Longevity with a Turtle

Chapter 64: Chapter 63: Inheritance Obtained

Chen Jianghe looked at Zhu Lang, eyeing him up and down. The fluctuating aura of Magical Power on his body indicated his Cultivation was at Late-Stage Qi Refining. He wore a dark blue silk brocade robe and a fishtail crown. He appeared to be middle-aged to elderly, with a broad forehead, a narrow face, and a goatee. Judging by his appearance, he should be over sixty years old.

”I wonder what Talisman Master Chu wishes to discuss with me?” Chen Jianghe asked, cupping his hands in greeting.

He didn’t introduce himself. Zhu Lang had sought him out with a clear purpose and certainly knew his background. Moreover, he could more or less guess the reason for Zhu Lang’s visit.

”I heard that Fellow Daoist is self-taught in the Talisman Dao and has even elevated your Talisman Dao Skills to Tier One Lower Grade,” Zhu Lang said, stroking his goatee with a friendly smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

Chen Jianghe nodded.

At this moment, he knew Zhu Lang’s intentions perfectly well. It was likely the same purpose as the Yun Family’s. He just wondered what kind of conditions the other party would offer.

”Does Fellow Daoist know that drawing Middle-Grade Spiritual Talismans without an inheritance requires at least thirty or forty years of painstaking research?” Zhu Lang didn’t state his purpose directly. Instead, he explained to Chen Jianghe how bumpy the road ahead would be without a Talisman Dao inheritance.

Chen Jianghe knew Zhu Lang was absolutely right; in fact, he felt Zhu Lang was putting it mildly.

Without a Talisman Dao inheritance, someone who could successfully figure out how to draw Middle-Grade Spiritual Talismans in thirty or forty years through self-study would have to be a genius of the Talisman Dao. With his own Talisman Dao Talent, he was afraid it would take him fifty years to successfully decipher Middle-Grade Spiritual Talismans. As for High-Grade Spirit Talismans? Relying solely on himself, it would take an eternity.

”I am aware that without an inheritance in the Talisman Dao, the road ahead is arduous. Please speak plainly, Talisman Master Chu,” Chen Jianghe said, cupping his hands.

Just as he had guessed, the Yun Family had already released the news of his future departure from Jingyue Lake and exposed his identity as a Lower-Grade Talisman Master—especially the news that he was self-taught in the Talisman Dao. This would inevitably attract the attention of some Talisman Master Guest Elders of the Yun Family, who would offer a Talisman Dao inheritance to make a deal with Chen Jianghe.

The Yun Family did not do this out of malice. Rather, they wanted Chen Jianghe to see how much the Yun Family cherished talent, showing that only the Yun Family would truly support Loose Cultivators.

”I possess a Tier One Talisman Dao Inheritance, which I can pass on...”

”Brother Jianghe!” Suddenly, a sword light traced a perfect arc across the horizon and landed on Chen Jianghe’s fishing boat. It was none other than Yu Daniu. He looked agitated, his face full of urgency, and asked impatiently, ”Brother Jianghe, are you leaving Jingyue Lake?”

Chen Jianghe smiled and patted Yu Daniu’s shoulder, shooting him a look to indicate an outsider was present. The moment he rejected Yun Wu, he knew Yu Daniu would get wind of his impending departure from Jingyue Lake.

”Talisman Master Chu?” Yu Daniu turned to look at Zhu Lang, revealing a look of surprise. He immediately cupped his hands and said, ”Daniu greets Talisman Master Chu.”

Zhu Lang was a High-Grade Talisman Master Guest Elder of the Yun Family. He hadn’t left Jingyue Lake even when the Yun Family was in a crisis. Now, he was an esteemed guest of the Yun Family. As a live-in son-in-law of the Yun Family and a Steward of the Jingyue Immortal Tower, Yu Daniu naturally knew Zhu Lang.

”Are you acquainted with Fellow Daoist Chen, Fellow Daoist Yu?” Zhu Lang nodded politely to Yu Daniu, aware of this currently illustrious live-in son-in-law of the Yun Family.

”He’s my older brother,” Yu Daniu said frankly.

”I see.” A hint of hesitation flashed through Zhu Lang’s eyes, as if he were revising his terms. After a brief moment of thought, he said, ”I can impart the drawing techniques and my personal insights regarding Middle-Grade Spiritual Talismans to you, Fellow Daoist.

”You must swear an oath not to disclose what I teach you to anyone else.”

”And what price would I have to pay?” Chen Jianghe asked.

Seeing that Zhu Lang didn’t offer the drawing methods and insights for High-Grade Spirit Talismans, Chen Jianghe felt a little disappointed. However, obtaining the techniques and insights for Middle-Grade Spiritual Talismans wasn’t bad either. As long as the conditions were right, he was willing to make the deal.

”Half the profits from your Talisman Making for fifteen years,” Zhu Lang stated directly.

”Talisman Master Chu, that’s an exorbitant price. Before I married into the Yun Family, I also tried the Talisman Dao, though I had no Talisman Dao Talent.” Yu Daniu immediately stepped forward to haggle for Chen Jianghe. ”Even back then, when others offered me the inheritance for both Lower-Grade Spiritual Talismans and Middle-Grade Spiritual Talismans, they only asked for half the profits from fifteen years of Talisman Making.

”You’re only offering a Middle-Grade Spiritual Talisman inheritance, excluding the Lower-Grade Spiritual Talisman inheritance, yet you’re asking for half the profits for fifteen years right off the bat. Isn’t that a bit much?”

Chen Jianghe appropriately frowned, also displaying dissatisfaction with the terms proposed by Talisman Master Chu.

”The inheritance and insights for both Lower-Grade Spiritual Talismans and Middle-Grade Spiritual Talismans, for half the profits of your Talisman Making over thirteen years.” Talisman Master Chu added the Lower-Grade Spiritual Talisman inheritance and insights, while also reducing the duration for the profit split.

”Still...” Chen Jianghe stopped Yu Daniu, who was about to continue haggling, and said sincerely, ”Talisman Master Chu, you know I am already a Lower-Grade Talisman Master. If we make this deal, you won’t have to wait two or three years to see results—it will be an immediate vested interest.

”For the inheritance and insights of both Lower-Grade Spiritual Talismans and Middle-Grade Spiritual Talismans, I can offer fifty percent of my Talisman Making profits for ten years.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Lang weighed the offer in his mind. He found Chen Jianghe’s words reasonable. Trading with a Cultivator who had yet to enter the Talisman Dao and trading with an established Lower-Grade Talisman Master were indeed two different matters. One was a speculative profit, while the other was a guaranteed, immediate return.

Suddenly, another houseboat appeared on the lake, slowly sailing towards them.

Zhu Lang no longer hesitated and directly accepted Chen Jianghe’s proposal, saying readily, ”Alright. It’s a deal.”

Chen Jianghe nodded. Offering fifty percent of his Talisman Making profits for ten years was a figure he had calculated carefully. During the transaction period, he had to ensure there would be no shortfall in Cultivation Resources for both himself and Little Black. Currently, his annual profit from Talisman Making reached over twenty-five Spirit Stones. Even after giving half to Talisman Master Chu, he would still have twelve or thirteen Spirit Stones left. Combined with the income from raising fish, it would be enough for him and Little Black to maintain steady Cultivation without lacking resources. Furthermore, in ten years, he might be able to elevate his Talisman Dao Skills to the level of a Middle-Grade Talisman Master. When the deal expired, he could rely on his skills as a Middle-Grade Talisman Master to prepare for his departure from Jingyue Lake, allowing him to purchase even more abundant resources.

Immediately after, Chen Jianghe swore an oath not to leak the Talisman Dao inheritance passed down by Zhu Lang. Zhu Lang handed Chen Jianghe the Inheritance Jade Scroll containing the records for both Lower-Grade Spiritual Talismans and Middle-Grade Spiritual Talismans. The transaction was complete.

When that houseboat approached and docked in the Zone C No.12 Water Area, Zhu Lang thought to himself, ”Just as I expected.” He also breathed a sigh of relief. He had managed to finalize the deal with Chen Jianghe one step ahead of the competition, adding another layer of foundation for his future goal of establishing a Cultivation Family.

Chen Jianghe was also deeply satisfied with the transaction. He had obtained the Middle-Grade Spiritual Talisman inheritance ahead of time, along with the Lower-Grade Spiritual Talisman inheritance. With the inheritance, he could now draw Spirit Talismans of other attributes—especially the Lower-Grade Five Elements Escape Talisman, which was a Life-Saving Spirit Talisman at critical moments. Once he successfully drew it, it meant he would have several more life-saving methods.

After agreeing on the time to pay the annual profits, Zhu Lang steered his boat away from the Zone C No.12 Water Area. As for the other Talisman Master who had also arrived to make a deal, Chen Jianghe frankly told him that an agreement had already been reached with Talisman Master Chu. The boats left and the people dispersed, returning the waterway of the Zone C No.12 Water Area to its usual tranquility. Yu Daniu immediately pulled Chen Jianghe into the cabin.