Chapter 205: Chapter 198: Jiang Taigong Fishing
Gao Miao looked stunned, “What did you say?”
“I’m planning to wipe out all the Hehuan Sect disciples in Capital at once,” Jiang Cheng said simply.
Gao Miao took back his earlier praise for Jiang Cheng.
This kid is off the rails!
As the saying goes, a talisman reflects its creator!
Jiang Cheng’s talismans are preposterous, indeed, it’s not a matter of luck, but rather that he himself is preposterous!
Gao Miao advised earnestly and kindly, “Jiang Cheng, eradicating the Demon Sect is the duty of the Immortal Sects. You’re currently just a student at Lotus University, attending classes well is the greatest contribution you can make to society. Do you understand?”
“Gao Senior, with great power comes great responsibility. If I can wipe out the Hehuan Sect in one fell swoop, naturally, I cannot sit idly by.
“But you’re only at the Qi Cultivation Stage. You can’t defeat anyone.”
“But Senior is not at the Qi Cultivation Stage. Senior is not only a Core Formation late-stage cultivator but also a fourth-tier Talisman Master, with extremely potent combat power. More importantly, compared to Director Guo, Senior has significant advantages. Senior’s subordinates manage many talisman masters in Capital, and could easily level a small country with just a bit of organization.”
Upon hearing this, Gao Miao unconsciously straightened his back a little.
Indeed, although Jiang Cheng tends to cause trouble, he has always been one to speak the truth.
Though Gao Miao and Guo Xiuyuan are both fourth-tiers, I am the esteemed president of the Liang Kingdom’s Talisman Master Association of Tongtian Sect; am I not head and shoulders above that director of Lotus University?
Gao Miao broke into a smile, saying, “Alright, there’s no need to speak so many truths, just tell me straight what you want to do.”
Jiang Cheng earnestly said, “As long as Senior is willing to follow my commands, wiping out Hehuan Sect in Capital won’t be a problem.”
Gao Miao’s smile gradually faded.
Yes, he had laughed too soon again.
Damn it, Jiang Cheng had been flattering him just to get him to “follow Jiang Cheng’s commands”?
He, a dignified Core Formation cultivator, fourth-tier Talisman Master, take orders from a Qi Cultivation Stage like Jiang Cheng?
The key point being this guy hasn’t even passed the Talisman Master Certificate exam; he doesn’t even qualify as one of their association’s talisman masters!
On what grounds!?
Forget about Jiang Cheng; even if the Helmsman of Tongtian Sect’s Capital branch wanted to command Gao Miao, they would have to ask nicely and negotiate!
With a pained expression, Gao Miao said, “Jiang Cheng, do you want to listen to what you’re saying?”
“Wiping out Hehuan Sect is not a problem.”
“The sentence before that.”
“As long as Senior is willing to follow my commands.”
“Exactly! That sentence!” Gao Miao slammed the table and stood up, shouting angrily, “Why should I listen to you!”
Jiang Cheng, surprised, said, “Don’t you want the credit for dealing a heavy blow to the Demonic Tao? Then I’ll go discuss it with President Li of the Taixu Sect. Senior, I’ll take my leave.”
Having said that, Jiang Cheng got up to leave, exuding the air of someone shopping in a physical store, ready to move to the next one if you don’t cut the price in half.
The credit for dealing a heavy blow to the Demonic Tao!?
If this could indeed be achieved, it would indeed be a great accomplishment!
Gao Miao watched Jiang Cheng’s retreating figure, feeling a chill in his heart.
Damn it, I got angry too early again.
He swiftly converted his anger into a gentle drizzle of kindness, saying affectionately, “Hold on, come back, let’s talk this through carefully.”
Jiang Cheng turned around on the spot and returned to his seat.
The Tongtian Sect’s Talisman Master Association was indeed Jiang Cheng’s first consideration.
The main reason is that the Taixu Sect’s influence in Capital is too weak; although Li Qingge would support him with all her might, for one thing, ‘all-out support’ might not be enough; for another, if he interacts too much with Taixu Sect, if they mistakenly think he wants to help them interfere with their succession struggle, that wouldn’t be good.
Jiang Cheng simply told Gao Miao about the Willpower Empowerment Talisman and the function of the Perception Transmission Talisman.
After listening, Gao Miao analyzed carefully and found that Jiang Cheng’s points indeed made sense.
Capturing the Hehuan Sect was not a wild goose chase, but rather a feasible play.
According to Jiang Cheng’s plan, they would first use a Perception Transmission Talisman to “lure” a Hehuan Sect disciple into their trap.
And through “persuasion,” they would make the Hehuan Sect disciple align with the righteous path, voluntarily confess information, and cooperate with Tongtian Sect’s actions.
Ultimately, they aim to find the other members of the Hehuan Sect and capture them all in one fell swoop!
“Catching someone isn’t hard, but even the Immortal Sects struggle to distinguish those from the Demonic Tao. How can you ensure that you can definitely identify a talisman buyer as a disciple of the Hehuan Sect? Other righteous cultivators could also possibly buy Perception Transmission Talismans, right?”
Jiang Cheng said, “Senior Gao, have you ever seen any other users of Willpower Empowerment Talismans?”
“Well, no, have you?”
Thinking back to Wei Qin’s appearance, Jiang Cheng said, “I have. Users of Willpower Empowerment Talismans often suffer from a deficiency of yang energy, lack vitality, appear dispirited, and have dark circles under their eyes. The Hehuan Sect is different, however; they practice through absorption, so after using the empowerment talismans, their spirits are actually better!”
Gao Miao clapped his hands in admiration, “Brilliant! Your method is truly brilliant!”
Then, Gao Miao raised another question, “But how can you be sure that you can ‘persuade’ a Hehuan Sect disciple? There are quite a few tough nuts in the Demon Sect who refuse to speak the truth after being captured by the Tongtian Sect.”
Jiang Cheng smiled and said, “In terms of persuading people to be righteous, I do have some experience.”
Gao Miao pondered and concluded that, with Jiang Cheng’s level of talisman drawing, persuading (coercing) people (through harsh measures) to be righteous (forced to confess) was indeed possible.
Gao Miao looked at the Perception Transmission Talisman Jiang Cheng had, and felt increasingly convinced that fishing for the Hehuan Sect members was possible. The Hehuan Sect was one of the representative sects of the Demonic Tao; if they could truly uproot the Hehuan Sect in the Capital, it would definitely be considered a glorious achievement!
Worth the risk!
“How do you want me to assist you?”
Jiang Cheng said, “I need Senior Gao to help me find some people. Two third-tier Talisman Masters will suffice for the initial phase. As for the later stage, it will depend on the actual size of the Hehuan Sect in the Capital.”
Gao Miao nodded his head.
Finding two third-tier Talisman Masters wasn’t difficult, as their association had the necessary personnel.
“If you need anything else, just let me know with a communication talisman.”
“Understood.”
As everyone knows, before fishing, one must “chum the water.”
Having secured the martial support, Jiang Cheng then began to work on expanding the influence of the Perception Transmission Talisman.
They must build the reputation of the Perception Transmission Talisman first to make it easier for the “fish” to bite.
Jiang Cheng chose his specially encrypted version of the “Perception Transmission Talisman” which only allowed for three minutes of transmission time.
Its main selling point was “trying something new.”
Jiang Cheng also adjusted the transmission strength to a reasonable threefold increase, ensuring it wouldn’t cause addiction.
In order to avoid suspicion, Jiang Cheng even spent money to hire students from Lotus University to hand out flyers on the streets.
He handed out trial talismans along with flyers that provided instructions to passersby, inviting them to try for free.
After creating a buzz, Jiang Cheng, to allay the Hehuan Sect disciples’ suspicions, did not choose Tongbao Pavilion with Tongtian Sect’s backing as the spot for releasing the talismans, but instead opted for the newly opened Miaodan Workshop.
On the first day of the Perception Transmission Talisman’s release, Jiang Cheng, along with Shen Menghan, Yue Linger, and two third-tier Talisman Masters from the Talisman Master Association, lay in ambush inside Miaodan Workshop.
They would act on Jiang Cheng’s signal of dropping a cup.
If Hehuan Sect disciples below the Foundation Establishment came, the third-tier Talisman Masters would apprehend them on the spot!
As for Core Formation Stage disciples of the Hehuan Sect, they would pretend not to see them.
This wasn’t out of fear; rather, Core Formation Stage cultivators possess a certain ability to escape. Acting rashly and failing to capture them could easily alarm the others.
Jiang Cheng stayed at the front desk of Miaodan Workshop, quickly welcoming their first customer of the day to buy a talisman!
The first visitor was a cultivatress with rosy cheeks and a healthy body, not seeming to be drained by a Willpower Empowerment Talisman.
Her arrival instantly tightened the atmosphere in Miaodan Workshop’s Fuyang Road Store!
According to Jiang Cheng’s deduction, the cultivator with a “rosy complexion” and using the Willpower Empowerment Talisman was mostly likely a disciple of the Hehuan Sect who relied on a cultivation technique of “nourishing replacement”!
Only disciples of the Hehuan Sect would look more spirited the more they used it.
Other cultivators using the Willpower Empowerment Talisman would hardly avoid having dark circles under their eyes.
The Miaodan Workshop had arranged a formation that could hide one’s aura, and Shen Menghan and Yue Linger were watching the female cultivator who entered.
“What is her cultivation level? Can we make a move?”
“Don’t know, can’t feel it.”
“Elder Wu, can you sense it?”
Wu Renshan, at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, a third-order Talisman Master. He had been arranged by Gao Miao to assist Jiang Cheng.
“Even I cannot perceive it, she is probably at the Core Formation Stage.”
Core Formation!
The first one is a Core Formation Stage disciple of the Hehuan Sect!
The renowned Demonic Hehuan Sect is indeed not simple!
Jiang Cheng has to be careful…
“Hello, what would you like to buy?” At the Miaodan Workshop counter, Jiang Cheng greeted with a smile.
The female cultivator said, “Perception Transmission Talisman.”
Jiang Cheng took out a disposable one, saying, “Two thousand Spirit Stones.”
The female cultivator was taken aback, “That expensive?”
“Of course, it’s effective.”
“Do you have a Reusable Type?”
“Not at the moment.”
The female cultivator thought for a moment, then asked, “Can I use an official account here?”
Everyone: ???
An official account?
Does the Hehuan Sect always purchase things so formally?
Jiang Cheng remained very composed, saying, “May I ask what type of official account it is?”
“A school’s official account,” said the female cultivator.
“May I ask which school it is?”
“Hmm, Hundred Peaks University.”
Hundred Peaks University!
Everyone involuntarily took in a breath of cold air.
No wonder the efforts of the Immortal Sects to exterminate demons were always so ineffective.
It was unexpected that the Demon Sect had infiltrated so deeply!
Even the key university under the banner of the Immortal Sects had been infiltrated!
Still smiling, Jiang Cheng asked, “May I ask what the purpose is?”
The female cultivator nodded, “Hmm, I am a practitioner of Body Cultivation, and I’ve found that the Perception Transmission Talisman can accelerate the cultivation speed of Body Cultivation. Especially in tempering the body… What’s that look on your face?”
Jiang Cheng, struggling to maintain composure, said, “Is your husband’s name Wei Qin?”
The female cultivator expressed surprise, “How did you know?”
“Ha, ha, nevermind. We currently are not selling this talisman to customers who don’t use the Willpower Empowerment Talisman. If you wish to purchase it, you could have Mr. Wei come over to buy it.”
“That’s a weird rule.”
The female cultivator was quite dissatisfied, but she didn’t say anything else.
After the female cultivator left, another male cultivator who was also full of energy and without dark circles entered.
This man’s cultivation level was in the Qi Cultivation Stage, falling within the range that Jiang Cheng and the others could “capture” among the Hehuan Sect disciples!
Yue Linger, Shen Menghan, Wu Renshan, and the others were ready for battle.
As soon as Jiang Cheng gave the signal by dropping a cup, they would rush out to apprehend him!
But unexpectedly, the male cultivator didn’t speak.
Only Jiang Cheng knew what was happening—the male cultivator was using Divine Sense to transmit his voice.
Male cultivator: Hello, I’d like to buy a Perception Transmission Talisman.
Jiang Cheng: Hello, you can speak to me directly, no need for Divine Sense transmission.
Male cultivator: I am sorry, I am deaf. The Perception Transmission Talisman allowed me to hear sounds again…
Ten minutes later, the male cultivator left.
Yue Linger urgently transmitted her voice to Jiang Cheng: Why did you let him go! Are we not moving in for the capture?
In silence, Jiang Cheng transmitted back: He is not a disciple of the Hehuan Sect, he is deaf. He was just thanking me because my Talisman allowed him to hear again.
Yue Linger was taken aback, she hadn’t expected the situation to be like this.
Although hearing loss is usually self-healing after Foundation Establishment, guilt still filled Yue Linger’s heart.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. You didn’t mean it, don’t take it to heart.”
A few minutes later, Yue Linger regained her spirits and said with an uneasy feeling, “Strange!”
Shen Menghan asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Senior Sister, have you noticed that whenever Jiang Cheng intends to make a good talisman, things go out of control. But when he prepares to make a bad talisman, he starts doing good deeds again!”
Shen Menghan fell silent.
Because she realized that it indeed seemed to be the case.
“How about, we follow him and join the Demon Sect?”
Yue Linger burst into tears, “Senior Sister, if Jiang Cheng joins the Demon Sect, would you follow him? Is this love?”
Shen Menghan felt embarrassed.
She hadn’t thought that much; after all, following Jiang Cheng was also about doing good deeds, and it wasn’t possible to join the Demon Sect and be a bad person.
Moreover, the main point was “following Jiang Cheng”; if he didn’t go, who would want to live a life of hiding and secrecy in the Demon Sect?
“You’re not going?” Shen Menghan asked.
“Going,” replied Yue Linger without hesitation.
As someone deeply affected by Jiang Cheng Syndrome, Yue Linger couldn’t imagine a life without him.
So wherever Jiang Cheng went, she would follow, plain and simple.
Today, Wu Renshan and his colleague Xia Changfu truly had their eyes opened!
They had long heard that Jiang Cheng was brilliant at making talismans.
But they never thought that his ability to control the chaotic scene was a hundred times more impressive than his talisman-making skills!
Seduction of a campus belle might be brag-worthy.
But the issue was that Jiang Cheng had clearly won over not just one but two, and there wasn’t even the slightest conflict between them; their relationship was as good as that of real sisters.
How in the world did he manage to do this?
Wouldn’t learning this skill of living off women be more useful than learning how to make talismans?