Jiang Liyue

Zhou Er had only refined the Ruyi Ring before, and his Spiritual Sense had been strengthened. Refining another Turtle Shell Shield was not a problem.

Returning to his room, Zhou Er activated the Restriction, took out the Turtle Shell Shield, and began to refine it.

Several hours later, Zhou Er successfully solidified the Defensive Guard Attribute, gaining another life-saving trump card.

Although he would not actively fight with others, cultivation resources were limited, and competition was inevitable. The further one progressed, the greater this competition became, and conflicts were bound to arise.

Having an extra trump card meant having extra confidence.

One must be prepared for danger in times of peace; only then could one handle crises with ease.

Over the next month, Zhou Er slowly adapted to the rhythm of life in Bashui Immortal City.

However, his Neighbor Xu Jiayun would always approach him, hinting that something could happen between them.

Although Xu Jiayun disguised herself well, Zhou Er had already seen through her true nature.

This person was no different from a courtesan looking for a wealthy patron, just one who had cultivated immortality and had a higher price.

Zhou Er naturally dared not interact too much with such a person, lest he get entangled. When they occasionally met, he treated her with courtesy and never spent time alone with her.

As for Zhou Er's other Neighbor in the same courtyard, also a female cultivator named Wang Chunyi, she was aloof and rarely interacted with others. Zhou Er had only met her a few times, barely knowing her.

After Wang Chunyi learned that he was a Talisman Master, she would come to him to buy Talismans at a cheap price.

One day, after Zhou Er returned to the courtyard from Wanbao Pavilion where he had sold Talismans, he saw Xu Jiayun packing her belongings, seemingly preparing to leave the large courtyard.

Zhou Er did not regret losing a Neighbor; instead, it would be peaceful.

Because he did not want any trouble, Zhou Er planned to say nothing and return to his room. However, Xu Jiayun stepped forward and initiated a conversation:

"Fellow Daoist Cang, I'm moving out. From now on, it will only be you and Chunyi left in this courtyard. Don't miss me too much."

Seeing this, Zhou Er could only respond politely:

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

Upon hearing Zhou Er's words, a hint of smugness appeared on Xu Jiayun's face. She smiled and said:

"I have a guest, a direct disciple of an Elder from the Red Fire Sect. He said he greatly admires me and wants to take me back to the Red Fire Sect. I didn't plan to go, but he insisted, and I couldn't refuse him, so I'm going to the Red Fire Sect with him."

As she spoke, Xu Jiayun inadvertently revealed a ring on her right index finger. It was a Storage Ring.

Seeing her deliberate display, Zhou Er knew she wanted to show off and asked:

"Fellow Daoist Xu, is this a newly purchased Storage Ring?"

"No, no, how could I have so many Spirit Stones to buy this Storage Ring? My Dao Companion gave it to me as a token of his love."

Speaking, Xu Jiayun smiled with a blush on her face, seemingly recalling sweet memories.

"This storage ring isn't cheap, is it!"

Zhou Er also said opportunistically.

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

"This is a space ring with a storage space of three cubic meters. I heard it can't be obtained for less than five hundred spirit stones. He insisted on giving it to me, so I had no choice but to accept it."

Xu Jiayun touched the space ring, as if seeing her bright future.

Hearing five hundred spirit stones, Zhou Er secretly clicked his tongue. Even for him now, it would take nearly a year to save five hundred spirit stones.

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

The male cultivator had a pair of foxy eyes, possessing a certain charm.

"Liu Lang, you're here."

Seeing the male cultivator, Xu Jiayun immediately smiled brilliantly.

"This is my Dao Companion, Liu Yingxing."

"This is Fellow Daoist Cang, a talisman master who provides talismans for Wanbao Pavilion."

Xu Jiayun introduced them to each other.

"So it's Fellow Daoist Cang. I often hear Jia Yun mention you. Young and promising."

Liu Yingxing said with a smile.

"I'm ashamed, I'm ashamed. I'm just a First-tier Talisman Master. You, on the other hand, are a direct disciple of the Red Fire Sect, with a bright future."

Zhou Er cupped his hands and said.

"I only rely on my elders at home, so I can't be considered much. Compared to Fellow Daoist Cang who earns his own living, I am far inferior."

Liu Yingxing said humbly.

After a brief chat, Liu Yingxing said:

"We can't talk for long. Fellow Daoist Cang, we have to leave now. If there's a chance another day, be sure to visit me at the Red Fire Sect. I'll treat you to the famous spiritual fruit of the Red Fire Sect, the Fire Dragon Fruit."

"Certainly, certainly."

Zhou Er said politely, then went into his room.

Liu Yingxing then left with Xu Jiayun.

Xu Jiayun's luggage was plentiful, but after organizing, it fit perfectly into her Storage Ring. She also had a Storage Bag in hand, which was just enough to hold the remaining items.

The two left Bashui Immortal City. Liu Yingxing summoned his flying boat and gently pulled Xu Jiayun aboard.

"Jiayun, be careful."

Seeing Liu Yingxing's tenderness, Xu Jiayun nodded, deeply moved.

As the flying boat flew, Xu Jiayun felt something was amiss, but she couldn't pinpoint what it was.

Looking at Liu Yingxing's handsome face, she recalled their vows of eternal love and tried to comfort herself:

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

The flying boat flew for several hours. Liu Yingxing said, "Jiayun, I'm a bit tired. Let's stop here to rest."

"Okay!"

Xu Jiayun also nodded, feeling weary.

They landed on a desolate mountain. Liu Yingxing took out a meditation cushion and said, "Jiayun, you rest first. I'll keep watch for you."

Xu Jiayun nodded, sat cross-legged on the cushion, leaned against Liu Yingxing, and unknowingly fell asleep.

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

"Sister! This woman is really troublesome. I spent a lot of Spirit Stones to subdue her."

After confirming Xu Jiayun was drugged and unconscious, Liu Yingxing removed the Storage Ring from her hand and complained.

Xu Jiayun wanted too much, causing him to waste a lot of Spirit Stones.

"It's fine. This woman can be sold for at least eight hundred Spirit Stones at a high price."

A beautiful female cultivator lifted Xu Jiayun's chin. She examined the rather beautiful face, then opened her mouth to check her teeth, and said with satisfaction.

Hearing this, Liu Yingxing burst into laughter, feeling he had made a huge profit again.

"It's just that I haven't had enough fun yet."

Liu Yingxing said with reluctance.

He was not a direct disciple of the Red Fire Sect; everything was a pretense, just to lure Xu Jiayun out.

Xu Jiayun might not have many valuable possessions, but she herself was the most valuable.

Many old bachelors in the late-stage Qi Refining, in order to have offspring with spiritual roots, would buy such female cultivators.

Only when both parents possess spiritual roots is the probability of their child having spiritual roots higher.

Many old rogue cultivators, after exhausting their family fortune, also wished for a child who could inherit their will.

Where there is demand, there is a market.

He and his sister Liu Yingyue were in this business.

Of course, they also engaged in other unsavory businesses.

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

Liu Yingyue admonished.

"I was just saying."

Liu Yingxing chuckled.

Then, he thought of something and said:

"Sister, I heard this woman's neighbor is a First-tier Talisman Master who supplies talismans to Wanbao Pavilion and has no background."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yingyue became interested.

A talisman master without a background, if controlled by them, would be a sure-fire money tree.

"She'll be our next target."

Liu Yingyue approved of Liu Yingxing's idea.

Xu Jiayun moving away didn't have much impact on Zhou Er. He continued his daily routine, cultivating step by step.

Of course, he was now in the late-stage Qi Refining and had to consider Foundation Establishment.

However, he was not a local and had no connections or friends in Bashui Immortal City.

Let alone obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill, it was difficult to even find news about it.

"It seems I need to find a way to join the circles of other late-stage Qi Refining cultivators."

Zhou Er thought.

Those late-stage Qi Refining cultivators must also be anxious, just like him, to seek Foundation Establishment Pills and Foundation Establishment Spirit Items.

If he could integrate into the small circles of these late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, his chances of finding a Foundation Establishment Pill would be greater.

Wang Chunyi was also in the late-stage Qi Refining and had been in Bashui Immortal City longer than himself. Thus, Zhou Er approached Wang Chunyi, hoping to get information from his neighbor.

Unfortunately, his neighbor knew little about this and couldn't help him much.

Zhou Er's immediate priority was to quickly infiltrate the upper circles of Bashui Immortal City.

These upper circles always had connections and wouldn't be so closed off.

However, it wasn't easy to enter the upper circles, so Zhou Er could only start by entering the Talisman Master circles and making friends with Talisman Masters.

Just as Zhou Er was holding a gift and preparing to visit a Talisman Master in Bashui Immortal City, Talisman Master Gu Jiu, a beautiful female cultivator stood in front of his house.

Zhou Er thought she was Wang Chunyi's friend and didn't pay much attention. As he was about to leave, the beautiful female cultivator called out to him, saying:

"Are you Cang Er, Talisman Master Cang?"

"Huh?"

Zhou Er was a little confused as to how this female cultivator knew him.

"And you are?"

Zhou Er asked.

"Talisman Master Cang, I am a Talisman enthusiast. My name is Jiang Liyue, and I want to become your disciple."

Jiang Liyue took out several Talismans.

Zhou Er took another look and recognized them as Talismans he had made.

After all, they had passed through his hands, so he had some impression of them.

However, his Talismans could be bought at Wanbao Pavilion, so there was no need to be surprised.

Moreover, to ensure the quality of the Talismans, Wanbao Pavilion would also inform customers who made them when they were sold.

This was like a painter putting his seal on a painting after finishing it, nothing strange.

"Talisman Master Cang, I have studied your Talismans for a long time. I feel that your Talisman script has a unique aesthetic beauty."

Jiang Liyue held a Fireball Talisman and carefully analyzed its merits.

Zhou Er felt a little embarrassed listening to Jiang Liyue.

Listening to her, it was as if making Talismans was some noble art.

Of course, for Zhou Er, making Talismans was just a means of livelihood. He invested time and effort solely to earn Spirit Stones, and he didn't have much interest in it.

However, people always liked to hear praise. Hearing Jiang Liyue's words, Zhou Er also felt a sense of pleasure and thought about what he should say when he visited Gu Jiu next.

"You flatter me, Fellow Daoist Jiang."

Zhou Er waved his hand and said.

"Not at all, I truly feel that Talisman Master Cang's talismans are extraordinary, possessing a unique vitality."

Jiang Liyue said.

If it were an ordinary old man, facing such praise, he would have been completely won over nine times out of ten.

After all, it was rare to find someone who understood him so well.

Although Zhou Er felt a bit favorably towards the unfamiliar female cultivator before him, he had matters to attend to, so he said:

"I apologize, Fellow Daoist Jiang, I need to visit a senior today and cannot chat with you further. We can discuss talisman making next time we have the chance."

Afterward, Zhou Er left in a hurry.

Not long after, Zhou Er arrived at Gu Jiu's courtyard.

Gu Jiu, being a veteran, had plenty of spirit stones and could afford to purchase a property in a slightly more central area of Bashui Immortal City. He also had a young maidservant at the Qi Refining Early-stage serving him.

The maidservant reported Zhou Er's visit, and Gu Jiu immediately let him in.

Gu Jiu was a young cultivator in his late thirties, sitting on a meditation cushion.

"Senior Gu, I am new to Bashui Immortal City and have come specifically to visit you today."

Zhou Er presented a gift.

This gift was a decent talisman brush he had purchased for sixty spirit stones.

Gu Jiu glanced at the talisman brush and smiled, saying:

"Fellow Daoist Cang is thoughtful. Please, have a seat."

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

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

Zhou Er said with a smile, then sat down opposite Gu Jiu.

He knew that to gain entry into the upper circles, he had to be willing to spend.

"Senior Gu, before I came to Bashui Immortal City, I meticulously studied your talismans. I discovered that your talismans, compared to those of other talisman masters, possess a remarkable vitality. In my opinion, others merely wish to make talismans to earn spirit stones, but only Senior Gu, for the sake of art and the Great Dao, pours countless drops of blood into his talismans, allowing him to draw such lifelike and powerful creations."

Zhou Er took what Jiang Liyue had said earlier, embellished it, and began to flatter Gu Jiu.

Gu Jiu heard this and repeatedly smiled, saying:

"There are too many good talisman masters in Bashui Immortal City; I don't even rank among them."

Zhou Er knew that Gu Jiu wouldn't be able to get an appointment, but those top Talisman Masters would definitely be too lazy to bother with him.

Only a Talisman Master like Gu Jiu, who was neither here nor there, would be the best stepping stone to get in touch with the upper echelons.

Although this was the truth, Zhou Er couldn't possibly say it out loud. He quickly said:

"Senior Gu, you're mistaken. In my opinion, Senior Gu is the most promising person in Bashui Immortal City to become a Second-tier Talisman Master."

"To become a Second-tier Talisman Master, one needs at least Foundation Establishment Cultivation. I'm still far from it."

Gu Jiu said humbly.

"Senior Gu is too modest."

Zhou Er said with a smile.

Zhou Er did not reveal his purpose for this visit. He just came to chat with Gu Jiu about Talismans and make friends.

If he revealed his intention to seek information about the Foundation Establishment Pill so early, it would only arouse Gu Jiu's disgust and make it difficult to integrate into their circle.

Zhou Er also made Talismans himself, so he had a lot to talk about regarding Talismans. By carefully searching, he could also find the strengths of Gu Jiu's Talismans. The two chatted happily.

After chatting for several hours, they parted ways with mutual admiration, having learned something from each other's Talisman-making Experience.

When Zhou Er left Gu Jiu's house, the sky was getting dark.

When Zhou Er arrived at his home, he found that Jiang Liyue, who had praised him at his door that morning, was still waiting for him there.