The next morning, after breakfast, Han Changming left the Spirit Talisman Pavilion. He bought a jug of Green Plum Spirit Wine and some food, then headed to a three-story, blue-roofed pavilion.
The Hundred Refinements Pavilion was a weapons shop run by the Han Clan.
The shop was clean and bright. More than a dozen cultivators were browsing weapons, and the shelves were lined with all sorts of blades, spears, staffs, and clubs.
As it happened, this weapons shop had been around for more than five hundred years.
"Eighth Uncle, Tenth Uncle."
Han Changming greeted his clansmen, a broad smile on his face.
"Changming! You've been in the market for so long, and only now do you remember to come see us?"
Han Changming gave an awkward smile and explained, "Your nephew wasn't familiar with the market, and I've also been busy making talismans. I had some free time today, so I came to pay you uncles a visit. By the way, is Fifth Uncle here?"
"Fifth Brother's on the third floor. Go find him."
On the third floor, a burly, dark-faced man lay in a grand chair. A Red Gourd hung from his waist, and the smell of wine clung to him. A small table beside him held two simple dishes.
The dark-faced man had his eyes closed and was snoring, seemingly asleep.
Han Changming smiled faintly and took out a jar of wine. He pried off the lid, and an enticing aroma wafted out.
The dark-faced man suddenly opened his eyes and turned to look at Han Changming. Teasingly, he said, "Changming, it's you! I was just talking about you with Eighth Brother and Tenth Brother yesterday. We thought you'd forgotten about us. You've been in the market for so long and still hadn't come to visit."
"How could I? Fifth Uncle, we're family. I wasn't familiar with the market before, and I've also been busy making talismans. As soon as I had time today, I bought a jug of good wine and came to see you. I know you like braised beef, so I bought two pounds."
Han Changming smiled and took out the food, setting it on the wooden table.
The dark-faced man was named Han Debiao. He was at the eighth level of Qi Refining, a body cultivator, and the foremost of the Three Heroes of the Han Clan.
Han Debiao was one of the Han Clan's key trainees. Once he reached the ninth level of Qi Refining, he could attempt Foundation Establishment.
"This is Green Plum Spirit Wine from the Hundred Spirits Market. Not bad—you remembered how much I like it."
Han Changming smiled, poured Han Debiao a cup of spirit wine, and said, "Your nephew could forget anyone but you, Fifth Uncle! You were the one who brought me back to Red Shrimp Island all those years ago."
Back then, Han Debiao had gone to an island inhabited by mortals to test children over the age of five for spiritual roots. Han Changming had been lucky: he was found to have spiritual roots, and Han Debiao brought him back to Red Shrimp Island to cultivate. That was how he became a cultivator.
"You were only five back then, and now you've already reached the fifth level of Qi Refining. Time really flies! Sit down and have a few cups with your Fifth Uncle."
Han Changming sat down beside Han Debiao and drank and chatted with him.
After a few rounds, Han Debiao brought up business. "Your Seventh Aunt told me about what happened on Red Shrimp Island. You did well, but don't do something like that again. Reckless courage gets you nowhere. You have to know how to read the situation, understand?"
"Your nephew understands. I'll be more careful from now on," Han Changming replied obediently.
Every elder who heard about what had happened on Red Shrimp Island praised Han Changming for protecting the clan's property, while also criticizing him for failing to read the situation.
"A Rogue Cultivator sold us some information. He found a Green Pear Tree on a deserted island, but two first-grade upper-tier Demon Apes are guarding it. He couldn't deal with them, so he sold the information to us. I'm planning to take a team to wipe them out. If you have nothing else to do, come along. It'll give you some experience and help you improve your combat skills."
The Han Clan had always believed in having the older generation guide the younger. Whether in combat, business, exploration, or anything else, the older clansmen would bring the younger ones along to broaden their horizons.
"Two Demon Apes? When are we leaving?" Han Changming asked, suddenly interested.
Han Changming also wanted to use this opportunity to gain combat experience. The last time, he had only managed to kill that Demon Python through sheer luck. If it had been a higher-tier Demon Python, he might not have been its match.
"The day after tomorrow, at the hour of the Dragon. Let's deal with them quickly and get back early, before anything unexpected happens. Go prepare."
"Yes, Fifth Uncle."
Han Debiao asked Han Changming about his cultivation, and Han Changming answered honestly.
Han Debiao urged Han Changming to cultivate diligently and not slack off. Han Changming readily agreed.
When he returned to his lodgings, Han Changming bought five first-grade upper-tier talismans from the Spirit Talisman Pavilion. Han Clan members could enjoy a discount when buying goods from their own shops.
Back in his room, Han Changming took out his talisman-making tools and began crafting talismans.
He had more than a hundred first-grade lower-tier talismans in his Storage Bag, along with more than a dozen first-grade middle-tier talismans. With the five first-grade upper-tier talismans, they should be enough.
The next morning, over breakfast, Han Changming told them about the matter. Han Dehai took out a pale-red bead and handed it to Han Changming, instructing him, "This is a first-grade middle-tier self-destructing magic artifact, a Fire Cloud Bead. It's even more powerful than a first-grade upper-tier talisman. You have little experience hunting demon beasts, so keep this Fire Cloud Bead for self-defense."
"Ninth Brother, take this Flying Talisman for self-defense. You don't have much combat experience, so listen and learn. Don't act on your own; follow Fifth Uncle's instructions." Han Changjiong advised earnestly, handing Han Changming a Flying Talisman.
Han Changming thanked them and accepted the Fire Cloud Bead and Flying Talisman. He silently kept his clansmen's kindness in mind.
That was what family meant. A Rogue Cultivator who went it alone had to prepare everything needed for hunting demon beasts by himself.
Han Dehai explained the techniques and precautions for dealing with demon beasts to Han Changming. All the clansmen who came to work in the market had hunted demon beasts before.
The cultivation world was one where the strong preyed on the weak, and every Han Clan member had hunted demon beasts.
After breakfast, Han Changming returned to his room to make talismans.
The day passed in the blink of an eye.
The next morning, after breakfast, Han Changming went to the Hundred Refinements Pavilion.
Seven people were going out to hunt demon beasts this time. Besides Han Debiao and Han Changming, there were three clansmen at the fifth level of Qi Refining and two at the seventh level.
Once they left the market, Han Debiao released a Yellow Gourd. It rapidly grew larger, and he jumped on first. Han Changming and the others followed.
"Let's go."
Han Debiao cast a spell onto the Yellow Gourd. A pale-yellow light screen appeared out of thin air, shielding the seven of them. The Yellow Gourd shone brightly and flew southeast.
Half a month later, the Yellow Gourd stopped above a long, narrow island. Dense forest covered its center, but spiritual energy was scarce. If not for a Rogue Cultivator selling the information, no one would have believed demon beasts lived here.
Han Debiao controlled the Yellow Gourd as it slowly descended outside a valley overgrown with weeds.
"Be careful. There might be other demon beasts on the island. Don't let your guard down." Han Debiao warned them, cast a protective barrier over himself, and strode toward the valley.
The other six, including Han Changming, each cast a protective barrier over themselves and headed for the valley.
Weeds grew along both sides of the valley. Han Changming could sense spiritual energy here. It wasn't abundant, and the place seemed to have only a first-grade middle-tier spiritual vein.
The Red Algae Sea was dotted with more than ten thousand islands. Some were so remote that, though they had spiritual veins, no one lived on them.
Some readers were right: a Spirit Gathering Stone could at most count as a lucky encounter, not a cheat. I'd better give him a cheat after all! What about a gourd? No time acceleration or anything like that—it won't be too overpowered.
Before you continue