Hide in the world of gods and demons

Chapter 160 Messaging Talisman

The auction soon resumed.

But the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

Influenced by what had just happened, even those who were interested were hesitant and no one made a bid for a long time.

Chen Li's heart pounded uncontrollably.

Fortunately, there were still those who were not afraid of the Red Mountain Sect, or who were confident that they would not be implicated. After a long while, someone finally called out a bid:

Thirty-one!

"Thirty-one high-grade spirit stones, any higher?" the auctioneer shouted.

There was another moment of dead silence.

"Thirty-one times..."

Thirty-five!

……

The bidding was sparse and intermittent.

Although it's not exactly a hot item, the price is steadily rising.

Second-tier high-grade magic artifacts are rare, with only one or two available at a large auction. They are almost always the highlight of an auction, and for many people who travel long distances to participate in the auction, this is their goal.

The price was kept rising until it reached 45 pieces before no one dared to raise it any further.

The subsequent transactions between Chen Li and the auction house went quite smoothly, without any unexpected problems.

After all, when you open a business, at least your reputation on the surface is basically guaranteed.

The auction of the two flying swords yielded 57 high-grade spirit stones. After deducting the 10% auction commission, Chen Lin only received 51.3 spirit stones. Further deducting the cost of the array formation, the second-tier mid-grade flying sword, and the second-tier mid-grade robe he also purchased, he still needed to pay an additional 7.7 high-grade spirit stones.

After the transaction was completed, Chen Li put the items into his storage bag. Not daring to linger, he used a talisman to quickly leave through the secret passage in the private room.

After he stepped outside, he immediately noticed that someone was watching him.

I wonder which side they're from?
But it's highly likely they're from the Red Mountain Sect.

Chen Li quickly blended into the crowd on the street, wandering around aimlessly through the streets and alleys. He changed his appearance several times until he no longer felt anyone following him, at which point his tense nerves finally relaxed a little.

"I was too careless this time. I sold the stolen goods too hastily and too carelessly."

They acted rashly without considering things thoroughly.

Since we don't lack spirit stones for the time being, we can keep those two flying swords for now, and deal with them a few years later, when things have calmed down or when we are stronger.

Although the trip went relatively smoothly, it was largely due to luck and the auction house's reputation.

In case the auction house compromises with the Red Mountain Sect...

He not only lost money.

He might even lose his life.

"Sigh, since I established my foundation, although I didn't realize it, I've become less cautious than before," Chen Li sighed inwardly. "That's why I almost got into danger this time."

"In this world, if you want to live long, you have to be cautious and not reckless!" Chen Li reflected to himself.

He left the city but dared not fly.

They walked tirelessly along the main road with the other cultivators, then turned onto a secluded path, entering the mountains. They carved out a cave in the cliff to conceal their whereabouts, intending to stay there for a few days and see how things went before returning.

……

Inside the cramped cave.

Chen Li was organizing the items he had purchased.

The second-tier mid-grade flying sword, Silver Frost Sword: The sword is entirely silver-white and shaped like a flying shuttle. After being refined, it shines like a line of silver light. Although its power and speed are not as good as the Flying Rainbow Sword that he just sold, its consumption is also much less.

He wasn't very interested in ritual implements.

Buying a flying sword is just a backup plan.

In fact, for him, there was not much difference between superior and medium grade.

Don't be fooled by the incredible power of the Flying Rainbow Sword when Ke Xuan used it. It was as fast as lightning and nothing could withstand its power. Even the max-level Golden Light Protection Technique, which was comparable to a second-tier, fourth-level spell, was destroyed as easily as a soap bubble.

But in Chen Li's hands, it's a different story.

The difference in their cultivation levels is vast.

Ke Xuan is at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, possibly even at the fifth or sixth level, while he is only at the second level. The high-grade flying sword in his hands can only exert about 30% of its power at most, which is almost negligible in terms of improving his overall strength.

Second-tier mid-grade robe, Water Moon Robe: Lake blue in color, when attacked, it can passively trigger a Water Element Shield.

Water Element Shield is a second-tier, fourth-level spell.

When attacked, this passive spell is equivalent to having an extra life; it's worth buying no matter how expensive it is.

A second-tier, low-grade Yin-Yang Five Elements Spirit Gathering Array: It offers considerable defense and also possesses the abilities of gathering spirits, concealment, silencing, and warding off evil. It can be fully contained within a three-sided storage bag. It can be placed at the mountain gate during normal times and carried with you when traveling. With such an array in place, one can sleep soundly at night; it's quite practical.

Just these three items combined.

It cost 59 high-grade spirit stones.

"Sigh, money is flowing like water. Now I only have 29 high-grade spirit stones left."

This amount of money is neither a lot nor a little. Combined with what I earn from drawing talismans on a daily basis, it should be enough to cover my daily expenses for several years.

However, if we consider the possibility of buying a second-tier superior magic sword in the future, we are somewhat short of funds. Superior magic swords are much cheaper than superior flying swords, but they still cost about ten or twenty superior spirit stones.

We'll have to figure that out later.

Perhaps we'll have to sell some of them.

"Wait!" Chen Li's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly remembered something:
"It's hard to guarantee that the auction house won't leak information to the Red Mountain Sect behind our backs. We have to be careful about this. These items can't be exposed to the public for the time being." Chen Li sighed deeply, feeling helpless.

He even regretted buying it.

"Oh, what a troublesome thing!"

"Why is it so hard to live a peaceful life!"

"Fortunately, we're inside the mountain gate, so we're not in any danger!"

Chen Li thought about all sorts of random things, looking annoyed. Unfortunately, there was no point in thinking about it now. Since he had nothing else to do, he simply took out a series of array artifacts and a jade slip titled "Detailed Explanation of Yin Yang Five Elements Gathering Spirit Array" from his storage bag and began to carefully study how to set up the array.

...the days that followed.

Chen Li obediently stayed in the cave, living the life of a wild man, enduring wind and rain every day.

During this time, he saw Foundation Establishment cultivators flying overhead several times, and he didn't know if they were searching for him.

He stayed in the forest for five days.

Feeling that the storm had passed, he finally set off to return overnight on the sixth day.

Fortunately, the journey was safe.

No accidents occurred during this period.

When Chen Li saw Luanluo Mountain bathed in the morning light and shrouded in mist in the distance, a sense of security welled up from the bottom of his heart, and the fatigue from traveling all night was swept away.

Staying at home is always good, but going out brings a lot of trouble.

It's safer to stay inside the mountain gate!

"Master, you're back?" Bai Wei greeted Chen Li as soon as he entered the cave, her voice filled with delight.

"Oh, it's Xiaobaiwei. I've been away these past few days. How is everything at home?"

"Reporting to Master, both the First Madam and the Second Madam are well. The Second Madam has even broken through to the seventh level of Qi Refining," Bai Wei reported with a bright smile.

"Good, good, good!" Chen Li said with delight, "There will be rewards for everyone then."

Zhang Shuniang was only twenty-four years old.

At twenty-four years old, at the seventh level of Qi Refining, there is still hope for Foundation Establishment.

Of course, this is only a hope; whether one can ultimately establish a foundation depends on individual circumstances and affinity.

"Husband!" Zhang Shuniang had heard the commotion long ago. Having not seen her husband for many days, her eyes were red, and she rushed over like a bird returning to its nest.

Chen Li pulled her into his arms, noticing how much thinner she had become. He smiled and wiped away Shu Niang's tears, comforting her, "Don't cry, don't cry! I'm back now, aren't I?"

Not long after, Zhou Hong also ran out.

Feeling embarrassed, Zhang Shuniang quickly broke free from the embrace and gave her place to the couple.

The three returned to the inner room and expressed their feelings of parting.

"Why have you been gone for so long this time? Did something happen?" Zhou Hong asked softly with concern.

"No, I was just waiting for the auction. I didn't want to travel back and forth, so I stayed there for a few more days." Chen Li didn't dare to tell the truth. There are some things you can't tell even your spouse. It's not that you can't trust them, but telling them won't help and will only increase your worries and pressure.

"Did you manage to buy it?"

"It went fairly smoothly. I brought you some gifts. See if you like them?" Chen Li took out two exquisite hairpins from his storage bag.

Both are top-grade first-tier magic weapons.

For him now, even top-grade magic weapons of the first rank are just small change; two of them would only cost forty-two mid-grade spirit stones.

"Honestly, you're wasting money again. Shuniang and I already have quite a bit, and now our expenses are so high. We should really try to be more frugal," Zhou Hong said reproachfully. But as she said that, she was secretly delighted, feeling as sweet as if she had drunk honey.

That night, Chen Li enjoyed the pleasures of having two wives.

The sheets were all wet.

……

Before dawn, Chen Li resolutely got up from his reverie and put on his robes.

Since reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, he has been sleeping less and less. He usually practices Qi cultivation and meditation in bed instead of sleeping, and only takes a nap every few days, but it is usually no more than four hours.

The maidservant living in the outer room was startled, hurriedly dressed, and sleepily prepared to come and serve:

"master!"

Chen Li waved his hand, telling her to continue sleeping, and went into the talisman-making room alone.

As usual, I first drew seventeen golden amulets, put them away, and then continued to study communication talismans.

The True Sect only has two types of Tier 2 Tier 1 talismans: the Communication Talisman and the Spirit Sword Talisman.

Spirit Sword Talisman: Unleashes a sword-shaped magical attack.

Its power is estimated to be only that of a first-tier, ninth-level spell; its only advantage is probably its speed of casting.

But then again.

No matter how fast a talisman is, it can't outrun a magical artifact.

Moreover, in truth, a cultivator who has just entered the Foundation Establishment stage can wield a low-grade magic weapon with power that is not much less than a first-tier, ninth-level spell.

More importantly, spiritual power cannot be activated during the Qi Refining stage.

This completely cut off the sales channels.

Pretty useless.

Among the second-tier, first-level talismans, the only one that could interest Chen Li was the communication talisman.

The talisman shop inside the mountain gate sells them, each costing one mid-grade spirit stone.

As for sales volume!

Just look at how many Foundation Establishment cultivators there are in the Realm of Truth, and you can imagine how dismal the sales must be.

This is also why Chen Li has been reluctant to study second-tier talismans; the sales volume is simply too low. Selling ten talismans a month is already considered very good, far less profitable than drawing golden light protective talismans.

The reason I say "share" instead of "sheet" is because this talisman is a bit strange and is different from any talisman Chen Li has drawn before.

It has two symbols, one male and one female.

When drawing, two talisman skins must be placed side by side and tightly attached. The male and female talismans must be drawn in one go, and the spiritual power must not be interrupted during the process. It is equivalent to drawing two talismans in one stroke, and it will also result in the loss of both talismans.

If one of the talismans becomes invalid, the other one will also become invalid.

It is extremely difficult to draw.

Chen Li studied it intermittently for more than a month, but still couldn't figure it out.

Fortunately, he wasn't in a hurry and took his time.

He studied the talisman purely out of interest.

(End of this chapter)