Chapter 530
"Master Zhuo, what do you an by that?"
The question ca from a burly, red-faced elder.
"The crafting thod of these low-grade talismans, though ingenious, clearly demonstrates the creator’s mastery of the Talisman Art. That mysterious talisman master’s skills may even rival mine."
Master Zhuo spoke slowly, "However, forcibly inscribing formation runes into low-grade Spiritual Jade consus far more effort than standard talisman crafting."
"That’s why I really can’t understand—why would a dignified talisman master go out of their way to do sothing so thankless?"
"This is truly beneath their status!"
A trace of disdain appeared on Master Zhuo’s face.
In his view, the talisman master working for Treasure Pavilion was degrading themselves, tarnishing the prestige of all talisman masters.
But the red-faced elder frowned slightly. He didn’t quite see it the sa way.
To him, this talisman master was exactly what large comrcial firms like theirs needed—willing to expend their own energy to craft low-cost talismans to bring in profit.
A talisman master like that was rarer than gold dust.
Unfortunately, most talisman masters were arrogant and high-spirited, proud of their identity, and would never stoop to such things.
The red-faced elder gave Master Zhuo a subtle glance but chose not to voice these thoughts.
"Then, according to Master Zhuo, how should we weather this crisis?"
"In the past two days, our clientele at Myriad Phenona Pavilion has dropped drastically."
"Not only are our talismans not selling, but even our magical artifacts and pills have seen a sharp decline in sales."
"It might not be a big deal in the short term, but if Treasure Pavilion continues at this rate..."
"Myriad Phenona Pavilion may suffer significant losses."
"In this old man's opinion, there’s no need for us to panic or lose composure."
Master Zhuo simply shook his head.
"Crafting such low-cost talismans in this manner requires exceptional mastery of the Talisman Art—sothing only a true talisman master can achieve."
"Not only that, but it demands a much greater expenditure of energy."
"The large volu of low-grade talismans now sold by Treasure Pavilion must have been stockpiled over a long period."
"Even so, one person alone cannot et the market demand."
"Therefore, Treasure Pavilion won't be able to sustain this for long."
"I believe they’ll have to raise prices or reduce supply before long."
"There’s no way they can keep up such an intense pace."
"You’re saying we don’t need to do anything for now—just wait and see?" the red-faced elder mused.
"Precisely." Master Zhuo nodded.
"In that case, we’ll follow Master Zhuo’s advice and observe the situation for now."
The red-faced elder still had confidence in Master Zhuo’s judgnt.
After all, this was a fad talisman master, ranked among the top five in the entire Xiao Cang Realm.
When it ca to the Talisman Art, few could speak with greater authority than him.
However, even choosing to wait and see didn’t an doing absolutely nothing.
The red-faced elder pondered a mont, then turned to a pale-faced middle-aged man holding a jade fan.
"Steward Shen, find out who this new talisman master at Treasure Pavilion is and where they ca from."
The red-faced elder was deeply interested in this sudden and mysterious figure.
A talisman master willing to set aside their pride and painstakingly produce so many low-grade talismans to help Treasure Pavilion seize the market—such a person was truly rare in his eyes. R??????ＯBΕ??
"Understood, Vice Pavilion Master," Steward Shen replied respectfully.
"Once you discover the identity of this talisman master, do inform this old man as well. I’m also quite curious about this fellow craftsman."
Master Zhuo picked up one of the talismans and studied it carefully, a flicker of intrigue flashing in his eyes.
The crafting thod used in these new talismans from Treasure Pavilion was quite unusual—very different from the styles he was familiar with.
He was eager to learn who this mysterious talisman master truly was.
...
While Myriad Phenona Pavilion chose to wait and see, Thousand chanisms Workshop—another top rchant house in Canglan City—took a different approach.
"Find out what that witch at Treasure Pavilion is really planning."
"She wouldn’t cause such a huge stir just to give away Spiritual Jade, would she?"
"And check who crafted that batch of new talismans. Drag him out if you must!"
"In just a month, it’ll be the triennial account audit."
"If the visiting lord from above sees how deserted our workshop has beco, none of us will be able to bear the consequences!"
A middle-aged man in ornate robes barked out a flurry of commands.
After his subordinates had left, he stared at the talismans before him, his face dark with anxiety.
He’d already been troubled enough by the approaching audit, and now, Treasure Pavilion had pulled off this move at the worst possible ti.
If that lord from above arrived to see Thousand chanisms Workshop deserted and failing...
His position as Workshop Master might not last.
"That damned woman—why now of all tis?" His eyes glead with cold hostility.
...
And it wasn’t just Myriad Phenona Pavilion and Thousand chanisms Workshop—many other factions within the city had begun to stir.
Treasure Pavilion’s recent actions had disturbed the long-standing calm of Canglan City, sending ripples through its depths and triggering undercurrents.
Yet the one who set all this into motion—Lu Qing—remained completely unaware.
These days, he lived in seclusion.
Aside from handing finished talismans to Ziyuan each day, he barely left his Cultivation Cave.
Instead, he focused entirely on secluded cultivation, shutting out the rest of the world.
Under such devoted effort, he felt himself drawing closer and closer to a breakthrough.
At last, one morning, while in deep cultivation, Lu Qing’s body suddenly trembled.
A terrifying suction force erupted from within him, greedily devouring the dense Spiritual Energy that filled the Cultivation Cave.
In the next mont, a powerful aura surged from his body, rippling the surrounding space.
Thankfully, he was in the cave, protected by a Concealnt Array.
Otherwise, such a frightening surge of power would have thrown the entire Treasure Pavilion into chaos.
Still, the disturbance startled Xiaoli and Wuxing from their cultivation.
"Is Ah Qing breaking through?"
Xiaoli sensed the terrifying aura radiating from Lu Qing and smiled in delight.
Wuxing’s tail quivered with excitent as well.
Neither dared disturb him. They simply waited in silence.
Lu Qing resembled a great beast, endlessly devouring the Spiritual Energy in the cave.
Fortunately, Treasure Pavilion had prepared for him a superior Cultivation Cave, one suitable for Nascent Soul Cultivators.
Otherwise, it wouldn’t have withstood his voracious absorption.
As he continued drawing in energy, his aura beca increasingly fearso.
The sheer pressure forced Xiaoli and Wuxing to retreat a few steps.
"What realm is Ah Qing about to enter? Why is his aura this terrifying?"
The two little ones stared in shock.
Even though both had already condensed high-grade demon cores and reached the First Transformation stage, they still found it hard to withstand the residual pressure from Lu Qing’s breakthrough.
Lu Qing’s breakthrough lasted for a full quarter of an hour.
Finally, a powerful surge of energy burst from his body. In an instant, the suction within him intensified, and the rich Spiritual Energy within the entire cave was devoured in its entirety.
Only then did the pressure—which had made Xiaoli and Wuxing’s hearts tremble—gradually subside, eventually being completely withdrawn by Lu Qing.
When the last trace of energy was fully retracted, Lu Qing slowly opened his eyes.
A strange light flickered in his gaze, like the boundless starry sky—so srizing it could entrance the soul.
But the vision passed in a flash and was quickly suppressed by Lu Qing.
Even the aura around him changed, and soon he appeared no different from usual—his cultivation level concealed once more at the surface level of a mid-grade Golden Core Third Transformation.
"Ah Qing, were you just breaking through?" Xiaoli imdiately ran over and asked upon seeing him awaken.
"Mm, after being stuck for so many years, I’ve finally broken through today."
Lu Qing sighed inwardly.
In the past, his cultivation had been smooth and swift—none in his ho world could rival him.
But unfortunately, the Spiritual Energy revival in his ho world couldn't keep up with his cultivation pace.
For more than ten years, his cultivation had completely stagnated, forcing him to take the risk of leaving. After many dangers, he finally arrived in the region governed by the Tianyuan Great World.
Including the ti spent on the journey, he had been stuck at the peak of the Golden Core Third Transformation for over twenty years.
Only today did he finally break through and step into the Fourth Transformation of the Golden Core Realm.
It had certainly been a turbulent road.
"Then Ah Qing, what’s your current strength? Can you fight against a Nascent Soul Cultivator?" Xiaoli asked.
"You really dare to dream—do you know what realm a Nascent Soul Cultivator is? I’ve only just reached the Golden Core Fourth Transformation. How could I possibly fight against soone of that level?"
Lu Qing laughed and shook his head at Xiaoli’s wild imagination.
Did this little one think Nascent Soul Cultivators were made of clay?
The truth was that the Nascent Soul Realm was fundantally different from other realms.
To reach the Seventh Transformation or above within the Golden Core Realm, one's Golden Core must be a superior-grade one.
In other words, every Nascent Soul Cultivator was a peerless genius who had ford a superior-grade Golden Core—brilliant talents among the heavens.
How could such figures be challenged by soone from a lower realm?
Even Lu Qing, with his Perfect Golden Core, wouldn’t dare to entertain such a notion while still only at the Fourth Transformation.
Unless one day he could surpass all limits, step into the Ninth Transformation—reachable only by those with a Perfect Golden Core—perhaps then he might have a sliver of a chance.
After chatting a bit with Xiaoli and Wuxing, Lu Qing saw that the Spiritual Energy within the cave had nearly recovered.
He instructed them to continue their cultivation while he sat down again to sense the changes brought by his breakthrough.
At once, Lu Qing noticed several transformations.
Within his dantian’s Qi Sea, his Golden Core of Spiritual Power now revolved slowly like a star.
The Spiritual Power within was several tis more refined than before the breakthrough.
His dantian and ridians had also expanded significantly, greatly increasing the potential of his physical body.
As for the strength of his body—that had undergone a complete tamorphosis, his power soaring.
Lu Qing raised a hand and gently made a fist.
A burst of imnse physical power erupted. Air crackled in his palm, and faint arcs of lightning flickered.
The laws of the world surrounding his fist seed to ripple and distort.
From this one motion alone, Lu Qing could sense that he was now vastly more powerful than before the breakthrough.
His physical strength alone was nearly enough to rival his pre-breakthrough self.
If he added the use of his Divine Ability: Great Strength, he was confident that even late-stage Golden Core cultivators would struggle to withstand a single blow from him.
Besides his physical and Spiritual Power breakthroughs, another transformation brought Lu Qing great joy.
His Soul Power had also advanced.
The Soul Talisman within his brow acupoint had finally advanced to the Middle Yang Talisman Stage.
"As expected of a Perfect Golden Core—once you break through, it’s a transformation on every front."
"Whether it’s Spiritual Power, the physical body, or even the soul, everything improves dramatically."
Lu Qing was filled with delight as he sensed his transformation.
A typical breakthrough from the Third to Fourth Transformation wouldn’t cause such imnse change.
But what he had forged was the mysterious and unparalleled Perfect Golden Core.
Each step forward brought a far greater transformation than ordinary cultivators of the sa realm could ever imagine.
"However… after this breakthrough, the Spiritual Energy within the cave has beco significantly less effective."
Lu Qing frowned slightly as he sensed the rapidly recovering Spiritual Energy in the cave.
Although the Spiritual Energy still helped refine his power and strengthen his cultivation, the improvent speed had clearly slowed.
It was worth noting that this cultivation cave had been ticulously arranged by Treasure Pavilion.
Within the entire Xiao Cang Realm, it was considered a top-tier cultivation cave.
Yet with just a single breakthrough, he could already feel its diminished effect.
As he had previously suspected—
As his realm advanced and cultivation deepened, the Spiritual Energy of the Xiao Cang Realm would gradually beco ineffective.
"At this rate, the Spiritual Energy here will, at best, allow
to reach the Sixth Transformation."
"After that, it will be just like my ho world—unable to support further progress."
Lu Qing quietly sensed and calculated before arriving at this conclusion.
"It seems… if I want to step into the Nascent Soul Realm, I’ll have to enter the Tianyuan Great World."
With that thought, he took out a storage pouch.
Inside were talismans he had crafted just the day before, which he hadn’t yet given to Ziyuan.
Now that his breakthrough was complete, it was a good opportunity to step outside and hand them over.
Opening the cave, Lu Qing stepped outside.
He had only walked a short distance when he saw a familiar figure approaching—Ziyuan, in her purple short robe, exuding an alluring charm.
But at the mont, her brows were furrowed, as if troubled by sothing.
"Senior Lu, you’ve erged from seclusion?"
Ziyuan’s face lit up with surprise and delight as she saw Lu Qing.
Though she ca daily to retrieve talismans, their exchanges had been brief and hurried.
This was the first ti she had seen Lu Qing co out on his own initiative.
"Mm, just thought I’d stretch my legs a bit. Here are today’s talismans."
Lu Qing handed the storage pouch to her.
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