Forty-Two Years

That man had pursued him here. There was no way he could let him go.

As for the information he had obtained from him, he did not know whether it was good or bad.

While he was pondering this, he had already arrived before Lu Qingshan and Lu Qingyu.

Lu Qingyu's eyes shone as she asked excitedly, "Big Brother, what martial art was that just now? It was amazing!"

Lu Qingshan was the same.

They could hardly be blamed. The Cloak Saber Technique Lu Qingfeng had just unleashed was simply too fierce. Five skilled fighters at the First and Second Layers of the Embryonic Breath Realm, all well-versed in martial arts, had been cut down by Lu Qingfeng within just a few exchanges.

It had been utterly shocking.

"The Cloak Saber Technique."

"If you want to learn it, Big Brother will teach you in a couple of days."

Lu Qingfeng smiled.

Technique: Cloak Saber Technique

Grade: Low-level, two layers in total

Evolving Method: Four enhancements

Description: A relatively exquisite saber technique among mundane martial arts. After enhancement, its power has greatly increased.

To match the Nine-Ring Saber in his hand, Lu Qingfeng had specifically searched for the Cloak Saber Technique in the Primordial World. After five years of diligent practice, it had finally displayed its world-shaking might in reality.

Originally no weaker than the Lifeless Saber Technique, the Cloak Saber Technique had undergone four enhancements by Lu Qingfeng. Its subtlety could be called one of the finest saber arts in the world.

Lu Qingfeng, who was only at the First Layer of the Embryonic Breath Realm, had cut down five experts of the Return to Truth Sect in just a few exchanges. The weakest among them had been at the First Layer of the Embryonic Breath Realm, while one had even been at the Second Layer!

Yet he himself had remained completely unharmed.

"The Cloak Saber Technique!"

"What an imposing name!"

"Big Brother, I want to learn it!"

The five corpses not far away had not affected Lu Qingyu in the slightest. Her entire mind was focused on the Cloak Saber Technique, thinking only of how impressive and formidable she would be after mastering it.

Lu Qingshan, however, had thought a little further ahead.

These past days,

the three of them had been living rather comfortably here. They had thought the Return to Truth Sect had given up tracking them, never expecting the enemy to arrive so suddenly and without warning.

Fortunately, Big Brother's strength had been extraordinary. Otherwise, they would have been captured alive.

"Big Brother, are they people from the Return to Truth Sect?" Lu Qingshan asked in a deep voice.

"That's right."

Lu Qingfeng nodded, his expression solemn. "The Return to Truth Sect has discovered this place. We have to relocate!"

Seeing Lu Qingshan's face suddenly pale, Lu Qingfeng added, "But don't worry. The Return to Truth Sect clashed with a major sect to the east a few days ago, and the two sides are currently locked in a great battle. Those they can spare to hunt us down are all minor underlings."

This was the intelligence Lu Qingfeng had obtained from that man just now.

Apparently, ten days ago, the Return to Truth Sect had somehow clashed with a major sect in a neighboring county. In a short time, it had developed into a large-scale battle. All the experts of the sect had been dispatched, leaving them with little energy to continue tracking the three of them.

However, the head of the Punishment Hall had not given up. He had sent out the Outer Enforcement Team of the Punishment Hall, which was still searching for them. Those five men just now had been disciples of the Outer Enforcement Team.

"That's good, then."

Lu Qingshan relaxed slightly, but they still had to relocate as quickly as possible.

There was no need to say more.

The three of them immediately packed their belongings.

I have to learn talisman crafting as soon as possible!

Lu Qingfeng pondered inwardly.

He had originally planned to master a few more pills before turning to talisman arts. But now that the pursuers had arrived, it was imperative that he draw talismans to protect himself.

Fortunately, he had completely mastered the refinement of the Yellow Dragon Pill and could also rapidly increase his cultivation in reality. The next few pills could therefore be set aside for the time being.

"Fire-Spirit Cinnabar preparation?"

"What are you asking about that for?!"

Daoist Huang Luo's brows drew together slightly as he stared at Lu Qingfeng.

"I've recently become interested in drawing talismans, so I want to try preparing cinnabar myself." Lu Qingfeng smiled.

Five years had passed!

Including the four years before that,

Lu Qingfeng's reincarnated life had now reached the age of twenty-five.

The slight changes in his appearance were secondary.

As the improved versions of his Grain-Repelling Pill and Yellow Dragon Pill, produced by the "Qingfeng Alchemist," had entered the market, they had become immensely popular.

Although Lu Qingfeng was still only a low-level alchemy apprentice, his reputation had spread throughout a small circle in Black Sand Town. It was almost on par with that of Daoist Huang Luo, a high-level talisman apprentice who had been in business for several decades.

Among cultivators of the Embryonic Breath Realm, Lu Qingfeng was even far more sought after than Daoist Huang Luo.

After he had begun cooperating with the Imperial City Guild, his reputation had grown further.

Over these past few years, however, Lu Qingfeng's friendship with Daoist Huang Luo had deepened.

Daoist Huang Luo had been extremely disapproving of his "neglecting his proper work." If Lu Qingfeng had not encountered a problem while preparing cinnabar this time, he probably would not have told Daoist Huang Luo about it.

As expected!

Upon hearing Lu Qingfeng's words, Daoist Huang Luo's eyes widened. He pointed at Lu Qingfeng in disbelief and said, "You're doing perfectly well as 'Master Qingfeng,' so why are you drawing talismans?! What do you want with preparing cinnabar?!"

Daoist Huang Luo felt that Lu Qingfeng had gone mad.

Over these past few years, he had watched Lu Qingfeng waste a great deal of time refining pills and had barely accepted it. But he had never expected that Lu Qingfeng would now become distracted again by learning to draw talismans!

For ordinary cultivators, whether refining pills or drawing talismans, mastering one was already difficult enough. Lu Qingfeng's modest accomplishments in alchemy had surprised Daoist Huang Luo somewhat.

But the profundity of talisman arts was no less than that of alchemy.

Where would an ordinary person find so much energy?

"Brother Huang, I know my limits." Lu Qingfeng continued to smile.

Seeing this, Daoist Huang Luo could only shake his head. "Forget it. How could I not know that stubborn streak of yours? I only hope you won't regret it when your lifespan is nearly exhausted."

As he spoke, Daoist Huang Luo took several jade slips from the cloth pouch at his waist and tossed them to Lu Qingfeng.

Lu Qingfeng hurriedly caught them.

"Detailed Guide to Six Common Cinnabar Preparations"!

"Detailed Guide to Crafting Spirit-Communing Talisman Brushes"!

"Fundamentals of Talisman Paper"!

"Complete Compendium of Low-Level Talismans"!

"Since you want to learn talisman arts, these are all fundamentals. But you only need to gain a rough understanding of preparing cinnabar, crafting talisman brushes, and making talisman paper. If you're truly interested in studying talisman arts, all kinds of materials can be bought by the handful in the market. There's no need to waste your energy," Daoist Huang Luo reminded him.

"Thank you, Brother Huang."

Lu Qingfeng hurriedly thanked him.

Daoist Huang Luo was a high-level talisman apprentice with rich experience. With him showing the way, learning talisman arts would save Lu Qingfeng many wrong turns. In reality, the Return to Truth Sect's pursuers could arrive at any time. Learning talisman arts as quickly as possible would give him one more chance to stay alive.

"Consider it repayment for the favor of introducing me to the Imperial City Guild!" Daoist Huang Luo said indifferently.

"It was only a small effort." Lu Qingfeng smiled.

The Imperial City Guild!

It was one of the six top-tier guilds in Black Sand Town. Although it did not have a powerful backer like the Warbreaker Guild, Myriad Arts Guild, and Sword Immortal Guild, its strength in Black Sand Town was no weaker than those three guilds.

It was also the only guild among Black Sand Town's six top-tier guilds without any background.

The Grain-Repelling Pills and Yellow Dragon Pills refined by Lu Qingfeng were a cut above similar pills in quality. Once released, their reputation spread rapidly.

They had first become hot commodities at the market, then attracted numerous guilds seeking to recruit him and establish cooperation.

In the end, Lu Qingfeng had chosen the strongest and most reputable Imperial City Guild and established a long-term partnership with it—

He supplied the pills he refined to the Imperial City Guild, while the Imperial City Guild purchased them at a fixed price and was responsible for gathering various medicinal ingredients for Lu Qingfeng.

Because Lu Qingfeng's attainments in refining low-level pills were outstanding, he was extraordinarily valuable to the Imperial City Guild in attracting new players. Thus, when Lu Qingfeng proposed introducing Daoist Huang Luo to the Imperial City Guild and facilitating cooperation between them, the guild agreed after a brief investigation.

For Daoist Huang Luo, cooperating with a major force like the Imperial City Guild meant that the talismans he drew would never lack buyers, and he would never lack sources for various materials. He did not know how much effort this had saved him.

Naturally, it was an enormous favor.

"I only mentioned the Imperial City Guild in passing. It was Brother Huang's own skill, and it had nothing to do with me." Lu Qingfeng smiled before leaving the market.

Every day, besides cultivating and refining pills, he came to the market to set up a stall. After beginning his cooperation with the Imperial City Guild, he no longer needed to sell pills at a stall, but his habit of wandering around the market remained unchanged.

It counted as balancing work and rest, yet his efficiency had increased rather than decreased!

After leaving the market, Lu Qingfeng returned to his residence.

With his current wealth, he could easily purchase a decent courtyard in Black Sand Town as his home.

He stepped into the quiet room, took out the jade slips Daoist Huang Luo had given him, and entered them one by one into the Attribute Panel.

Then he began studying the "Detailed Guide to Six Common Cinnabar Preparations."

When drawing talismans, ordinary cultivators might skip the three processes of preparing cinnabar, boiling talisman paper, and crafting talisman brushes.

But Lu Qingfeng could not.

There was no ready-made cinnabar, talisman paper, or talisman brushes in reality, so he had to master their methods of production.

Cinnabar was a natural mineral, bright red in color, with a diamond-like to metallic luster. After being ground into powder, it could undergo subtle changes through different preparation methods, making it suitable for various talisman schools and categories.

Lu Qingfeng began with preparing cinnabar, then moved on to producing talisman paper and talisman brushes.

Time passed without him noticing.

In the blink of an eye,

forty-two years had passed since Lu Qingfeng began practicing the art of drawing talismans.