Besides the Zhang's Trading Company branch, Duobao Pavilion was the only other large shop in this shantytown market.
The interior of Duobao Pavilion was much more luxurious than the Zhang's Trading Company branch, and it was also more popular; even in this weather, there were still a few customers browsing.
However, they weren't very interested in low-level Talismans like Strength Talismans, and their acquisition price was lower than Zhang Mazi's, so Chen Lin had never sold Talismans here.
The Shopkeeper was an old man with a square face, currently attending to a richly dressed man and woman; he merely glanced at Chen Lin when he entered, saying nothing.
Chen Lin didn't take it to heart.
The other party recognized him and knew he had little spending potential, as he had visited quite a few times.
There were also two sweet-looking female receptionists, both attending to other customers, so Chen Lin slowly made his way to the Talisman-making Materials counter and stopped to examine them.
Suddenly, his ears twitched.
The conversation between the man and woman caught his attention.
"Cousin, going outside the city at this time might be dangerous, and it will also delay the Family's matters. I feel it's better not to cause extra trouble."
It was the woman speaking; her voice was very pleasant, her figure was graceful, and from her profile, her looks should also be good.
The man had a handsome physique and a confident demeanor, sneering sideways, "What's there to be afraid of? Your cousin is a Qi Cultivation Late Stage Cultivator. If there's danger, I'll protect you!"
Chen Lin's eyes flickered.
It was actually a Qi Cultivation Late Stage Cultivator, so he must be a Family Cultivator; there weren't many Loose Cultivators with such cultivation.
However, he felt that this person's tone was a bit too grand; the Zhang Family's Foundation Establishment Stage Patriarch had just gone missing, so how could a Qi Cultivation Late Stage Cultivator be stronger than Foundation Establishment?
The woman seemed to want to say something more, but she was immediately interrupted by the man.
"It's fine, we're not going far. If you're scared, you can go back first, and I'll find you when I return."
His cousin pouted and said nothing more.
Chen Lin secretly wondered which Family these two Disciples belonged to and if it was possible to purchase Medicinal Pills to improve his cultivation from them. As he pondered, his cousin spoke again.
However, this time it wasn't to his cousin, but to the Old Shopkeeper.
"Shopkeeper, I came from the Duobao Pavilion in the inner city. The people at your shop told me there's someone here who can refine Soul Capturing Talismans. Please come out for a moment."
Chen Lin watched silently.
He had never even heard of Soul Capturing Talismans and wasn't interested; he just wanted to figure out how to approach them to buy Medicinal Pills.
The Old Shopkeeper was first stunned, then gave a bitter laugh and said, "Your Excellency must be Lu Li, the Third Young Master of the Lu Family, right? The one who gave you this information, was it an old woman missing an eye?"
"Indeed?"
Lu Li nodded.
The Old Shopkeeper sneered sideways and said proudly, "She didn't deceive you. There is indeed someone here who can refine Soul Capturing Talismans, and that person is me!"
Hearing the Old Shopkeeper's words, Chen Lin was extremely surprised.
He really didn't know that this Old Shopkeeper was also a Talisman Master.
Lu Li also showed joy and eagerly said, "So the Shopkeeper is that Talisman Master, that's great! I've already prepared enough Materials for the Soul Capturing Talisman. As long as the Shopkeeper helps me refine the Talisman, there will definitely be a generous reward!"
His voice was a bit loud, causing the other customers in the shop to turn their heads.
Under Lu Li's expectant gaze, the Old Shopkeeper shook his head.
"I'm very sorry, this old man no longer has the ability to refine this kind of Talisman. You should find someone else!"
The Old Shopkeeper's refusal made Lu Li's expression turn gloomy.
"What do you mean? Are you playing tricks on me, or do you think I'm not qualified?"
A sharp aura instantly emanated from his body.
It implied he was ready to act if there was any disagreement.
Seeing this, the Old Shopkeeper immediately explained, "Fellow Daoist Lu, please calm your anger. It's not that this old man is unwilling to refine it, but that I no longer have the ability."
"Why?"
Lu Li's tone was full of suspicion.
The Old Shopkeeper looked at him, "Since Fellow Daoist knows about the Soul Capturing Talisman, you should also know that this Talisman is extremely difficult to refine. There's almost no chance of success with normal methods. To increase the success rate of the Talisman, it requires using the Talisman Master's Divine Soul as a guide, right?"
Seeing that Lu Li didn't speak, the Old Shopkeeper said, "This old man's Divine Soul has already weakened to the extreme over the years due to refining this Talisman, and it's not enough to withstand the consumption of refining another one. Even if you take this old man's life, it would be useless."
At this point, the Old Shopkeeper gave a bitter laugh, "That one-eyed old woman has some grudges with me. She told you to come find me just to disgust me."
The Old Shopkeeper's words made Lu Li frown.
Since the other party had spoken to this extent, he couldn't force the issue any further.
Even if he was a Lu Family Disciple, Duobao Pavilion was not without backing; he couldn't be too presumptuous here.
However, the Soul Capturing Talisman was of great significance to his current trip. If he couldn't get it, he would have wasted a great opportunity.
"Shopkeeper, this Soul Capturing Talisman is of great use to me. Do you know anyone else who can refine this Talisman?"
He asked unwillingly.
The Old Shopkeeper shook his head, "The Soul Capturing Talisman is difficult to refine, and once successfully refined, it can only be preserved for one day. Few Talisman Masters bother to research it. There probably isn't anyone else in this city who can refine this Talisman."
At this point, he changed his tone, sneered sideways, and said, "However, the refining method of this Talisman has been improved by this old man based on decades of Talisman refining experience, making it very easy to refine. I can sell you the Talisman-making method, and you can find a Talisman Master to refine it yourself."
Lu Li was stunned.
He frowned and asked somewhat suspiciously, "Is this Talisman really that easy to refine? I need it urgently tomorrow."
The Old Shopkeeper chuckled, "It's very simple; any Talisman Master can easily pick it up. However, to successfully refine it, you need some luck, and the Talisman Master still needs to use their own Divine Soul as a guide."
Lu Li frowned again, hesitated for a moment, but still agreed to the Old Shopkeeper's suggestion.
Then, the Old Shopkeeper took out a Jade Slip, a jade piece a bit wider than a finger, and handed it to Lu Li.
Chen Lin recognized this item; it was called a Jade Slip, a way to record information in the Immortal Cultivation World, and also an Advanced item.
The Old Shopkeeper claimed it was half-sold, half-gifted, selling this item to Young Master Lu for a price of one thousand Spirit Stones.
Chen Lin sighed at the wealth of the Family's Disciples, then stopped paying attention and began to purchase Materials.
This time, he was still buying Materials for refining Strength Talismans.
Eighty Spirit Stones weren't even enough for ten portions of Alchemy Materials; he still had to continue accumulating.
After buying, he turned and left.
The snow outside had lessened a bit.
But the biting cold wind still made it hard to open one's eyes.
Even so, people were starting to appear in twos and threes on the streets, some clearing the snow in front of their doors, others struggling to move through the snow.
Without exception, they would occasionally sneer sideways.
Chen Lin tightened his cotton hat, followed the footprints he had made earlier, and walked with difficulty towards his residence, while vigilantly observing his surroundings.
Suddenly.
Two figures swept past him and landed in front of him.
Chen Lin's expression changed, thinking someone actually dared to rob in broad daylight.
After seeing the faces of the approaching people, his surprise turned into confusion.
It was actually that Young Master Lu and his cousin!
