Dark Clouds Over the Market

The Zhou Family's incident was far too great to conceal.

In less than a day, the full sequence of events had already spread throughout the Market.

Wang Family.

"Good! That old ghost Zhou truly was as crafty as expected!"

When the Wang Family's Great Elder learned of this, he was both shocked and delighted. He was shocked that the Zhou Family had hidden a Wind Spiritual Root, and had even nearly succeeded in arranging a marriage alliance with a Foundation Establishment family from Mystic Sound Pavilion.

What delighted him was that the Zhou Family had failed at the final hurdle. Not only had they lost the Foundation Establishment Pill and the marriage alliance, but even their Wind Spiritual Root genius was gone.

"Hehe, old ghost Zhou, this can only be said to mean that your Zhou Family lacks the fortune to enjoy such blessings."

Beneath the Wang Family Great Elder's sinister smile, it was clear that the alliance between the Wang Family and the Zhou Family had originally been forced by outside pressure. Yet the Zhou Family had actually tried to play tricks in the shadows, leaving the Wang Family alone to bear the burden.

Now, he wanted to see how the Zhou Family would weather this trial.

Zhou Family.

"Father, Feng'er...!"

The Zhou Family's Head of the Family, Zhou Renmao, was filled with grief. This had been his most promising son, a genius raised with the combined strength of the entire clan—yet he was gone just like that.

"Those demonic path fiends, those cultivator bandits! They have gone too far in bullying us!"

Though the Zhou Family Patriarch was already advanced in years, this sudden upheaval still angered him until his face turned ashen.

"Father, we have lost our outside support, and now Feng'er and the Foundation Establishment Pill are gone as well!"

This time, the Zhou Family had suffered grievous losses. Their Wind Spiritual Root genius was gone, their Foundation Establishment Pill was gone, and more importantly, all their previous efforts and the outside ally they had painstakingly found were gone as well.

"It is not yet the worst possible time. As the Head of the Family, what you must do now is stabilize the hearts of the people within the clan."

The Zhou Family Patriarch snorted coldly, yet the aura of death between his brows made Zhou Renmao's face cloud with worry.

"While these old bones of mine can still hold on for another twenty or thirty years, our relationship with Mystic Sound Pavilion cannot be severed. Immediately mobilize the clan's resources, and bring along those two Black Wind Wolf Cubs as well."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Renmao drew a deep breath. Suppressing the ache in his heart, he said resolutely, "Father, I understand. With two Second-tier Spirit Beast cubs and the family's resources, it will not be difficult to exchange for another two Foundation Establishment Pills from Mystic Sound Pavilion. Even without Feng'er, our Zhou Family still has Tie Shan!"

Zhou Tieshan was the strongest of the Zhou Family's younger generation in the open. Not yet forty, he had already reached Qi Refining Perfection.

Their original plan had been for the Zhou Family's Wind Spiritual Root to marry the daughter of the Lian Family, a great Foundation Establishment family of Mystic Sound Pavilion, joining the two Foundation Establishment families in marriage and alliance.

Then they would prepare for Zhang Tieshan's Foundation Establishment. Once it succeeded, the Zhou Family would soar in a single leap.

Yet now, it had all turned into soap bubbles.

"I only hope Tie Shan can successfully establish his foundation."

The Zhou Family Patriarch's expression was incomparably grave. Now, all he could do was place his hopes on Zhou Tieshan.

If it had been the previous Wind Spiritual Root, one Foundation Establishment Pill would have meant success eight or nine times out of ten. But Zhou Tieshan possessed only a High-Grade Spiritual Root, giving him merely a fifty percent chance.

"Father, rest assured. With Tie Shan's aptitude, perhaps a single Foundation Establishment Pill will be enough."

Zhou Renmao spoke words of comfort. Even with the Zhou Family's foundations, producing another three Foundation Establishment Pills next time would leave their muscles and bones badly strained.

More importantly, the current situation had driven up the prices of all materials needed for Foundation Establishment.

"Let us hope so. From today onward, have Tie Shan make preparations. He will establish his foundation within the clan."

"Yes."

The Zhou Family had already suffered one accident. A second absolutely could not happen.

Undercurrents surged through the Market, while Lin Chang'an hid at home, seizing every day to cultivate and draw talismans.

[Golden Light Talisman +1 (Grandmaster 183/5000)]

As a complex and exquisite pale-gold talisman took shape on the table, Lin Chang'an revealed a satisfied smile.

"As expected of a First-Order High-Grade Talisman. Though it is more complicated, the Spirit Stone income is also quite considerable."

Thanks to the recent unrest in the Market, the price of his defensive talismans had risen considerably. They could once be bought for forty Spirit Stones, but outside now, they cost forty-five.

"A defensive Golden Light Talisman costs forty-five Spirit Stones each. Even cultivators from great families would not dare burn through them at will."

Lin Chang'an sighed gloomily. Though rising talisman prices were a good thing, they also meant the situation was growing increasingly dire.

Still, he relied on this craft to bring in great quantities of Spirit Stones every month, allowing him to maintain his rapid pace of cultivation.

And that was with him not daring to fully cut loose.

"What a pity—guarding Treasure Mountain empty-handed."

Lin Chang'an sighed inwardly. As for First-Order High-Grade Talismans, he could only secretly sell a few, lest others discover him.

In fact, he sold mostly First-Order Mid-Grade Talismans. Though he sold them in large quantities, after becoming accustomed to a single talisman earning dozens of Spirit Stones, seeing one worth only a few Spirit Stones was hard to bear.

The enormous disparity left him deeply frustrated.

"At this stage, I still need to get my hands on another First-Order High-Grade Talisman."

Lin Chang'an frowned. First-Rank High-Grade Talismans were not easy to obtain, after all. They were all kept within sects and great families.

"I should stay steady for now. Once my cultivation breaks through to Qi Refining Late Stage, perhaps I can give it a try."

For the sake of caution, he still chose not to be so greedy for now.

After all, some things could be taken with one's life, but not enjoyed with one's life. That would be a tremendous loss.

"Big Brother Lin, something major happened in the clan this time."

Half a month later, Li Erniu wore a helpless expression as he spoke of the Zhou Family's recent misfortunes. He had clearly already regarded himself as a member of the Zhou Family.

Seeing this, Lin Chang'an sighed inwardly. No wonder the Zhou Family had chosen the honest and simple Er Niu back then rather than them.

Temperament!

Er Niu's innocence, his lack of experience and ambition, and his desire only to live a stable life—such a temperament was the best choice.

"Er Niu, it will be fine. The Zhou Family is still an old Foundation Establishment family with extremely deep foundations."

At Lin Chang'an's consolation, Li Erniu forced out a smile and nodded.

"Sigh, the clan has already begun gathering resources for Foundation Establishment Pills. Quite a few people in the Market are watching us. I only hope everything goes smoothly."

Looking at Er Niu, Lin Chang'an shook his head, then took a talisman from his Storage Bag.

"Er Niu, these are troubled times. Take this talisman to protect yourself."

"Big Brother Lin, this is far too valuable!"

Li Erniu's expression changed, and he hurriedly raised a hand to refuse. A First-Rank High-Grade Talisman cost forty Spirit Stones outside now. Even if he emptied his entire fortune, it would not be enough.

At the same time, Li Erniu looked at Lin Chang'an with some envy.

"A First-Order High-Grade Talisman Master... Big Brother Lin, you will definitely have no problem becoming a great Qi Refining Late Stage cultivator in the future."

Even Li Erniu knew that a First-Order High-Grade Talisman Master's ability to earn Spirit Stones was enough to push Lin Chang'an's cultivation upward.

"Consider it a loan from me."

After Lin Chang'an shook his head, he added, "You do not want your wife and children to worry either, do you?" Li Erniu accepted it awkwardly.

The First-Rank High-Grade Talisman in Li Erniu's hand felt like a red-hot branding iron, leaving him deeply embarrassed.

"Er Niu, the Zhou Family has shown me kindness as well. In the future, I will conduct more business with the Zhou Family's shops for the talismans I draw."

Lin Chang'an changed the subject and began chatting with Li Erniu.

At the same time, he sighed inwardly. Setting aside one's true heart, was an empty reputation useful?

When you needed it, it was useful. When you did not, it was useless.

Take Yun Yao, for instance. If she had always been cold and arrogant, looking down on everyone, then when she prepared for Foundation Establishment, they would not have invested in her either.

The same principle applied. What Lin Chang'an was doing might not amount to much for the Zhou Family, but once word spread, many people in the Market would view him favorably.

Small matters could sometimes become a helping hand in great matters.

To put it plainly, if some Qi Refining Late Stage cultivators came knocking to purchase talismans, whom would they choose?

Even when he went to the Zhou Family's shops to purchase cultivation resources, setting aside whether they offered him a discount, at the very least, the goods would be Upper-Grade.

An empty reputation was something that could neither be seen nor touched, yet it still lived in people's hearts.

"Big Brother Lin, I will take my leave first. Be careful lately. I heard that disciples under Li Fire Palace and Divine Sword Sect have already clashed several times."

Before leaving, Li Erniu spoke cautiously. Lin Chang'an nodded with a grave expression.