After the reminder, Charles Evergreen finally remembered who this striking female cultivator was.
Sylvia Lin.
The female cultivator who moved next door three years ago, currently at the fourth level of the Spirit Refining Stage.
Though her cultivation wasn't particularly high, it was still mid-level in the South Mountain Market, giving her more options for work compared to those in the early stages of the Spirit Refining Stage.
Moreover, with her stunning appearance, if she were willing to lower her standards to earn energy stones, it would be quite easy for her.
In short, with her cultivation level and looks, she could have easily moved to a better place instead of living in this shantytown where spiritual energy was the most sparse and conditions were the worst.
It wasn't that she lacked ambition or was too aloof to engage with mortal sustenance.
On the contrary, she valued energy stones immensely and was extremely frugal.
When Charles Evergreen was still with Ally, they were already living very frugally, but they still had to indulge in enchanted rice a few times a month.
But Sylvia Lin?
According to Zhang Sheng's observation, she hadn't bought enchanted rice even once in three years, subsisting entirely on mortal sustenance!
"My apologies, my apologies," Charles Evergreen quickly apologized, awkwardly adding, "My mind's been a bit foggy today, and I'm slow to react. Please forgive me, Miss Lin. Would you like to come in and sit for a while?"
Seeing that Charles Evergreen had regained his memory, Sylvia Lin's expression softened slightly, but she waved her hand, saying, "No need to sit inside. I'm here today to collect the energy stones. I'll leave as soon as I get them."
"Energy stones..."
Charles Evergreen scratched his head.
Now that he remembered who she was, he also remembered that he owed her energy stones.
So, what exactly happened?
Two months ago, Charles Evergreen had received the favor of the Charm Pavilion's owner, who rewarded him with the Rune Master's Handbook. This stirred his ambitions, leading him to fantasize about one day becoming a talisman master.
After spending a month memorizing the handbook inside and out, he believed he had mastered the art of drawing talismans and was just lacking practical experience to become a talisman master.
So, he decided to give it a try.
However, a rune-making kit, even a lower-quality one, cost three low-grade energy stones.
Then there were the rune-making materials, which would cost at least two low-grade energy stones for a minimal amount.
In total, that was five low-grade energy stones.
For a cultivator with some savings, five low-grade energy stones wasn't much.
But for Charles Evergreen, who was struggling to pay rent every month, it was a significant sum.
Not only did he have to take out the three low-grade energy stones he had painstakingly saved over the years, but he also borrowed two from Sylvia Lin.
Sylvia Lin, being frugal, wouldn't have lent energy stones to Charles Evergreen under normal circumstances.
After all, in the world of cultivation, relationships were thin, and there was no saying that distant relatives were better than close neighbors.
In the three years since she had moved in, her conversations with Charles Evergreen and Ally could be counted on two hands.
However.
When Charles Evergreen explained that he wanted to borrow energy stones to practice drawing talismans, that he had found work at the Charm Pavilion, and that he hoped to become a talisman master...
And that he wouldn't borrow for nothing, offering interest in return.
Sylvia Lin considered for a moment and agreed.
There was interest, and it was like investing in the friendship of a future talisman master. No matter how you looked at it, it was a good deal.
She didn't think Charles Evergreen would deceive her; after all, they had been neighbors for three years. While they weren't close, she had a general understanding of him.
But then...
Today, when she returned home, she overheard the neighbors gossiping about how Charles Evergreen's beautiful, aloof cultivation partner had finally had enough of their impoverished life and ran off with a local "second-generation cultivator." Charles Evergreen had even been beaten unconscious, carried home by the patrol team, and his current condition was unknown.
Sylvia Lin panicked immediately.
If Charles Evergreen died, what would happen to the two energy stones she lent him?
Would she have to ask Ally for repayment?
But it wasn't her who borrowed the stones, and she had run off with another cultivator. Would she even acknowledge the debt and help repay it?
So, Sylvia Lin couldn't sit still at home and came knocking to check on the situation.
At first, she was a bit worried and even felt some pity, fearing that Charles Evergreen might have died at home.
But when she saw him appear, full of life, she was relieved.
Then she started to demand repayment.
She now realized that Charles Evergreen had no talent for becoming a talisman master. Even if he did use the borrowed energy stones to buy rune-making tools and materials, it was just his wild imagination and overestimation of his abilities.
Expecting him to repay her after becoming a talisman master was a dream!
Even his cultivation partner had left him for someone else; how could he have any talent for becoming a talisman master?
"So, what now? Let me tell you, today I must get my energy stones back. When you borrowed them, you said you'd pay interest. Now, I don't want the interest; just return the principal!" Sylvia Lin demanded firmly.
"To be honest, Miss Lin, I can't even come up with fifty mana dust right now, let alone repay your energy stones..."
Charles Evergreen understood his beautiful female neighbor's concerns, likely fearing that if he didn't repay her now, he might disappear without a trace later.
He had indeed considered this before.
He was even planning to pack up and return to the Mortal World, leaving this place of heartbreak.
"Could you give me another two months?" Charles Evergreen promised, "In two months, I will definitely repay you the energy stones with interest. If you don't believe me, I have a freshly made Purification Talisman here. Consider it as part of the interest. What do you think?"
A Purification Talisman, the most basic and easy-to-draw talisman in the Spirit Refining Stage, wasn't particularly useful.
It was also very cheap.
Ten Purification Talismans were worth one low-grade energy stone.
One was worth about 10 mana dust.
If you bought in bulk, the price could even be negotiated lower.
Sylvia Lin had come today to collect the principal and wouldn't normally be swayed by a single Purification Talisman.
But hearing Charles Evergreen's words, she couldn't help but widen her eyes, asking skeptically, "You made this Purification Talisman yourself? You know how to make talismans? Are you trying to trick me?"
Although the Purification Talisman was widely recognized as the simplest and easiest talisman to make, it still wasn't something an ordinary rogue cultivator could create.
One needed to have the talent for being a talisman master and a certain level of skill and proficiency.
But...
If Charles Evergreen had the talent to be a talisman master, why would his cold and aloof cultivation partner abandon him?
"It's really my own work. If you don't believe me, Miss Lin, you can come inside and watch. I have a little bit of rune-making material left and can draw another Purification Talisman."
To temporarily delay repayment and put her at ease, Charles Evergreen had no choice.
Owing money might make one feel powerful, but being shameless wasn't something he could do.
Sylvia Lin, still skeptical, followed Charles Evergreen into the house.
They didn't exchange much small talk.
After adjusting his state slightly, Charles Evergreen began drawing a talisman again.
His movements were fluid and unhesitant, as if guided by divine assistance. In no time, another Purification Talisman infused with spiritual energy was completed.
Seeing this with her own eyes, Sylvia Lin couldn't help but believe it.
"You really can successfully draw a Purification Talisman? I remember you've only been practicing for less than a month, right?" Sylvia Lin's eyes widened.
"Actually, it's been two months. But I spent the first month simulating the process without actually using any materials." Charles Evergreen wasn't about to reveal his secrets; he simply portrayed himself as a slightly talented talisman master.
Otherwise, many things would be difficult to explain.
"Then... why did your cultivation partner..." Sylvia Lin didn't understand and hesitated to continue.
She wanted to ask why, if Charles Evergreen had talent for drawing talismans, he hadn't become someone of significance in South Mountain Market by now.
Even if he couldn't achieve great wealth and status, he should at least be on par with Howard Hu.
Howard Hu, after all, was only relying on the advantages of being a local cultivator, with two ancestral shopfronts to his name, without any other notable strengths.
As for his cultivation level, at the fourth level of the Spirit Refining Stage, it was entirely achieved through energy stones and pills, with no particular talent for cultivation.
"I was just struck by the situation, and suddenly everything clicked today, allowing me to successfully create a Purification Talisman," Charles Evergreen explained.
Sylvia Lin nodded.
That made sense.
In life, great joy and great sorrow often led to sudden insights.
She wasn't very concerned about Charles Evergreen's feelings. After clarifying the situation, she turned her attention to practical matters, a bit embarrassed as she asked, "Purification Talismans aren't very useful to me. Can you draw a golden body talisman?"
The golden body talisman was no longer a basic talisman but a mid-level one.
Its market price was two low-grade energy stones per talisman, and during times of high demand, the price could be even higher.
"Of course not," Charles Evergreen shook his head.
