Immortality begins with equipping a worn-out talisman pen.

Chapter 128 Second-Order Array Diagram

"This item will not be exchanged for spirit stones, but only for high-level talismans or talisman treasures."

The room fell silent after the old man said this.

The term "talisman treasure" was not unfamiliar to many Foundation Establishment cultivators present.

The so-called talisman treasure is made by a Golden Core cultivator using their own magical treasure as a foundation and employing secret techniques to seal part of the power and mystery of the magical treasure into a talisman.

Although it has lost the power of the magic weapon itself, it can unleash terrifying power close to that of a magic weapon's attack when activated at a critical moment.

Therefore, talismans have always been extremely precious life-saving items in the cultivation world.

However, although talismans are powerful, the conditions for their creation are extremely demanding.

First, it must be done personally by a Golden Core cultivator; second, one must possess a natal magic weapon.

The process of refining talismans is actually to extract a portion of the magic weapon's original power and forcibly imprint it onto the talisman.

Each time a talisman is crafted, it will cause a certain degree of damage to the magic weapon.

Therefore, unless it is a Golden Core cultivator nearing the end of their lifespan who wants to leave some legacy for their family or sect, very few Golden Core cultivators would be willing to refine this item.

After all, for Golden Core cultivators, magic weapons are the foundation of their strength and are not easily damaged.

Li Mufeng has only ever seen records of talismans in some ancient books, and has never actually encountered one.

As for using talismans, they are much simpler than magic weapons. A cultivator at the Qi Refining Perfection stage can barely activate them, while a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage can unleash the full power of the talisman. Therefore, when disciples of powerful and influential families go out to train, their family patriarchs equip them with talismans for self-defense.

Upon hearing that the old man needed talismans for the transaction, a strange light flashed in Li Mufeng's eyes.

He naturally didn't have any talismans or treasures.

But he actually has quite a few high-level talismans.

He could even produce top-grade second-tier talismans.

However, Li Mufeng did not rush to speak.

Although high-level talismans are far less precious than talisman treasures, they are still rare items among Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Especially the high-quality or even top-grade second-tier talismans, which are not something that ordinary talisman masters can refine.

Sure enough, after the old man put forward his conditions, the cultivator who had been quite interested in the second-tier array diagram fell silent.

After a moment, a cultivator tentatively spoke up: "I have two mid-grade second-tier talismans, which I purchased from the Spirit Talisman Peak of the Danxia Sect. Their origin is absolutely legitimate. Would you be willing to exchange them?"

Upon hearing this, the old man simply shook his head slowly.

"A second-tier mid-grade talisman, though valuable, is still somewhat lacking in my requirements."

"At least three high-quality Tier 2 superior talismans are required. If they are of ordinary quality, then don't even bother asking."

Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent.

Three high-quality second-tier talismans are not easy to obtain even for Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Talisman masters capable of consistently drawing second-tier high-grade talismans are already rare in the cultivation world, let alone those of exceptional quality.

Seeing no response, the old man was not surprised. He simply put away the jade slip and said calmly, "I live at No. 18 Yangliu Lane in Linqufang City. If any fellow Daoist has a talisman that meets the requirements, please come and find me."

After saying this, the old man slowly sat back down in his original position.

Li Mufeng looked at the jade slip that had been put away again, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

Three high-quality second-tier talismans are something that other Foundation Establishment cultivators might find difficult to produce.

But for him, it might not be a difficult thing.

After a short while, as the last cultivator finished speaking, the trade fair entered the free trading phase.

The atmosphere in the hall immediately relaxed, and many cultivators began to move around, searching for the treasures they needed.

Li Mufeng walked slowly toward the white-haired old man.

"Fellow Daoist," he said in a low voice, "I happen to have a few high-grade second-tier talismans. I wonder if I could exchange them for your second-tier array diagram?"

Upon hearing this, a glint of light flashed in the old man's originally cloudy eyes.

"Fellow Daoist, is what you say true?"

He quickly got up and led Li Mufeng to a quieter spot. Then, with a flick of his sleeve, he set up a simple soundproof barrier.

"Please allow me to take a look, fellow Daoist."

Without wasting any words, Li Mufeng flipped his hand, and three talismans appeared in his palm.

They are a Water Dragon Talisman, a Mountain Suppressing Talisman, and a Spirit Shield Talisman.

The three talismans shimmered with spiritual light, their runes mysterious and profound.

After taking them, the old man carefully examined the first two.

A moment later, a look of satisfaction appeared on his face.

"Indeed, they are all top-quality second-tier superior talismans."

But when his gaze fell on the third spirit shield talisman, his brows furrowed slightly.

"Fellow Daoist, this Spirit Shield Talisman—"

The old man hesitated for a moment before saying, "Although this talisman is also a second-tier high-grade one, it seems a bit ordinary compared to the previous two."

"Does anyone know of any other talismans that could be used as substitutes?"

Upon hearing this, Li Mufeng's face immediately darkened.

"You're asking too much of me."

"Second-tier high-grade talismans are not ordinary items; even second-tier talisman masters cannot guarantee success every time."

"Does fellow Daoist perhaps think that the second-tier high-grade talismans I possess are like cabbages in the field, inexhaustible?"

Upon seeing this, the old man immediately realized that he might have said something wrong and quickly waved his hand.

"Fellow Daoist, you misunderstand. I had absolutely no such intention."

"Being able to produce three second-tier high-grade talismans at once has far exceeded my expectations."

After saying that, he didn't hesitate any longer and handed over the cyan jade slip in his hand.

"This item will now be entrusted to you, fellow Daoist."

Li Mufeng took the jade slip, briefly examined it with his divine sense, and only put it away after confirming that it was correct.

The transaction is complete.

He secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

It seems I underestimated the value of second-tier high-grade talismans in the cultivation world.

He was worried that three talismans would not be enough to exchange for the array diagram, and he had even prepared to refine a top-grade water dragon talisman and then go to Yangliu Lane to trade under the identity of "Li Gufeng".

I never expected things to go so smoothly.

But thinking about it carefully, it makes sense.

The crafting of a second-tier superior talisman is extremely difficult.

Each successful creation requires second-tier high-grade monster materials as a foundation, plus a significant amount of time and effort from the talisman master.

Not to mention the large number of potential failures involved.

For an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator, let alone three high-quality second-tier talismans, even one talisman would be enough to suppress the fortune of a Foundation Establishment family.

After the transaction was completed, everyone left the hall one after another.

The two black-clad Foundation Establishment cultivators responsible for maintaining order also removed the restrictions at the entrance, allowing everyone to leave in an orderly manner.

But Li Mufeng was not in a hurry to leave.

His gaze remained fixed on the nine-tube masked cultivator from before.

To his surprise...

This person did not leave immediately.

He remained seated in the same spot, holding a cup of spiritual tea, head bowed and silent.

However, this posture was maintained for far too long.

Just as Li Mufeng was wondering to himself, a cultivator walked over, seemingly wanting to strike up a conversation with him.

But the next moment.

The figure of the nine-tube masked cultivator swayed slightly, like a reflection in water.

Then, his entire body transformed into a phantom and vanished into the air.

The cultivator who had spoken to him froze on the spot, and the surrounding crowd also looked surprised.

Li Mufeng's gaze sharpened slightly.

Only now did he realize that the other party had already left, and what remained before him was nothing more than an extremely realistic phantom clone.

What's even more surprising is that before this, the aura, spiritual pressure, and even the soul fluctuations of that clone were exactly the same as those of the real person.

Even with his powerful divine sense, comparable to that of a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, he did not detect anything unusual.

Li Mufeng couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

"What a brilliant illusion technique."

The mystery of this technique is even greater than his invisibility technique, which shows that this Nine-Tube cultivator is no ordinary person.

After leaving Linqufang City.

Li Mufeng then rode the escape light back towards Qingqiu Mountain.

There are still more than half a month until the Xiayun City auction.

During this period, he planned to first complete the second-order formation on Qingqiu Mountain.

After all, there is still a Spirit Eye Tree hidden in that Spirit Peak.

Without a sufficiently powerful protective formation, even if he possessed a mountain of treasures, he would not be able to cultivate in peace.

Several days later.

When they were still hundreds of miles away from Qingqiu Mountain, Li Mufeng suddenly frowned.

In the distance, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged violently, and a powerful fluctuation of magical power emanated from it.

With his current level of spiritual power, he could almost instantly determine that there were three cultivators fighting fiercely ahead.

Li Mufeng felt a chill run down his spine. Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately changed direction, preparing to bypass the area.

He didn't have the idea of ​​reaping the benefits of the conflict between the snipe and the clam.

However, just before he withdrew his consciousness, a familiar voice entered his ears.

"You two fellow Daoists have gone to great lengths to chase me all the way from Linqu Market. Do you really think I, Lu Chenshui, am made of clay and have no temper?"

Li Mufeng paused slightly.

The image of the figure wearing the Nine-Tube Mask instantly flashed into his mind.

Is it him?

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