"Mid-grade Spirit Root?"
Zheng Qingqing seemed somewhat helpless.
In the Cultivation World, Inferior Spirit Roots and Low-grade Spirit Roots made up the majority.
Most Rogue Cultivators possessed one of these two kinds of Spirit Roots.
After all,
Mid-grade Spirit Root cultivators had little trouble joining a sect.
With such talent, as long as they did not lack resources, they had a strong chance of reaching Foundation Establishment.
"Ling'er, cultivators with Mid-grade Spirit Roots are either Sect Disciples or prodigies of other great families. They all carry pride in their hearts."
Zheng Qingqing spoke gently and continued persuading her.
"If you become Dao Companions with such a cultivator, you will inevitably suffer grievances."
"But Mid-grade Spirit Root cultivators have a greater chance of Foundation Establishment. If I can marry a Foundation Establishment grand cultivator, I would not mind suffering a few grievances."
Zheng Ling'er lowered her beautiful eyes, still holding fast to her own thoughts.
Hearing this, Zheng Qingqing could only sigh softly.
"Fine. Once the Auction is over, you two can get to know each other first."
Below.
The Puppet auction had already ended.
It was ultimately won by Li Chang'an.
He spent a total of sixty-eight Spirit Stones.
As a Low-grade Talisman Master, revealing this little wealth was nothing much.
After that,
The auction items the many cultivators had been eagerly awaiting, such as the Tier 1 Mid-grade Craft Inheritance and supplementary ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill, appeared one after another.
The entire Auction remained abuzz with excitement.
Li Chang'an did not bid again.
Several supplementary ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill tempted him somewhat, but he merely watched in silence.
The Foundation Establishment Pill was different from other pills.
Its Pill Recipe was public.
Almost every Rogue Cultivator knew it.
The most crucial materials were a "Tier 2 Demon Core" and three Main Herbs corresponding to "essence, qi, and spirit."
"Apart from those four materials, the other supplementary herbs are not particularly precious. I can slowly collect them when I have the chance later."
Li Chang'an pondered.
About an hour later, the final auction item was sold.
It was a Pulse Protecting Pill, which could ensure that a cultivator who failed Foundation Establishment would not suffer backlash.
Though it could not compare to the Foundation Establishment Pill, it was still exceedingly rare. In the end, it sold for the sky-high price of two thousand three hundred Spirit Stones.
The price made Li Chang'an secretly click his tongue.
"Of the Hundred Arts of Cultivation, alchemy should be the most profitable."
The Zheng Family's strength stemmed from its Tier 2 Alchemy Inheritance.
They guarded this inheritance tightly. Even ordinary Zheng Family disciples could only study Tier 1 content; only core disciples could access the Tier 2 domain.
As for everyone else,
Even cultivators who married into the Zheng Family or joined it as husbands had no qualifications to study alchemy and could only choose other inheritances.
"It is time to collect my Puppet."
Li Chang'an rose to his feet and followed the directions toward the Auction's private room.
Inside the private room,
Someone was already waiting for him.
What surprised Li Chang'an was that this person was actually Zheng Qingqing.
Beside Zheng Qingqing stood a petite young girl in a white dress.
A strange feeling arose in Li Chang'an's heart, and he thought of a certain possibility. He immediately cupped his hands toward Zheng Qingqing in greeting.
"Greetings, Young Miss."
"Fellow Daoist Li, we meet again."
Zheng Qingqing smiled gently.
With a flick of her fair hand, she placed the Puppet before Li Chang'an.
"Fellow Daoist Li, this Puppet has been examined by the Zheng Family's Tier 1 High-grade Puppeteer Guest Elder. It is merely an ordinary damaged Puppet. Could it be that you saw something special in it?"
"Young Miss overestimates me."
Li Chang'an put on a wry smile.
He shook his head and explained,
"I merely wanted to try my luck. Perhaps I might obtain some ancient Legacy?"
His words were reasonable, just as Zheng Qingqing had thought.
However, Zheng Qingqing knew perfectly well that this Puppet was merely something her family had used to make up the numbers. After all, not every item at an Auction could be premium grade.
Li Chang'an's Spirit Stones had probably been spent for nothing.
She thought this privately but did not say it aloud.
"Then I wish Fellow Daoist Li good luck."
"Thank you, Young Miss."
Li Chang'an put away the Puppet.
He cupped his hands in farewell and was about to leave.
But Zheng Qingqing called him back and smilingly introduced the white-dressed girl beside her.
"Fellow Daoist Li, this is my cousin. Her name is Zheng Ling'er. You two should get acquainted."
Upon hearing this, Li Chang'an's body stiffened.
The strange feeling in his heart grew stronger.
Yet his expression remained unchanged as he looked toward the girl.
"Miss Zheng."
"Young Master Li."
Zheng Ling'er gave a faint smile, lively and charming.
No matter what she thought in her heart, her outward manners remained impeccable.
"Young Master Li, I heard that your Talisman Artistry is exceptional. At such a young age, you can already draw High-grade Talismans."
"Miss Zheng flatters me."
Li Chang'an's tone was modest.
He wore a smile, and his surface courtesy was equally flawless.
No matter what, this was Zheng Qingqing's kind intention. He could not make the situation too awkward.
Otherwise, he might offend her.
Thus,
The two exchanged a few words.
They appeared quite harmonious.
Yet both maintained a sense of distance, making the atmosphere increasingly strange.
During their exchange, Zheng Ling'er also sensed Li Chang'an's thoughts and could not help feeling secretly delighted.
After a while,
Li Chang'an cupped his hands in farewell.
"Young Miss, Miss Zheng, there are still matters to attend to at home. I truly cannot stay and talk for long."
"Take care, Young Master Li."
Zheng Ling'er smiled and rose to see him off.
Their conversation ended there.
After Li Chang'an left,
Zheng Ling'er smiled sweetly, her brows curving like crescents as she said to Zheng Qingqing,
"Sister Qingqing, you saw it too, didn't you? It is not that I was unwilling—it was Li Chang'an who was unwilling!"
"Ah, forget it..."
Zheng Qingqing looked in the direction Li Chang'an had left, regret flashing through her eyes.
Judging by the aptitude Li Chang'an had displayed so far,
He had hope of advancing to the late Qi Refinement stage in the future.
Moreover,
He had some talent in the way of Talismans.
So long as he married into the Zheng Family and obtained the subsequent Talisman Inheritance, he also had a fair chance of becoming a High-grade Talisman Master.
The late Qi Refinement stage and High-grade Talisman Master—such standing was already an excellent match for an ordinary Rogue Cultivator.
But Zheng Ling'er was, after all, a girl from a great family.
Her sights were set higher.
This matter could only be set aside for now.
Outside the Auction.
Li Chang'an had just stepped out when he spotted a familiar figure.
Zheng Jinbao!
Zheng Jinbao saw Li Chang'an as well, and a kindly smile immediately appeared on his face, as though he had seen a close junior.
"It is Chang'an. Did you gain anything from this Auction?"
"I gained a little."
Li Chang'an's expression remained ordinary as he answered casually.
He did not linger.
After briefly exchanging greetings, he hurried toward the houses.
Behind him,
Zheng Jinbao watched his receding back, a vicious glint flashing through his eyes.
"This brat can already draw High-grade Talismans. His status has risen with the tide, and the Young Miss values him more and more. She even wants him to marry into the family!"
The higher Li Chang'an's status rose,
The more uneasy Zheng Jinbao became.
If Li Chang'an truly married into the Zheng Family and obtained sufficient resources, his future standing might even surpass Zheng Jinbao's!
"I absolutely cannot let that happen!"
Zheng Jinbao's expression darkened.
He somewhat regretted having offended Li Chang'an in the beginning.
But at this point,
Regret was useless.
He could only find a way to settle this matter once and for all!
"Why have those two wastes still not gotten rid of Li Chang'an after so long?!"
Zheng Jinbao cursed inwardly, then turned and walked in another direction.
But he did not notice
That not far behind him, an apparently ordinary yellow dog was following him.
Before you continue