Chapter 63: Managing the Talisman Shop

“Huh? Changsheng, you’ve broken through to the fourth stage of Qi Refining?” 

At this moment, the Fourth Elder noticed the change in Lu Changsheng’s spiritual energy and showed a hint of surprise and joy on her face.

Although Lu Changsheng had been using the technique of restraining his aura to conceal the spiritual energy within his body, his mastery of this technique was not particularly profound; he had only reached a stage of basic proficiency. 

After all, he hadn’t spent much time focusing on these foundational spells after mastering them all.

With the Fourth Elder’s strength at the ninth stage of Qi Refining, a closer look would easily reveal the changes in Lu Changsheng’s cultivation.

“Yes, I broke through to the fourth stage of Qi Refining yesterday, so I came to inform grandmother today,” Lu Changsheng nodded and replied.

“Well done, well done. I didn’t expect you to break through to the fourth stage of Qi Refining so quickly. You’re even faster than grandmother imagined,” 

The Fourth Elder said with a smile as she sat down beside him. “Now that you’ve reached the fourth stage of Qi Refining, there’s something grandmother wants to entrust to you.”

“What is it, grandmother?” 

Lu Changsheng asked, feeling a bit puzzled. What could he, a cultivator at the fourth stage of Qi Refining, do?

“Our Lu Family has a spirit talisman shop in the Jiulong Market, and grandmother thought of letting you manage it,” 

The Fourth Elder said.

“Manage the talisman shop?” 

Lu Changsheng was somewhat surprised to hear this. 

As a cultivation family, Lu Family naturally had multiple sources of income. 

Like the green bamboos that cover the mountains, the green bamboos are one of the main incomes of the Lu Family. 

Spirit rice, spirit vegetables, and spirit herbs grown during ordinary times were used by the family and the surplus was sold in the market. 

Therefore, the Lu Family also owned its own shops in some cities. 

He knew about the Jiulong Market, which was relatively close to Qingzhu Mountain, a large market established by the dominant power in this area, the Blue Cloud Sect. 

After so many years in the Lu Family and being part of its core circle, he had gained a deeper understanding of the Lu Family’s situation.

Like the Qingzhu Mountain Lu Family, such cultivation families are considered independent forces, but they are actually under the jurisdiction of the Blue Cloud Sect. 

They have to pay a certain tribute to the Blue Cloud Sect every year. 

That’s why Lu Yuanding could go to the Blue Cloud Sect’s mountain range to recruit disciples as sons-in-law. 

If it were a force unrelated to the Blue Cloud Sect, would such a thing be possible? 

Back then, when the Lu Family of Qingzhu Mountain and the Chen Family of the Hongye Valley fought over the ownership of a spirit stone mine, both sides resorted to violence, even involving their foundational ancestors. 

In the end, it was the elders of the Blue Cloud Sect who intervened and called for a halt, forcing both families to cease hostilities. 

Of course, the Blue Cloud Sect ultimately took forty percent of the profits from the spirit stone mine. 

The remaining sixty percent was divided equally between the Lu Family and the Chen Family, thirty percent each. 

Upon hearing this, Lu Changsheng couldn’t help but sigh. 

Indeed, strength is paramount. 

The Lu Family and the Chen Family fought tooth and nail over a few shares of profit from the spirit stone mine. 

Yet, when the Blue Cloud Sect intervened, they simply took forty percent, and neither family dared to utter a word. 

The fact that this talisman shop could operate in the Jiulong Market indicates that among the various shops owned by the Lu Family, it was considered quite successful. 

Lu Changsheng never expected that the Fourth Elder would entrust such a shop to him. 

“Yes, Miaoge was previously in charge of this talisman shop,” the Fourth Elder continued. “But as you know, Miaoge has now become a high-grade talisman master and is preparing to break through to the seventh stage of Qi Refining, so she simply doesn’t have the time or energy for it.” 

“That’s why I thought of letting you learn how to manage it.” 

“Granny was a bit worried about you before, but now that you’ve broken through to the fourth stage of Qi Refining, I feel much more at ease.” 

“Consider it a learning experience. Once you’re familiar with it, Granny will hand over the management of this talisman shop directly to you. The tasks involved are quite simple: keep an eye on the shop, replenish the stock every month, and occasionally train apprentices.”

“During this time, Granny will also provide you with a salary,” the Fourth Elder said slowly, lifting the tea cup and taking a sip.

In the Lu Family, aside from Lu Changsheng, there were only three talisman masters: herself, Lu Miaoge, and a Lu Family disciple who had recently been promoted to a medium-grade talisman master. 

Lu Miaoge needed to focus on talisman crafting and had to spend time cultivating, leaving her with little time to manage the shop. 

The newly promoted Lu Family disciple was clearly not suitable for the task.

 Lu Changsheng, on the other hand, was not only a medium-grade talisman master but also her grandson-in-law. 

Over the past six months, she had been quite satisfied with his performance and had come to see him as part of the family. 

She thought of entrusting the shop to him, not only to avoid hiring an external talisman master to oversee the shop but also to allow Lu Changsheng to get involved in the family business and gain some experience.

After hearing the Fourth Elder’s words, Lu Changsheng’s first instinct was to refuse. 

He simply wanted to live peacefully within the Lu Family. 

However, with the Fourth Elder’s words reaching this point, he couldn’t refuse without a valid reason. 

After all, in a cultivation family like the Lu Family, family members enjoyed the benefits and privileges brought by the family. 

When they reached a certain age and level of strength, they were expected to contribute to the family. 

Even someone as talented as Lu Miaoge, with her talent in talisman crafting and her status as the Patriarch’s daughter, was no exception. 

Since he had married Lu Miaoyun, he was now considered part of the Lu Family, and there was no escaping these responsibilities.

Moreover, the Fourth Elder’s decision to entrust the talisman shop to him was also a gesture of goodwill and concern for his well-being. 

It not only provided him with an additional source of income but also allowed him to take on more responsibilities and gain more exposure, thereby elevating his status within the Lu Family.

“Changsheng will follow Granny’s arrangement,” 

Lu Changsheng said after a moment of contemplation and bowed respectfully.

He understood that it was not realistic to continue living within the Lu Family without venturing outside or doing anything, even until the Foundation Establishment stage. 

Since that was the case, he might as well accept it.

The Jiulong Market, established by the Blue Cloud Sect, is a large market with foundational cultivators overseeing it. 

There aren’t many who dare to cause trouble within the market. 

If he were to manage the talisman shop there, he wouldn’t have to worry too much about danger. 

Moreover, managing the shop would not only provide him with additional income but also give him the opportunity to easily sell the thousands of talismans he had stored. 

This would make it much easier for him to purchase materials for practicing the Hundred Treasure Refinement Body Tempering Technique in the future.

Over the past six months, when trading talismans with the people dispatched by Hong Yi, he had also asked Hong Yi to help him purchase some materials. 

However, the back-and-forth communication was troublesome, and many of the required materials might not even be available. 

If he went to the Jiulong Market himself, it would be much more convenient to purchase whatever materials he needed.

The only downside was that life in the market wouldn’t be as comfortable as it was now. 

He wouldn’t have access to the second-order Spirit Vain, his wives wouldn’t be by his side, and he would have to postpone having children. 

However, going to the market would also provide him with the opportunity to see if he could find some ‘fairies’ with Spirit Roots to take as concubines. 

After all, if he wanted to have children, especially ones with Spirit Roots, he would need to take concubines. 

Perhaps his ineffective Peach Blossom Gu might come in handy then.

Currently, Lu Changsheng felt that he hadn’t encountered any romantic luck because he stayed indoors all day. 

“Alright, it’s settled then. When Miaoge returns in a few days, you can go with her,” the Fourth Elder nodded with a smile. 

“Yes, Granny,” 

Lu Changsheng nodded in agreement. 

Then, he took two boxes of spirit fruit pastries from the Fourth Elder’s house and headed home.