Chapter 734: Passion! (I)

"Money is not an issue. Resources are not an issue either," Chu Liang said. "Esteemed Teacher, do you know what is most important in this era? It is talent. Mister Huan, you are the talent that we need."

Inside the hidden cavern of the Talismanic Sect, Chu Liang had invited Huan Leisheng to sit in the main seat. His attitude toward Huan Leisheng had completely changed, and the way he spoke of him when persuading Di Nufeng earlier was filled with high praise and recommendations.

If he, someone who had inherited the cultivation legacy of the Celestial Talisman Master, could not recognize the profound beauty of the Celestial Talismanic Wheel, then he might as well pack up and hang himself.

Just as Huan Leisheng had pointed out, the talismans on the market today were all hand-drawn. Even for a skilled talisman master, crafting a few dozen Five Elements Talismans a day was already the limit. Not to mention more complex composite talismans, which required deep concentration and qi control, all while carrying a high risk of failure.

The remarkable aspect of this Celestial Talismanic Wheel lay in its ability to break apart commonly used talismanic scripts and recombine them into other kinds of talismanic scripts. It actually managed to automate the process of talisman-making.

This meant that by simply selecting different script combinations, one could rapidly produce new talismans. While it couldn't craft the more complex ones, it could mass-produce ordinary talismans at speeds thousands—if not tens of thousands—of times faster.

𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

This was practically the printer of the talisman-making industry.

One had to admit that Huan Leisheng was a genius.

If several Celestial Talismanic Wheels were built and continuously operated, they could mass-produce talismans indefinitely. At that rate, anyone who owned the Celestial Talismanic Wheel would be able to dominate the entire talisman market of the immortal realm.

Who would still bother with traditional talismans then? The entire world would have no choice but to use our talismans!

These thoughts ran through Chu Liang’s mind.

"As expected of Young Hero Chu, who is well-versed in the craft of talisman-making…" Huan Leisheng grinned as he spoke. "Since you can see the great potential of my Celestial Talismanic Wheel, I assume you are willing to invest even more money in this."

"I'm certainly willing, but we need to clarify the conditions first," Chu Liang said with a smile. "Mister Huan, the biggest issue with your Celestial Talismanic Wheel right now... is stability, isn't it?"

Hearing this, Huan Leisheng's expression stiffened slightly.

Chu Liang had hit the nail on the head.

As demonstrated earlier, the Celestial Talismanic Wheel could produce talismans at an astonishing speed without issue. However, the reason it hadn’t been introduced to the world yet was simple—under heavy workloads, it would collapse.

It could handle crafting a few talismans, but if tasked with producing hundreds, its flaws would quickly be exposed.

Huan Leisheng hadn't expected Chu Liang to be this sharp-minded, able to catch the biggest flaw at a glance.

"It will be very difficult to find the kind of material that can provide stability to this revolutionary enchanted tool. You’ll need to experiment countless times," Chu Liang said casually as he stroked his chin. "While I believe you’ll eventually succeed, I’m sure you don't have the confidence to tell me how many resources and spirit-stone coins you will need to burn through during this experiment, do you?"

"Well…"

Huan Leisheng suddenly felt a pang of guilt. If he had that kind of confidence, he wouldn’t have been hiding in the first place.

Chu Liang offered enticingly, "But I can provide you with unlimited resources. I can also find the best artificers in Mount Shu—or even across the entire world—to help you source materials and create a Celestial Talismanic Wheel truly ready for the world. What do you say?"

"Unlimited?" Huan Leisheng's pupils contracted slightly. Though he was ecstatic, he still retained some rationality. "Then… how much of the Celestial Talismanic Wheel’s future profits do you want?"

Chu Liang wasn’t running a charity. Every investment was made for a return—the more he put in, the more he would expect in return. Huan Leisheng understood this principle well.

With such an investment, if Chu Liang had demanded a 90-10 split in his favor, Huan Leisheng wouldn’t have been surprised in the slightest.

But to his surprise, Chu Liang shook his head. "I don’t want the Celestial Talismanic Wheel."

"Huh?" Huan Leisheng was momentarily stunned.

Before he could ask, Chu Liang continued, "I want the Talismanic Sect."

…

"Taotie City’s downfall is already set in stone. I’ve heard that the sects of immortality cultivation are preparing to reselect the Terrestrial Ten," Chu Yi said leisurely, gazing at the towering snow-capped mountains in the distance. "Even if you go back, it’s likely already too late."

"As long as Taotie City retains even a tenth of its former size, enough to let my Huyan Family scrape by, that’s all we need," Huyan Dong replied indifferently.

A sect of immortality cultivation might rise again, but a market ravaged by the rebels of Mount Mang could never return to its former glory. Huyan Dong understood this clearly. Even if they returned now to rebuild Taotie City, the shops and customers wouldn’t gather there as before.

"If City Lord Huyan can see it this way, that’s not bad," Chu Yi said with a smile. "However, I have a proposal—we can work together."

Huyan Dong’s wore a complicated expression. "Work with you?"

Had it not been for Chu Yi orchestrating the attack by the Mount Mang rebels, they wouldn’t have fallen to this state. Yet, now, this kid had the audacity to invite him to collaborate.

Does this kid think I don't hold any grudges?

Huyan Dong thought.

"With the current situation, even if you and your son managed to go home, it will be extremely hard for you to rebuild Taotie City to its former glory. However, by working with me, I will give you the way to rise again," Chu Yi said confidently. "Just as there aren't many willing to help me, I am sure there aren’t many who are willing to help you."

Huyan Dong thought for a moment and easily understood why this kid had sought him out.

It was nothing more than what Lu Jiangtong had done—finding a representative to operate in certain circles. After all, he had spent years navigating the higher ranks of the immortal world, building connections and mastering the rules. Meanwhile, this boy was still an unfamiliar face. Even if he was capable enough, there were things he simply couldn’t accomplish alone.

However, with Chu Yi's support, restoring Taotie City to its former glory might actually be easier.

This kid's reasoning was simple. Huyan Dong should forget who wronged him and focus on who could help him now.

Huyan Dong found this logic utterly baffling. Where had this boy learned to think in such a cold, profit-driven manner at such a young age?

Even a small kid that grew up in Mount Shu possesses such intelligence...

Huyan Dong thought.

Huyan Dong thought of his own son and realized that Taotie City's defeat was well deserved.

Still, he chuckled lightly. "Don’t be too naive. Not everything will go as you plan. If you can secure the protection of the Noble Dharma today, then perhaps this will all be negotiable. But if not, you and the Mount Mang rebels will be wiped out soon enough. What will you have left to offer us then?"

"Then it’s settled," Chu Yi suddenly said. "If I can get the Noble Dharma to join my side, you will work with me. How about that?"

Huyan Dong gazed at this kid's confident expression and felt momentarily dazed. For a moment, he found himself unable to outright refuse.

After a brief pause, he replied, "Let’s talk when you return from the Holy Mountain. Not just anyone gets to see the Noble Dharma."

"Haha." Chu Yi chuckled. "If the Noble Dharma is as extraordinary as the legends say, then he will see me."

The groups of two or three individuals headed up the snow mountain, gradually approaching the peak. From a bird's-eye view, they appeared like black dots on the pure white snow. Eventually, they stopped before the temple at the mountain’s peak.

A middle-aged monk in a coarse robe emerged. His attire differed from the monks of the Buddhist Cloud Monastery, with one shoulder exposed and a few wisps of greenish-gray hair atop his slightly balding head.

This was Dhyana Master Wu’e, a disciple of the Noble Dharma.

It was his arrival that had once sent the leader of the Dark King Sect fleeing in terror.

Seeing the three visitors to the Holy Mountain, Dhyana Master Wu’e nodded slightly toward Huyan Dong and greeted, "City Lord Huyan, it has been a long time. I trust you have been well."

Then his gaze fell upon Chu Yi, and he looked intrigued. But when he looked at Lu Jiangtong, his expression shifted to one of distaste—perhaps sensing the bloodstained aura of slaughter upon Lu Jiangtong.

Huyan Dong let out a bitter laugh. "I’m sure Master Wu’e has heard about what happened to Taotie City. How could I be well? I simply survived by luck."

"Now that you have reached the Holy Mountain, you are well," Wu’e Dhyana Master replied. Then, turning to Chu Yi, he said, "The Noble Dharma invites the Young Emperor to ascend the summit."

Hmm?

The title sent a shock through everyone present. Huyan Dong had always known that Chu Yi’s identity was shrouded in mystery, but he hadn’t expected this.

Immediately, his gaze deepened.

Even Lu Jiangtong, who had followed Chu Yi closely, now looked at Chu Yi with a contemplative expression.

This identity had always been the deepest secret Chu Yi had kept. Aside from Chu Liang, no one else knew. Even he himself had discovered this after piecing together the clues he found over the past few years. He hadn't expected that his secret would be revealed by the Noble Dharma even before the meeting.

Still, Chu Yi showed no displeasure. Instead, he offered a slight smile, bowed respectfully to Wu’e Dhyana Master, and proceeded to head up the mountain alone.

The distancing back of the child made the snow mountain seem all the more vast and solemn. However, Chu Yi continued walking with unwavering steps.