Identity Discovered

What did having a prestigious profession like Inscription Master, Forging Master, and Alchemist mean in the grander world of cultivation? What influence did it have in shaping the history and culture of the world of the cultivators? Why were such people lauded with accolades and always the main focus for showing subservience?

Because they molded the reality to their will.

These people, despite lacking true heaven-defying cultivation, were gifted with the means to enforce Heaven's will on anything they touched. They were well and truly blessed by the Heavens, as some might say.

When he had first come into possession of the Talismans, he had refrained from selling them in the market, in fear of exposing himself. But then his mother had devised a plan. It was a simple plan really. What if he didn't have to hide his identity after all?

This entire plan, centered on this one single question, played with the mindsets and hard-earned habits of these millennia-old cultivators. Its entire aim is to rouse a single question within their minds: Who is the creator of these talismans?

"So, who's the creator of these talismans?"

Lin Fei grinned inwardly at the question but maintained a poised attitude outside. "I don't think that's any of your business."

The old man seemed to stare him dead in the eye, as if he could peer right through the cloak. "I at least wish to meet the supplier."

"He's standing right before you." Lin Fei answered without a change in his posture.

"I'm interested in more than buying these paltry numbers." The old man spoke. "Like I said, I wish to talk business, so how about we put aside these childish antics and meet for real? Of course I'm talking about the one behind you."

Stubborn, Lin Fei scoffed inwardly. But that's exactly what I need.

"I don't think you understand what I just said." Lin Fei spoke in a slow manner and then leaned forward. "I said," he drawled, prolonging each word. "He's standing right before you." Each of the words was spoken with an intermittent pause, and each time a heavy presence took over the world.

It started slow. The old man only felt a growing sense of unease, then suddenly he was being pressed by an ominous aura wafting from the man standing before him. And then almost instantly he was standing before a ...God!

The world exploded!

His vision blanked!

Darkness overtook!

Fear.

He didn't understand it. He didn't understand anything. He just knew. A deep primal instinct, buried within his genes, reared its head. And it cried at him. Screamed at him.

Run. Run! RUN!!!

Snap!

"Huff... Huff..." He was breathing. He was alive. The light had returned, and he was still standing before that cloaked figure. And he was sweating.

"What—I..." The old man paused, confusion straining his memory. Then he recalled what he had been doing and glanced at the bundle of talismans. "Ah yes, about these..."

Lin Fei let him count and recover his focus.

After a few seconds had passed, the old man spoke up. "Fourteen talismans in total, and of excellent quality. About a hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones in total. Is that alright with you?"

"Absolutely." Lin Fei answered without a hint of levity in his tone.

He accepted the purse and, without counting, turned toward another location. Chen Wei had kept quiet after that earlier debacle, but Lin Fei knew he was shaking in his boots after seeing that old man break into a cold sweat.

"Where do they sell Essence Stones?"

Chen Wei answered promptly by leading him to the stall. He took a look around and noted how there were four base elements in abundance while lacking in rarer ones.

"I am looking to buy Ice, Metal, Wood, and Lightning. How many of each do you have?"

The stall owner had his body covered in a cloak, so Lin Fei couldn't see his reaction. He only paused briefly before answering, "Don't have Wood and Metal, only Ice and Lightning. And I only have five in each."

"How much for one?"

"300 each."

Lin Fei took out 30 mid-grade spirit stones from his purse. "I will take them all. And what about these common ones? How much do they cost?"

"100."

"I will take 30 of these." He took out another 30 and dropped them on the booth.

"Just a second." The man said and hurried to dig out a wooden box from beneath himself somewhere. He stocked it in front of Lin Fei and, once done, handed it to him. "Pleasure doing business with you."

Lin Fei took the box and turned to leave.

We are being followed. Lin Xinyue intoned.

Finally, Lin Fei cackled inwardly.

Certain distance away, Lin Fei and Chen Wei ducked into an alley and shrugged off their cloaks.

"Man, these are stuffy." Chen Wei groused.

Lin Fei handed him the one he had worn, and they made their way onto the road. Suddenly Chen Wei spoke.

"What did you do to that old man that he suddenly stopped being so pushy?"

Lin Fei regarded the rough-faced man and grinned. "Why, do you wish to experience that too?"

Seeing the evil gleam in his eyes, Chen Wei shook his head. "No. I was just curious, is all."

Lin Fei shook his head as he recalled that moment. That very moment when... when something had happened. He frowned and asked inwardly, What did you do to that old man?

Lin Xinyue laughed lightly. Nothing much, just showed him a tiny bit of a glimpse of my true self.

That would do it, Lin Fei agreed. Although he himself might have been only a million years old, his mother was far, far, and once more, far older than him. He didn't know exactly how much, as she refused to expound on the matter, but by his estimates, she was at least trillions of years old. That is, if she was on the younger side; otherwise...

Shaking his head, Lin Fei asked, Are they still following us?

Oh yeah, they are. Lin Xinyue answered. Looks like it's time to initiate part two of the plan.