Chapter 351: Obtaining Talismans

"You need to learn to see the bigger picture," Gu Ruohe said. "Your personal thoughts and feelings are completely insignificant in the grand scheme of things."

"But why did you choose me out of everyone in the Cloud Midst Military Base?" Jin Haitian asked furiously. "Don't you know there's bad blood between us?"

"You need to learn your place, Jin Haitian!" Gu Ruohe snapped. "Are you going to disobey your orders? Suck it up and do as you're told!"

Jin Haitian clenched his fists and gritted his teeth in anger and frustration.

It dawned on him that even if he managed to surpass Chu Qiguang someday, his higher-ups at the Cloud Midst Military Base would most likely not give him a chance to challenge Chu Qiguang in order to protect him.

With that realization, Jin Haitian was overcome by a sense of powerlessness. He felt like a prisoner, bound by the shackles of wealth and power.

Meanwhile, Chu Qiguang continued, "Right now, we don't know when or where they're going to strike, and don't intend to have all of you accompany me everywhere. That would only alert them and make them more cautious.

"My plan is to lure them out while you remain hidden in the shadows. Once they take the bait, that's when you'll step in and help me capture them. I want to make an example out of them as a warning to anyone else who might be planning to target our trade association through underhanded means."

On this occasion, Chu Qiguang had decided not to enlist Zhong Shan'e's help.

As far as he knew, neither the northern wolf fiends nor the Imperial Heavenly Dao had sent any Dao Comprehension-state cultivators after him.

All Dao Comprehension-state cultivators were extremely influential figures, and neither the Imperial Heavenly Dao nor the wolf fiends would be likely to send out any Dao Comprehension-state cultivators unless they wanted to declare all-out war on the Great Han Empire.

Hence, Chu Qiguang saw no need to turn to Zhong Shan'e for help. Furthermore, if Zhong Shan'e were to get involved, he would be the one to claim all the spoils, which was something Chu Qiguang wanted to avoid.

After discussing their strategy and settling on a plan, Chu Qiguang turned his attention to the abbots from the Heavenly Master Religion.

The Heavenly Master Religion had sent a total of three abbots on this occasion, one of whom was none other than Chen Zhu.

Chu Qiguang pulled Chen Zhu aside, and after exchanging some pleasantries, he cut straight to the chase. "Do you have any spare talismans at the moment, Abbot? I'd like to get a few talismans to defend myself with. In return, I'll be sure to make a donation to the Azure Sun Daoist Temple."

Chen Zhu's eyes immediately lit up upon hearing this. "All of the talismans in our Heavenly Master Religion are handed down by the pope, and we're not supposed to sell them, but I'm sure the pope would be willing to make an exception in your case."

The two exchanged a smile before Chen Zhu asked, "What kind of talismans would you like to buy, Hundred-Man Commander Chu?"

Many people on Jade Face Mountain knew that Chu Qiguang was unable to activate talismans, but Chen Zhu and the others gathered in the courtyard were unaware of this. Given that Chu Qiguang was a fifth-state martial artist and a hundred-man commander of the Demon Vanquishing Department, everyone naturally assumed that he was a follower of the Heavenly Master Religion.

"Do you have any Invisibility Talismans?" Chu Qiguang asked.

Chen Zhu let out a soft sigh, then carefully pulled out two yellow talismans and said, "Invisibility talismans can only be created by the Dao Comprehension-state immortals on Dragon Serpent Mountain who have cultivated the One Righteous Tome. Not even abbots are guaranteed to have any, and I only have two in my possession."

Chu Qiguang's eyes lit up at the sight of the talismans. He really wanted both of them, but unfortunately, Chen Zhu was only willing to give him one.

In addition to the Invisibility Talisman, Chu Qiguang also managed to secure a defensive Golden Armor Talisman and a bodily strengthening Big Dipper Talisman.

All three were one-time-use talismans that required incantations to activate, and the stronger one's faith, the more potent their effects would be.

Chu Qiguang also requested some reusable talismans, such as the ones Zhang Fengyun had implanted in her own body. However, such talismans were far rarer and more precious than one-time-use talismans, and Chen Zhu didn't have a single one in his possession.

After returning to his residence, Chu Qiguang began examining the three talismans with delight, like a child who had just received a set of new toys.

"What did you get those for?" Qiao Zhi asked. "It's not like you can use them."

"I think I should be able to use them now," Chu Qiguang replied with a mysterious smile.

Even after securing these Heavenly Master Religion talismans, Chu Qiguang still wasn't satisfied. That same night, he went to meet with Luo Binghong to ask her about the Imperial Heavenly Dao's talismanic water.

***

Several days after the people gathered by Chu Qiguang arrived in Azure Sun County, the holy maiden of the Imperial Heavenly Dao also arrived, accompanied by ten generals and two celestial maidens.

The holy maiden's name was Qiu Yuebai, and she was a disciple of the previous pope of the Imperial Heavenly Dao.

She had reached the fifth state in both martial arts and Dao arts, and for many years, she had been seeking a breakthrough to the Dao Comprehension state.

Not only was she far more powerful than the average celestial maiden, but the talismanic water in her possession was also far more potent.

Upon arriving in Azure Sun County, Qiu Yuebai met up with Luo Binghong and the others, bringing the total number of personnel under her command to fifteen generals and three celestial maidens.

Qiu Yuebai cast a cold glance at Luo Binghong before slapping her across the face.

"Do you have any idea how much money we've lost because of you?" she demanded coldly.

"I was scammed, Holy Maiden! I'm a victim too!" Luo Binghong hurriedly explained as she fell to her knees, lowering her head to conceal the bitter resentment in her eyes.

"You better work hard to redeem yourself!" Qiu Yuebai harrumphed coldly. "Otherwise, no one will be able to save you."

"I have useful information!" Luo Binghong hurriedly said. "I've discovered that there are wolf fiends in Azure Sun County, and they seem to be targeting Chu Qiguang as well!"