Zhou Family Granddaughter

Mu's Spirit Talisman Shop, second floor.

Lan Chang'an held his breath and focused, gripping a Purple Bristle Talisman Brush as it danced like dragons and snakes across High-Quality Talisman Paper, its spiritual inspiration flowing without end.

After more than a hundred breaths, a brownish-red talismanic pattern took shape on the paper. With a flash of light, it solidified successfully.

Whew!

Lan Chang'an let out a long breath as the Evergreen Mana within him rapidly recovered.

Though his divine sense was strong, his cultivation limited him; he still could not craft High-Grade Talismans with effortless ease.

Recently, business at the talisman shop had picked up. Besides Mid- and low-grade talismans selling well, demand for High-Grade Talismans was also considerable.

Bamboo Leaf Mountain Market occupied an excellent location, filling the market needs of several surrounding Foundation Establishment Families, more than a dozen Qi Refining Families, and countless Rogue Cultivators.

For the major families, talismans were a convenient reserve of combat strength.

The shop's High-Grade Talismans were mainly meant to hold down the fort. Purchases were limited to five per month, and every sale meant a loss.

Even Mu Xiuyun, the Mu Family's foremost Talisman Master, could only barely avoid losses—and that was after her cultivation had greatly advanced, raising her success rate.

As a member of the family's upper ranks, Mu Xiuyun had to cultivate, manage the shop, and craft talismans. Her energy was severely limited.

Drawing Mid- and low-grade talismans brought in a steady profit of Spirit Stones.

Crafting High-Grade Talismans consumed immense energy. Breaking even was practically the same as losing money.

"My success rate in crafting ordinary High-Grade Talismans has reached ninety percent. I can only gratefully accept these extra materials."

Smiling with narrowed eyes, Lan Chang'an put the completed High-Grade Talismans into his Storage Bag.

On the surface, Lan Chang'an's attainments in the Talisman Dao were a notch below Mu Xiuyun's, and he would suffer minor losses when crafting High-Grade Talismans.

Even so, Mu Xiuyun still required him to complete two or three each month.

Lan Chang'an had effectively plucked the Mu Family's wool with those surplus materials or talismans.

"Though the shop needs them to hold down the fort, Eldest Miss is truly willing to groom me at such a loss."

As he plucked their wool, Lan Chang'an felt faintly guilty.

Ever since the Medicine Garden Mole Incident, Mu Xiuyun's attitude toward him had subtly changed.

She trusted and relied on him more, and no longer avoided the distinction between men and women when they were occasionally alone together.

"Uncle Lu, the Frostwind Talismans in the shop have sold out. That elder from the Zhou Family has come to purchase more."

After Lan Chang'an finished regulating his breath and was about to continue drawing talismans, Mu Ershun's somewhat hurried voice came from the doorway.

Over the past half year, under Lan Chang'an's care, Mu Ershun had become an official apprentice, able to process Talisman Paper and practice introductory Basic Talismans.

Meanwhile, the other apprentice, Mu Shan, already had a foundation and had begun learning to draw low-grade talismans.

"Frostwind Talismans?"

Lan Chang'an was somewhat surprised. Frostwind Talismans were relatively obscure Mid-Grade Talismans. Although they dealt area-of-effect damage, their killing power was weak, so few people bought them.

Originally, Mu Xiuyun had added this kind of talisman to broaden the shop's range and improve its competitiveness.

Yet unexpectedly, the several Frostwind Talismans Lan Chang'an had placed on the counter half a year ago, which had gone unasked after for so long, were bought out in one go two days earlier.

Since they were not hot sellers, Lan Chang'an had not replenished them in time.

Unexpectedly, the buyer had come today to press for more goods.

Moreover, this buyer was an elder of the Beast Taming Zhou Family at the Qi Refining Late Stage, so he could not be slighted.

Mu Xiuyun was not at the shop today, leaving Lan Chang'an to receive him.

"Mm, I'll go down and take a look."

Lan Chang'an went down to the first-floor shop and saw an elderly Zhou Family man past seventy, dressed in coarse cloth with a slightly stooped back, looking like an old servant.

"Are you the Talismans Master Lu who crafts Frostwind Talismans?"

The elderly man in plain clothes was at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer. His gaze was bright as a torch, though his manner remained fairly polite.

"That would be Lu. May I ask how many Frostwind Talismans Senior requires?" Lan Chang'an asked neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"The more, the better. It would be best if you have High-Quality Frostwind Talismans."

The elderly man's confidence made Lan Chang'an pause slightly.

He did not understand what the other man needed so many Frostwind Talismans for.

Of course, he had no need to pry into a customer's purpose or secrets. After considering it, he said, "Mid-Grade Frostwind Talismans are rather difficult to craft. I only have a few left in stock."

"I'll take them all." The elderly man appeared impatient.

Lan Chang'an took four Frostwind Talismans from his Storage Bag, including one high-quality talisman.

The Zhou Family elder was generous as well, paying thirty Spirit Stones outright—above market price.

"I must trouble Talismans Master Lu. There may be further demand next time."

With that, the elderly man hurried away.

"What status does that elder hold in the Zhou Family?" Lan Chang'an asked curiously.

At the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, he would unquestionably be among the Mu Family's upper ranks, but he was most likely not a core figure in the Zhou Family.

"We don't know." Both Mu Shan and Mu Ershun shook their heads.

"Talismans Master Lu, you were lucky this time. You got to borrow the fortune of someone important."

The speaker was Shopkeeper Xu from the neighboring Rainbow Dress Pavilion, a well-dressed middle-aged man with a gentle, amiable voice.

Rainbow Dress Pavilion mainly sold cultivators' robes, including hair ornaments, accessories, shoes, and the like.

Shopkeeper Xu was well-connected and could exchange a few words with anyone. His information was well-informed, making him one of Lan Chang'an's few acquaintances in the Marketplace.

"That man just now was the old servant of Zhou Qingxuan, the great-granddaughter of the Zhou Family Old Ancestor. If he came to buy talismans from you, it must be for that talented Zhou Family Granddaughter."

"A servant and bodyguard at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer?" Lan Chang'an was somewhat surprised.

Although the Zhou Family Old Ancestor was a Pseudo-Core True Person, he had many children. Not to mention great-granddaughters—even his granddaughters numbered who knew how many.

"Zhou Qingxuan is no ordinary granddaughter. Not only does she possess a High-Grade Spiritual Root, she also has exceptional talent in beast taming. Old Ancestor Zhou favors her greatly; in the Beast Taming Zhou Family, she is a pearl held in the palm. Even Young Master Huang curries favor with her somewhat."

Shopkeeper Xu of Rainbow Dress Pavilion explained.

"I see. Thank you, Shopkeeper Xu, for enlightening me."

Lan Chang'an understood. The Zhou Family Granddaughter behind that servant had an extremely precious status and was someone he could not afford to offend.

The Zhou Family old servant had already come twice. He might come again next time, so Lan Chang'an needed to remind the apprentices to receive him politely.

Two or three days later.

The Zhou Family old servant came to the shop again, wearing a bitter smile as he said,

"Talismans Master Lu, I must trouble you again. My young lady says the Frostwind Talismans are not powerful enough and wishes to purchase the higher-grade Frostfall."

"Frostfall? That is a First-Order High-Grade Talisman, and a relatively obscure one at that. Lu truly lacks the ability."

Lan Chang'an could not help but complain bitterly as he shook his head.

Frostfall was slightly more difficult to craft than ordinary First-Order High-Grade Talismans.

If he could craft it easily, he would be a solid First-Order High-Grade Talisman Master, with attainments even greater than Mu Xiuyun's.

Though he had an opportunity to forge a good relationship with the Zhou Family's talented granddaughter, Lan Chang'an did not wish to be the bird that stuck its head out.

Once he advanced to the Qi Refining Late-Stage and grew another dozen years older, becoming a First-Order High-Grade Talisman Master would be much more secure.

"Sigh, that was my thought as well."

The Zhou Family old servant sighed. He was quite easygoing and hurried away.

"Lan Chang'an, are you truly unable to craft Frostfall? Even if the cost is greater."

Mu Xiuyun had returned to the shop today, a trace of expectation in her starry eyes.

Every Talisman Master was limited by their energy, and the types of talismans they could craft were limited.

It was not that they could not craft other talismans, but that they lacked proficiency and had a very low success rate—much less with Frostfall.

Mu Xiuyun and Lan Chang'an were both Mu Family Talisman Masters. Years ago, Mu Xiuyun had had Lan Chang'an practice some talismans that did not overlap with her own specialties.

Frostwind Talismans were one of Lan Chang'an's choices.

Frostfall was an advanced form of Frostwind Talismans. With the prerequisite and familiarity already in place, practicing Frostfall would be relatively easier.

"I tried it before. It's very difficult."

Lan Chang'an remained impassive.

In truth, his Storage Bag contained several Frostfall Talismans, two of them high-quality.

"Then forget it." Mu Xiuyun was somewhat regretful.

If they could become acquainted with the Zhou Family's talented granddaughter of such precious status, it would be a good thing for the Mu Family.

Lan Chang'an thought the matter would come to an end.

Yet that very afternoon, the Zhou Family old servant returned, this time bringing a delicate and charming girl in a yellow dress with lively eyes.

"Zhou Qingxuan! The Zhou Family's talented granddaughter!"

Shopkeeper Xu of the neighboring Rainbow Dress Pavilion could not help widening his eyes. Then a trace of schadenfreude rose at the corners of his lips.

"Miss Zhou has graced our humble shop with her presence. What instructions do you have?"

Mu Xiuyun emerged with graceful steps, elegant and poised.

"Have the Talisman Master who crafts Frostwind Talismans come out."

The girl in yellow spoke neither warmly nor coldly.

"Miss Zhou, how may I be of service?"

Lan Chang'an, dressed in white robes, came out and asked politely.

Seeing the handsome young man before her, tranquil and detached, Zhou Qingxuan froze for a moment.

She could not help asking, "How old are you?"

This isn't a matchmaking meeting. Why was she asking my age?

Lan Chang'an grumbled inwardly and answered, "Lu will soon be thirty-four."

Zhou Qingxuan burst into laughter, her smiling face bright and radiant. "You're already in your thirties? I thought you were a talisman-crafting genius seen only once in a century."

Lan Chang'an looked about the same age as her on the surface.

Lan Chang'an smiled awkwardly, his heart calm and unruffled.

"Lu, I want to capture the First-Order Late-Stage Firefowl that has recently appeared on Bamboo Leaf Mountain. I thought a few more Frostwind Talismans would be enough, but they still weren't. With Frostfall to assist me, I would be almost certain to succeed."

Zhou Qingxuan was only seventeen, brimming with a young girl's vitality and pride. Yet her cultivation was close to that of the thirty-something Lan Chang'an; she was already a cultivator at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer.

"Miss Zhou, you should know how difficult Frostfall is to craft. I have not truly become a First-Order High-Grade Talisman Master yet. How could I possibly be confident in crafting it?"

Lan Chang'an wore a helpless expression.