Chapter 104: The First Day of the Magical Duel

Chen Mobai picked up his phone and made a call.

“Mom, what’s the factory price for your second-tier talisman paper now?”

“Thirty-five good deeds (Shanggong) for a large sheet. What, do you want to earn some pocket money again? You should focus on the entrance exam now; don't get sidetracked. If you need money, just tell me. Even though our family is struggling a bit right now, and we still owe the bank a loan for your dad’s foundation building, but…”

Hearing this, Chen Mobai quickly interrupted his mom’s impending lecture by asking the question he most wanted to ask.

“Then which spiritual machinery manufacturer did you order the ink-mixing machine in your workshop from? I noticed that you just put the raw materials in, and the talisman ink that comes out is not only clean and neat but also uniform in color and perfect in quality.”

“Zhou Gong’s Sixth Factory. That machine wasn’t cheap; it cost a full 200,000 good deeds. They only helped customize it because of our boss’s connections…”

After listening to Tang Pancui ramble on, Chen Mobai finally managed to hang up the phone.

200,000 good deeds for one machine – that’s way too expensive.

So, he checked the Immortal Sect Network to see if there were any alternatives.

He did find a few merchants specializing in custom machines for this purpose. He consulted them via a pop-up chat in the background. Prices varied, but the cheapest would only take orders starting from 100,000 good deeds.

Chen Mobai glanced at his account balance and unhappily closed the window.

However, he immediately thought of the Wood Spirit Talisman Shop where he often made purchases.

For the shop to produce so many talismans in such a short time, it was impossible for the owner to mix the ink by hand. Yet, after several conversations, Chen Mobai knew the owner wasn't wealthy. So, how did he solve this problem?

After composing and sending a message, the owner of the Wood Spirit Talisman Shop immediately replied to him.

He was a major customer, after all.

The owner sent him several links.

Chen Mobai clicked on the first one and found it was a small pulverizer.

The owner said he bought this type of machine to grind cinnabar. The cheapest model only cost 3,000 good deeds, but it could only grind particles down to a fineness of 100 mesh.

However, it was generally sufficient for crafting first-tier talismans.

Since Chen Mobai didn't know the required cinnabar particle fineness for the Divine Wood Sect, he simply added it to his shopping cart for now.

He then clicked through the remaining links, which led to a small temperature-controlled pot for simmering talisman ink, a spiritual energy tank for heating, filters and glass bottles, and finally, standard small aluminum tubes used on Terrene Star for holding semi-solid talisman ink.

He couldn't afford the 200,000 good deed all-in-one machine, but by breaking down its functions, the total investment needed was less than 10,000 good deeds.

Chen Mobai sent the owner a thumbs-up emoji, then placed an order for some more talismans from his shop.

As his account balance was low, Chen Mobai could only add the items the owner introduced to his shopping cart for later.

In any case, his main focus right now was the combat aspect of the entrance exam.

He would practice talisman crafting slowly after he got into college.

Walking downstairs, he saw several packages on the coffee table.

These were the 'Quicksand Talismans,' 'Golden Light Talismans,' and 'Wind Blade Talismans' he had purchased. He unboxed them one by one and selected a few to put into his pocket.

He left the house and went to the cultivation gym where he had previously been with Yan Bingxuan. He rented a spell-practice field for an hour and used one of each talisman to confirm their feel and function. Satisfied, he then left.

Afterward, he took a bus to Danzhu Academy to scout the location.

“It’s truly magnificent,” he murmured.

Danzhu Academy is located on Danxia Mountain, a landscape of fortress-like peaks and clusters of mountains. Bizarre-shaped rocks, stone bridges, and caves stand majestically, and everywhere one looks, towering red sandstone layers reach into the clouds.

Their combat arenas were located atop these towering peaks.

After taking a special cable car to the peak, Chen Mobai looked at the vast landscape below and couldn't help but feel a sense of superiority, as if all other mountains were tiny.

“Over here!”

At that moment, at a snack shop on the peak, Chan Si, who had been waiting, waved at Chen Mobai as he arrived.

“Hello, Teacher Chan,” Chen Mobai greeted.

Chen Mobai had contacted Chan Si before coming. She had helped him a lot, even buying him Spirit-Ascending Powder, which effectively gave him his first startup capital. He had always wanted to find an opportunity to properly thank her.

Since he was here today, he planned to treat her to a meal.

“Is this the student you mentioned?”

Beside Chan Si was an older student with a generous smile.

After introductions, Chen Mobai learned that she was the one who bought the Spirit-Ascending Powder, named Shen Juanxiu.

So, this meal ended up being paid for by this wealthy senior student. Hearing that he was participating in the Daoist Academy’s entrance exam, both women said they would come to cheer him on.

“Goodbye, Teacher Chan, Senior Student Shen,” Chen Mobai said.

After getting a free meal and being led around all the arenas by the two women for a reconnaissance, Chen Mobai was ready to leave, but he was stopped by them.

“You have your combat trial tomorrow, so don’t go home. Get a good night’s rest here to save yourself the travel fatigue tomorrow.”

“Exactly. There are many hotels near the campus gate. I’ll pay for your room. So many students will be coming tomorrow, Danxia City might get jammed with traffic. If you’re late and forfeit, won’t you regret it for the rest of your life?”

After listening to Chan Si and Shen Juanxiu, Chen Mobai felt they made a lot of sense.

However, he dared not let Shen Juanxiu pay for his room. Seeing his righteous refusal, the two women couldn't help but smile. After wishing him good luck, they left together.

That night, even with Chen Mobai’s usual composure, he felt a mix of anxiety and excitement.

In the Immortal Sect, getting into a good university was the greatest opportunity to change one's destiny.

At four in the morning, he woke up. He re-arranged the talismans in his backpack again and ultimately chose the set he felt most confident with.

After all, according to Xu Yuan and the others, Qiao Xingwen was quite skilled.

If he unexpectedly lost, there would be no chance for a rematch.

One first-tier high-grade Fiery Sword Talisman.

One first-tier mid-grade Azure Arrow Talisman and one Water Sword Talisman.

One first-tier low-grade Entanglement Talisman, Wood Shield Talisman, Wood Cage Talisman, and Water Storage Talisman.

Before dawn, Chen Mobai ate a bowl of hot and sour noodles at the campus gate, then headed to his designated arena. He sat on a long stone bench at the edge of the peak, watching the clouds unfurl and roll, observing the sunrise as sunlight spread across the landscape.

He wasn't the only one; several other students had arrived even earlier, pacing restlessly.

One moment, they would pull out their prepared talismans for another look, the next they would swap out two and reassemble a set.

“This kind of mindset won't do; they’ll just be gifting victories to their opponents once they’re on the arena,” Chen Mobai thought to himself.

Seeing these people, Chen Mobai could only shake his head inwardly.

He felt he could take on ten such opponents.

“Oh, you’re here so early,” a voice said.

It was Shi Jingjing, a schoolmate, speaking. Beside her was Cao Yaling, who would also be competing in this arena. It seemed they had stayed nearby last night. Seeing Chen Mobai sitting motionlessly, they walked over hand-in-hand.

“Don’t be too nervous; just show your best. It’s okay if you lose, after all, your opponent is Qiao Xingwen, and his odds are among the top one hundred.”

“There are only 280 people in total,” Chen Mobai couldn't help but retort.