“Elder Ding, could you kindly take a look at this item? Although I suspect it might be a thousand-year spiritual herb, I’m not entirely certain. I was hoping you could verify its age,” Shopkeeper Tian said humbly, handing over an ornate box.
“A thousand-year spiritual herb?” Elder Ding sounded incredulous but accepted the box nonetheless.
“Please examine it carefully! Could it truly be millennium-old Yellow Essence Ganoderma?” Shopkeeper Tian struggled to contain his excitement, speaking with noticeable urgency.
The elderly man didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he narrowed his eyes and focused intently on the specimen’s shape, color, and even its texture, occasionally bringing the box to his nose for a gentle sniff.
Having personally accelerated the growth of this herb, Han Li already knew it was indeed a millennium-old spiritual medicine. He remained composed, sitting quietly to the side, paying no mind to the elder’s meticulous examination. His thoughts were occupied with how to negotiate terms with the Treasure Pavilion.
In stark contrast to Han Li’s calm demeanor, Shopkeeper Tian watched the elder’s every move without blinking. The unflappable composure he had maintained during his meeting with Han Li had completely vanished, replaced by a complex mix of anticipation, anxiety, and nervous excitement.
Finally, Elder Ding gently placed the box on the table, closed his eyes in contemplation while stroking his beard, and after a moment, opened them again. With absolute certainty, he stated calmly, “Congratulations, Shopkeeper. This is indeed genuine millennium-old Yellow Essence Ganoderma. Moreover, it was recently unearthed with its medicinal properties completely intact. I can guarantee this!”
Overjoyed, Shopkeeper Tian respectfully saw the elder out down the stairs before eagerly picking up the box containing the spiritual herb to examine it repeatedly.
“Shopkeeper Tian, shouldn’t we discuss our transaction?” Han Li reminded, noticing that the shopkeeper seemed to have forgotten the herb’s owner was still present.
“Oh! Ah! How foolish of me! I beg Brother Li’s forgiveness!” Shopkeeper Tian flushed slightly upon remembering the herb didn’t yet belong to the Treasure Pavilion.
“No matter. Given your evident fondness for this item, I trust you won’t disappoint me with your offer,” Han Li said with a light laugh, subtly applying pressure.
Regaining his composure, Shopkeeper Tian placed the herb back on the table and said, “Since Brother Li can produce a millennium spiritual herb, you must be no ordinary cultivator. I won’t use merchant tricks with you but will offer a fair price.”
After brief consideration, he continued earnestly, “This herb can be exchanged for any two of the treasures I showed you earlier, or solely for the item in the final box. If neither option appeals to you, our establishment can purchase the herb with spirit stones that will absolutely satisfy you. What does Brother Li think?”
Sensing the sincerity in the offer and after careful consideration, Han Li found the terms reasonable and within his expectations, leaning about seventy to eighty percent toward acceptance. However, he first wanted to see what was in the final box.
Before Han Li could speak, Shopkeeper Tian anticipatorily opened the last box and pushed it toward him, saying with a smile, “This box contains our establishment’s treasure. But it depends on whether Brother recognizes its value!”
Curiosity piqued, Han Li looked inside and was stunned. The box contained a solitary talisman depicting a golden brick, shimmering with light and remarkably lifelike.
Upon seeing this, Han Li’s mind raced, immediately recalling his own talisman with the gray small sword pattern. Could they be similar?
“A Talisman Treasure?” Han Li exhaled deeply, asking uncertainly.
Shopkeeper Tian showed a flash of surprise before exclaiming, “I never expected Brother Li to recognize this! Normally, very few cultivators should know of this treasure. Your knowledge is impressive!”
Han Li chuckled wryly and shook his head with a sigh. “You overestimate me. I’ve only heard of Talisman Treasures but know very little about them. Since you’ve produced one, you must understand them well. I’d appreciate any insights.”
Han Li spoke sincerely, genuinely wanting to understand the origins and details of “Talisman Treasures” to clear his confusion.
Shopkeeper Tian looked somewhat surprised but, considering it not confidential—just lesser-known—and not worth offending a valuable client, readily agreed and explained everything about “Talisman Treasures.”
“Talisman Treasures” had significant origins; they were unique items only cultivators at the Core Formation stage or above could produce.
High-level cultivators who had refined magic tools could seal part of their power into special talisman paper, allowing other cultivators to temporarily wield the tool’s capabilities. These special talismans combined features of both talismans and magic tools, earning them the nickname “pseudo magic tools” among those in the know, who highly sought them.
These “pseudo magic tools” were peculiar: only Core Formation stage or above cultivators could make them, but any cultivator could use them. Even those with third or fourth-layer cultivation, like the Golden Light Superior Man Han Li had killed, could use them effectively.
However, cultivators before the Foundation Establishment stage lacked condensation techniques and could only unleash ten to twenty percent of a Talisman Treasure’s power, making it barely superior to top-tier magical instruments.
After Foundation Establishment, cultivators could use mental condensation methods to fully utilize a Talisman Treasure’s power. While not as earth-shattering or catastrophic as true magic tools, their power was enough to surpass all other instruments. Hence, every post-Foundation Establishment cultivator desired a “Talisman Treasure” to gain significant advantage in conflicts and outshine others.
Despite their impressive power, using Talisman Treasures continuously drained the sealed magic tool’s energy. Once depleted, the Talisman Treasure became useless. Thus, managing this energy consumption was a critical consideration.
Moreover, creating Talisman Treasures was no simple task.
Magic tools were rare items only Core Formation cultivators could refine, typically nurtured within their true essence day and night to enhance power and rarely revealed. Making “Talisman Treasures” from them was even rarer.
Producing a “Talisman Treasure” involved splitting off part of the magic tool’s power—a self-harming act. Each Talisman Treasure required the owner to spend considerable time re-tempering to restore the lost energy, a classic case of benefiting others at one’s own expense. Thus, it was uncommon for Core Formation or above cultivators to undertake such folly.
However, as the saying goes, circumstances are ever-changing. Most high-level cultivators, facing their end, would frantically produce Talisman Treasures to leave a substantial legacy for descendants or juniors.
Inherited magic tools, after long-term nurturing by previous owners, would lose most of their power if new owners couldn’t achieve complete mental unity with them—a feat requiring Core Formation stage. Otherwise, the new owner could only gaze at the tool helplessly. Thus, compared to leaving intact magic tools, producing Talisman Treasures was more suitable for their descendants.
But creating Talisman Treasures came with many limitations.
First, each Talisman Treasure could seal at most one-tenth of the magic tool’s power—no more, possibly less. Hence, even Talisman Treasures from the same tool varied in power.
Second, producing Talisman Treasures not only reduced the magic tool’s power but also drained the owner’s vitality significantly. Continuous production was impossible; each creation required three to five years of recovery, assuming no energy was wasted and the tool wasn’t re-tempered. Otherwise, it took even longer.
Thus, a common scene in the cultivation world was high-level cultivators, preparing before their passing, leaving behind a significantly weakened magic tool and several Talisman Treasures with sealed power—a helpless reality indeed.
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