Xu Changshou completed a full circuit of the bazaar, yet his eyes found no trace of Moon-Watching Rhino Horns, Black Antelope Thunder Ox Hides, or the fine bristles of a century-old Yellow-Skin Weasel.

Such esoteric materials were rare, even within the sprawling borders of a Sect. They were not the sort of goods one found tossed onto a common rug.

A heavy sigh escaped his lips.

"It seems the path to crafting Thunder Explosion Talismans is even longer and more arduous than I feared."

Just as his spirits began to flag, a familiar, boisterous voice cut through the cacophony of the market.

"Qi Gathering Pills! Come and witness the finest Qi Gathering Pills! High quality, low prices! Don't let this chance slip by!"

A short distance away, a merchant had set up a prominent stall. It was Huang Xiangui, shouting with enough fervor to redden his face.

Xu Changshou remembered him well. On his last visit, he had purchased a batch of pills from the man. The quality had been decent, and the price was significantly fairer than the Sect's official exchange.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Huang," Xu Changshou said, stepping toward the stall with a cordial nod.

Huang Xiangui blinked, clearly taken aback. He scratched his head, squinting at the burly, red-faced stranger before him. "This Junior Brother... have we met? To whom do I have the honor of speaking?"

Xu Changshou stiffened, a silent 'Ah' echoing in his mind. He had momentarily forgotten that he was currently wearing the skin of a rough-hewn brute. Naturally, Huang Xiangui wouldn't recognize him.

"This junior is named Wang Hai," Xu Changshou replied, cupping his hands.

Inwardly, he smirked. Wang Hai was the given name of Landlord Wang. If he was going to use a pseudonym, he might as well use one that belonged to a fat pig he despised.

"Ah, so it is Junior Brother Wang! A pleasure, a pleasure!"

Huang Xiangui's confusion vanished instantly, replaced by a merchant's oily charm. He stroked the thick patch of hair on his chest and leaned in. "Are you in the market for pills? You've come to the right place. I carry the most affordable Qi Gathering Pills under the heavens."

Xu Changshou curled his lip in feigned disdain. "I have no use for your shoddy, bottom-shelf dregs. Do you have anything of superior grade? I want the genuine article."

Huang Xiangui's eyes narrowed as he studied Xu Changshou's expression. A flicker of doubt crossed his face. "You speak like a seasoned regular. You've definitely bought from me before... but how could I have forgotten such a face?"

"Spare me the chatter," Xu Changshou said sternly. "Senior Brother Huang, do you have the high-grade stock or not? If you do, I'm buying."

"I do, I do! See for yourself."

With a flick of his wrist, Huang Xiangui produced an elegant white porcelain bottle from his Storage Bag.

Xu Changshou took the vessel and uncorked it. A faint, medicinal fragrance wafted out. It was identical to the high-quality batch he had purchased previously.

"The price?"

"Twelve Qi Gathering Pills for a single Spirit Stone."

"Too dear. Make it fourteen, and we have a deal."

Huang Xiangui snorted. "Don't waste my breath. Twelve pills. The price is firm."

"Senior Brother Huang, give me fourteen, and I'll ensure all my future business comes through you."

"Forget it! The last time I listened to a story like that, some brat scammed seven pills off me for fifty shards. He promised to introduce me to some 'Young Mistress' from a legacy family, but I haven't seen his shadow since!"

Xu Changshou's expression turned wood.

Wow... I can't believe he's still nursing that grudge.

"Senior Brother Huang, let us meet in the middle. Thirteen pills, what do you say?"

"No. Twelve. Buy them or move along."

"Very well... how about this?"

Xu Changshou tapped his Storage Bag and produced a slip of yellow paper inscribed with intricate, earthen-colored runes. "Senior Brother Huang, this is an Earth Escape Talisman. In the face of mortal peril, it can whisk you through the soil to safety. I will give you this talisman if you agree to thirteen pills. How about it?"

"An Earth Escape Talisman?"

Huang Xiangui snatched the paper, sweeping it with his Divine Sense. Upon feeling the dense, roiling earth-attribute energy within, he nodded vigorously. "Deal! This is indeed a genuine Earth Escape script. Truth be told, it is my first time seeing one in the flesh."

In the hierarchy of the cultivation world, pills were always the most expensive of the 'consumables' because they directly influenced one's foundation. Talismans were generally considered the cheapest-and often the most useless.

Many cultivators viewed common talismans as marginal trifles, tiresome to produce and too weak to decide a battle.

Technically, a first-grade Windwalk Talisman, an Earth Escape Talisman, and a Qi Gathering Pill were all of the same rank. Their prices differed only because of their utility.

The Sect prized pills above all else. A single Qi Gathering Pill was essential for progress, and the Sect sold them for ten broken shards each.

A Qi Replenishing Pill went for three shards.

Meanwhile, a Windwalk Talisman was valued at a single shard-cheaper than even the lowliest medicinal dregs.

But the Earth Escape Talisman was an anomaly. The Green Immortal Sect didn't produce them, making them a rare and coveted commodity for anyone looking for a life-saving trump card.

"Here. One Spirit Stone."

Xu Changshou handed over his hard-earned stone, his heart aching. It was his entire month's salary, gone in a heartbeat. Cultivation truly was a furnace that consumed wealth.

"Much obliged."

Huang Xiangui pocketed the stone and the talisman, handing over the porcelain bottle. Inside were exactly thirteen pills.

"Junior Brother Wang, do you have more of those Earth Escape scripts? I'm willing to trade. One pill for one talisman. What do you say?"

Huang Xiangui looked at him with naked greed.

"I have four more. Since you desire them so, I don't mind the exchange."

Xu Changshou suppressed a grin.

He could churn out four Earth Escape Talismans in a matter of minutes. But those four pills represented ten days of grueling, soul-sucking labor for any other disciple. This trade was a godsend.

"Excellent! If you ever find more 'curiosities' like these, be sure to find me first!"

"I shall."

Xu Changshou nodded, a new strategy forming in his mind. He could use his more exotic, inherited scripts to barter for Huang Xiangui's pills. That way, he could save his Spirit Stones for permanent gear and magical artifacts.

After securing another four pills, Xu Changshou departed from the stall.

He moved to a quiet corner of the bazaar, spread a length of red cloth upon the dirt, and laid out three varieties of talismans.

The Fireball Talisman, the Windwalk Talisman, and the Sword Qi Talisman.

These were the standard versions he had learned from Yang Bailao. He had no intention of selling the advanced scripts from the Bloodline Jade Talisman in bulk.

Dripping out one or two rare items to a merchant was one thing, but flooding the market with superior ancient scripts was an invitation for a Foundation Establishment elder to kidnap and 'interrogate' him.

Xu Changshou wanted to be rich, but he wanted to be alive even more.

He sat on a small stool and waited. Minutes turned to an hour, but no one spared his rug a second glance.

Finally, he stood up, crossed his arms over his burly chest, and bellowed into the crowd: "Talismans for sale! Windwalk Talismans! Travel a thousand miles in a single day! Get them while they last!"

"Windwalk Talismans?"

"Over there! Someone's selling Windwalk scripts!"

"Let's see if they're genuine!"

The shout acted like a lightning rod.

While many combat talismans were viewed as secondary, the Windwalk Talisman enjoyed a legendary reputation among the lower-tier disciples.

Most Qi Condensation cultivators couldn't dream of owning a flying artifact or a puppet mount.

A Windwalk Talisman-priced at a single Spirit Stone shard-was the 'divine artifact' of the common man. Even if it was a one-time use, its cost-effectiveness was unbeatable for those needing to cross the Sect's vast peaks.

Because Green Ink Peak had so few wind-attribute laborers, these talismans were perpetually out of stock. The Sect was forced to import them from rival organizations, leading to frequent shortages.

Finding a Windwalk Talisman in the Danxia Market was like finding water in a desert.

A handsome young disciple was the first to reach the stall. He picked up a slip, scanned it with his Divine Sense, and his face lit up. "Incredible... it really is a Windwalk script."

"Senior Brother, what is the price?" the youth asked urgently.

Xu Changshou gave a professional smile. "One broken Spirit Stone per sheet."

The youth frowned. "That is the same as the Sect's official rate. Can you not offer a discount for a bulk purchase?"

Xu Changshou shook his head. "Not by a single shard."

The youth sighed but didn't hesitate. He pulled out five shards. "I'll take five."

"Wait! I want five as well!"

"Ten for me! I've been waiting weeks for a restock!"

"I'll take ten!"

"Move aside! I'm taking twenty!"