This time, venturing out alone, Ji An decided to enrich his own repertoire since he could rely only on himself.

He was confident he could handle a small number of enemies, but if he encountered a large group, he needed something to restrain them.

The Silk Thread Spell he acquired from the Golden Puppet Pavilion was nearing the Perfection Level, and now he could separate more than twenty strands of Divine Thought.

If he had more top-grade Spirit Stones in hand, he wouldn’t be this stingy; he would at least procure ten or eight Tier Two Top-Grade Puppets.

Fang Shiping smiled and said:

"Fellow Daoist, please follow me."

Talking about top-grade puppets right away, if a deal was made, today would bring tens of top-grade Spirit Stones in profit.

As they walked and exchanged pleasantries, they reached the testing area on the third floor, and Fang Shiping instructed:

"Bring over several types of Tier Two Defense Top-Grade Puppets."

The maid responded softly with "Yes" and quickly left with small steps.

A moment later, the maid handed several Storage Bags to Fang Shiping.

"Fellow Daoist, let me demonstrate; this is the puppet most beloved by cultivators."

As his words landed, a puppet shaped like a small house-sized black gorilla hit the ground, producing a dull thud.

Ji An gently patted his forehead and thought:

’How much do you love making gorilla puppets.’

The top-grade defense puppet Han Yan bought was also shaped like a gorilla; frankly, it was a bit ugly.

Fang Shiping performed a spell, and the puppet’s chest cavity opened, revealing a groove.

"Similar to other defense puppets, the material used in the chest area is the thickest, better resisting incoming damage.

Therefore, the core and the central area for placing Spirit Stones are located here.

This puppet is driven by top-grade Spirit Stones, requiring three pieces each time."

After the Spirit Stones were placed inside, he activated the puppet, and black light shot from the gorilla’s eyes, its body slowly shrinking to just eight feet tall.

"The puppet can shrink, making its defense even stronger now."

After Fang Shiping demonstrated the gorilla puppet, he then showcased two other puppets.

One was a humanoid Golden Armor Puppet, and the other a turtle-shaped puppet.

"Fellow Daoist, I’ve demonstrated the basic functions; you can now test its power.

I recall your Golden Light Technique is sharp; this time you can test boldly."

The defense of top-grade puppets far exceeded that of top-grade ones. Fang Shiping was confident these three puppets would withstand such attacks.

Perhaps not immune, but the opponent wouldn’t cause too much damage.

Ji An slightly shook his head and said:

"This time, I’ll use the Fire Dragon Heaven-Burning Technique."

With the top-grade Metal Dao Seed’s enhancement, the damage his Metal Element Technique could cause was beyond other Chao Origin Stage cultivators’ understanding.

Being a low-key person, using the Fire Dragon Heaven-Burning Technique was good enough.

The Bing Fire Dao Seed was only at the Middle Grade level, he could minimize the use of Magical Power during spell casting, allowing him to test the puppet’s strength while holding back a move.

Ji An formed a spell, and a vividly lifelike red Fire Dragon appeared in the void, its scales, dragon whiskers, dragon horns, and claws visible in fine detail.

The room’s temperature rapidly soared, and the maid’s body instinctively shrank back; she felt as though she was standing near a furnace, her exposed skin on her face and hands intensely charring.

The Fire Dragon gracefully charged toward the prepared gorilla puppet, and with a loud boom, the powerful shockwave pushed the puppet back more than a foot.

Fang Shiping slightly raised his eyebrows; with his full-powered Fire Dragon Heaven-Burning Technique release, he could only push the puppet back a step.

He scratched his head; the gap between them was too wide; fighting against the opponent, his technique had no advantage. He could only rely on the number of puppets for suppression.

Remembering he could simultaneously control twelve puppets and a piece of top-grade Spiritual Artifact, he felt assured.

The strength of the direct lineage cultivators from the Central Continent Nascent Soul Sect was unimaginable to the small sect disciples from the Western Continent.

Ji An continuously released techniques, attacking from different angles, and each puppet endured five strikes.

The puppets, covered with scorching red firelight, seemed like boiling molten iron.

He approached and observed the puppet’s condition closely, discovering no substantial damage had been inflicted.

The Spirit Light of Dharma Prohibition on the puppet’s surface flickered, resisting all damage externally.

Fang Shiping stepped forward, proudly saying:

"Fellow Daoist, the refining technique of Tier Two Top-Grade Puppets is similar to Tier Three puppets, utilizing a method of multiple Magic Array nesting.

These puppets possess dual Magic Arrays, able to withstand tens of Chao Origin Stage level attacks directly, while lower-level attacks are outright immune.

If you can find top-grade Spirit Stones for energy driving, requiring just one, the number of attacks it can withstand increases by several dozen times."

Ji An couldn’t help but smile; the other party indeed dared to claim this!

Top-grade Spirit Stones were scarce, reportedly used even by Nascent Soul cultivators; who knows if the sect’s top-grade Spirit Stone reserves even reached five pieces!

"If I use a top-grade Spirit Stone for driving, can the puppet’s defense withstand Golden Core level attacks? How many rounds can it handle?"

"Withstanding several rounds of Early-stage Golden Core level attacks in a short time should be fine, but it can’t last long as they belong to different tiers.

Fellow Daoist, consider how much effort and how many years of experience are required to reach the Golden Core level, whether it’s a cultivator or a Demon Beast!"

Fang Shiping knew this wasn’t the sort of thing that could be exaggerated away; he dared not bluff, as cultivators may be greedy but aren’t foolish.

Ji An no longer dwelled on this subject and spoke up:

"Fellow Daoist Fang, please activate these puppets so I can see if their mobility has been affected."

He took care of the puppet’s joints when launching the attack just now.

"Please look, Daoist friend," Fang Shiping simultaneously controlled three puppets, making them move nimbly.

Ji An nodded with satisfaction as he watched the swift puppets.

"What is the value of this humanoid Golden Armor Puppet?"

This puppet held a large shield in its right hand and a javelin in its left, capable of both attack and defense.

It was forged from various metals melted together, ranking first in tonnage among these puppets.

Not to mention, just jumping up and smashing someone could cause tremendous damage.

"Daoist friend, you have a keen eye. The weapons in this puppet’s hands can be replaced. If you have the financial capability, they can be switched to top-grade spiritual artifacts.

Because it can only fight on the ground, its price is only fifty-five top-grade Spirit Stones.

For you, Daoist friend, it’s a trivial amount."

Ji An smiled without commenting and further asked:

"Thirty years ago, when I came to your pavilion, I saw a Flame Dragon Eagle. How much was it worth in Spirit Stones?"

The Flame Dragon Eagle could release Fire Clouds and Bursting Fireballs. What he valued was the Fire Cloud Technique, which could compensate for the lack of range in attack techniques.

Fang Shiping responded fluently:

"The Dragon Eagle is also a top-grade puppet, valued at sixty top-grade Spirit Stones."

Ji An had enough Spirit Stones in hand, but if he bought two, he would have no Spirit Stones left to power the puppets.

"This price is not unacceptable. If you can load top-grade Spirit Stones into both puppets, I will purchase them."

Fang Shiping shook his head, "Daoist friend, we do not negotiate prices here.

Loading the Golden Armor Puppet with three Spirit Stones and the Flame Dragon Eagle with two, it amounts to the sale of two top-grade puppets for a hundred and ten Spirit Stones.

I want to close this deal, but I can’t account for it to the Chief Steward."

He looked serious, but inside he was beaming. A transaction involving over a hundred top-grade Spirit Stones, with the other party not even furrowing their brow - such an easygoing cultivator is rare to see.

He had only seen this among the direct lineages of the great Central Continent forces, and he didn’t expect to find such a wealthy patron in the remote Western Continent.

At this moment, he couldn’t help but be curious about Ji An’s identity. Even as the illegitimate child of a Golden Core Daoist Master, he shouldn’t be this wealthy!

"Sigh, I’m embarrassed by my thin wallet, able to buy, but unable to use."

Ji An sighed lightly, "Bring me a brand-new Golden Armor Puppet."

Fang Shiping turned his head and instructed:

"Hurry and take care of it."

A moment later, a maid brought over the puppet, and Ji An took out enough Spirit Stones to place on the desk.

He studied the Manipulation Technique and experimented with loading the Spirit Stones, then minimized the puppet to store it in the Void Realm Space.

Money and goods settled, he took his leave.

As he reached the stairs, Fang Shiping lightly coughed and said:

"Daoist friend, you count as a major client of our Golden Puppet Pavilion. It’s a pity that a few Spirit Stones stopped you from making a deal you wanted.

I’ll apply to the Chief Steward to see if I can meet your request.

Daoist friend, please return to the testing area and wait."

The Merchant Flying Ship stays in the Western Continent, and it might not sell two top-grade puppets in six months.

It seems like a concession of five top-grade Spirit Stones, but the profit exceeds twenty.

Ji An found this quite amusing as he returned once more; the supposed rule of ’no bargaining’ could be flexibly adhered to.

About two quarters of an hour later, Fang Shiping hurriedly returned from outside, producing the Flame Dragon Eagle puppet:

"Daoist friend, I went through a lot of trouble to persuade the Chief Steward and finally got you a discount."

Saying this, he loaded two top-grade Spirit Stones into the puppet, tested it a bit, and handed it over.

Ji An commanded the puppet to attack, took out enough Spirit Stones to complete the transaction, at which point he was left with only three top-grade Spirit Stones.

"Thank you for your kind words, Daoist friend."

Though he knew full well how things were, he still exchanged pleasantries.

...

After disembarking the Merchant Flying Ship, Ji An entered Cyan Cloud Immortal City and headed to the talisman shop district.

The Pang’s Treasure Talisman Shop that once sprinkled tracking powder on Spirit Stones had vanished without a trace, reportedly exterminated during the years when the Demon Calamity erupted.

He sold all his top-grade Spirit Talismans at the Treasure Talisman Pavilion he established in Luofeng Valley, where the shopkeeper personally attended to him.

"Daoist friend, this time you are selling a total of three hundred sixty Tier One Top-Grade Bursting Talismans, forty-five Spirit Stones each, totaling sixteen thousand two hundred Spirit Stones;

and two hundred forty Top-Grade Pan Mountain Talismans, fifty-five Spirit Stones each, totaling thirteen thousand two hundred Spirit Stones. I will decide to purchase them all for thirty thousand Spirit Stones."

Ji An spoke up:

"Could it be paid in top-grade Spirit Stones?"

"Daoist friend, exchanging for top-grade Spirit Stones requires a thirty percent fee, unless you make up the difference."

Silently complaining to himself about the high ’transaction fees,’ Ji An took out a large pile of middle-grade Spirit Stones, "I agree to pay the fee, and I’d also like the rest exchanged into top-grade Spirit Stones."

Over the years, he had accumulated many middle-grade Spirit Stones, but it’s more convenient to use top-grade Spirit Stones.