Chapter 166: Chapter 163: Jiang Cheng, The Nemesis of a Whole New Generation of Leaders
 

Capital Tongtian Sect Talisman Master Association.

Behind the president’s office desk, fourth-tier Talisman Master and Association President Gao Miao looked at Jiang Cheng’s submitted talisman certification application with complicated feelings.

Previously, he had constantly complained about Lu Wang’s negligence, which ultimately led to the Talisman Master Association suffering an undeserved disaster.

But now, as Jiang Cheng sat in front of him, he finally understood Lu Wang’s grievances and difficulties.

The talisman certification application submitted by Jiang Cheng was flawless, even by Gao Miao’s most nitpicking standards; he couldn’t find even the slightest issue!

It was as if Jiang Cheng, more than he as the president, knew how to apply for talisman certification!

The faultless application meant that, according to the rules and regulations of the Talisman Master Association, Gao Miao was obliged to approve Jiang Cheng’s talisman certification within a month at the latest!

Given Capital’s Talisman Association’s efficiency, ordinary talisman certifications would take less than a week, mostly five or six days at most, to pass.

But today, it was Jiang Cheng applying for the certification!

Gao Miao felt that even a month was too short a time; it was entirely unreasonable.

Others would get a stay of execution for two years, but his, Gao Miao’s stay of execution, was only a month!

“President Gao, is there any problem with my application?”

Jiang Cheng, seeing Gao Miao not speaking for a long time, kindly asked.

Gao Miao glanced at the introduction of Jiang Cheng’s new talisman and internally screamed: what do you mean ‘any problem’? There are problems everywhere!

[Name: Plant Autonomy Talisman]

[Tier: First-tier]

[Type: Control]

[Effect: Help the Blood Orange Tree achieve self-discipline in its life by learning from the self-discipline experiences of other plants.]

[Precautions: 1. The tree does not have specific soil requirements, but please try to let the tree free-roam in areas with lots of weeds; it will weed by itself. 2. The tree may move at night, don’t worry, this is normal. 3. The tree knows some martial arts, featuring functions like auto theft-deterrence and automatic capturing of thieves. 4. The tree will not harm people, but it will run away, so please do not attempt to do any strange things to it.]

Gao Miao now really wanted to ask Jiang Cheng, why on earth would you make a perfectly good fruit tree so self-disciplined?

And why would a tree need self-discipline? Isn’t it better to let it grow quietly?

Combining Jiang Cheng’s two previous creations, the Muscle Relaxation Talisman and the Animal Encouragement Talisman, Gao Miao could actually confirm that the Autonomy Talisman did indeed come from Jiang Cheng.

Because a normal talisman master, let alone create, wouldn’t even think of such a nonsensical thing.

The only issue now was that it was impossible to predict what kind of trouble Jiang Cheng’s new talisman would cause.

If he managed to offend some powerful force again, the Talisman Master Association would definitely be in trouble.

By then, the one to be dismissed wouldn’t be Lu Wang, but him, Gao Miao.

“Your application materials are fine, it’s just that this type of control talisman is quite rare, and the association needs more time to assess your talisman application materials,” Gao Miao said as calmly as he could.

“How long will that take?”

“A month at the latest.”

Because a month was the longest period of stay of execution the Talisman Master Association allowed.

Jiang Cheng nodded; President Gao’s argument seemed reasonable, and he saw no issue with it.

Moreover, bidding at the Weapon Department also required plenty of time; waiting a month to receive the talisman certification would not cause any delay.

Upon seeing Jiang Cheng’s application complete, Secretary Wu stepped forward to ask him to leave.

At this moment, Gao Miao took the initiative to say, “Jiang Cheng, wait a moment.”

Gao Miao pulled out a piece of paper, quickly wrote a number on it, and handed it to Jiang Cheng.

“This is my contact information. If you feel uncertain about anything, you must first communicate with me through a communication talisman, and consult with me!”

“Alright, thank you, Senior Gao,” Jiang Cheng gratefully said.

No matter whether it was Lu Wang or Gao Miao, each chairman he had met was so kind and sincere.

This scene made Jiang Cheng prematurely feel the warmth of the big Tongtian Sect family.

When he later entered the Tongtian Sect, he would definitely get along very well with his fellow Tongtian Sect brothers and sisters.

Gao Miao held his forehead, giving Secretary Wu a gesture to hurry up and take Jiang Cheng out.

After all, he was a distinguished fourth-tier Talisman Master, the supreme leader of Liang Kingdom’s Talisman Master Association, yet today he voluntarily offered his contact information to a rankless talisman master; it would be humiliating to speak of.

But the current Gao Miao had become resigned. He didn’t care about losing face, as long as Jiang Cheng didn’t recreate the fiasco of the Fishing Talisman in Capital; he would willingly call Jiang Cheng his big brother.

A small loss of face is better than a big one.

His, Gao Miao’s, tolerance today was for the peace and stability of all Liang Kingdom!

In the women’s dormitory of Lotus University, Yue Linger found Cheng Bingxin.

“Bingxin, I’ve got a talisman drawing job; are you interested?”

Cheng Bingxin lay on the bed, her feet up in the air, playing with her communication talisman: “I’m not interested.”

“The pay is very high,” Yue Linger added.

Cheng Bingxin thought to herself: how high could it be? Drawing talismans is so tiring, not to mention less enjoyable than shipping a couple’s fantasy. Besides, she wasn’t short on spending money.

“Even if it’s high, I’m not interested, Linger, I advise you not to take it either. College should be about having fun because later in life there will be plenty of opportunities to work.”

Yue Linger agreed with Cheng Bingxin’s view.

But she didn’t draw talismans primarily for money; her main reason was that it was—Jiang Cheng’s task.

Now that she had gotten involved with Jiang Cheng, if she didn’t work hard, and Jiang Cheng ignored her, what would she do when her “Jiang Cheng addiction” flared up later?

In the end, Yue Linger had to give up leisure time to draw talismans in her dorm, forcing herself to produce over ten thousand in a single day.

Cheng Bingxin’s fingers fluttered on the communication talisman.

Cheng Bingxin: Jiang Cheng doesn’t often come back to the dorm, does he?

Zhu Hongcai: Of course not, our dormitory is ruled by me. He wouldn’t dare to stay there, would he?

Cheng Bingxin: Have you guys ever discussed emotional problems with Jiang Cheng?

Zhu Hongcai: We have, but the kid is too emotionally unintelligent, like talking to a brick wall; it’s hard to imagine anyone liking him.

Cheng Bingxin: That is indeed hard to imagine.

Zhu Hongcai: Senior sister, I took Ding Guangming to the Immortal Sect Tea House outside the campus yesterday and accidentally spent several medium-grade Spirit Stones, earning a discount coupon. The Immortal Sect Tea House is so stingy, only giving a 10% discount with the coupon. I found it annoying, so I just threw it away.

As soon as Cheng Bingxin saw Zhu Hongcai’s last message, she burst out laughing.

Doesn’t this kid realize how childish he sounds?

Anyway, if it were me, Cheng Bingxin, wanting to show off my wealth, I definitely wouldn’t resort to such crude and childish methods.

The truly cultivated and wealthy are usually inconspicuous for a long time, hardly any different from ordinary people, and then suddenly something happens that astonishes you with their affluence.

Cheng Bingxin swayed her feet and saw that Yue Linger under the bed had been quietly drawing talismans all afternoon.

“Linger, you’re still drawing? Aren’t you tired?”

“I’m not tired.”

“Stop drawing, come out with me for a walk.”

“Don’t be silly, wait until I finish this batch.”

Cheng Bingxin jumped off the bed and saw Yue Linger was painting a first-order talisman, and immediately exclaimed in annoyance, “A first-order talisman? I thought you were painting second-order ones! How much money can a first-order talisman make? Stop drawing! Come out and have fun with me!”

Yue Linger, focused on painting talismans, then answered, “Six hundred low-grade Spirit Stones.”

“Six hundred?”

Cheng Bingxin estimated the number of unused talisman paper and said, “That must be around fifty or sixty sheets, right? Six hundred for fifty or sixty sheets isn’t too bad.”

Without looking up, Yue Linger said, “Huh? You mean in total? I thought you were asking how much one costs. Altogether, it’s a little over thirty thousand.”

Cheng Bingxin’s eyes went wide, “Snatch less!?”

“Thirty thousand.”

“No, Linger, are you sure you don’t have a fever? Can first-order talismans really be this valuable? Who gave you this task? The person handing out the tasks must be a big sucker, right?”

Yue Linger casually mentioned, “Got it from Jiang Cheng.”

Cheng Bingxin’s voice caught in her throat, and she found herself speechless.

Damn, Jiang Cheng really is loaded. To woo the Lotus University belle, he’s even subsidizing the price of talismans out of his own pocket.

To spend thirty thousand at the drop of a hat!

What is showing off wealth?

This is exactly how to do it!

Zhu Hongcai, take a good lesson from Jiang Cheng!

How can the gap be so large when we’re from the same dorm?

Thanks to Yue Linger’s hard work, the first batch of twenty Enhanced Version of Plant Autonomy Talismans was quickly delivered to the students who had pre-ordered them.

Following Jiang Cheng’s previous experience with selling Muscle Relaxation Talismans and Animal Encouragement Talismans.

Instruction manuals, talisman purchase agreements, and warranty services were not skimped on, everything was complete.

The key selling point was being crime-proof, absolutely foolproof.

At the talisman delivery meeting, Jiang Cheng particularly warned each purchaser not to tamper with the effects of the talisman on their own, and also not to apply the talisman to other plants.

Because the current Plant Autonomy Talisman was a special version tailored for Blood Orange Fruits, not a universal type that could be applied to any plant.

Compared to the Task Hall in Wuyue that catered to the general public, the clients for the Plant Autonomy Talisman were all Lotus University students, and overall, they had higher standards.

After the talisman delivery ceremony was over, Yue Linger came over to Jiang Cheng on the sly to ask.

“Jiang Cheng, how’s the certification for the Plant Autonomy Talisman going?”

“President Gao said the Autonomy Talisman’s certification needs more time for evaluation. What’s up?”

“I’m worried that someone might take advantage of the fact your talismans aren’t certified yet.”

Jiang Cheng explained with a smile, “Don’t worry, the effective date for a talisman’s patent starts from the day you submit it for certification. Also, the same talisman can’t be submitted for certification twice. Finally, I believe that our Lotus University students are all law-abiding good youths; why would they do anything illegally?”

Faced with the optimistic Jiang Cheng, Yue Linger didn’t know whether that was good or bad.

Jiang Cheng’s advantage was his positive attitude.

His flaw was being too positive.

Because he didn’t break the law, he always thought that everyone else was good too and wouldn’t break the law.

“Forget it, I’m probably just overthinking it,” murmured Yue Linger.

In a dark alley just outside Lotus University, an upperclassman from the Spiritual Planting Department who had just bought an Enhanced Version of Plant Autonomy Talisman strode to the location.

“Damn, who chose this place? Why does selling a second-hand talisman feel like smuggling contraband?” the upperclassman from the Spiritual Planting Department quietly complained to himself.

The notorious talisman thug from the Capital, a second-order Talisman Master, Wang Xiaoqiu, suddenly appeared.

With a flick of his finger, five thousand low-grade Spirit Stones appeared on the ground.

“Where’s my merchandise?”

“Here it is. Take it. I’m off.”

The upperclassman from the Spiritual Planting Department took the five thousand low-grade Spirit Stones and left with a feeling of contentment.

Selling a talisman that cost fifteen hundred for five thousand meant earning three thousand five hundred in half an hour!

Being a scalper was too blissful!

Wang Xiaoqiu, having gotten his hands on the first batch of freshly minted Enhanced Version of Autonomy Talismans, immediately went home to deduce the structure of the talisman.

A first-order talisman that wasn’t encrypted on purpose wasn’t difficult to crack for a second-order Talisman Master.

But for Wang Xiaoqiu, difficulty wasn’t important, speed was.

He had to quickly figure out the structure of the Plant Autonomy Talisman and then prepare the certification materials to take to the Talisman Master Association for certification.

If he was fast enough, he might even beat Jiang Cheng to certification success!

That would give him the leverage to sue Jiang Cheng over the ownership of the talismans.

Once the lawsuit started, it would be an extremely lengthy process.

Winning or losing the lawsuit didn’t matter, as long as they could get Miaodan Workshop to produce a batch of goods for yielding Blood Orange Fruits, that would be enough.

If Jiang Cheng wasn’t happy with Miaodan Workshop using the talismans to produce Blood Orange Fruits, they would just continue the lawsuit. After the first trial, they could appeal for a second trial, and even appeal again, and keep appealing. With the right maneuvers, the lawsuits could go on indefinitely.

One side was Miaodan Workshop with annual sales possibly reaching hundreds of millions of Spirit Stones, the other was an unknown Qi-training Talisman Master. It was clear to anyone with eyes which side to support.

As for the most crucial part, the certification of the pirated Autonomy Talismans, Wang Xiaoqiu naturally had his methods.

Two hundred miles from the Capital was a small city within the influence of Linlan Sect, he would go there to the Linlan Talisman Master Association for certification, and if nothing went awry, it could be approved within a day.

Much more efficient than the Capital’s Talisman Master Association.