Breakthrough

Li Chang'an was different from other Talisman Masters.

The Way of Talismans was merely one of the ways he earned cultivation resources.

What he truly relied on...

Was the daily refreshed Hexagram Image!

Even without the Talisman Inheritance, he might obtain other legacies in the future.

In short.

He did not need to join the Zheng Family to obtain all manner of resources.

"Marrying into the Zheng Family does have its benefits, but the drawbacks are even greater."

Li Chang'an grumbled inwardly but did not say it aloud.

After a while.

Seeing how firm his attitude was, Shopkeeper Qian stopped trying to persuade him.

Zheng Qingqing did not say much either. She merely told Li Chang'an to think it over carefully.

"Fellow cultivator Li, if you make up your mind, you may come find me at any time."

Her bright eyes were lovely, and her manner remained gentle.

Li Chang'an nodded.

"Thank you for your kind intentions, Young Miss."

Not long after.

Li Chang'an took his leave.

Carrying the Spirit Stones he had earned from selling Talismans, he left the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.

After he left.

Shopkeeper Qian smiled and said, "That boy's skill has only just broken through. He's full of high spirits and lofty ambitions, so it's only natural that he refuses. Young Miss, please do not take offense."

"Of course not."

Zheng Qingqing chuckled softly, unconcerned.

Shopkeeper Qian continued, "Young Miss, after some time, once his Talisman Skill reaches its end and he has nowhere left to go, he will surely come knocking."

He was very confident in this.

After all.

He had gone through the same journey himself.

When one was young, one was always brimming with fighting spirit, believing that one could smash through every hardship and obstacle with nothing but one's own two fists.

Only after suffering all manner of brutal beatings would one abandon such impractical fantasies.

"Young Miss, do you intend to introduce him to a Zheng Family girl with an Inferior Spirit Root?"

Shopkeeper Qian asked.

Li Chang'an was no ordinary cultivator. It was impossible to introduce him to a girl from the Mortal World.

Zheng Qingqing gently shook her head.

"An Inferior Spirit Root is not good enough. A Low-grade Spirit Root would be better."

Hearing this, Shopkeeper Qian was somewhat surprised.

It seemed Li Chang'an held even greater value in Zheng Qingqing's eyes than he had guessed.

Over the following months.

Everything remained as usual.

No matter how the outside world changed, Li Chang'an continued cultivating quietly.

Before he knew it, he was already on the verge of a breakthrough.

"Peak Third Layer of Qi Condensation!"

Li Chang'an slowly exhaled.

Only a thin barrier stood between him and the Fourth Layer of Qi Condensation.

For the next three days.

He neither drew Talismans nor paid attention to anything happening outside.

Instead, he bathed, burned incense, calmed his mind, and brought his condition to its peak.

"The transition from the Third Layer of Qi Condensation to the Fourth Layer is the change from early stage to mid stage. There is no small threshold here; no matter how confident I am, I cannot afford to be careless!"

This breakthrough was especially important.

Once he succeeded, he would no longer be at the very bottom of the Cultivation World!

This day, in the Early Morning.

The rising sun climbed into the sky.

Li Chang'an sat cross-legged, his eyes slightly closed.

The Minor Spirit Gathering Plate lay before him.

A large number of Spirit Stones he had crushed were scattered around the room.

For a time.

The concentration of Spiritual Energy in the room reached an astonishing level.

Li Chang'an was neither hasty nor impatient. His state of mind was steady as he circulated his Cultivation Method.

Countless streams of Spiritual Energy were drawn into his body like surging rivers, roaring through his Meridians before finally converging within his Dantian.

Time seemed to slow at this moment.

He did not know how much time had passed.

Finally...

Boom!

Li Chang'an's entire body trembled.

That barrier shattered completely and vanished into nothingness.

At that moment.

His aura began to soar, and his cultivation rose step by step.

His limbs, bones, internal organs, and every inch of his body underwent an intense transformation, becoming stronger than before.

When it was all over.

Li Chang'an opened his eyes, and a sharp gleam flashed through them.

"Fourth Layer of Qi Condensation!"

He had finally broken through!

He let out a long breath, his heart brimming with joy.

From this day onward, he had left the ranks of Low-level Cultivators behind and taken a solid step upward!

The Fourth through Sixth Layers of Qi Condensation were all Mid Qi Refining.

Such cultivation was already quite remarkable.

In some small Qi Refining families, one could even become an Elder.

A moment later.

Li Chang'an calmed himself and warned himself.

"It is only the Fourth Layer of Qi Condensation. I must not grow proud."

After all, two Mid Qi Refining Rogue Cultivators were still watching him.

He still had to remain cautious.

"I should continue revealing only Third Layer of Qi Condensation cultivation to the outside world. I can break through after a few more days."

Li Chang'an made his plans.

Over the following days.

He continued consolidating his cultivation, ensuring that this breakthrough held no hidden dangers.

After that.

He took out Talisman Paper and a Talisman Brush.

"With Fourth Layer of Qi Condensation cultivation, drawing First-tier Mid-grade Talismans should be easier than before."

Li Chang'an's expression was calm as he grasped the Talisman Brush and began drawing a Golden Blade Talisman.

Sure enough.

This talisman drawing went extremely smoothly, without the slightest sense of strain.

He did not need to take any pills at all and easily completed the Golden Blade Talisman!

"Not bad!"

Li Chang'an put away the Golden Blade Talisman and continued trying other Talismans.

Every single one was easy.

They flowed like drifting clouds and running water, completed in a single sweep. He did not make a single mistake!

"After some more time, I can try drawing Premium Grade mid-grade Talismans."

Li Chang'an smiled, deeply satisfied.

A few more days passed.

Xu Fugui suddenly came looking for him.

"Big Brother Li, something huge has happened!"

His tone was anxious, and his face was full of unease.

Li Chang'an's expression was mild, and his voice was calm.

"Don't panic. Speak slowly. What happened?"

"A Zheng Family Foundation Establishment Ancestor has died!"

"Hm?"

Li Chang'an froze, finding it unbelievable.

A Foundation Establishment Ancestor represented invincibility in this region.

One had to know.

Foundation Establishment cultivators had a Lifespan of as much as two hundred and forty years!

The Zheng Family's two Foundation Establishment Ancestors, even the oldest among them, still had several decades of Lifespan left. It was impossible for him to have died of old age.

"Tell me in detail. What exactly happened?"

Li Chang'an's expression turned grave, and his tone became solemn.

Xu Fugui swallowed and began recounting the matter.

"Not long ago, another Dangerous Ground appeared within the Secret Realm. That area is filled with damaged Arrays, and once triggered, they can bring the danger of death!"

However, although that area was dangerous.

It also contained a great many treasures.

In the areas that had already been explored, damaged Tier 2 treasures had even appeared, enough to move Foundation Establishment cultivators.

That Mid Foundation Establishment Old Ancestor of the Zheng Family set out and entered the depths of that area to explore.

But not long afterward.

A heaven-shaking explosion rang out from deep within that area.

Later.

Rumors began to spread.

The Zheng Family Old Ancestor had died inside, and even his corpse could not be retrieved!

"Only rumors? No one personally saw the Zheng Family Old Ancestor die?"

Li Chang'an frowned slightly and questioned him carefully.

Xu Fugui nodded.

"Yes, Big Brother, but the news has already spread everywhere. People throughout the Marketplace are discussing it, yet the Zheng Family has not stopped them."

The Zheng Family had not come forward to refute the rumors. What did that mean?

Could that Old Ancestor truly be dead?

At this thought.

Li Chang'an could not help but feel heavy-hearted.

"The Zheng Family was able to contend with the other two great families in the past because it had two Foundation Establishment cultivators."

If one had truly died, and the dead one was the strongest Mid Foundation Establishment Old Ancestor.

Then the situation was far from good.

"The Zheng Family, with only one Foundation Establishment Ancestor remaining, will find its circumstances much more difficult."

Li Chang'an felt a faint unease in his heart.

The Marketplace's peace might not last much longer.