Anling City, a thousand miles away from Jincheng, is a rather ordinary third-tier city. It performs poorly in all aspects, and the living habits of its residents are even somewhat traditional and closed.
Unlike Jincheng, which has a highly developed economy, this place, apart from its mountains and rivers, has very few tourist resources. The only thing worth mentioning is the Xuanqing Temple on Yuntai Mountain on the outskirts of the city. This Taoist temple has been open for who knows how many years, and many older people in Anling say they have known about its existence since they were children.
This Taoist temple, which has been passed down for many years, is a popular place of worship for people from nearby cities, regardless of whether they believe in it or not. People often come to pay their respects during festivals or when they go out for a spring outing. As a result, this Taoist temple is quite popular.
Two months ago, a four-star hotel in Anling City was booked out, including the conference hall and the rooms upstairs, supposedly for a Buddhist-Taoist exchange conference.
The guests coming and going included those in Taoist robes and cassocks, those in Tang suits and Western suits, and those in sportswear and hip-hop outfits—all sorts of styles. The hotel staff who were there to greet them had thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle.
No matter how strange it seemed, it was a legitimate gathering with official approval, and part of the funding came from government appropriations. So no matter how odd it seemed, the hotel staff maintained their professionalism and diligently performed their duties.
It was lunchtime, and there were quite a few people scattered around the buffet restaurant.
A young boy with a small bun tied behind his head sat listlessly at the dining table, poking at the food on his plate and glancing at the restaurant entrance from time to time, as if waiting for someone.
Most of the participants in this exchange meeting were middle-aged or elderly, though there were also quite a few young people. Strangely, despite being a Buddhist and Taoist exchange meeting, there weren't many young monks or Taoist priests.
Like this boy, dressed head to toe in designer clothes, those shoes alone must cost tens of thousands of yuan. What kind of monk is this?
When the fried egg on the plate was almost poked into a mess, the boy's eyes lit up. Finally, the person he was waiting for had arrived.
The young man who had just arrived at the restaurant entrance was about eighteen or nineteen years old. He was tall and handsome, with sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, a high nose, and thin lips. Every feature of his face was exquisite. He was the kind of handsome that fits the Chinese aesthetic.
If he were dressed in ancient costume, he would be a gentleman as handsome as jade, unparalleled in the world.
Yet, his eyes and brows naturally exuded a carefree air, as if nothing caught his eye or concerned him, instantly transforming him from a noble young master into a cultivator who had transcended the mortal world.
"Qin Shen! Boss!"
The boy threw down his chopsticks, rushed to the door, and reached out to grab the cold-faced boy: "Qin Shen, what do you want to eat? I'll get it for you."
Qin Gu dodged the hand that was grabbing him, a hint of annoyance creeping into his usually indifferent eyes: "Mao Xiaoqian, I told you I don't have time, so please don't come looking for me anymore, okay?!"
"Also, don't call me that. Turn around and look at how many seniors are sitting in the restaurant. The one glaring at you by the window is your second uncle, isn't he? Are you trying to harm me, getting revenge for not selling you the talisman?"
Given Qin Gu's temperament, the fact that he was forced to use his elders' reputation to intimidate others shows that he was truly fed up with the annoyance.
He had never met anyone more clingy than Mao Xiaoqian, who wouldn't listen to anything he said, and he wished he could stick a Five Thunder Talisman on him and knock him unconscious.
If it weren't for the fact that the elders of the Mao family were still alive, and that his sect, Xuanqing Temple, was the host of this metaphysical exchange conference, Qin Gu would definitely have dealt with him long ago.
"I'm not looking." Mao Xiaoqian pouted. Even if he didn't look, he knew that his second uncle was definitely glaring at him. So what if he was glared at? It wouldn't hurt him to lose a few pieces of flesh.
He muttered to himself, "But that's what everyone calls you. They even call you the Great Demon King, and Thor..."
Mao Xiaoqian gradually fell silent under Qin Gu's dark expression. He made a zipper-zipping gesture with his mouth and said eagerly, "God Qin, Brother Qin, what do you want to eat? I'll go get it for you."
Qin Gu was too lazy to correct him; he was two years older than him. He walked around Mao Xiao and headed towards the food pick-up area.
Mao Xiaoqian quickly followed behind Qin Gu and took the exact same meal as Qin Gu.
Qin Gu glanced at it, and Mao Xiaoqian offered to explain, "Learning from our idols!"
Qin Gu: "..." You're insane!
Mao Xiaoqian was a real chatterbox and a persistent pest. Qin Gu's dark face only kept him quiet for a very short time. Not long after he sat down, he couldn't help but start babbling again.
"Boss, why won't you sell me the talismans? I don't want too many. Five, six, seven, eight, or ninety Five Thunder Talismans will do. A mid-grade one is worth ten thousand, and a high-grade one will cost an extra five thousand. I guarantee I won't renege on my promise."
Qin Gu really didn't want to pay attention to him, but if he didn't answer, Mao Xiaoqian could keep babbling on and on, and he was afraid he wouldn't be able to resist beating him up right there.
Without even looking up, he gave the same answer as before: "No time."
Mao Xiaoqian's single eyelids almost turned into double eyelids from staring: "But I heard that you draw talismans incredibly fast. You can finish ten talismans in half a month, right? Although it takes my second uncle several days to draw an exorcism talisman, you are God Qin. Ten thousand yuan in half a month, aren't you happy earning that kind of money?"
In the past, Mao Xiaoqian would never have been willing to spend 100,000 yuan to buy a talisman. Although his family was rich, he was poor. After he turned eighteen, his family stopped giving him pocket money. This was money he had painstakingly saved up while on missions.
But during this exchange competition, I witnessed Qin Gu unleash a Five Thunder Talisman, blasting away an entire area. The scene was truly awe-inspiring.
That's right, their so-called Buddhist and Taoist exchange meeting is just a facade; it's actually an annual exchange competition within the metaphysical community.
The field of metaphysics is inherently niche and places great emphasis on lineage. After all, it's mysterious, and without a teacher to guide you, it's extremely difficult to get started. Even if you do get started, it's easy to go astray.
Moreover, if things go astray, it can be a matter of life and death.
Therefore, the purpose of holding this exchange competition is twofold: firstly, to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and experiences; and secondly, because wherever there are people, there is a competitive spirit, and even in the smallest circle of metaphysics, everyone wants to prove themselves.
Of course, the veterans can't be allowed to play in the exchange match. They're already getting old, and there might be some conflicts between them. What if they really get into a fight?
Besides, it wouldn't look good for the senior figures to personally participate, so the so-called exchange competition is just a contest between young disciples from various schools and sects of metaphysics, as well as independent cultivators.
Although they are called young disciples, the age limit is actually quite broad; anyone between sixteen and thirty is considered a young disciple.
What truly torments this generation of young people in the field of metaphysics is the sudden emergence of Qin Gu from Xuanqing Temple, who has dominated the entire competition since his first appearance in the competition two years ago.
He was the one who "suppressed the contemporary generation," and this wasn't just his own boast; it was a widely acknowledged title he earned after winning three consecutive exchange competitions.
In the first two sessions, he at least demonstrated some of the necessary skills, leaving his competitors helpless. In the field of metaphysics, experience is truly essential, yet one is always crushed by those with natural talent.
This year, they simply used the Five Thunder Talisman to blast their way through, creating a first-place finish.
The exchange competition doesn't prohibit the use of talismans and magical artifacts, but only low-grade magical artifacts are allowed. Talismans can be used freely, provided they are drawn by the user. This is to give talisman masters who are not very strong in combat a chance.
Although most of the Celestial Masters lineage also practice talismans, magical artifacts, and formations, they cannot rely entirely on themselves to exorcise ghosts and subdue demons; they often need to use external aids.
Human energy is limited, especially in metaphysics, which is vast and difficult to learn in depth. A polymath is basically a mediocre person; otherwise, there wouldn't be so many schools of thought, such as celestial masters, feng shui masters, and physiognomists.
They might dabble in each other's fields; for example, a Taoist master might draw talismans, while a magician might learn some feng shui knowledge to nurture magical artifacts using feng shui energy.
But a young man like Qin Gu, who had mastered most of the Celestial Master lineage's techniques and was an outstanding talisman master, was trying to poach people from Xuanqing Temple.
All one can do is sigh with envy and resentment, "Heaven has blessed us with such talent."
Those like Mao Xiaoqian, who were in the same year as Qin Gu, were so suppressed and beaten by him that they had no temper left, and they started calling him by all sorts of nicknames in private.
Did Qin Gu know? Of course he knew, but he simply didn't care.
His maternal grandfather had no intention of letting him learn this. If it weren't for his naturally strong spiritual awareness and the fact that his soul easily wandered away when he was young, his grandfather would never have sent him to Xuanqing Temple.
Perhaps this is the most annoying thing about geniuses: because they get things too easily, they don't cherish them at all.
Qin Gu was the same; he hadn't originally planned to pursue this career. He participated in the competition simply to repay his master, and he would rush home as soon as the competition was over.
As for drawing talismans for Mao Xiaoqian, that's impossible.
Qin Gu subtly sped up his eating. In reality, ten talismans wouldn't take half a month at all. With his abilities, if he didn't require a specific grade, he could finish them in a day. Otherwise, he would be too embarrassed to accept the title of genius.
But drawing talismans requires a unity of mind, energy, and spirit, and one must be completely absorbed without interruption. He usually stays at home and can't let Xiao Bei know about his identity, so where would he find the time to draw talismans?
If you have free time, it's better to watch movies, play games, and build models with Xiao Bei; that's much more interesting than drawing talismans.
"Great master, please sell me a few talismans..."
Qin Gu suddenly remembered that he had overheard a waiter mentioning the college entrance examination in a little over a month before leaving the restaurant, and finally came up with a perfect excuse: "I have to take the college entrance examination, I don't have time."
Mao Xiaoqian: "...?"
"You're a senior in high school? You dare to be this carefree in your senior year? You truly deserve to be called a genius!"
"Yes, senior year of high school." Qin Gu pulled out a napkin to wipe his mouth and prepared to get up and leave.
Mao Xiaoqian quickly grabbed him and persisted, "Can you sell me a few tickets after the college entrance exam?"
He won't be here in a couple of days, let alone after the college entrance exam. Anyway, Mao Xiaoqian doesn't know where he lives.
Qin Gu readily agreed: "Okay."
"Thank you, great master!" Mao Xiaoqian was so happy he almost jumped for joy. With a powerful talisman, he could take on more difficult tasks, earn more money, buy more talismans, and continue to make money. Before long, he would achieve great success and reach the pinnacle of life!
"Enjoy your meal, I'm leaving now."
"No, no, I've finished eating too. Qin Shen, wait for me! Hey? Why do you always take lamb chops at buffets and then not eat them? Is there some reason for that?"
The good mood I had after fooling someone vanished instantly.
He never eats lamb, but his son Xiaobei likes to eat lamb chops.
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