Chapter 54: Arrival
He returned from the Foundation Establishment banquet.
Shen Ping did not announce that he was in seclusion to cultivate again, but he would only go out once a month during the True Treasure Pavilion's auction. Every time he went out, he would try his best to avoid Chen Ying of the Acacia Faction.
It was winter.
The market suddenly became lively.
The Danxia Sect officially announced that they wanted to establish a branch sect on Cloud Mountain. At the same time, they held the opening ceremony of the sect on the day of the Wei Kingdom's Lantern Festival. They invited the disciples of the various large sects, cultivation families, and freelance cultivators from the market to attend the ceremony.
Apart from that, they also revealed the conditions for recruiting disciples. The freelance cultivators in the entire market immediately became fervent and restless.
Yunhe Alley.
In the small courtyard.
Yu Yan soaked in the wooden bucket and chuckled. "Fellow Daoist Shen, it's a pity. If you were twenty years younger, you might be able to enter the Danxia Sect and become an enviable sect disciple."
Although the Danxia Sect was a famous alchemy sect in the Jin Kingdom, they still recruited cultivators who were good at other skills. Shen Ping was now a high-grade Talisman Master. If he was younger, maybe in his early thirties, he would have a high chance of entering the sect.
Shen Ping did not feel that it was a pity. Instead, he looked at Yu Yan. "Fellow Daoist Yu is good at fighting. Could it be that you want to give it a try?"
Yu Yan smiled and said, "My combat experience can't compare to Fellow Daoist Shen's." As she spoke, her charming eyes rippled, and the tip of her tongue gently turned red, bringing with it waves of sweetness.
During this period of time, the two of them would exchange their cultivation insights at dawn every day.
Although there was not much progress, all kinds of strange experiences broadened Yu Yan's horizons. Every time she returned from the Cloud Mountain Swamp, her eyes burned with flames, as if she was a fox that had not eaten a drumstick for 800 years.
Shen Ping looked at the dragon snake below the water. It was already lying down and could not attack again. Therefore, he could only admit defeat and say, "We'll call for a retreat today. I'll definitely ask Fellow Daoist for advice on spells and divine arts another day."
He hurriedly got up. In an instant, he stood at the wooden stairs. Yu Yan's eyes were filled with charm as she transmitted her voice into his ears. "Fellow Daoist Shen, why are you walking so quickly? I still have sweet grapefruits here for you to pick…"
Shen Ping returned to the second floor as if he had not heard anything. He thought to himself that this Internal Charm Fire Body was already so powerful before it was developed. If it was completely mature, it would probably be even more powerful than the top hostess of the Heavenly Sound Pavilion.
He returned to the quiet room. After his spirit platform was emptied, he quickly entered a cultivation state.
It was early in the morning. Hearing Wang Yun's shout, Shen Ping opened his eyes and habitually opened the attribute panel. Now, he was comprehending twice a day. He was constantly paying attention to the changes in the virtual frame.
[Talisman Master: Level Two Low-Grade (44,220/150,000)]
…
[Metal Spiritual Root: High-grade (22,059/50,000)]
[Wood Spiritual Root: High-grade (21,951/50,000)]
Ever since Bai Yuying's favorability reached its limit, the improvement of his metal and wood attribute spiritual root had increased a lot. At the current speed, he would be able to transform into a top-grade spiritual root in at most two and a half years.
Other than that, what made Shen Ping the most gratified was that after the promise that day, Bai Yuying took a lot more initiative. Many complicated skills that were originally mixed with doubles became smoother.
The boring cultivation life became a little interesting. He walked out of the quiet room. The dishes on the table were sumptuous. Spirit rice and lean meat porridge, spirit fruit salad, fruit wine and spirit tea, special roasted meat.
In the dining room, Shen Ping could not help but praise, "Yun'er's culinary skills are getting more and more exquisite."
Wang Yun said gently, "As long as you like it."
Bai Yuying was a glutton and loved roasted meat the most. Her lips were greasy as she ate and said, "Husband, Sister Yun'er and I have a surprise for you tonight."
Shen Ping's expression changed. He did not ask about the surprise. Instead, he smiled and said, "I'll wait."
Sometimes, a boring and repetitive life requires some surprises. He was also looking forward to it.
After the meal, he received a message from Matchmaker Ceng just as he was about to go to the talisman making room. "Talisman Master Shen, it's been delayed for so long. It's finally here. If you have time, come to Spring Garden."
…
At one in the afternoon, the main road outside the market was extremely lively.
As the news of the Danxia Sect's establishment spread, not only did the Cloud Mountain Swamp, but even the markets and cultivation families in the Wei Kingdom rushed over. This caused the number of cultivators in the markets to increase exponentially recently. Most of them wanted to try their luck.
Once they succeeded, their cultivation path would be much smoother in the future.
Shen Ping walked into Spring Garden and realized that the outer hall was full of cultivators waiting, including a few late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators. Seeing this, he stood silently at the side and waited.
Matchmaker Ceng sent out a cultivator. When she saw Shen Ping, her face lit up with enthusiasm. She ignored the few late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators and welcomed him. "Talisman Master Shen, please come in."
They arrived at the private room on the second floor.
Shen Ping's gaze quickly landed on the girl in a plain white dress. Her skin was moisturized, and there was a pair of jade-colored beads hanging from her earlobes. Her black hair was casually combed, and her face was fair without any makeup.
Perhaps it was because of her bloodline, even if she sat there without moving, she revealed a delicateness like soft water.
Matchmaker Ceng smiled and went forward. "Qing'er, why aren't you greeting Talisman Master Shen?" There was a hint of dominance in her tone.
Only then did the girl raise her eyes and stand up to bow. "Luo Qing greets Senior Shen."
Shen Ping smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Luo, you should know why I'm here. I wonder if you're willing to be my Dao companion?"
Luo Qing nodded. "I am willing."
Matchmaker Ceng's smile widened. She waved her hand and gestured for Luo Qing to sit in the private room. Then, she poured a cup of spiritual tea for Shen Ping. "Is Talisman Master Shen satisfied?"
Shen Ping took a sip. "Fellow Daoist Ceng, this kind of foreign bloodline is very difficult to inherit. We've worked together twice. What price should it be? Fellow Daoist Ceng, just say it."
Matchmaker Ceng smiled and extended her palm. "Five Spirit Protection Talismans."
The price of the Spirit Protection Talisman in the market would fluctuate sometimes, but it was generally stable. Even though these five talismans were nothing to Shen Ping and he could complete them in half a month, they were still too expensive in his opinion.
"Three!" He tried to bargain.
Matchmaker Ceng shook her head. "Talisman Master Shen, this is an anomaly bloodline. Our Spring Garden bears the karmic trouble behind it. Moreover, we waste time and danger to escort her to the Cloud Mountain Swamp. With just three, I'm afraid my business will suffer a huge loss."
"Four Spirit Protection Talismans and one Golden Light Talisman. If Talisman Master Shen doesn't agree, we can only find another way."
Shen Ping frowned. Thinking of Yu Yan's special physique, he still nodded slowly.
Soon, Matchmaker Ceng warmly sent Shen Ping and Luo Qing out of Spring Garden. "Talisman Master Shen, you have to come often in the future!"
Shen Ping was expressionless.
The small courtyard in Cloud River Alley could only accommodate five cultivators. If he wanted to take in another Dao companion, he would have to change his residence.
The two of them walked into the market.
Luo Qing, who was silent, suddenly said, "Senior Shen, if I die, can you bury my body in Ze Kingdom?"
Shen Ping was stunned. Looking at the determination in Luo Qing's eyes, he said indifferently, "Fellow Daoist Luo seems to be a little aggrieved. I can agree. If I have the chance to go to the Ze Kingdom in the future, I will definitely do it. However, I hope that this is the only time!"
Luo Qing's eyes regained a trace of color. "Thank you, Senior Shen."