Thief! How Dare You Harm My Grandson!

Zhou Family.

"A First-Order High-Grade Talisman Master. He is a talent, but unfortunately, he is getting on in years."

Zhou Renmao, the Head of the Zhou Family, shook his head. He seemed to lament that Lin Chang'an was still stubbornly cultivating at his age, believing that he simply had yet to recognize reality.

Below him, Zhou Antai nodded as well.

"Head of the Family, his background is clean. He is a promising seedling. I had Er Niu subtly sound him out before, but he remains as steadfast as ever in his bitter cultivation. His heart that seeks the Dao has yet to die."

Er Niu had previously hinted that the Zhou Family was preparing for a marriage alliance. With Lin Chang'an's status as a Talisman Master, he could absolutely marry a Zhou Family woman with a Spiritual Root.

"A heart that seeks the Dao!"

Zhou Renmao's gaze turned somewhat complicated, as though he had recalled countless familiar figures, each one falling along this very path.

"A First-Rank Talisman Master, with a genius Foundation Establishment disciple of Li Fire Palace behind him... This favor is worth the Zhou Family's efforts to win him over. You have done well."

Zhou Renmao spoke approvingly. A First-Rank Talisman Master alone was not enough for them to lower themselves so much, but the person behind him was another matter.

Especially with the added relationship of him being a son-in-law of the Zhou Family. To befriend rather than offend was the Zhou Family's way of conducting itself.

"The family has recently been preparing matters concerning the Foundation Establishment Pill. These are troubled times. Later, go personally to the Yun Clan Chamber of Commerce in the Zhou Family's name and place the next batch of long-term orders.

"Remember, there is no need to deliberately offer concessions. Pick orders that would have gone to any Chamber of Commerce all the same."

Hearing the Head of the Family's arrangements, Zhou Antai, an old man who had struggled for the Zhou Family his entire life, respectfully bowed.

"Head of the Family, I have already instructed the people below to handle these matters."

Seeing the steadiness of his younger cousin, Zhou Renmao smiled in satisfaction and nodded.

"Tell everyone below to be more cautious lately. Father's lifespan is nearly exhausted, and the matter of the Foundation Establishment Pill could easily draw attention."

The Zhou Family Head's expression was exceedingly grave.

"Fortunately, luck was on our side this time. A Wind-Attribute Wind-Splitting Eagle actually attacked the Market, allowing our Zhou Family to obtain a Wind-Attribute Monster Core."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Antai's brows relaxed slightly, and he nodded in agreement.

"Head of the Family, Heaven is watching over the Zhou Family. Young Master Feng happens to possess a Mutated Spirit Root. His Foundation Establishment is absolutely certain."

Yet after hearing Zhou Antai's comforting words, Zhou Renmao furrowed his brow tightly and shook his head.

"No! Times have changed. Who knows how many people in the Market are watching us? If the Zhou Family wishes to endure this upheaval, relying on me alone is far from enough."

At the same time, news that the Zhou Family had gathered the materials to refine a Foundation Establishment Pill and invited an Alchemist from Li Fire Palace to refine it spread like wildfire.

For a time, no one knew how many people in the Market had their eyes fixed upon it.

Gathering Immortal Pavilion.

"Brother Lin has built up his strength over time before making his move. You even managed to produce a First-Order High-Grade Golden Light Talisman. You truly kept us in the dark."

Little Marquis Shen Lie wore an envious expression. He first congratulated Lin Chang'an, then teased him, yet in doing so brought the relationship between them much closer.

In particular, he maintained that sense of distance with just the right measure, making even Lin Chang'an unable to help but feel favorably toward him.

"Brother Shen, do not mock me."

Lin Chang'an smiled and waved his hand, then sighed.

"Half a year ago, my skill had merely made a breakthrough and was not yet mature. Over these past six months, I have squandered no small number of Spirit Stones buying talisman paper and Cinnabar, and visiting fellow Talisman Masters to exchange experience. Fortunately, Fellow Daoist Yun gifted me the complete inheritance of the Golden Light Talisman."

Everything he said was true. Buying First-Order High-Grade talisman paper and Cinnabar, as well as visiting other Talisman Masters to discuss their experience—of course, all of that had been for outsiders to see.

Lin Chang'an spoke with an airy, untroubled air, but Shen Lie was deeply moved by the bitterness hidden within.

How could it possibly be so easy?

Only after standing within the Cultivation World did one understand how difficult it was for a Rogue Cultivator to endure step by step, relying on talent alone.

From those six months of attempts alone, Shen Lie understood that the bitter, sweet, sour, and spicy flavors within could likely only be fully understood by Lin Chang'an himself.

Yet Shen Lie did not know that of those bitter, sweet, sour, and spicy flavors, Lin Chang'an had tasted only sweetness.

"Brother Lin, I will not beat around the bush. Things are such a mess outside right now. First-Order High-Grade Talismans do not make the Chamber of Commerce much money, but we cannot go without them either. Otherwise, those Rogue Cultivators will all become snobs."

When it came to the Chamber of Commerce, Shen Lie spoke with complete assurance. He had no intention of taking advantage, merely smiling and nodding.

"Brother Lin, leave your talismans to me. I guarantee you will not suffer a loss."

Lin Chang'an smiled and nodded as well.

"Since that is the case, then let one matter not trouble two masters. I will have to trouble Brother Shen with the specialized talisman paper and Cinnabar for these First-Order High-Grade Talismans as well."

Upon hearing this, Shen Lie immediately beamed with delight.

Courtesy demanded reciprocity. Favors needed to go back and forth.

Besides, whoever he bought talisman paper and Cinnabar from, he still had to buy them from someone.

"Rest assured. Though business is business, Brother Lin, you have introduced quite a few Talisman Masters to the Chamber of Commerce over the years. The talisman paper and Cinnabar will definitely be top-grade goods, with no raised prices."

After exchanging glances, the two of them broke into hearty laughter.

They had known each other for twenty-five years. In the Cultivation World, remaining in contact for so long was already rare and precious.

Afterward, Shen Lie hosted another banquet for him at Gathering Immortal Pavilion. Lin Chang'an smiled and nodded, and the two chatted freely in a private room.

Of the Talismans he produced each month, one-third still had to be sold to the Zhou Family's Chamber of Commerce. After all, they had just shown him respect; he could not truly start looking down his nose at them.

He knew his own worth. The courtesy shown by the Zhou Family was largely because of Yun Yao's identity as a disciple of a Golden Core Elder from Li Fire Palace.

He had merely benefited by association.

After Lin Chang'an advanced to become a First-Order High-Grade Talisman Master, former neighbors in the Market and cultivators with whom he had once shared some acquaintance came one after another to offer congratulations.

The status of a First-Order High-Grade Talisman Master was higher than that of a Qi Refining Late Stage cultivator.

At first, Lin Chang'an received every acquaintance with a smile. After all, they had come bearing gifts to congratulate him; as the saying went, one did not strike a gift-giver who came to one's door.

But once it began affecting his normal cultivation, he finally announced to the outside world that he had entered seclusion to cultivate. Only then did his once-lively doorstep grow quiet.

It was absolutely not because he looked down on those trifling gifts.

Yet before peaceful days had lasted long, another upheaval erupted in the Market.

"This is a battle between Foundation Establishment Cultivators!"

The enormous rumbling startled even Lin Chang'an, who had been drawing Talismans inside his house. He rushed out, leaped onto the roof, and stared in shock at the scene in the distance.

"The Market's grand array has actually been shattered!"

Far away on the eastern side of the Market, a massive Array Barrier could be seen. Amid the thunderous roars, a huge breach had clearly appeared in the Array Barrier.

It was precisely because of this that the battle within the array had alarmed the entire Market.

"This is the might of a battle between Foundation Establishment Cultivators."

Lin Chang'an was completely numb. Were they not going to let anyone live in peace anymore?

The instant the array shattered and the aftershocks of battle leaked out, several furious roars came from the directions of the Zhou Family and Mystic Sound Pavilion.

"Thief! How dare you harm my grandson!"

A roar of towering fury rang out from the Zhou Family's direction, accompanied by a beast's howl.

Next, countless people in the Market witnessed a shocking sight: the Zhou Family's Clan-Protecting Spirit Beast, the Black Water Turtle, had appeared.

"Vile cultivator, do not flee!"

Several sharp cries also rang out from Mystic Sound Pavilion. In an instant, two Foundation Establishment Cultivators rushed toward the source of the disturbance.