Chapter 49: The Grand Purchase and the Journey North to the Sea of Ten Thousand Stars

Ninefold Immortal City, Baina Hall.

Wu Xiang stared at the piles of talismans stacked on the desk, dazed for quite some time.

Ever since he began trading with this Talisman Master Shen, each transaction involved selling talismans by the stack—a unique arrangement in the entire immortal city.

“Manager Wu, do you find it overwhelming?”

Shen Lian reminded Wu Xiang, his voice gentle. This time, he’d brought out four hundred first-grade top-quality talismans, their value in spirit stones exceeding thirteen thousand.

He’d originally considered selling them in batches, but given the consistent quality of his talismans, no matter how many shops he split them between, anyone with a keen eye could easily discern they all came from his hand.

Besides, this was to be his final deal in Ninefold Immortal City.

He’d bought his ticket days in advance.

He was leaving today.

“Haha… Fellow Daoist Shen, I must admit the sheer quantity of talismans you’ve brought this time has surprised me,” Wu Xiang replied, masking his embarrassment with a smile as he began inspecting the talismans.

Over the past two or three months, the shop’s revenue had notably increased, earning him rewards within his clan.

Likewise, word had spread among his family, instructing him to forge close ties with the Talisman Master Shen before him.

Judging by the quality of his talismans, Shen was likely to become a second-grade talisman master, which would elevate his status considerably.

Yet Wu Xiang felt some frustration; he’d tried many times to curry favor with Shen Lian, but none of his gestures had yielded much result.

After inspecting each talisman, Wu Xiang spoke, “Talisman Master Shen’s craftsmanship remains as exquisite as ever. Four hundred talismans in total, valued at thirteen thousand two hundred low-grade spirit stones.”

While his assistant fetched the spirit stones, Wu Xiang invited Shen Lian to sit again.

“Has Talisman Master Shen been free lately?”

Shen Lian nodded, neither confirming nor denying.

“It’s like this: a Wu family elder will soon visit the immortal city. Having heard of our partnership, he wishes to meet Talisman Master Shen and make friends.”

“To be candid, the continuous sale of top-quality talismans at my family’s shop these months has drawn attention from several other shops. They’re actively investigating Talisman Master Shen’s identity and whereabouts.”

As Wu Xiang spoke, he tried to gauge Shen Lian’s expression, but Shen concealed himself too well—nothing could be discerned.

“Our family elder merely wishes to discuss deeper cooperation with Talisman Master Shen regarding talisman supply. Of course, the Wu family would never resort to coercion.”

Shen Lian pondered for a moment. “Perhaps next time.”

Hearing Shen Lian hadn’t refused outright, Wu Xiang’s face brightened with joy.

Fortunate to have befriended Shen Lian early on, and to have sent him messaging talismans every so often, Wu Xiang had managed to facilitate several subsequent talisman trades.

If he could introduce Shen Lian to the family elder, the merit would be entirely his.

Leaving the Wu family’s Baina Pavilion, Shen Lian’s storage pouch was now heavier by thirteen thousand two hundred spirit stones. Combined with his prior savings, he now possessed fifteen thousand in total.

Without lingering, he made his way to Tianxia Tower on the seventh level.

With a fortune in his purse, he felt no anxiety.

A second-grade low-tier weapon, the Firecloud Sword, cost seventeen hundred low-grade spirit stones.

A second-grade low-tier array disk, thirty-one hundred spirit stones.

A second-grade low-tier Five Elements Prime Array, forty-three hundred spirit stones.

A bottle of second-grade low-tier spiritual ink, eight hundred.

A second-grade low-tier talisman pen, fifteen hundred.

Two packs of second-grade talisman paper, four hundred.

Various first-grade medicinal herbs, a map of the Myriad Stars Sea—all together, twelve hundred.

The total for this excursion was thirteen thousand spirit stones—more expensive than a night at the Beauty Pavilion.

Still, the prices were reasonable; after all, unless the ladies at Beauty Pavilion were adorned with celestial crystals, the inflated prices were merely for show.

Having spent lavishly, Shen Lian acquired nearly everything he’d originally planned, save for a few secret techniques and the spirit beast bracelet.

Without delay, he headed eastward on the seventh floor of the immortal city, to a vast plaza.

There, a massive spirit ship, two hundred meters long, was docked, with many cultivators queuing to board.

The ship bore the plaque of Tianxia Tower.

Tianxia Tower, with branches across the nations of the Wild Domain, also controlled the shipping routes between them, even extending lines into the northern Myriad Stars Sea.

The Myriad Stars Sea was a vast ocean in the southern realm of the Immortal Cultivation World, its islands scattered like stars.

Broadly speaking, the Wild Domain lay within the Myriad Stars Sea, but compared to the islands, its territory was immense and positioned at the edge, rendering it relatively distinct.

When Shen Lian escaped the wilderness, he resolved to travel to the Myriad Stars Sea to cultivate.

His main concern was avoiding the fallout from the opportunity unearthed by the Three Azurewater Sects. Although the state of Chu remained peaceful these past months, he sensed trouble brewing.

Not due to some cultivator’s spiritual premonition, but through his own reasoning and knowledge.

Ordinary families, even blood brothers, could slaughter each other over inheritance; the Three Azurewater Sects, each with their own legacy, were jointly excavating a unique opportunity.

How would they split the spoils?

War could easily engulf the entire state of Chu.

Rather than wait for chaos to erupt, he preferred to leave early and spare himself the trouble.

He cared little for who ultimately claimed the opportunity; in fact, it would be best if none of the three sects succeeded.

Ideally, their ancestral graves would be ransacked, repaying the debt for nearly being ensnared himself.

As for his agreement with the Wu family…

He’d said, “next time.”

When would that be? Well, next time was… whenever. Just next time.

The spirit ship of Tianxia Tower was immense—five stories tall, shrouded in multicolored lights from its array formations, emanating a formidable aura.

Fore and aft, the ship was equipped with spirit cannons engraved with runes and giant crossbows gleaming with cold light. At every corner, cultivators in tight-fitting magical garments stood guard.

One glance told Shen Lian that the Azurewater Sect’s ships for transporting itinerant cultivators couldn’t withstand nearly as much punishment as this one.

“All board according to your tokens. Any who dare make a disturbance will be executed without mercy.”

A Foundation Establishment cultivator flew out from the ship, gazing coldly at those queued below.

As his words faded, a colorful arc descended, forming a bridge to the plaza.

Shen Lian drew a green jade token from his storage pouch—his ticket was grade B, entitling him to a private cabin.

Of those boarding with him, only two others held green jade tokens; the rest had ordinary white tokens, meaning shared accommodation.

Following the instructions, Shen Lian found his way to his cabin.

He released his spiritual sense to inspect it.

Good—clean, with no trace of blood.

The room was about fifteen square meters, with a meditation cushion in the center, a wooden table, and nothing else.

He settled in, producing a jade slip.

Within was a map of the Myriad Stars Sea.

The sea was vast, with over a million islands; many were inhabited solely by mortals, with few cultivators in sight—exactly the kind of place he’d dreamed of roaming.

If bored of one island, he could simply move to another.

Once there, he could dive deep into any island, and unless Heaven itself struck him with lightning, he doubted anyone could ever find him.