Ye Shanhu's expression turned solemn. "Junior Brother Xu, we are not strangers, so I shall dispense with pleasantries. The absolute highest price our Wanbao Pavilion can offer is one Spirit Stone per talisman."

"Is that so!"

Xu Changshou maintained a placid facade, though a tempest raged within his heart.

One Spirit Stone for a single Windwalk Talisman-what sort of terrifying concept was this?

With his current mastery, he could draft eighteen talismans a day without draining his Spiritual Qi.

Eighteen talismans equated to eighteen Spirit Stones. Reaping eighteen Spirit Stones in a single day-even a formidable Foundation Establishment cultivator could not amass wealth with such savage speed!

Naturally, such thoughts were merely inner fantasies. If he actually flooded the market with eighteen talismans daily, their value would inevitably plummet.

Worse, if the drafting method was exposed, this variant would simply become the new standard, rendering his advantage worthless.

At present, the Wanbao Pavilion offered such an exorbitant price strictly because rare items command a premium.

Across the entire Eastern Forest of Immortals, Xu Changshou was the sole individual capable of drafting this caliber of Windwalk Talisman.

If the Wanbao Pavilion desired them, they had no avenue but him. The price naturally soared.

Seeing Xu Changshou remain so unreadable, Ye Shanhu's heart skipped a beat. She asked cautiously, "How does this price sit with you?"

Xu Changshou considered it for a moment. "I cannot give you an answer right now. I must consult with that Senior Brother. If he consents, we have an agreement."

Ye Shanhu urged, "Then when will you seek him out?"

Xu Changshou replied, "Tonight. I shall visit his quarters this evening."

Ye Shanhu's eyes flickered with calculation. "May I accompany you?"

"No!"

Xu Changshou shook his head. "My Senior Brother adamantly refuses to let others know he is the one drafting these talismans. That is precisely why he entrusted their exchange to me."

"Very well. I shall not leave today. I will await your good news."

As she spoke, Ye Shanhu seated herself upon Xu Changshou's bed, casually crossing her legs to enter a state of meditation.

Evening soon descended. To his surprise, Ye Shanhu lay back upon his bed, falling asleep without removing her outer robes.

The sight of a stunningly beautiful maiden sleeping upon his own bed could not help but stir faint ripples in Xu Changshou's mortal heart.

Deep night arrived.

Ye Shanhu kept her eyes shut, feigning sleep, while Xu Changshou quietly slipped out the door.

To guard against Ye Shanhu tracking his movements, Xu Changshou found a desolate corner, slapped an Invisibility Talisman onto his chest, and melted into the shadows.

He then took a massive detour around Green Ink Peak. Only after a full hour had passed did he finally return to his courtyard.

By then, Ye Shanhu had genuinely drifted into slumber.

Left with no alternative, Xu Changshou fetched a woven mat and sat upon the floor to cultivate.

The room was suffused with the faint, delicate fragrance unique to a young maiden. It drifted into his senses, making it utterly impossible for him to center his mind.

The following day.

When Xu Changshou opened his eyes, wisps of cooking smoke were already curling from the courtyard's kitchen.

Ye Shanhu was already awake and bustling about, preparing a spirit meal.

Approaching the kitchen, Xu Changshou watched her graceful figure move through the mundane tasks, an inexplicable warmth stirring within his chest.

"Junior Brother Xu, the spirit meal is ready. Wash your hands and come eat."

"Alright!"

..

The early morning air was exceptionally tranquil. The two exchanged idle chatter as they broke their fast.

As the meal drew to a close, Ye Shanhu asked, "Junior Brother Xu, did you meet with your Senior Brother yesterday? What was his verdict?"

Xu Changshou nodded. "One Spirit Stone per talisman. My Senior Brother agreed to draft them, but he has a single condition."

"What condition?"

"He will only provide ten talismans a month."

Rationing the Wanbao Pavilion to a mere ten talismans monthly was a calculated decision born of careful deliberation.

The sole reason this Windwalk Talisman commanded such an exorbitant price was its absolute scarcity.

If he drafted too many and allowed them to flood the cultivation world, the resulting shock would inevitably cripple their future value.

Supplying only ten talismans a month restricted the flow of resources, ensuring the price would never wane.

Furthermore, it was common knowledge that the disciples of Green Ink Peak could barely fulfill their mandated drafting quotas. If he produced a massive surplus, it would undoubtedly invite lethal suspicion.

Drafting a mere ten extra was easily justifiable.

Under this arrangement, combined with his Sect stipend, Xu Changshou could secure an income of eleven Spirit Stones a month.

Eleven Spirit Stones monthly was more than sufficient for his current realm.

Outside of his Sect duties, he would only need to draft ten Windwalk Talismans, freeing him from the burden of other arrays.

This would preserve vast stretches of time for his own cultivation.

Having weighed his own needs and ensured all variables were optimal, Xu Changshou settled on drafting ten talismans monthly for Ye Shanhu.

Ye Shanhu's brow furrowed. "Ten? That is rather meager."

Xu Changshou offered a wry smile. "Senior Sister Ye, in all honesty, it is an arduous struggle for the disciples of Green Ink Peak merely to complete our Sect quotas. Drafting an extra ten Windwalk Talismans is already pushing my Senior Brother to his absolute limits, so.."

"Very well, ten it is. However, I have a condition of my own. I wish to secure exclusive rights to your Senior Brother's Windwalk Talismans."

"What do you mean?"

"Aside from our Wanbao Pavilion, this variant of the Windwalk Talisman must never be traded to another soul."

Xu Changshou considered her words. Ye Shanhu's demand for exclusivity was aimed at securing absolute control over the resource, granting the Wanbao Pavilion undisputed authority over its market price.

He nodded slowly. "Senior Sister Ye, I can agree to that on his behalf. Set your mind at ease. Drafting an extra ten talismans a month is already his utmost limit. There will be no surplus to offer anyone else."

"Then it is settled."

"A binding word."

"Junior Brother Xu, I can now return and report my success. When may I come to collect the Windwalk Talismans?"

Xu Changshou patted his Storage Bag, retrieving a thick stack of twenty Windwalk Talismans. "This is the entirety of my Senior Brother's current stockpile. I shall hand them all over to you now. From now on, come to me at the end of each month."

"Excellent!"

Ye Shanhu nodded readily, a bright laugh escaping her lips. "Twenty Windwalk Talismans equals twenty Spirit Stones. Adding the one from yesterday's trial, the total comes to twenty-one Spirit Stones. Take them."

"My thanks, Senior Sister!"

Xu Changshou swept the twenty-one Spirit Stones into his Storage Bag. "Senior Sister Ye, my supply of Qi Gathering Pills is running dangerously low. When you return at the end of the month, could you procure some for me?"

"Will these suffice?"

Ye Shanhu casually withdrew a jade bottle of Qi Gathering Pills from her Storage Bag. Xu Changshou uncorked it and peered inside.

The pills were flawlessly round and possessed a jade-like luster, emitting a rich, intoxicating medicinal fragrance.

The quality of this single bottle vastly outstripped the standard fare provided by the Sect.

"Senior Sister Ye, what is the price for these Qi Gathering Pills?"

"One Spirit Stone for ten pills, not a single pill more."

"Mm."

Xu Changshou nodded inwardly.

These medicinal pills were infinitely superior to Huang Xiangui's stock. Although Huang Xiangui offered two extra pills per stone, given the choice, he would effortlessly side with Ye Shanhu's merchandise.

The Spiritual Qi contained within ten of her pills easily eclipsed the meager dregs found in twelve of the ordinary variety.

"Do you possess any more? Sell me the rest."

"I do not. This bottle I carry is reserved for my personal cultivation."

"Senior Sister Ye, when you return next time, bring me two bottles."

As he spoke, Xu Changshou extracted a Spirit Stone and offered it to her.

"There is no need!"

Ye Shanhu pushed his hand away gently. "Consider this bottle of Qi Gathering Pills a minor token of goodwill from our Wanbao Pavilion to you, Junior Brother Xu. No Spirit Stones are required. However, the next batch will incur a cost."

"I thank you, Senior Sister Ye."

"Hehe, there is no need for such formalities between us. I am off."

"Farewell, Senior Sister Ye."