Listening to Music at the Pleasure House

Two Plain Maiden Sect female cultivators in fitted pink outfits, curved blades in hand, stopped him.

"What are you doing here?" One of the female cultivators frowned, pinched her nose, and scrutinized him with a face full of disgust.

"Lu Chen of Sword-Coming Peak, Profound Heaven Sect, here to pay a visit." Lu Chen patiently announced his identity.

"Profound Heaven Sect?" The female cultivator looked him up and down, then asked suspiciously, "The Flower-Washing Gathering is underway, and the city is full of a motley mix of fish and dragons. Everyone entering the city must have their identity verified and present a travel pass. Where is yours?"

"A travel pass? I came directly from the sect's station. Where would I get a travel pass?" Lu Chen was dumbfounded.

"No travel pass, no entry." The female cultivator's tone was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

"I really am a Profound Heaven Sect disciple! Look at my token!" Lu Chen said as he reached for his identity token.

Then his hand stopped.

His token... seemed to have been corroded and shattered by poisonous saliva while he was fighting an earth dragon.

Seeing Lu Chen fumble around on himself for ages, only to pull out a handful of rotten mud and several fragments of jade, the two female cultivators' expressions changed as they looked at him, their eyes filled with vigilance.

"Where did this beggar come from? Impersonating a fellow cultivator of the Profound Heaven Sect and trying to sneak into the city? Take him down!"

Flower-Washing City, Waterside Lodge.

Waterside Lodge was a famous place in the city for listening to music. Built along a tributary of Heartmoon Lake, it was filled with pavilions, towers, waterside halls, and painted pleasure boats.

Those who could come here for amusement were either wealthy or noble.

As for Shen Qingzhou, his wealth was quite considerable even among those at the Late Qi Refining Stage. Naturally, he would not treat himself poorly. He chose an elegant private room by the window, with an excellent view.

He could watch the painted boats glide past outside while listening to the melodious strains of the pipa. It was utterly pleasant.

"Please enjoy."

The gentle, lovely maid smiled brightly and bowed as she poured him a cup of spirit tea.

The tea's fragrance was crisp and pure, with a sweet aftertaste. It was fine-quality spirit tea as well.

Listening to music in a pleasure house, attended by a beauty—truly one of life's great joys!

One had to know when to tighten and when to loosen. He did not wish to become an ascetic, so naturally he understood the principle of balancing work and rest.

Right now, Shen Qingzhou needed a new identity.

An identity that would allow him to gain a secure foothold in Flower-Washing City.

Of course, the identity of a Profound Heaven Sect disciple was certainly unsuitable. It would be inconvenient if he wanted to do anything later.

And the identity of a mortal scholar was ultimately far too pathetic. It made him a complete fringe figure, incapable of doing anything.

He needed to trade away and liquidate some of the resources in his possession.

And, while he was at it, learn more about the Plain Maiden Sect.

In the battle at the valley altar, he had personally witnessed how the Earth Spirit Sect used talismans, formations, incense, and earth baleful power to construct an entire system for harvesting mortals and refining Dao Soldiers.

Although this system was evil, the level of talisman and formation arts contained within it was indeed quite high.

After advancing to a [Source Heaven Master], he could more easily see through the essence of those talismans.

...In a sense, "Supreme Dao Wisdom" was showing its power again and again and again.

He could completely discard the dross and retain the essence of these talismans, then combine them with his own understanding to create an entirely new talisman system.

In terms of status and treatment alone, at the same level, Talisman Masters were no inferior to alchemists, formation masters, and similar professions.

A highly skilled Talisman Master would be respected wherever he went.

He had to make use of it.

"A Rogue Cultivator Talisman Master... this plan will work." He stroked his chin and nodded.

He intended to act under this identity.

With his mind made up and his body and spirit at ease, Shen Qingzhou let his thoughts roam beyond the heavens.

He began improving the talismans obtained from the Earth Spirit Sect, and time slipped away unnoticed.

"Mm..."

Only when the sky outside the window gradually darkened and lanterns began to light up did a burst of commotion awaken Shen Qingzhou from his contemplation.

He looked up and saw crowds surging through the streets. Many commoners and cultivators were gathering in the same direction, their faces filled with piety.

"Miss, what is happening outside?"

Shen Qingzhou stopped the maid who had come to refill his water and asked.

The maid smiled sweetly. "Young master is from out of town, isn't he? Today, the Earth Mother Temple is opening its doors to bestow blessings. Everyone is rushing over to offer the first incense!"

Earth Mother Temple?

Shen Qingzhou's heart stirred.

He paid for the tea, blended into the crowd, and followed them onward.

Before long, a large temple appeared before his eyes.

The entire temple was constructed from stone, and its style looked somewhat familiar... Incense-bearing worshippers streamed endlessly through its gates, wisps of green smoke curling through the air. What a flourishing scene of incense and offerings!

Three grand characters danced across the plaque like dragons and flying phoenixes—Earth Mother Palace.

Just as expected.

Like a lingering ghost that would not disperse, Shen Qingzhou's brows tightened.

The Earth Spirit Sect again...

He had not expected the Earth Spirit Sect's incense worship to have developed to such a scale in Flower-Washing City!

They even possessed such a grand temple, openly receiving the incense offerings of countless people.

"Do they not know the Earth Spirit Sect's methods? That shouldn't be possible. Could it be that snakes and rats had formed a nest, colluding together?"

Without the tacit approval of Flower-Washing City and the Plain Maiden Sect disciples behind it, the Earth Spirit Sect could never have pulled off something on this scale.

He slowly paced through the crowd as his divine sense quietly spread out, enveloping the entire Earth Mother Palace.

"Hiss... What an undertaking?"

The more he observed, the more alarmed he became.

This system was far more exquisite, complex, and massive than the altar in the valley.

"They truly have poisoned this place deeply."

Many mortals knew nothing of the hidden secrets. One after another, they reverently offered incense and worshipped the Earth Mother statue within the temple.

Just then, Shen Qingzhou spotted two familiar figures in the crowd.

They were none other than the sisters Lin Shuying and Lin Weiyue.

The two were kneeling upon prayer cushions, hands pressed together, their expressions incomparably devout as they prayed to the Earth Mother statue.

"Big Sister, I pray for Earth Mother to bless this business venture of ours and make it go smoothly. I also pray that she blesses us so we can begin cultivating soon!"

Lin Weiyue murmured softly, voicing the wishes in her heart.

Her older sister said nothing, merely kowtowing respectfully as well.

"Alas."

Shen Qingzhou had no words. Even a merchant family like the Lin Clan, which possessed considerable foundations in the city, were believers of the Earth Mother. It was clear just how terrifying the Earth Spirit Sect's infiltration of mortals had become.

"They do not treat mortals as people at all... Such audacity. Could it be that even the Plain Maiden Sect's Foundation Establishment cultivators cannot see it?"

Shen Qingzhou was deeply puzzled. Draining the pond to catch all the fish, treating the common people like fish and meat on the chopping block—most righteous sects would never permit such things.

Yet the cultivators in a place like Blackwater Marsh were all so strange. It was one thing for Qi Refining cultivators to lack discernment, but the Foundation Establishment cultivators were nowhere to be seen either.

"Or were they deliberately playing deaf and dumb? And what was their purpose?"

The ruthless figure behind the Earth Spirit Sect was plotting far more than merely gathering some Incense and Fire Prayer Power.

Forget it, forget it. He could not understand it, and he could not afford to provoke it!

Shen Qingzhou withdrew his divine sense. He had no intention of saving all under heaven; after all, he lacked the strength.

To be honest, with his current strength, he could swagger sideways before most Qi Refining cultivators.

But if the other party was at Qi Refining perfection, or even possessed Foundation Establishment combat power, then sorry... he had better keep a respectful distance.

What skill was there in challenging a higher-level cultivator? Crushing lower-level cultivators was his comfort zone, all right?

He returned to a quiet little courtyard he had rented, shut the gate, and sealed all the clamor outside.

Over the next few days, Shen Qingzhou did not go out again.

He took out the talisman paper, cinnabar, demon beast blood, and other materials he had obtained from the Earth Spirit Sect cultivators' storage bags one by one, then began crafting the improved talismans.

With his new professional ability, coupled with the knowledge accumulated as a [Talisman Master], his talisman-making process flowed like drifting clouds and running water. How could mere smoothness describe it?

He named the first talisman the [Thick Earth Nurturing Body Talisman].

This talisman had been born from an evil art of the Earth Spirit Sect, but most of its hidden dangers had been removed. Once activated, it could nourish the physical body with gentle earth-element spiritual qi, and could still be used to risk one's life when necessary.

The second talisman was named the [Earth Dragon Armor-Trapping Talisman].

This talisman drew inspiration from the swamp spell that had trapped the earth dragon. Once activated, it could form a patch of mire upon the ground, slowing an enemy's movements while carrying considerable corrosive force, used to break protective spiritual radiance.

"Nothing wrong with that. Calling myself a first-rank top-tier Talisman Master now should not be a problem." Shen Qingzhou nodded in satisfaction.

Next, it was time for the Rogue Cultivator Talisman Master, "Han Li," to make his entrance!