Han Changshuo

Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

Inside the Spirit Talisman Pavilion, Han Changming's gaze was fixed on the talisman paper before him. The paper was covered in a dense array of red runes, and over a dozen empty Cinnabar boxes lay scattered on the floor.

A thick stack of red talisman seals was piled on the table, all of them being Chain Fireball Talismans.

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

Through extensive practice, he had now become a first-rank high-grade talisman maker. Relying on the assistance of the Taiyi Spirit-Transforming Gourd, his success rate in crafting first-rank high-grade talismans had reached fifty percent. Of course, the variety was not particularly vast, consisting only of first-rank talismans with five-element attributes.

Naturally, he kept this hidden from Han Dehai and Han Changjiong; they were unaware that Han Changming had already become a first-rank high-grade talisman maker.

To advance from a first-rank mid-grade talisman maker to a first-rank high-grade one in just half a year, with a success rate as high as fifty percent, was nothing short of shocking.

It had taken Han Changjiong over a year to achieve the same feat.

Over the past six months, Han Changming had not focused on cultivation, but had instead been crafting talismans frantically. He now possessed over two thousand spirit stones, a sum he would never have dared to imagine in the past.

Han Changming packed away the talisman seals and the empty Cinnabar boxes on the floor before heading out.

The sky had already darkened, and the streets were brightly lit.

A quarter of an hour later, Han Changming walked into a five-story cyan pavilion.

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

The lobby was spacious and bright, with dozens of cultivators gathered in front of the counters, purchasing pills.

"Give me a bottle of Qi Refining Pill."

"I want a bottle of Qi Nourishing Pill."

"I'll take three bottles."

Han Changming did not linger in the lobby and headed straight for the second floor.

Most of the cultivators entering and exiting the second floor were in the Foundation Establishment Realm, with only a few being Qi Refining cultivators.

Han Changming walked up to the counter and said to the clerk behind it, "I want two bottles of Spirit Nourishing Pill."

The Spirit Nourishing Pill was a second-rank low-grade pill that cost three hundred spirit stones per bottle. It could increase a cultivator's divine sense, though it required large doses to be effective. It worked quite well for Qi Refining cultivators, while the effect was somewhat diminished for those in the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Crafting talisman seals consumed divine sense, and Han Changming's current divine sense was comparable to that of a ninth-layer Qi Refining cultivator.

If not for this, he would never have been able to craft talismans so obsessively.

He consumed one bottle of Spirit Nourishing Pill every month, causing his divine sense to grow steadily.

There were many benefits to having a powerful divine sense; not only could he craft talismans, but he could also control multiple magical artifacts during combat.

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

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

It was easy to attract unwanted attention when a Qi Refining cultivator spent six hundred spirit stones on Spirit Nourishing Pills. Every time he finished his purchase, Han Changming would return to the Spirit Talisman Pavilion; any cultivators with ill intentions who followed him would usually stop once he reached the pavilion.

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

The young man in red had a tall, upright build, handsome features, and a warm, broad smile on his face.

Han Changshuo, ranked second among the "Chang" generation, was an eighth-layer Qi Refining cultivator and one of the Three Heroes of the Han Clan.

"Second Brother, what brings you here?"

Han Changming was filled with joy upon seeing Han Changshuo.

"Ninth Brother, I heard from Seventh Brother that you've already become a first-rank mid-grade talisman maker. Not bad at all!" Han Changshuo said with a smile.

After chatting for a few moments, Han Changming learned the reason for Han Changshuo's appearance in Kuixing Market.

The Ocean Listening Pavilion was opening its doors to accept disciples, and Han Zhangxiang intended for Han Changshuo to join the sect, as it would increase the chances of the clan obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill.

The Han Clan had clashed with the Chen Clan many times, and because they lacked a Foundation Establishment cultivator within the Ocean Listening Pavilion, the Han Clan had suffered losses more often than not.

Han Changming had not expected that Han Zhangxiang would be willing to let Han Changshuo join the Ocean Listening Pavilion. After all, Han Changshuo was one of the few first-rank alchemists in the Han Clan.

Given Han Changshuo's aptitude, his chances of reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm would be higher if he joined the Ocean Listening Pavilion. If he could successfully enter the Foundation Establishment Realm, he could provide much greater assistance to the Han Clan.

"So it was the clan leader's order. His decision must be correct. Second Brother, you will certainly be able to join the Ocean Listening Pavilion," Han Changming said with a sudden realization and a smile.

Han Zhangxiang, ranked third among the "Zhang" generation, was the pillar of the Han Clan and also its clan leader.

"I hope so. Seventh Aunt said that the requirements for joining the Ocean Listening Pavilion are getting higher and higher. It seems the quality of the disciples admitted in the last few sessions was too poor. I don't have absolute certainty that I can get in," Han Changshuo said, a hint of worry appearing in his eyes.

Han Changjiong smiled and said, "Second Brother, regardless of whether you can join the Ocean Listening Pavilion, it's rare for you to visit Kuixing Market. Tomorrow night, Ninth Brother and I will host a banquet and invite Fifth Sister. Let's have a good meal. The Heavenly Fragrance Restaurant has introduced some new dishes that I've been wanting to try."

"I'm not familiar with Kuixing Market, so I'll leave the arrangements to you two. Seventh Brother, Ninth Brother, it seems you two are living quite well!"

"Second Brother, you flatter us. We only know how to craft a few types of talismans. When it comes to the ability to earn spirit stones, we can't compare to you. You're a first-rank high-grade alchemist now, aren't you?"

Han Changshuo nodded with a smile and said modestly, "I just passed the assessment not long ago, but there's quite a bit of water in my title as a first-rank high-grade alchemist. Compared to the alchemists of the Ocean Listening Pavilion, I'm still far behind."

He was telling the truth; the Han Clan had never produced a second-rank alchemist, which meant Han Changshuo's alchemy skills were destined to have a ceiling.

The clan elders no longer had much left to teach Han Changshuo. If he wanted to advance further, he needed to join a cultivation sect.

The Ocean Listening Pavilion was the hegemon of the Red Algae Sea and the backer of the Han Clan, so it was only natural for Han Changshuo to seek tutelage under them.

Hearing this, Han Changming smiled and said, "Second Brother, you are too modest. It's rare for you to visit, so get some good rest first. Tomorrow night, Seventh Brother and I will host a banquet to treat you, and we can have a proper gathering."

Han Changming intended to use this opportunity to ask Han Changshuo for advice on the art of alchemy, hoping to gain some useful insights.

"Alright, then I'll trouble you both. You go ahead with your business, I'm going to the Hundred Refinements Pavilion to see Fifth Uncle and Seventh Aunt."

Han Changshuo agreed with a smile and turned to leave.

"Ninth Brother, let's hurry to the Heavenly Fragrance Restaurant and book a table! If we go too late, I'm afraid there won't be any spots left." Han Changjiong pulled Han Changming along as he walked out, heading straight for the Heavenly Fragrance Restaurant.

To entertain Han Changshuo, Han Changming and Han Changjiong booked a banquet worth one hundred spirit stones, which was extremely extravagant.

Returning to his residence, Han Changming sat cross-legged on the wooden bed, took out a Spirit Nourishing Pill, and swallowed it.

The next evening, at the hour of the Rooster.

Han Changming and Han Changjiong appeared on time at the entrance of a six-story golden pavilion, with the three glittering golden characters "Heavenly Fragrance Restaurant" written on the plaque.

Standing at the entrance, one could smell an enticing aroma, and Han Changjiong swallowed his saliva repeatedly.

"Let's go! Ninth Brother, don't let Second Brother and the others wait too long." Han Changjiong tightened his belt and strode inside.

Han Changming smiled slightly and followed him in.