Chapter 32: Mutual Calculation
ooked around. 。"Old drunkard, this is the Thousand Illusions Forest. A few phantoms appearing here isn't anything strange." 。It's normal for others to be in such a vast place as the Thousand Illusions..."Two Lightning Talismans, and show me the rest of your talismans. I need both offensive and defensive types," Lu Xia Tian said.
The white-haired elder, following his instructions, took out all the talismans from the shop and laid them before Lu Xiaoteng.
Earth Shield Talisman, Rocket Talisman, Gold Needle Talisman, Wind Blade Talisman..........
Lu XiaTian each selected some, just enough for one hundred and ten pieces of inferior spirit stones.
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"That's all, take a look and give me a price. If it works, I'll give you the spirit stones right away. If not, I'll go to the next shop." Lu Xia Tian took out a heavy bag of spirit stones from his storage pouch.
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"Well then, 105 spirit stones. Let's just call it a friendly exchange between brothers."
The white-haired old man's eyes lit up. Because of his age, he had never been able to break through to the later stage of Qi cultivation and had no hope of building a foundation, so he came to run this spirit talisman shop for his family. He had been in the shop for over ten years, and such a customer was rare. Even a cultivator at the peak of the Qi refining period who could take out over a hundred spirit stones at once was uncommon. To use all the spirit stones on consumables like spirit talismans, either the family was incredibly wealthy, or it was a complete idiot.
Exiting the city to search for spiritual creatures within the Moon Viewing Mountain Range, seeking medicinal pills for healing injuries and cultivation. After adventuring through the Moon Viewing Mountain Range to repair damaged spirit tools and improve spell proficiency, all of these activities require Spirit Stones.
“Just cut to the chase, drop the rest of that tail. One hundred rocks,” Lu Xiaodao said.
“This, this is too little. Even a single talisman wouldn't earn much. One hundred pieces of ore stone is simply not acceptable, young brother, please add a little more.” The white-haired old man said with a pained expression.
“Although I’ve made some concessions, the volume is large. This is the best price I can offer. Take it under consideration.” Lu Xiaitian said firmly.
“Well then, little brother, next time you buy talismans, be sure to come to our shop.” After several moments of stalemate, the old man with white hair finally relented. Although he had given in a bit, this transaction would still allow him to make at least twenty more spirit stones, which was a considerable amount considering that he usually wouldn’t earn this much in a few days. It was quite a good deal.
Unexpectedly, it actually worked. Lu Xia Tian was suddenly a bit happy. He had originally planned to offer a few more spirit stones. Now that he didn't have to, thanks to Luo Qing's reminder, otherwise, he would have spent the spirit stones in vain and felt pain.
Walking out of the spirit talisman shop, the sky above Moonlit City had already darkened. However, the streets were brightly lit and bustling with people.
Perhaps like many people in the city, he would have to experience a sleepless night today. A flash of ferocity crossed Lu Xia tian's eyes as he hurried back to the inn.
After closing the door and sitting cross-legged on the wooden bed, Lu Xiaoteng hesitated for a moment before taking out a jade box. He swallowed the Purple Spirit Grass inside. The vigorous spiritual energy surged through his meridians as it always had. However, he was now at the second level of Qi Refining, so his meridians and dantian could accommodate much more spiritual energy than before. The pain was significantly less intense compared to when he was at the first level of Qi Refining.
“Spiritual energy, haha, it finally appeared! I’ve been waiting for so long,” The old man in the black robe exclaimed with joy inside the Qingguo barrier. Although this spiritual energy was very weak for him, a powerful cultivator at the eleventh level of Qi Refining, it was still better than nothing.
“Good disciple, come out quickly, or I will devour all the spiritual energy.”
“You dare! If you eat any more, don’t even think about getting a shred of spiritual energy next time.” Lu Xiaonian shouted angrily across the barrier.
“I didn't call you out here just to chat, did I Being stuck in this forsaken place for a year is driving me crazy.” The old man in black chuckled.
"What's there to say between us Hurry up. Once I absorb the spiritual energy, I'll be gone." Lu Xia Tian was, as always, impatient with the black-robed old man. Although he had a mist shroud protecting him, even he couldn't figure it out. Every time he traded with the black-robed old man, Lu Xia Tian would always have the other party consume the spiritual energy and then walk away for a distance. Just to avoid getting bothered looking at him.
The old man in black didn't mind, greedily devouring the wisps of green silk that floated in the air. The Zi Lingcao had produced twelve strands of green silk, and the old man in black ate six. He smacked his lips contentedly and said, "Alright, I'm leaving. It's your turn now."
After finishing his words, the black-robed elder's soul flew toward the distance. Although there was mist inside the barrier, the black-robed elder’s gloomy soul appeared clearer. Every time, he carefully observed the surrounding environment first. Only after confirming that the black-robed elder had flown far away would it devour this spiritual energy.
Just like usual, after repeated observations, Lu Xiaoteng entered the barrier. However, shortly after passing through the barrier, Lu Xiaoteng's pupils contracted. The ground occasionally隆起的砂土 seemed abnormal, with a few lines that looked like freshly turned earth. If he hadn't been very wary of the old man in black and had taken all precautions against him, he wouldn't have noticed it easily. Lu Xiaoteng sneered inwardly, perhaps the old man in black was up to something bad, but he wasn't completely unprepared.
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As usual, the young threads were swallowed, until the third one. Suddenly, there was a loud whoosh! Lu Xiaoteng's heart skipped a beat. There really was something ghostly about this place.
Whoosh, several fire curtains emerged from the ground simultaneously, enveloping Lu Xiaotiān's primordial spirit. Lu Xiaotiān was startled and dared not let the fire curtains surround him. He hurriedly retreated, flying only a few feet away before a sinister cackle echoed from beneath. The black-robed elder's primordial spirit crawled out from the ground, and another fire curtain erupted like a blazing wall of fire, connecting with the previous one to form a closed space. With raging flames all around, Lu Xiaotiān was trapped inside, feeling unbearably hot.
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“Boy, you didn’t expect this, did you Old man has been painstakingly working on this trap for over a year. I've seen your mist shroud before; it needs to draw in the surrounding fog to take shape. Now that old man's spiritual fire is blocking it, what tricks do you have left” The black-robed elder sneered again, “You’ve imprisoned me for over a year, are you proud Now, will you confess the way yourself or shall I rip your soul and leave you worse than dead!”
“You, you’re already a dead end. Even if you kill me, you won’t find a way out!” Lu Xia Tian thought, and as expected, the defensive mist shield that usually appeared failed to form. The mist was blocked by the spiritual fire and kept outside.
“Even if I don't kill you, you wouldn't tell me how to get out. My lifespan is limited, and if I can't get out as soon as possible, there's no hope of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage. This is more terrifying for me than death. So I have no choice. You'd better not test my patience. Tell me the way out, and I promise you a path to live. Otherwise, even if I can never get out again, I will definitely kill you.” The old man in black robe said fiercely, his voice extremely resolute.
Run! Lu Xia Tian didn't say a word, and fled towards the distance.
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“Looks like you choose to taste all the pain before dying, you can't escape.” The old man in black was enraged. He didn't expect Lu Xia Tian to be so stubborn. This could only force him to use his last resort. After painstakingly preparing for over a year, he couldn't let Lu Xia Tian get away
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"Water Gun!"
Behind him, a water ball flew over. Lu Xia Tian was surprised why the old man in black would use such a non-lethal spell. The water ball exploded, only containing water, and wouldn't burn the soul like a small fireball. However, the old man in black was cunning and had calculated for so long; he definitely wouldn't do something meaningless. Since the opponent used the water ball technique, there must be its purpose.
Right now, in this desperate situation, it's time to confront this old geezer. Lu Xia Tian sneered, the black-robed elder had been scheming for so long, he actually thought of digging a pit underground and then launching an attack from below the pit, truly insidious.
"Earth Shield Talisman!"
“Lightning Talisman!”
“Fireball!”
Suddenly, a wall of earth appeared before Lu Xia Tian.
With a bang! The Water Sphere Technique exploded suddenly, shattering into countless tiny droplets of water. Most of them hit the earthen shield, but occasionally one or two dripped over the top of the shield and fell from the air onto Lu Xia Tian's primordial spirit.
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A faint current jolted Lu Xia Tian's soul, leaving him with a mild tingling sensation all over.
As expected, there was a ghost! The old man in black robes mixed a hint of lightning magic into his water sphere technique. Although cultivators at the Qi Refining stage could cast all introductory spells, including those of the lightning system, he could use them. However, to blend two such different techniques so seamlessly, with such mental acuity and control, left Lu Xiaoteng feeling a chill.
If he hadn't brought talismans this time, with a shield of earth to protect him, even if he had been extra careful, he would have been harmed by the black-robed elder's magic. Fortunately, only a drop or two landed on his spirit, besides making him tingle, it didn't affect his actions. If a large amount of water had hit him, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
When Lu Xia Tian was surprised by the old man in black's schemes, the old man in black could only describe his own feelings as utterly shocked and bewildered.
The moment Lu Xia Tian cast the Earth Shield Talisman, he felt something was amiss. Immediately afterwards, a surge of lightning energy washed over him. The black-robed elder was startled, the two spells came almost without a break. However, his cultivation and means to respond were ultimately no match for Lu Xia Tian, a young novice cultivator.
“Earth Wall Technique!” Out of fear of the thunder magic, the old man in black directly condensed a thick wall of earth with his magic to block himself.
.... A thick thunderbolt struck the earthen wall, sending shards of earth flying everywhere. The earthen wall was quickly breached by the more powerful bolt of lightning. The black-robed elder felt a numbness throughout his body. If he had been prepared and made another move, with his current cultivation at the eleventh level of Qi Condensation, the earthen wall he had condensed would not have been so easily broken by a first-rank Lei Ling Fu. This kid, Lu Xiaotian, was hiding too deeply. He had been completely deceived before. Originally, he thought that Lu Xiaotian was still relying solely on his own cultivation at this time. Besides having a spirit beast, the leopard, he might have obtained some of his Shadow Ants, but he wouldn't know any spells, and he wouldn't be able to bring the spirit beast into this mysterious space either.
The old man in black robes never expected that Lu Xia Tian not only had already learned spells at this time, but also prepared over a hundred talismans for him.
A spirit talisman only requires a sliver of spiritual energy to activate, so there was no need for much preparation. That's why the robed elder was caught completely off guard.
The old man in black's primordial spirit was also struck by the remaining lightning force, leaving him numb all over. Although not fatal, it had already delayed his actions.
With a deafening boom, the fireball spell exploded not far away. The black-robed elder's earth shield only solidified halfway before being shattered, and his primordial spirit screamed as he was sent flying several dozen feet backwards.
"Water Arrow Talisman!"
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"Golden Gun!"
"Tu Mo Fu"
Lu Xia Tian, seeing the sneak attack succeed, immediately beat the fallen like a dog, spirit talismans one after another activated.
Under the onslaught of numerous low-level talismans, the black-robed elder was overwhelmed and desperately defended himself, feeling increasingly stifled in his heart. If he had his flying sword artifact in hand, he could have easily resolved the situation with a single strike against Lu Xiaottian. Or if he had that defensive umbrella artifact, he would have been unharmed. What angered the black-robed elder even more was that Lu Xiaottian not only attacked him with talismans but also occasionally hurled some at the fire curtain. The black-robed elder was startled. If they broke through his arranged fire spirit cage, and the mist seeped in, forming a continuous defensive mist shield, he would be utterly hopeless.
Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!ce powerhouse wearing a ghostly white robe and skull mask. His mastery of the seven bone towers was unique, bearing similarities to Lu Xia Tian's Seven-Level Floating Pagoda in both appearance and at...