Chapter 68: Beast Taming, Humans Are Beasts Too

The quantity and variety of Demon Beast Essence Blood this Elder Zhu possessed far exceeded Li Chang’an’s imagination.

Right then and there, he traded for over ten types of Demon Beast Essence Blood.

’The gains from this trade meet are truly substantial.’

Li Chang’an was overjoyed.

Even without counting the Decaying Token, his other gains were quite satisfactory.

Just then, a familiar figure approached from a distance.

Zheng Lingfeng!

He wore a green robe, a smile on his face, his tone easygoing.

"Fellow Daoists, have you all gone to see that Stone Stele?"

"We have. That Stone Stele is indeed strange," Wang Hu replied.

The others also responded one after another.

Zheng Lingfeng smiled and said, "Yes, my family’s old ancestor also finds the Stone Stele quite strange. Perhaps it holds other secrets."

It seemed he had only come over to discuss the Stone Stele.

After chatting for a while, Zheng Lingfeng smiled and took his leave.

Before he left, his gaze swept furtively over Li Chang’an, his eyes filled with killing intent.

’That useless Chu Mu!’

So much time had passed, yet Li Chang’an was still alive and well, showing no signs of being poisoned.

Meanwhile, Chu Mu had vanished without a trace.

Zheng Lingfeng had long since guessed that Chu Mu had been killed by Li Chang’an.

’I’ve been busy reorganizing the Marketplace’s internal affairs lately, which gave Li Chang’an some breathing room. He couldn’t possibly think I’d just let him off the hook, could he?’

Zheng Lingfeng’s expression turned grim as he pondered his next move.

He knew Li Chang’an was wealthy.

After all, Zheng Jinbao had most likely died at his hands.

The thought of the Spirit Stones Zheng Jinbao had accumulated over many years was tempting even to Zheng Lingfeng.

Besides, even if it wasn’t for the Spirit Stones, he had to take down Li Chang’an simply to keep Zheng Qingqing in check!

’Zheng Qingqing, I will never let you walk all over me again!’

Zheng Lingfeng clenched his fists.

He seemed to have the upper hand now, but he knew in his heart that with Zheng Qingqing’s talent, she would sooner or later regain control as long as she didn’t make any mistakes.

’I must get Li Chang’an under my control as soon as possible!’

At this thought, he glanced at the Beast Masters beside Li Chang’an, and an idea suddenly formed in his mind.

...

Time flew by, and the trade meet soon came to an end.

Everyone bid each other farewell, promising to meet again next time.

Li Chang’an returned with Luo Kun.

On the way back, he asked, "Elder Luo, did you make any other discoveries regarding that Stone Stele?"

"No."

Luo Kun was a little melancholic.

He had stared at it for a long time but gained nothing.

It seemed he was not fated to understand it.

...

Before long, Li Chang’an was back in his room.

With a thought, he took out the Decaying Token he had obtained at the trade meet.

’The material of this Token should be some kind of Spirit Wood. It’s just that its Spiritual Qi has dissipated over the long years, turning it into a piece of ordinary wood.’

Li Chang’an cautiously extended a sliver of his Spiritual Power, touching the small silver dot on the Token.

The next instant, a special space appeared before his eyes.

’I was right!’

Li Chang’an rejoiced inwardly.

Within this space lay several hundred Array Flags.

In addition, there was a Jade Scroll that recorded the effects of the Thundercloud Annihilation Array and its deployment method.

Li Chang’an took out the Jade Scroll and carefully read its contents.

The more he read, the more delighted he became.

’The Thundercloud Annihilation Array’s function is similar to the Cloud Mist Hidden Killing Array. Both have the two basic functions of trapping and killing enemies.’

Furthermore, the Thundercloud Annihilation Array could create Illusions!

Anyone who blundered into the Array, without a unique detection ability, would never even realize they were trapped within it.

They would simply be slowly guided by the Illusions inside the Array.

Led eventually to their deaths!

Li Chang’an was especially satisfied with this ability.

Previously, when Wei Sen broke into the Cloud Mist Hidden Killing Array, he had consumed a large number of Elixir Pills and Talismans in his attempt to escape.

’If I’d had the Thundercloud Annihilation Array back then, I could have used Illusions to lure Wei Sen to his death. Then the Elixir Pills and Talismans in his Storage Pouch wouldn’t have been used up—they would all have been mine!’

Li Chang’an mused.

No matter who it was, the moment they trespassed into his courtyard, Li Chang’an already considered their Storage Pouch his own property.

Since it was his own property, it was natural to be as frugal as possible.

He couldn’t afford to let it be wasted.

’However, a Tier Two Grand Array like this must consume a lot of Spirit Stones once activated.’

If an intruder’s wealth was average, there would be no need to use it.

Li Chang’an calmed his mind and continued to inspect the contents of the Jade Scroll.

About an hour later, he already knew the deployment and operation of the Array like the back of his hand and immediately began to set it up.

’I’ll hide this Array within the Cloud Mist Hidden Killing Array.’

Hiding an Array within an Array was a common tactic used by many Array Masters.

Li Chang’an walked through his residence, tossing one Array Flag after another into the void around him.

Before long, the entire Thundercloud Annihilation Array took form!

With a thought, Li Chang’an activated it.

The entire courtyard instantly changed. Clouds churned and thunder boomed, creating an oppressive feeling like a storm about to break.

’It’s done!’

Li Chang’an let out a long sigh of relief.

From now on, as long as a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator didn’t come knocking, there was nothing to fear.

As for Qi Refining Cultivators, he would kill as many as came!

...

「For the next few months.」

Li Chang’an’s cultivation continued as usual.

His Talisman Art steadily improved.

His most recent attempt at drawing a High-quality Top Grade Talisman still ended in failure, but he was now able to draw eighty percent of the Spirit Patterns.

Success was just around the corner.

In addition, the Fourth Stage of Body Refinement was now at Perfection, and he had passed the Puppet test.

’My Body Refinement has now entered Tier One Middle Stage. My physique can withstand an attack from a Qi Refining Fourth Layer cultivator.’

The progress in his Body Refinement was particularly satisfying to Li Chang’an.

His vitality was now exceptionally vigorous, far surpassing cultivators of the same tier!

’The Path of Body Refinement, while difficult, doesn’t progress too slowly as long as you have enough resources. At least, it’s much faster than Qi Refining.’

The path of Qi Refining ultimately had too many limitations.

Especially the Spiritual Root!

Body Refinement, on the other hand, was much fairer.

’I still need to prepare more resources for the Fifth Stage of Body Refinement.’

After tidying himself up, Li Chang’an prepared to go out and visit Zhu Gang.

During this period, the person he interacted with the most was Chen Qianya, with whom he often discussed Talisman Art.

Besides her, the person Li Chang’an saw most often was Zhu Gang.

...

What Li Chang’an didn’t know was that at this very moment, someone else was also visiting Zhu Gang.

"Daoist Zhu, you’ve been an Honored Guest Elder of my Zheng Family for over thirty years, haven’t you?"

Zheng Lingfeng sat across from Zhu Gang with a smile on his face.

His cultivation was also at the Late Stage of Qi Refining, so it was appropriate for him to address Zhu Gang as "Daoist Zhu."

"Indeed."

Zhu Gang nodded slightly, trying to guess the reason for Zheng Lingfeng’s visit.

Zheng Lingfeng smiled. "After so many years, you’re practically one of the Zheng Family’s own. Few Honored Guest Elders have stayed with my Zheng Family for so long."

"Second Young Master, you may as well speak your mind."

"Very well!"

Hearing this, Zheng Lingfeng stopped beating around the bush.

He dropped his smile and asked bluntly, "Daoist Zhu, you are the foremost Beast Master in Qinghe Marketplace and have tamed countless beasts. I want to know... since humans are also animals, can you tame a man?"