Mu Yunxiao

Han Changming played with them for a while before putting them back into the Spirit Beast Bag.

He walked over to the corner of the room. Aside from the Spirit Gathering Stone, the spiritual energy in the other spirit stones had been completely drained, leaving them useless.

Han Changming suddenly remembered something and took out a palm-sized Blue Gourd.

The Han Clan cultivated quite a few Gourd Vines, and every Han Clan disciple had a gourd artifact. Han Changming was more than familiar with gourd artifacts.

This was the first time he had ever seen such a small gourd artifact.

Judging by the spiritual energy fluctuations it gave off, it was a first-tier low-grade artifact that could hold about five hundred catties of liquid.

A few blue clouds adorned the surface of the Blue Gourd, making it look delicate and charming.

Han Changming pulled out the stopper, wanting to see what was inside. A stream of pure spiritual energy drifted out of the gourd.

Han Changming took a light breath and immediately felt refreshed.

"Is there some kind of spirit liquid in here?" Han Changming asked excitedly, talking to himself.

Spirit liquid was made from spirit herbs and could aid cultivation.

He took out a porcelain bowl and poured the liquid from the gourd into it.

The Blue Gourd contained some clear liquid that gave off pure spiritual energy.

After hesitating for a moment, Han Changming took a small sip. A strange expression appeared on his face.

"It seems to be Spirit Well Water. No, that can't be right! It contains so much spiritual energy—it must have come from a Second-tier Spirit Well."

Spirit wells were usually found above spirit veins. Spirit Well Water was generally used to irrigate spirit herbs and promote their growth. It could also be used in talisman-making and alchemy. Cinnabar used for making talismans, for instance, was prepared with Spirit Well Water. In addition, drinking it regularly could benefit one's cultivation to some extent.

Spirit Well Water was quite precious and was generally used to irrigate spirit herbs or in talisman-making and alchemy. Few people drank it, since a little bit would have no effect.

There wasn't much Spirit Well Water in the Blue Gourd, only about a bowlful. Using it for cultivation would be a bit wasteful.

Han Changming poured the Spirit Well Water back into the Blue Gourd, saving it for making Cinnabar.

He put the Blue Gourd and the Spirit Gathering Stone back into the Spirit Beast Bag, then sat cross-legged on the wooden bed to meditate and cultivate.

Before long, a vast cloud of yellow mist appeared inside the room. As though guided by some unseen force, it streamed toward Han Changming, seeped through the pores on his skin, and vanished into his body.

The next morning, as they ate breakfast, Han Dehai asked, "Changming, where did you go this time? What did you learn?"

Han Changming answered honestly, though he didn't mention the Blue Gourd. It was only a first-tier low-grade artifact and a little Spirit Well Water—nothing worth mentioning.

"Fifth Uncle is amazing. He took down a first-tier upper-grade Demon Ape all by himself. Thirteenth Uncle, Seventh Brother, you should've seen it! I used the Mountain-Shaking Seal to smash another Demon Ape, but it caught the seal with both hands. It was frighteningly strong. If Eighth Uncle and the others hadn't joined in, I couldn't have killed it on my own." Han Changming spoke with admiration.

Han Changjiong nodded and stuffed a steamed bun into his mouth. "Of course. Fifth Uncle is the foremost of the Three Heroes of the Han Clan. By the way, Ninth Brother, there's a Talisman Maker Exchange Meeting today. Do you want to go? You can talk shop with the other talisman makers."

Han Changming was tempted. He turned to Han Dehai and asked, "Thirteenth Uncle, are you going too?"

"I have something to take care of. You two go ahead. Listen, observe, and learn as much as you can. It won't do to shut yourselves away and cling to your own ways," Han Dehai advised earnestly.

"I understand, Thirteenth Uncle," Han Changming replied obediently.

After breakfast, Han Changjiong and Han Changming left the Spirit Talisman Pavilion.

Han Changjiong hadn't eaten his fill, so he bought three more baskets of steamed buns on the way. He carried the paper bag in his left hand and shoved piping-hot buns into his mouth with his right. As he walked, the fat on his body jiggled like a mountain of flesh.

Next to Han Changjiong, Han Changming looked like a bamboo pole.

As they walked, Han Changjiong suddenly stopped. His eyes lit up, and he wore a lecherous grin.

Following Han Changjiong's gaze, Han Changming saw a young woman with a voluptuous figure. She was buxom and fair-skinned, enough to make anyone's mouth go dry.

He looked away and saw Han Changjiong's lecherous grin. He couldn't help but laugh helplessly.

"Seventh Brother, I think you should find yourself a wife!"

Han Changjiong grinned. "I'm still young. It's too early to get married. Maybe in a few years."

"Your little firecracker is right there," Han Changming said, pointing ahead.

The Ye sisters, Ye Yufeng and Ye Yuyan, emerged from a shop and came straight toward them.

Han Changjiong's eyes lit up. He hurried over to Ye Yufeng.

Han Changming shook his head with a rueful smile and followed.

"What a coincidence, Fairy Ye! Are you two going to the Talisman Maker Exchange Meeting this time?" Han Changjiong asked with a smile, his gaze occasionally sweeping over Ye Yufeng's voluptuous figure.

"Of course. What, is your clansman going too? Is he a talisman maker?" Ye Yufeng asked curiously, looking at Han Changming.

Han Changming nodded and cupped his hands. "I am indeed a talisman maker. I hope you'll give me some guidance, Fairy Ye."

Han Changjiong had told him that Ye Yufeng and Ye Yuyan were both first-tier talisman makers, and that Ye Yufeng was a first-tier upper-grade talisman maker.

"Hmph, Fatty Han, I hope you do better this time." Uncomfortable with Han Changjiong's lecherous gaze, Ye Yufeng tossed out the remark and quickened her pace.

Han Changjiong hurried after her, while Han Changming could only shake his head.

A quarter of an hour later, they arrived at a three-story blue pavilion.

The Green Bamboo Pavilion was a teahouse.

More than a dozen Qi Refining cultivators sat in small groups, sipping tea and chatting.

They didn't stop in the main hall, heading straight for the third floor.

There weren't many cultivators on the third floor: two men and a woman. The highest in cultivation was a man in his early thirties, who had reached the eighth level of Qi Refining. A peach blossom was embroidered on his clothes.

"Fairy Ye, Fellow Daoist Han, you're here." The middle-aged man smiled warmly and looked at Han Changming.

"This is my clansman, Han Changming. Ninth Brother, this is Fellow Daoist Mu Yunxiao. He organized this Talisman Maker Exchange Meeting. Fellow Daoist Mu is quite skilled at making talismans, so make sure to ask him for advice later. If he gives you a few pointers, you'll benefit for a long time."

Han Changjiong's flattery made Mu Yunxiao feel quite pleased. Mu Yunxiao smiled faintly and modestly replied, "You're too kind, Fellow Daoist Han. I wouldn't presume to give pointers; we're just here to exchange ideas. Please sit down, have some tea and refreshments. The other fellow Daoists haven't arrived yet."

Han Changming and Han Changjiong found an empty table and sat down.

There were seven plates of pastries and a pot of spirit tea on the table. Han Changjiong didn't stand on ceremony; he picked up a piece of spirit cake and popped it into his mouth.

Han Changming found it odd. The other tables each had only two plates of pastries and a pot of spirit tea. Why did theirs have five extra plates?

"Seventh Brother, are we sure this is our table? Save some for the others! Don't eat all the pastries," Han Changming sent in a voice transmission.

"This table is reserved just for me. Why do you think I buttered him up? When you eat someone's food, your mouth gets short; when you take someone's things, your hands get soft. Don't worry, eat up. Mu Yunxiao is one of the Two Heroes of the Mu Clan and a key member of the clan's younger generation. He doesn't care about a few spirit stones. Go ahead and eat! It's not like we're taking his food for nothing. Last time, Thirteenth Uncle hosted an exchange meeting and ordered a whole table of dishes for the other talisman makers," Han Changjiong explained in a voice transmission, picking up another pastry and popping it into his mouth.