Brother Will Cover You From Now On

For the next few days, Su Fan didn't go to the market town but stayed home to consolidate his cultivation.

Only after his cultivation was completely stable did Su Fan come to the open market stalls and start setting up his own to sell goods.

He wished he could just comfortably stay home until he died, but he really couldn't.

There was no choice; he was broke.

With his current cultivation method, he consumed one Foundation Cultivation Pill every two days and used the Minor Spirit Gathering Array twice daily.

Let alone a Rogue Cultivator, even ordinary sect disciples couldn't afford this.

In just one year, he'd burn through seven to eight thousand Spirit Stones alone.

If he hadn't gone through several crises and reaped some spoils of war, where would he have gotten the Spirit Stones to squander?

Without the Minor Spirit Gathering Array and the pills, it would take at least another year to break through to the Fifth Level of Qi Condensation.

Moreover, after advancing to the Fifth Level of Qi Condensation, he'd clearly felt the Foundation Cultivation Pills' effectiveness significantly diminishing these past few days.

It might be due to his advancement, or perhaps he'd consumed too many Foundation Cultivation Pills and developed a resistance.

To maintain his previous cultivation speed, he could only switch to Origin Returning Pills.

Origin Returning Pills cost ten Spirit Stones each; just thinking about it made his heart ache.

Calculating it this way, he'd burn through eighteen thousand Spirit Stones in a year.

But with Su Fan's four-elemental spiritual root aptitude, did he have any other method besides spending Spirit Stones?

After a few days away, Shaoyang Market Town was still as bustling and lively as ever.

Su Fan arrived at the open market stalls, spread out a beast hide from an Ironhide Savage Bull, and laid out all his goods.

Currently, only the various Talismans were still somewhat plentiful; other miscellaneous items had mostly been sold off.

He currently had over two thousand Spirit Stones left, not even enough for half a year's expenses.

Su Fan's stall could, at most, earn two to three hundred Spirit Stones per month.

This was still relying on the Talismans he'd collected before; if he continued selling at this rate, in a few more months, there wouldn't be much left.

This situation couldn't go on; he needed to think of a solution.

But besides drawing Talismans, he truly had no other marketable skill. He couldn't exactly become a Bandit Cultivator, could he?

For the sake of Spirit Stones, Su Fan was so worried his hair had turned white.

Just then, Su Fan spotted a familiar figure in the crowd.

Xu Wen was wandering around the market. He stopped at a stall with quite a few Talismans.

He intended to buy a few Talismans and crouched down to rummage through them.

Seeing Old Xu, Su Fan's face broke into a smile.

He used to rely on an outer disciple from the Lesser Yang Sect to get by smoothly in the market town.

Now that the Qingxuan Sect had arrived, he wondered if Old Xu could still get by.

Xu Wen searched for a while before picking up two Talismans.

"Fellow Daoist, how much for these two Talismans?"

"That will be eighteen Spirit Stones."

"Fellow Daoist, could you make it a bit cheaper..."

"Heh heh, then I won't take your Spirit Stones. Take them as a gift."

Hearing Su Fan say this, Xu Wen was stunned. Was this stall owner out of his mind?

Seeing the utterly bewildered Xu Wen, Su Fan burst into laughter.

"Old Xu, what's with the politeness between us?"

Hearing this, Xu Wen pointed at Su Fan, unable to speak for a long time.

For some reason, although this stall owner looked like a stranger, he also felt a sense of extreme familiarity.

Old Xu tentatively asked, "Are you..."

Su Fan chuckled and said, "Brother, it's been a while since we had a drink together."

Hearing this, Old Xu finally guessed Su Fan's identity.

"You're Little Su..."

Su Fan quickly put a finger to his lips, then gestured to the side and took out a small stool.

"Come... sit here..."

Xu Wen smiled with relief, crossed the stall, and sat beside Su Fan.

"Brother, if it weren't for you last time, I..."

Su Fan waved his hand and said, "Big Brother, let's not talk about such things between us."

Xu Wen nodded, then looked at Su Fan's face with confusion.

"Brother, what's with you..."

Su Fan gave a wry smile and sighed.

"Sigh... it's a long story..."

Xu Wen knew in his heart that Su Fan must have offended someone, but he didn't ask further.

"Now, a bunch of us brothers are sticking together to make a living. If you ever run into trouble in the future, don't hesitate to come find me."

Su Fan almost laughed out loud. He never expected that Old Xu, with his honest face, had also joined a gang.

"Of course, you're my big brother after all..."

Old Xu patted Su Fan's shoulder and laughed, "Haha... that's the spirit. From now on, in Shaoyang Market Town, I'll look out for you."

Su Fan nodded, then thought for a moment.

"Big brother, you know about my situation... just keep it to yourself."

Old Xu's brow immediately furrowed, and he asked in a deep voice, "Brother, what kind of trouble have you run into? Tell me..."

Su Fan shook his head. What use would it be to tell you?

"It's nothing, I just don't want to cause trouble."

"If you don't want to say, I won't ask. Like I said, if you ever run into trouble, you must find me."

After speaking, Old Xu pulled Su Fan up.

"Let's go... it's been a while since we last met. Let's have a drink, brother..."

Su Fan couldn't refuse him, so he packed up his stall and followed Old Xu to a restaurant in the market town.

They found a table by the window. Old Xu was in a good mood today and ordered a large table full of spirit dishes, along with two bottles of spirit wine.

Su Fan calculated that this meal would cost at least dozens of spirit stones.

It seemed Old Xu was doing quite well. He was indeed capable and could survive anywhere.

They hadn't seen each other in a long time and drank heartily.

Old Xu, in particular, was very emotional.

Last time, he had hesitated and didn't tell Su Fan about the demonic cultivators invading the market town.

He already felt very guilty, and then he was saved by Su Fan's help.

So, seeing Su Fan again, he kept toasting him.

As Xu Wen drank, he became quite drunk, his tongue starting to slur.

"Brother, from now on, in Shaoyang Market Town, no matter what happens, you must come to me."

Su Fan took a small sip of wine and advised, "Old Xu, let's drink slowly..."

Hearing this, Old Xu became animated again.

"Brother, I'm not bragging, but if you ask around in Shaoyang Market Town about Swift Wind Hall, everyone will give us some face."

Su Fan gave a wry smile. Old Xu was really drunk. He could only accompany him.

They didn't leave the restaurant until midnight. Su Fan helped the drunken Xu Wen walk towards his home.

They arrived at a small alley, and Old Xu pointed inside.

"Brother, I'm here. You can go back..."

He was so drunk, how could Su Fan possibly let him go home alone?

"We've come this far, it's only a few more steps. I want to see your place..."

"Haha... right, you haven't been to my place yet. Come in later, and we'll keep drinking..."

Su Fan shook his head. You're like this, and you still want to drink.

He helped Old Xu into the alley. After only a few steps, Su Fan stopped.

His eyes flashed with electricity, and his brow furrowed.

Su Fan held Old Xu and slowly retreated.

But before he could retreat a few steps, he suddenly turned around. Several people were already standing at the alley entrance.

At this moment, those hidden in the alley also revealed themselves, completely blocking their path.