Chapter 5, Child, have you not taken your medicine

An elderly person and a young one each have their own thoughts, causing the scene to become quiet

Ah, who could have imagined that I, an old man, would have such a connection with your master!" Elder Tongdie sighed as he saw Cao Zhen completely unaware of the seriousness of the situation, "I have served as the Elder of the Department of Works in the sect for many years, and others would still give me some respect. It shouldn't be too difficult for you to accompany me to Xingyao Peak to apologize, and we can cancel this duel...

Cao Zhenxian took the spirit stone, then cupped his fists and bowed in greeting. He activated his mode of gratitude and, with the most serious expression, looked at the other person and said: "Master Uncle, I will show you a way to make a fortune, but you must not tell anyone else! Go to the gambling house and bet on my win!"

"Master Uncle..." After Cao Zhen finished wiping the teacup for Elder Tong Die, he poured him another cup of tea and said, "I don't want it because I can win. Have you heard that the gambling houses outside have closed their betting? They all have little faith in me..."

"Master Uncle, I really can do it." Cao Zhen looked seriously at the old man in front of him, who had a somewhat fierce demeanor, and quickly fabricated a lie, saying, "Master Uncle, to be honest with you, I actually dreamed of an old immortal while cultivating. He imparted to me a very powerful alchemical formula..."

Cao Zhen's entire focus was on the one hundred taels of spirit stones, and he did not notice the expression of the copper disc until he exited the cave. Only then did he realize that the other party seemed somewhat skeptical of him. He hurriedly returned to the cave and once again reminded the elder of the copper disc, who was about to meditate: "Master Uncle, remember to bet on my victory! It would be best if you took out all your savings to place the bet."

"Child, do you know about talisman crafting? You must ensure that you achieve a success rate of 50% to neither incur losses nor gain profits," Elder Tongdie said earnestly. "I have sent you to the talisman workshop so that you can use the sect's materials to help you cultivate a skill for free."

"Take it, don't be shy." Elder Tongdie looked at Cao Zhen with affection, "After taking the elixir, come back and chat with me."

Understood... Elder Tongdie made a concerted effort to stabilize his own Dao heart, secretly deciding that if he truly could not prevent this duel, he would have to take out his coffin fund to bet on Xingyao Peak winning. Although the odds were low, at least he could earn something, which would help support his disciple who had lost even the last of the family assets of the Four Treasure Peak, so that they would not end up starving to death.

Tong Die began to understand why the rumors he had heard indicated that Cao Zhen went fishing by the Falling Star Lake every day. He must have instinctively sensed that he was becoming obsessed and was affected by inner demons, seeking to calm his mind and dispel these demons through fishing

"Go now, first go to the Jindan Workshop to buy the elixir and then come back to see me," Elder Tongdie waved his hand, urging Cao Zhen to leave quickly. After a brief encounter, he already felt his blood pressure rising significantly, and the tranquil state of mind cultivated during his seclusion was about to be disrupted by him.

In this case, persuading him to apologize at Xingyao Peak has become an impossible task

The complexion of the copper disc finally improved after a few minutes. He raised his hand to stroke the beard hanging down from his chest, nodding slightly, feeling quite gratified. Although this disciple had become obsessed, he had not completely lost his mind; at least he still knew he could go to the workshop to work and earn money

Only...! The copper disc sighed within, truly a pitiful child! Having reached the second stage of demonic obsession, the stage of losing one's mind, relying on fishing can no longer alleviate it! Only by using the Tranquil Heart Resolving Elixir can one eliminate the lost mind under the demonic obsession? But this child probably cannot produce enough spirit money to purchase this elixir from https://www.hetushu.com.

Cao Zhen looked at the chubby old man in front of him, who genuinely cared for him, and felt a warmth in his heart. He was determined to show this elderly man a clear path to wealth.

"Nonsense!" The boss of the copper disc raised his face and slammed the teacup heavily on the table, causing tea to splash everywhere. "Even a genius can at most fight one level higher, which is already quite rare! Not to mention you are not a genius... Are you trying to lose the last piece of third-grade spiritual field of the Four Treasures Peak as well?"

In today's circumstances, the child..." The copper disc once again looked at Cao Zhen and said, "You cannot always rely on the meager monthly allowance from the sect to get by, can you? As your uncle, I have been in the sect's engineering department for many years. How about I arrange for you to work in the talisman workshop? Not only will it enhance your talisman-making skills, but you will also earn some extra money to support your disciples.

Tong Die felt that he was failing in his role as a master uncle. Cao Zhen, despite his youth and weak cultivation, had taken over as the leader of the Four Treasure Peak after the death of his master. He also had to take care of several disciples, which must be quite difficult for him, and the psychological pressure he faced was undoubtedly immense. In such a state, it is very easy to fall into madness.

Upon hearing this, the copper disc could no longer hear Cao Zhen's subsequent words. He only felt that he was in a very bad state, as it seemed that his disciple had become severely obsessed, already experiencing the illusions of inner demons.

In the living room of the cave, there was a kindly old man with a robust physique, who quickly greeted Cao Zhen upon seeing him

"Master Uncle, you may have misunderstood," Cao Zhen said, shaking his hands in front of him repeatedly. "I didn't mean that I want to enter the talisman workshop; I meant that I can create talismans and sell them myself! Isn't that a way to earn more? How could I have forgotten this? I can teach my disciples to create talismans and write diagrams! What have I been thinking about these past two months?"

Cao Zhen lowered his head, contemplating how to explain to the elderly person who cared for him. It seemed that the excuse of being an old immortal was not very well received by the other party. But isn't this a world of cultivation? If cultivators do not even believe in old immortals, then what is the point of cultivating?

Cao Zhen's eyes suddenly lit up, and he excitedly tapped the table in front of him with his hand, saying, "That's right! Master Uncle! The talisman! You are absolutely right!"

Cao Zhen, recalling from memory, recognized that this was Elder Tong Die. He hurriedly stepped forward, clasped his fists, bowed, and greeted, "I pay my respects to my esteemed uncle."

Tong Die was quite pleased with Cao Zhendong's courteous behavior, but soon showed a look of complaint and said: "You are now the peak master, how can you still be so impulsive? What level of cultivation is Nie Yunting at? I remember it was at the eighth stage of Foundation Establishment, right? If we count the days, he is almost at the perfect completion of the ninth stage of Foundation Establishment, isn't he? And you? What stage of Foundation Establishment are you at?"

"It's my fault, it's my fault!" The copper disc sighed again, knowing that the other party could not possibly accompany him to Xingyao Peak. He could only contemplate how Cao Zhen would continue to survive with his disciples if he lost this third-grade spiritual field.

Your cultivation and abilities are originally insufficient to qualify for entry into the Talisman Workshop..." The bronze disc slowly spoke, "However, out of respect for my status, I can still allow you to enter without being expelled.

Child, here are one hundred and two spirit stones. Take them to the market and buy a Calm Heart and Resolve Misfortune Pill from the Jin Dan Workshop.

"Dear nephew, it is time for you to take your medicine." The bronze disc waved its hand again, urging Cao Zhen to leave.

What face are you still concerned about at this moment? Elder Tongdie said anxiously, Without that third-grade spiritual field, your Four Treasures Peak will have no chance of turning things around and developing! You should be at ease, even the Starshine Peak ranked ninety-fifth, and the Broken Moon Peak ranked seventy, would still give me face.

"Please take a seat," Elder Tongdie gestured towards the cushion across the table and said, "I have just emerged from seclusion and heard that you made a bet and engaged in a contest of magic with Xingyao Peak? Was your opponent their chief disciple, Nie Yunting?"

Child, you can't be crazy, can you? Just based on you?" Tong Die was quite afraid that speaking too harshly would hurt Cao Zhen's already fragile nerves after his obsession, so he tried to find a gentler way to say, "Making talismans seems simple, but it is actually very difficult. With your cultivation level and the techniques for making talismans, achieving success once in ten attempts is already quite rare.

Why is it the old immortal again? The teacup in the hand of the bronze disc was almost crushed out of anger, has this child become so obsessed that there is no hope for salvation?

Cao Zhenpan sat cross-legged and nodded slightly, pouring a cup of tea for the old man with the copper plate

Cao Zhen took the elixir, feeling quite emotional. Just when he was worried about not having extra money to buy his own winnings, he unexpectedly received a windfall! In life, one must understand the principle of reciprocity! It is essential to repay the elder uncle!

Cao Zhen also poured himself a cup of tea and smiled, saying: "Master Uncle, I have reached the third stage of foundation building."

"Not to that extent," Cao Zhen shook his head and said, "Master Uncle, during my cultivation that time, I dreamt of the old immortal, and he even imparted to me a technique for crafting talismans."

The celestial cloud vehicle flew for one hour and arrived at the cave dwelling of Elder Tong Die.

The illuminating pearl from the East Sea ice clam! Cao Zhen couldn't help but sigh inwardly about the wealth! This pearl, at least the size of a fist, must have been nurtured for at least three hundred years; one of these is likely to be priced at several hundred taels of spirit stones or more

Child, come here, come to my side

Tong Die initially thought that Cao Zhen wanted to have a serious conversation with him, so he quickly gathered his focus to truly listen. However, after hearing the other party's words, he suddenly felt that his tranquil state of mind was truly on the verge of collapse

The copper disc suddenly darkened before my eyes. Upon exiting the retreat, I heard someone say that this child had become possessed by his practice, damaging his mind. For the past two months, he has been fishing every day without training or preparing for battle, and unexpectedly, he has developed hysteria! He thought he could win!

Tong Die recalled the instructions given to him by his junior disciple, Si Bao, to take good care of the dull-witted child, Cao Zhen. As a result of his own seclusion, not only did the child damage his mind while practicing, but he also nearly squandered the last of the family assets of Si Bao Peak.

Cao Zhen arrived at the cave dwelling in the Xianyun carriage. This cave, carved into the mountainside, is only about 200 square meters in size. There are no luxurious decorations around; two fist-sized pearls are embedded in the walls, illuminating the entire cave brightly

The copper disc was stroking the beard on his chest when he heard Cao Zhen's words, causing his hand to tremble involuntarily! Several strands of his beard were pulled out, and the pain made his eyes twitch uncontrollably several times.

Once a cultivator experiences the illusion of inner demons, they are unlikely to heed advice for the rest of their lives, making it very difficult for them to truly awaken

As the master of Sibao Peak, Cao Zhen has encountered the largest fortune, which is the green ingot-shaped spirit stone worth fifty taels stored in the room of his second disciple, Jiang Yourong

"I don't want to." Cao Zhen shook his head vigorously, like a rattle drum. He had just heard about a profitable opportunity from Lingxi, how could he cancel the duel? Moreover, Xingyao Peak had also presented a three-hundred-year-old third-grade magma spirit mushroom.

This pain is nothing compared to the pain in his heart

"Child, heed the advice of your master uncle," said Tong Die earnestly. "Those who survive after being possessed often develop an inexplicable confidence, but in reality, that is the work of inner demons."