The Profound Water Turtle's Growth

Inside the room.

Li Chang'an took out the Turtle Spirit Fruit.

He stared at the Profound Water Turtle and earnestly instructed it.

"This Turtle Spirit Fruit is exceptionally special even among First-tier High-grade spiritual medicines. Its medicinal potency is immense. Swallow a portion first and focus on refining it."

The Little Profound Water Turtle nodded repeatedly.

Its large pair of eyes fixed on the Turtle Spirit Fruit, conveying its longing.

Over the next few days.

With Li Chang'an's help.

The Little Profound Water Turtle carefully swallowed the entire Turtle Spirit Fruit.

It was unable to refine all the medicinal power. Most of it settled throughout its body and would slowly be released as it grew.

During that time.

Chu Daniu came by once.

He spoke of all sorts of rumors circulating within the Marketplace.

"Big Brother, you need to prepare early. If the situation turns bad, run."

"I've already heard those rumors. There shouldn't be any trouble for the time being."

Li Chang'an remained calm and told him not to worry.

After their conversation ended.

Chu Daniu left with a heart full of worry.

Afterward.

Li Chang'an went to the Marketplace Trading Area several times.

He did not favor one over the other. He bought treasures suitable for an Earth-element Spirit Beast's growth and fed them all to Da Huang.

"You've worked hard these days."

Li Chang'an patted Da Huang on the head.

As the family's foremost fighting force.

Da Huang had truly worked tirelessly and rendered outstanding service, scarcely resting at all.

"Has Zheng Jinbao been growing more and more anxious lately?"

Through Da Huang, Li Chang'an received the latest news about Zheng Jinbao.

Over the past few days.

Many people had noticed.

That Zheng Jinbao, the Marketplace steward, had been getting increasingly bad-tempered.

"Why hasn't Wei Sen returned yet?"

Zheng Jinbao's brows were tightly furrowed, and his expression was extremely ugly.

Not only had Wei Sen failed to return.

He had not responded to any of the messages Zheng Jinbao had left behind.

It was as though he had vanished from the face of the earth!

"Could he really have failed?"

The more Zheng Jinbao thought about it, the more anxious he became.

In the end.

He truly could not bear it any longer.

He secretly contacted another Rogue Cultivator from Black Wind Mountain and asked about Wei Sen.

But the news he received made him deeply uneasy.

"What? You're saying Wei Sen never returned to Black Wind Mountain and never contacted any of you? Even your Great Leader doesn't know where he went?"

Zheng Jinbao's expression changed.

A terrible suspicion gradually rose within him.

Could Wei Sen be dead?

But how could Li Chang'an possibly have the ability to deal with Wei Sen?

"Either his actions were discovered by the Old Ancestor, or Li Chang'an has some other means!"

Zheng Jinbao took several deep breaths, only to feel a chill crawl up his spine.

At that moment.

He suddenly felt a measure of fear.

No matter which possibility it was, neither boded well for him.

If it was the former, and Wei Sen had been captured by a Foundation Establishment Ancestor, he would very likely reveal their dealings.

If it was the latter...

Then Li Chang'an had hidden himself far too deeply!

"Damn it, why did I provoke him in the first place?"

Zheng Jinbao glanced toward Li Chang'an's residence, the fear in his heart spreading without end.

In the days that followed.

Zheng Jinbao remained within the Marketplace at all times.

He did not take a single step outside it.

He did not even go near the Marketplace's outer districts!

"He's actually this cautious?"

Li Chang'an felt somewhat helpless.

This fellow was truly good at lying low, like a turtle.

"Forget it. Keep watching him. We have plenty of time anyway."

Li Chang'an instructed Da Huang.

And so.

Time hurried by.

Before they knew it, ten months had passed.

Under Li Chang'an's no-expense-spared cultivation, the Profound Water Turtle grew at a tremendous pace, its aura becoming stronger by the day.

The advantages of its Earth-grade bloodline were displayed to the fullest during its growth.

"This growth rate is truly astonishing."

Li Chang'an could not help but sigh.

Compared to the Profound Water Turtle.

Da Huang's growth rate could only be called turtle-slow.

Li Chang'an's own cultivation speed was even slower than turtle-slow.

In these brief ten months.

The Profound Water Turtle's aura had already approached the peak of the First-tier Early-stage.

"Don't rush to break through. Accumulate for a while longer and ensure there are no hidden dangers in your breakthrough."

Li Chang'an patiently instructed the Profound Water Turtle.

He held great expectations for this Spiritual Beast and had to ensure that every step it took was steady enough.

During this period.

The Marketplace gradually calmed down.

Just as Li Chang'an had expected.

The Foundation Establishment Ancestors of the Cao and Wu families did not join forces to attack. There had been no movement from them all along.

However.

After going through this turmoil.

The Marketplace's popularity declined a little further.

Some cultivators left, either going to other Marketplaces or directly to Yellow Crane Immortal City.

"The Cao and Wu families are likely planning to gradually diminish Clear River Market's popularity through this method, thereby reducing the Zheng Family's income."

Li Chang'an secretly speculated.

This matter.

Did not affect him much.

After all, there was always considerable demand for Talismans.

He often sold Low-grade Talismans in the Marketplace and occasionally sold mid-grade Talismans in the Black Market, earning quite a bit.

Four months later.

The Profound Water Turtle's strength had reached the absolute limit of the First-tier Early-stage.

It could no longer suppress itself.

Under the protection of Li Chang'an and Da Huang, it successfully broke through and became a First-tier Mid-stage Spiritual Beast.

"In just one year and two months, it broke through to the First-tier Mid-stage. That's equivalent to a Human Cultivator going from the Mortal World to the Fourth Layer of Qi Condensation. It's truly unbelievable."

The growth rate of this Profound Water Turtle made even Li Chang'an, its master, envy it greatly.

Though it was partly because Li Chang'an had spared no expense and consumed vast amounts of treasures.

Its own aptitude could not be overlooked either.

"Little fellow, after eating so many of my Spirit Stones, it's time for you to give something back."

Whenever Li Chang'an thought of all the Spirit Stones spent during this time.

His heart ached in secret.

His wealth had shrunk by a great deal.

But as long as the Borrowing Law Talent's effect met his expectations, it would all be worth it!

Not long after.

The Profound Water Turtle's aura stabilized, consolidating its realm.

It looked at Li Chang'an with affectionate eyes.

Then it immediately used its Borrowing Law Talent.

Gentle water-element Mana slowly merged into Li Chang'an's Meridians, continuously strengthening his aura.

"Not bad."

Li Chang'an felt the changes within himself and nodded slightly.

After only a few breaths.

His strength rose from the Fourth Layer of Qi Condensation to the fifth level of Qi Refining.

And it continued to rise.

It only slowly stopped after barely reaching the sixth layer of Qi Refining.

"My current strength makes me one of the best among Mid Qi Refining cultivators. Though it's temporary, it's still quite impressive. After all, this Spell causes no harm whatsoever to the body."

Li Chang'an smiled.

He was extremely satisfied with this Borrowing Law Technique.

One had to know.

In the Cultivation World, most methods for temporarily increasing one's strength harmed a cultivator's body.

For example, the Zheng Family's Spirit Burst Pill.

Yet the Profound Water Turtle's Borrowing Law Technique was exceptionally gentle. He could use it whenever he wanted without worrying about any side effects.

"Can I draw a First-tier High-grade Talisman in this state?"

Li Chang'an pondered for a moment.

Then.

He sat before the table, took out Talisman Paper, Spirit Ink, and a Talisman Brush, and began to try.

At this moment, within the Secret Realm.

Xu Fugui encountered the greatest crisis of his life.

His face was deathly pale, his aura weak, and his entire body covered in blood.

"Fugui, I'm afraid we won't be able to escape."

The companion beside him was also covered in blood and spoke bitterly.

This danger did not come from the Secret Realm.

It came from Human Cultivators.

More precisely.

It came from a group of Rogue Cultivators.

"Hehehe, a few fat sheep in the early Qi Refining stage."

The ordinary members of this group of Rogue Cultivators were not particularly strong, but their leader possessed the cultivation of the Fourth Layer of Qi Condensation.

His strength alone.

Was enough to utterly crush Xu Fugui and the others.

"Fugui, what should we do?"

Several companions had run out of ideas and looked toward Xu Fugui.

"I don't know either..."

Xu Fugui looked panicked, his voice filled with despair.

He appeared to have given up struggling.

Yet he secretly clenched a Talisman tightly in his hand.

Big Brother Li said this Talisman was meant for killing enemies.

Xu Fugui was nervous.

Could this Talisman kill an expert at the Fourth Layer of Qi Condensation?