Exiting his courtyard, Li Jizhou deliberately chose a route by Pharmacist Zheng's yard this time, pausing to sense his vitality as he passed by.
As expected, it was untenable,
likely only six months left.
In the past three years, neither had sought the other out.
The dual disciplines of medical poison, under the enhancement of his near Tier Three Pill Master experience in his previous life, were not difficult to study. Coupled with Pharmacist Zheng's insights, it was almost barrier-free.
Without lingering further, Li Jizhou walked straight past.
Passing through an alley, a wall haphazardly carved with scribbles loomed into view.
The wall still vaguely showed two little figures, one with a braid, one with a beard, the two were connected by a ribbon…
Li Jizhou instinctively slowed his steps, his gaze lingering on the wall.
These were works from ten years ago, his and the local boys from the Inverted Mountain slum.
The drawing was done by Big Bull Wu!
The people in the picture were naturally Li Jizhou and Lin Caiwei.
However, in the end, Zhou Cang drew a beard on Li Jizhou, defaced Lin Caiwei's face, and drew a big cross in the middle of that ribbon!
A faint smile inadvertently curved at the corner of his mouth, and Li Jizhou then walked on with a calm heart.
This house belonged to Big Bull Wu.
Since Big Bull Wu sent a letter three years ago about the Yang family's three hundredth anniversary in five years, there had been no further correspondence.
He wasn't sure if time had dulled Big Bull's feelings for Li Jizhou, or if something else had held him back.
However, Li Jizhou didn't really mind.
He first headed directly to the edge of the inner city to the Celestial Secret Pavilion.
Since large numbers of early-stage loose cultivators began to flock into Inverted Mountain four years ago, business at the Celestial Secret Pavilion had significantly improved; every visit by Li Jizhou found cultivators handling transactions, mostly buying information.
Subscribers like him to the gazette were few and far between.
Yet this time, the Celestial Secret Pavilion was sparsely populated and rather quiet.
Even the greeter was an unfamiliar male cultivator.
"Are you Daoist Li? Here to renew, perhaps?"
Unexpectedly to Li Jizhou, the male cultivator identified him at a glance as he entered the door, after just a few glances.
"Indeed, but… Daoist, you seem unfamiliar…" Li Jizhou remarked with mild curiosity.
"Haha, please don't misunderstand, Daoist. I am a new manager here at the Celestial Secret Pavilion. Recognizing you is due to the clear handover by the previous hosting manager, Liu. There are few subscribers to the gazette in Inverted Mountain, and you're the only Daoist at the Qi Refining Stage…" the male cultivator explained with a smile.
"Oh? That Daoist isn't in Inverted Mountain anymore?" Li Jizhou raised an eyebrow.
"A normal reassignment." The male cultivator didn't linger on the topic.
Switching subjects, he said, "Daoist Li, if you wish to continue subscribing to the gazette, you'd now need to pay for at least three years in one go."
"Why?" Li Jizhou frowned slightly.
"Regular business adjustments, please forgive us." The male cultivator continued smiling.
"And if I refuse to comply?" Li Jizhou sensed something amiss, probing further.
"Then, regretfully, we might not be able to provide you with gazette information anymore."
"Daoist, could you tell the truth?" A tremor passed through Li Jizhou's mind as he naturally handed over a Tier One Mid-Level Talisman.
"Daoist Li, please don't make me err; I've said it's just a normal adjustment." The male cultivator declined the bribe.
"If that's the case… as you wish!" Seeing no possibility, Li Jizhou ceased insisting and took out twelve Spirit Stones to renew for three years at once.
Leaving the Celestial Secret Pavilion, his mind was restless.
The Celestial Secret Pavilion, reputed for foreseeing celestial secrets, controlling foreknowledge, behaved peculiarly today.
"What could be the reason?"
Lacking information, Li Jizhou could not determine anything for the moment.
He soon arrived at the Ten Thousand Talisman Pavilion, immediately considering his options.
"Brother Lu!" He wasn't inclined for small talk, being familiar and preoccupied, he directly took out a Tier One Mid-Level Upper Grade Talisman.
This was what Lu Zhenhua promised him three years ago!
Normally, a third-class honored guest elder requires at least Tier One Middle Level, capable of crafting mid-level premium talismans.
But Lu Zhenhua, upon being promoted to shopkeeper, had some discretion.
If the individual showed potential worth investing in, the requirements could be slightly lowered.
"Brother, Lu never misjudged you; your talent in talismans far surpasses Uncle Lin." Lu Zhenhua was elated.
"Brother Lu flatters me! I simply strive not to disappoint your long-expressed expectations!" Li Jizhou didn't bother explaining about Lin Chaobei; having Lin Chaobei around made his talisman techniques seem more plausible.
"Good, good, good!" After scrutinizing the talisman's grade, Lu Zhenhua seriously addressed Li Jizhou, placing a Memory Ball in the room's corner, then told Li Jizhou:
"Talisman Master Li, young and accomplished, becoming a Tier One Mid-Level Talisman Master from a novice in just six years, skilled in crafting mid-level upper-grade talismans, a talent worth nurturing.
Lu now formally invites Talisman Master Li to become a third-class honored guest elder of our Ten Thousand Talisman Pavilion,
Upon becoming our honored guest elder, every branch under Qi Kingdom will treat you with great respect,
No matter which branch you visit, you'll enjoy a twenty percent discount on purchases and a twenty percent premium on sales, receiving our protection and offerings.
If special needs arise, our Ten Thousand Talisman Pavilion will strive to assist based on the difficulty of the matter.
All you need to offer is ensuring to sell at least eighty pieces of Tier One Mid-Level Upper Grade talismans to us annually; naturally, the supply price accords with market rates.
So, Talisman Master Li, would you be willing?"
Li Jizhou sat upright, tidied his collar, and clasped his fists, saying, "Thank you, Ten Thousand Talisman Pavilion, for your generosity, thank you, Shopkeeper Lu, for your support. I am willing!"
"Clap~" Lu Zhenhua immediately clapped his hands outside.
Soon after, several managers entered.
Someone brought a few sheets of high-grade talisman paper.
"Talisman Master Li, it's not that Lu doesn't trust you, but by our Ten Thousand Talisman Pavilion's rules, we must confirm your ability to craft talismans personally." Lu Zhenhua clasped his fists, appearing businesslike.
"Naturally!" Li Jizhou nodded slightly, taking a talisman pen and spiritual ink from his storage bag.
Right there, he harnessed his Divine Soul, linked with Magical Power, and the pen danced elegantly; in under fifteen minutes, a Tier One Mid-Level Upper Grade Restriction Talisman was completed.
For his current ability to craft mid-level premium talismans, he had deliberately slowed his speed a bit earlier.
"Definitely mid-level upper-grade!"
"Talisman Master Li's skills are extraordinary, truly admirable!"
"Verified without mistake!"
Lu Zhenhua and the several managers from Ten Thousand Talisman Pavilion examined and affirmed in front of the Memory Ball,
Finally, Lu Zhenhua held the talisman before the Memory Ball for a while.
"Clap~" Then Lu Zhenhua removed the Memory Ball.
"Congratulations, brother, on becoming our honored guest elder at Ten Thousand Talisman Pavilion, please take a seat!" Lu Zhenhua laughed heartily.
"We greet Honored Guest Elder Li!" The other managers all saluted Li Jizhou.