Jiaoqiu didn't feel much emotional fluctuation as he looked at the talisman in his hand. From what he knew, the shop had produced similar Curios before—like [Explosive Talismans] and the like. Useful, yes, but not extraordinary.
He half-joked to Shopkeeper Sylvester, "Shopkeeper Sylvester, this wouldn't happen to be a charm that, when slapped on your forehead, turns you into a master chef, would it?"
"Of course not." Sylvester chuckled first, then straightened his posture and said solemnly, "This is a special talisman created by a faction in the depths of the cosmos, known as the Renegade Immortals. Its name is [Substitute Talisman]."
"Possessing the power of substitution?"
Following the principle of 'know its meaning from its name,' Jiaoqiu guessed.
That would indeed be far stronger than mere Explosive Talismans.
If handed to General Feixiao, then upon encountering an equally matched foe, she could activate the talisman to summon a duplicate, disorienting the enemy and forcing them into confusion.
Once she seizes the initiative in battle, as an Emanator of The Hunt—the pinnacle at flexible duels—would naturally gain an overwhelming advantage. With a well-timed strike, even felling a fellow Emanator of an Aeon wouldn't be impossible!
At the thought, Jiaoqiu's heart burned as hotly as his favorite soup cauldron.
"Not quite!" Sylvester corrected, waving a finger. "It's not a simple duplication. When placed in advance, once activated, it instantly teleports the user to the talisman's location, leaving behind an afterimage to deceive the enemy."
He paused briefly before continuing. "It can serve as a lifesaving tool—or as a trap. One could lure an enemy deep, then suddenly appear before them. Or, if one has confidence in their reflexes, even place it mid-battle, switching positions instantaneously to deliver a decisive blow. In short, this talisman can attack or defend—the result depends entirely on the user's intent and imagination."
"Well said!"
After hearing Sylvester's explanation, Jiaoqiu wholeheartedly agreed.
Combining teleportation and afterimage—the potential of such a device far exceeded simple duplication.
And its baseline utility was high as well. At the very least, it could guarantee survival.
One million Credits—undoubtedly worth the price!
But what caught his attention more than the talisman itself was something else Sylvester had said.
This talisman came from a faction called the Renegade Immortals. Did that mean… it could be mass-produced?
If he could learn the craft and arm every soldier of the Xianzhou with one—each placing a talisman at the home base before deployment—then wouldn't that mean zero casualties in war?
Such a victory would eclipse even General Feixiao's greatest triumphs!
For once, Jiaoqiu lost his usual composure. He took two quick steps forward, amber eyes shining with urgency.
For so long, he had been tormented by one question.
Those soldiers he had healed—after returning to the battlefield, they never came back. The memory haunted him still.
If they were born only to die, then what meaning does a physician's healing hold?
That thought had shattered his conviction, leaving him Renegade aimlessly for years in his master's lakeside hut.
Until General Feixiao appeared. His master said she would teach him what it truly meant to be a healer.
And indeed, his master had been right. When he met that invincible woman—who reduced countless foes to ashes—he understood. To her, physicians weren't healers of mortal wounds, but maintainers of perfection. She never suffered injuries that threatened her life.
No hesitation. No regret. No defeat. The Three-Nos General truly lived up to her name.
Only by her side did a physician cease to be a stumbling block rushing toward death and instead became a force that carved paths to survival. Even if the work lacked the emotional satisfaction of saving the dying, for the first time, he felt the true meaning of medicine.
To serve as the strength behind greatness—to inscribe a note beneath the triumph of a legend.
That was why he risked everything to treat Feixiao's Moon Rage. It was not only loyalty as a strategist—it was the pursuit of a physician's purpose.
And if Substitute Talismans could be mass-produced, allowing every soldier to return alive—even without using a single herb—that would be the work of a supreme healer!
The highest form of medicine: to cure the illness before it arises.
To extinguish the possibility of harm in its cradle—that is the mark of a true master physician!
Thus, with the utmost sincerity, Jiaoqiu asked, "Shopkeeper Sylvester, where is this faction of the Renegade Immortals located?"
He stared without blinking, terrified that Sylvester would answer with "I don't know."
He couldn't help it—the potential of this discovery was simply too great. But he believed it wasn't impossible.
The Renegade Immortals weren't a well-known major power—he had never even heard of them before today.
That alone proved this talisman might not require exorbitant costs to create. Perhaps it was merely a secret art—but sincerity moves heaven and earth.
Surely the Xianzhou's vast knowledge and resources would be of interest to them. A trade could absolutely be struck!
Yet beneath Jiaoqiu's eager gaze, Sylvester regretfully shook his head.
"I have no idea where to find that faction. This talisman passed through several hands before it reached me—its origins are completely untraceable."
"Is that so…"
Jiaoqiu's eyes fell shut in disappointment. He slumped into the chair beside the counter, a picture of defeat.
Hope soaring high, only to crash into despair—it left his heart in turmoil.
He chuckled bitterly. "As expected… where could one find such fortune? To dream of a world without death or injury—foolish fantasy."
"No… it's not entirely hopeless."
The voice reached his ears. Jiaoqiu looked up at Sylvester, who stood just an arm's length away. His eyes were full of confusion—and a hint of exasperation.
What do you mean? Didn't you just say you had no clue where they were? Now there's hope? Could you please pick one side? You're giving me whiplash here!
Sylvester ignored his look completely and continued, "You should already have the [Memory Bubble of Colonel Sanders], right?"
"Of course…" Jiaoqiu answered reflexively—then his eyes widened in realization.
"You mean… there are memory bubbles belonging to that Renegade Immortals faction inside the Curio Trash Cans?"