In the market, mid-level talismans are indeed more popular than low-level talismans. In just half a day, only one of the dozen golden talismans on Song Qingming's stall was left, and Qin Zhen alone bought four of them at one time.
Most of the skills practiced by casual cultivators are common stuff, and they don't have any powerful magical powers. When they go out to hunt monsters, they basically rely more on external forces such as magic tools, talismans, and formations. In addition to formations, among items of the same level, talismans are much more powerful than magic tools, and are also a commonly used method by cultivators.
The reason why Song Qingming was able to escape the pursuit of the Eagle Nest Ridge robber in Yunwu Mountain was because he used a relatively powerful mid-grade talisman to launch a sneak attack, which gave him a chance of survival. Situations like this are common in the world of immortal cultivation. At some critical moments, talismans are much more useful than other spiritual objects.
However, although talismans are easy to use, they are consumables and one-time spiritual objects that will be gone after use. Although they are much cheaper than magic tools, they are not affordable for casual use and can only be used at critical moments. For this reason, no matter how high or low the cultivation level is, every cultivator will choose to carry a few talismans on him in case of emergency.
Some time ago, Song Qingming spent thirty spirit stones to buy two top-grade talismans for himself in Guiyunfang, and carried them on his body to guard against possible dangers. With these two top-grade talismans, Song Qingming felt much more at ease on the way back from Guiyunfang. Even if he encountered a cultivator in the late Qi Refining stage, he would have some confidence to escape with the two top-grade talismans in his hands.
After not having been here for a few months, Song Qingming's stall was surprisingly successful this time. Not only were all the mid-level talismans sold out, but he also sold a lot of the low-level talismans he had stockpiled before. Before sunset, there were not many talismans left on Song Qingming's stall, only twenty or thirty low-level talismans.
As the sun was setting, some people started to pack up and leave. Song Qingming also stood up and packed up, preparing to leave Caolu Mountain. This trip here was quite rewarding.
He had just walked out of the yard when someone came towards him and interrupted his departure.
The visitor was an elderly monk with white hair and a ruddy complexion, dressed as a Taoist priest. He was none other than Taoist Pinglu, one of the three masters of Caolu Mountain. Song Qingming was quite surprised to see this person, and wondered why this old Taoist priest was looking for him.
"My dear Song, you are so young but have made great progress in your cultivation. You are not much inferior to what I was in my youth. You are considered a rare young genius in Qinghe County. I'm afraid you will have a good chance of building a foundation in the future." Taoist Pinglu said to Song Qingming with a smile, obviously regarding him as a genius cultivator with three spiritual roots.
Hearing the Taoist Pinglu's flattery, Song Qingming thought about it and felt that there was no need for him to explain too much. It didn't matter if others regarded him as a genius with three spiritual roots. He just had to not admit it openly. In the major immortal cultivation families in Qinghe County, in order to protect the important cultivators with outstanding spiritual roots in the family, they generally would not disclose the attributes of the spiritual roots of these genius cultivators to the outside world. This was also to protect them so that they would not be targeted by their enemies when they went out.
Song Qingming waved his hand and responded modestly, "Senior is a cultivator at the peak of Qi Refining. How can my cultivation level compare to yours? Qingming would have no regrets if he could have the opportunity to reach your cultivation level in this lifetime. How dare he dream of building a foundation and attaining enlightenment?"
Taoist Pinglu's cultivation has reached the peak of Qi Refining. Decades ago, he also tried to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, but he didn't have the Foundation Establishment Pill and failed. However, he still relied on his willpower to survive. Among the nearly one thousand cultivators in Qinghe County, there are only a handful of legendary figures like him who do not have the Foundation Establishment Pill and dare to try to build the foundation.
Although these people failed to successfully establish their foundation, they dared to risk their lives and fight for their path. They were heroes in the hearts of many Qi-refining practitioners in Qinghe County. Song Qingming admired him very much. If it were him, he might not have the courage to make such a life-and-death decision.
"Humble and polite, down-to-earth, you're a promising candidate for cultivation. I heard you need to buy a large quantity of mid-level talisman-making materials. I just happened to have some on hand recently. Do you need any?"
"Yes, of course!"
So that's how it is. The three elders of Pinglu rarely appear at gatherings. Their disciples have always been the ones who maintain order in the yard. This old man suddenly came here for a few spirit stones. Song Qingming finally figured out the real purpose of Taoist Pinglu looking for him and couldn't help but smile.
Following the old Taoist priest to the inn in Caolu Mountain, the two found a secluded guest room. They thought that the old man did not have many materials and they would have to go to Qinghefang this month. Unexpectedly, the old Taoist priest Pinglu was very secretive and showed extraordinary skills. He took out more than a hundred sets of mid-level talisman-making materials at once, which really scared Song Qingming. My goodness, the materials were almost as many as those in the general material shops in Guiyuanfang.
Song Qingming counted these materials, plus some he had just received at the rally, which was enough for him to use for half a month. After negotiating the price with Taoist Hepinglu, he readily accepted the materials.
Seeing Song Qingming take out dozens of spirit stones, Taoist Pinglu took them, glanced at them, and quickly put them into the storage bag. He raised his head and said with a smile.
"Friend Song, if your family is looking to acquire the property for a long time, please inform me in advance. I have some connections in the Caolu Mountain area, so it won't be difficult for me to help you raise some materials for making talismans."
When Song Qingming heard this, he was delighted. If this old Taoist really had this kind of connection, it would save him a lot of trouble in the future. After thinking about it for a while, he discussed the matter with Taoist Pinglu, and the two of them would conduct secret transactions in this inn for a long time.
However, Song Qingming did not dare to ask for too much at the beginning. He only asked him to provide 100 intermediate-level talisman-making materials and 100 low-level talisman-making materials every month. If it was too much, he was afraid that it would arouse the suspicion of this old fox who had been practicing Taoism for almost a hundred years.
Secondly, although he can now make mid-level talismans, he still needs to make some low-level talismans as a cover. Otherwise, if he only sells mid-level talismans in the future, his identity as a mid-level talisman maker will soon be exposed in this gathering alone.
"Don't worry, young friend. I have an old friendship with the head of your family. Since I have promised you, I will definitely be able to help you raise the funds within a month. Then you can just come to me to pick up the goods." Seeing that Song Qingming was willing to purchase the goods on a long-term basis, the old man Pinglu began to swear that there would be no problem.
It has to be said that this Taoist Pinglu is a good businessman. The fact that Caolu Mountain has grown to its current size is definitely due to his contribution.
However, he and Song Gushan, the head of the Song family, are both cultivators of the same generation. Both are nearly a hundred years old, and their remaining life span is not much, only about ten years or so. At such an age, they are still running around for a few spirit stones. I think he is paving the way for his younger generation of cultivators.
In the world of cultivating immortals, there are often only a few cultivators in a generation who can establish a foundation. After most cultivators lose the path to further advancement, they will choose to recruit disciples or establish families to expand their branches, to help them raise resources for cultivation, and place their hopes on the next generation of cultivators.