Hua Ruoan approached slowly, a hint of surprise on his face. "Young man, are you planning to draw a lightning talisman?"
He was followed by several other guests, all young female cultivators, who looked Zhou Shu up and down with obvious curiosity.
By this time, Zhou Shu knew that lightning talismans were likely to be difficult to draw due to their unique characteristics, but he couldn't take them back, so he just kept talking.
"Shopkeeper Hua, I'm planning to draw a lightning talisman."
Hua Ruoan looked a little strange. "Are you sure you want to use the talisman ink made with the lightning-attracting fruit?"
Zhou Shu asked doubtfully. "What's wrong with the lightning-attracting fruit? Is it expensive?"
He had read extensively on demonic beasts, but had little knowledge of various medicinal herbs and spiritual objects. He had no idea what the lightning-attracting fruit was, so he simply stated the talisman's requirements.
"The Thunder Fruit isn't expensive, but the lightning power it contains is highly unstable, and the talisman ink made from it is also extremely volatile. A single mistake during the drawing process can result in not only the talisman being destroyed, but even the talisman master being injured."
The speaker was a beautiful female cultivator in her early twenties, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, exuding an air of heroism. She appeared to be at the Qi Refining stage, perhaps the sixth or seventh level.
Zhou Shu bowed, "Thank you, Senior Sister, for your guidance."
The female cultivator shook her head, looking at him in confusion, and didn't respond.
"Fellow Daoist Yan is right. Talisman ink made from the Thunder Fruit is only used by a handful of talisman masters, as it's incredibly difficult to use and requires extremely precise spiritual control."
Hua Ruoan, who clearly knew the female cultivator, added a few words before looking at Zhou Shu. "As far as I know, there are only five first-tier talismans that require Thunder Fruit ink. Which one would you like to draw, young man?"
Talismans, like elixirs, are divided into nine tiers based on power and purpose, with each tier further divided into upper, middle, and lower tiers based on quality.
Before Zhou Shu could say anything, the female cultivator next to him, Yan Yue, suddenly asked, "Is it a Thunderstorm Talisman?"
Having been told, Zhou Shu could only nod, "Senior Sister, you're right. I was indeed thinking of drawing a Thunderstorm Talisman."
"Ah!"
the female cultivator and the others beside her exclaimed softly, surprised but more confused.
Being all women, they didn't care that anyone was around and started chattering away.
"He said he wanted to draw a Thunderstorm Talisman! Senior Sister Yan, we were just looking for one, what a coincidence."
"Thunderstorm Talismans aren't that easy to draw, and we want a mid-grade one. Seeing as he's only at the first level of the Qi Refining Realm, he's probably just talking, huh."
"You can't say that. If there's hope, we should fight for it. Without a mid-grade Thunderstorm Talisman, our mission is going to be difficult."
They came from the Heyin Sect on the edge of the Qingyuan Mountains. They were all Qi Refining Realm disciples. They had accepted a mission from the sect and had come to the market to make the necessary preparations. Their mission required a Thunderstorm Talisman, preferably of mid-grade quality. They'd searched for one in Sanyuanzhai for a while, but only found low-grade ones. Just as they were getting anxious, they overheard Zhou Shu talking and walked over to try their luck.
Zhou Shu understood and said with a wry smile, "I'm a newbie, just trying my hand. I'm afraid you sisters will be disappointed."
Disappointment immediately crossed the faces of several female cultivators, who began to chatter.
"I knew it, he's a newbie. He can't even draw a Thunderstorm Talisman, I don't think he can even draw a Breeze Talisman."
"Yeah, we were so excited for nothing. We thought we had secured our mission."
"Sisters... don't say that. Maybe he really can do it. Master said you can't judge a person by appearance, and a cultivator can't just be judged by their cultivation..." The speaker was a little girl, a few years younger than Zhou Shu, her face full of childishness.
"Yangmei, you've only just arrived, what do you know?"
"A cultivator like him only knows how to talk. What real skills do they have? Little Junior Sister, don't let him fool you."
Yangmei looked at her senior sisters, wanting to make some sense but unable to interrupt them. Anxious, her face flushed red.
"Stop, stop arguing."
Yan Yue interrupted the sisters' discussion, turning to Zhou Shu and smiling, cupping her fists. "Junior Brother, there's no need to be so modest. It's not easy for you to draw the Thunderstorm Talisman. Besides, we're all beginners now. I believe you'll eventually be able to draw a mid-grade talisman."
"I hope so. Thank you, Senior Sister," Zhou Shu returned the greeting.
Yan Yue smiled. "Then I won't bother you anymore. If you do manage to draw one, please let Manager Hua know. I'll buy it for you at a high price and I'll definitely satisfy you."
As they departed, Yangmei glanced back at Zhou Shu, clenching her fists as if to encourage him.
Zhou Shu smiled and nodded gently.
Watching them leave, Zhou Shu was lost in thought.
The female cultivator, Yan Yue, looked very wealthy. The robes and jewelry she wore all seemed to be entry-level magical tools. She also seemed to have good character. If she could draw the Thunderstorm Talisman, he might consider selling it to her.
Hua Ruoan looked at Zhou Shu and said, "Little brother, if you really want to practice, don't use the Thunderstorm Talisman. The Light Wind Talisman and the Divine Speed Talisman are both suitable."
Zhou Shu knew he meant well, but he couldn't accept it and could only smile bitterly. Of the first-level talismans, he only knew how to draw the Thunderstorm Talisman. If he wanted to draw other talismans, he would have to buy specialized talismans and jade slips to learn. These things were not cheap, and he didn't have that many spirit stones.
He shook his head and said, "Sorry, shopkeeper, I only want the Thunder Talisman ink."
"Alright, little brother, you are so ambitious, I won't say much."
A hint of regret flashed in Hua Ruoan's eyes. He knew in his heart that it would be impossible for a cultivator at the first level of the Qi Refining Realm to learn to draw talismans by drawing such difficult talismans, especially those made with the Lightning Fruit. He thought his efforts were in vain.
Hua Ruoan turned and left without saying goodbye. In his opinion, there was no need to waste time on Zhou Shu.
The waiter still looked at Zhou Shu and whispered, "Sir, are you sure you want the talisman ink made with the Lightning Fruit?"
He still had a one in ten thousand hope for Zhou Shu. Even if Zhou Shu could only draw the Divine Travel Talisman, he would be considered a talisman master and he would get a lot of benefits.
"Thank you, yes."
Zhou Shu's answer shattered his fantasy.
The waiter waved his hand and carefully took down a bottle of talisman ink from the jade shelf, "A bottle of thunder-type talisman ink made with the Lightning Fruit. Thank you for the favor, ten low-grade spirit stones."
Zhou Shu nodded and took it, looking at it carefully.
There were about dozens of drops of talisman ink in the jade bottle. It was blue and so deep that you couldn't see the bottom. There were a few faint lightning flashes in it, as if it would explode at any time.
"Sir, please keep it. Don't use spiritual power on this thing casually. It will easily explode if it comes into contact with spiritual power." The waiter kindly reminded him, turned around and took the spirit stone and left.
"Thank you."
Zhou Shu nodded, put the talisman ink and talisman paper into the storage bag, and then walked out of Sanyuanzhai.
The shopkeeper and several waiters looked at him and shook their heads. Especially the waiter who brought Zhou Shu in, he lowered his head and didn't know what he was thinking.
Zhou Shu naturally didn't care what they thought. He was thinking about the talisman pen.
Now the only thirteen spirit stones were used up and only one was left. How should this talisman be drawn?
The road ahead was endless.