Chapter 54: Gold Bamboo Spirit Brush
Bamboo Mountain Marketplace.
Although the chaos in the Secret Realm had caused heavy casualties, the liveliness of the marketplace remained undiminished.
In fact, a large number of rogue cultivators from outside had swarmed in. Some had made a fortune amidst the chaos, while others had perished, their possessions becoming someone else’s spoils.
“Fragments of treasures from the Secret Realm, come and take a look!”
Just upon arriving at East Street, he saw a vendor enthusiastically shouting. Disguised, Lin Chang'an was left speechless.
In such chaos, all sorts of bizarre and shady characters had emerged. Fragments of treasures from the Secret Realm, cultivation techniques—so many counterfeits mixed among them—and it had only been a few days.
It seemed that every stall owner had become a so-called lucky survivor of the Secret Realm.
Among them, he even saw the old man who had once sold him fake talisman inheritance.
“More and more rogue cultivators from outside are pouring in, all with their eyes on the Secret Realm.”
Shaking his head, Lin Chang'an pulled down his bamboo hat and continued browsing the market for anything of interest.
Suddenly, his steps halted in front of a vendor. He stared blankly at a damaged Blazing Fire Saber on the stall.
“Looks like this time, fortune didn’t smile on ‘Meat Seller Old Luo’.”
This magical weapon belonged to Meat Seller Old Luo. Since it was now here, it was easy to imagine what had become of him.
At that moment, a masked cultivator in black before the stall rasped, “Fellow Daoist, have you taken a liking to something?”
His voice was deep and carried a dangerous, bloodthirsty aura. However, once Lin Chang'an—still in disguise—sensed it, he let out a cold snort.
In an instant, a terrifying pressure from the late-stage Qi Refinement surged out, causing the other’s expression to change drastically.
Such a powerful aura—this man was actually a high-level cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Refinement.
“How much for this top-grade talisman paper?”
Lin Chang'an immediately withdrew his pressure and asked calmly, making the other man breathe a sigh of relief.
Thanks to insights from a Perfect Realm cultivation method, his magical power was three parts stronger than others at the same level. Releasing his aura all at once made him seem like a ninth-level Qi Refinement cultivator.
Then he opened his mouth to ask about an item, indicating no hostility, which finally allowed the man to relax.
After all, many of the things on his stall were not exactly clean.
“Senior, this talisman paper is cheap—only five spirit stones.”
Without saying another word, Lin Chang'an coldly tossed over the spirit stones, took the talisman paper, and continued browsing the marketplace.
It had to be said—chaos brought opportunity. There were even top-grade magical artifacts on open display at the stalls, items rarely seen before.
Second-rank Spirit Brushes, pill furnaces, and various tools from the Hundred Arts of Cultivation were also present.
In the chaos, even normally revered talisman masters and alchemists became targets—and it was often their neighbors or acquaintances who struck.
He himself had been eyed by several waves of people, including both neighbors and regular customers who often bought talismans sincerely.
These were all trying to profit from disaster. Some paid with their lives; others made a killing.
“Second-rank Spirit Brush—how much?”
The vendor was a cold-eyed female cultivator, who replied in a low, muffled voice:
“Second-rank Gold Bamboo Spirit Brush. Six hundred spirit stones and it’s yours, Fellow Daoist.”
Normally, a second-rank Spirit Brush would cost over eight hundred. This one had clearly been used.
“Fellow Daoist, this brush is clearly old. Besides, the current situation isn’t like the past.”
Lin Chang'an let out a cold laugh. Normally this item was valuable, but now that chaos had yet to settle, cultivators would rather buy magical weapons that directly enhanced combat strength than something like this.
“Five hundred spirit stones. This Spirit Brush, plus these cinnabar and talisman papers. If not, I’ll move on to the next stall.”
“You—!” The cold-eyed female cultivator glared angrily. She too knew that things with little combat value were hard to sell in the current climate.
“Fine!”
Money and goods exchanged hands. Holding the Gold Bamboo Spirit Brush, Lin Chang'an sighed inwardly.
“As expected, it belonged to that Talisman Master Han.”
He recognized this Spirit Brush—it had belonged to a top-grade talisman master. Clearly, amidst the chaos, she had become someone else’s prey.
“Still, this is also a good opportunity.”
At this moment, Lin Chang'an pondered silently. That Fellow Daoist Han had limited cultivation—only at the seventh level of Qi Refinement—but Madam Han’s cultivation was no joke; she was at the eighth level of Qi Refinement.
He had better go and check on her soon. Hopefully, Madam Han was still alive.
……
Sure enough, when he rushed over, he saw the mourning hall inside the courtyard and knew that his trip had not been in vain.
Madam Han was still alive.
However, upon seeing the mourning hall, Lin Chang'an suppressed the smile on his face and put on a sorrowful expression as he walked in with melancholy.
“Talisman Master Lin, one piece of low-grade spirit stone as condolence.”
Inside the courtyard, Lin Chang'an appeared mournful, as if lamenting the loss of an old friend.
But with sharp eyes, he had already noticed quite a few familiar faces in the courtyard.
“Talisman Master Lin, you came too.”
“Fellow Daoist Ge.”
“Fellow Daoist Zhang.”
Everyone greeted one another with cupped hands. Though the marketplace was large, the circle of top-grade talisman masters was small—especially among rogue cultivators, top-grade talisman masters were even fewer. Thus, most faces were familiar.
“Fellow Daoist Lin came at just the right time. With the marketplace in turmoil, we were just about to organize an exchange meeting and planned to notify you as well.”
Through the conversation, Lin Chang'an understood. Given the current unrest, rogue cultivator talisman masters and alchemists—those with skills—were naturally concerned about their safety.
At this stage, many rogue cultivators were already considering seeking protection by joining a family or aligning with a faction.
And this exchange meeting was for everyone to trade useful resources with one another.
“An exchange meeting in three days.”
Lin Chang'an nodded. It was indeed worth attending. After all, among these cultivators with trade skills, their wealth far exceeded that of ordinary rogue cultivators, and naturally, they had good things to trade.
However, everyone also tacitly understood the real purpose of today’s visit.
Seeing this, Lin Chang'an cursed inwardly. Damn it, so many people came just to take advantage.
……
“Everyone!”
Dressed in plain clothes, Madam Han still had slightly red eyes, but she gracefully bowed to the crowd.
“Thank you all, fellow Daoists, for coming. On behalf of my late husband, I thank you.”
“Madam Han.”
Lin Chang'an and the others cupped their hands in consolation.
But everyone knew perfectly well why they had come. Madam Han was well aware too and felt bitter, but this was also an opportunity. Her husband was gone—but she was still alive.
“After the turmoil in the marketplace, I, a weak woman, no longer have grand ambitions. I only wish to live quietly and have decided to sell off my late husband’s estate. I appreciate all fellow Daoists for coming.”
Everyone understood—wasn’t this exactly what they were here for? Surely not for Madam Han herself?
Though Madam Han still had her charm, she was a widow with a child. And with her high cultivation, who would end up taking advantage of whom was still uncertain.
Besides, most who came here were talisman masters, people with considerable assets. Naturally, they didn’t intend to raise someone else’s child.
“One premium-grade first-rank metallic cinnabar…”
“I’m willing to offer twenty spirit stones.”
“One premium-grade first-rank talisman paper…”
“I…”
“In addition, my late husband left behind three pieces of second-rank low-grade talisman paper of metallic attribute.”
Upon hearing this, Lin Chang'an's expression subtly shifted, while others either shook their heads or hesitated.
Some, not adept in metallic-attribute talismans, shook their heads. Others hesitated because second-rank talisman paper wasn’t cheap. With the marketplace so chaotic, most preferred to invest their spirit stones in improving their combat abilities for self-defense.
Having second-rank talisman paper didn’t guarantee one could craft premium-grade talismans.
“Madam Han, I am willing to offer one hundred spirit stones for these three pieces of second-rank talisman paper.”
After Lin Chang'an spoke, the two hesitant talisman masters didn’t compete. After all, it wasn’t a necessity.
Normally, a single piece of second-rank talisman paper would cost forty to fifty spirit stones. Buying three for a hundred spirit stones was quite a deal.
That was the true reason they were all here.
All out of goodwill—to help ease Madam Han’s burden.
“Talisman Master Lin, here is the second-rank talisman paper.”
The soft and smooth texture of the paper as it touched his fingers made Lin Chang'an secretly praise it. As expected of second-rank talisman paper—it felt silky to the touch.