Chapter 54: Golden Bamboo Spirit Brush

Cyan Bamboo Mountain Market.

Despite the heavy casualties and chaos due to the secret realm, the market remained bustling with activity.

A large number of foreign loose cultivators poured in, some getting rich amidst the chaos, while others perished, leaving their belongings to benefit others.

"Fragments of treasures from the secret realm, come have a look."

Just as Lin Chang’an arrived on East Street, he saw the lively vendors calling out, leaving him speechless in his disguise.

Amidst this chaos, all sorts of strange things have emerged; fragments of secret realm treasures, cultivation techniques, a multitude of counterfeit goods — all within just a few days.

It seemed that every stall owner had become a lucky one from the secret realm.

Among them, he noticed the old man who once sold him fake talisman heritages.

"There are more and more foreign loose cultivators now, all here for the secret realm."

Shaking his head, Lin Chang’an pressed down his hat and continued to search the market for anything of interest.

Suddenly, he stopped in front of a vendor, staring dazedly at a damaged Blazing Fire Saber on the stall.

"It seems this opportunity did not fall on ’Old Luo the Butcher’ this time."

This magical artifact belonged to Old Luo the Butcher, and given that it appeared here, it’s obvious what his fate was.

At that moment, in front of the stall, a masked black-clad burly cultivator rasped, "Fellow Daoist, have you taken a liking to any treasure?"

The voice was deep and carried a dangerous, bloodthirsty vibe, yet Lin Chang’an, in disguise, only snorted coldly after sensing it.

Instantly, his terrifying aura of late-stage Qi Refining pressed over, causing the other person’s face to change dramatically.

His mana pressure was so strong, he was actually a Great Cultivator at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer.

"How much for this upper-grade talisman paper?"

Lin Chang’an then retracted his aura and asked, making the other person let out a sigh of relief.

Relying on his comprehension of the Supreme Realm Technique, his mana was three parts stronger than other cultivators of the same level, and the sudden release of that pressure made others think he was at the Ninth Layer.

Following that, he asked about the items, proving he meant no harm, allowing the other person to relax a bit.

After all, there were many not-so-clean items on his stall.

"Senior, this talisman paper is cheap, only five spirit stones."

Without further words, Lin Chang’an coldly tossed the spirit stones and took the talisman paper, continuing to wander the market.

One must admit, chaos itself is the biggest opportunity, as the market even had top-grade magical artifacts, which are rare to see on normal days.

Tier Two spiritual brushes and pill furnaces, items of the Hundred Skills of Cultivation, were also in abundance.

In the chaos, high-status Talisman Masters and Alchemists were targets, and those making moves were either neighbors or acquaintances.

Previously, he’d been targeted by several waves of people, including neighbors and acquaintances who often sincerely bought talismans from him.

These were all opportunists looking to loot amid the chaos; some paid with their lives, while others made a killing.

"Tier Two spiritual brush, what’s the price?"

The vendor was a cold-looking female cultivator, who replied in a low voice:

"Tier Two Golden Bamboo Spirit Brush, six hundred spirit stones, and it’s yours, fellow Daoist."

Typically, a Tier Two brush would cost over eight hundred; this one was clearly used.

"Fellow Daoist, this brush is clearly old, and given the current situation, it’s unlike normal times."

Lin Chang’an sneered. While valuable normally, during this unsteady time, cultivators preferred buying magical artifacts to boost their combat power for self-protection.

"Five hundred spirit stones for this spiritual brush, and these cinnabar and talisman papers. If not, I’ll go to the next vendor."

"You!" The cold female cultivator glared resentfully; she also knew these items, not boosting combat power significantly, were hard to sell now.

"Deal!"

Transacting quickly, looking at the Golden Bamboo Spirit Brush in hand, Lin Chang’an sighed secretly.

"Indeed, it belonged to that Talisman Master Han."

He recognized the brush as belonging to a top-grade Talisman Master; it was evident it became someone else’s loot amidst the chaos.

"However, it’s also a good opportunity."

At this moment, Lin Chang’an pondered. Talisman Master Han’s cultivation was only at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, but Master Han’s wife was at the Qi Refining Eighth Layer.

He had better hurry to check, hoping Master Han’s wife wasn’t dead.

...

Sure enough, when he finally arrived, he saw the spiritual altar in the courtyard, knowing his trip wasn’t in vain.

Madam Han was still alive.

However, upon seeing the spiritual altar, Lin Chang’an suppressed the smile on his face, displaying a mournful expression as he walked inside melancholy.

"Talisman Master Lin, a token gift of one lower-grade spirit stone."

Inside the courtyard, Lin Chang’an wore a sorrowful look, seemingly lamenting a friend’s passing.

However, his sharp eyes noticed several familiar faces in the courtyard.

"Talisman Master Lin, you’ve come too."

"Mr. Ge."

"Mr. Zhang."

Everyone exchanged greetings with cupped hands. The market may be large, but the circle of top-grade Talisman Masters was small, especially among loose cultivators, making most faces familiar.

"Mr. Lin, you arrived just in time. With the market’s turbulence, we were about to set up a swap meeting and intended to inform you, too."

After some exchanges, Lin Chang’an understood. In the current unstable situation, loose cultivators with skills like talismans or pill-making were naturally concerned for their safety.

At this juncture, many loose cultivators were considering joining a family or a faction for protection.

The intention behind organizing this swap meet was for everyone to exchange useful materials.

"A swap meet in three days."

Lin Chang’an nodded; there was indeed a need to attend, considering these skilled cultivators were wealthier than the average loose cultivator, naturally possessing better items.

But the unspoken reason for today’s gathering was known to all.

Witnessing this, Lin Chang’an cursed internally, damn it, so many here looking to take advantage.

...

"Everyone!"

In a plain attire, Madam Han, her eyes slightly reddened, still graciously saluted everyone.

"Thank you all for coming, on behalf of my deceased husband, I thank you all, Daoists."

"Madam Han."

Lin Chang’an and everyone consoled her with cupped hands.

But everyone knew their real purpose for being there, and Madam Han was also cold-hearted but saw it as an opportunity as, even with her husband gone, she was still alive.

"After the market’s unrest, I, a mere woman, have no grand ambitions left, only seeking a steady life, thus preparing to sell my late husband’s estate, for which I rely on all of you Daoists present."

Everyone knew their real aim wasn’t exactly Madam Han; though she retained her charm, she was a widow with children, and with her high cultivation level, it was uncertain who would end up benefiting.

Besides, those present, mostly Talisman Masters with considerable estates, obviously wouldn’t consider raising someone else’s children.

"Upper-grade metal-attribute cinnabar of Tier One..."

"I’ll offer twenty spirit stones."

"Upper-grade talisman paper of Tier One..."

"I..."

"Additionally, my late husband left behind three lower-grade tier two gold-attribute talisman papers."

Hearing this, Lin Chang’an’s expression shifted slightly while others shook their heads or hesitated.

Some disliked gold-attribute talismans, and others hesitated because tier two talisman paper wasn’t cheap. With current market chaos, they had more interest in items enhancing battle capability and self-protection.

Holding tier two talisman paper didn’t guarantee producing top-quality high-grade talismans.

"Madam Han, I am willing to offer one hundred spirit stones for these three pieces of tier two talisman paper."

After Lin Chang’an spoke, the two hesitant Talisman Masters didn’t compete; the paper wasn’t an absolute necessity.

Typically, a single piece of tier two talisman paper cost forty to fifty spirit stones, so buying three for one hundred was profitable.

This was their main purpose here, purely out of goodwill, to relieve Madam Han’s burden.

"Talisman Master Lin, here are the tier two talisman papers."

The soft touch of the paper in hand led Lin Chang’an to silently praise it; it was indeed tier two talisman paper, feeling silky smooth.