Since these items were collected by Zhang Fangzhou and the others, Lin Feng didn't know which storage ring belonged to whom. He simply picked one up at random and began examining its contents.
"Tsk tsk, truly worthy of running a talisman shop! So many talismans… even Lower-Grade Tier 3 ones come in thick stacks…"
The first storage ring, Lin Feng deduced, couldn't belong to Li Yanghui or Li Ziyao. Its contents seemed far too shabby for a family head or former patriarch. Yet, compared to an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator, it was downright 'luxurious' – setting aside other items, the talismans alone formed a thick stack: over a dozen Tier 2 Chained Talismans, more than ten Lower-Grade Tier 3 Talismans, and even one Mid-Grade Tier 3 Talisman.
Of course, even for Li family cultivators, carrying so many talismans daily was unusual. They had likely stocked up specifically for this mission against Lin Feng.
He examined two more rings next. The haul was similar: each contained at least one Mid-Grade Tier 3 Talisman.
"Huh? This one has twice the talismans… must belong to… Li Ziqing?"
The fourth ring contained significantly more talismans than the previous three: two Mid-Grade Tier 3 Talismans, and even one Upper-Grade Tier 3 Talisman. It likely belonged to the Li family's second-in-command, Li Ziqing. Several decent magic treasures were also present.
"And this one… should be Li Ziyao's?"
Within the next ring, Lin Feng spotted Li Ziyao's signature longsword treasure, confirming its ownership. Unsurprisingly, the Mid-Grade Tier 3 Talismans were gone. There was one Upper-Grade Tier 3 Talisman left – during the previous night's battle, Li Ziyao had expended two Mid-Grade and one Supreme-Grade Tier 3 Talisman.
"Hey! There's even an Essence Gathering Array Disk here? Hmm, a Tier 2 disk? Not bad, not bad at all." Lin Feng discovered a Tier 2 Essence Gathering Array Disk next, sparking pleasant surprise. Though he now possessed a Tier 3 disk, making this one redundant for himself, it would be perfect for Zhang Fangzhou and the others.
"This must be Li Yanghui's storage ring!!"
After finding nothing related to the White Tiger Fierce Soul Talisman in Li Ziyao's ring, Lin Feng felt a pang of disappointment. Picking up the next ring, he immediately noticed its storage space was even larger than Li Ziyao's – confirmation this belonged to the former patriarch, Li Yanghui.
Naturally, this ring also held the most talismans, far surpassing the others. Lin Feng didn't bother counting the numerous Tier 2 and Lower-Grade Tier 3 Talismans, focusing instead on the high-grade ones. The tally left him pleasantly shocked.
Five Mid-Grade Tier 3 Talismans, two Upper-Grade Tier 3 Talismans, and one Supreme-Grade Tier 3 Talisman!!
This arsenal alone could likely challenge an early Golden Core cultivator! It starkly illustrated the advantage of belonging to a family faction compared to rootless rogue cultivators.
And this was merely a third-rate family from a backwater place. One could only imagine the resources available to major families in large cities, let alone sects surpassing even those families.
Lin Feng also found several other fine magic treasures within Li Yanghui's ring, including two Supreme-Grade Precious Artifacts. However, there was no spirit artifact. Realistically, the Li family's wealth could have afforded a standard Lower-Grade spirit artifact, but it would have cost a quarter or more of their total assets. For a family supporting over a hundred members, such an expense was deemed too 'wasteful'. Furthermore, such regional powers, content in their corner of the world, rarely faced true life-or-death conflicts. This explained why families like the Li and the Long hadn't invested in spirit artifacts – though the Li family's all-in gamble on the White Tiger Talisman was a unique exception.
The White Tiger Fierce Soul Talisman was no ordinary spirit artifact. Especially for the Li family, who possessed its correct activation method and knew the location of its other half, passing it up was unthinkable. Long before provoking Lin Feng, even before Li Sha stole the smaller fragment, they had coveted the main body fragment. That piece originally belonged to another powerful family in the city, the Xue family. Generations ago, ancestors from both families had coincidentally discovered the White Tiger Fierce Soul Talisman, already broken in two, discarded somewhere. Each family 'seized' one half. Crucially, the Xue family obtained the main body fragment, while the Li family acquired the smaller, powerless fragment along with a manuscript detailing the artifact.
For many years afterward, both families schemed to obtain the other's piece, engaging in constant covert and overt struggle. Finally, the Li family 'triumphed': the Xue family was forced to auction their main body fragment.
The Li family's initial hopes had been soaring. They were determined to secure the main fragment. Once both pieces were united, they planned to commission a master artifact smith for repairs. A fully restored, immensely powerful spirit artifact would elevate the Li family's status in Biquan City – they might even challenge the two largest families backed by Golden Core experts, boldly competing for resources and industries. The Li family envisioned a glorious ascent, potentially becoming Biquan City's top clan…
Alas, aspirations were grand, but reality proved cruel. Lin Feng's emergence shattered the Li family's ambitions completely. Not only did they fail to rise, their very survival was now in jeopardy. Only Li Yanghuang remained guarding a depleted household, with few Foundation Establishment cultivators left. Most disastrously, spending four hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones on the artifact fragment had buried them in debt. Their plan to recoup losses by eliminating Lin Feng and his 'master' had backfired catastrophically…
...
The fate of the Li family held no interest for Lin Feng. After a thorough search, he finally found the object of his greatest desire…
"This is it!"
Lin Feng held a somewhat tattered piece of beast hide, his expression one of intense excitement.
It was a manuscript, likely a casual record left by its original owner. And inscribed upon it was precisely the information about the White Tiger Fierce Soul Talisman!
After reading it carefully, Lin Feng was profoundly shocked. Beyond the eagerly anticipated activation method for the talisman, the manuscript contained several other startling revelations!
"So… the Tiger Soul Realist was actually an Artifact Smith! And a Level 6 Artifact Smith at that! He personally forged this White Tiger Fierce Soul Talisman! Truly incredible…"
Lin Feng couldn't help but murmur in awe. The manuscript recounted how the Tiger Soul Realist, part of a formidable treasure-hunting team, ventured into an ancient cultivator's cave dwelling. Enduring countless perils within, he fortuitously captured a wisp of residual White Tiger Soul Spirit – the original guardian of that cave.
Later, the Tiger Soul Realist exhausted tremendous effort to gather rare materials and successfully forged the White Tiger Fierce Soul Talisman. He achieved instant fame using it in a subsequent battle, earning the epithet 'Tiger Soul Realist'.
The manuscript meticulously detailed the talisman's activation method, its forging materials, and even the crafting process. This filled Lin Feng with immense joy, for it meant… he could fully repair this artifact!!
If fully restored, he would possess an extremely powerful Supreme-Grade Spirit Artifact!!
Lin Feng's heart surged with excitement. However, upon scrutinizing the list of required repair materials, his enthusiasm quickly waned…
"Tier 6 Soul-Locking Stone? Tier 6 Mysterious Heaven Jade? Tier 6 Dark Gold Essence Stone… and a Tier 3 Late-Stage Demon Core?!"
Reciting seven or eight such materials, Lin Feng could only shake his head with a bitter smile. Each item was exceedingly rare and precious. Finding even one in Qingyun City, or even Biquan City, seemed doubtful, let alone acquiring all of them.
"Looks like I'll have to ask the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion for help…" After much thought, Lin Feng concluded that the Pavilion was his only recourse. He decided to visit Qi Minghe soon to inquire if they could procure these materials.
However, even if the Pavilion could source them, Lin Feng realized he'd need to desperately 'earn money' beforehand. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to afford them even if they arrived…
Just moments ago, Lin Feng had felt quite wealthy. Now, with the plan to repair the White Tiger Talisman taking shape, he felt instantly impoverished again – truly, as one's aspirations rise, even mountains of spirit stones never seem enough!
...
Finally, Lin Feng finished cataloging all the spoils. In summary, besides the crucial Tiger Soul Realist manuscript, he had acquired:
Countless talismans (various grades and types).Several magic treasures (including the Supreme-Grade Precious Artifacts).Over one hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones.A Tier 2 Essence Gathering Array Disk.
Notably absent were any cultivation techniques or spell manuals – such valuable knowledge would likely be kept secure at home, not carried around.
These gains already left Lin Feng deeply satisfied. After organizing and storing everything securely, he glanced at the sky. Dusk was approaching; the time he'd arranged to meet Zhang Fangzhou and the others was near.
He sat in meditation briefly. Sure enough, shortly afterward, Zhang Fangzhou's voice called out from beyond the courtyard gate.
Lin Feng walked out and opened the small courtyard gate. Zhang Fangzhou and the others stood waiting outside. The four then set off together towards the 'Precious Taste Pavilion'.
As they walked and chatted, Zhang Fangzhou suddenly remembered something. He turned to Lin Feng and said:
"By the way, Big Brother, have you heard? While we were away, a strange event seems to have happened near Qingyun City!"
Lin Feng's eyebrow arched slightly, curiosity piqued.
"Oh? What strange event?"