Zheng Family's Gift of Thanks

Li Chang'an truly had not spent much effort.

It had merely been a convenient thing to do.

But if the Zheng Family insisted on offering him a gift of thanks, he naturally would not refuse.

"Young Miss, I still have matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving first."

After chatting for a short while, Li Chang'an took his leave and turned to depart from the small courtyard.

Behind him.

Watching his receding figure.

Zheng Qingqing pondered briefly, then suddenly said:

"Li Chang'an may have already broken through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Condensation."

"What?"

Zheng Ling'er could not help being startled.

To possess cultivation at the Fourth Layer of Qi Condensation at such an age was comparable to the outstanding descendants of a Foundation Establishment Clan!

"Qingqing, could you have mistaken it?"

"I should not have. I recently obtained an Ancient Treasure in the Secret Realm, and it can barely see through false appearances."

Zheng Qingqing shook her head slightly.

"His strength appears unchanged, but his aura shifts between solid and illusory. He is clearly concealing it deliberately. If he had not broken through, there would be no need for him to do so."

Hearing this, Zheng Ling'er could not help falling silent.

Li Chang'an's aptitude seemed stronger than she had imagined.

She wavered.

But she soon firmed up her resolve again.

The Dao Companion she chose in this life had to possess hope of Foundation Establishment.

Though Li Chang'an was not bad, it would be difficult for him to cross that threshold of Foundation Establishment.

Not long afterward.

The Zheng Family's gift of thanks arrived.

This gift could truly be called lavish!

"A house near the Market Central Area, with both a front yard and a back yard!"

Li Chang'an looked at the deed in his hand in surprise.

One had to know.

Although Clear River Market had been built atop a Second-tier Spirit Vein, not the entire Marketplace enjoyed Second-tier concentrations of Spiritual Energy.

Only a small area at its very Core Region possessed Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy dense enough to reach the Second-tier range.

The farther outward one went.

The lower the Spiritual Energy concentration became.

Li Chang'an's current house stood at the very edge of the Marketplace, where the Spiritual Energy concentration had barely reached Low-grade First Tier.

He had previously considered moving.

After all, he was already a Mid Qi Refining cultivator. It would be best for him to cultivate in an area with denser Spiritual Energy.

Now.

The Zheng Family had directly gifted him an even better residence!

"The area where that house is located should have Spiritual Energy at least as dense as High-grade First Tier. It will be enough for me to cultivate all the way to the late Qi Refining stage!"

Li Chang'an gripped the deed, exceptionally satisfied.

That very evening.

He brought all his belongings and moved into his new home.

"Having a yard really does feel different."

With a smile on his face, Li Chang'an entered his own small courtyard and looked up at the stars filling the sky.

This place was already close to the Marketplace's Core Region.

Every inch of land was worth an inch of gold.

Being able to own a small courtyard here was truly extravagant!

Moreover.

This place was safer as well!

His former residence had been on the Marketplace's outskirts.

If the Marketplace ever came under attack, the outer districts would certainly be the first to suffer.

"If only I had an Array to guard it, that would be even more Perfect!"

Li Chang'an pondered.

He had ample funds on hand now. He could visit Hundred Treasures Pavilion and buy a House Protecting Formation, making the place even safer.

Afterward, he instructed Da Huang to continue digging tunnels.

Better safe than sorry!

"I'll go to the Black Market tomorrow. Hopefully, I won't run into any accidents."

Though today's accident had brought Li Chang'an quite a harvest, he preferred peaceful, uneventful days.

Time slowly passed.

That night.

Just after the Midnight Hour.

A Golden Light appeared before Li Chang'an's eyes.

[Divination Result Refreshed]

[Today's Divination Result: Auspicious]

[You head to the Black Market and purchase a damaged Formation Flag. By chance, you discover that there is another world within the Formation Flag, containing a complete First-tier High-grade Array, the "Cloud Mist Hidden Kill Formation."]

"Cloud Mist Hidden Kill Formation?"

Joy rose in Li Chang'an's heart. He had long heard of this Array.

It was considered Premium Grade even among First-tier High-grade Arrays!

Setting up this Array.

Required a large quantity of costly materials.

Thus, its quality was extremely high, and its price correspondingly expensive. Few Qi Refining cultivators could afford it.

"No need to buy an Array. That saves me another batch of Spirit Stones."

Li Chang'an quietly calculated in his heart.

The more Spirit Stones he had, the easier it would be to plan for Foundation Establishment in the future.

The next day, in the Early Morning.

Li Chang'an altered his aura, put on a Mask, and headed straight for the Black Market.

This time.

No mishaps occurred along the way.

He arrived at the Black Market without incident.

"Da Huang, we'll stand guard outside. Let the Puppet Body go in."

With a thought from Li Chang'an, he controlled the Puppet Body and had it walk directly toward the Black Market.

He himself stayed with Da Huang inside an Underground Space created by Da Huang's Spell.

The Black Market's interior resembled the Trading Area of Clear River Market.

There were many stalls.

People came and went, and the place was bustling and noisy.

At every moment, one could hear cries of sale and haggling.

The difference was.

Most cultivators in the Black Market concealed their faces, and few used their true identities.

"First, I'll search for the Formation Flag mentioned in the divination."

Li Chang'an's gaze moved over one stall after another.

About a quarter-hour later.

He identified five Formation Flags, all somewhat damaged. Their outward appearance revealed no further peculiarities.

Since he was not entirely certain.

Li Chang'an simply bought all five Formation Flags, intending to examine them slowly after returning home.

Afterward.

He began selling the items he had no use for.

"The Green Wood Sword and Green Wood Shield—these two Low-grade Magic Tools came from Wu Yun's storage pouch and are useless to me now. And this Meteor Hammer..."

Li Chang'an moved between the various stalls.

At slightly reduced prices, he sold these items to different stall owners.

Very soon.

By selling these items, he obtained more than a hundred Spirit Stones.

There were still many things left unsold.

But he stopped for the moment and left the Black Market.

"I've already sold enough. If I keep selling, someone may notice me."

Li Chang'an controlled the Puppet and returned it to his side.

After taking the Spirit Stones and Formation Flags.

He changed the Puppet's attire and gave it a new identity.

After a while.

He controlled the Puppet to enter the Black Market again and continue selling the remaining items.

He went back and forth like this several times.

Each time, the number of Spirit Stones he obtained varied.

Sometimes it was several dozen, sometimes one or two hundred.

In the end.

Li Chang'an sold off every item he did not need.

"That should do. It went fairly smoothly."

After the final transaction.

Li Chang'an controlled the Puppet to leave the Black Market.

But suddenly.

He frowned, sensing several auras following far behind it.

"I still got noticed."

Li Chang'an was somewhat helpless.

This Black Market truly was not a good place. The first time he came here, Rogue Cultivators had already set their sights on him.

"Could it be that I look easy to bully?"

Li Chang'an thought about it.

The Puppet Body's aura was very weak, so it did indeed seem easy to bully.

"Da Huang, prepare to make a move!"

A trace of coldness appeared on Li Chang'an's face as he instructed Da Huang.

Since they had chosen to become Rogue Cultivators.

They had to be prepared to be robbed themselves!

Aboveground.

The Puppet Body used several Talismans, and its speed abruptly increased, as though it had discovered the Rogue Cultivators following behind.

The speeds of those Rogue Cultivators rose accordingly.

"He found us!"

"No matter. He can't escape!"

Among this group of Rogue Cultivators, the strongest was a middle-aged cultivator at the Fourth Layer of Qi Condensation.

The others were at the Third Layer of Qi Condensation.

The middle-aged cultivator questioned his subordinates.

"Are you sure that man is a Fat Sheep?"

"Boss, I've been watching him the whole time. That guy sold treasures worth over a hundred Spirit Stones in total. He's absolutely a Fat Sheep!"

"Good!"

A trace of greed surfaced in the middle-aged cultivator's eyes.

He let out several sinister cackles.

Then he shouted loudly:

"Fellow Daoist ahead, please stay your steps. I intend to offer you a fortuitous opportunity."