First-Rank Mid-Grade Talisman!

True Treasure Pavilion, a Li Fire Palace enterprise.

No matter how chaotic the previous night had been, no one had dared risk robbing True Treasure Pavilion.

As the saying went, fishing in muddy waters was fine as long as you did not get caught—but if you dared touch True Treasure Pavilion, Li Fire Palace would not care about any evidence.

"Talismans, alchemy, and other advanced inheritances have all been monopolized by these great sects and lineages. This time, they're actually being opened to the public!"

After hearing the news, Lin Chang'an disguised himself once more and headed toward True Treasure Pavilion.

For rogue cultivators like them, this was good news.

But it also gave off a dangerous signal.

Why would Li Fire Palace suddenly become so generous? Forget the Market unrest—perhaps it was a major event to rogue cultivators like them.

But to a great sect with three Golden Core Elders, it was not even enough to disturb their peace.

Yet when he arrived at True Treasure Pavilion, the heavily disguised Lin Chang'an's eye twitched.

He had even worried about being recognized, but with so many people here, who had the time to keep an eye on him?

"Land reclamation is imminent. For the sake of the vast number of cultivators, Li Fire Palace has specially opened up First-Order Mid-Grade Talismans, pill recipes, artifact refining methods... Even certain rare First-Order Mid-Grade and Upper-Grade medicinal pills and talismans are available to the public.

"You've caught a good time. Prices are clearly marked; no child or elder will be cheated."

Good heavens. Before even entering, Lin Chang'an saw the packed crowd.

He had never seen so many well-off cultivators before. Some had come for precious medicinal pills, while others had come for life-saving talismans.

Amid the crowd, Lin Chang'an was deeply shocked. There were even Upper-Grade Rank-Breaking Pills—good news indeed for many cultivators trapped at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.

"First-Rank Mid-Grade Flying Sword Talismans, Fireball Talismans, Earth Spike Talismans... One hundred Spirit Stones each for offensive types, one hundred and twenty Spirit Stones for defensive types..."

"First-Rank Mid-Grade Flying Sword Talisman inheritance—one hundred Spirit Stones!"

Once he saw the clearly marked prices, Lin Chang'an could no longer spare thought for anything else. Such a good opportunity—of course he had to seize it.

"Sign a Spirit Contract, plus fifteen Spirit Stones."

Hearing that he had to pay extra for a Spirit Contract, Lin Chang'an's heart ached, but he had already paid the larger sum. He could not begrudge such a small amount now.

Still, he silently cursed that old man who had previously swindled him out of three Spirit Stones.

At the same time, he took some malicious delight in it. That old bastard's business was probably about to go under. What vexed him somewhat was that there would no longer be fellow sufferers who had been cheated.

"All right. Here is the First-Rank Mid-Grade Flying Sword Talisman Jade Slip."

This time, Lin Chang'an had practically emptied his coffers. Only a few Spirit Stones remained in his Storage Bag.

A Spirit Contract was similar to a heart-demon oath. Put plainly, it required one to swear upon one's Dao Heart not to spread the inheritance—not even to one's descendants or disciples.

If you wanted your descendants to learn it, then you had to spend another sum of Spirit Stones to purchase it from True Treasure Pavilion.

This could be considered an alternative method of protecting inheritances in the Cultivation World.

Once violated, it would bring backlash from one's spiritual power. Of course, a First Tier Spirit Contract only bound those in the Qi Refining Realm. Once one broke through to Foundation Establishment, the restraints could naturally be cast off.

But once one truly reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, a First-Order Mid-Grade Talisman inheritance would already be something within easy reach. This was simply the difference between cultivators' circles.

"They won't even let me take the Jade Slip. They're really stingy."

Amid the crowd, the disguised Lin Chang'an left with his head hanging low, as though he lacked the Spirit Stones to buy the things he wanted.

After undergoing marrow cleansing and mental awakening, Qi Refining Mid-Stage cultivators possessed photographic memory. The contents of the First-Rank Mid-Grade Flying Sword Talisman inheritance were not extensive, but he had obtained them at last.

Though not without twists and turns.

After leaving True Treasure Pavilion, weaving through several turns, and changing disguises a few times, Lin Chang'an finally revealed his true disguise and hurried home. He could not help the upward curl of his lips.

"First-Rank Mid-Grade Flying Sword Talisman: a Metal-Attribute offensive talisman. After activating the talisman, it manifests a golden sword blade, incomparably sharp."

However, after returning home, the latest news from the Zhou Family also left Lin Chang'an stunned.

"Big Brother Lin, this is a good thing! All externally hired Talisman Masters and Alchemists can receive another Mid-Grade technical inheritance. Although they need to sign a Spirit Pact, I heard people in the lineage say so.

"As long as one performs well, or marries into the lineage, then when their descendants wish to obtain an inheritance, the lineage can be lenient."

The moment he returned home, he saw Er Niu's envious gaze. After all, when it came to the Hundred Cultivation Arts, Er Niu was the sort who had opened nine of ten apertures—utterly clueless in the last one. He simply did not have the talent.

"I'm not like Big Brother Lin, who's a Talisman Master. The lineage only rewarded me with a spell. But Big Brother Lin, have you noticed something?"

Li Erniu lowered his voice, his expression grave. "First Li Fire Palace, then the great cultivation lineages. I heard the Li Family has started doing this too. Doesn't something seem off?"

This all seemed to be about strengthening cultivators, while the major lineages were also drawing cultivators to their side.

Lin Chang'an glanced at Er Niu, then gave a mute laugh and shook his head.

"Er Niu, when the sky falls, the tall ones hold it up. Even if we knew, our cultivation would not change anything."

Yet this time, hearing Lin Chang'an's consolation, Li Erniu fell silent, and his mood gradually sank.

"Big Brother Lin, do you know? Last night, I thought I was going to die. In that despair, I thought of my family. The children are still young. I don't want to lose them..."

Seeing Li Erniu's low spirits and that helpless feeling of having one's fate beyond one's control, Lin Chang'an let out a helpless sigh.

Was he not the same? It was only that amid the turmoil, he had been thankful that he was alone, with no burdens tying him down.

Yet at ordinary times, he was still alone, while Er Niu had a harmonious family and enjoyed the warmth of home. Naturally, he had to shoulder the responsibilities that came with it.

"Er Niu, all we can do is cultivate diligently. Thinking too much is useless."

With Lin Chang'an's comfort, Li Erniu gathered himself and left, limping on his injured leg.

"Marriage alliances... It seems these great lineages have received some news already."

Lin Chang'an shook his head with a smile. Without strength, one naturally could not reach higher circles.

For now, increasing his strength was what mattered most.

[Name: Lin Chang'an]

[Lifespan: 40/99]

[Realm: Qi Refining Fourth Layer (15/100)]

[Cultivation Method: Evergreen Art (Mastery: 932/1000)]

[Skills: Golden Light Talisman (Mastery 36/1000), Godly Travel Talisman (Mastery 3/1000), Flying Sword Talisman (Proficient 128/500)]

Inside the secret chamber, Lin Chang'an had just raised his brush and drawn a Low-Grade Flying Sword Talisman when he quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Just as I expected, my talisman-drawing skill has already reached First-Rank Mid-Grade. The newly learned Flying Sword Talisman will also become familiar very quickly."

His earlier worries had not come to pass.

"Skill belongs to oneself. So, just like ordinary Talisman Masters, I can quickly get started with First Tier Low-Grade Talismans and reach the proficient stage. I only need to hone them for a while before breaking through to the First-Rank Mid-Grade stage."

Looking at his Attribute Board, Lin Chang'an smiled.

The Flying Sword Talisman had gone from [Beginner 0/100] to proficient in merely one night. He was confident that within a little over a month, it would reach mastery.

That was the skill of a First-Rank Mid-Grade Talisman.

After all, once one method was understood, ten thousand methods became clear. His own ability had already reached that level; his capabilities as a First-Order Mid-Grade Talisman Master were entirely genuine.

He had merely switched to another type of talisman. He would get the hang of it very quickly.

"Now I already have two First-Rank Mid-Grade Talisman inheritances: the Golden Light Talisman and the Flying Sword Talisman. As for the Zhou Family's claim that I can learn another, along with marriage alliances, none of it is given for free."

Just like that night, when the Market had fallen into turmoil and Er Niu had been forced to risk his life for the Zhou Family.

Lin Chang'an understood it clearly. He was merely an externally hired Talisman Master. Put plainly, he had borrowed from the Zhou Family to learn its techniques, while also signing a ten-year repayment agreement.

Make him risk his life?

He did not lack such resources.

Moreover, because of this opening-up, the entire market would undergo great upheaval. Selling talismans in secret to exchange for resources would instead become easier for him.

With this opening-up by the sect and major lineages, he could already imagine the bottom rung of the Cultivation World under Li Fire Palace's rule experiencing an explosive surge in strength.

Other than poor Spiritual Roots, the greatest difficulty rogue cultivators faced was their lack of resources.

As goose-feather snow filled the sky, two majestic, enormous Flying Boats broke through the Yunwu and appeared above Green Bamboo Mountain Market.

Their bodies radiated tangible spiritual light as they hovered in midair.

The two Flying Boats bore Li Fire Palace's gilded flame insignia, along with a purple floral-patterned mark.

From Li Fire Palace's Flying Boat, three Foundation Establishment Cultivators led nearly a hundred Li Fire Palace Disciples down. Yun Yao was among them as well.

This scene made the eyes of countless rogue cultivators in the Market flicker. In Lin Chang'an's eyes, Yun Yao, the Little Princess who had once shone brilliantly in Gathering Immortal Pavilion, was now like one star among a host of stars, no longer quite so dazzling.