Chapter 48: A New Favor

Zheng Qingqing stated her conditions.

As long as Li Chang’an was willing to become an Honored Guest Elder, she would help him enter the Zheng Family’s Library and let him choose any Wood Attribute Cultivation Technique he wanted.

The Evergreen Technique Li Chang’an was currently cultivating was simply too common.

Among Low Grade Techniques, it was considered second-rate, not much better than an Inferior Grade technique. It didn’t help his cultivation much and was even holding him back.

If he could obtain a better Cultivation Technique, his efficiency at absorbing Spiritual Power would increase greatly, and his cultivation speed would also quicken.

’The Zheng Family’s Library should have Middle Grade Wood Attribute Cultivation Techniques.’

Li Chang’an mused.

He had to admit, he was indeed tempted.

But he still refused.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Young Lady, but I am truly incapable of taking on the duties of an Honored Guest Elder."

"Since Daoist Li is unwilling, I won’t insist."

Zheng Qingqing’s smile was radiant, and her tone remained gentle.

She had expected this.

Her purpose in coming here today wasn’t truly to make Li Chang’an an Honored Guest Elder, but to discuss a business deal.

"Daoist Li, I was wondering, how many Middle Grade Talismans can you create each month?"

"Well..."

Li Chang’an thought for a moment before replying, "My Magical Power is a bit weak at the moment, so I can’t make very many."

After some discussion, Zheng Qingqing proposed a deal.

From now on, Li Chang’an would provide the Zheng Family with a steady supply of Middle Grade Talismans each month.

In return, the Zheng Family would pay him the market price.

This was equivalent to Li Chang’an having a fixed sales channel.

Of course, he wouldn’t refuse.

Before signing the contract, to prove his Talisman Painting ability, he drew a Middle Grade Wind Escape Talisman right in front of Zheng Qingqing.

Afterward, the two of them signed a contract.

The contract’s restrictions on Li Chang’an were very loose.

Even if he couldn’t provide the Talismans on time, it wouldn’t be a big deal, and he could unilaterally break the contract at any time.

This left him very satisfied.

"Now that the Spirit Contract is formed, I won’t disturb you any longer, Daoist Li."

Zheng Qingqing gave a charming smile, put away the Spirit Contract, and took her leave.

...

After returning, she handed the Wind Escape Talisman to Zheng Ling’Er.

"Ling’Er, Li Chang’an’s Talisman Art has indeed broken through. He’s a Middle Grade Talisman Master now."

"He actually broke through?"

Zheng Ling’Er was surprised, staring at the Wind Escape Talisman.

In any case, skills like this couldn’t be faked.

Zheng Qingqing smiled. "Ling’Er, if you’re looking for someone to spend your life with, Li Chang’an is actually a very good choice."

"But... but he ultimately lacks the potential for Foundation Establishment..."

Zheng Ling’Er was conflicted, her ten fingers twisting together.

...

For a while after that, Li Chang’an’s cultivation was relatively peaceful.

Perhaps deterred by Zheng Qingqing, neither Zheng Lingfeng nor Zheng Jinbao came to bother him again.

Before he knew it, a month had passed.

’It’s time for the scheduled transaction with the Zheng Family.’

Li Chang’an calculated the date and had already prepared a batch of Middle Grade Talismans.

According to their agreement, for the first transaction, Zheng Qingqing would come to pick them up in person.

Zheng Qingqing hadn’t arrived yet, but at that moment, another female cultivator appeared at his door.

Liu Yue!

Her eyes were slender, her vermilion lips were slightly pursed, and her figure was graceful. She was meticulously dressed.

Over the past few days, Liu Yue had been thinking for a long time.

’Even though Li Chang’an doesn’t have a Middle Grade Talismanic Inheritance, the fact that he can live in this area clearly means he has considerable skill. Besides, he’s much younger than Luo Kun...’

If she could become Daoist partners with Li Chang’an, she could enjoy this cultivation Spiritual Land with him.

Although he was a bit stiff, Liu Yue was very confident in her own charm.

Just then, a familiar voice reached Liu Yue’s ears.

"Daoist Liu, are you also here to see Daoist Li?"

Liu Yue froze and looked toward the voice.

The person speaking was none other than the Zheng Family’s young lady, Zheng Qingqing.

"Young Lady."

Liu Yue immediately adopted a respectful expression.

Thinking of the word "also" in Zheng Qingqing’s sentence, a sense of disbelief arose in her heart.

"Young Lady, you’re here to see Li Chang’an too?"

Liu Yue really couldn’t imagine what business the Zheng Family’s young lady could have with Li Chang’an.

The disparity in their strength and status was just too vast.

"I have a prior appointment with Daoist Li."

Zheng Qingqing smiled, not explaining further.

She then walked to the courtyard gate and knocked.

Inside the house, Li Chang’an heard the knock, got up, and went outside to open the gate.

To his surprise, it wasn’t just Zheng Qingqing outside the gate, but Liu Yue as well.

"Young Lady, Daoist Liu."

Li Chang’an cupped his hands in greeting and invited the two of them into the courtyard.

Then, as agreed, he handed the prepared Tier One Middle Grade Talismans to Zheng Qingqing.

"Young Lady, these are this month’s Talismans. Please count them."

"There’s no need. I trust you, Daoist Li."

Zheng Qingqing’s expression was gentle. She took the Talismans with her fair hand and gave Li Chang’an the Spirit Stones for their purchase.

Seeing this, Liu Yue’s lovely mouth fell slightly open as she stared at the Talismans in astonishment.

With her attainments in the Talisman Art, she could naturally tell that the Talismans in this transaction were not Low Grade Talismans at all!

In other words, Li Chang’an could now create Middle Grade Talismans!

His Talisman Art was far more advanced than what he had publicly shown!

"Daoist Li, you... you’re already a Middle Grade Talisman Master?"

Liu Yue’s beautiful eyes flickered as she looked at Li Chang’an, unable to stop herself from asking.

Li Chang’an smiled and nodded.

"I was lucky enough to obtain a Middle Grade Talismanic Inheritance and just broke through recently."

Hearing him admit it himself, Liu Yue was even more shocked, and the many questions in her mind were instantly answered.

No wonder Li Chang’an could live in this area with such dense Spiritual Power.

The talent he was displaying now was far greater than that old man Luo Kun’s!

’He’s worth the Zheng Family’s effort to win him over.’

"By the way, Daoist Liu, what did you need to see me about?"

Li Chang’an put away the Spirit Stones and looked at Liu Yue.

"I..."

Liu Yue’s mind raced, and she answered, "I’ve had a lot of questions about the Talisman Art recently, so I came today to discuss them with you, Daoist Li."

"I see."

Li Chang’an nodded slightly, seemingly believing her.

But he knew better. ’Before today, I hadn’t revealed any skill with Middle Grade Talismans. If Liu Yue had questions about the art, it would have made more sense for her to ask our neighbor Luo Kun. What good would asking me do?’

Before long, Zheng Qingqing took her leave.

Before she left, she gave Liu Yue a meaningful look, then suddenly turned to Li Chang’an. "Daoist Li, my previous offer to you still stands. If you change your mind, I can introduce you to a young lady of the Zheng Family with a Spiritual Root at any time."

Li Chang’an was taken aback.

He replied politely, "Thank you for thinking so highly of me, Young Lady, but I truly have no such intentions at the moment."

Hearing this, Zheng Qingqing simply smiled and said no more.

She turned and left the courtyard.

Inside the courtyard, Liu Yue wore a look of utter disbelief.

"Daoist Li, the Zheng Family plans to recruit you as a son-in-law?"

"Yes. The Young Lady has already introduced me to one."

Hearing him say this, Liu Yue found it even harder to believe.

He’d already been introduced to one, and from the looks of it, Li Chang’an had clearly not agreed.

’Many Loose Cultivators out there who want to marry into the Zheng Family can only hope to marry one of their mortal women. They wouldn’t even dare to dream of a young lady from the Zheng Family with a Spiritual Root... and Li Chang’an actually refused!’

At this thought, Liu Yue suddenly felt a pang of defeat.

’If Li Chang’an wouldn’t even consider a young lady of the Zheng Family with a Spiritual Root, would he even look twice at me?’

Afterward, Liu Yue began to ask for advice on the Talisman Art.

She did everything she could, trying to get Li Chang’an to give her a second glance.

But Li Chang’an remained strictly professional, only discussing Talismans and giving her no opening whatsoever.

In the end, Liu Yue had no choice but to leave.

...

Over the next few months, Li Chang’an’s transactions with the Zheng Family proceeded smoothly.

During this time, Liu Yue came by a few times, but Li Chang’an casually found an excuse to send her away on each occasion.

News that Li Chang’an had become a Middle Grade Talisman Master also gradually spread throughout the Marketplace.

Many people were quite surprised when they heard the news.

The most surprised of all was none other than his next-door neighbor, Luo Kun.

"That kid actually has a Middle Grade Talismanic Inheritance, and he advanced so quickly?"

Upon hearing this news, Luo Kun was stunned for a long time.

After all, he had once said that Li Chang’an was too stiff and wouldn’t have much success in the Talisman Art.

But Li Chang’an hadn’t said a word; he had simply used his own strength to answer those past words.

The thought of this made Luo Kun’s chest tighten, and even drinking lost its flavor.

"That kid was hiding so much. No wonder the Zheng Family values him."

In the Cultivation Immortality Realm, youth represented potential.

Li Chang’an was several decades younger than him!

It was only natural that the Zheng Family valued Li Chang’an more.

But Luo Kun refused to admit his age and secretly started to compete.

"Hmph, I will definitely create a High-quality Middle Grade Talisman before he does."

A High-quality Talisman of any given tier was more valuable and more difficult to create than a regular Talisman of the same tier.

Luo Kun was confident that his understanding of the Talisman Art was deeper.

He would surely be able to create a High-quality one before Li Chang’an could.

...

During this period, Li Chang’an paid no attention to the outside world’s reactions.

He remained focused, switching between cultivation, Talisman Painting, and Puppetry every day, never wasting a single moment.

’In the Borrowed State, my success rate for creating Tier One Top Grade Talismans has already surpassed eighty percent.’

Li Chang’an thought to himself.

Such a success rate was already quite astonishing.

Just then, a new Divination appeared before his eyes.

[Divination has been refreshed]

[Today’s Divination: Auspicious]

[You head to the Black Market to sell Talismans. On the way, you discover that the Zheng Family’s Elder, "Zheng Songhe," and his granddaughter, "Zheng Ling’Er," are being ambushed by two experts at the Late Stage of Qi Refining. You save them in passing and earn a favor from the Zheng Family.]

’A favor from the Zheng Family?’

Li Chang’an’s heart stirred.

’If I can secure this favor, will I be able to enter the Zheng Family’s Library?’