Villain! How Dare You Harm My Grandson!

The Zhou Family.

"A First-Order High-Grade Talisman Master? He is a talent, but unfortunately, he is a little too old."

Zhou Renmao, Head of the Zhou Family, shook his head. He seemed to lament that Lin Chang'an was still persisting in arduous cultivation at his age, believing that he simply had not recognized reality.

Below, Zhou Antai also nodded and said:

"Head of the Family, this man's background is clean. He is indeed a good prospect. I had Er Niu subtly sound him out before, but unfortunately, he remained as steadfast as ever in his bitter cultivation. His heart set on the Dao has yet to died."

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 fully marry a Zhou Family woman with a Spiritual Root.

"A heart set on the Dao!"

Zhou Renmao's expression turned somewhat complicated, as though he had recalled countless familiar figures, all of whom had fallen one after another upon this road.

"A First-Rank Talisman Master, with that talented Foundation Establishment disciple of Li Fire Palace behind him—this favor is worth the Zhou Family's effort to win him over. You have done very well."

Zhou Renmao praised him. A First-Rank Talisman Master alone was not enough to make them lower themselves like this, but the person behind him was different.

Especially with the connection of their Zhou Family's live-in son-in-law. Befriending rather than offending him was the Zhou Family's way of conducting itself.

"The Lineage 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. Choose orders that would have been the same no matter which Chamber of Commerce received them."

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

"Head of the Family, I have already had the people below take care of these matters."

Seeing his younger cousin's steadiness, Zhou Renmao smiled in satisfaction and nodded.

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

The Zhou Family Head's expression was exceptionally grave.

"We were lucky this time. A Wind-Attribute Wind-Splitting Eagle actually attacked the Market, allowing our Zhou Family to obtain a Wind-Attribute Monster Core."

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

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

Yet after hearing Zhou Antai's reassuring words, Zhou Renmao only furrowed his brow tightly before shaking his head.

"No! Times have changed. Who knows how many people in the Market are watching us? If our Zhou Family wishes to weather 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 without wings.

For a time, countless people in the Market had their eyes fixed upon it.

Gathering Immortal Pavilion.

"Brother Lin, you accumulated strength for a long time before bursting forth. You actually managed to produce even First-Order High-Grade Golden Light Talismans. You truly kept us in the dark."

Little Marquis Shen Lie wore an envious expression. He first offered congratulations, then teased him, yet in doing so drew the two of them much closer.

Especially since he maintained that sense of distance just right, 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 said with a sigh:

"Half a year ago, my skill had merely made a breakthrough and was still immature. Over the past half year, I have spent no small amount of Spirit Stones dealing with fellow Talisman Masters. I was also fortunate to have Fellow Daoist Yun's complete Golden Light Talisman inheritance."

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

Watching Lin Chang'an speak with such calm indifference, Shen Lie felt deeply moved by the bitterness hidden behind it.

How could it possibly have been so easy?

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

From those six months of attempts alone, Shen Lie understood that the bittersweet trials within could probably only be truly felt by Lin Chang'an himself.

But Shen Lie did not know that of all those bittersweet trials, Lin Chang'an had tasted only sweetness.

"Brother Lin, I will not waste words. Things outside are so chaotic 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 are all snobs."

When the conversation turned to the Chamber of Commerce, Shen Lie spoke with complete assurance. He had no intention of taking advantage, merely smiling as he nodded.

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

Lin Chang'an also smiled and nodded.

"Since that is the case, then let one matter be handled by the same person. Brother Shen, I will have to trouble you with the special talisman paper and Cinnabar for these First-Order High-Grade Talismans as well."

Upon hearing this, Shen Lie immediately beamed with joy.

Courtesy demanded reciprocity. Favors could only be built through give and take.

Besides, whether it was talisman paper or Cinnabar, he had to buy them from someone anyway.

"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 absolutely be top-grade goods, with no price increase."

The two exchanged glances, then burst 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 table 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 now 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 place. The preferential treatment from the Zhou Family was mostly because of Yun Yao's status as a disciple of a Golden Core Elder from Li Fire Palace.

He was merely included along the way.

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

The status of a First-Order High-Grade Talisman Master was far 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 offer congratulations; as the saying went, one did not strike a smiling person, much less one who came bearing gifts.

But once it began affecting his normal cultivation, he announced to the public that he was entering seclusion to cultivate. Only then did his bustling doorstep grow quiet.

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

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

"This is a battle between Foundation Establishment Cultivators!"

Amid enormous roaring blasts, even Lin Chang'an, who had been drawing talismans inside his house, was startled. He rushed outside, leaped onto the roof, and stared in shock at the distant scene.

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

Far away on the eastern side of the Market, a massive Array Barrier could be seen. Under the thunderous booms, a huge breach had clearly opened 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 felt completely numb. Were they not even going to let him live in peace?

The instant the array shattered and the battle's aftershocks leaked out, several furious shouts rang out from the directions of the Zhou Family and Mystic Sound Pavilion.

"Villain! How dare you harm my grandson!"

A furious roar came from the Zhou Family's direction, accompanied by a beastly 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.

"Villainous cultivator, do not run!"

Several sharp female shouts also came from Mystic Sound Pavilion. In an instant, two Foundation Establishment Cultivators rushed toward the disturbance.