Seeing Paper Kite and Shen Wang return together, everyone in the shop showed a look of realization.
Paper Kite felt a bit embarrassed and was the first to speak, blocking everyone’s teasing words: "Is the steward here?"
"The steward went out, seems like they’re catching demons by the lake again."
The maid, who had a good relationship with Paper Kite, shook her head with a smile and approached: "The talismans sold by the master this time will exceed a hundred, right?"
"Of course, otherwise I’d have to settle up for my husband."
Paper Kite proudly announced her claim.
"Sister Paper Kite is already calling him husband."
The clever maid playfully tickled Paper Kite’s armpits, seeing Shen Wang as one of their own, she felt much more at ease.
"Don’t mess around, Du Juan, there are other guests here."
Paper Kite blushed and pushed back at Du Juan a few times.
"Most of the guests went to watch the demon catching, today’s market is a bit empty."
Du Juan giggled: "You two can also go take a look."
"No need, I’ll just wait a bit. Paper Kite, do you have a place for guests to rest here?"
Shen Wang didn’t want to waste time and was preparing to draw a few talismans while waiting.
"Yes, husband, come with me."
Paper Kite happily led Shen Wang to a quiet room. Seeing him take out his talisman brush and paper, she knew he was going to make talismans and thoughtfully said: "I’ll put a ’do not disturb’ sign on the door, husband can call for me or another maid if you need anything."
"You go about your own business; you’ve been away for a few days, surely there are plenty of things you need to catch up on."
Shen Wang smiled, signaling Paper Kite to handle her affairs as he closed the door, closed his eyes to calm his heart and concentrate his spirit, and began talisman making.
Soon, he successfully crafted three Low-Level Fireball Talismans and received more than twenty Spirit Stones.
Looking at the talismans, Shen Wang nodded: "Not bad, making talismans here is just fine."
His gaze fell on the talisman brush, seeing the bristles significantly worn out, now barely usable.
"The beginner’s talisman brush doesn’t last long, I’ll have to get a new one, another expense."
Shen Wang shook his head, continuing to use the brush to make talismans.
When the sun was high, Shen Wang heard a distant loud noise, pausing he frowned: "Is it over by Hundred Creeks Lake, such a commotion?"
Suppressing his curiosity, he finished the sixth Low-Level Fireball Talisman, using up all the mid-grade talisman paper.
Out of forty sheets of mid-grade treasure tier talisman paper, he crafted a total of twenty-one Low-Level Fireball Talismans, five Intermediate Fireball Talismans, with a seventy percent success rate for the low level and fifty for the advanced.
Out of two hundred sheets of low-grade talisman paper, after using twenty for Light Body and Exorcism Talismans, out of one hundred eighty, one hundred were used to make Silver Radiance Talismans, successfully crafting seventy-two, most of which were made before his breakthrough to Grand Talisman Master, after which he focused on Fireball Talismans to deal with zombies.
Of the remaining eighty talisman papers, he successfully made forty-eight Low-Level Fireball Talismans, achieving a sixty percent success rate, one percent lower than using mid-grade talisman paper.
Considering the price of talisman paper, it’s clearly most economical to use low-grade paper for Low-Level Fireball Talismans.
If not for the low success rate of Intermediate Fireball Talismans using low-grade paper, he would’ve made attempts, but stopped after a few; otherwise, the cost could’ve been even lower.
However, with his current master-level proficiency in talismanic magic, it would be worth a try now.
Now, he possessed five Intermediate Fireball Talismans, sixty-nine Low-Level Fireball Talismans, and seventy-five Silver Radiance Talismans, of which three were left from last time.
If all these talismans could be exchanged for spirit stones, his wealth would exceed eight hundred, seven times that of last time!
In fact, the time spent was less than before, mostly thanks to Grand Talisman Master experience.
"It’s too much, not wise to handle everything at Celestial Commerce Association."
Shen Wang glanced at his increasingly worn talisman brush, meditated to restore his spiritual power, packed his things, and informed the maid he would step out briefly.
Outside, he disguised himself and entered the market’s third major commerce association, known as Ten Thousand Treasures Tower, larger than Hengchang Commerce Association and Celestial Commerce Association, said to have branches outside the Sun and Moon Dynasty.
Thus, the collection quota ordinary maids and attendants can handle is a bit higher, up to two hundred spirit stones.
But their talisman purchase prices are lower, with Silver Radiance Talismans at two and a half stones, Low-Level Fireball Talismans at six stones, and Intermediate Fireball Talismans at ten stones.
He discreetly sold forty Silver Radiance Talismans and fifteen Low-Level Fireball Talismans, totaling one hundred ninety spirit stones, then spent one hundred ten to buy a Magic Tier Talisman Brush.
This item was already at the artifact level, theoretically usable in combat situations.
Buying such an expensive brush was meant for long-term use, as quality tools are necessary for a craftsman, and he was qualified to use this tier as a Grand Talisman Master.
Following this, he disguised himself again, dealt with ten Silver Radiance Talismans and five Low-Level Fireball Talismans in two small shops, finding their offer prices decent, with Silver Radiance Talismans at three stones, Low-Level Fireball Talismans at eight stones, similar to Celestial Commerce Association.
Unlike large commerce associations, these small shops had limited capacity and couldn’t take too many talismans, refusing more than he offered.
After gaining another one hundred forty spirit stones, Shen Wang visited Hengchang Commerce Association once more, finding their purchase prices dropped further, with Silver Radiance Talismans at two stones each, Low-Level Fireball Talismans at seven stones, and Intermediate Fireball Talismans similar to Ten Thousand Treasures Tower at ten stones.
He sold only twenty Low-Level Fireball Talismans, received one hundred forty spirit stones, bought nothing, returned to his usual attire, then went back to Celestial Commerce Association.
Currently, he has fifteen Silver Radiance Talismans, thirty-four Low-Level Fireball Talismans, and five Intermediate Fireball Talismans remaining, suitable for selling to Celestial Commerce Association.
With three hundred sixty spirit stones earned from selling talismans and a Lower Grade Magic Tier Talisman Brush, his wealth surged, comparable to the time before his Dantian was damaged.
"Selling off the remaining should suffice for buying a basic array set and materials like talisman paper."
Considering how to spend the spirit stones, Paper Kite approached, "Husband, the steward has returned."
Shen Wang nodded, silently removing his cloak.
Soon, Steward Yun came over, teasing Paper Kite: "Ha ha, didn’t expect, just after a few days absence, you’re now family with Master Wang, Paper Kite, you’re quite capable."
"Uncle Hui, stop teasing me, my husband is waiting for you." Paper Kite replied helplessly, seemingly teased by every familiar face she met today.
Yun Conghui beamed, pleased with Paper Kite’s approach.
Though he had engaged Shen Wang as a special talisman master, such relations are assuredly stable.
He cheerfully knocked on the door, surprised to see Shen Wang’s youthful look upon entering: "Didn’t expect the master to be so young."
"Since Paper Kite is with me, there’s no need for disguise."
Shen Wang clasped his fists: "My surname is not Wang, but Shen Wang, from the Shen Family of Bulao Stream."
Since he intended for Paper Kite to continue developing with the commerce association, he had to reveal his identity and demonstrate his value to ensure Paper Kite received adequate attention.