Immortality begins with meditation puppets

Chapter 98 Spiritual Pattern Master, Insect Repellent Master

It still needs to be mentioned.

Spirit Crystal.

For independent practitioners, this is the foundation of their cultivation and the source of their very lives.

Borrow spirit crystals from someone.

For a freeloader like Qinghe, it's easy to ask for a loan, whether she can actually get it or not is another matter, but asking is easy, and she might just run into a fool.

For someone like Su Qing, who values ​​her reputation, asking for money is always a difficult thing to say.

But there was nothing they could do; when these puppets went into battle, they were practically consuming spirit crystals.

Although the puppets placed outside are covered by the Baibao Pavilion.

But the Sky Roc flying in the sky and the Explosive Hammer War Bear in his bag—these puppets all require him to spend spirit crystals during battles.

In the past, he would always keep ten or twenty thousand spirit crystals in his storage bag for future use.

But this time, he got so excited about refining the Sky Roc Ship that he couldn't stop himself and suddenly couldn't even afford to pay the puppets' wages.

Yesterday, he and his sisters, including Sun Yan, asked for alms. The sisters said that the spirit crystals they gave him were payment for listening to their stories.

Although he felt something was wrong, he felt better about it.

Right now, it took him a long time to finally get the words out of Guo Qiaolian, this wealthy young woman who makes a fortune every day.

"Sister Qiaolian, I'm a little short on cash lately. Could you lend me some silver? Pshaw, I mean spirit crystals!"

As Su Qing spoke, Helian Xian and Liang Haishun, who had been eavesdropping, quietly moved away.

Su Qing didn't even glance at the two old men. These two old men hadn't had enough of taking advantage of others, so asking them to lend spirit crystals was out of the question.

He didn't expect much from the two old men; Qiaolian was much simpler.

Unexpectedly, when Guo Qiaolian heard that he wanted to borrow spirit crystals, she shrank back and even pulled her chest back.

“Fellow Daoist Su, although the clinic has earned some spirit crystals these days, Qiaolian has to ask someone to bring them home every month, so she doesn’t have many spirit crystals on hand right now. I’m afraid she can’t help you, Fellow Daoist Su.”

This girl isn't being affectionate!

The younger sisters who tell stories are better.

Upon hearing this, Su Qing's expression turned serious: "Fellow Daoist Guo, there's no need for that. I was being presumptuous. It's only three to five thousand spirit crystals. I can just sell a few puppets at a discount and that should be enough!"

"Ah, just three or five thousand spirit crystals? Qiaolian has that."

Guo Qiaolian's eyes lit up; she seemed to be able to help Su Qing, and she was even happier than Su Qing herself.

Before she left home, her father had warned her that there were many thieves out there, and some were skilled at deceiving people. He advised her not to keep too many spirit crystals on hand, lest they attract the covetous eyes of thieves.

Therefore, every month, in addition to purchasing magical artifacts, pills, talismans, puppets, and other items for cultivation and protection, she would send the remaining spirit crystals home to her father for safekeeping.

As a result, they usually only have ten or twenty thousand spirit crystals left on hand.

Su Qing earns a lot of spirit crystals from selling puppets. She's so wealthy that if someone asked her for money, she'd have to ask for a huge sum.

It's just a mere three to five thousand spirit crystals; what difference would it make if it were given to Fellow Daoist Su?

"Are three to five thousand spirit crystals just a small amount, Qiaolian? To be honest, do you think I have the potential to be a spirit healer?"

When Guo Qiaolian handed him five thousand spirit crystals, he looked completely relaxed, as if he didn't consider them spirit crystals at all.

Su Qing realized that she had underestimated the spiritual healer's ability to make money.

He thought he was the one who made the most money at the front-line camp!
Who would have thought? Who would have thought that treating rogue cultivators could be such a lucrative business!

"Fellow Daoist Qiaolian, aren't you being too biased? These days, Qiaolian Medical Clinic has been having problems every day, but it's all been our Hundred Treasures Pavilion's warriors who have been handling them."

But I've never been able to borrow any spirit crystals from Fellow Daoist Qiaolian on credit!

Before anyone knew it, Qinghe floated over like a ghost, speaking softly.

At the forward camp, the independent cultivators would go out to fight every few days, and Qiaolian Medical Clinic would naturally make a fortune every day.

Without the protection of their Hundred Treasures Pavilion, Qiaolian Medical Clinic would have been ransacked by the robbers long ago, given Guo Qiaolian's presence alone.

Given such a great favor, is it unreasonable for Qinghe to lend her a little over a thousand spirit crystals? It's not like she's not going to pay it back.
“Father said that Fellow Daoist Qinghe owes our clinic more than 10,000 spirit crystals, so we can’t lend her any more.” Guo Qiaolian glanced at Qinghe warily. In her eyes, Qinghe was a thief who was good at deceiving people.

"Is 10,000 spirit crystals a big deal? After I finish this big job today and pay off all the other people's debts, I'll pay back yours!"

Qinghe waved her hand, her expression unchanged. Her gentle and dignified face moved closer to Su Qing, and she asked in a low voice:
"Fellow Daoist Su, where is Fellow Daoist Tang?"

"What Fellow Daoist Tang? There is no Fellow Daoist Tang. It was an agreement that I would take on this mission for the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. No one else has this obligation."

Su Qing's face remained calm, even showing a slight hint of surprise.

"Hidden? Where did you hide it? It's good to be cautious, but don't hide it too far away, or you'll be in trouble if something happens and you can't catch up!"

Qinghe didn't believe a word he said.

Su Qing simply waved him off, telling him to hurry up and lead the way at the front of the group.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, fellow Daoists!"

A loud shout drew everyone's attention.

It was Leng Fengxiang, the spirit pattern master whose face was ashen and whose forehead was engraved with runes, making him look like a vengeful ghost.

Not only did she arrive late, but she also brought a middle-aged man with a cold and sinister demeanor with her to join the group.

Seeing him join the team, the group was now complete, and Qinghe didn't say anything more to Su Qing.

He glanced meaningfully at Leng Fengxiang, reminding Su Qing to pay close attention to the two men.

He then moved to the front of the group and, together with Ma Tuan, led everyone towards Black Tiger Mountain.

Su Qing and Leng Fengxiang were not familiar with each other, and even disliked each other somewhat.

Su Qing thought he was jealous of her figure and appearance, while Leng Fengxiang probably thought Su Qing looked down on his profession.

At that moment, as soon as he joined the team, he led the middle-aged man to Su Qing's side.

At the same time, Fire Egg barked softly at the middle-aged man. Su Qing patted its head to stop it.

"Fellow Daoist Su's puppets are truly impressive!"

Leng Fengxiang looked at the double-bladed lizard and double-staff war bear surrounding Su Qing, Helian Xian, and the others, his eyes narrowing slightly, and came up to flatter them.

"This is all the skill I have. I can't compare to Fellow Daoist Leng. Every move you make is enhanced by the power of runes. Why would you need a puppet to protect you?"

Su Qing didn't know what kind of person this fellow Daoist Leng was, but Qinghe had already signaled to him with her eyes that he was dangerous, so he was also very careful in dealing with him.

Spirit rune masters, like demonic cultivators, are known for producing madmen!

The fire egg's cries just now were also strange, especially since everyone is wearing protective clothing to ward off the cold.

The middle-aged Taoist priest beside him was only wearing an ordinary Taoist robe.

Judging from his appearance, he doesn't seem like a fool trying to tough it out; he even seems to be enjoying it a bit.
"This is Yuan Hua, Fellow Daoist Yuan, an insect exorcist."

This journey traverses mountains and valleys, teeming with demonic insects. I fear there might be problems on this path, so I'm seeking companionship from Fellow Daoist Yuan. It would give me peace of mind."

Seeing that Su Qing was not the only one interested in the unfamiliar Yuan Hua, Leng Fengxiang quickly cupped his hands in greeting to the crowd and asked.

The crowd then greeted Yuan Hua again.

Yuan Hua simply nodded slightly without saying a word, which was quite impolite.

Leng Fengxiang simply explained that Yuan Hua had been harmed by a demonic insect in the past and was unable to speak. Although the others felt something was amiss, they did not ask any further questions.

Thus, Leng Fengxiang chatted with the group for a few minutes in a rather casual manner.

Under Su Qing's clearly unwelcoming gaze, they wisely withdrew from the small group consisting of Su Qing, Guo Qiaolian, Helian Xian, and Liang Haishun.

By this time, the team had already left the formation range of the forward camp.

Su Qing looked up and saw a blanket of white snow in front of her, with low hills resembling white mounds—even the metaphor itself seemed ominous.

I really don't know how many of these fellow cultivators will be able to return safely from this trip.

(End of this chapter)