Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

In contrast, Fu Yuanjiang was already considered excellent.

Moreover, they were already mentally prepared and had backup plans — acquiring a batch of high-tier talisman materials to commission a seasoned Second Tier Talisman Master from the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain to craft them.

"Not hard, not hard, besides these talismans, our Fu Family has already prepared high-tier talisman materials from within the clan, which will be delivered in the next few days." Fu Yuanjiang laughed and waved his hand.

Yuan Shunyi nodded, "Good, good, the reputation of your noble clan's second-tier high-grade spiritual bamboo has always been excellent. Just a few days ago, I discussed this matter with Xin Jue, and the old man is looking forward to collaborating with your noble clan!"

Yuan Xinjue is the current president of Si Shui Commerce Association, the Fake Pill True Man of the association, and also Yuan Shunyi's granddaughter.

"It's an honor!" Fu Yuanjiang was overjoyed.

Yuan Shunyi immediately instructed his subordinates to take Fu Yuanjiang's talismans aside for calculation, then turned to look at Li Ji'an.

Fu Yuanjiang waited beside them for the settlement, but he was no longer interested in Li Ji'an's talismans; his goal was already achieved, and he leisurely sipped his tea.

Li Ji'an wasted no time as he took out the jade box.

Yuan Shunyi was not surprised, as most merchants typically submitted one box at a time, since their financial capacity was limited.

Like Fu Yuanjiang, submitting nearly a hundred Second Tier talismans at once needed an advance capital of tens of thousands of spirit stones, which ordinary cultivators could not afford.

"Hiss~"

However, at the moment the box was opened, Yuan Shunyi was momentarily stunned.

"They're all Second Tier Middle Stage and Late Period, and so many are Upper Grade!"

Before leaving Immortal City, Li Ji'an had already successfully crafted exquisite Middle Stage Lifebound Talismans of Second Tier, and before heading to the Solitary Peak of Biyun Sect, he had sold the ones below Middle Stage separately. The remaining ones now were all Middle Stage and Late Period of Second Tier.

Among them, most were practice works, a few were secondary level ones discarded for self-defense, and even fewer were Lifebound Talismans discarded.

And most of the practice works, although not meeting his self-defense standard, were mostly Middle Grade in quality, with few Lower Grade, and quite a number in Upper Grade quality.

"Hmm?" Even Fu Yuanjiang was attracted by the aura emitted by the spirit talismans, stretching his neck to look.

He saw in that jade box fifteen talismans: three Middle Stage Lower Grade, two Late Period Lower Grade, two Middle Stage Middle Grade, four Late Period Middle Grade, and two each of Middle Stage and Late Period spirit talismans were Upper Grade!

Most of them were formidable attack talismans and protective talismans.

Fu Yuanjiang was momentarily chilled to the spine.

Not to mention the Late Period Second Tier talismans, even the Middle Stage Upper Grade Golden Sword Talisman, surely he would be taken down even if he were vigilant.

He quickly dropped his previous contemptuous attitude, casting a friendly gaze at Li Ji'an, sitting upright.

Yuan Shunyi also stood up quickly, having to admit that the quality of this batch of talismans exceeded his expectations.

And another thing that shocked him was that the aura and crafting technique of this batch of talismans were very alike.

Others might not see it, but as the only mid-tier Second Tier talisman master in the commerce association who had studied talismans deeply, he was sure these talismans came from one talisman master's hand.

Combining this with the opponent's Fake Pill and above cultivation, Yuan Shunyi respectfully adjusted his demeanor.

The other party might very likely be a Second Tier advanced talisman master, or might even be a Third Tier talisman master.

Among the talisman masters they commissioned in the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain, there are probably very few whose talisman art could compare to this person.

"Friend, name a price." Li Ji'an leisurely awaited him to state a price.

During this period, he had already figured out the purchasing price of those small traders, but didn't know the commerce association's price for them.

"Hmm? Friend is not a merchant?" Yuan Shunyi confirmed his guess again.

Li Ji'an nodded.

"Rest assured, friend. The commerce association does not intend to profit from such high-quality Upper Grade talismans, and even for these few Late Period exquisite talismans, we are acquiring at a loss." Yuan Shunyi immediately expressed his stance.

Then, without waiting for Li Ji'an to speak further, he directly began quoting a price.

After hearing the quote, Li Ji'an remained calm outwardly, but internally he was already satisfied; the price offered was nearly fifty percent above the market rate.

If only accounting for talisman material costs and labor costs, the overall profit reached thirty percent.

Even considering the material wastage from practice, there was nearly a profit.

Having initially understood the situation of Si Shui Commerce Association and its purchasing conditions, Li Ji'an was actually prepared and intended to haggle a bit, but now he refrained from further contemplation.

"Can!" Li Ji'an nodded in agreement with the quote, since the Central Region's battle situation is not just for one or two years, and he is preparing for long-term cooperation.

"Good!" Yuan Shunyi's eyes flashed with brilliance, overjoyed.

The opponent did not bargain, proving they were straightforward, not opportunistic or greedy, and very likely to have collaboration potential.

If the Si Shui Commerce Association in the Celestial Cyan Domain already has a talisman master capable of producing late-stage second-tier talismans, it would hold a significant advantage over hiring talisman masters from the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain.

The most critical point is that, in Yuan Shunyi's evaluation of talisman dao experience, the opponent's talisman art is likely top-tier even in the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain.

"Could I perhaps invite you upstairs for a discussion? The president would like to discuss important matters with you," Yuan Shunyi seized the opportunity and eagerly invited Li Ji'an upstairs to meet with Master Yuxiao.

"No rush!" Li Ji'an waved his hand and once again took out two jade boxes from his storage pouch.

The earlier jade box was just a preliminary test; now he brought out the true collection of fine talismans he had held back.

"Hiss~" As the spirit talismans were revealed from the two jade boxes, there was a collective intake of breath in the hall.

"Upper Grade Ice Freeze Talisman from the late-stage second-tier!"

"So many Breaking Ban Talismans!"

"Upper Grade Flame Talisman!"

...

This time, apart from three lifebound talismans, Li Ji'an only kept three secondary lifebound talismans, a few small shifting talismans, and breaking ban talismans, almost completely converting them into currency.

Besides preparing spirit stones for gathering Crystal Condensing Pill materials, it was also to demonstrate his talisman prowess.

Fu Yuanjiang's whole body stiffened, and he looked at Li Ji'an as if he were a ghost, with so many late-stage upper-grade talismans; even a fake pill true man would be on edge.

The most crucial point is that there are so many breaking ban talismans. He admitted to himself that his family's clan protection array would be like an open field against this person. If the other party truly intended harm, breaking the array with these talismans would mean they wouldn't even wait for aid from the Fiery Sun Sect. The other party could use teleportation and divine speed talismans to disappear without a trace.

At this moment, Li Ji'an was perceived as a greater threat to him than a common fake pill true man.

Moreover, he finally realized the opponent was likely a predecessor in the Core Formation stage.

No wonder Qin Henian greeted this person as an equal outside.

"Friend, forgive me. Previously, I failed to recognize your prowess and was disrespectful in my words. I sincerely apologize," Fu Yuanjiang forced himself to remain calm, bowed, and presented a storage pouch.

Li Ji'an glanced at him and accepted the storage pouch, which contained five thousand spirit stones, equivalent to two main ingredients for a Crystal Condensing Pill.

"It's nothing, old man is not petty."

"I thank the friend. Should you need high-tier talisman materials in the future, I will personally ensure they are provided," Fu Yuanjiang took the opportunity to forge a connection.

Li Ji'an gave a faint smile, acknowledging the head of a family, with his quick adaptability and ability to climb the ranks effortlessly.

Yuan Shunyi also regarded Fu Yuanjiang favorably. If they could agree on cooperation with Li Ji'an, they would surely use whichever family's talisman materials he preferred.

Stunned, Yuan Shunyi hurriedly offered a price for the new batch of talismans.

The total amounted to nearly a hundred thousand, with which Li Ji'an was very pleased.

This time, he had fully recouped his losses.

Furthermore, since the other party had deliberately selected several late-stage upper-grade talismans and offered a high price, it nearly covered the batch of high-tier talisman materials he had wasted during practice.

Later, afraid that Li Ji'an would leave, Yuan Shunyi hurriedly invited him upstairs for a face-to-face meeting with Master Yuxiao once more.

As Yuan Shunyi and Li Ji'an ascended the stairs, Fu Yuanjiang exhaled deeply, feeling secretly pleased and very relieved that his quick reaction and the painful offering of five thousand spirit stones had been rewarded.

Otherwise, if the opponent indeed cooperated with the commerce association, a single word could make his Fu Family's spiritual bamboo suffer defeat.

However, now, precisely because of his decisive actions, not only had he resolved the rift, but he had also fostered a good relation.

Undoubtedly, he would be the first to know about this matter, and he suspected the other party came in disguise, possibly not wanting to reveal their identity. In the end, he might be the only one who knew that the Si Shui Commerce Association had already collaborated with a high-tier talisman master, and it was up to him to decide which family's talisman materials would be used.

At most, he could promise them a certain percentage of the profits, and the matter would be nearly settled.

He walked out of the inner hall, unable to suppress his joy. As he passed the main hall, he saw Qin Henian's grandparent and grandchild waiting anxiously, and his smile widened further.

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"Yuxiao greets the master, please take a seat!" A female cultivator in a snowy robe rose to greet him in the elegant room on the top floor.

The ancestor had already informed her about the matter inside the inner hall.

She understood that the other party was unwilling to reveal their true appearance and refrained from pointing it out.

The appellation "master" suited his identity in the way of talisman making.

"Master Yuxiao is too kind." Li Ji'an nodded slightly, his gaze lingering briefly on Master Yuxiao.

Her jade-like complexion was radiant, her figure graceful, and her snowy robe accentuated her delicate and vibrant skin to an even more dazzling effect.