Comprehension Points (CP)]: 1
For the first time, the previously empty Comprehension Points counter now displayed a "1". However, he still had no clue how to use it.
"Well, things will unfold naturally when the time comes," he muttered, pushing the thought aside.
With that, he resumed his routine, alternating between talisman crafting and cultivating his Five Elements Cultivation Technique.
Before he knew it, dawn had arrived. Today was a crucial day,he was heading to the market to sell his talismans.
Last night, he had attempted to draw the Light Shield Talisman. After an entire night of effort, he only managed to succeed four times. Adding that to the three already drawn by the previous owner, he had only seven Light Shield Talismans to sell.
His inventory for the day consisted of 26 Cleaning Talismans and 7 Light Shield Talismans.
After washing up, he left his home, walking through the familiar alleys of the residential district. Along the way, he exchanged brief greetings with neighbors and fellow cultivators who were also heading toward the market.
An hour later, he arrived at the towering entrance of Cloud Market.
The market was already alive with activity. He showed his wooden token, confirming his residency, and was allowed to pass through without paying the entry fee.
Without wasting time, he made his way straight to the stall section. Though it was still early, many cultivators had already set up shop, their makeshift stalls lined up along the narrow pathways.
Arriving at the previous owner's usual spot, he unfurled a grey cloth before him and carefully arranged the talismans. Once everything was in place, he sat down and waited.
Time passed, and before he knew it, noon was approaching.Yet, not a single talisman had been sold.
Several cultivators had stopped by, curiously inspecting his wares, but in the end, they all left without making a purchase.
"This can't be happening… I need to change my approach."
After a moment of thought, he retrieved a wooden board and scribbled something onto it. Once finished, he placed it in front of his stall for all to see.
A short while later, a cultivator approached. After glancing at the wooden sign, he raised a brow and asked,
"Fellow Daoist, does the offer on the sign truly apply?"
Lan Rui gave a confident nod. "Of course. If you buy now, I can give it to you right away."
The cultivator hesitated for a moment before reaching into his robes. "In that case, I'll take one Light Shield Talisman."
A spirit stone was handed over.
Lan Rui, however, didn't just hand over a single talisman instead, he gave the man two pieces.
The buyer blinked in surprise before a satisfied smile spread across his face. Without another word, he nodded, tucked the talismans away, and left.
"Pleasure doing business with you. Come again!" Lan Rui called after him.
On the wooden sign, the message read:
"Buy One Light Shield Talisman, Get One Cleaning Talisman Free!"
No cultivator could resist the lure of a free item,even if they had to pay for something first, the sense of gaining an advantage was undeniable.
Sure enough, after the first transaction, more people stopped by his stall. Not everyone made a purchase, but a steady stream of buyers emerged.
Before long, all seven Light Shield Talismans had been sold.
"Fellow Daoist, do you have any more Light Shield Talismans?" a potential customer inquired.
Lan Rui shook his head apologetically. "I'm afraid they're all sold out. If you were just a bit quicker, you could have gotten one. But don't worry,I'll have more available tomorrow!"
The man simply smiled, nodded, and walked away.
Lan Rui sighed.
"I need to make more, but this method won't work forever. The extra cost is manageable for now, but if this continues, it'll become unsustainable. I can't afford to keep giving away free talismans."
With no more Light Shield Talismans left to sell, the rest of the day passed slowly. Though a few people stopped by, none were particularly interested in buying Cleaning Talismans alone.
As the afternoon waned, he decided to pack up and head home.
Before leaving the market, he decided to take a stroll, browsing through various stalls in case something caught his interest.
Most items were out of his budget, but he still enjoyed looking around.
Just as he was about to leave, something caught his eye.
At a small, unassuming stall, a faded scroll was laid out among various miscellaneous goods. The title written across the front read:
"Beginner Talisman Manual"
Lan Rui's heart stirred a beat.
Without hesitation, he stepped forward, picking up the book to examine it.
Behind the stall sat a middle-aged cultivator with a weathered face and a steady aura,his cultivation level was 5th Layer Qi Refining, slightly higher than Lan Rui's own.
Lan Rui looked up and asked, "Fellow Daoist, how much for this Talisman Manual?"
.....