Immortality begins with meditation puppets

Chapter 1 It's all business
Tianyuan Realm.

The Western Sea, a fairyland of clouds and mountains.

There is a Baiyunfang Market.

Within the market town, there are always foundation-building cultivators from the White Cloud Sect guarding it, and it can receive support from surrounding immortal cities and markets at any time. There are few troublesome demonic cultivators or tribulation cultivators, and its business has become increasingly prosperous over the years.

Currently, the Cloud Mountain Immortal Kingdom and the Desire Demon Immortal Kingdom are locked in a fierce battle. Compared to the chaos and devastation in the war-torn areas, the White Cloud Market is not desolate at all, but rather bustling with activity.

"Return the goods? Fellow Daoist, are you joking? In market transactions, money and goods are exchanged. Besides, you've already worn a patina out of this puppet..."

Inside the market, Su Qing flatly refused the unreasonable request from the middle-aged man opposite her.

The middle-aged man knew his request was somewhat unreasonable, and said with an embarrassed smile, "Fellow Daoist, this puppet is indeed wonderful. Since it cannot be returned, I will take it back, wash it, and use it again."

"No, clothes are better new than old, but people are better old than new. The girls at Red Sleeve Pavilion change every month. This puppet can't be returned, but we can exchange it for a new one. How about this, fellow Daoist, add another 300 spirit crystals. I'll take a loss and give you the newest girl, oh no, the newest puppet!"

Su Qing, who had been sitting idly all morning, lifted the cloth covering a puppet as she spoke.

Her skin was as white as mutton fat jade, her waist was slender enough to be grasped in one hand, and her figure was perfectly proportioned. The moment she appeared, she made the middle-aged man stare blankly.

"This...this is Liu Yun'er, a Foundation Establishment cultivator and a true disciple of the Desire Demon Sect? Fellow Daoist, you are far too bold. How dare you use her likeness to create a puppet?"

The middle-aged man shuddered, thinking of the ruthlessness of the female demon, and felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him, instantly calming the restlessness that had just surged in his lower abdomen.

"So what if she's undergoing major repairs? Does she think she can come to Baiyun Market to cause us trouble?"
If she weren't undergoing a Foundation Establishment cultivation, I wouldn't even bother refining her! Everyone seems to have a thing for it, right? What's it called again? The desire to conquer, the thrill of subjugation!

Su Qing argued confidently that this life-size replica of the witch puppet had taken him a lot of effort to create and was a flagship product on which he had high hopes, so he naturally had to dispel the customer's concerns.

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man's expression indeed changed slightly, and when he looked at the witch puppet again, it was indeed more alluring than before.

As a rogue cultivator, both the Yunshan Sect and the Yumo Sect were entities he both respected and feared.

As a true disciple of the Desire Demon Sect, Liu Yun'er was a Foundation Establishment cultivator. If he were to encounter her true form, he wouldn't even have the courage to glance at her.

But if you use a puppet secretly at home for no more than 15 minutes at a time, there shouldn't be any problems!
Sigh, this means my training for this month will be delayed again!
Damn witch, even as a puppet, she's so bewitching!
The middle-aged man cursed the witch under his breath, then began to bargain with Su Qing.

Half an hour later.

The middle-aged man, who had failed to negotiate a lower price but instead ended up with several hundred more spirit crystals, bought a water-fire spiral module and various passionate outfits, before being seen off by Su Qing with a beaming smile.

"Hmph, selling puppets and indulging in lust, fellow Daoist, you earn spirit crystals so easily, but don't you find them too hot to handle?"

Just as Su Qing put the spirit crystals she had acquired into her storage bag, the old Taoist priest next door who sold talismans shook his head and sighed.

"Fellow Daoist, you are mistaken. Cultivators also have emotions and desires. Those who can buy my puppets are all people of feeling. Rather than letting them spend their spirit crystals on the female cultivators of the Red Sleeve Pavilion, it would be better to spend them on the puppets!"

After all, my puppet is clean and hygienic, cheap and easy to use, and I don't have to worry about encountering a demoness who will drain my vital essence!

Su Qing, who started her business in adult products in her previous life, replied without hesitation.

Just then, another customer arrived, so Su Qing had even less time to pay attention to him. After happily selling a few more witch puppets, she finally approached the old Taoist's stall.

After much pleading and negotiation, they managed to exchange a witch puppet for five thick armor talismans and two exorcism talismans from the old Taoist priest.

"Fellow Daoist, you just received a large sum of spirit crystals. Using puppets to settle this debt is really outrageous!"

Despite his complaints, the old Taoist priest swiftly and cleanly stored the witch puppet in his storage bag.

Su Qing turned his head and said, "Fellow Daoist, you may not know this, but the materials I used to refine these puppets were all borrowed from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion on credit. Now that I have spirit crystals, I naturally have to return them. I don't have many spirit crystals left."

The old Taoist's expression changed. If what Su Qing said was true, and he could get the Hundred Treasures Pavilion to lend him materials on credit, then this fellow Taoist's ability had exceeded his previous expectations.

Of course, in the old Taoist's opinion, Su Qing's words were mostly false.

The Treasure Pavilion indeed offers many preferential treatments to cultivators who have achieved success in various arts and crafts.

But he had been making talismans for many years and, as a first-class high-grade talisman master, he had never received any courtesy from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. This kid was only at the third level of Qi Refining, at most a first-class puppeteer. How could he make the Hundred Treasures Pavilion take notice?
The old Taoist shook his head, but his tone became more polite as he said, "Fellow Daoist, why pretend to be poor? Please rest assured, I have no intention of becoming a Tribulation Cultivator. However, if you were to refine two combat puppets, you wouldn't need to be so cautious." As Su Qing turned to leave, his gaze swept over the carriage covered by a black cloth behind him.

"How do you know, fellow Daoist, whether there are combat puppets on my carriage or not!"

"Haha, if it really exists, you must let this old Daoist take a look next time. Maybe this old Daoist can even help you close a deal!"

"Fellow Daoist, please try out the witch puppet first. I'll allow you to try it a few times. If you're not satisfied, you can return it next time you come!"

With a wave of his hand, Su Qing, leading the carriage, disappeared from the old Taoist's sight in an instant.

As the sun began to set, the old Taoist priest also considered packing up his stall.

After seeing the witch puppet lying in the storage bag, he couldn't help but take a few more glances at it.

"Hmph, it's just a dead body. If I really wanted that, couldn't I have found a mortal woman?"

"Water and fire spiritual energy was emanating between his legs. Although it was the lowest level of water and fire runes, this skill was still outstanding among first-level puppeteers. It's just a pity that it wasn't used for the right purpose."

"No, this puppet's skin texture feels like it was naturally formed, giving it a faint sense of life. It's inscribed with biomimetic runes. How could a first-tier puppeteer possibly draw such runes?"

The old Taoist priest suddenly trembled violently, recalling Su Qing's words before he left.

"Perhaps he really can make the Hundred Treasures Pavilion look at him differently!"

·····
Da da da!
Inside the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, the shopkeeper heard the familiar sound of horses' hooves and immediately put down his work, calling to the shop assistant, "Fellow Daoist Su has arrived, quickly go and brew a pot of good tea."

After saying that, amidst the surprised gazes of the customers in the shop, Manager Liu, who was at the seventh level of Qi Refining and had a small reputation in Baiyunfang City, stood at the door with a big smile, eagerly waiting.

Who exactly is this person who could make Manager Liu welcome them with such fervor?

Is it a major overhaul of the foundation building? Or are people from the headquarters of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion coming?

The crisp sound of iron clashing against stone grew closer and closer.

When the curious guests saw who it was, they were all somewhat disappointed and puzzled.

The newcomer wore a long blue robe and had a cultivation level of only the third level of Qi Refining. Apart from his handsome appearance, he was really nothing special.

The only thing that catches the eye is the iron-legged horse he leads.

The tall horse, over ten feet high, is a first-tier mid-grade puppet made of ironwood. It can travel a thousand miles a day with just one spirit crystal and carry more than eight thousand catties of goods. Only some powerful merchant caravans on the outskirts of the market can afford to have one.

For a rogue cultivator at the third level of Qi Refining to be able to afford an Iron-Legged Horse is considered quite well-off.

But right now, which of the guests in this treasure trove can't afford an Iron-Legged Horse?

People with real ability use storage bags, okay?
Why should Manager Liu treat someone who doesn't even have a storage bag with such respect?

While everyone was puzzled, Manager Liu saw through their expressions and, to prevent anyone from offending their distinguished guest, pointed to Su Qing, who was unloading goods outside, and said, "This man was once an inner disciple of the Yunshan Sect. Although he has been expelled from the sect, he is still a first-class guest of our Baibao Pavilion. Please do not judge him by his cultivation level, otherwise, you will regret it when you cause a great disaster."

Upon hearing this, all the cultivators in the shop abandoned their contempt, but their doubts only deepened.

How come the inner disciples of Yunshan Sect only have the cultivation level of Qi Refining Level 3?

How could a cultivator at the third level of Qi Refining become a guest of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion?

It wasn't until the shop assistants, under Su Qing's arrangement, removed the puppets from the iron-legged horse that this continued.

These guests then began to understand.

A cultivator at the third level of Qi Refining is insignificant, but a puppeteer with exceptional skills is a different story.

(End of this chapter)