On both sides of the gloomy gray streets, outsider rogue cultivators discreetly sized up the figures emerging from the Black Market.
Lin Chang'an had just been immersed in the joy of his future prospects when, the moment he stepped out of the Market, he sensed someone watching him.
Just then, a cultivator hurrying along with his head lowered brushed past him, and in that instant, one hand deftly reached into his robes.
"Smack!"
His wrist was suddenly seized. Seeing the fierce look on Lin Chang'an's face, the man panicked and hurriedly forced a smile.
"Fellow Daoist, forgive my poor eyesight. Please accept my apology..."
Yet as he spoke, his other hand skillfully reached for the sword at Lin Chang'an's waist. At the same time, two figures nearby cast vicious glances in their direction.
A repeat offender!
And a gang at that!
Their roles were clearly divided. One controlled the weapon while the other two took the chance to attack!
But!
"Pfft!"
A streak of azure light flashed. Blood sprayed everywhere, and the young face still bore its uncomprehending, placating smile. His hand remained stupidly clutching at the sword, but the Green Bamboo Sword had already pierced through his mouth.
Killed in a single strike!
Even in death, he had not understood how this man could strike so ruthlessly!
"The Green Bamboo Sword! Externalized spiritual power! Damn it, it's a Qi Refining Mid-Stage old ghost! Run!"
The other two figures saw the externalized spiritual-power barrier and cried out in terror, but they were given no time to react.
The Green Bamboo Sword swept through them cleanly. Blood splashed, and the life faded from their disbelieving eyes.
Before they died, they were still thinking that the three brothers had been cautious enough, only targeting poor wretches. Yet one who often walked by the river would eventually wet his shoes.
That damned Qi Refining Mid-Stage old ghost had pretended to be a Qi Refining Second Layer novice. These local cultivators were truly underhanded!
Was it fun fishing for poor wretches like them?
Everything happened in the time it took for sparks to fly from flint. From their practiced ambush to Lin Chang'an's counterkill, he had not forgotten to cast a spiritual-power shield.
It had all happened in the blink of an eye.
Too fast!
"Qi Refining Mid-Stage!"
This instant counterkill made the shadows lurking around the alley—whether seeking to profit or simply watch the show—shrink their pupils and scatter in panic.
Externalizing spiritual power to form a spiritual-power shield was the mark of a Qi Refining Mid-Stage cultivator.
"Bah! Outsider rogue cultivators who don't follow the rules."
After seeing the hidden shadows around him flee in terror, Lin Chang'an, his face full of fierce flesh and viciousness, snorted crudely, putting on the full bearing of a great Qi Refining Mid-Stage cultivator.
Yet when a gust of wind swept through, Lin Chang'an's departing figure was no slower than theirs.
Under the gray sky, only three gradually cooling corpses remained on the street.
Such things were far too common in the Cultivation World. Before the sun even rose, the corpses had already been collected.
After all, even a cultivator's corpse had value.
After winding through the Market this way and that, Lin Chang'an returned home before dawn.
The first thing he did was paste Fine Golden Light Talismans over the door and windows.
"Bah, three outsider rogue cultivators dared to act recklessly? Poor wretches."
Seeing that he had only stripped a little over twenty Spirit Crystals from them in total, Lin Chang'an could not help looking down on them.
One was at the Qi Refining Third Layer, while the other two were at the Qi Refining Second Layer. He did not know whether to call them newborn calves unafraid of tigers or simply stupid.
Even if they had not run into him, something would have happened to them sooner or later.
It was not that he rejected outsiders. He simply hated cultivators who broke the rules and disrupted peace and stability the most.
The Black Market had its own rules. Those who broke them would first bring disaster upon the cultivators with the lowest cultivation.
After twenty years in the Cultivation World, he had long become an old hand who had weathered who knew how much, and he had grown used to it.
The moment he got home, he took off the clothes whose scent had already been masked and returned to his original appearance.
Looking at the Spirit Crystals in his Storage Bag tonight, Lin Chang'an could not help smiling.
Though it had been somewhat risky, it had all been worth it.
After all, Qi Refining Mid-Stage cultivators would not even spare a glance for the First-tier Low-grade Godly Travel Talismans he sold. Only these low-level outsider rogue cultivators would snatch at food like starving men.
What Qi Refining Mid-Stage cultivator would fucking bother with such trifles?
"Still, they had some eye for things. They actually recognized the Green Bamboo Sword."
Twenty years ago, when this newly established Market underwent its first Land Reclamation, the Li Fire Sect had produced several hundred Green Bamboo Swords, all Low-grade Magical Tools.
That was why, upon seeing the azure light, they had immediately fled in fright, thinking they had encountered an old ghost.
After all, anyone who had obtained this magical tool twenty years ago—
Combined with Lin Chang'an's disguise, ruthlessness, and Qi Refining Mid-Stage cultivation, anyone would have taken him for an experienced old ghost daring enough to walk the night roads.
But when he looked at the doors and windows in his home, all guarded with Fine Golden Light Talismans, Lin Chang'an could not help sighing.
"I never imagined that one day, I would worry over drawing too many Talismans."
Extravagant! Far too extravagant.
These could originally have been exchanged for Spirit Stones, yet now they could only lie coldly in his Storage Bag, with some even pasted onto his doors.
Only then did he understand the misery of being alive yet not daring to openly exchange Talismans for Spirit Stones.
It was too hard.
"Until I have a safe channel for going to the Black Market, I'll have to focus on First-tier Low-grade Godly Travel Talismans for now."
For the sake of safety, Lin Chang'an sighed in distress. He could clearly have peddled Fine Golden Light Talismans for Spirit Stones, yet he could only drop down a grade and earn Spirit Crystals instead.
After advancing to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, Lin Chang'an became even more driven.
Cultivating, drawing Talismans, eating Monster Beast Meat, and sleeping—he once again repeated the homebound life others found tedious, but which he never tired of.
Out on the street.
"Who's stewing Monster Beast Meat so early in the morning? Aren't they afraid of getting overheated?"
A cultivator who had just come outside caught the scent of the meat and immediately turned green with envy.
It was not that cultivators could not afford meat, but Monster Beast Meat cost quite a few Spirit Crystals.
Whenever they wanted meat, they only had to take a walk outside. Ordinary wild beasts were everywhere.
"Shh, keep your voice down. That smell is coming from Master Lin's house."
"It's actually Master Lin!"
The middle-aged cultivator was startled at first, then his face filled with envy, followed by an even stronger sourness.
"They say a worthless Talisman Master is lower than a dog, but once a Talisman Master gets on the right path, they really do earn Spirit Crystals faster than desperadoes like us."
"Spirit Crystals? You must be joking. Fine Talismans are worth a Spirit Stone each. Once Master Lin gains proficiency for a while and learns First-Rank Mid-Grade Talismans in the future, they'll start at three Spirit Stones apiece."
The two cultivators spoke enviously on the street. Nearly every cultivator could draw Talismans, but those who could produce Fine Talismans were rarer than one in a thousand.
That day.
Li Erniu came hurrying over, sorrow faintly showing on his face as he knocked on the door.
"Big Brother Lin, Elder Lu has passed away."
"What!"
Upon hearing the news, Lin Chang'an also showed a mournful expression, then sighed with countless emotions.
Elder Lu was the immortal master who had led them into the Cultivation World twenty years ago. Even after the two of them failed the assessment, Elder Lu had still pointed out the road ahead for them.
"Er Niu, we have to go see Master Lu off on his final journey."
Though they had not been master and disciples, he and Er Niu owed Elder Lu the grace of being remade. They should indeed call him Master Lu.
As for why Er Niu had been the first to receive the letter, that could only be called one advantage of being a live-in son-in-law: the stability of the Beast-Taming Zhou Family.
Unlike him, a First Tier rogue cultivator who might have to change residences any day. In comparison, sending letters to the Zhou Family was more convenient. Even if something happened to either of them, the Zhou Family would reply at once.
Before you continue