First-Order High-Grade Talisman Master!

Gathering Immortal Pavilion, Heaven-class private room.

Without Wei Yiyi at this gathering, the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

Although Yun Yao had already reached Qi Refining Ninth Layer Grand Perfection, when it came to the art of conversation, Junior Sister Lu Qingqing still had the edge.

Under Junior Sister Lu Qingqing's hosting, they drank tea and discussed the Dao, exchanged insights from cultivation and various things they had seen and heard. The mood was relaxed and pleasant.

Especially when it came to cultivating spells, Yun Yao was the one guiding most of them. It seemed this had also touched upon her strengths.

As the sun sank and the evening glow streamed through the windows into the private room, Yun Yao finally brought up the main purpose of this gathering.

"Four fellow Daoists, with Junior Sister extending the invitation this time, Yun Yao has a favor to ask."

When the matter of Foundation Establishment arose, Yun Yao's expression was earnest.

"Fellow... Fellow Daoist Yun, we all know you have been preparing for Foundation Establishment. Just say the word if there's anything you need."

The straightforward Li Erniu spoke up bluntly and readily.

Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing nodded in agreement as well.

Lin Chang'an also nodded with a smile. After all, the fact that everyone had come already said everything.

Yun Yao drew a deep breath. Though the Cultivation World was treacherous and the human heart sinister, it was already precious beyond measure that they could still gather together after all these years.

Then, with utmost sincerity in her gaze, Yun Yao slowly laid out the matter of her preparations for Foundation Establishment.

"Over these years, I have continually ventured deep into the Cloud Mist Mountain Range to hunt monsters and search for Spirit Grass. Together with the Chamber of Commerce's savings, I have gathered seven or eight parts out of ten. Only the most crucial main ingredient for Foundation Establishment is still missing.

"The Monster Core of a second-order water-attributed monster is exceedingly rare and impossible to find even with money. I can only risk venturing deeper into the Cloud Mist Mountain Range."

As Yun Yao's crisp voice echoed through the room, she made it sound easy, yet everyone could hear the danger lurking beneath her words.

Especially the exhaustion between Yun Yao's brows, as well as the vicious scar faintly visible on her Snowy Neck—it was easy to imagine the circumstances of those many trips deep into the Cloud Mist Mountain Range that she described in such a calm tone.

Yun Yao's greatest difficulty now was that she lacked a quality defensive artifact. She had nearly lost her life last time, and this time she wanted to purchase a high-grade defensive artifact.

"The Chamber of Commerce can only spare five hundred Spirit Stones right now. Any more would affect the business."

Lu Qingqing spoke gravely, even laying out the Chamber of Commerce's accounts. From the very beginning, she had intended to board Yun Yao's ship.

"Besides the Chamber of Commerce, the two of us also have some savings."

Shen Lie nodded solemnly. With the Market's instability these past years, whenever anyone had Spirit Stones, they had almost always used them first to improve their strength.

There truly was not much left to save.

Still, Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing had managed their affairs well over the years. Perhaps also because of the guilt from three years ago, they actually brought out nearly two hundred Spirit Stones. This was undoubtedly their entire fortune.

"Fellow Daoist Yun, I have thirty Spirit Stones here."

Compared with the Spirit Stones contributed by Shen Lie and his wife, Er Niu's thirty Spirit Stones might not have seemed like much, yet they startled everyone.

After all, everyone knew Er Niu's circumstances perfectly well.

But the next moment, Er Niu scratched his head awkwardly and directly cupped his hands.

"My boy, Yifan, may not have much talent, but he is honest and dependable. If it is suitable in the future, let the boy come help out at the Chamber of Commerce."

Li Erniu did not beat around the bush and directly stated his purpose, which instead brought smiles to everyone's faces.

Yun Yao nodded solemnly. "Let Yifan follow Qingqing and Shen Lie for now. Whether in cultivation or business, they are more than capable of guiding him."

Having obtained what he wanted, Li Erniu immediately broke into a smile.

Finally, Lin Chang'an gave a slight nod.

"Fellow Daoist Yun, I have some savings as well. It is not much, but there are a hundred Spirit Stones."

When they heard that Lin Chang'an could directly produce over a hundred Spirit Stones, Li Erniu cried out in surprise.

"Talisman Masters make too much money."

Li Erniu's eyes had turned a little red with envy. They were both at the Qi Refining Mid-Stage, yet their ability to earn money was simply beyond comparison.

But Lin Chang'an smiled and teased, "I have already let Yifan read Introduction to Talismans. If he has the talent in the future, he will not need me. The Zhou Family will naturally train him."

Even Shen Lie was somewhat surprised by a hundred Spirit Stones.

The reason he and his wife had so much was entirely because of their business over the years, along with some old capital.

Yet when Lin Chang'an took out a Storage Bag and the crisp clinking of Spirit Stones sounded, Lu Qingqing's earlobe beside him twitched slightly, and a strange glint flashed through her eyes.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Lin."

Seeing everyone's help—especially Lin Chang'an taking out more than a hundred Spirit Stones—Yun Yao's expression was resolute. She did not say any sentimental words.

Lin Chang'an smiled and teased, "I also have two Golden Light Talismans here. I hope that when we meet again, Fellow Daoist Yun will already be a great Foundation Establishment cultivator. Then we will have someone to lean on."

Upon hearing this, everyone offered their congratulations in advance.

Yun Yao, too, revealed a rare smile and cupped her hands toward everyone.

Even in the Cultivation World, people valued the two words good fortune.

At last, everyone bid farewell. The Market had been rather unsettled these past two years, after all.

Outside Gathering Immortal Pavilion, Shen Lie watched the departing figure and could not help smacking his lips.

"No wonder Er Niu said before that even the Zhou Family praised Fellow Daoist Lin's talisman arts. With that kind of family fortune, he cannot be lacking."

Lu Qingqing rolled her eyes at her husband.

"You really think that bag held a hundred Spirit Stones?"

"What do you mean?" Shen Lie looked at his wife in bewilderment, but Lu Qingqing irritably pointed to her ear.

"These ears of mine have helped Grandfather tally accounts at Gathering Immortal Pavilion since I was little. With Spirit Stones and Spirit Crystals, I can estimate how many there are just from the faint sounds they make when they collide."

In the end, Lu Qingqing glanced from the corner of her eye at the figure disappearing in the distance. Who knew what she was thinking? But when she turned and saw the husband Shen Lie she had chosen, she shook her head and smiled.

If she had to do it all over again, she would still make the same choice. Knowing one's own limits and seeking benefit while avoiding harm—this was what her grandfather had taught her.

"I estimate there were around a hundred and twenty Spirit Stones."

When Lu Qingqing said this, Shen Lie could not help clicking his tongue.

"No wonder they say that among the hundred arts of cultivation, once you get started, the ways to earn Spirit Stones far surpass cultivators of the same realm. Why don't we have that talent?"

Filled with envy, Shen Lie finally looked at his wife Lu Qingqing and whispered, "How about we have one with talent?"

"Get lost." Lu Qingqing glared at him irritably, but her earlobes were already burning hot.

In truth, she had not told him the full truth. In her heart, she estimated that the Spirit Stones Lin Chang'an had lent Yun Yao numbered around a hundred and fifty.

Meanwhile, upstairs in Gathering Immortal Pavilion.

"A hundred and eighty-three Spirit Stones!"

Yun Yao was somewhat stunned. Did Talisman Masters really make that much money? Moreover, she and the others had all watched Lin Chang'an's cultivation over these past years.

Yet when she saw the two talismans inside the Storage Bag, astonishment flashed through Yun Yao's beautiful eyes.

"These are First-Order Mid-Grade Fine Golden Light Talismans!"

The two Golden Light Talismans, their radiance even richer, shocked Yun Yao, yet also seemed to make her understand something.

First-Order Mid-Grade Fine Golden Light Talismans were infinitely close to high-grade Talismans. At a critical moment, they could save her life.

It was equivalent to Yun Yao possessing two single-use defensive artifacts.

"A First-Order High-Grade Talisman Master. So that's how it is!"

At that moment, Yun Yao's beautiful eyes flickered. She seemed to understand something.

As for Lin Chang'an, who had done all this, he was secretly calculating as he made his way back.

"The complete inheritance of first-order Talismans is simply not sold to outsiders by either the Li Fire Palace or Mystic Sound Pavilion."

Moreover, with the increasingly tense situation outside and his own cultivation level, if he wanted to protect himself in these troubled times, he had to find someone to lean on.

He had not even considered the Zhou Family or the Wang Family.

Yun Yao was his best choice.

Things that were incomparably precious within the circles of Qi Refining Cultivators were another matter entirely in the circles of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"With Yun Yao's status in the Li Fire Palace, obtaining the complete inheritance of first-order Golden Light Talismans will not be difficult."

Lin Chang'an secretly calculated the high-grade Talisman inheritance he needed.

Even if she failed, given Yun Yao's age and disposition, she would definitely attempt Foundation Establishment again. At that time, in order to shorten her preparation time, she would need a First-Order High-Grade Talisman Master like him even more.

If she succeeded, then with Yun Yao, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, as his support, his own safety would be assured, and he would gain a channel for high-grade Talismans as well.

Thus, he was now even more important to Yun Yao.

Yun Yao might make a killing, but he definitely would not lose out.

"Yun Yao has the Li Fire Palace behind her. Once my cultivation rises further, perhaps I will have a chance to leave this place and find somewhere safe and stable to continue cultivating."

Lin Chang'an silently calculated. He was a man of limitless possibilities now—why gamble with his life?

What, did he think he was some thousand-year Spirit Medicine or a Foundation Establishment Pill?