On the hazy street sides, various outsider loose cultivators stealthily scrutinized the figures emerging from the black market.
Lin Chang'an, still immersed in the joy about the future, had just walked out of the market when he sensed that someone was watching him.
At that moment, as a cultivator hurriedly passed by with his head down, his hand deftly reached towards the inside of Lin Chang'an's clothing.
"Slap!"
The wrist was suddenly caught. Looking at Lin Chang'an's fierce face, the person turned pale and hurriedly apologized with a forced smile:
"Fellow Daoist, forgive my poor eyesight, I apologize for it..."
Yet, even as he spoke, his other hand deftly reached for the treasure sword at Lin Chang'an's waist. At the same time, two other figures nearby cast vicious glances in their direction.
Habitual offenders!
And a gang!
Clearly divided tasks: control the weapon, so the other two could take advantage and attack!
However!
"Pfft!"
A flash of cyan light streaked by, and blood splattered. The young face still retained an unfinished apologetic smile. His hand dazedly clutched the treasure sword, but his mouth was already pierced by the Cyan Bamboo Sword.
A decisive strike!
The opponent didn't even have time to react, shocked at how ruthlessly he acted!
"Cyan Bamboo Sword! Mana discharge! Damn it, he's a mid-stage Qi Refining old ghost, retreat quickly!"
Seeing the mana shield formed from the mana discharge, the two other figures were terrified and had no time to react.
The Cyan Bamboo Sword swiftly sliced through, sending blood splattering, and the two pairs of incredulous eyes lost their vitality.
Before dying, they were still thinking that despite how cautious the three brothers were, only targeting the poor, they didn't expect to finally slip up after so long walking along the riverbank—today they really did get wet shoes.
Freaking mid-stage Qi Refining old ghost pretending to be a second-layer Refining novice—these local cultivators are so deceitful!
Is it fun luring in poor souls like them?
All this happened in a flash, from the skilled, unexpected assault on their part to Lin Chang'an's counterattack; he didn't forget to deploy his mana shield.
All within the blink of an eye.
Too fast!
"Mid-stage Qi Refining!"
Meanwhile, this instant counterstrike also caused the shadows lurking around the alley, hoping to pick up scraps or watch the fun, to shrink their pupils in fear and hurriedly scatter.
Mana discharge forming a mana shield is a sign only mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators possess.
"Tsk! Unruly outsider loose cultivators."
Watching the hidden shadows around disperse in fear, Lin Chang'an, with a fierce and intimidating expression, snorted roughly, displaying the demeanor of a great cultivator at the mid Qi Refining stage.
However, as a gust of wind blew past, Lin Chang'an's departing figure was no slower than theirs.
Under the hazy sky, only three gradually cooling corpses lay on the street.
This was too common in the Immortal Cultivation Realm. Before the sun even rose, the bodies were taken away.
After all, to cultivators, even corpses hold value.
...
Lin Chang'an weaved deftly through the market and returned home before dawn.
Then he immediately placed premium Golden Light Talismans on the main door and windows.
"Tsk, three outsider loose cultivators dared to act recklessly, damn poor souls."
Looking at the haul, which amounted to just over twenty Spirit Crystals, Lin Chang'an felt disdain.
One at the third layer of Qi Refining, two at the second layer, and he didn't know whether to call it bravado or stupidity.
Such lowlife, even if they hadn't encountered him, were bound to get in trouble sooner or later.
It's not about being xenophobic; he just deeply despises these unruly cultivators disrupting stability.
The black market has its rules, and breaking them first brings doom to these low-cultivation folks.
Having experienced countless situations in the Immortal Cultivation Realm over twenty years, he's used to it.
As soon as he got home, he took off the clothes that had been seasoned with other scents and restored his true appearance.
Looking at the Spirit Crystals in the storage bag, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but smile.
Though risky, it was all worth it.
Because the Tier One Lower Grade Divine Movement Talismans he sold were beneath the notice of mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators—only these outsider low-tier loose cultivators would be desperate enough to want them.
Who the hell would a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator target something so trivial?
"Still, they had some insight to recognize the Cyan Bamboo Sword."
Twenty years ago, when this newly built market first opened, the Li Huo Sect released hundreds of lower grade Cyan Bamboo Swords.
Thus, when they saw the cyan light, they were scared away, thinking they encountered an old ghost.
After all, acquiring this magical artifact twenty years ago was no easy feat.
Combined with Lin Chang'an's intimidating demeanor and mid-stage Qi Refining cultivation, anyone would think he's an experienced, daring old ghost.
But upon seeing the doors and windows of his house protected with premium Golden Light Talismans, Lin Chang'an couldn't help sighing.
"To think I'd one day struggle with crafting too many talismans."
Extravagant! Too extravagant.
These could have been exchanged for Spirit Stones, yet now they lie coldly in the storage bag and are even stuck on doors.
At this moment, he finally understood the agony of being alive yet afraid to openly exchange talismans for Spirit Stones.
It's too tough.
"Go to the black market, without a safe channel, I'll have to stick with Tier One Lower Grade Divine Movement Talismans for now."
For the sake of stability, Lin Chang'an sighed in pain. He could clearly sell premium Golden Light Talismans for Spirit Stones, but instead, he has to lower his grade and earn Spirit Crystals.
...
Upon advancing to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, Lin Chang'an found himself even more motivated.
Cultivation, talisman painting, eating Demon Beast Meat, sleeping—he repeated what others saw as a monotonous routine, but he joyfully immersed himself in this reclusive lifestyle.
Outside on the street.
"Who is it, cooking Demon Beast Meat so early in the morning, not afraid of getting inflamed."
A newly emerged cultivator sniffed the meat aroma and was immediately envious.
It's not that cultivators can't afford meat, but Demon Beast Meat is a bit costly in Spirit Crystals.
For anyone wanting meat, ordinary beasts are abundant outside.
"Shh, lower your voice. That meat aroma is coming from Talisman Master Lin's place."
"It's actually Talisman Master Lin!"
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged cultivator was first surprised, then enviously remarked:
"They say an unranked Talisman Master is worse than a dog; indeed, a skilled Talisman Master earns Spirit Crystals faster than us daredevils."
"Spirit Crystals? You're joking, right? A premium talisman is worth a Spirit Stone. Once Talisman Master Lin gains mastery and learns a Tier One Middle Grade Talisman, it'll start at three Spirit Stones."
On the street, two cultivators spoke enviously; almost every cultivator knows how to paint talismans, but producing premium ones is exceedingly rare.
...
On this day.
Li Erniu came to visit.
"Brother Lin, in a few days we should head to the Qingshui Bay Market; the little Commandery Princess invited us to pay respects to the late Elder Lu."
"Paying respects to Elder Lu, huh!"
At this, Lin Chang'an's thoughts were many, finally culminating in a long sigh.
Elder Lu was the Immortal Master who introduced them to the Immortal Cultivation Realm twenty years ago, and even when they both failed the assessment, Elder Lu pointed out the way forward for them.
Unfortunately, he passed away recently, and they handled the aftermath together, leaving only a little junior sister.
Back then, the group of four—they missed the little Commandery Princess due to her sect task.