A New Favor

Liu Yue truly could not imagine what Eldest Miss Zheng could possibly want with Li Chang'an.

The gap between their strength and status was simply too vast.

"I had an agreement with Fellow cultivator Li beforehand."

Zheng Qingqing smiled without offering much explanation.

She then arrived at the Courtyard Entrance.

And knocked on the courtyard gate.

Inside the house.

Hearing the sound, Li Chang'an rose to his feet and went outside to open the gate.

To his surprise.

There was not only Zheng Qingqing outside, but Liu Yue as well.

"Young Miss, Fellow cultivator Liu."

Li Chang'an cupped his hands and invited them both into the courtyard.

Afterward.

Following their agreement, he handed the prepared First-tier Mid-grade Talismans to Zheng Qingqing.

"Young Miss, these are this month's Talismans. Please count them."

"There's no need. I trust Fellow cultivator Li."

Zheng Qingqing looked gentle as she took the Talismans with her slender hand and gave Li Chang'an the Spirit Stones for the purchase.

At the sight of this.

Liu Yue's rosy lips parted slightly as she stared at those Talismans in shock.

With her attainments in Talismans, she could naturally tell that the Talismans in this transaction were not Low-grade Talismans at all!

In other words.

Li Chang'an could already draw mid-grade Talismans!

His Talisman Skill was far greater than what he had shown to the outside world!

"Fellow cultivator Li, you... you've already become a Mid-grade Talisman Master?"

Liu Yue's beautiful eyes flickered. Looking at Li Chang'an, she could not help asking.

Li Chang'an smiled and nodded.

"By chance, I obtained a mid-grade Talisman Inheritance and only broke through not long ago."

Hearing him admit it in person.

Liu Yue was even more stunned, and the many doubts in her heart were immediately resolved.

No wonder Li Chang'an could live in this area so rich in Spiritual Energy.

The talent he had displayed now was far superior to that old man Luo Kun's!

He was worthy of the Zheng Family's recruitment.

"By the way, Fellow cultivator Liu, may I ask what business you had with me?"

Li Chang'an put away the Spirit Stones and looked at Liu Yue.

"I..."

Liu Yue's thoughts raced as she answered, "Recently, I've had quite a few doubts regarding Talismans. I came today to discuss them with Fellow cultivator Li."

"So that was it."

Li Chang'an nodded slightly, as though he believed her.

But he knew perfectly well.

He had not revealed his mid-grade Talisman abilities before this.

If Liu Yue had questions concerning Talismans, she would be better off seeking Luo Kun next door. What use was there in looking for him?

Not long afterward.

Zheng Qingqing took her leave.

Before departing, she gave Liu Yue a meaningful glance.

"Fellow cultivator Li, my previous promise to you still stands. Within my Zheng Family, many clan daughters with Spirit Roots have yet to marry. If you change your mind, you may come discuss it with me whenever you wish."

She suddenly brought up the matter to Li Chang'an.

Li Chang'an was taken aback.

He replied politely, "Thank you for thinking highly of me, Young Miss, but I truly have no such intentions at present."

Hearing this, Zheng Qingqing smiled and said no more.

She turned and left the courtyard.

Within the courtyard.

Liu Yue wore an expression of utter disbelief.

"Fellow cultivator Li, the Zheng Family intends to take you in as a son-in-law?"

"Yes, Young Miss has already introduced me to a Zheng Family clan daughter."

Hearing that, Liu Yue found it even harder to believe.

She had actually already introduced one to him.

Judging by the current situation, Li Chang'an had clearly not agreed.

"Many Rogue Cultivators outside can only marry Zheng Family women from the Mortal World if they want to step across the Zheng Family's threshold. They would not even dare dream of marrying a Zheng Family clan daughter with a Spirit Root... yet Li Chang'an actually refused!"

At that thought.

Liu Yue immediately felt several traces of discouragement.

Li Chang'an did not even fancy Zheng Family clan daughters with Spirit Roots. Would he fancy her?

Afterward.

Liu Yue began seeking guidance on Talisman Skill.

She gave it her all.

Trying to make Li Chang'an look at her a few more times.

But Li Chang'an remained rigid and proper throughout, speaking only of Talismans and giving her no opportunity whatsoever.

In the end.

Liu Yue could only leave.

Over the following few months.

Li Chang'an's transactions with the Zheng Family proceeded smoothly.

During that time.

Liu Yue came several times.

But every time, Li Chang'an casually found some excuse to send her away.

News that Li Chang'an had become a Mid-grade Talisman Master also gradually spread throughout the Marketplace.

Many people were quite surprised upon hearing it.

The most surprised of all.

Was Luo Kun, who lived next door.

"That brat actually has a mid-grade Talisman Inheritance, and he advanced so quickly?"

Upon hearing the news, Luo Kun stood stunned for a long while.

One had to know.

He had once said.

That Li Chang'an was too stiff in character and would not achieve much in Talismans.

Yet Li Chang'an had said nothing, merely using his own strength to answer his past remarks.

Whenever he thought of this.

Luo Kun felt a blockage in his chest, and even wine had lost its flavor.

"That brat hid himself so deeply. No wonder the Zheng Family values him."

In the Cultivation World, youth represented potential.

Li Chang'an was several decades younger than him!

It was only natural for the Zheng Family to value Li Chang'an more.

But Luo Kun refused to admit he was old. Instead, he secretly began competing with him.

"Hmph, this old man will definitely draw a high-quality mid-grade Talisman before he does."

Premium Grade Talismans of every rank were more valuable than ordinary Talismans of the same rank, and also far more difficult to draw.

Luo Kun was confident that his understanding of Talismans ran deeper.

He would certainly be able to draw a Premium Grade Talisman before Li Chang'an.

During this time.

Li Chang'an paid no heed to the outside world's reactions.

He remained focused, switching every day between cultivation, Talisman drawing, and Puppet crafting, never wasting a moment.

"In the Borrowing Method State, my success rate in drawing First-tier High-grade Talismans has already exceeded ninety percent."

Li Chang'an pondered silently.

Such a success rate was already exceedingly astonishing.

Next.

His goal in Talismans was to draw Premium Grade Talismans among High-grade Talismans.

For example, the "Forbidden Breaking Talisman" Wei Sen had used to break the array back then.

Such Talismans were extraordinarily difficult to draw.

Li Chang'an did not have the slightest confidence in it yet.

"As for Puppets, I've already completed a High-grade First Tier Defensive Puppet. It can continuously withstand Da Huang's attacks."

Beside Li Chang'an.

Stood a Puppet nearly identical to him in size.

It was made from the shell, tendons, and bones of that Earth-Splitting Pangolin, along with some precious materials purchased from the Black Market.

This Puppet was far superior to the Turtle Puppet.

Though it could not be considered Premium Grade.

Among ordinary High-grade First Tier Puppets, it was exceptionally good.

Besides that.

Li Chang'an had also crafted a High-grade Puppet that specialized in speed.

This Puppet was mainly used to track enemies.

After all.

He could not always rely on Da Huang.

There was only one Da Huang; it could not split itself in two.

"Now that I have a Defensive Puppet and a Speed Puppet, I only lack an Offensive Puppet. There's no rush for now. I should save some Spirit Stones."

Li Chang'an pondered.

For offense, he could temporarily make up for it with High-grade Talismans.

"I could make another trip to the Black Market and sell a batch of High-grade Talismans."

Li Chang'an had accumulated quite a number of High-grade Talismans.

"As long as the Hexagram Image says there's no problem."

He cultivated silently.

And waited for the Hexagram Image to refresh.

Time passed.

At the Midnight Hour that night, a new Hexagram Image appeared.

[Divination Result Refreshed]

[Today's Divination Result: Auspicious]

[You go to the Black Market to sell Talismans. Along the way, you discover that Zheng Family Elder "Zheng Songhe" and his granddaughter "Zheng Ling'er" are being ambushed by two late Qi Refining stage experts. You casually save them and gain a favor from the Zheng Family.]

"A favor from the Zheng Family?"

Li Chang'an's heart stirred.

If he secured this favor, could he enter the Zheng Family's Library Pavilion?