Chapter 78: Plan for the Future
Amid the hype from some unreliable rumors, people outside the angling circle began to pay attention to Jiang Cheng’s Fishing Talismans.
As a result, the number of requests for Fishing Talismans at the Task Hall soared along with their strong reputation.
So much so that He almost couldn’t keep up by herself. To avoid delays in selling Fishing Talismans, Sun Decai had to temporarily assign other disciples to work under her.
A mere month ago, He, an ordinary female disciple from the Tongtian Sect’s Outer Sect, was unknown, but after getting to know Jiang Cheng for a month, she suddenly became the sought-after hotcake and part of the management team in the Task Hall.
Even the Task Hall’s top Elder, Sun Decai, had to speak to He in a pleasant and courteous manner.
Because Sun Decai knew that Bai Xiaohe and Jiang Cheng had a close relationship.
Given Jiang Cheng’s habit of changing female cultivators every day, the exact nature of Bai Xiaohe and Jiang Cheng’s closeness was probably only known to them.
After all, this was an open secret to any discerning observer, no need for further explanation.
The Task Hall’s business was booming, and Yue Linger’s talisman subcontracting work was also chaotic with busyness.
After Jiang Cheng entrusted Yue Linger with the task of making Fishing Talismans, she used her connections in the Wuyue Talisman Realm to find talisman subcontractors for Jiang Cheng.
Advancement in rank for Talisman Masters is similar to the cultivation level; the higher the rank, the more difficult it is to advance, and the number of Talisman Masters decreases correspondingly.
In Wuyue, Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators are as common as dogs, or even more numerous than the fish in the river. Once reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage, they’re mostly the senior leaders of various colleges and government bodies. And when it comes to the Core Formation Stage, they are few and far between.
In all of Wuyue, the mighty Core Formation experts could be counted on one’s fingers.
Wuyue’s sole third-rank Talisman Master is Lu Wang, president of the Tongtian Sect’s Talisman Master Association, and the remaining second-rank Talisman Masters, when they are not the pillars of certain shops, are elite teachers like Lu Benwei.
Therefore, the talisman subcontractors Yue Linger could find were all experienced first-rank Talisman Masters.
As a second-rank Talisman Master, Yue Linger still managed to keep the first-rank Talisman Masters in check.
Although each first-rank Talisman Master’s output wasn’t high, with the most productive one managing only eighteen talismans per day, the sheer number of Talisman Masters led to a considerable daily output.
It was just that the Task Hall’s requests seemed to be growing even faster.
So there were never enough Talisman Masters, and Yue Linger always had to help Jiang Cheng interview new ones.
She was so busy that she even neglected her own makeup and attire.
At night, Yue Ping lay on the couch doing nothing, watching Yue Linger hurriedly tidy up after dinner and get ready to leave.
“Sis? Are you going out this late at night?”
“Shut up.”
“You should come back early, or if mom finishes her square dance and finds out you’re not home…”
“Shut up.”
“Hey, I’ve been eyeing a Messenger Talisman lately. If someone bought it for me, I probably wouldn’t be interested in anything else.”
Without another word, Yue Linger flicked her wrist and a dozen medium-grade Spirit Stones flew out of her storage bag, landing on Yue Ping.
Yue Ping was dumbfounded.
A dozen medium-grade Spirit Stones were worth over a thousand low-grade Spirit Stones!
“Sis, when did you become so rich?”
“Can you shut up now?”
“Absolutely, more than capable!”
Yue Linger sighed at her useless brother.
Although she often mocked Yue Ping, she knew in her heart that he wasn’t bad in terms of studies, talent, or looks; in fact, he could even be deemed “very outstanding” among his peers.
But after she met Jiang Cheng, she realized the gap between her brother and Jiang Cheng was simply too vast.
Some spend their summer break after college entrance exams doing nothing.
Others start businesses during their summer break after exams, making even a proud, high-minded, second-rank Talisman Master like her willingly work for them.
Was this Yue Ping’s problem?
No, this was Jiang Cheng’s problem!
Perhaps even Yue Linger hadn’t noticed, but after meeting Jiang Cheng, she subconsciously compared him with other male cultivators.
Yue Linger’s once relatively normal standards for a partner had been unknowingly influenced by Jiang Cheng to a level that other male cultivators would find daunting.
“Sis? What’s with that look?” Yue Ping asked, puzzled by Yue Linger’s expression.
Yue Linger looked at her useless little brother and sighed, “If you’re ever short on money, just ask your sister. Jiang, *cough cough*, it’s not easy for mom and dad to make money either.”
“Oh.”
Yue Ping nodded happily.
Now that his sister had struck it rich, was he considered a Rich Second Generation too?
At the confluence where Wu River met Ming River.
Ruolin was swimming slowly underwater.
He had been a bit too impulsive before.
Although it was indeed hateful that the Human Race intended to exterminate their Freshwater Fish Tribe, to be fair and truthful, the current gap between the Freshwater Fish Tribe and the Human Race was very, very, very large.
Whether it was overall strength or peak combat power, the Freshwater Fish Tribe couldn’t hold a candle to the Human Race.
Not to mention that among the humans, there were behemoths like the Five Great Immortal Sects looming high above.
The disparity made him feel a deep sense of powerlessness and fear.
“Enough, this matter cannot be rushed; we must think in the long term.”
“Brother Ruolin? Have you noticed it too?”
As Ruolin was thinking, an old friend swam up to him from across.
Juya, a Nian Fish Demon, was at the late Foundation Establishment Stage of his cultivation.
“Brother Juya? What’s this about?”
“Ah! Did you hear that noise? I’m actually on my way to Wuyue to settle accounts with those humans! Such bewildering sorcery is definitely not normal! Many of the youngsters I had high hopes for have all been taken down by this strange magic!”
“Brother Juya, I have just come back from Wuyue myself. We cannot be impulsive about this; we must plan for the long term.”
“Plan for the long term my ass! The humans are already shitting on my head, and I’m supposed to plan for the long term with them? In the cultivation world, whoever has the bigger fist is right! Once I teach them a lesson, those arrogant humans will remember this for a long time! Brother, will you join me?”
Ruolin hurriedly shook his head, saying, “I’ll pass.”
Juya snorted coldly, looking down on Ruolin a little.
“Then I’ll go alone!”
Ruolin had intended to go to the ancestral temple in the heart of Ming River, but seeing Juya’s departing back, he decided it was better to wait for Juya right there.
Sure enough, it didn’t take half a day for Juya to return, his face bruised and swollen.
“Brother Juya, what happened to you…”
“I just accidentally ran into a big rock. The weather today is bad, and the water is murky with low visibility. Plus, being a Nian, my vision is poor, so it’s normal to hit a rock, right?”
“Indeed, indeed,” Ruolin nodded, politely not asking further.
Juya said awkwardly, “About this sorcery thing, indeed we cannot be impulsive; we must think in the long term.”
As the two were talking, a dark-skinned, tall, and plump cultivator hurried over from afar.
Hun River, a Yuyao Monster, at the early Foundation Establishment Stage of cultivation.
“Are the two seniors also heading to Wuyue?” Hun River asked.
“We’ve just come back. Although it’s urgent, don’t rush; in any case, start by thinking in the long term…”
Seeing the reticent demeanor of Ruolin and Juya, Hun River became indignant.
“Seniors, there’s no need to explain further. I understand. This matter is about the honor of the fish tribe and the future of the younger generation. As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, I must do my duty! I take my leave!”
Watching Hun River’s retreating back, Ruolin and Juya squatted in place in tacit understanding.
“How long do you think it’ll take for him to come back?”
“Since Yuyao swim slowly, I guess it’ll take a day.”
“I guess ten hours.”
“What shall we bet on?”
“Let’s bet my treasured copy of ‘Taixu Goddess Record.’”