Chapter 106 - 105: [A Taoist’s Gotta Eat, Too!]

Chapter 106: Chapter 105: [A Taoist’s Gotta Eat, Too!]

"Young Daoist, could you please pass on a message? What I’m looking for is something only Daoist Shouyang has."

"Hm?" The young Daoist looked He Xiaotian up and down, only then realizing he was different from ordinary people.

His temples bulged, and his eyes glinted with a sharp light.

His exposed arms were corded with muscle, as if forged from fine steel.

Under the sunlight, they shone with a bronze luster.

When he spoke, his voice was resonant and full of energy.

The pressure this man exuded was even greater than that of his master, Shouyangzi.

"Are you here for *talismans* or to *summon a god*?"

"Precisely."

"Follow me."

One followed the other as they walked into the main hall.

The Divine Void Temple was enormous, occupying more than half of the summit of Snake Mountain.

He Xiaotian followed the young Daoist through a labyrinth of twists and turns until he had no idea where he was.

They finally stopped in front of a nondescript side hall.

The hall’s doors were open, and the sound of chanting drifted from within.

’Upon closer listening, was that... the Tao Te Ching?’

"Master, someone is here for talismans and to summon a god."

"Nothing in the world is softer or more yielding than water. Yet for attacking the firm and the strong, nothing surpasses it. For nothing can take its place. The weak overcomes the strong, the soft overcomes the hard. Everyone in the world knows this, but no one can practice it. Thus the Saint proclaims: ’He who bears the sins of the nation is deemed the lord of the state altars; he who bears the nation’s ills is deemed the king of the world...’"

The chanting from within the side hall did not stop; it continued on.

It went on until the final Chapter of the Tao Te Ching was recited.

"True words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not true. The good do not argue; those who argue are not good. The knowing are not learned; the learned are not knowing. The Saint does not hoard. The more he does for others, the more he has. The more he gives to others, the more he possesses. The Way of Heaven is to benefit and not to harm. The Way of the Saint is to act and not to contend."

"Please let the layman in."

Outside the hall, the young Daoist made a welcoming gesture toward He Xiaotian, apparently with no intention of going in with him.

He stepped inside. Previously, Shouyangzi had his back to the door, but now he had turned around.

He saw that the Daoist wore a cyan robe, his hair coiled into a topknot secured with a wooden pin and covered by a Nanhua cap.

He wore white socks and a pair of blue cloth shoes.

This attire truly gave him a transcendent, otherworldly air, as if he were an immortal about to ascend to the heavens.

But Shouyangzi’s next move shattered that aura to pieces, proving to be a complete shock.

"Supreme Celestial Venerable. Layman, please take a look at the price list."

He pulled a list from his Daoist robe and handed it over.

’Daoist, could you please not ruin the image of a great master I had in my head?’

’Give me back that transcendent air, that dignified style of chanting scriptures!’

He Xiaotian fought back the urge to roll his eyes and took the list.

[Protective Talisman - Alert: Will grow hot upon encountering evil entities or aberrations, warning the owner of danger within a 500-meter radius. Price: Five Spiritual Energy Crystals.]

[Protective Talisman - Defense: Can transform into a shield of light to protect the owner when attacked by evil entities or aberrations. Duration is variable, dependent on the intensity of the attack. Price: Ten Spiritual Energy Crystals.]

[Protective Talisman - Offense: Can fire sharp arrows formed from solar qi to attack evil entities and aberrations. Price: Fifteen Spiritual Energy Crystals.]

[Protective Talisman - Ultimate Form: A superior talisman combining the functions of alert, defense, and offense. Price: Thirty Spiritual Energy Crystals.]

He Xiaotian was stunned by the four types of Protective Talismans.

It was obvious they had just taken a single talisman and split it into four separate items to sell.

"Daoist, isn’t this a bit..."

Before he could finish, Shouyangzi smiled faintly.

"Alas! My dear layman, what are you saying? We’re people too. And people can’t escape worldly needs—we have to eat. Besides, I have disciples under my care who need training, so this is how it must be. The Daoist Alliance has set uniform prices. As a minor member, I can’t just go around breaking the rules, can I?

"Besides, my prices are much better than that bunch of baldies. You haven’t seen the Buddhist’s price list—it’s shamelessly greedy. You might just complain a bit here, but if you went to them, you’d probably have started beating up Monks by now."

He Xiaotian was actually speechless. Shouyangzi was right; Daoists were people too, and they needed to eat.

"If it’s expensive, there’s a good reason. All Protective Talismans produced by the Daoist Alliance are guaranteed for quality and quantity; no one dares to cut corners. We’re not like some of those degenerate baldies, using the pretense of a ’consecration by a great and virtuous master’ to scam people.

"A tycoon in City C fell for that nonsense and hired a so-called eminent monk to consecrate a Buddha statue at his home. And the result? Tsk, tsk. Three days later, his entire family, young and old, was wiped out. As for that eminent monk, he also met a gruesome end in his own temple."

Shouyangzi’s expression was dead serious. He wasn’t the type to be a hypocrite, putting up a virtuous front.

What was wrong with opening your doors to do business?

Sure, a Daoist is supposed to practice tranquility and non-action, but you first need the power to back that up.

Otherwise, if you can’t even fill your own stomach, who would become a Daoist for no reason?

Seeing this, He Xiaotian felt it wasn’t right to argue further, so he just looked back down at the list.

[Summoning God - Six Ding and Six Jia: Ding-Chou extends my life, Ding-Hai secures my soul. Ding-You controls my spirit, Ding-Wei repels my disasters. Ding-Si saves me from peril, Ding-Mao saves me from hardship. Jia-Zi protects my body, Jia-Xu preserves my form. Jia-Shen secures my fate, Jia-Wu guards my soul. Jia-Chen stabilizes my spirit, Jia-Yin nurtures my true self.

Blesses the home with peace. All demons and monsters will have nowhere to hide and will be annihilated, body and soul. Price: One hundred Spiritual Energy Crystals.]

[Summoning God - The Sixty Natal Stars: Jia-Zi, Yi-Chou, Bing-Yin, Ding-Mao, Wu-Chen, Ji-Si, Geng-Wu, Xin-Wei, Ren-Shen, Gui-You. Jia-Xu, Yi-Hai, Bing-Zi, Ding-Chou, Wu-Yin, Ji-Mao, Geng-Chen, Xin-Si, Ren-Wu, Gui-Wei. Jia-Shen, Yi-You, Bing-Xu, Ding-Hai, Wu-Zi, Ji-Chou, Geng-Yin, Xin-Mao, Ren-Chen, Gui-Si.

Jia-Wu, Yi-Wei, Bing-Shen, Ding-You, Wu-Xu, Ji-Hai, Geng-Zi, Xin-Chou, Ren-Yin, Gui-Mao. Jia-Chen, Yi-Si, Bing-Wu, Ding-Wei, Wu-Shen, Ji-You, Geng-Xu, Xin-Hai, Ren-Zi, Gui-Chou. Jia-Yin, Yi-Mao, Bing-Chen, Ding-Si, Wu-Wu, Ji-Wei, Geng-Shen, Xin-You, Ren-Xu, Gui-Hai.

The Natal Stars protect my body, the Sixty Generals guard my spirit. Evil arts will not approach; demons and monsters will retreat. Price: Three hundred Spiritual Energy Crystals.]

[Summoning God - The Four Great Dharma Protector Marshals:

The Orthodox One’s Divine Official, Marshal Ma. Price: Five hundred Spiritual Energy Crystals.

Marshal Zhao of the Black Tiger Altar. Price: Five hundred Spiritual Energy Crystals.

The Earth-Only Supreme General, Manifestor of Martial Virtue, Marshal Wen. Price: Five hundred Spiritual Energy Crystals.

The Great Emperor Who Subdues Demons of the Three Realms, the Divine and Far-Reaching Heavenly Venerable, Lord Guan the Saintly Emperor. Price: Five hundred Spiritual Energy Crystals.]

"HISS! Daoist, this is highway robbery! Each one is more expensive than the last." He Xiaotian was realizing that bashing ghosts wasn’t much of a skill, and it certainly wasn’t lucrative. It was a no-brainer that under government control, something like Spiritual Energy Crystals would have a price but no actual market to buy them in.

"Alas, what is the layman saying? I am a man of the Daoist path; how could I do something as sordid as robbery? You get what you pay for. The Six Ding and Six Jia are twelve divine generals. The Sixty Natal Stars are a full sixty great generals. It’s only fair they’re a little more expensive, isn’t it?

As for the renown of the Four Great Marshals, I don’t need to explain too much, do I? Marshal Ma, also known as Ma Wangye, was a badass who could go toe-to-toe with Sun Wukong. Since the other three are ranked alongside him as the Four Great Marshals, they’re obviously no slouches either.

"Besides, layman, let me ask you: what’s more important, your life or some Spiritual Energy Crystals? They’re just worldly possessions, after all."

Shouyangzi spoke with a breezy, detached air, projecting an image of someone unconcerned with worldly matters.

He Xiaotian winced. ’Easy for you to say, since you’re not the one footing the bill!’