Immortality begins with meditation puppets

Chapter 16 The Old Taoist Priest Who's Still Going Strong in His Old Age Selling Talismans.

After dealing with the Ironback Bear, Tang Wanqing now has ample cash flow and spent 2,600 spirit crystals to buy seven more witch puppets from Su Qing.

"With such a large order, not only did you not offer any discount, but I only need one deluxe model, and you dare to ask for 800 spirit crystals, and you still say you're not ripping me off?"

Tang Wanqing frowned, looking at Su Qing suspiciously, feeling that he was deliberately ripping her off because her business was doing well.

"Fellow Daoist, you've wronged me greatly. Three hundred spirit crystals for a basic witch puppet is the price for a custom-made one. What I'm offering now is a ready-made one. Giving you the original price is already being very accommodating."
As for the deluxe version, my skills have improved, and I've added second-tier bionic runes. Will the experience be the same as before? Will the price be the same as before?

Su Qing acted as if her skills were worth the price, which made Tang Wanqing unable to say anything more.

After Tang Wanqing hurriedly ran to the spirit house and began distributing goods.

Su Qing lost interest in continuing to set up his stall. He realized that with Tang Wanqing and her group running a business renting out witch puppets, he couldn't sell witch puppets retail anymore.

"There are still too few independent cultivators and big spenders!"

He shook his head and then turned his gaze to the old Taoist priest beside him.

The old Taoist priest remained the same as always, with his head bowed and eyes downcast, looking as if he were half-dead.

However, Su Qing had witnessed this old man's methods during a fight for a stall. Using talismans was normal; it would be strange for a talisman maker to fight without using talismans.

What's surprising about this old Taoist is that, as a talisman maker, he also possesses incredibly sharp Taoist magic.

Based on those few Taoist techniques alone, it wouldn't be wrong to call him a combat cultivator.

This is an old Taoist priest with a story, but what interests Su Qing most is not his story, but his talismans.

You only realize how few talismans you have when you need them. Although the market hasn't completely fallen into chaos yet, Su Qing felt it was always a good idea to have more talisman paper on hand.

"Fireball Talisman, 26 spirit crystals; Three-Ring Fireball Talisman, 167 spirit crystals. Fellow Daoist, your prices are unreasonable! If I buy three Fireball Talismans, I can achieve the effect of a Three-Ring Fireball Talisman, yet the price is half the cost!"

Su Qing pointed to the two talismans and pretended not to understand, saying to the old Taoist priest.

The old Taoist priest slightly raised his heavy eyelids and glanced at him, without even bothering to acknowledge him.

The fireball rune is inscribed with first-tier fire runes, while the three-ring fireball rune is inscribed with second-tier fire runes. Others may not know the difference between the two, but Su Qing, who deals with runes, is absolutely clear about it.

The old Taoist knew he was trying to haggle, but a craftsman's skill is worth its price. His three-ring fireball talisman would cost at least two hundred spirit crystals in the Baibaoge Yuanlai Building, so he had no trouble selling it and naturally wouldn't haggle.

"Fellow Daoist, this way of doing business won't work. It's only because I have some connection with you that I'm doing this; anyone else would have turned around and left long ago!"

Su Qing shook his head and complained, but in reality he didn't care about the old Taoist's attitude. He took three three-ring fireball talismans, two poison arrow talismans, twelve thick armor talismans, and several exorcism talismans from the stall before he stopped.

Seeing his arrogance, the old Taoist priest immediately changed his tune.

"It's been a few days since I last saw you. Fellow Daoist, you've made a fortune! It's good to be rich, but you should be careful. Even though you have a puppet by your side, it's always good to have some extra talismans on hand."

"How about a few more Wind Listening Talismans? The situation isn't looking good lately. With these talismans, you can be more alert to your surroundings and escape faster than others." "Why do you think Baiyun Market is on the verge of collapse and we have to run away?" Su Qing's expression shifted, and he asked in a deep voice.

The old Taoist rubbed his sore legs and stood up: "No matter how powerful the Desire Demon Sect is, it shouldn't be able to reach Baiyun Market in a year or two. A few Qi Refining disciples can't cause chaos in Baiyun Market."

But who can say for sure? We, as independent cultivators, are always ready to flee, and it's always right to be able to run away at any time!

"Fellow Daoist, you are very knowledgeable. I am very grateful for your guidance. Could you please give me two Wind Listening Talismans as well?"

Once activated, a Wind Listening Talisman can last for three days, allowing one to hear sounds from several miles around. Of course, if cultivators have important matters to discuss, they will use soundproofing techniques to prevent overhearing others' privacy.

"Fellow Daoist, calculate how many spirit crystals this will cost." Su Qing said easily as he took the Listening Wind Talisman. At this point, he was still willing to spend several hundred spirit crystals to add some defensive measures.

The old Taoist's wrinkles smoothed out, and he smiled, "I've already paid you 876 spirit crystals. I'll round it down for you, so you only need to pay 870 spirit crystals."

Spirit crystals are so cheap! The spirit crystals I just got are already being used up, and I have to spend almost half of them. Just as Su Qing was feeling a little heartbroken and was about to take out the spirit crystals,

The old Taoist suddenly said, "Do you have any of that deluxe witch puppet that you just sold to Fellow Daoist Tang in stock? If you want to pay for it with that, that's fine too."

"Oh, how were you satisfied with the witch puppet I gave you last time?"

Su Qing glanced at the old Taoist priest with amusement, not expecting that this old Taoist priest, who looked like he was about to die, was actually young at heart.

The old Taoist priest took the deluxe version of the witch puppet from Su Qing without changing his expression, and said nothing more.

As for what he wanted to do with the puppet, Su Qing had no say in that.

"Witch puppets have no combat ability whatsoever; at most, they can only pass things from one hand to the other. They're just end customers, doing the same old dirty work!"

On the way back, Su Qing thought about it carefully and realized that the old Taoist priest was not the kind of person who would be tempted by a witch puppet. He didn't want the witch puppet for himself.

He glanced up at the sky and then stopped thinking about it.

Taking three steps at a time, more than thirty wood spirit servants followed and guarded from all sides. The exorcism spells on their robes were always active, and they held talismans in their hands. If any villains appeared, Su Qing would not hesitate to give them a taste of the talisman bombardment in exchange for a deluxe witch puppet.

His caution was not without reason, because he had witnessed several cases of robbers extorting money from people along the way, not to mention the cases his Wood Spirit servants had seen.

Within this central and residential area, the patrol teams of the market are quite strong, so those robbers don't dare to cause too much trouble. They mostly just extort some spirit crystals and then let people go.

Whether it was the magic cabinet at his waist that worked, or his inexplicable power as a puppeteer that was intimidating enough, it's hard to say.

Along the way, he still didn't encounter any bad guys, and the talisman in his hand didn't have a chance to show its effect.

"It's a pity that Tang Wanqing is obsessed with making money. She has the puppets entertaining customers at night. Otherwise, it would be much more reassuring to come back with her."

Back in his own courtyard, Su Qing thought to himself that he couldn't rely on others, and to avoid being as paranoid as he was now when he went out, refining lizard warriors was of utmost urgency!

(End of this chapter)