The Zheng Family Disciples' Shock

The talisman on the desk was precisely a Wind Shadow Talisman, a genuine First-tier High-grade Talisman!

It was exceedingly difficult to draw.

Now.

Li Chang'an had successfully drawn it.

This meant that his Talisman Skill had officially advanced, making him a First-tier High-grade Talisman Master!

"This Borrowing Law Technique truly is extraordinary. My Spirit Stones were not wasted on raising the Profound Water Turtle!"

Li Chang'an smiled broadly, in an excellent mood.

One had to know.

First-tier High-grade Talisman craftsmanship was already the absolute pinnacle in Clear River Market.

There was not a single Tier 2 Talisman Master in all of Clear River Market.

After all.

If someone possessed Tier 2 skill, why would they remain in the Marketplace?

It was easier to earn Spirit Stones in Yellow Crane Immortal City.

Moreover, drawing second tier Talismans required greater Mana, something even the vast majority of late Qi Refining stage cultivators could not sustain.

"A First-tier High-grade Talisman Master—even the Zheng Family would have to treat one with courtesy."

Li Chang'an suddenly felt a touch of emotion.

Before he knew it.

He had already come this far.

His current achievements were things his former self would never have dared imagine.

"The road ahead is still long. I must not grow arrogant."

Li Chang'an quietly warned himself.

A High-grade Talisman Master.

Was merely a small step on his Immortal Path.

"I'll first consolidate my High-grade Talisman skill and see exactly what the success rate is."

Li Chang'an rested for a while before continuing his attempts.

The next two talisman drawings both ended in failure.

His expression remained unchanged.

He had expected it.

"I'll rest first."

Li Chang'an swallowed several recovery pills.

The Profound Water Turtle beside him did the same.

Over the following days.

Li Chang'an continued trying.

He failed many times, using up quite a bit of Talisman Paper and Spirit Ink.

Overall, his success rate in drawing First-tier High-grade Talismans was roughly thirty percent.

It was not particularly high.

But as his proficiency deepened, his success rate steadily increased as well.

"After practicing for a while longer, the success rate should stabilize above fifty percent."

Li Chang'an was highly confident. He could feel his skill improving.

Amid his constant attempts.

He discovered.

Not only was his skill improving, but the man and turtle had also become somewhat more in sync.

"This is a good thing."

Li Chang'an smiled.

The greater the tacit understanding between a Spiritual Beast and its master, the better.

The more in sync they were, the closer they became.

He had once heard.

That some Spiritual Beasts had terrible relationships with their masters, often suffering beatings and scoldings, breeding resentment until they would rather endure the backlash of the Spirit Contract just to wound their masters.

"The Profound Water Turtle and Da Huang should never do something like that."

Li Chang'an believed he treated both Spiritual Beasts quite well, enough that they would not harbor resentment.

Several more days passed.

Li Chang'an temporarily stopped drawing Talismans.

Just as he had expected.

His success rate in drawing First-tier High-grade Talismans had already remained above fifty percent.

"This success rate is basically enough. From now on, I'll need to slowly refine my Talisman Skill."

Li Chang'an put away the tools needed for Talisman Drawing.

"Now, I'll see whether I can break through in Puppet Skill."

With a thought.

A large quantity of materials for making Puppet components appeared before him.

"Humanoid Puppets are rather difficult to make. I'll first try something simpler."

As before.

Li Chang'an planned to start with the easy ones.

He intended to create a Turtle Puppet skilled in defense.

"The structure of a Turtle Puppet is not complicated. The main issue is its agility."

Li Chang'an began to ponder.

Drawing upon the contents of the High-grade Puppet Legacy, he gradually formed a detailed structure in his mind.

About the time it took for an incense stick to burn.

He selected his materials and began crafting the components.

High-grade Puppets were far more difficult than Medium-grade Puppets.

Even when making the most ordinary components, Li Chang'an failed several times.

"Strange. The patterns on this component have already been engraved, so why can't it conduct Mana?"

Li Chang'an was baffled, his face full of confusion.

"Where did I go wrong?"

He fiddled with the component for a while before finally discovering his mistake and promptly correcting it.

Before he knew it.

Most of the day had passed.

Li Chang'an had only successfully made three components.

Yet a huge pile of ruined precious materials had already accumulated beside him.

He felt some pain over the Spirit Stones, but he did not give up.

"As long as I succeed, no amount of materials will be wasted."

Li Chang'an glanced at the ruined materials, then gathered his thoughts, focused completely, and continued crafting the remaining components.

Time flew by.

Several more days passed.

After ruining a great quantity of precious materials.

A Turtle Puppet standing half the height of a man finally took shape!

"This Puppet has barely crossed the threshold of a First-tier High-grade Puppet, I suppose."

Li Chang'an looked at the Puppet with a slight frown, not entirely satisfied.

It was not that he was dissatisfied with his skill.

After all.

The success of this Turtle Puppet represented that his skill had already met the requirements of a Tier 1 High-grade Puppeteer.

It was only that.

This Turtle Puppet's defensive ability had not met his expectations.

It could barely withstand Da Huang's attacks.

But it could not hold out for long.

If the fight lasted a little longer, fissures would appear in its outer materials, and it would begin to collapse.

"The issue is the Puppet materials. I need to gather some precious materials specifically used to create Defensive Puppets."

Li Chang'an pondered.

The thought of materials made his heart ache in secret.

He would have to spend quite a few more Spirit Stones next.

However.

As long as the Puppet he created could perfectly withstand the attacks of late Qi Refining stage cultivators.

Then it would be worth it.

That evening.

Xu Fugui and his group finally returned to the Marketplace.

"Fugui, thank you for this trip."

Thinking back on their encounter with Rogue Cultivators several days earlier, everyone still felt lingering fear.

They spoke their thanks.

Then they bid one another farewell and departed one after another.

Although they felt that the origins of Xu Fugui's Talismans were suspicious.

They did not dig to the root and pry into every detail.

After all, everyone had their own secrets.

"This matter should have been kept hidden."

Xu Fugui watched the others leave, quietly thinking to himself.

Xu Fugui did not know.

That among his former companions, one person was hurrying toward the center of the Marketplace.

That person's surname was Zheng, and his name was Zheng Ming.

He was a Zheng Family disciple!

Because his talent was too poor and his Spirit Root was merely an Inferior Spirit Root.

The Zheng Family had no intention of nurturing him. They only required him to take several concubines and have more children, spreading branches and leaves for the family.

To put it bluntly.

They treated him as a tool for spreading their bloodline.

But he was unwilling to accept that.

Could a life drowned in wine and women, with wives and concubines in his arms, possibly be what he wanted?

His heart was set on the Immortal Path, so he joined Xu Fugui and the other Rogue Cultivators, venturing into Secret Realms alongside them in search of opportunities.

At this moment.

The reason Zheng Ming was hurrying toward the center of the Marketplace.

Was to tell Zheng Qingqing something.

"Those mid-grade Talismans on Xu Fugui were most likely given to him by his Big Brother, Li Chang'an! Li Chang'an has probably become a Mid-grade Talisman Master long ago, only he's kept it hidden all this time..."

The more Zheng Ming thought about it, the more shocked he became.

Becoming a Mid-grade Talisman Master so quickly showed that Li Chang'an possessed exceptional talent in the way of Talismans.

He was worth recruiting for the Zheng Family!

"I need to tell Young Miss this news quickly. Perhaps Young Miss will reward me with some treasures."