Jiang Liyue

Zhou Er had only refined the Ruyi Ring before, and his Spiritual Sense had grown stronger. Refining another Turtle Shell Shield would be no problem.

Back in his room, Zhou Er activated the restriction, took out the Turtle Shell Shield, and began refining it.

Several hours later, Zhou Er successfully fixed the Defensive Guard entry in place, giving himself another trump card to save his life.

Though he would never actively pick fights with others, cultivation resources were limited, so competition was inevitable. The further one advanced, the fiercer that competition became, and conflict was always bound to arise.

One more trump card meant one more measure of confidence.

One had to prepare for danger in times of peace. Only then could one face danger with ease when it came.

Over the next month or so, Zhou Er gradually adjusted to life in Bashui Immortal City.

His neighbor, Xu Jiayun, was always coming over, hinting that something could happen between them.

Though Xu Jiayun was good at keeping up appearances, Zhou Er had already seen what she was like inside.

She was no different from a courtesan looking for a rich patron to support her, except that she had cultivated immortality and charged a higher price.

Zhou Er naturally didn't dare get too close to someone like her, lest she latch onto him. When they happened to meet, he treated her politely but never spent much time alone with her.

As for Zhou Er's other neighbor in the same courtyard, she was also a female cultivator named Wang Chunyi. She was solitary by nature and rarely interacted with others. Zhou Er had only met her a few times, so they were barely more than acquaintances.

After Wang Chunyi learned he was a Talisman Master, she began coming to him to buy talismans at a discount.

One day, Zhou Er returned to the courtyard after selling talismans at Wanbao Pavilion and saw Xu Jiayun packing her things, apparently preparing to leave the compound.

Zhou Er wasn't sorry to see a neighbor go. If anything, he was glad for the peace and quiet.

Not wanting to invite trouble, Zhou Er decided to say nothing and head back to his room. Xu Jiayun, however, came over and spoke to him first:

"Fellow Daoist Cang, I'm moving away. Once I'm gone, it'll just be you and Chunyi left in this compound. Don't miss me too much."

Zhou Er could only respond politely:

"Fellow Daoist Xu, where are you planning to move?"

At Zhou Er's question, a hint of smugness crept into Xu Jiayun's expression. She smiled and said:

"I have a patron who's a direct disciple of an Elder of the Red Fire Sect. He said he admires me very much and wants to take me back to the Red Fire Sect. I hadn't planned on going, but he insisted, and I couldn't refuse, so I'm going with him."

As she spoke, Xu Jiayun casually displayed the ring on her right index finger. It was a Storage Ring.

Seeing how deliberate she was being, Zhou Er knew she wanted to show off. So he asked:

"Fellow Daoist Xu, did you just buy that Storage Ring?"

"No, no. How could I afford one? My Dao Companion gave it to me as a token of our love."

As she spoke, Xu Jiayun smiled, blushing, as if she were reminiscing about their sweet past.

"That Storage Ring must have cost quite a bit."

Zhou Er played along.

Since Xu Jiayun wanted someone to flatter her, Zhou Er didn't mind saying a few nice things.

"This is a Space Ring with three cubic meters of storage space. I heard it would cost at least five hundred Spirit Stones. He insisted on giving it to me, so I had no choice but to accept."

Xu Jiayun stroked the Space Ring, as if she could already see the bright future ahead of her.

Hearing the price of five hundred Spirit Stones, Zhou Er silently clicked his tongue. Even now, it would take him nearly a year to save that much.

While the two were talking, a handsome male cultivator arrived at the courtyard gate.

The man had a pair of foxlike eyes that gave him a certain charm.

"Liu Lang, you're here."

The moment Xu Jiayun saw him, her face lit up with a radiant smile.

"This is my Dao Companion, Liu Yingxing."

"And this is Fellow Daoist Cang Er, a Talisman Master who supplies talismans to Wanbao Pavilion."

Xu Jiayun introduced them to each other.

"So you're Fellow Daoist Cang. Jiayun often mentions you. You're young and accomplished."

Liu Yingxing said with a smile.

"Not at all, not at all. I'm just a First-tier Talisman Master. You're the one with a bright future ahead of you, a direct disciple of the Red Fire Sect."

Zhou Er cupped his hands.

"I only have my family's elders to thank. It's nothing compared to Fellow Daoist Cang, who's made his own way."

Liu Yingxing replied modestly.

After chatting for a while, Liu Yingxing said:

"We can't stay and talk any longer, Fellow Daoist Cang. We're leaving now. If you ever get the chance, come visit me at the Red Fire Sect. I'll treat you to the sect's famous spirit fruit, the Fire Dragon Fruit."

"Certainly, certainly."

Zhou Er replied perfunctorily, then went into his room.

Liu Yingxing then led Xu Jiayun away.

Though Xu Jiayun had a lot of luggage, once it was sorted, it all fit in the Storage Ring. She also had a Storage Bag, which was just big enough for what remained.

After they left Bashui Immortal City, Liu Yingxing summoned a flying boat and gently helped Xu Jiayun aboard.

"Jiayun, be careful."

Seeing how tenderly Liu Yingxing treated her, Xu Jiayun nodded, moved.

As the flying boat sped along, Xu Jiayun felt that something was wrong, though she couldn't say exactly what.

Looking at Liu Yingxing's handsome face, she remembered the vows they had made and reassured herself:

Liu Lang even gave me a Storage Ring. How could he possibly harm me? I must be overthinking it.

The flying boat had been in the air for several hours when Liu Yingxing said:

"Jiayun, I'm getting a little tired. Let's stop here and rest for a while."

"Mm!"

Xu Jiayun nodded, feeling tired as well.

They landed on a barren mountain. Liu Yingxing took out a meditation cushion and said:

"Jiayun, you rest first. I'll keep watch for you."

Xu Jiayun nodded and sat cross-legged on the cushion, leaning against Liu Yingxing. Before long, she fell asleep.

In a daze, she seemed to hear a woman approaching.

"Big Sis! This woman was such a hassle. It cost me quite a few Spirit Stones to get her."

After making sure Xu Jiayun had been knocked unconscious, Liu Yingxing took the Storage Ring off her hand and grumbled.

Xu Jiayun had demanded far too much, making him waste a lot of Spirit Stones.

"It's fine. We can get at least eight hundred Spirit Stones for her."

An alluring female cultivator lifted Xu Jiayun's chin, inspected her fairly pretty face, then pried open her mouth to look at her teeth. Satisfied, she spoke.

Hearing this, Liu Yingxing burst out laughing, pleased that he'd made another fortune.

"I just haven't had my fill of her yet."

Liu Yingxing said reluctantly.

He wasn't a direct disciple of the Red Fire Sect at all. It had all been an act to lure Xu Jiayun out.

Xu Jiayun might not have had many valuables on her, but she herself was the most valuable thing she owned.

Quite a few old bachelors in Late-stage Qi Refining bought female cultivators like her, hoping to have children with spirit roots.

Children born to two parents with spirit roots were more likely to have spirit roots themselves.

Many old Rogue Cultivators spent their entire fortunes hoping to have a child who could inherit their legacy.

Where there was demand, there was a market.

He and his older sister, Liu Yingyue, made their living in this business.

Of course, they also dealt in other shameful trades.

"Don't go too far. If you ruin her, she won't fetch a good price."

Liu Yingyue chided him.

"I was just saying."

Liu Yingxing gave an awkward laugh.

Then he remembered something and said:

"Big Sis, I heard this woman's neighbor is a First-tier Talisman Master who supplies talismans to Wanbao Pavilion. He has no backing."

At that, Liu Yingyue began to consider the matter.

A Talisman Master with no backing, if brought under their control, would be a veritable money tree.

"He'll make a perfect next target."

Liu Yingyue approved of Liu Yingxing's idea.

Xu Jiayun's departure had little effect on Zhou Er. He continued going about his daily business and cultivating according to plan.

Of course, now that he had reached Late-stage Qi Refining, he had to start thinking about Foundation Establishment.

But he wasn't a local and had no ties to anyone in Bashui Immortal City, nor did he have any Connections or friends.

Never mind obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill—even finding information about one was difficult.

"Looks like I'll have to find a way into the circles of Late-stage Qi Refining cultivators."

Zhou Er thought.

Those cultivators in Late-stage Qi Refining were surely just as eager as he was to find Foundation Establishment Pills and Foundation Establishment Spirit Items.

If he could blend into their little circle, his chances of finding a Foundation Establishment Pill would be higher.

Wang Chunyi was also in Late-stage Qi Refining and had lived in Bashui Immortal City longer than he had. So Zhou Er went to her, hoping to get some information from his neighbor.

Unfortunately, she knew very little about the matter and couldn't help him.

Zhou Er's most pressing task now was to get into Bashui Immortal City's upper circles as soon as possible.

The upper circles had connections and wouldn't be so cut off from information.

But they weren't easy to enter. Zhou Er could only start with the Talisman Masters' circle and make friends among them.

Just as Zhou Er was preparing to visit Gu Jiu, a Talisman Master in Bashui Immortal City, with a gift in hand, a pretty female cultivator appeared at his door.

Thinking she was a friend of Wang Chunyi's, Zhou Er didn't pay her much attention and was about to leave when the pretty female cultivator called out to him:

"Are you Cang Er, Talisman Master Cang?"

"Hmm?"

Zhou Er was a little puzzled. How did this female cultivator know him?

"And you are?"

Zhou Er asked.

"Talisman Master Cang, I'm a talisman enthusiast. My name is Jiang Liyue, and I want to become your disciple and learn the craft."

Jiang Liyue took out several talismans.

Zhou Er took one more look and recognized them as his own work.

He had made them himself, after all, so he remembered them.

But his talismans were available for purchase at Wanbao Pavilion, so there was no need to make a fuss.

Besides, to ensure the quality of the talismans, Wanbao Pavilion also identified their makers when selling them.

It was like a painter signing a finished painting—nothing unusual.

"Talisman Master Cang, I've studied your talismans for a long time. I think there's a unique beauty to your runes."

Jiang Liyue held up a Fireball Talisman and earnestly analyzed its merits.

Listening to Jiang Liyue, Zhou Er felt a little embarrassed.

The way she spoke made talisman-making sound like some lofty art.

Of course, to Zhou Er, making talismans was just a way to earn a living. He put in the time and effort to make Spirit Stones and wasn't particularly interested in it.

Still, people liked hearing praise. Jiang Liyue's words put Zhou Er in a good mood, and he thought of what to say when he visited Gu Jiu.

"Fellow Daoist Jiang, you're too kind."

Zhou Er waved his hand.

"Not at all. I really do think your talismans are different from others'. They have a remarkable vitality."

Jiang Liyue said.

Most older men would have been won over by such praise.

It was rare to find someone who understood them so well.

Zhou Er did feel some fondness for the unfamiliar female cultivator before him, but he had things to do, so he said:

"Sorry, Fellow Daoist Jiang. I have to visit an elder today, so I can't chat for long. We can talk about talisman-making another time."

Then Zhou Er hurried off.

Before long, Zhou Er arrived at Gu Jiu's small courtyard.

Gu Jiu had been established here for many years and had plenty of Spirit Stones. He could afford a residence in a more central part of Bashui Immortal City, and he even had a young maid in Early-stage Qi Refining to attend to him.

After the maid reported Zhou Er's visit, Gu Jiu immediately let him in.

Gu Jiu was a young male cultivator in his thirties, nearing forty. He sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion.

"Senior Gu, I recently arrived in Bashui Immortal City, so I came to pay you a visit today."

Zhou Er presented his gift.

It was a decent Talisman Brush that he had bought for sixty Spirit Stones.

Gu Jiu glanced at the brush and smiled.

"Fellow Daoist Cang, that's very thoughtful of you. Please, sit."

Gu Jiu pointed to the empty meditation cushion in front of him.

"I'm glad you like it, Senior."

Zhou Er said with a smile, then sat cross-legged opposite Gu Jiu.

One couldn't catch a wolf without letting the child go. If he wanted to enter the upper circles, he would have to pay a price.

"Senior Gu, before I came to Bashui Immortal City, I carefully studied your talismans. Compared with those of other Talisman Masters, yours have a remarkable vitality. In my eyes, others just want to make talismans for Spirit Stones, but Senior Gu makes them for art, for the Great Dao. Only by pouring countless drops of blood into a talisman can you draw one so lifelike and so powerful."

Zhou Er took the words Jiang Liyue had used to praise him, embellished them, and used them to flatter Gu Jiu.

Hearing this, Gu Jiu laughed repeatedly and said:

"There are too many excellent Talisman Masters in Bashui Immortal City. I'm nowhere near the top."

Zhou Er knew perfectly well that Gu Jiu wasn't among the top Talisman Masters. But those top-tier masters would never bother with him. Someone like Gu Jiu, neither outstanding nor insignificant, was the perfect stepping stone to get close to the upper echelons.

Though that was the truth, Zhou Er couldn't say it aloud. He hurriedly said, "Senior Gu, you're mistaken. In my eyes, you're the person in Bashui Immortal City with the best chance of becoming a Second-tier Talisman Master."

"To become a Second-tier Talisman Master, you need at least Foundation Establishment Cultivation. I'm still a long way off," Gu Jiu said modestly.

"Senior Gu, you're far too humble," Zhou Er said with a smile.

Zhou Er didn't reveal the real purpose of his visit. He'd merely come to chat with Gu Jiu about talismans and make a friend.

If he revealed so soon that he was hoping to find out about Foundation Establishment Pills, he might put Gu Jiu off and find it harder to fit into their circle.

Zhou Er made talismans himself, so there was plenty he could discuss with Gu Jiu. By looking closely, he could also find things to praise in Gu Jiu's talismans. The two chatted happily.

After talking for several hours, they finally parted with mutual respect, each having learned something from the other's experience in making talismans.

By the time Zhou Er left Gu Jiu's home, dusk had fallen.

When Zhou Er hurried home, he found that Jiang Liyue—the woman who had stopped him at the door that morning to shower him with praise—was still waiting for him.