12dz Chapter 20 Clarification
Chapter 20 Clarification
Yan Jun had just finished collecting talismans from a low-grade talisman master when he saw Du Jianyuan enter. He narrowed his eyes, looked Du Jianyuan up and down, and said with a half-smile:
"It's Master Du... You must have been having a good time these past few days."
Du Jianyuan gave a wry smile:
"You jest, sir."
"Heh, An Mingjun went everywhere to seek out the Qi-gathering method of [Heavenly Thunder Embers] for you, hoping to ensure that you could safely gather Qi and break through... Just for this alone, you are a hundred times better than other talisman masters."
As Yan Jun spoke, he took the eighty Fiery Talismans and examined them carefully, saying indifferently:
"Besides, it's only been less than a month, and you've already broken through to the third level of Qi Refining. Isn't that a good start?"
"It was just luck."
Du Jianyuan shook his head, adopting an extremely humble posture.
After examining the talisman and finding no flaws, Yan Jun, unusually, personally poured a cup of tea and handed it to him, saying in a calm tone:
"Regardless, An Mingjun did give me quite a few gifts, so I have to give him face. I won't make things too difficult for you in the future."
"Thank you, sir."
Du Jianyuan accepted the teacup with both hands, feeling somewhat hesitant but daring not to show it. He took a small sip, thinking to himself:
"This courtesy isn't for Brother Falcon; it's clearly out of fear of offending Yin Lang!"
The warm tea flowed over my throat and tongue, its refreshing power spreading gently, clearing my internal energy channels and accelerating the flow of my magical energy.
Realizing that there was nothing wrong with the tea, he finally felt relieved.
"This is the [Pulse-Clearing Tea], which can nourish vital energy, regulate the body, and also assist in cultivation."
As he spoke, Yan Jun leaned back in his chair and said quietly:
"But you are now a low-grade talisman master at the third level of Qi Refining, with your cultivation being both internal and external... According to the rules of the Talisman Room, you must submit two hundred Fiery Talismans every month, and your monthly salary will be doubled."
Du Jianyuan wasn't surprised. He knew the other party was a starving dog and wouldn't let go of any opportunity to make money. He wisely said:
"Whatever your orders, sir, I will do my best."
"You've probably heard about my current situation..."
Yan Jun spoke calmly, as if he were talking about something trivial, and said slowly:
"I've killed quite a few of the paper-making laborers and low-grade talisman masters in both workshops... I just promoted a new batch, and I'm afraid I'll have to lose some more in a few days."
"Although I accepted An Mingjun's gifts and promised to take care of you, I'm really short of money right now. Asking you to pay 20% more shouldn't be too much, right?"
"it is good."
Du Jianyuan was already mentally prepared and readily agreed.
Besides, two portions are really not much, so there's no need to haggle with the other party at this critical juncture.
"You're sensible. No wonder Senior Sister Ling likes you so much."
Yan Jun smiled approvingly, took out a jade slip from his storage pouch at his waist, and handed it over:
"This is the Qi-gathering method of the [Heavenly Thunder Embers]. After you take it, make a Daoist oath not to pass it on to others, and return it to me after you have finished reading it."
"Thank you for your kindness, sir!"
Du Jianyuan was somewhat surprised. He had thought the other party would try to extort money from him, but he didn't expect them to be so agreeable.
But then I thought, it's most likely that Brother Falcon has already paid the spirit stones.
He put down his teacup, took the jade slip with both hands, and after making a vow in front of Yan Jun not to pass it on to outsiders, he placed it between his eyebrows to examine it.
"The lingering evil of calamity, the ashes of heavenly lightning..."
"A lightning-attracting array must be set up at the site where a cultivator failed their tribulation and perished, and a substitute tribulation puppet must be placed there. This will draw out the remaining tribulation lightning in the world, which will then combine with the baleful energy and be refined with fire to form the baleful fire energy..."
"Finally, I seized this last wisp of energy and sealed it into a container forged from meteorite iron... a hundred wisps of energy were finally combined into one."
Du Jianyuan slowly opened his eyes, a hint of doubt showing between his brows.
The Qi Gathering Method records "the place where cultivators who failed to transcend tribulation perished."
However, the Thunder Cave is clearly the place where the Foundation Establishment Demon was killed by the Divine Thunder cultivator, so the two seem to be of different natures.
Yan Jun immediately saw through his confusion and, unsurprised, explained:
"The [Divine Thunder] lineage has the power to reward and punish on behalf of Heaven. Although the divine thunder that falls is different from the heavenly tribulation, it still contains the might of Heaven... As long as the formation and the tribulation-substitute spirit puppet are set up to imitate the state of a cultivator undergoing tribulation, it can also be used to collect the [heavenly thunder embers]."
Du Jianyuan suddenly realized.
To put it bluntly, the [Embers of Heavenly Thunder] collected in this way are usable, but not of superior quality.
Yan Jun then said:
"The truly perfect [Heavenly Thunder Embers] can only be obtained from the place where a Grand True Person at the peak of the Purple Mansion Realm perished during their tribulation... Let alone you, even a Foundation Establishment cultivator would be annihilated if they got even slightly close."
"Only a True Person of the same level can personally gather such spiritual energy."
"The Purple Mansion... should be the realm above Foundation Establishment."
Du Jianyuan silently kept it in mind, then cupped his hands and said:
"Thank you for clearing up my doubts, sir."
"These are all well-known facts..."
Yan Jun waved his hand, about to continue speaking, when the hidden injuries in his body flared up at this moment. The pain made him grit his teeth, and cold sweat poured down his forehead. Reddish-black flames occasionally burst from his ears, nose and mouth, making him look like a demon.
Du Jianyuan's eyebrows twitched violently, and almost instinctively, he retreated two or three zhang away.
"Damn it, it's acting up again..."
Yan Jun's brows were furrowed tightly, his face contorted in a grimace. He quickly took out a pill from his storage bag and swallowed it, which relieved him slightly.
Whenever his hidden injuries flare up, he feels like he could dig out his whole heart and bones and treat them properly.
Looking up, Yan Jun saw that Du Jianyuan had already shrunk to the side of the hall door, and he immediately laughed in anger:
"Don't worry, it won't hurt you!"
"I was just afraid of bothering you, sir..."
Du Jianyuan offered a dry explanation, then awkwardly moved back, his heart still pounding.
Just now, when the opponent's hidden injury flared up, a violent burst of evil fire erupted, like a great fortune running rampant without any restraint.
"It seems Yan Jun also used [Heavenly Thunder Embers] to break through, which is why his internal magical power has become so violent."
Du Jianyuan secretly deduced this and felt a growing desire to retreat. He stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said:
"I will not disturb your rest any longer, sir... I humbly request that you provide the materials, and I will return to draw the talisman immediately."
"Go to the warehouse and get it yourself."
Yan Jun said expressionlessly:
"Don't tell me that with your current Dao wisdom and cultivation level, you don't even have a 60% or 70% success rate in creating a talisman."
Du Jianyuan sighed inwardly. He had originally intended to take the opportunity to steal more talismans and spirit ink, but little did he expect that this scoundrel was also a shrewd person.
Then, he picked up the cup, drank the Qingmai tea in one gulp, and bowed again, saying:
"This subordinate takes his leave!"
Yan Jun didn't mind. If Du Jianyuan didn't finish his drink, he would give it to the next talisman master who came to report.
Du Jianyuan had just come out of the lobby when he bumped into Qin Mo, who was wearing a red dress. He took the initiative to go up and greet her, smiling:
"Fellow Daoist Qin, what a coincidence! You're here to hand in your talisman too?"
"Young Master Du."
Qin Mo's beautiful eyes widened in surprise, then she smiled and said:
"Exactly... Since it's such a coincidence, how about we grab a drink later?"
Du Jianyuan sighed softly and politely declined with an apologetic expression:
"But unfortunately... I have to go to the warehouse to collect the materials and then rush back to my cave to draw the talismans. I really can't afford to delay."
Upon hearing this, Qin Mo's beautiful face showed a hint of helplessness, and she said reproachfully:
"Every time I try to discuss my insights on talismans with you, young master, you always refuse, saying you're too busy. How many times has this happened?"
"Next time, next time... next time for sure!"