Chapter Nine: The Courtyard

Lin Yang followed the attendant all the way to the small courtyard. The attendant took out a key and opened the door.

Outside the courtyard stood two towering trees, their leaves carpeting the ground in a thick inch-deep layer. The scent of decaying leaves filled the air, and as Lin Yang stepped onto the crisp foliage, it crackled underfoot. Within the courtyard, peach trees flanked both sides, their branches heavy with blossoms in the late spring of March. A gentle breeze swept through, scattering petals in a pink curtain across the yard.

“This house has four main rooms and three connecting ones,” the attendant began, launching into an elaborate introduction, extolling the virtues of the property with almost fantastical enthusiasm. “And, sir, it even comes with two maidservants!” he added, making every effort to sell the place.

“Very well,” Lin Yang replied after a careful inspection. The place was just what he desired, though a little expensive.

Three months later.

The dawn in the Tai Nan Valley was gradually waking from the night’s silence. As morning broke, the streets started to fill with people, and the breakfast shops were already crowded. Soon, the whole area was bustling, thronging with life.

In a small courtyard at the northern edge of the market district, Lin Yang was training, swiftly swinging his sword. Bright flashes cut through the air, and sword energy occasionally erupted, but a protective array absorbed all the force, leaving the ground and walls unharmed.

For these three months, Lin Yang’s days had been methodical: drawing talismans every morning, meditating at noon, practicing swordsmanship and magic in the afternoon. His routine was strict, constantly improving his skills and earning spirit stones, while keeping an ear out for news.

“It’s been just over a year since the last Ascension Conference. The next one is three years away,” he noted. “I have plenty of time.”

Lin Yang had partnered with the largest merchant house in Tai Nan Valley, Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, selling all his talismans directly to them. With two hundred spirit stones, he upgraded his talisman arts, greatly increasing his earnings and saving precious time.

To conceal his true success rate, Lin Yang made sure to store four sheets of talisman paper for every talisman he sold, preparing a wide variety of them for emergencies. Now, his storage pouch held hundreds, perhaps thousands, of bundled talismans, with the most being Vajra Talismans for protection—one could never have too many lifesaving items.

He sold four or five spirit talismans each day, no longer bothering with basic first-grade talismans. This brought him a daily income of ten to twenty spirit stones.

The rent for the courtyard itself was twenty spirit stones a month.

He also consumed one Qi Gathering Pill daily to aid his cultivation.

After three months, he had saved over four hundred spirit stones. Such swift accumulation, however, had already attracted the attention of many with ill intentions.

Had he not dealt with two troublemakers with decisive force—dispatching them with talismans—he would never have deterred the others.

Now, he needed only to focus on cultivating for the next three years, striving to reach at least the tenth level of Qi Refinement. With that, he would be confident of passing the Ascension Conference.

Lin Yang sheathed his sword and shook out his robes with a cleansing talisman, making them instantly look fresh and new.

He opened the door and stepped onto the street, watching the bustling people around him. As he observed the hurried crowds, he felt anew the struggle of common folk striving for their livelihood. Everywhere, survival was the foremost concern.

Passing a crossroads, he came upon a plaza paved with green stone. Heading to the most prominent building, he saw a sign reading “Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion” and walked straight in. An attendant spotted him and immediately came forward.

“Daoist Lin, you’re here! Please have a seat, I’ll fetch the manager right away.” After brewing a cup of tea, the attendant went upstairs.

“Alright, hurry up,” Lin Yang replied, surveying the dazzling array of goods.

One wall was lined with flying swords and magical implements, another with formation disks. The counters below were filled with pills and spirit talismans.

Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion was owned by a Foundation Establishment cultivator, making it the undisputed local authority. Visiting cultivators always showed respect, and those who dared cause trouble were long gone—buried in the mass grave.

As Lin Yang was examining the merchandise, he heard hurried footsteps. Looking over, he saw a man in a blue robe approaching urgently.

“I wondered why the magpies were chattering all morning—it turns out Daoist Lin has arrived,” the manager greeted. “What brings you to my humble shop today?”

“Manager Wang, how’s the information I asked for last time?” Lin Yang inquired.

“It’s mostly gathered. However, we’re still short on the Red Flame Iron Essence you requested. But tonight, there’s an auction here. Would Daoist Lin be interested?” Wang Yukai offered.

“Why the sudden auction?” Lin Yang asked, puzzled.

“Well, two days ago, someone brought a Foundation Establishment Pill for auction. That stirred up all the peak Qi Refinement cultivators in Tai Nan Valley. There are so many people today, we could host another minor conference,” Wang Yukai explained, inviting Lin Yang into a private room.

Wang Yukai produced a storage pouch. “Daoist Lin, are you interested in learning artifact crafting? But isn’t it risky to start with such expensive materials?”

“Manager Wang, did you find the artifact crafting manual I wanted?” Lin Yang pressed.

“Yes, as a matter of fact. It’s a family heirloom from a lineage whose ancestor reached Foundation Establishment. Unfortunately, the descendants have declined and now rely on spirit stones to study artifact crafting. In urgent need of funds, they handed it over for one hundred spirit stones, which I’ll sell to you at cost,” Wang Yukai replied.

“Thank you, Manager Wang. Let’s settle the account,” Lin Yang said.

“Alright. The materials, artifact crafting manual, alchemy manual, formation manual, and talisman papers total eight hundred spirit stones.”

“Manager, I don’t have enough spirit stones. I’ll need to sell some items.” Lin Yang took out finished spirit talismans and four hundred spirit stones from his storage pouch.

“These are this month’s talismans: two hundred Vajra Talismans, fifty Swift Talismans. Please tally them.”

“Daoist Lin, you’re truly industrious. Your talismans sell so well in Tai Nan Valley we have to send them elsewhere. Let’s see…” Wang Yukai tapped the items. “These talismans are worth seven hundred spirit stones. You must have sold all your stock.” He pushed three hundred spirit stones back.

“However, I advise you not to study formations and artifact crafting. Mastering all arts is not as valuable as perfecting one. With your talent in talismans, you should focus on that,” Wang Yukai suggested.

Lin Yang replied politely, but inwardly scoffed. After all, he had the system interface. Without it, he might never even set foot on the path of cultivation.

Indeed, the power of a golden finger was beyond others’ imagination, and no one even knew what it meant. Anyone who claimed to possess one would be seen as a fool.

“Very well, I’ll come back tonight,” Lin Yang said, pocketing his spirit stones and taking his leave.