Chapter 20: The Array Disk

After listening to Weng Xia, Shen Lian understood the situation regarding the auction at Mist Cloud Mountain. The auction had indeed attracted a great number of cultivators, offering many magical artifacts, pills, and talismans coveted even by late-stage Qi Refining practitioners. However, the three major marketplaces recruited only itinerant cultivators, which resulted in a mix of all sorts of peculiar individuals. Within the marketplaces, everyone barely restrained themselves. Mist Cloud Mountain was said to be equidistant from all three marketplaces, yet this merely highlighted its lawless nature. Without the constraint of sect law enforcement squads, chaos reigned, and the itinerant cultivators vied to earn points with the King of Hell. It could be said that the first joint auction of the three marketplaces suffered a severe blow.

Reflecting on the unfortunate experiences of his fellow cultivators, Shen Lian turned his hand and brought out the miasma dispelling talisman he had drawn. One must seek stability when venturing out; fighting and killing held no appeal for him.

“Lately, the three marketplaces have been communicating closely. Some capable cultivators cross the mountains frequently, and advanced miasma dispelling talismans are indispensable. Brother, you truly came to the right place,” Weng Xia said, taking the talisman and inspecting it.

“With your skill, you'll be in demand wherever you go,” he continued. “Bring me three bottles of premium spirit ink, five dozen sheets of top-grade talisman paper, and two superior talisman brushes.”

A single bottle of first-grade premium spirit ink cost one hundred fifty spirit stones. A dozen sheets of talisman paper cost thirty spirit stones, and the brushes were even more expensive—costing fifty percent to double what an artifact of the same grade would cost. Each bottle of spirit ink lasted for twenty uses, making the cost seven and a half spirit stones per use. A talisman brush cost one hundred fifty stones and could be used about a hundred times. Calculating the expenses, each miasma dispelling talisman cost about twelve stones.

“Oh, and there's something new you’ll like,” Weng Xia suddenly recalled, after tallying up the account, and began rummaging through his storage pouch. The pouch was not his own, but belonged to the public treasury of Treasure Pavilion.

“Look at this—crafted especially for talisman masters like you,” he said, presenting a magical artifact to Shen Lian: a square disk about a foot across, composed of two layers that rotated coaxially like a compass.

“A talisman array disk,” Shen Lian recognized it at a glance. It was a special artifact, created specifically for talisman masters. Compared to cultivators who specialized in combat, talisman masters were always a step slower in activating their talismans in battle. Sometimes, before the talisman could be activated, a sword strike would already be upon them. Years spent studying talismans, dozens of self-made formulas—yet in their first battle, the talisman remained unused, and their head was severed by a sword. Alas, such is the sorrow of talisman masters.

The talisman array disk allowed talismans to be loaded in advance and kept in a pre-activation state before facing an enemy.

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During combat, with a mere thought, the prepared talismans could be unleashed instantly. It could even release dozens or hundreds at once, consuming less of the user's spiritual energy. There was a subtle similarity to the array of talismans Shen Lian had inherited. He examined the disk repeatedly, and found himself rather taken with it.

Since being attacked at the marketplace, and twice counterattacking robbers in the black market, his proficiency with talisman arrays had grown considerably. Ordinary late-stage Qi Refining cultivators were no longer a threat; he now regarded only seasoned veterans at the ninth level of Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators as dangerous. Otherwise, he would not bother collecting poisons to refine his Hundred Spirit Venom.

To safeguard himself, preparation was essential. The more trump cards, the stronger his ability to counterattack and catch his enemies off guard. He might not need them, but he could not afford to be without them.

“Three hundred fifty spirit stones, minimum,” Weng Xia said softly.

Shen Lian did not complain about the price; talisman array disks were always more expensive than artifacts of the same grade. After a preliminary inspection, he found this disk could hold twenty-seven different talismans.

“Is this the only one?”

“The only one. I happened to see it in the warehouse and reserved it immediately,” Weng Xia replied with a smile. Thanks to the miasma talismans he obtained from Shen Lian, he had earned much favor with the shopkeeper over the past two years. Especially after Shen Lian became a premium talisman master, the superior miasma dispelling talismans were in even greater demand, and his commissions had increased accordingly.

His elevated status in the pavilion meant that he could select spirit items before other managers each time new goods arrived.

“I'll take it,” Shen Lian said.

Acquiring an artifact suited to his needs put him in a good mood. He bought some spirit rice and leisurely returned to his residence.

Courtyard Number Twenty-three.

The medicinal herbs in the spiritual field swayed gently, but there was no sign of the herb cultivator.

Returning upstairs, Shen Lian eagerly began refining the newly acquired talisman array disk.

First-grade artifacts rarely had names; users simply named them at their own discretion. Only at the second grade would a craftsman formally name the artifact.

Spiritual power slowly infused the array disk, revealing three curved marks of restriction within. Between these restrictions were nine slots for spirit stones to supply energy.

The talismans embedded in the disk needed spirit stones as a power source for activation.

As he refined the disk, Shen Lian pondered how to arrange the twenty-seven talismans to maximize their combined effect.

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Since becoming a premium talisman master, he had inherited over a thousand varieties of talismans.

“Binding... Killing...” After some thought, Shen Lian felt that binding and killing types alone were not reliable. A cornered beast still fights back—how much more so cultivators?

“Better add some poison...” Among the premium talismans he had inherited, there was one called the Spirit Poison Talisman, which required spirit ink compounded with toxins. The marketplace had no ready-made poison ink, but Shen Lian had mastered the technique himself.

Binding the enemy while releasing deadly poison.

Buzz—

After nearly half a day, the talisman array disk was fully refined, transforming into a glowing crimson disk that flew around Shen Lian.

He rose and stretched on the balcony, gazing outside.

He saw a squad of Azure Water Sect cultivators patrolling the street.

Today, it seemed the sun had risen in the west. The law enforcement team of Azure Water Sect had finally decided to show up for duty.

Shen Lian watched the squad disappear into the distance, feeling curious.

In the past, members of the Azure Water Sect’s law enforcement team almost never worked for their wages. Especially when there were incidents with demonic cultivators or brawls in the outer residences, their response depended entirely on their mood.

Such proper patrolling—what was happening?

Shaking his head, Shen Lian returned to his talisman workshop and prepared to start drawing talismans.

After a busy day, near dusk, Shen Lian went to the balcony to steam spirit rice. Glancing at the street, he saw another squad of law enforcers patrolling.

In the following days, every time Shen Lian indulged in spirit rice, he would look outside, and the Azure Water Sect’s law enforcement squad was always on patrol, clocking in punctually as model employees.

This left Shen Lian puzzled. Even the servants of Azure Water Sect looked down on itinerant cultivators, considering them no better than pigs or dogs. Old habits die hard; the law enforcement team was composed of inner sect disciples, and their arrogance toward itinerant cultivators ran deep.

Would a group of proud sect disciples willingly patrol for those with inferior spiritual roots?

Shen Lian, always mindful of his own safety, was highly sensitive to changes in his surroundings. He sensed something had changed within the marketplace.