Kan Water Talisman Collection

A hundred miles away, inside a cavern dwelling of earthfire and molten lava.

A middle-aged man in an ochre Daoist robe sat cross-legged atop a warm obsidian platform. His face was gaunt, his eyes narrow and long. He was Yellowstone True Person.

Before him, a row of jade slips floated in midair. One slip engraved with the two characters "Hou San" suddenly let out a crisp crack, then shattered with a crack into powder.

Yellowstone True Person's eyes snapped open.

He was shocked and suspicious.

Hou San was dead.

Hou San had been the most obedient dog at his command. His Mountain-Shifting Formula had some real strength even among Rogue Cultivators. He had intended to send him to sound out the other party—kill them directly if they lacked backing, or retreat at the first sign of trouble if they did. Who could have expected him to die so cleanly...

Yellowstone True Person frowned.

His plot for that treasured Kan Water Site in Peace River City had originally been proceeding smoothly...

"Alas, which fellow Daoist is working against me from the shadows again?"

Yellowstone True Person stared at the shattered jade slip. There was anger in him, but even more uncertainty and alarm.

He had considered his dealings in Peace River City well concealed, yet someone had disrupted everything at the most critical juncture.

Either some great figure stood behind that brat, or the brat himself was a tiger in pig's clothing.

People's hearts were no longer what they once were. Such things were hardly unheard of, so he had no choice but to stay on guard!

"Kan Water... Which fellow Daoist is trying to harm me?" Yellowstone True Person muttered, suddenly feeling a pounding headache.

Fortunately, he had been cautious enough not to act personally.

Had he gone himself, even if he did not die, he would have been skinned alive. Losing a dog was still a minor matter.

"The Kan Water Site... What a pity." He let out a long sigh, his heart full of unwillingness.

That water-vein node was crucial to his attempt to break into the Late Qi Refining Stage. Now, it had all gone down the drain.

A cool breeze drifted through the valley, refreshing and pleasant.

Shen Qingzhou walked out of the valley entrance. Beneath the moonlight, the official road resembled a gray-white ribbon stretching into the distance.

"Hmm?"

The instant he stepped onto the road, he saw a figure leaning crookedly beneath an old, crooked-necked locust tree not far ahead.

The figure idly kicked a pebble with the tip of her foot. The pebble rolled back and forth over the ground without making the slightest sound.

It was Su Yu.

Shen Qingzhou froze. When had she arrived?

How long had she been following him?

Since Peace River City, or since the moment he had descended the mountain?

He had concealed his aura all along, yet he had failed to notice a living person following behind him?

"Oh, Junior Brother." Su Yu stopped kicking the pebble, raised her head, and gave him a lazy smile. "Was it fun down the mountain?"

Shen Qingzhou did not answer immediately. He merely cupped his hands in greeting.

"Your movements were fairly clean."

Su Yu dusted off her hands and walked toward him. "That is indeed how spells are used. But remember next time, there is no need to use so much force to kill mortals. Why waste spiritual power?"

Shen Qingzhou felt somewhat helpless at her words.

So this lady had been there the entire time...

Everything he had done had been under her watchful gaze. He had not had the slightest secret from her.

"Understood, Senior Sister. Next time, give me some warning beforehand. You nearly scared me to death." He smiled bitterly.

"Enough, enough. Stop pulling such a long face. It is not as if I am going to eat you."

Su Yu walked up to him and looked him over from head to toe. "Not bad. You have not lost an arm or a leg. That Wall-Water Essence was of decent quality, enough for you to break open your second qi sea. You are quite lucky."

She even knew about the Wall-Water Essence!

Thoughts raced through Shen Qingzhou's mind. How sinister... Fortunately, she had not pursued the matter of him casually scooping up some benefits for himself.

"Senior Sister, here."

He did not ask further. He simply took the iron box from his sleeve and handed it over.

Su Yu accepted it without ceremony, tossing it lightly in her hand. Her eyes flickered as though she had recalled something, and she directly tucked it into her sleeve.

"Mm-hmm, you have completed the job."

She tossed him a dull gray jade slip from her sleeve.

"This is your reward. The Kan Water Talisman Compendium contains the methods and insights for drawing three basic talismans of the Kan Water Lineage. Did you not want to make money by drawing talismans? Take it and learn."

Shen Qingzhou caught the jade slip and swept it with his divine sense. It was indeed filled with dense talisman diagrams and annotations, far more detailed than he had imagined.

He finally had it!

He could not help but feel delighted. With this, he would surely be able to take up a new profession.

"This time, you have stirred up a little hornet's nest."

Su Yu's tone was casual, teasing.

"That Yellowstone True Person is a disciple of the Earth Spirit Sect. His Mountain-Shifting Art is quite troublesome. The Earth Spirit Sect's people hold grudges most fiercely, and they excel at tracking earth qi. You killed his man. Sooner or later, he will come looking for you."

"I understand, Senior Sister."

"You understand my ass."

Su Yu cut him off without any politeness, glaring at him. "You are only at the Qi Refining First Layer now. He could crush you to death with one hand. Once you leave the sect gates, I cannot protect you for the rest of your life."

She paused, then added, "If you want to raise your cultivation, how many years of the monkey will it take for you to reach the Mid Qi Refining Stage by relying on the sect's meager monthly allowance?"

Shen Qingzhou listened quietly, waiting for her to continue.

Just as expected,

"On the fifteenth of next month, Azure Mountain Blackwind Market will open. It is a lawless place. Rogue Cultivators from all walks of life, members of the Demon Race, and people of the demonic path all go there to trade. Everything in your hands can be sold there. Exchange it for spirit stones, then buy what you need."

At last, Su Yu's face revealed the merchant's smile Shen Qingzhou knew so well.

"I will take you there... And then, I have a deal that needs your help."

A deal?

Shen Qingzhou raised an eyebrow, but still bowed in salute.

"Thank you, Senior Sister."

"Enough with that empty nonsense. Hurry back up the mountain and cultivate. I am still counting on you to run errands for me later." Su Yu waved her hand, driving him away like a fly, then turned and left.

Within a few steps, her figure blended into the night, and not the slightest trace of her aura could be sensed again.

Shen Qingzhou stood where he was for a long time before slowly exhaling a breath of turbid air.

This Senior Sister was far more complicated than he had imagined, and not easy to fool.

Still, for now, she had a sharp tongue but a soft heart. She had not done anything harmful to him.

Blackwind Market...

After some thought, he put the jade slip into his sleeve. He lingered no longer and quickened his pace back to the sect.

Three or four youths dressed as menial servants were gathered around the Daoist attendant Ahu, smiling ingratiatingly.

Ahu was only thirteen or fourteen, but he stood with his chest puffed out and his hands behind his back, imitating the bearing of the senior brothers within the sect.

"Brother Ahu, what great matter did Senior Brother Shen go down the mountain to handle this time?" one servant asked as he edged closer.

"Do not ask what you should not ask."

Ahu put on a stern face and rebuked him. "Are matters concerning immortal masters something you can pry into?"

"Of course, of course."

The servant beside him changed the subject and lowered his voice. "Brother Ahu, we are happy for Senior Brother Shen too. I heard that Senior Brother Lu Chen from the main lineage of Sword-Coming Peak is nearly about to break through to the Qi Refining Second Layer. And Senior Brother Zhao Heng of Blackwater Peak recently completed a sect mission alone. His swordsmanship is even more formidable than it was during the assessment!"

Ahu snorted.

"What is so remarkable about that? They are all disciples from great families. With a great tree at their backs, they can enjoy the shade. It is hardly strange for their cultivation to improve a little faster."

Seeing the others draw closer, Ahu kept them in suspense before finally speaking. "Remember that unlucky fellow from Cinnabar Glow Peak? He did not know the height of heaven or the depth of earth and accepted a mission to gather Fire Yang Herbs. A first-rank demon beast chased him until he pissed his pants and shit himself! If a patrolling senior brother had not happened to pass by, he would have lost his little life."

"What? Something that dangerous happened?"

The several servants were left staring blankly.

"That is why cultivation is such a difficult thing. He who laughs last laughs best. Is that not the truth?"

Ahu concluded with an old-fashioned air.

He felt rather pleased with himself, thinking he had won back quite a bit of face for Senior Brother Shen.

A man fought for a single breath; a tree lived for a sheet of bark.

"Brother Ahu is right!"

That servant was very good at reading the room. Seeing this, he hurriedly offered an oil-paper packet, from which a delicate fragrance wafted.

With a somewhat fawning smile, he said, "These are newly made osmanthus cakes from down the mountain. Please have a taste. We do not mean anything by it. Being able to follow you around and do odd jobs is already a blessing."

Ahu nodded and cleared his throat. "Mm-hmm, all right. Leave the things here. I appreciate the thought. Now disperse. Senior Brother likes peace and quiet. What kind of conduct is this, making such a racket here?"

The servants agreed repeatedly, set down the things, and left.

"Hehe... Let me have a taste."

Once he saw them go far away, Ahu's shoulders slumped, and he returned to looking like the half-grown child he was.

Ahu picked up the oil-paper packet from the ground, opened it, and sniffed it. He was just about to pinch off a piece and put it in his mouth.

When he turned around, he saw Shen Qingzhou standing not far away.

Ahu's face turned white. His grip loosened on the oil-paper packet, and the osmanthus cakes rolled all over the ground.

"Senior... Senior Brother..." Ahu stammered, not knowing where to put his hands or feet.