Chapter 48: Jiang Chaoyun and the Visitor!
Letting out a long breath, Shen Yan took out five talismans and carefully put them away, then stored the Heavenly Emperor Seal back into his sea of consciousness. Just as he finished, his brow furrowed and he rose, stepping out of the inner chamber.
At that moment, a burly man with a face full of curly beard walked into the shop. “Master Shen, has my Falling Star Sword been repaired?”
Shen Yan emerged from the room with a faint smile, looking at the man before him. “Fellow Daoist Jiang, I am pleased to report that your Falling Star Sword has been successfully restored.”
The robust man was Jiang Chaoyun. A few days prior, he had come to Shen Yan seeking repairs for his damaged mid-grade magical weapon, the Falling Star Sword, which was now fully mended. Shen Yan retrieved a deep blue sword-shaped artifact from the shop’s shelves and handed it to Jiang Chaoyun.
“Excellent!” Jiang Chaoyun’s face lit up with delight as he took the Falling Star Sword and examined it carefully. “As expected of Master Shen—not only has the damage been repaired, but the spiritual radiance is even brighter, and its power seems to have improved. Truly remarkable.”
Once certain that his weapon was fully restored, Jiang Chaoyun’s expression was full of admiration. He then took a small pile of spirit stones from his storage pouch and offered them. “Thank you, Master Shen. Here is the agreed-upon payment. Please accept it.”
Shen Yan accepted the spirit stones, placing them in the pouch at his waist, and asked with a genial smile, “Since you are a martial cultivator and often hunt in Little Lan Mountain, I imagine you face frequent battles. I happen to have just crafted a few new Vajra Talismans. Would you be interested?”
As he spoke, he took out the freshly completed Vajra Talismans and presented them to Jiang Chaoyun. The Vajra Talisman was a popular defensive talisman among Qi Refining cultivators, renowned for its effectiveness and highly sought after.
Jiang Chaoyun was taken aback. “I didn’t expect Master Shen to also excel in talisman crafting. I’m truly humbled.”
His surprise stemmed from the fact that in the myriad arts of cultivation, mastering even one was a rare feat. For instance, he himself had entered the path of cultivation through martial training and, upon his arrival in the world of immortals, had considered learning a craft to earn his living. Yet, after several attempts, he realized he lacked the talent, and so had no choice but to make a living by hunting.
Now, before him stood a slender, youthful-looking artificer who was also adept at talisman crafting—how could he not be astonished?
Shen Yan made no attempt to correct Jiang Chaoyun’s misconception.
In the current Little Lan Mountain marketplace, most people regarded him as a cultivator skilled in artifact forging, alchemy, and talisman drawing, with hidden and formidable means at his disposal. This reputation was one Shen Yan had carefully crafted for himself. After all, whether magical tools, elixirs, or talismans, all were essential consumables for cultivators.
He collected damaged resources from the marketplace and used the Heavenly Emperor Seal to repair them, earning a profit from the difference. Outwardly, his skills extended only to crafting low-grade artifacts, pills, and talismans—an unremarkable level that would not arouse envy or suspicion. Thus, he was able to cultivate quietly and safely in Little Lan Mountain.
“The low-grade Vajra Talismans I craft can withstand a blow from a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator—superior to ordinary talismans. Perhaps they are of interest to you?”
Jiang Chaoyun’s interest was piqued. “Low-grade talismans that can resist a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator?”
Ordinary low-grade Vajra Talismans could, at best, withstand attacks from an early-stage Qi Refining cultivator. That Shen Yan’s talismans could endure a strike from a mid-stage cultivator was indeed impressive.
“Of course. My talismans have a fine reputation in Little Lan Mountain—you needn’t worry,” Shen Yan assured him.
Jiang Chaoyun nodded. He had chosen Shen Yan’s shop for his sword’s repair precisely because he had done his research. Any cultivator in the marketplace who knew of Shen Yan was aware of his formidable skills.
After a moment’s thought, Jiang Chaoyun asked, “Master Shen, how much for these Vajra Talismans?”
With a slight smile, Shen Yan raised two fingers. “Twenty spirit stones each. I have five here. If you take them all, I’ll give you a five-stone discount.”
Jiang Chaoyun pondered briefly and nodded. “That’s quite reasonable. I’ll take them all.”
Ordinary Vajra Talismans in the marketplace typically sold for about eighteen spirit stones. Shen Yan’s talismans were notably more effective and only two spirit stones more expensive—very fair, indeed.
Jiang Chaoyun produced another pile of spirit stones and handed them to Shen Yan, who, after a quick scan with his spiritual sense, accepted them with a broad smile and passed over the five Vajra Talismans.
“Master Shen, if you ever have other fine wares, save some for me. Price is no concern.”
Shen Yan nodded, smiling. “Certainly. Any artifacts, elixirs, or talismans I craft in the future—I’ll be sure to set some aside for you.”
“My thanks.” Jiang Chaoyun clasped his fists in salute and departed the shop.
Shen Yan was somewhat familiar with Jiang Chaoyun, a notable figure in Little Lan Mountain. He was known as a cultivator of modest talent, who, lacking both cultivation aptitude and resources, should have been forced to eke out a living in the lesser markets. Yet, relying on his exceptional combat prowess and hunting the beasts of Little Lan Mountain, he had managed to cultivate to the mid-stage of Qi Refining. It was even rumored that he had once bested a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator in a direct confrontation—an impressive feat.
Setting these thoughts aside, Shen Yan gathered his belongings and stepped outside the shop. In truth, the so-called shop was just a small house in a secluded corner of Little Lan Mountain’s marketplace, without even a signboard. The rationale was simple: he could only repair a limited number of spirit items, so there was no need for a formal storefront. After returning his cave dwelling, he simply rented an ordinary house in an out-of-the-way location.
Another reason was that should he hang a signboard, he would be required to pay tribute to the three great cultivation clans. Resources were already scarce for Shen Yan’s own cultivation; how could he afford to hand any over to those families?
Having thoroughly consolidated his realm, Shen Yan did not immediately begin refining the Flowing Cloud Sword, but instead got up to stretch. Prolonged seclusion could hinder one’s cultivation, so he decided to adjust his state.
As he reached the door, Shen Yan once again sensed an inexplicable and furtive gaze.
“So there really is something amiss,” he thought, his expression unchanged but his heart sinking. Just as he considered whether it was time to leave Little Lan Mountain, two young cultivators—a man and a woman, both at the late stage of Qi Refining—entered his shop.
With their arrival, the feeling of being watched from the opposite room vanished.
“Honored guests, what brings you here?” Shen Yan asked, his mind racing—perhaps the one spying on him was connected to this pair.