Immortality begins with meditation puppets

Chapter 70 Oh no! The witch is here!
The street vendor area was newly established and its scale was far smaller than that of Baiyunfang Market.

Walking a few more steps inside, Su Qing found the person in charge, who turned out to be an acquaintance.

He was one of the burly men who surrounded the tent when he treated Niu Ya's injuries before, the straightforward rogue cultivator who loved his sister-in-law more than his elder brother.

"Fellow Daoist Su has set up a stall here to attract more customers. How could I dare to ask Fellow Daoist Su for rent? I am already extremely grateful that Fellow Daoist Su doesn't come to me for spirit crystals!"

Niu Shisan said to Su Qing with a fawning smile.

He really didn't dare to ask Su Qing for spirit crystals.

On the one hand, he had personally witnessed Su Qing's puppetry skills, and her ability to set up a stall here would indeed bring popularity to the stall area.

On the other hand, his elder brother's fate is unknown. Who knows if he can come back? What if he is missing an arm or a leg again? Wouldn't that require the help of this Fellow Daoist Su?
More importantly, everyone in the forward camp knows that the Bear King Team was in imminent danger, and it was this Fellow Daoist Su who single-handedly saved them using a group of puppets.

Such a powerful figure is only so because he lacks organizational power. Otherwise, if Su Qing wanted to seize control of the stall area without Niu Ya present, no one in the Rat King team would dare to say a word.

"Fellow Daoist Thirteen is too kind. If you ever break a leg again, don't hesitate to come find me!"

Su Qing waved his hand, saying that every little bit helps. Although he earns a lot, he also spends a lot. Not having to pay rent is certainly a good thing.

After passing through several stalls and finding a good spot with a lot of people, I was about to take the puppet out of my storage bag when...

But to my surprise, a quick glance revealed another familiar face.

With a goatee, slanted eyebrows, and a naturally miserable look, he looks like he could die at any moment. Isn't this the talisman seller, Tong Chang, the old Taoist priest?
The old Taoist's stall was now surrounded by a crowd, who looked on with envy.

No matter the time or place, cheap and easy-to-use talismans are always bestsellers.

The old Taoist was busy earning spirit crystals, so Su Qing didn't greet him and set up the three witch puppets and five lizard warriors on the stall.

The eight puppets stood out starkly in a row, making them stand out among the other poor stalls.

Without any deliberate promotion, the five lizard warriors were successfully sold in just over an hour. These puppets had already made a name for themselves, and not only were they easy to sell, but there were also very few people willing to haggle over the price.

Su Qing was surprised to find that not a single witch puppet had been sold after successfully earning more than 11,000 spirit crystals.

Although the times are tough and most rogue cultivators are spending their spirit crystals on important matters, many body cultivators are still young and vigorous. Maintaining a stable Dao heart is also a major issue. It makes no sense that the witch puppets can't be sold!

Could it be that the female cultivators under Tang Wanqing have returned to their old ways?

No way. After months of fighting at the Dwarf Mountain defense line, these female cultivators have long since been transformed. If we still make them entertain people with their beauty now, wouldn't all those months of fighting for their lives against the monsters have been for nothing?
The market demand has not changed, and there are no competitors disrupting the market.

Why are these witch puppets not selling well?

Just as he was racking his brains trying to figure it out, a burly man who was over ten feet tall and took a step longer than others when he walked caught Su Qing's attention.

Wei Debao!
My first customer at the forward camp.

This person was energetic and didn't know how to handle the puppets properly, so she often came to me to change the witch puppets. Over time, we became friends.

Upon seeing him approach, Su Qinglian grabbed him.

"Fellow Daoist Wei, you're getting a good deal today. How about I sell you all five witch puppets?"

I thought Wei Debao would be overjoyed.

Unexpectedly, he retreated repeatedly with a look of fear on his face.

"As a mere rogue cultivator, I would feel ashamed even to glance at the holy countenance of Master Liu. How could I dare to do such a despicable thing with a puppet that resembles him? Fellow Daoist, please don't harm me! Please don't harm me!"

Oh, what's going on here?
Wasn't this the time you asked me to increase the proportion of a certain part?

I've never seen you treat Liu Yun'er with such respect back then!

Wei Debao was a man of unyielding integrity and youthful vigor.

Now, he was so frightened by the witch's puppet that his face turned deathly pale.

Su Qing immediately realized the seriousness of the problem.

After putting the witch puppet into the storage bag.

He then approached Wei Debao to ask what was going on.

Wei Debao forced a shifty, cunning look onto his honest face, glanced around, and this time whispered:
"Fellow Daoist is far too bold. I don't know that it's being spread that Liu Yun'er is currently active near Baiyun Market. I heard that she was the one who led the group that brought down the demonic beasts this time!"

Upon hearing this, Su Qing felt as if she had been struck by lightning.

He finally understood why the independent cultivators at the front-line camp had suddenly become impotent.

With the witch herself in this vicinity, and perhaps her demonic sect disciples already planted in the forward camps, who would dare to charge at the witch's puppets?

The key is that they don't have to buy it, or they can buy it and use it secretly.

But Su Qing is the creator of the witch puppet!

If the witch herself finds out, she'll be in deep trouble!

Indeed, the first pot of gold is always sinful and extremely risky.

Su Qing, who started out with witch puppets, felt that the bullet that had been fired a few months ago was now curving its way toward him.

"Is this true? Isn't that witch in seclusion outside Yunluo City, trying to break through to the Golden Core realm?" He still held onto a sliver of hope.

"Of course it is true. The Yunshan Sect has sent three Foundation Establishment warriors to guard this forward camp. If it's not to guard against the witch, then who else is it to guard against?"

Wei Debao confidently stated that his brother-in-law was an outer disciple of the Yunshan Sect, unlike Su Qing and Tang Wanqing who merely held a token. His brother-in-law was a legitimate member of the sect, receiving monthly sect benefits, so his information network was naturally better than others.

Seeing Su Qing's flustered appearance, Wei Debao chuckled and said:

"Fellow Daoist, there's no need to panic like this. Liu Yun'er is here to disrupt the peace of several surrounding markets and to sabotage the logistics of Yunluo City."

She couldn't possibly abandon her Golden Core cultivation to come here specifically to target you, fellow Daoist, could she? Don't worry, fellow Daoist, we simply won't sell the witch puppet for now!

Upon hearing this, Su Qing's expression softened.

"That's true. The Demonic Sect certainly didn't send Liu Yun'er, a cultivator at the peak of Foundation Establishment, out to make things difficult for a rogue cultivator like me!"

"But if you happen to be seen by the witch, she probably wouldn't mind crushing you to death!" Wei Debao added.

With a thud, Su Qing, who had just recovered from the pain, felt a sharp pain in her chest. She glared at Wei Debao and firmly refused his request to return the previous stock.

If the witch puppet fails to sell, you might even suffer a violent attack from the witch herself.

Su Qing returned to her stall looking dejected, and could only sell low-end goods such as iron horses and wooden oxen alongside the lizard warriors.

At this moment, the old Taoist priest Tong Chang, who was diagonally opposite, finally took a break.

"Fellow Daoist Su, we meet again?"
The old Taoist priest was as enthusiastic as ever towards Su Qing. To be precise, he became enthusiastic after discovering Su Qing's skill in drawing biomimetic runes.

"Fellow Daoist, were you also sent to the forward camp by the Yunshan Sect?"

Based on Su Qing's understanding of this old Taoist priest, even if he earned less spirit crystals in the market, he wouldn't take the risk of coming to the front-line camp. Hence, he asked this question.

The old Taoist shook his head mysteriously, then turned to look at the distant, shadowy Hundred Beasts Mountain Range, a glint of light seeming to appear in his turbid eyes.

"I came here of my own volition. I believe that I have the ability to fight for this opportunity!"

"Oh, the opportunity you spoke of is in Hundred Beast Mountain?"

The old Taoist priest always spoke in a cryptic and enigmatic way, his words always revealing a hidden meaning, much like the middle-aged man selling wall art earlier. Although Su Qing was somewhat interested, he only asked casually.

If there really is an opportunity, would someone tell you?

The old Taoist priest shook his head and said again:

"It's impossible to say. Since you haven't yet been able to draw third-order bionic runes, you're not one of us. This opportunity is probably out of your reach, unless..."

"Alright, if you can't say it, then don't. Sell me some talismans, that's the important thing. I'm in a real crisis, I can't worry about anything else!"

Su Qing quickly interrupted the old Taoist priest. He was still far from mastering the third-tier bionic runes, but the witch's threat was imminent.

He knew that the old Taoist had some second-tier talismans that he rarely used. This time, he would have to pay a price to get a few.

Tong Chang was speechless after Su Qing's retort, but seeing that he had no interest in speaking, he still finished his sentence.

"Unless you master the third-tier bionic runes within two years, judging from this chill, I estimate that the opportunity will only appear in a little over two years at most. If you haven't met the requirements by then, you'll truly miss it!"

"Good! Good! Good! I'll remember that and work a hundred times harder. Now, fellow Daoist, can you take out the talisman?"

Su Qing's mind wasn't on that at all. She gave a perfunctory reply and reached out to ask the old Taoist for a talisman.

The old Taoist shook his head helplessly and could only take out several talismans from his storage bag.

"Second-tier Mind-Clearing Talisman, used to keep the mind clear and prevent being bewitched by illusions and charms, 3,500 spirit crystals per talisman, limited to two per purchase."

"It's so dark!" Su Qing blurted out.

"This is a second-tier talisman, which can even block the techniques of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. It costs more than three thousand spirit crystals, and I'm only making a profit at cost price!"

When it comes to business, Tong Chang is determined not to back down even if he thinks highly of Su Qing. Over the years, he has seen plenty of rune geniuses, but none of them are useful until they grow up. In comparison, spirit crystals are more reliable.

"Puppets and magical artifacts at least have various valuable materials, but this talisman of yours is just a thin sheet of paper, yet it costs so many spirit crystals. If you're not ripping people off, who will be?"

Su Qing silently complained, but he also knew that the reason this talisman was so valuable was because of the third-order calming runes drawn on it.

Even small shops might not have this Treasure Trove Talisman in stock. The old Taoist priest has a monopoly on it. Whether it's cheap or not, he can't care about that now. After all, this kind of talisman is the most practical when facing a witch who might come knocking on his door!

Reluctant to buy two, he took one and then picked up the other talisman.

"A second-tier fire escape talisman, once activated, allows one to escape far away by fire, covering several miles at a time, whether fleeing or chasing enemies. It has endless uses. It costs 6,000 spirit crystals and is limited to one purchase per person."

"You old thief, you know I'm in trouble now, and you're deliberately trying to kill me, aren't you!"

Upon hearing the old Taoist's offer, Su Qing flew into a rage.

Both being second-tier talismans, the two talismans differed in price by nearly double, leading him to believe that the old Taoist was taking advantage of him.

"When you were selling witch puppets before, I told you not to take such crooked paths. If we want to earn spirit crystals, we can earn just as much honestly. Why get involved in unnecessary karma?"

"Fellow Daoist, you have brought this calamity upon yourself. As for the price of this Fire Escape Talisman, I didn't overcharge you. Once you use it, you will understand its wonders!"

Tong Chang took the opportunity to reprimand Su Qing, but did not want to explain further about the issue of the inflated price of the Fire Escape Talisman.

He only put these talismans on sale because he thought highly of Su Qing. If Su Qing doesn't recognize their value, then it's simply a matter of fate, and he can't be blamed for it.

"Fellow Daoist is right, I am grateful for your guidance. However, this talisman paper really cannot be sold at a low price?"

Seeing that the old Taoist priest was unyielding, Su Qing immediately suppressed his anger and asked respectfully.

(End of this chapter)