013: The Town Lord

013: The Town Lord

Inside the private room on the second floor, Zemirah entered the room with Riya and Wendy as the staff led them.

Opening the door, she saw three people inside the room. The Town Lord, the Commander, and the scholarly young man.

"Fellow Daoists, please have a seat." It was the Town Lord who spoke.

Being called fellow Daoists by higher realm cultivators shows that the Town Lord is showing good feelings to them.

Zemirah just smiled politely, "Many thanks, Town Lord." She led her disciple to sit beside her while Riya sat on a nearby chair.

"How should I call my fellow Daoists?" The Town Lord asked with a smile.

Zemirah blinked and spoke first, "The Town Lord can call this one, Mirah, and my disciple as Wendy."

The man nodded before turning his gaze to Riya. Riya politely said, "This humble one is Riya."

The Town Lord nodded, "Fellow Daoists Mirah and Riya must be curious why I called you."

Zemirah and Riya nodded, they were indeed surprised at the Town Lord's call but they had a guess in their heart.

It must be related to the Demonic Cultivators hunt. That was the latest issue on the town right now.

"A month ago, demonic cultivators massacred two villages on my Teal River Town's jurisdiction for a blood sacrifice. And another four villages were massacred on the nearby Lark Mountain Town."

They knew this so they listened for the Town Lord's next words.

"The Wintea City Lord has issued a notice to hunt all demonic cultivators for every town. The Teal River Town is one of the most active forces in the hunt for the demonic cultivators."

The Town Lord's tone became serious at that. Zemirah's lips almost twitch as she can already foresee the next words.

"At this period of time, the town guards are in urgent need of supplies such as medicinal pills and talismans."

He already knew their identity as a talisman master and Riya being an alchemist. The introduction earlier is just for formality.

Zemirah saw Riya's expression of having no desire to speak as if she was used to this scene.

Zemirah spoke for them, "The Town Lord's meaning is?" She asked as if she was puzzled.

The Town Lord still had a smile on his face, "My Lord's Mansion wants to purchase a large amount of talismans and medicinal pills for my Fellow Daoists."

Sure enough.

Zemirah smiled, signaling Riya to speak since she didn't have any experience in this. She's quite clueless about the economy of the cultivation world. 

"Town Lord, please speak your needs and we will see if we can meet them," Riya spoke, her tone bland and polite.

The Town Lord laughed, "Good, look at this jade slip and tell me what's your decision."

Riya and Zemirah were given a jade slip each. They accepted it, knowing that they didn't really have a choice as rejecting meant offending the Town Lord.

At that time, how could they mix in the Teal River Town?

Zemirah saw the list of talismans inside, with the number of required talismans every week. She estimated that they would reach hundreds of Grade 1 talismans.

She knew most of the listed talismans, so she spoke first, "The Town Lord, before agreeing to your request. Can you listen to our request in exchange and see if you agree with them."

The three men were obviously surprised at her words before the Town Lord nodded after pondering. "Of course Daoist Mirah. State what you need."

"You can supply me with the materials and I'll create the corresponding talismans. For every batch of talismans, I want you to pay me with different items at each stage. For example, on the first week, I want that batch of talismans exchanged with spiritual plants for my hard work, you can give me anything you think is good. I like collecting beautiful and useful things."

The Town Lord pondered before nodding, "That can be done."

Then they turned to Riya, "How about Fellow Daoist Riya."

Riya thought for a moment before saying, "Just give me the materials for the pills I'll concoct. I'll give 6 pills for every batch of materials."

The Town Lord was pleased with her high success rate of making medicinal pills since most alchemists can only guarantee to make at least 2 medicinal pills in one batch of materials.

As for capable alchemists who have a high success rate, they were mostly associated with big forces.

Zemirah asked, "Until when do you need our service, my lord?" 

The Town Lord hesitated to speak at first, inadvertently glancing at the young man beside him before saying, "It will probably last for at least 2 months and half a year at most."

Zemirah frowned before nodding. 

They talked about more details of the transaction. The materials will arrive the next morning and the Town Lord expects the supplies at the end of the week.

They left after that.

"Young Lord, has the Wolf Fang Sect really rebelled?" The Commander spoke in a concerned tone.

The Wolf Fang Sect, a beast-taming sect known for their tamed wolves and techniques inspired by wolves, has been restless recently. There are signs that an elder reached the Mind Activation Realm and now expanding their forces.

But their actions coincide with the Demonic Cultivators who have been using mortal villages for blood sacrifice.

The Young Lord sipped on his tea before speaking in a light tone, "Since they dare to, they must have some backing pushing at the dark."

The room went silent at his words.

The Golden Light Dynasty has been calm for decades, yet now there are signs of incoming turmoil. They just didn't know how big the storm that will come.

On the other side, Wendy asked her master, "Master, is that the Town Lord?"

Zemirah nodded, "Yeah, he wants some talisman and pills from me and your Auntie Riya that is why they called us."

Wendy nodded, she didn't understand much about these matters.

"The Teal River Town Lord is still quite good, other huge factions will force people like us to give their needs." Riya suddenly said.

Mirah and Wendy listened. "Some will force a trade while some will enslave cultivators like us. This is why I'm staying in this town rather than other places."

Riya sighed as she said that, looking weary like she remembered something.

"It's fine to trade with the Town Lord, if he forced it, heh." Zemirah sneered under her veil.

Riya's eyes widened when she heard Mirah's words. There is no fear to the Foundation Building Realm cultivator at all. 

This confidence… 

Riya was certain it was because Mirah had a trump card against Foundation Building Realm enemies.

Mirah smiled and held Riya's hand. She didn't say much but her gesture already indicated something. Riya was stunned, before smiling. Inexplicably, her newly found friend made her feel trust and safety she hadn't felt for a long time.

Zemirah, of course, has the confidence to deal with a Foundation Building realm, even if it is a Mind Activation Realm, she's confident to escape. 

As long as it is not someone in the Golden Core realm, Zemirah can ensure her disciple and friend's safety.

Zemirah is also in favor of offering her service to the Town Lord, besides the connection she'll get by this favor, she will also be able to get things she wanted easily like the spiritual plants for a batch of talismans.

They went home safely at night, Wendy got the things her master bid on and exchanged them in the auction with her space ring that her master has always been using. She asked her master what about her. 

Her master only smiled and said, "Your master is quite rich, don't worry." She even winked at her making Wendy blush shyly.

Zemirah is telling the truth, with the constant gift she gave Wendy these past few days, her previous space ring is quite cramped. Though she still has her space pouch, she prefers putting plants and insects inside like a little garden.

That night, Zemirah counted the rewards she got from the auction items.

"Come on, Sia! Receive my rewards!" Zemirah rubbed her palms against each other as she listened to Sia's voice inside her mind.

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering an 8,999 fold-back and being rewarded with a Celestial-Quality Grade 2 Talisman Ink - [Golden White Tiger Blood Ink]

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering a 6,999-fold-back and being rewarded with a Celestial-Quality Grade 2 Talisman Ink - [Ocean Vera Ink].

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering a 1,999-fold-back and being rewarded with a Celestial-Quality Low-Stage Grade 2 Accessory Artifact - [Emerald Vine Ribbon]

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering a 9,999-fold-back and being rewarded with a Celestial-Quality Mid-Stage Grade 2 Accessory Artifact - [Infinite Flower Blossom Wreathe]

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering an 8,999-fold-back and being rewarded with a Celestial-Quality Late-Stage Grade 2 Accessory Artifact - [Yin-Yang Star Bracelet]

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering a 9,999-fold-back and being rewarded with a Celestial-Quality Peak-Stage Grade 2 Accessory Artifact - [Auspicious Blessing Lotus Flower Necklace]

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering a 5,999-fold-back and being rewarded with a Celestial-Quality Late-Stage Grade 2 Accessory Artifact - [Dual Star Royal Earring]

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering a 3,999 fold-back and being rewarded with a Celestial-Quality Mid-Stage Grade 2 space ring artifact - [Blood Void Stone Ring]

"What is this [Blood Void Stone Ring], Sia?" Zemirah asked her system as she held a beautiful ring with a bloody red stone. 

Ding! The [Blood Void Stone Ring] is just a space ring made from the blood of a creature from the void.

"This is a good thing, right?" Zemirah smiled as she happily explored the ring.

Ding! That's right, Host. The [Blood Void Stone Ring] can only be used by the owner, anyone who dares to try force to open or erase the mark will suffer from the stone's attack. 

"You're the best, Sia! I'll wear it now." Zemirah happily refined the [Blood Void Stone Ring] to mark her spiritual consciousness. It only took half an hour to finish unlike before when even artifact will take a day.

She hid the items that can't be seen by others in Sia's system space while most Grade 1 items are stored in her space ring or space pouch.

"Sia, can you control the items I'll receive next time? Most of my items are in Grade 2, I can't use them at all." Zemirah sighed thinking of her artifacts hidden in the system's space since they are treasures that many will covet.

Ding! Sia can try but Sia advised the Host to just buy mortal-grade items to receive Grade 1 items so that you can use them.

"Well, that's the only way," Zemirah scratched her forehead before her attention was diverted.

"Sia, what do you think about that young man besides the Town Lord." Zemirah curiously asked.

Ding! Sia can't answer the Host's question.

"Well, this is not in your system's jurisdiction. But I think that person is extraordinary. He doesn't seem to be the same as other cultivators." Zemirah sighed as she pondered.

Sia was silent but Zemirah knew her system was listening.

"He's like the True Disciples in my previous sect, maybe even better than them," Zemirah concluded.

Actually, she already has a guess in her heart after seeing that person, especially after being near him earlier. That man is probably from some big faction in Azar. She just didn't know his exact identity though.

Zemirah counted her treasure before making a list on her mind. She feels that her treasures are quite rich compared to the time she just arrived in Azar. 

Even when excluding the things she gave away, she thinks that when they are revealed to the outside world, a blood bath will occur. This time, it was crueler than the one where the villages were massacred.

Especially the Celestial-quality items, they are something unique to the world. Something only heard in legends.

Although Zemirah isn't sure if the bigger factions have them, the fact she has dozens is a feat of her own.

  [AUTHOR'S NOTE]

Thank you to everyone who keeps supporting me and my story! You guys know who you are. The comments and powerstones, I knew them all. Thank you so much!