I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times

Vol 2 Chapter 6: My Surname Is Yuan

A single Condensing Yuan Pill starkly reminded Zheng Fa of his dire poverty.

According to Senior Sister Zhang’s notes in the Talisman Dao Foundation Establishment Technique, condensing each talisman in the dantian required taking pills. However, likely due to tolerance build-up, the required dosage increased with each stage.

For the first three talismans, one Condensing Yuan Pill sufficed for each.

For the next three, two pills were needed per talisman.

By the final four, it took three pills per talisman.

Rough calculations showed that completing this Foundation Establishment technique required 300-400 spirit stones worth of pills.

Faced with this daunting cost, Zheng Fa could only marvel at how Senior Sister Zhang managed to afford this before reaching Foundation Establishment.

Ah, right. She was a Nascent Soul disciple. Never mind.

Leaving the Nine-Turn Pavilion, Zheng Fa headed toward the market at the valley’s entrance. If he wanted to earn spirit stones, selling talismans was his only viable option. First, though, he needed to do some market research.

---

The market was the busiest place in the Jiushan Sect.

The streets, though not narrow, were packed with people. The shops on either side echoed with vendors shouting their wares: spiritual tools, pills, treasures, spiritual herbs…

Even some rather niche items:

Zheng Fa passed a shop selling puppets. The mannequins were… highly lifelike, scantily dressed, and clearly not designed for serious combat.

Stopping at a pill shop, Zheng Fa asked, “Do you sell Condensing Yuan Pills here?”

The shopkeeper studied him for a moment before scoffing. “Condensing Yuan Pills? The ones sold at the Nine-Turn Pavilion for 20 spirit stones each?”

“Yes.”

The shopkeeper let out a self-deprecating laugh. “The most expensive pills I sell here are a single spirit stone each. Even if I had Condensing Yuan Pills, would you dare take them?”

“…”

Point taken. Skimping on pills could save money, but it might cost a life.

After browsing the market, Zheng Fa noted that while prices here were generally low—most items costing no more than one or two spirit stones—the market had no shops selling talismans.

It wasn’t until he reached the far end of the market that he discovered a more rustic, bazaar-like area. Rows of makeshift stalls stretched neatly toward a riverside, offering an assortment of items:

Broken magical tools.

Possibly fresh spiritual herbs.

A jumble of books.

The unifying theme? None of it looked particularly valuable.

He even spotted a stall selling meat pies—ordinary mortal-world fare.

It felt like transitioning from a luxury boutique to a regular mall, then to a wholesale market.

Among the stalls, talisman sellers were the most common. About six out of every ten stalls offered talismans for sale.

However, these talisman stalls seemed to attract the least business. Even the meat pie vendor had a line.

---

Squatting by a talisman stall, Zheng Fa examined the wares.

The talisman papers were all mediocre-quality yellow-grade talismans of common types.

The stall owner, lounging idly on a small reclining chair, perked up when Zheng Fa approached. Seeing a potential customer, he eagerly asked, “Anything you’re looking for, Senior Brother?”

“What’s the price for these?”

“Golden Armor Talisman—15 sheets for 1 spirit stone.”

Spirit Eye Talisman—20 sheets for 1 spirit stone.

Earth Escape Talisman—10 sheets for 1 spirit stone.”

“…”

From this, Zheng Fa calculated: a skilled talisman maker could produce about 30 sheets per spirit stone in materials cost. These yellow-grade talismans were priced at 10 to 20 sheets per spirit stone, leaving about a 50% profit margin.

Not bad, it seemed.

Noticing his silence, the stall owner explained, “Senior Brother, don’t think I’m overpricing these. Renting this stall costs money, and I also have to pay the Jiushan Sect fees for each sale…”

“…How much profit do you actually make?”

“Barely 10%,” the stall owner admitted with a bitter smile.

“…”

So, selling over 300 talismans was needed to earn a single spirit stone. Judging by the stall’s lackluster traffic, moving that many talismans seemed impossible.

“Honestly, if I hadn’t foolishly rented this stall from a Senior Brother, I wouldn’t be doing this business at all,” the owner lamented. Gesturing to the other talisman stalls, he added, “There are just too many talisman makers in the Jiushan Sect!”

Looking around, Zheng Fa finally understood why no shops sold talismans in the main market—high stall rent would doom them against these low-margin, high-competition stalls.

The stall owner eyed him warily. “You’re not planning to sell talismans too, are you?”

Zheng Fa nodded slightly, feeling embarrassed at being found out.

“A new disciple?”

“Yes.”

“Let me give you some advice: focus on improving your skills before jumping into this mess.” The owner sighed and leaned back in his chair. “Most new disciples are broke and think selling talismans is the way to go. Very few last more than three months. This business isn’t for newcomers.”

…Starting a business in the Jiushan Sect seemed impossibly tough.

---

“Zheng Fa?”

A puzzled voice called out from behind. Turning, Zheng Fa saw Han Qi approaching with two companions.

“Senior Brother Han.”

“Junior Brother Zheng, what are you doing here?” Han Qi asked, glancing at the talisman stall in confusion. “You need to buy these?”

The stall owner, hearing this, bristled.

“What’s that supposed to mean? I’ve been selling talismans here for ten years, and my work is well-known!”

“…” Han Qi glanced at the man, his expression turning strange. “Junior Brother Zheng is a Mysterious-grade talisman maker. Why would he need your yellow-grade talismans?”

“?”

---

“What brings you here today?” Han Qi asked.

“Trying to earn some spirit stones,” Zheng Fa replied, adding, “Senior Brother, do you know the going rate for Mysterious-grade talismans?”

“Mysterious-grade?” Han Qi thought for a moment. “Hard to say exactly, but they’re generally around ten times the price of yellow-grade talismans.”

Relieved, Zheng Fa calculated that drawing 100 talismans per month could net him 10 to 20 spirit stones—a respectable income.

“Short on money, Junior Brother?” Han Qi asked hesitantly.

“Well,” Zheng Fa retorted, “are you not?”

Han Qi chuckled awkwardly, recalling his earlier schemes to profit off new disciples.

---

As they wandered the market, Zheng Fa noticed a small building near the exit. It was in a prime location, ideal for a shop, yet its doors were only half-open. Two guards stood outside, discouraging any accidental intrusions.

“That’s the market steward’s office,” Han Qi explained, noticing his interest. “If there’s a dispute in the market, they handle it. They also manage the finances here—regular disciples can’t enter.”

Zheng Fa nodded, understanding the steward’s position of quiet authority within the sect.

Just as they were passing, a voice called out from the second floor.

“Zheng Fa?”

“?”

Looking up, he saw Senior Sister Yuan leaning out of a window, waving him over.

“Come up!”

Zheng Fa hesitated, glancing at Han Qi.

“Can I… go in?”

“Why not? This place is under my jurisdiction!” Senior Sister Yuan said impatiently. “I need to talk to you!”

The guards exchanged looks before stepping aside to let him through.

Zheng Fa hesitated briefly before entering the building, Han Qi reluctantly following after the guards’ pointed stares urged him along.

---

On the second floor, they entered what seemed to be an office. A large table in the center was piled with account books, which Senior Sister Yuan was glaring at with barely restrained fury.

“Senior Sister Yuan?”

Zheng Fa asked cautiously.

Senior Sister Yuan raised her head, her gaze full of resentment.

“Did you give Senior Sister Zhang those problems?” she asked darkly.

“…Yes.”

Smack!

“Because of you, she thinks these accounts are too easy! Now I have to do them all!” Senior Sister Yuan slapped the stack of account books. “She said they’re too simple! What part of this is simple?!”

“…”

Zheng Fa suddenly realized that the questions he’d given Senior Sister Zhang had raised her bar for entertainment, rendering her previous tasks too mundane.

Now, Senior Sister Yuan’s favorite excuse for slacking off had effectively broken down.

As she glared at him, her anger seemed to intensify when her gaze shifted to Han Qi.

“Han Qi?”

“Senior Sister?”

Han Qi, initially thrilled to be recognized by such an important figure, quickly froze as her expression darkened.

“You’re close with Zheng Fa?”

Han Qi hesitated before deciding flattery was the safest route. “I admire Junior Brother Zheng greatly! He’s exceptional!”

“So, you think he’s better than me?”

“?”

“Didn’t you hear him address me? My surname is Yuan.”

“…Senior Brother Yuan?”

Han Qi’s body stiffened, realizing their earlier friendly chatter hadn’t gone unnoticed.

“Zheng Fa! Those three were originally under me! And now you’ve…”

Han Qi and his companions paled.

“…taken them. Fine.”

The three: “?”

“But taking Senior Sister Zhang too? That’s just too much!”

Senior Sister Yuan glared at Zheng Fa as if he were a greedy scoundrel, robbing her of allies and her lazy afternoons.

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