External Talisman Master

Green light flashed, and blood splattered everywhere.

The flesh on one side of the burly cultivator bandit's cheek was gouged away by the green light, exposing his savage gums. It was a horrifying sight.

"Damn it! I'll slaughter you two!"

The burly cultivator bandit blanched in shock. That sneak attack had nearly taken his life. Unable to care about the cost anymore, he directly activated a Golden Light Talisman kept close to his body, preparing to fight head-on.

In an instant, flashing golden light formed a mana shield around him.

"Er Niu!"

Yet Lin Chang'an and Li Erniu abandoned him without hesitation and charged together at the five Qi Refining Early Stage cultivator bandits in the distance, who had been left filthy and disheveled by the Fireball Technique.

"Ah..."

Amid a scream, Li Erniu and Lin Chang'an were like tigers charging into a flock of sheep. With their skilled and seamless coordination, they directly slew two cultivator bandits.

Li Erniu cultivated an Earth-Attribute Cultivation Method. When his broadsword came chopping down, it carried immense force, while the Green Bamboo Sword artifact in Lin Chang'an's hand struck like a venomous snake flicking out its tongue.

It hit directly at vital points.

On top of that, Qi Refining Mid-Stage cultivators against Qi Refining Early Stage cultivators—it was simply a one-sided crushing match.

"Damn it!"

Seeing their ruthless methods, the burly leader of the cultivator bandits behind them cried out in alarm and fury:

"A misunderstanding! Fellow Daoists, this is truly the Dragon King's temple flooded by the waters—family failing to recognize family! A misunderstanding!"

The burly cultivator bandit had clearly mistaken Lin Chang'an and Li Erniu for fellow bandits. After all, their abundant experience and methods in ambushes and killings marked them as veterans.

They had first used the spirit horse as bait, then launched a sudden attack from behind. After forcing him to use a Golden Light Talisman, they had abandoned him without hesitation and turned to kill the others.

After activating a Golden Light Talisman, one's movements would be somewhat restricted.

These two were clearly cultivator bandits even more experienced than he was.

Yet in that brief instant, the four Qi Refining Early Stage cultivator bandits had already been jointly slain by Lin Chang'an and Li Erniu.

The remaining cultivator bandit had been burned into charcoal by the flames earlier.

"Fuck! You local cultivator bandits are ruthless!"

Seeing the two men's vicious, clean strokes, the burly cultivator bandit roared. He wasted no words, slapped on a Godly Travel Talisman, turned, and fled.

There was not the slightest hesitation.

Even as he ran, the burly cultivator bandit gritted his teeth and viciously threw his Storage Bag in another direction, leaving behind a final remark.

"Fellow Daoists, I admit defeat today!"

In the blink of an eye, there were five more corpses.

Lin Chang'an and Li Erniu did not pursue him. Instead, they immediately began gathering the spoils.

Lin Chang'an used his outer robe to pick up the Storage Bag the man had thrown out. Then the two mounted the spirit horse and left the scene.

Two hours later, after confirming that no one was following them, the two finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Big Brother Lin, that man was a veteran."

"Indeed. When he fled, he did not head for our spirit horse. Instead, he ran into the mountain forest. That shows how experienced he was. If we had pursued him, there might well have been another trap."

They could set an ambush and turn the tables on their enemies; the other party could likewise set a trap.

After all, they were rogue cultivators who had clawed their way up from the bottom. Which one of them did not possess rich experience in killing and battle?

Lin Chang'an found it somewhat regrettable as well. After all, he had also set a trap on the spirit horse.

After struggling through the Cultivation World for so many years, their cultivation had risen slowly, but the ways of survival had long since been carved into their bones.

"Big Brother Lin, those five had forty-two Spirit Crystals between them. What a pity there wasn't a single artifact."

After checking that the spoils contained no traps, Li Erniu excitedly pulled out a handful of Spirit Crystals.

Lin Chang'an checked the Storage Bag as well. Sure enough, it was poisoned.

After using mana to blow away the poisonous powder on the Storage Bag, they found, just as they had expected, that the bag was completely empty.

"Big Brother Lin, that man was incredibly cunning."

Li Erniu looked resentful. "At a glance, you can tell he's harmed no small number of people."

Lin Chang'an nodded lightly. "He was at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer. If we had fought him head-on, we might not have come out ahead."

Cultivator banditry was indeed the best choice for getting rich, but wealth and honor were sought amid danger—and lost amid danger as well.

Though the Storage Bag was empty, the bag itself was worth three Spirit Stones.

Yet the next moment, Lin Chang'an tossed the cleaned Storage Bag over.

"Big Brother Lin, this..."

Looking at the Storage Bag in his hand, Li Erniu awkwardly scratched his head. Lin Chang'an, however, teased him:

"Didn't you say before that perhaps one day you'd have a Storage Bag? Look, hasn't it arrived?"

Faced with the teasing, Li Erniu awkwardly scratched his head. Still, he broke into a wide grin at the sight of the Storage Bag and fondly played with it in his hands.

A Storage Bag was not something he could bear to buy himself, but one picked up for free was different.

"Er Niu, remember to trade this Storage Bag for another after we return. Otherwise, someone might recognize it."

"Don't worry, Big Brother Lin."

The two had disguised themselves throughout the journey, so they were not afraid of being recognized.

But the Storage Bag was another matter. Who knew whether it bore some hidden mark that an acquaintance might recognize?

Therefore, anything obtained from a cultivator bandit had to be spent as soon as possible, lest someone with ulterior motives trace it back to them.

Having received the Storage Bag, Li Erniu gave the forty-two Spirit Crystals to Lin Chang'an.

Lin Chang'an did not refuse. Between people, even the best of friends, it was better to keep accounts clear when benefits were involved.

There was already a premium when exchanging Spirit Crystals for Spirit Stones.

Just as Er Niu was about to return the Golden Light Talisman and Godly Travel Talisman as well, Lin Chang'an did not take them. Instead, he said:

"Stay careful on the way back. We'll discuss it after returning to the Market. Also, I'll need you to ask the Zhou Family about the requirements for becoming an External Talisman Master."

Li Erniu awkwardly scratched his head. As a live-in son-in-law, he had no ability to negotiate terms.

"Then, Big Brother Lin, I'll go back and ask around for you."

Lin Chang'an smiled and nodded. Naturally, he knew that his little bit of ability might earn envy among ordinary rogue cultivators, but before an old Foundation Establishment clan like the Zhou Family, it amounted to nothing.

Unless he possessed the ability to produce First-Order High-Grade Talismans, he could receive the Zhou Family's courteous treatment and be hired as a retainer.

A retainer and an External Talisman Master were not to be confused.

The two finally returned safely to Green Bamboo Mountain Market.

This time, Lin Chang'an discovered that the number of cultivators in the Market had increased considerably again.

Cultivators with unfamiliar faces had gathered in droves. While they brought greater bustle and business opportunities to the Market, they also brought instability.

After Er Niu returned to the Zhou Family and handed back the spirit horse, he headed straight for the lineage managers' office.

A Qi Refining Fourth Layer cultivator, even one who was a First-Order Mid-Grade Talisman Master, was not qualified to disturb the lineage's Foundation Establishment Ancestor.

"Lin Chang'an, the rogue cultivator who came to the Market with you twenty years ago..."

Zhou Antai was a Qi Refining Late Stage cultivator, over eighty years old, with white hair and beard. He was currently a Zhou Family Manager.

Facing this old man, Li Erniu respectfully nodded again and again.

"Grandpa Zhou, Big Brother Lin has recently become able to produce high-quality First Tier Low-Grade Golden Light Talismans, and he has now broken through to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer."

Li Erniu reported every detail. After all, a Foundation Establishment clan like the Zhou Family would not casually recruit outside cultivators.

At the very least, they would not be negligent in checking someone's identity—unless that person was a First-Order High-Grade Talisman Master.

Only ability earned special privileges.

"This man's background is quite clean."

Zhou Antai stroked his white beard and nodded inwardly. For the past twenty years, Lin Chang'an had focused on cultivation and had not stirred up trouble.

After verifying his identity, Zhou Antai nodded and instructed:

"Very well. Since he is interested, have him come tomorrow."

"Thank you, Grandpa Zhou."

Li Erniu beamed with delight and repeatedly cupped his hands.

Seeing this, Zhou Antai smiled. Of all the live-in sons-in-law, Er Niu was his favorite—not merely because one of his descendants had married Er Niu.

More importantly, Er Niu possessed an honest nature, without all those twists and turns.

Just as Er Niu was preparing to take his leave, Zhou Antai reminded him:

"Er Niu, the Market has been somewhat unsettled lately. If there is no need, go out less. And that Storage Bag of yours—trade it for one from the lineage after you leave, lest someone set their sights on you at such a critical time."

"Yes."

Er Niu withdrew in high spirits. It was not just the Storage Bag; more importantly, Lin Chang'an's matter had finally been settled.