Cyan Bamboo Mountain Market.
"Have you heard? Recently, the Divine Sword Sect issued a bounty, kill an Inner Disciple from the Li Huo Palace, and you can exchange it for a top-grade magical artifact at the Divine Sword Sect."
"What's the big deal? Both the Li Huo Palace and the Profound Sound Pavilion have bounty orders as well. As long as you slay the corresponding spies or tribulation cultivators from the Divine Sword Sect, you can exchange for rewards based on their identity and strength, even Foundation Establishment Pills."
In the bustling market, people came and went, many cultivators exuding an aura of evil energy between their brows.
There were even large amounts of demon beast meat and leather armor-like goods appearing on the market.
True Treasure Tower.
"Mr. Lin, you're a rare visitor now."
The familiar Shopkeeper Miao had been in high spirits lately due to the arrival of sect cultivators, and seeing Lin Chang'an arrive made him smile even more.
"Shopkeeper Miao, don't tease me. If I had known the Li Huo Palace would open to the outside, who wouldn't sell themselves."
Lin Chang'an shook his head, feeling utterly helpless inside.
Who could have thought that just as he had befriended the Zhou Family, this would happen.
Seeing Lin Chang'an's displeasure, Shopkeeper Miao chuckled and cupped his hands:
"Mr. Lin, you're joking, aren't you? Even I haven't heard a whisper about the news from above."
Shopkeeper Miao spoke cautiously, but Lin Chang'an shook his head, said nothing more, and directly slapped the table, producing five spirit stones and a middle-grade Golden Light Talisman.
"Wow, Mr. Lin, your craft is getting better and better."
Seeing Shopkeeper Miao's face change so quickly, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but smile, waving it off:
"Alright, then, the best middle-grade cinnabar and talisman paper, and elixirs to enhance cultivation."
Each month, aside from the talismans pre-sold to the Zhou Family, he naturally sold the rest outside.
However, to cover his tracks, he came to the True Treasure Tower to purchase cinnabar, appearing to outsiders as an ascetic.
Middle-grade talismans were hot sellers in the market, never short of buyers.
"Mr. Lin, we also have other middle-grade talisman traditions, just over a hundred spirit stones."
After delivering the cinnabar and elixirs, Shopkeeper Miao skillfully marketed to him, but Lin Chang'an listened with an embarrassed expression, yet still held his ground.
"Broad but not deep, and over a hundred spirit stones, I'd have to go a year without eating or drinking, not to mention I'm ten years in debt to the Zhou Family."
After receiving the elixirs, cinnabar, and talisman paper, Lin Chang'an did not leave, while Shopkeeper Miao wore an understanding smile, knowing that the True Treasure Tower had plenty of things open for sale recently.
"Mr. Lin, it's not very peaceful outside lately. I heard there are even tribulation cultivators committing crimes in the market. Whether it's defensive magical artifacts or spells, we have it all in the shop now."
Seeing Shopkeeper Miao looking eager to squeeze him dry, Lin Chang'an was speechless, but he still nodded and said:
"Shopkeeper Miao, you know my worth is limited. Defensive magical artifacts are out of the question. I'm just asking if you have any high-level cultivators' spell experience journals? Talisman experience journals would work too."
"Yes, of course we do."
Shopkeeper Miao's face was all smiles; as long as business was conducted with him, he was happy.
"Cultivating a wood attribute technique, a late-stage Qi Refining great cultivator's lifelong spell cultivation insights, eighty spirit stones! A top-grade Talisman Master's experience journal, one hundred eighty spirit stones."
Hearing these prices, Lin Chang'an silently wondered if he could buy them separately, like a single spell's experience journal.
The answer he got was Shopkeeper Miao's nodding smile, but the next sentence mentioning the need for a spirit contract worth fifteen spirit stones made Lin Chang'an leave without looking back.
"A standalone Fire Bomb Technique experience journal for ten spirit stones, yet requires bearing a spirit contract worth fifteen spirit stones! Outrageous! Too outrageous!"
After leaving the True Treasure Tower, Lin Chang'an, with a seemingly embarrassed demeanor, helplessly decided to try his luck outside.
After twisting and turning, Lin Chang'an had already changed his disguise.
Half an hour later, gray-clad and wearing a bamboo hat, Lin Chang'an once again appeared in the True Treasure Tower.
"Experience journals not usually found outside, this is a rare opportunity, albeit a bit pricey, but the True Treasure Tower guarantees authenticity."
Previously, his long chat with Shopkeeper Miao was to secretly observe.
There were several shopkeepers on the first floor, each responsible for different things.
...
Half a stick of incense later, gray-clad and wearing a bamboo hat, Lin Chang'an emerged from the True Treasure Tower, quickly vanishing into the crowd.
"Two hundred thirty-five lower-grade spirit stones, truly outrageous!"
After several twists and turns, Lin Chang'an, feeling the pain, touched the Jade Scroll inside his storage bag.
A top-grade Talisman Master's experience journal, one hundred eighty spirit stones.
A late-stage Qi Refining Fire Manipulation Technique experience journal, thirty spirit stones.
A spirit contract worth fifteen spirit stones, and finally, ten spirit stones for this special Jade Scroll with a restriction.
Only his mana could reveal the contents on the Jade Scroll.
"The anti-theft awareness in the Immortal Cultivation Realm is ridiculously strong."
Before coming into contact with it, he hadn't noticed, but now Lin Chang'an could truly understand why these sects were so powerful.
Their traditions alone were an inexhaustible treasure trove.
Barred from spreading was enough to continuously reap benefits.
"But I'm different."
Amidst the crowd, Lin Chang'an showed a meaningful smile.
For ordinary cultivators, others' experiences mostly served to deepen understanding and comprehension; useful for those with insight.
But for most cultivators, it was somewhat redundant.
However, for him, it was different. Each of his insights was a permanent enhancement.
One realization, eternal realization, was his greatest talent.
"Two hundred some odd spirit stones are nothing to the True Treasure Tower and shouldn't attract attention, especially since I deliberately purchased a Fire Manipulation Technique."
Buying the Fire Manipulation Technique was also to mislead others into thinking he was a Talisman Master cultivating a fire attribute technique.
After several twists and turns, Lin Chang'an vigilantly changed disguises multiple times, finally reverting to his original attire, completely blending into the market crowd.
"Twenty pounds of Tier One Middle Grade Demon Beast Meat for me."
"Alright."
Seeing the fresh demon beast meat, Lin Chang'an showed a satisfied smile; after paying the spirit stones, he raised his hand to put the meat back in his storage bag.
Suddenly, he saw a familiar huddled figure in the distance being driven away.
"Scram, you old fool, don't affect my business."
"No, no, fellow cultivator, I'm just looking for my grandson. Have you seen my grandson? My grandson's a genius."
A scruffy old man, with confused consciousness, kept grabbing others, showing off his grandson.
"Old He!?"
Lin Chang'an was shocked; the gray-haired, sallow-faced old man before him was Old He.
In this pitiful state, Old He clearly had some mental issues, and his cultivation had already fallen to the early Qi Refining stage.
Unknowingly, he had returned to his old street, and the familiar old neighbors saw Lin Chang'an, respectfully addressing him as Mr. Lin.
"Sigh, poor Old He too."
Beside him, fellow meat vendor, a cultivator surnamed Luo, shook his head and sighed, speaking of Old He.
It turned out that back when He Yan had passed the test and left the market with a group to head to the Li Huo Palace, they encountered a demon beast attack on the market en route.
The outcome was predictable, and Old He, upon learning of it later, ended up in his current state.
"So that's how it was."
Lin Chang'an let out a long, melancholy sigh, the harshest blow being upon discovering that the Black Wind Wolf had driven the demon beasts to attack the market.
Old He, due to greed, effectively caused his grandson's death.
"Old He, come on, I'll take you to find your grandson."
"It's Mr. Lin! I'll tell you, my grandson is really a genius."
Hearing that someone would take him to find his grandson, Old He smiled brightly.
And Lin Chang'an nodded gently in agreement; it wasn't kindness, but rather Old He's vigor had clearly burned out, with only a few days left to live.
He merely did what he could to let Old He leave with dignity.
Seeing this, the Luo-named cultivator selling demon beast meat shook his head and sighed.
"Old He isn't too bad off; at least someone's around to collect his body."
Under the setting sun, Lin Chang'an led an old man, heading into the distance.