Burial Furnace

After seeing Mu Qingqing off, Zhang Yuan sat cross-legged and began his cultivation.

The purest spiritual energy surged from the spirit stone in his hand, flowing into his body through the meridians of his arm, like a warm stream, eventually converging into his dantian and transforming into his true essence.

The true energy in the dantian is increasing at a rate visible to the naked eye.

This feeling was incredibly fulfilling and wonderful, even more so than playing video games in his previous life, making him unable to stop.

Time slips away quietly during cultivation.

The sunlight outside the window changed from bright to soft, and then from soft to dim.

In the afternoon, Zhang Yuan had just finished absorbing the fourth mid-grade spirit stone and was preparing to take a short rest.

"Thump, thump, thump."

A knock came at the door.

Zhang Yuan was slightly taken aback.

He's been running the shop for so long, but he's never taken on any business during the day.

Generally speaking, monks would choose to dispose of corpses at night, since such things should not be done in the light.

Zhang Yuan got up and went to open the door.

Standing outside the door was a middle-aged cultivator, wearing a dark blue robe with a golden rune embroidered on the chest—the shape of a talisman surrounded by fine cloud patterns, exquisitely crafted, with a faint flow of spiritual energy.

This is the exclusive attire of the Lingfu Pavilion in Qingmu Town.

In the entire Qingmu Town, the cultivators of the Spirit Talisman Pavilion were almost the most conspicuous group. They wore uniforms and exuded an air of superiority.

The middle-aged cultivator slightly raised his chin, looking coldly at Zhang Yuan with a hint of disdain in his eyes.

"Old Zhang, our boss needs to see you. He wants you to come over right away," the middle-aged cultivator said calmly.

Zhang Yuan was stunned.

He had never had any dealings with the Spirit Talisman Pavilion.

What does the owner of Lingfu Pavilion want with him?

"I don't know... what's wrong?" Zhang Yuan asked tentatively.

"You'll see when you get there." The middle-aged cultivator said this, turned around and left. After taking two steps, he turned back and impatiently urged, "What are you still standing there for? Follow me."

Left with no other choice, Zhang Yuan closed the shop door and followed behind him.

Because we can't afford to offend them!

Although Aoki Town is not large, it has a wide variety of shops.

There are vendors selling pills, magical artifacts, rare and precious materials, and cultivation manuals, but the most profitable of them all is undoubtedly the Spirit Talisman Pavilion.

Talismans have a wide range of uses in the world of cultivation.

Whether for attack, defense, support, or escape, talismans can be used.

Since talismans are disposable items, cultivators need to constantly purchase and replenish them.

Lingfu Pavilion is said to be a large merchant guild that spans the entire Guangyuan Continent.

The main store is in Zhongzhou, and branches have spread throughout various towns and cities. It has a huge influence and a deep foundation.

Those who can become the lord of a town in such a large merchant guild are at least in the late Foundation Establishment stage, or even possibly in the Golden Core stage.

Zhang Yuan followed the middle-aged cultivator through several streets and arrived at the most bustling central area of ​​Qingmu Town.

A magnificent three-story pavilion stands at the street corner, with vermilion pillars and a gilded signboard bearing the three large characters "Lingfu Pavilion".

The signboard gleamed in the sunlight.

The counter was filled with all sorts of talismans, a dazzling array that made one's eyes dazzled.

The counter was surrounded by cultivators, some wearing Taoist robes, some wearing close-fitting clothes, some wearing bamboo hats, and some carrying long swords.

They jostled and crowded in front of the counter, shouting loudly.

"Hey buddy, give me ten Concealment Talismans!"

"I need eight sword talismans, hurry!"

"Ten Swiftness Talismans, and these are spirit stones!"

"Do you have an invisibility charm? Give me one!"

"Are there any flying talismans left?"

The men were extremely busy, collecting money and handing out talismans at the same time, with fine beads of sweat appearing on their foreheads.

"This business is booming!"

Zhang Yuan clicked his tongue in amazement.

He had a general understanding of the price of talismans.

Even the lowest-level talismans, such as fireball talismans and water arrow talismans, cost several low-grade spirit stones each.

Slightly better ones, such as the Concealing Breath Talisman and the Swift Travel Talisman, would cost dozens of low-grade spirit stones.

Those high-level talismans, such as invisibility talismans and flight talismans, cost hundreds of low-grade spirit stones.

"The talisman shop must be making a fortune every day," Zhang Yuan thought to himself.

But he wasn't envious.

Although his crematorium business is slow, he gains lifespan and enhances his talents with each corpse he cremates.

These things cannot be bought with spirit stones.

What's more, he can earn spirit stones and have beautiful women to warm his bed.

Such a good thing, I wouldn't trade it for an emperor.

The middle-aged cultivator led Zhang Yuan through the bustling lobby to the door of a room deep inside the shop.

"The boss is waiting for you inside." The middle-aged cultivator pushed open the door, stepped aside to make way, and said, "Go in."

Zhang Yuan took a deep breath and went inside.

The room wasn't large, but it was decorated very elegantly.

Several landscape paintings hung on the wall, and a mahogany desk stood in the corner, with writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, and a stack of talismans on it.

A rattan rocking chair was placed by the window.

A middle-aged man was sitting in the chair.

He wore a blue Taoist robe, his hair was neatly combed, and his face was refined, making him look like a well-read scholar.

His eyes were calm, as calm as a bottomless, icy pool, sending chills down one's spine.

But when he looked at Zhang Yuan, Zhang Yuan felt an invisible pressure coming at him, as if a mountain was pressing down on his shoulders, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

Zhang Yuan quickly lowered his head and bowed respectfully, saying, "Junior Zhang Yuan greets Boss Li. May I ask what brings Boss Li to summon me?"

Boss Li did not answer immediately. Instead, he picked up his teacup, took a slow sip, put down the teacup, and looked at Zhang Yuan.

His gaze was cold and indifferent, as if he were looking at an ant.

"So you're Zhang Yuan, the owner of the Immortal Crematorium?" he spoke, his voice not loud, but carrying a strong sense of authority and a hint of contempt. "Are you a relative of Liu Ruxue from the Holy Maiden Sect?"

"Yes." Zhang Yuan nodded without any ambiguity.

"Hmph." Boss Li snorted coldly, his expression growing even colder. "If it weren't for the sake of the Holy Maiden Sect, and for the sake of a future Mahayana stage expert, I would have slapped you to death on the very first day you opened your shop. Do you understand?"

Zhang Yuan's heart sank.

He hadn't expected the other party to make such a strong threat right off the bat.

"This junior...does not understand where I have offended you, please enlighten me, Boss Li." Fine beads of cold sweat appeared on Zhang Yuan's forehead.

"Your shop has stolen business from my talisman shop," Boss Li said coldly. "Ever since you opened that crematorium, my cremation talisman sales have plummeted. Tell me, how are you going to settle this score?"

Zhang Yuan was stunned.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know what to say.

Cremation talisman?

That was just one of the most insignificant types of talismans among the thousands of varieties available in the talisman shop.

After he opened the crematorium, some cultivators did choose to come to him to dispose of their bodies instead of buying cremation talismans to cremate them themselves.

But that number is just a drop in the ocean for a talisman shop, and its impact is negligible.

But in Boss Li's view, it was a huge offense.

This is absolutely intolerable.

After all, Lingfu Pavilion is a merchant guild that is much more powerful than the Saintess Sect. How could it tolerate an old man opening a shop and stealing business?

If it weren't for Liu Ruxue's sake, the other party probably would have killed him without hesitation.

Thinking of this, Zhang Yuan's back was already soaked with cold sweat.