Talisman Master
Talisman Sect and Formation Sect had business deals with four sects each. Earth Sovereign Sect, Celestial Star Sect, Secular World Sect and Mystic Spirit Sect did business with Formation Sect. Ghost Gate, Life and Death Sect, Solitude Sect and Jade Sect did business with Talisman Sect.
Talisman Sect decided to replace formation foundations with small sheets of paper coined “talismans”. Talismans were lighter, quicker to cast, economical plus more ideal for small and simple formations. By the same token, they were more efficient at imprinting formations on small items in comparison to Formation Sect. When it came to large-scale formations, things got messy and difficult, unfortunately.
Small sects usually cast small-scale formations exclusively since it fit their budget. Combine their business with large sects, and it was easy to see why small-scale formations were required more often than large-scale formations. Talisman Sect decided to make a niche out of that to steal customers from Formation Sect. It worked in Talisman Sect’s favour especially because their membership had outgrown Formation Sect’s.
Alioth Peak was the fifth divine peak, a mountain home to elegant and new-age structures. It wasn’t as heavily guarded as Megrez Peak, and outsiders were permitted entry. Still, Greater Heaven Caster Lu needed to notify a messenger to be granted entry.
“It is a pleasure and honour to finally meet you, Greater Heaven Caster Lu,” greeted Tian Budai.
The urge to rip out Tian Budai’s throat blasted in Mu Yu’s head.
“You are as impressive as they describe you, Young Master Budai,” responded Greater Heaven Caster Lu, smiling politely.
“The disciple behind you has piqued my interested, Greater Heaven Caster Lu,” remarked Tian Budai, picking up on Mu Yu’s bloodlust.
Greater Heaven Caster Lu looked over his shoulder then gave Tian Budai a smile. “He is this one’s assistant. His cultivation is poor and is not used to such occasions. Your aura must have scared him. Please forgive his rudeness.”
“You need not say that, Elder. I mistook him for your disciple. I suppose your disciples would not have such low cultivation.”
“That’s the low standard you find at Formation Sect. At Talisman Sect, our assistants are, at the very least, Golden Core Realm disciples.”
The speaker behind Greater Heaven Caster Lu and Mu Yu startled Greater Heaven Caster Lu. The middle-aged man wore the kind of grin you wanted to yank off his mug. He looked as if he was deliberately tugging up the corners of his lips for some sort of affect that ended up making him a walking punch line.
“Zhou Jinglin!” exclaimed Greater Heaven Caster Lu, gnashing his teeth.
“Your defeat at Floating Celestial Island wasn’t enough for you? You want to bet again?” Zhou Jinglin sneered. Even though he was also a Spirit Severing Realm cultivator, he figuratively licked Tian Budai’s boots. “The Formation Casters’ era is over. Talisman Masters are now in. Young Master Budai chose us because he is a man with foresight and has faith in us. For that, we are grateful.”
“Young Master Budai, are you sure about changing all of your formations to talismans? Will you not reconsider it after our years of friendship?” Greater Heaven Caster Lu wasn’t the conniving type; every time he expressed himself, it was sincere.
“Our long friendship is precisely why I noticed major issues. Had I not begun managing the sect’s miscellaneous matters, I would not have known we had better options. If you were in our shoes, would you prefer flawed and expensive formations or cheap and convenient talismans? My father is entrusting Celestial Star Sect to me. I, therefore, am duty bound to prioritise our sect’s wellbeing. Unlike my father, I am all about results and benefit.”
“Young Master Budai, I do not wish to sound harsh because I respect you as the future patriarch of Celestial Star Sect, so I would like to ask you to mind you choice of words. We take pride in our conduct and business. You can refuse our services. Nonetheless, it is not nice of you to accuse our formations of being flawed when that is not the case.”
Tian Budai took out a jade piece and held it out. “I bought an Ultimate Immortal Record you manufactured for Floating Celestial Island, and it failed me when I tried to track True God’s disciple Mu Yu. That wasted my time. When I consulted Shadow Syndicate, they found him using Talisman Sect’s tracking talisman. That proved to me which was superior. Even Huai Baiwan has opted to not continue subscribing to your business. Nevertheless, the mountain-protection formation and levitation formation are connected, so we are leaving them in your care. That being the case, I believe we are still doing business.”
Hearing of Shadow Syndicate and the tracking talisman, Mu Yu wondered if Shadow Syndicate was aware he was with Formation Sect.
Greater Heaven Caster Lu had to admit they already had the best outcome. He said to Zhou Jinglin, “You’ll pay for this.”
“Oh really? I’ll be waiting to hear the good news, then. Our tournament is a few months away. I pray for you to have three Greater Heaven Stage disciples for it. Don’t throw us more Heaven Stage disciples to make up your numbers. You’ve lost nine years in a row already. If you lose again this year, we might as well end it. What’s the point of competing when we now we’re going to win?”
Talisman Sect had over forty Greater Heaven Stage talisman masters among their ranks already. By the looks of things, they seemed to be biding their time to take over Formation Sect.
Greater Heaven Caster Lu shot Zhou Jinglin a glare. The latter fired a beam from his eyes back, disrupting Greater Heaven Caster Lu’s vision for a second. Greater Heaven Caster Lu then retaliated with his own beam.
“Please relax. Greater Heaven Caster Lu, please do not leave yet,” intervened Tian Budai. “I happen to have a request for the both of you.”
“Please speak your mind,” Zhou Jinling immediately asserted, smiling back.
“Mm… It has to do with resolving a chaotic formation.”
“Chaotic Formation?” Greater Heaven Caster Lu didn’t see that one coming.
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