, “I wonder how I can take the True Treasure Pavilion’s flying ship and leave the market?”
“Only by joining the True Treasure Pavilion could you take the ship. Only with a second-grade guest status can one take a flying ship to the True Treasure Pavilion in the other markets. Talisman Master Shen only has a cooperative relationship with the True Treasure Pavilion at the moment.”
Hearing this, Shen Ping’s expression relaxed a little. “Then what conditions do you need to join the True Treasure Pavilion?”
“The conditions are a little harsh.” Mu Jin replied, “If Talisman Master Shen wants to join, you have to pass the Talisman Dao assessment first. Then, specific conditions will be given after the guest and shopkeepers of the True Treasure Pavilion evaluate your potential. Moreover, most people who have just joined the True Treasure Pavilion are third-grade guests.
“Although you can obtain the protection of the True Treasure Pavilion, you don’t have the right to ride a flying ship.”
Shen Ping frowned and thought to himself that the internal structure of the True Treasure Pavilion was really strict. Even the guests were divided into levels. Flowever, the True Treasure Pavilion was a large faction after all and mainly operated a business. If there were no rules inside, it would probably not be as large as it was now.
Thinking of this, he feel relieved. Then, he asked in detail about some of the main duties and constraints of the guests. Mu Jin could only answer briefly, but she didn’t know the details.
“Are you sure you want to join the True Treasure Pavilion?” Mu Jin asked.
Shen Ping struggled a few times in his heart before nodding seriously. “I’m sure.”
If he could join the True Treasure Pavilion, even if he could not leave the market, he would probably be protected. However, he had to be extremely careful and keep a low profile in the future. He could not make any mistakes, especially in the Dao of Talismans, puppet master, cultivation speed, and so on. He had to be vigilant at all times.
Outside, he could use the excuse of being recognized by the senior Talisman Master and his talent eruption to explain the rapid improvement of the Talisman Dao, but it was impossible in the True Treasure Pavilion.
How could such a large faction not see geniuses? He wasn’t sure what level his speed of improvement in the Dao of Talismans was.
After a while, the shopkeeper of the True Treasure Pavilion walked over with a smile on his face and asked again, “Are you sure you want to join our True Treasure Pavilion?”
He received an affirmative response.
The shopkeeper said, “Come to the True Treasure Pavilion in five days. At that time, we will conduct a Talisman Dao assessment on Talisman Master Shen. If you can pass, there will be a few other simple verifications. The main thing is to confirm Talisman Master Shen’s spiritual root aptitude and age so that we can evaluate your potential.
“This has always been the rule of our True Treasure Pavilion. Please forgive us, Talisman Master Shen.”
Shen Ping hurriedly said, “I understand.”
The shopkeeper continued, “After the evaluation, we will give you the specific conditions for joining. As long as Talisman Master Shen can reach them, you will have the status of a third-grade guest of our True Treasure Pavilion.”
Shen Ping asked again, “What’s the responsibility of being a third-grade guest?”
The shopkeeper looked at Shen Ping meaningfully. “When Talisman Master Shen meets the conditions and becomes a third-grade guest, you will naturally know.”
Fine.
Shen Ping knew that he could not ask anymore. Before he left, He hesitated and asked the last question, “Shopkeeper, if the various large sects in the market or the Golden Sun Sect bully me, can the True Treasure Pavilion protect the safety of the guest?”
This was what he was most concerned about. Although the True Treasure Pavilion had a strong background, he did not know how strong it was at all.
The shopkeeper chuckled and said, “As long as he dares to hurt a guest of the True Treasure Pavilion, regardless of whether he’s a Golden Core, Nascent Soul, or a Great Nascent Soul cultivator, our True Treasure Pavilion will definitely pursue the matter to the end!”