Junior Brother, You're at the Fourth Layer of Qi Condensation?

"Senior Brother Wang, let's go inside and talk." Li Xiuchang stepped aside and invited him in.

But just then, Zhang Wanzhi's hearty, enthusiastic voice rang out: "Junior Brother Li, it's been a long time since I last saw you."

Li Xiuchang's heart jolted. He had invited Wang Long inside precisely because he was afraid of running into someone else, yet the very thing he feared had come to pass.

"Senior Brother Zhang, Senior Brother Mo." Li Xiuchang could only force a smile as he greeted Zhang Wanzhi and Mo Tu, who were walking toward him.

Although Zhang Wanzhi and Mo Tu had always treated him well, Li Xiuchang still trusted the two of them less than he trusted Wang Long.

This might have been because their Cultivation Levels were a major realm higher than his, because they lacked ties of mutual interest, or perhaps simply because of an instinct that came from deep within his heart.

Unexpectedly, however, the two of them did not mention Li Xiuchang's Cultivation Level. Instead, they first greeted Wang Long.

Zhang Wanzhi turned his gaze toward Li Xiuchang and said mysteriously, "Junior Brother Li, look at this."

With that, he brought out a flying boat.

The flying boat was taller than ordinary flying boats, but only about half as tall as Li Xiuchang's. Inside were two rows of seats, enough for roughly four people—or six if they squeezed in.

When people sat inside, their shoulders would just barely show above the sides.

"This is... a new type of flying boat you improved, Senior Brother?" Li Xiuchang asked in surprise.

"It would be more accurate to say it's a new type of flying boat that you and I improved together. This flying boat fully incorporates your ideas. The seats are comfortable and soft, with freely adjustable angles, and it even has heating and massage functions. A piece of Warm Jade and a piece of Cold Jade are embedded inside. Activate the Cold Jade in summer and the Warm Jade in winter, and it'll stay warm in winter and cool in summer..."

As he spoke, Zhang Wanzhi proudly pulled a handle inside the flying boat. A mechanism immediately clicked into motion, and two metal panels extended diagonally upward from the front and rear of the boat, fitting together perfectly and completely sealing off the roof.

Li Xiuchang took one look and saw that Zhang Wanzhi had even made a hardtop convertible. Senior Brother Zhang really was skillful with his hands.

This improved flying boat looked far more nimble and attractive than his own. In the words of his previous life, it had more flowing lines—it looked younger and sportier.

Wang Long watched from the side, practically drooling with envy. This flying boat was both attractive and comfortable, and it could shield its passengers from wind and rain. If he drove it around carrying passengers, wouldn't business be booming?

Wait, I'm already a Tier 2 Talisman Master. Why am I still thinking about driving a flying taxi?

Wang Long secretly pinched himself, then swallowed before asking,

"Senior Brother Zhang, how many spirit stones are you planning to sell this flying boat for?"

"This is the mass-market version for ordinary disciples and Rogue Cultivators, a flying boat at the High-grade Magic Tool level. The price is..." Zhang Wanzhi calculated the cost in his head. "One thousand spirit stones. But since you're buying it, Junior Brother, I'll only charge you the cost price—five hundred spirit stones."

Five hundred spirit stones really wasn't expensive. But Wang Long had nearly exhausted his savings trying to advance to Tier 2 Talisman Master. He could only save up enough spirit stones and come back to buy one later.

"Would you like one, Junior Brother Li?" Zhang Wanzhi looked at Li Xiuchang. "I also have a Deluxe Version, at the Top-grade Magic Tool level. All its functions are powered by formations. I'll give you an internal price of two thousand spirit stones. I'll sell it to you at a loss."

Li Xiuchang shook his head and politely declined. Spirit stones had to be spent where they mattered most, and his ten-spirit-stone flying boat was still sufficient for now.

Zhang Wanzhi did not press him. He only said, "Don't be reluctant to spend those spirit stones. Once I mass-produce these two types of flying boats and sell them at the marketplace, you'll be counting your share of the profits until your hands ache."

"This flying boat was refined by Senior Brother. I contributed neither spirit stones nor labor, so how could I accept a share of the profits?" Li Xiuchang declined.

At the time, he had merely tossed out a few ideas and had not taken the matter seriously. He had never expected Zhang Wanzhi's execution to be so swift.

"You can't put it that way. Without your brilliant ideas, I couldn't have refined a flying boat like this."

Zhang Wanzhi showed great respect for "intellectual property."

After the two of them went back and forth, they finally settled on Li Xiuchang receiving twenty percent of the profits, while also being responsible for providing plans for further improvements to the flying boats.

Li Xiuchang felt a little embarrassed accepting those spirit stones. He decided that afterward, he would simply take whatever Zhang Wanzhi gave him and never ask for more.

Seeing that the two had reached an agreement, Wang Long hurriedly said, "Why would Senior Brother Zhang need to handle the flying boat sales personally? Just leave it to me!"

He had tasted the sweetness of working as a salesman.

Zhang Wanzhi was a straightforward man, so he readily agreed.

Once the matter was settled, neither Zhang Wanzhi nor Mo Tu showed any surprise at Li Xiuchang's Cultivation Level. This put Li Xiuchang even more at ease.

At the same time, he was hoping that the two would finish talking and leave as soon as possible.

But Mo Tu, who had remained silent until then, suddenly spoke up and said he wanted to see Li Xiuchang's Netherfrost Grass.

Li Xiuchang had no reason to stop him. He could only invite the three of them into the courtyard.

When the three saw the spirit plants filling the courtyard, they all fell into a daze.

Of course, Mo Tu and Zhang Wanzhi's dazed expressions were fake. They had long since discovered the astonishing growth rate of the spirit plants in Li Xiuchang's courtyard and had also seen him fertilize them with Charcoal Attribute Mana. They had already been "shocked" once; now, they were merely cooperating by acting shocked again.

Only Wang Long's shock was genuine.

He knew that Li Xiuchang had been learning to farm from Mo Tu, and he also knew exactly what Li Xiuchang's courtyard had looked like more than two months ago.

Yet in just over two months, the Netherfrost Grass covering half the courtyard was flourishing with vigorous life, its growth astonishing. It looked as if a year or two had passed.

The First-grade Spirit Plants planted in the other half of the courtyard were even more exaggerated. Every one of them was nearly mature, with the harvest just around the corner.

Li Xiuchang fertilized them with Charcoal Attribute Mana every few days. How could they not grow quickly?

Charcoal Attribute Mana was no secret, and Li Xiuchang had not tried to hide it. He openly demonstrated how to fertilize plants with Charcoal Attribute Mana.

"Junior Brother, you really were born to farm!" Zhang Wanzhi praised.

Wang Long's envy turned his Dao Heart purple. "Junior Brother, you're practically being spoon-fed by Heaven itself! Whatever you do, you make money!"

Li Xiuchang said modestly, "It's not really that impressive. It works quite well for fertilizing First-grade Spirit Plants, but its effect is greatly reduced on Second-grade Spirit Plants. If it were used to fertilize Spirit Plants above the third grade, it probably wouldn't be useful at all."

"Junior Brother, you haven't been cultivating for long, and your Cultivation Level is still shallow. Once your Cultivation Level rises, ripening high-grade Spirit Plants will be nothing difficult," Wang Long said.

When the conversation turned to Cultivation Levels, Li Xiuchang hurriedly changed the subject. "Right, Senior Brother Zhang, Senior Brother Mo, didn't you say last time that you wanted to study my Charcoal Attribute Mana..."

Zhang Wanzhi and Mo Tu exchanged glances, feeling somewhat awkward. Back then, they had merely made up an excuse on the spur of the moment, and they had forgotten all about it.

Zhang Wanzhi slapped his forehead. "Look at my memory! I've been so busy improving the flying boat lately that I completely forgot about this."

That said, after witnessing the many uses of Charcoal Attribute Mana, he and Mo Tu had indeed developed some interest in it.

The two of them immediately collected a little of Li Xiuchang's Charcoal Attribute Mana and sealed it inside a jade bottle.

Then Zhang Wanzhi subtly flicked a finger. Before Wang Long, it seemed as though an invisible veil had been lifted...

Wang Long was slightly dazed. He blinked, looked at Li Xiuchang again, and suddenly cried out,

"Junior Brother, you're at the Fourth Layer of Qi Condensation?!"