Days passed. Half a year later.
The Golden Sun Sect's pioneered Cloudy Mountain Swamp was located in the western region of the Wei Kingdom. It was extremely cold here every winter, and snow would fall for dozens of days in a month. However, the harsh weather was still unable to stop the bustling market.
After all, when a cultivator reached the middle and late stages of Qi Refinement, they would basically be immune to cold and heat. Although the spiritual energy in a low-stage cultivator's body could not resist the cold, they could buy a cold-repelling talisman and stick it on their body. Those who were slightly rich could buy a robe and were not afraid of the cold at all.
On this day, snowflakes fluttered outside the house. Lin Fan went out again and brought some mid-grade talismans from the system.
"Fellow Daoist Lin is here!" Shopkeeper Chen greeted him with a smile.
In the past six months, Lin Fan did not go to the shop many times. However, cultivators had a very good memory. Moreover, Fellow Daoist Lin's number of amulets was constantly increasing. Occasionally, he would sell Fire Talismans and Light Body Talismans. Clearly, he was already a more proficient and stable mid-grade Level One Talisman Master.
Maintaining a good relationship with a mid-grade Talisman Master was a compulsory course as a shopkeeper.
Lin Fan nodded and took out twenty five amulets and six fire talismans from his storage bag. He handed them to the shopkeeper.
Shopkeeper Chen handed the spirit stones to Lin Fan and looked outside the shop. He said in a low voice, "Recently, the Golden Sun Sect has accidentally discovered a huge mineral vein in the depths of the Cloudy Mountain Swamp. It's not a spirit stone mine, but a flame gold mine that refines dharma artifacts and dharma treasures. There are also other derivative ores.
"The terrain in the depths of the Cloudy Mountain Swamp is complicated. There are many demonic beasts and poisonous fog that blocks one's divine sense all year round. Therefore, the Golden Sun Sect needs a large number of cultivators to open up a path."
'So it's finally here.' Lin Fan couldn't help but sigh.
The Flame Gold Mine is just a shell. In its depth lies the Ruins and cave abode of Ancestor Blood Crocodile. Ancestor Blood Crocodile was a strong cultivator. The Inheritance he left behind had already been obtained by the Supreme Elder of the Golden Sun Sect.
The Supreme Elder of the Golden Sun Sect is at the end of his lifespan. In order to increase his life span, He wants to refine all the Demon Beasts and Cultivators of Cloud Mountain and Cloud Mountain Market Parlour into a pill.
Soon, Cloud Mountain Market Parlour will become chaotic.
At night, there was a knock on the door. He opened it warily. He was surprised to see that it was Fellow Daoist Gong. This was a rare guest among rare guests.
"Fellow Daoist Lin, I heard from Fellow Daoist He that you can make mid-grade talismans?" Fellow Daoist Gong went straight to the point.
Lin Fan said with a smile "That's right. I was lucky to have some comprehension in the Dao of Talismans and broke through to become a mid-grade Talisman Master."
Fellow Daoist Gong was overjoyed and said gently "It's like this. Next month, I have a lot of requirements for mid-grade talismans such as amulets, fire talismans, and freezing talismans. Therefore, I hope that Fellow Daoist Lin can help me make some. Don't worry, I'll buy them at the market price!"
Lin Fan said "Fellow Daoist Gong, I heard that the price of talismans will increase next month…"
Fellow Daoist Gong was stunned for a moment and couldn't help but size up Lin Fan. Although this news had almost spread throughout the market, the people who knew were basically all late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators and some mid-stage Qi Refinement cultivators with wide connections.
He did not expect a low-level cultivator like Lin Fan to know about it. It seemed that the other party had broken through to become a mid-grade Talisman Master earlier than he had imagined.
"Fellow Daoist Lin is quite well-informed. The price of talismans will indeed increase next month. At that time, I will buy them at the price of the market. What do you think?" Fellow Daoist Gong said slowly.
Lin Fan readily agreed.
…
At the end of the month, most of the cultivators in the market and the periphery knew about the news.
The prices of medicinal pills, talismans, and dharma artifacts began to rise, especially the Poison Dispelling Pill, which was affected the most. It could be said to have soared like a rocket.
More than half of the demonic beasts in Cloud Mountain Swamp were poisonous. Fortunately, they were scattered, and the demonic beasts in the depths might not be strong. Therefore, if they formed a team at the mid-state of Qi Refinement, they could take the risk.
As a result, the number of cultivators who came to Red Willow Alley to pray for the amulets gradually increased. Everyone knew that in a few days, the supply of amulets in the marketplace would definitely not be able to meet the demand.
Fortunately, these cultivators were only at the mid-stage of Qi Refinement. Lin Fan directly said that he had already promised Fellow Daoist Gong, which could be considered as blocking them.
In the blink of an eye, twenty days passed.
The price of the amulet had risen to twelve low-grade spirit stones, and the Fire Talisman had also risen to eight low-grade spirit stones. All the shops in the market were out of stock.
At this moment, the Golden Sun Sect officially announced the discovery of a large-scale Flame Gold Mine in the Cloud Mountain Swamp. At the same time, they gathered a large number of cultivators to explore the area. They gave a lot of benefits and stimulation. Among them, the Foundation Establishment Pill was the most attractive to cultivators. But none of that mattered to Lin Fan.
The next day, Fellow Daoist Gong came again.
"Here are twenty amulets and ten fire talismans. They're all I have."
Fellow Daoist Gong smiled. "That's enough!"
After the transaction was done, Lin Fan received more than three hundred spirit stones. In the afternoon, there was a knock on the door.
"Fellow Cultivator Lin, congratulations on becoming a mid-grade Talisman Master."
It was Matchmaker Ceng.
After more than half a year, she came to visit again. Her face was filled with a standard enthusiastic smile, and her body was filled with a unique smell of rouge. All the cultivators at the bottom of the nearby alley knew Matchmaker Ceng.
"So it's Fellow Daoist Ceng. Please come in." Lin Fan greeted her warmly.
Matchmaker Ceng sashayed into the hut. She saw Wang Yun sitting on the edge of the bed and said with a smile, "It seems that Sister Yun'er is doing well here with Fellow Daoist Lin."
Wang Yun quickly stood up and poured spirit tea for Matchmaker Ceng. She said respectfully, "Senior Ceng, please have some tea."
Matchmaker Ceng took the spirit tea and sat on a wooden chair at the side. She sized up Wang Yun. "Fellow Daoist Lin, Sister Yun'er has been married to you for more than half a year. She doesn't seem to be pregnant. You have to work hard and give birth to more bloodlines to continue the family."
Wang Yun subconsciously touched her stomach and looked a little dejected. After working hard every day for so long, under normal circumstances, she should have been pregnant. But there was no sign of it. Although she did not say it, she was still anxious. If she could not give birth to a bloodline for her husband, then her existence would be worthless.
Lin Fan smiled and said, "It's only half a year. It's still early. There's no hurry."
Matchmaker Ceng shook her head repeatedly. "Fellow Daoist Lin, you're wrong. The earlier you have a bloodline, the earlier you can nurture it. Otherwise, when you are old, even if your descendants are outstanding, it will be very difficult for you to enjoy the afterglow."
Lin Fan was speechless, but he understood the purpose of Matchmaker Ceng's visit. "Fellow Daoist Ceng, if you have something to say, just say it."
Matchmaker Ceng didn't beat around the bush. She smiled and said "Recently, there have been many cultivators who want to adventure in Cloud Mountain Swamp. There have also been more killings and battles. Many cultivators are afraid that they will die, so they asked me to take care of their descendants. The best way for women is to find a cultivator they can rely on to protect them.
"Now that Fellow Cultivator Lin has broken through to become a mid-grade Talisman Master, your status is naturally different. How about it? Do you want to consider marrying another one? This time, I guarantee that I can find a Dao companion with spiritual roots for you, Fellow Daoist Lin!"
Even though Wang Yun was ready for it. Wang Yun's face still turned somewhat pale.
Seeing that her husband didn't say anything, Wang Yun's heart was filled with sorrow. Over the past six months, her husband had been caring and taking care of her meticulously. She had treated her husband as her only support and emotional sustenance.
"Husband, Senior Ceng's suggestion is not unreasonable." Wang Yun still said.
Matchmaker Ceng quickly praised her "Sister Yun'er is so open-minded. You can see so far ahead." As she spoke, she looked at Lin Fan and said "Fellow Daoist Lin, girls with spiritual root aptitude are very popular. Now, I can find a girl as obedient and sensible as Sister Yun'er for Fellow Daoist Lin, but it might not be the case in the future!"
Matchmaker Ceng emphasized the word 'obedient'.
Lin Fan coughed a few times. "Fellow Daoist Ceng, I've seen a girl in the market previously her name is Bai Yuying. I plan to marry her. If you can find her, I will take her in."
When Matchmaker Ceng heard this, she knew that there was a chance. She stood up and chuckled. "Alright, I won't disturb Fellow Daoist Lin anymore."
Lin Fan immediately sent her out.
Lin Fan turned around and saw his wife's resentful gaze.
"Yun'er. I…"
Wang Yun said softly "Husband, I understand. I only hope you don't forget Yun'er's service these days."
Lin Fan closed the door and walked to his wife. He said gently "Yun'er, don't worry. Even if I have another Dao Companion, I will still treat Yun'er as usual. Moreover, you are my first woman and my first wife."
Hearing this, a smile appeared on Wang Yun's face again. Whether it was true or not, at least it meant that her husband still had her in his heart.
A moment later, two hot bodies swayed on the bed. Lin Fan used his actions to prove himself.
After the pleasure, his wife curled up in his arms docilely like a kitten.
Another dozens of days passed. The first batch of cultivators recruited by the Golden Sun Sect set off for the Cloudy Mountain Swamp. They followed the main road to the edge of the market. More than 1,000 cultivators could be seen stepping on dharma artifacts and turning into rainbows that disappeared into the sky.
Most of these cultivators were freelance cultivators in the marketplace. The lowest was at the mid-stage of Qi Refinement. But who knew how many of them would be able to return after entering the Cloud Mountain Swamp.
He returned to the market.
Shopkeeper Chen welcomed him warmly. Now that the price of mid-grade talismans had increased, a Talisman Master like Lin Fan was also quite popular. Moreover, Lin Fan's production efficiency was higher than other mid-grade Talisman Masters.
"Fellow Daoist Lin, here are the remaining 134 low-grade spirit stones from the last time you deposited the talismans."
The price of the amulets and fire talisman had both doubled. This was the amount he had left after deducting the cost of materials.
Lin Fan took out a few mid-grade talisman from his storage bag.
When he saw the talismans, the smile on Shopkeeper Chen's face grew wider. All the stores in the market had long since sold out. Whoever had a talisman would be swarmed in by the cultivators.
Although one batch had just left, the Golden Sun Sect had just started recruiting the next batch. The main focus of this recruitment was the cultivation clans. They even recruited from the main sects. After all, although large-scale flame gold mines weren't spirit stone mines, they were still very precious.
Dharma artifacts and dharma treasure materials had always been expensive. If the Golden Sun Sect could mine as much as they wanted, the entire sect's financial resources would increase greatly.