Han Changshuo

Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

Inside the Spirit Talisman Pavilion, Han Changming stared intently at the talisman paper before him. It was covered in red runes, and more than a dozen empty cinnabar boxes lay scattered on the floor.

A thick stack of red talismans lay piled on the table. They were all Chain Fireball Talismans.

A moment later, Han Changming set down his Talisman Brush, a smile appearing on his face.

After extensive practice, he had now become a First-Rank High-Grade Talisman Maker. With the help of the Taiyi Spirit-Transforming Gourd, his success rate at making First-Rank High-Grade talismans had reached fifty percent. Of course, he could only make a limited variety, all of them First-Rank talismans with one of the five elements.

Naturally, he had kept this from Han Dehai and Han Changjiong. They had no idea Han Changming had become a First-Rank High-Grade Talisman Maker.

In just half a year, he had advanced from a First-Rank Mid-Grade Talisman Maker to a First-Rank High-Grade one, with a success rate of fifty percent. It was simply astounding.

It had taken Han Changjiong more than a year to achieve the same thing.

For the past six months, Han Changming hadn't cultivated at all. Instead, he'd been making talismans like a madman. He now had more than two thousand spirit stones—a sum he once wouldn't even have dared to dream of.

Han Changming put away the talismans and the cinnabar boxes on the floor, then walked out.

Dusk had fallen, and the streets blazed with lights.

A quarter of an hour later, Han Changming entered a five-story green pavilion.

The Green Pill Pavilion was the best pill shop in Kuixing Market.

The spacious, brightly lit main hall was crowded with dozens of cultivators gathered around the counter, buying pills.

"Give me a bottle of Qi Refining Pills."

"I want a bottle of Qi Nourishing Pills."

"I want three bottles."

Han Changming didn't linger in the main hall and headed straight upstairs.

Most of the cultivators coming and going on the second floor were at the Foundation Establishment Realm, though a few were Qi Refining cultivators.

Han Changming walked up to the counter and said to the shop assistant behind it, "I'd like two bottles of Spirit Nourishing Pills."

Spirit Nourishing Pills were Second-Rank Low-Grade pills, costing three hundred spirit stones a bottle. They could increase a cultivator's spiritual sense, but only if taken in large quantities. They worked better on Qi Refining cultivators, while their effects were weaker on cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Making talismans consumed spiritual sense, and Han Changming's spiritual sense was now comparable to that of a ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator.

Without it, he wouldn't have been able to make talismans like a madman.

He took a bottle of Spirit Nourishing Pills every month, steadily increasing his spiritual sense.

A powerful spiritual sense had many benefits. It could be used not only to make talismans, but also to control multiple magic weapons in battle.

By the time he reached the ninth level of Qi Refining, his spiritual sense might even rival that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

After buying the Spirit Nourishing Pills, Han Changming returned to the Spirit Talisman Pavilion without lingering outside.

It was bound to attract attention when a Qi Refining cultivator spent six hundred spirit stones on Spirit Nourishing Pills. So after each purchase, Han Changming returned to the Spirit Talisman Pavilion. Even cultivators with ill intentions who followed him there stopped tailing him.

As soon as Han Changming went upstairs, he saw Han Changjiong talking to a red-robed young man in his twenties.

The young man stood tall and straight, with handsome features and a broad smile on his face.

Han Changshuo was second among the Chang generation, at the eighth level of Qi Refining and one of the Three Heroes of the Han Clan.

"Second Brother, what brings you here?"

Han Changming's face lit up when he saw Han Changshuo.

"Ninth Brother, Seventh Brother told me you've become a First-Rank Mid-Grade Talisman Maker. Not bad!" Han Changshuo said with a smile.

After chatting for a while, Han Changming learned why Han Changshuo had come to Kuixing Market.

The Ocean Listening Pavilion was accepting new disciples, and Han Zhangxiang planned to have Han Changshuo join it. That way, the clan would have a better chance of obtaining Foundation Establishment Pills.

The Han Clan had clashed with the Chen Clan repeatedly because there were no Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Ocean Listening Pavilion. The Han Clan had suffered more than its share of losses as a result.

Han Changming hadn't expected Han Zhangxiang to be willing to let Han Changshuo join the Ocean Listening Pavilion. After all, Han Changshuo was one of the Han Clan's few First-Rank alchemists.

Given Han Changshuo's aptitude, joining the Ocean Listening Pavilion would improve his chances of reaching Foundation Establishment. If he succeeded, he could provide the Han Clan with much more support.

"So this was the clan leader's order. His decision must be right, Second Brother. I'm sure you'll be accepted into the Ocean Listening Pavilion." Han Changming smiled, suddenly understanding.

Han Zhangxiang was third among the Zhang generation. He was the Han Clan's anchor and its clan leader.

"I hope so. Seventh Aunt says the Ocean Listening Pavilion's entrance requirements keep getting higher. Apparently, the disciples they admitted in the last few rounds were too weak. I'm not completely confident I'll be accepted." A hint of worry showed in Han Changshuo's eyes.

Han Changjiong smiled and said, "Second Brother, whether or not you're accepted, you don't often get to visit Kuixing Market. Ninth Brother and I will host a banquet tomorrow night and invite Fifth Sister, too. Let's have a good meal together. Heavenly Fragrance Restaurant has come out with a few new dishes. I've been wanting to try them."

"I'm not familiar with Kuixing Market, so I'll leave it to you. Seventh Brother, Ninth Brother, it looks like you two are doing well!"

"Don't tease us, Second Brother. We only know how to make a few kinds of talismans. When it comes to earning spirit stones, we can't compare to you. You're a First-Rank High-Grade alchemist now, aren't you?"

Han Changshuo smiled and nodded, answering modestly, "I only passed the examination recently. But I'm not much of a First-Rank High-Grade alchemist; there's quite a bit of water in that title. I'm still a long way behind the Ocean Listening Pavilion's alchemists."

He was telling the truth. The Han Clan had never produced a Second-Rank alchemist, so Han Changshuo's alchemical skills were bound to remain limited.

The clan elders could no longer teach Han Changshuo much. If he wanted to improve further, he would have to join a cultivation sect.

The Ocean Listening Pavilion was the overlord of the Red Algae Sea and the Han Clan's backer. Naturally, Han Changshuo would want to join its ranks.

Hearing this, Han Changming smiled and said, "You're too modest, Second Brother. You don't often get to visit, so get some good rest. Tomorrow night, Seventh Brother and I will host a banquet for you. Let's have a proper reunion."

Han Changming planned to take the opportunity to ask Han Changshuo for advice on alchemy, hoping to learn something useful.

"Good. Then I'll trouble you both. You go about your business; I'll visit Fifth Uncle and Seventh Aunt at the Hundred Refinements Pavilion."

Han Changshuo agreed with a smile and turned to leave.

"Ninth Brother, let's hurry to Heavenly Fragrance Restaurant and reserve a table! If we're late, there might not be any seats left." Han Changjiong grabbed Han Changming and dragged him outside, heading straight for the restaurant.

To entertain Han Changshuo, Han Changming and Han Changjiong reserved a banquet costing a hundred spirit stones. It was an extravagant spread.

Back at his lodgings, Han Changming sat cross-legged on the wooden bed, took out a Spirit Nourishing Pill, and swallowed it.

The following evening, at the hour of the Rooster.

Han Changming and Han Changjiong arrived right on time at the entrance of a six-story golden pavilion. Three glittering gold characters—"Heavenly Fragrance Restaurant"—were written on its plaque.

Even at the entrance, they could smell an enticing fragrance. Han Changjiong swallowed repeatedly.

"Come on, Ninth Brother. Don't keep Second Brother and the others waiting." Han Changjiong tightened his belt and strode inside.

Han Changming smiled faintly and followed him.