Reality

After obtaining the Blood Demon Pill and placing a Gu Worm within Chen Lin's body, Yu Yuehai stopped monitoring Chen Lin.

Chen Lin waited for two days. Seeing that the other party never showed up, he tentatively walked out of the courtyard.

He walked a long distance without seeing anyone intercept him, only then did he confirm that the other party was indeed no longer restricting his actions.

This made him breathe a sigh of relief.

The feeling of losing freedom was truly unbearable.

However, he was also worried. The more this was the case, the more it indicated that the Gu Worm in his body was extraordinary, and Yu Yuehai was very confident in it.

It would likely be impossible to remove the Gu Worm on his own.

While thinking, he quickly arrived at the market in the shantytown.

It had been a long time since he last visited, and Chen Lin noticed that there were more people here now.

People chatted and laughed in small groups, and there were many more stalls set up along the street, with vendors shouting their wares, filling the air with a lively atmosphere.

The trees by the roadside had also sprouted new branches, lush and green, and waves of fresh herbal scents drifted into his nostrils.

It was full of life.

However, this did not lift his spirits. Instead, he felt a sense of oppression.

In just one month, this vibrant scene would be torn to shreds.

The more beautiful the scenery was now, the more tragic it would be then.

After a moment of sighing, Chen Lin regained his rationality.

He was just a small ant in the cultivation world, unable to protect himself, let alone change anything.

Moreover, even if he loudly revealed the information he knew now, these people whose thoughts had already been influenced would not believe him. Instead, they would think he was crazy.

Even if someone believed him, it would be futile without cutting the red threads connecting them.

Therefore, he should just look out for himself.

Shaking his head, he took a breath of fresh air and walked into Zhang's Business.

Zhang Mazi was still lounging on his chair in a grand manner, acting like a patriarch.

However, there were two new clerks in the shop, attending to customers.

As the weather warmed, demon beast rampages decreased, and it was time for cultivators to go out hunting and gathering heavenly materials and earthly treasures. The number of people buying supplies began to increase.

It was hard to imagine that the cultivators here had not discovered anything unusual for years, believing they were living a normal cultivator's life.

This abnormality was truly terrifying.

He glanced at the sky through the open window. The sun was blazing, the sky was clear, and there was no hint of malevolence.

But this was just an illusion. The huge, blurry shadow that appeared that night was something he had witnessed with his own eyes, and he had also seen the red thread fall upon him.

He didn't know how Yu Yuehai saw the red thread; he had never asked, and Yu Yuehai had never said.

Sometimes Chen Lin wondered if he could have escaped safely if he had left before seeing that blurry shadow.

At that time, he had not yet been entangled by the red thread and was completely normal.

Unfortunately, there are no "if"s.

The opportunity had passed, and now he could only place his hope in Yu Yuehai.

Life was so unpredictable; his greatest enemy was, ironically, the hope for his own survival.

"Yo, isn't this Grand Talisman Master Chen? It's been a while. Have your skills improved so much that you look down on my establishment?"

Zhang Mazi's sarcastic voice interrupted Chen Lin's thoughts.

"Haha, I'm just a humble Rogue Cultivator. How could I dare to look down on you, Fellow Daoist Zhang? I've been in seclusion during this time and haven't come out."

Chen Lin chuckled and offered an explanation.

Zhang Mazi smiled and nodded, pleased with Chen Lin's attitude.

But immediately, his demeanor changed, and he sneered sideways, "Hmph, you wouldn't dare. You're just a Rogue Cultivator at the early Qi Refining stage. Even if you can make a few broken talismans, they're still nothing in my eyes, Zhang!"

Chen Lin was speechless.

However, he naturally wouldn't argue with someone who was about to die, only feeling pity for him.

Shaking his head, he stopped engaging with the other party and planned to buy some alchemy materials to go back and test if Yu Yuehai's Gu Worm could alleviate the side effects of the Enlightenment Pill.

He ignored the man, but Zhang Mazi suddenly stood up from his chair and pointed at him, exclaiming in disbelief.

"You, how can the Magical Power fluctuations on your body be so strong? You've broken through to the mid-Qi Refining stage!"

His voice immediately drew the attention of everyone in the shop, and they all looked at Chen Lin with surprised and envious gazes.

But no one was as startled as Zhang Mazi.

The mid-Qi Refining stage was already considered high cultivation among Rogue Cultivators in the shantytown. Even if one couldn't befriend them, one should try not to offend them.

"Heh heh, it's just mid-Qi Refining. I broke through after a period of seclusion. Why are you so surprised, Fellow Daoist Zhang?"

Chen Lin said calmly.

He was also helpless. Since he hadn't learned any spells to conceal his cultivation, he couldn't hide his true power. Anyone whose cultivation was similar to or higher than his could see through it at a glance.

This was completely contrary to his cautious and low-key style.

This time, besides buying materials to refine pills, he also wanted to see if he could buy a spell to conceal his cultivation, or perhaps a magic tool.

Zhang Mazi's expression was quite complex.

He looked Chen Lin up and down as if seeing him for the first time.

Finally, he nodded with surprise and said, "Then congratulations, Fellow Daoist. You've accumulated your strength and are now entering a new chapter."

Zhang Mazi cupped his hands, the previous condescension gone.

Qi Refining Middle Stage and Qi Refining Early Stage, though only a small realm apart, were like heaven and earth.

Someone in the Qi Refining Early Stage was merely a stronger ordinary person who couldn't even cultivate spells. Someone in the Qi Refining Middle Stage could not only cultivate spells but also wield magic tools, making their combat power incomparable.

Only by reaching the Qi Refining Middle Stage could one go out to hunt demon beasts. Those in the Qi Refining Early Stage could only mine ores and gather herbs.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, are you interested in joining my Zhang Family?"

His eyes flashed as he extended the invitation.

The mention of the old matter made Chen Lin's face darken.

"What, has Fellow Daoist Zhang's widowed cousin not found a good match yet?"

Zhang Mazi didn't mind Chen Lin's teasing and said, "Times have changed. Now that you've broken through to the Qi Refining Middle Stage, your status is naturally different. If you're interested, I, on behalf of the Zhang Family, invite you to become a guest elder. The treatment will definitely satisfy you."

Then, he added with a smile, "If Fellow Daoist Chen truly wishes to marry into the Zhang Family, I can also report to the clan and select a woman from the unmarried ones in the Qi Refining Early Stage to be wedded to you."

As soon as this was said, the surrounding cultivators showed envy.

Although it was rumored that the Zhang Family's Foundation Establishment Realm patriarch had gone missing, they were still one of the Five Great Families, and their status in the city had not changed. Relying on the Zhang Family would definitely elevate one to a higher status.

Chen Lin was a little stunned.

This was truly pragmatic.

As his cultivation and talisman-making skills improved, the conditions offered by the other party also became better.

If this were before he was infected with the Gu Worm, he might have actually agreed. Perhaps he could have used the Zhang Family's influence to resolve Yu Yuehai's pressure. But now, it was too late. No matter how good the conditions were, they were useless.

He shook his head helplessly and refused.

"I'm sorry, I'm used to being free-spirited and don't want to be constrained. I have to decline Fellow Daoist Zhang's kind offer."