Chapter 32: Taoist Priest Pinglu
In the market, the mid-level talismans are indeed more popular than the low-level ones. In just half a day, only one of the dozen golden talismans on Song Qingming's stall was left. Qin Zhen alone bought four at one time.
Most of the techniques practiced by casual cultivators are common stuff, without any powerful magical powers. When they go out to hunt monsters, they basically rely more on external forces such as magic tools, talismans, and formations. In addition to formations, among the same-level items, the power of talismans is much stronger than that of magic tools, and it is also a common method used by cultivators.
Song Qingming was able to escape the pursuit of the Eagle Nest Ridge robber in Yunwu Mountain because he used a more powerful mid-level talisman to sneak attack, which gave him a glimmer of hope. Such situations are everywhere in the world of immortal cultivation. At some critical moments, talismans are much more useful than other spiritual objects.
However, although the talisman is useful, it is a consumable item, a one-time spiritual object, which will disappear after use. Although it is much cheaper than the magic weapon, it is not affordable and can only be used at critical moments. For this reason, no matter how high or low the cultivation level is, every cultivator will choose to carry a few talismans on his body in case of an emergency.
Some time ago, Song Qingming spent 30 spiritual stones to buy two high-grade talismans for himself in Guiyunfang, and put them on his body to prevent possible dangers. With these two high-grade talismans, Song Qingming felt much more at ease on the way back from Guiyunfang. Even if he encountered a cultivator in the late stage of Qi Refining, he would have some confidence to escape with two high-grade talismans in his hand.
After not coming for a few months, Song Qingming's stall was surprisingly smooth this time. Not only were all the mid-level talismans sold out, but also a lot of the primary-level talismans he had hoarded before were sold this time. Before sunset, there were not many talismans left on Song Qingming's stall, only 20 to 30 low-level talismans were left.
Seeing the sunset, some people have started to pack up and leave. Song Qingming also stood up and packed up, preparing to leave Caolu Mountain. This time he came here, he also gained a lot.
Unexpectedly, just as he walked out of the yard, someone came towards him and interrupted his steps.
The visitor was an old monk with white hair and ruddy face, dressed like a Taoist. He was Taoist Pinglu, one of the three masters of Caolu Mountain. Song Qingming was really surprised to see this person. He didn't know why this old Taoist wanted to find him.
"Song Xiaoyou, you are so young and have made great progress in your cultivation. You are not much worse than me in my old days. You are also a rare young genius in Qinghe County. I am afraid you will have a chance to build a foundation in the future." Taoist Pinglu looked at Song Qingming with a smile and said, obviously thinking that he was a genius cultivator with three spiritual roots.
After hearing the flattery from Taoist Pinglu, Song Qingming thought about it and felt that he didn't need to explain too much. It didn't matter if others regarded him as a genius with three spiritual roots. He just had to admit it openly. In order to protect the important cultivators with outstanding spiritual roots in the family, the major immortal cultivation families in Qinghe County generally would not disclose the attributes of the spiritual roots of these genius cultivators in the family to the outside world. This was also to protect them so that they would not be targeted by their enemies when they went out.
Song Qingming waved his hand and responded modestly, "Senior is a cultivator at the peak of Qi Refining. How can my cultivation level be compared with yours? Qingming has no regrets if he has the opportunity to reach your cultivation level in this life. How dare he think about building a foundation and achieving enlightenment."
This Taoist Pinglu has reached the peak of Qi Refining. He tried to break through the foundation several decades ago, but he didn't have a foundation-building pill in his hand and failed to build a foundation. However, he still relied on his will and survived by chance. Among the nearly a thousand cultivators in Qinghe County, there are only a handful of legendary figures like him who dared to try to build a foundation without a foundation-building pill.
Although these people did not succeed in building a foundation, they dared to risk their lives and fight for the path of Taoism. They are also heroes in the hearts of many Qi Refining cultivators in Qinghe County. Song Qingming also admires him very much. If it were him, he might not have such courage to make such a life-and-death decision.
"Humble and polite, down-to-earth, a good seedling for cultivating immortals. I heard that you need to purchase a large amount of intermediate talisman making materials. The old Taoist just happened to have some recently. I wonder if you still need them?"
"Yes, of course!"
So that's it. The three Pinglu elders rarely appear at gatherings. The ones who maintain order in the courtyard are always their disciples. This old man suddenly came here for a few spiritual stones. Song Qingming finally figured out the real purpose of the Taoist of Pinglu looking for him, and couldn't help but smile.
Following the old Taoist to the inn in Caolu Mountain, the two found a secluded guest room. They thought that the old man didn't have many materials, and they had to go to Qinghefang this month. Unexpectedly, the old Taoist of Pinglu was very secretive and took out more than a hundred sets of intermediate talisman making materials at once, which really scared Song Qingming. My goodness, it's almost catching up with the general material shops in Guiyuanfang.
Song Qingming counted the materials, plus some he had just received at the gathering, which was enough for him to use for half a month. After negotiating the price with Taoist Hepinglu, he readily accepted the materials.
Seeing Song Qingming take out dozens of spiritual stones, Taoist Hepinglu took them, glanced at them, and quickly put them into the storage bag, then raised his head and said with a smile.
"Friend Song, if your family is buying for a long time, you can tell me in advance. The old Taoist has some connections in the Caolu Mountain area, and it is not difficult to help your family collect some talisman materials."
Song Qingming was delighted when he heard this. If the old Taoist really had this way, he could save a lot of trouble in the future. After thinking about it, he decided on this matter with the Taoist of Pinglu, and the two of them would trade secretly in this inn for a long time in the future.
However, Song Qingming did not dare to ask for too much at the beginning. He only asked him to provide 100 pieces of intermediate-level talisman materials and 100 pieces of low-level talisman materials every month. Too much, he was afraid that it would arouse the suspicion of this old fox who had been cultivating for almost a hundred years.
Secondly, although he can make intermediate-level talismans now, he still needs to make some low-level talismans as a cover. Otherwise, if he only sells intermediate-level talismans in the future, just in this gathering, his identity as a mid-level talisman maker will soon be exposed.
"Don't worry, my friend. I have a long-standing friendship with your clan leader. Since I have promised you, I will definitely help you raise the funds within a month. You can just come to me to pick up the goods when the time comes." Seeing that Song Qingming was willing to purchase for a long time, the old man Pinglu began to promise that there would be no problem.
It must be said that this Taoist Pinglu is a good businessman. The fact that Caolu Mountain can be as big as it is today is definitely due to his contribution.
However, he and Song Gushan, the head of the Song family, are both cultivators of the same generation. They are both nearly a hundred years old. They only have a few years left. At such an age, he is still running around for a few spiritual stones. I think he is paving the way for his younger generation of cultivators.
In the world of immortal cultivation, there are often only a few cultivators who can build a foundation. After most cultivators lose the path to further development, they will choose to recruit disciples or establish a family to help them raise resources for cultivation and place their hopes on the next generation of cultivators.