Chapter 513: Talisman

Meng Chuan and Venerable Qinggu went their separate ways, as their objectives differed.

"Talisman Gate." Meng Chuan first visited some of Black Dragon City's top ten merchants. These merchants were backed by powerful Tribulation realm experts, some even from other river systems.

Meng Chuan arrived at Talisman Gate first.

Talisman Gate specialized in selling talismans in Black Dragon City.

They had a vast array of single-use talismans.

"Emperor, please come in," a female attendant greeted him warmly.

Meng Chuan continued to use his Mirage Dragon Token to project an Emperor's aura, as disguising himself as an Emperor saved him a lot of trouble.

"Emperor, with the Treasure Exchange approaching, our Talisman Gate has also introduced some exceptionally valuable talismans for your consideration," the attendant explained.

"Oh, what kind of talismans do you have?" Meng Chuan inquired.

"Void-Shattering Talisman, Substitute Death Talisman, Clone Talisman, Void Escape Talisman..." The attendant listed fifteen types, then whispered, "And we also have the 'Lesser Void Shift Talisman,' limited to only ten copies, of which six have already been sold."

Meng Chuan's pupils contracted. "Lesser Void Shift Talisman?"

On Black Dragon Star, including within the Eternal Tower, many items were simply unavailable for purchase.

For example, 'Starfield Crystals' were nowhere to be found externally, as if they had vanished from the vast outer reaches. This material had been completely depleted and no longer circulated in the outside world.

Similarly, the 'Void Shift Talisman' couldn't be bought at the Eternal Tower either! At least, Meng Chuan couldn't acquire it even as an Emperor. Although a single-use 'Void Shift Talisman' was roughly equivalent in price to a Sixth Tribulation realm secret treasure, a Tribulation realm expert having a few secret treasures was often sufficient. Therefore, some historical secret treasures left behind were difficult to pair with suitable owners.

However, the Void Shift Talisman was different; anyone could use it.

Regardless of whether it was in a living world, the outer realms, or even restricted areas, it could still be forcibly activated despite the most stringent rules.

From the weakest beings to Fifth and even Sixth Tribulation realm experts, anyone could potentially save their life with it.

Most importantly, it was single-use! Once consumed, it was gone. Its difficult production meant it was always 'in short supply' in the outer void.

Even well-established realms like the Cangyuan Realm and the Demon Realm had very few Void Shift Talismans. The human world once possessed some, but they were consumed over generations, with the last one used not long ago.

Emperor Peng and two other Emperors had to work together to exchange for one from the Demon Ancestor Cave, using it as a trump card, hoping to enable the Demon Clan's 'Fifth Heaven Demon King Army' to successfully invade the human world and obtain the Cangyuan Patriarch's treasure! Even a tiny fraction of the Cangyuan Patriarch's treasure would have made them incredibly wealthy. That time, they had come very close to success! They immediately protected Heavy Profound Demon Saint using the Void Shift Talisman.

Meng Chuan and his companions found it difficult to kill 'Heavy Profound Demon Saint,' who was mapping connection points and was expected to lead the army into the human world.

At that point, threatening the human world would have been a catastrophe.

Humanity would either have to yield obediently and surrender many benefits, or face complete annihilation in a desperate struggle.

Fortunately, King Zhenwu sacrificed his life to perform the 'Fate Straw Doll' technique, cursing Heavy Profound Demon Saint to death and thwarting the demon clan's plan.

After that... once Meng Chuan had comprehended his 'Extreme Peerless Art,' the Demon Clan's Fifth Heaven Demon King Army could no longer pose a threat to humanity.

"Although the Lesser Void Shift Talisman is much weaker than the 'Void Shift Talisman,' once used... unless a Tribulation realm expert intervenes, one can escape," Meng Chuan mused. "It can save the lives of both Venerables and Emperors."

The rules in living worlds were stringent.

The suppression was extremely powerful.

Items like the 'Ashen Palace' and 'Lesser Void Shift Talisman,' which significantly altered time and space, would be suppressed and could not be successfully deployed. In the outer realms, however, without any suppression, they proved to be highly effective.

"What's the price?" Meng Chuan pressed, "It's not more expensive than the Eternal Tower, is it?"

The Eternal Tower consistently sold 'Lesser Void Shift Talismans.'

"One Lesser Void Shift Talisman costs thirty-nine outer realm Yuan Crystals," the attendant transmitted via spiritual message.

"Thirty-nine?" Meng Chuan hesitated. "Let me think about it."

Void Shift Talismans were in short supply.

The Lesser Void Shift Talismans were also quite popular! Emperors with some accumulated wealth could still afford them if they gritted their teeth.

A moment later.

Inside a hall at Talisman Gate.

"I'll take one Lesser Void Shift Talisman, two Substitute Death Talismans, and two Void Escape Talismans," Meng Chuan stated. The gray-robed Venerable responsible for reception immediately smiled brightly. "Emperor, you've arrived early. If you had waited a few more days, the Lesser Void Shift Talismans might have sold out. Besides these three talismans, do you require anything else?"

"That's enough," Meng Chuan replied.

"The Lesser Void Shift Talisman is thirty-nine units, the two Substitute Death Talismans are six units in total, and the two Void Escape Talismans are also six units in total. That comes to fifty-one outer realm Yuan Crystals," the gray-robed Venerable stated.

Meng Chuan nodded slightly.

With a wave of his hand, fifty-one identical outer realm Yuan Crystals floated beside him.

For this Treasure Exchange, Meng Chuan had preemptively processed some materials and treasures at the Eternal Tower. From the relics left by Senior Pang Ming, he had disposed of some unneeded miscellaneous items, acquiring one hundred thirty-five outer realm Yuan Crystals. Meng Chuan had done this out of caution, fearing that if he sold the goods elsewhere, it might be discovered they were connected to Senior Pang Ming's cave dwelling.

The Eternal Tower was much safer, and his disguise with the Mirage Dragon Token made it easier to maintain secrecy.

"These three talismans cost so much, almost the price of a cheaper Fifth Tribulation realm secret treasure," Meng Chuan thought as he quickly received the three talismans.

Two Substitute Death Talismans and two Void Escape Talismans.

Void Escape Talismans were for escaping; often, one could rely on them and wouldn't need to use the Lesser Void Shift Talisman.

"I can also frequently study the Void Escape Talisman and the Lesser Void Shift Talisman to comprehend their void mysteries," Meng Chuan mused. "The Substitute Death Talisman might also offer some insights into the mysteries of the time lineage."

Although the Substitute Death Talisman had some flaws.

The ability to instantly recover to peak condition after a fatal attack alone made it worth the price.

Meng Chuan first visited the largest merchants. Taking advantage of the current gathering of powerful figures, he also seized the opportunity to buy a 'large' quantity of needed treasures. In total, he spent one hundred twenty-three outer realm Yuan Crystals. As he bought a little here and a little there... the largest expenditure was at Talisman Gate, which was still considered normal.

After visiting the major merchants, Meng Chuan proceeded to browse the small street-side buildings.

Most of these small street-side buildings were rented by Emperors. Some Venerables also jointly rented them for short periods to sell off some of their gains.

"These are the treasures we acquired from exploring an ancient cave dwelling; they're all fine items," said five Venerables who personally attended to guests in one street-side building, without hiring any puppet attendants.

Meng Chuan also entered.

He observed the various treasures displayed within an array, some of which were damaged or incomplete. These damaged items appeared to have deteriorated over a long period due to lack of proper maintenance, genuinely resembling spoils discovered from an ancient cave dwelling.

However, Meng Chuan knew very well that no matter how good it sounded, it was just talk!

"Emperor," a red-robed Venerable greeted Meng Chuan warmly upon seeing him. Among the eight guests currently in the pavilion, only Meng Chuan was an Emperor (in disguise).

"You have cultivation texts here too?" Meng Chuan asked, noticing various texts displayed, some in book form, some as jade slips, and others as blood cauldrons – all legacies of peerless arts.

"These are all Emperor-tier texts," the red-robed Venerable enthusiastically explained. "They are the accumulated gains from our friends' years of adventuring, and some we brought from our home worlds! There are nineteen texts in total, and you can learn all of them for just one Yuan Crystal."

Meng Chuan chuckled.

Emperor-tier legacies, like the human race's Black Iron Heavenly Book, could be learned repeatedly and permanently as long as they were properly maintained.

Others could learn from them, but the texts would still belong to these Venerables, making it pure profit for them.

"Emperor-tier texts, and I don't even know what fields they cover," Meng Chuan remarked casually. "It would be good if one or two were suitable for me, and for one Yuan Crystal?"

"We have detailed introductions for all these peerless texts. Emperor, you can review them first before deciding whether to learn them; perhaps some will be of great help to your cultivation," the red-robed Venerable said eagerly. They were very happy to make this deal, as there was no actual cost to them.

Meng Chuan, hailing from the deeply established Cangyuan Realm, originally intended to decline.

However, as his gaze swept across the nineteen texts, he spotted one that resembled a 'picture album.' His heart stirred, and he casually said, "Let me see what kind of texts these are."