Red Maple Valley Market was still going strong.
Since it was Xu Changqing's first time attending, everything seemed novel to him.
As noon approached, more and more people joined the market.
Suddenly, something flashed in the sky not far away.
In the blink of an eye, Ink-Colored Flying Shuttles hovered above the market.
Among them was a particularly flashy red boat, flying a banner.
"Foundation Establishment Realm Formal Disciples are here!"
"The red boat... a core disciple has appeared too!"
"We either walk or ride paper cranes. Just look at them!"
Like everyone around him, Xu Changqing raised his head and looked up.
The insides of the flying shuttles were cramped and could not hold many people.
The red boat, however, was different. It was several times larger.
Then, surrounded by a group of Formal Disciples,
the core disciple aboard the red boat drifted down to the ground.
His purple robes stood out among the sea of white like a crane among chickens.
Xu Changqing observed carefully and discovered that the pattern embroidered on this core disciple's chest was different from the others.
It was a triangular mountain, bearing a bold, dragon-like character for "Talisman."
It seemed to have some connection to the Water-Control Pavilion, yet it was not quite the same.
At that moment, someone beside him explained, "So it is Li Lingbi, the core disciple who awakened a Triple Spirit Root."
Xu Changqing could not help asking, "Fellow Daoist, why is the pattern on his chest different from ours?"
The person beside him explained, "Because all core disciples have masters, and those immortal elders all live on the immortal mountains of our Dongting Immortal Sect."
Another person added, "That triangular mountain with the character 'Talisman' on it represents the mountain's shape and the disciple's lineage."
"Talisman—doesn't that mean he is very skilled at drawing talismans?" Xu Changqing guessed.
The person beside him deeply agreed. "Li Lingbi is not only a genius with Threefold Mutual-Generating Spiritual Roots of metal, water, and wood. His master is also our Dongting Immortal Sect's talisman-path grandmaster, Nascent Soul True Lord Mo Qiushui!"
Xu Changqing could tell that many people greatly envied this core disciple, Li Lingbi.
After all, outer disciples and Formal Disciples generally held low status.
Only by becoming a core disciple could one have even the slightest chance to glimpse immortal fortune.
That was also why the Formal Disciple Grand Competition was so wildly popular.
"Isn't that... Senior Brother Li Sancai?" Xu Changqing said in astonishment.
He discovered an acquaintance standing beside Li Lingbi.
It was Li Sancai, who had helped him several times in the Outer Spirit Fields.
Judging from where he stood, Li Sancai was clearly much closer to Li Lingbi.
After all, there were quite a few Formal Disciples around them whose strength surpassed Li Sancai's.
"Hm?" Sensing someone watching him, Li Sancai instinctively looked over.
When he saw that familiar face, he froze for a moment as well.
He had not expected to run into him here.
Seeing this, Li Lingbi asked, "What's wrong, Cousin?"
Li Sancai replied, "I saw an acquaintance."
Li Lingbi smiled and asked, "Should we wait for you?"
Li Sancai hurriedly shook his head. "No need."
Indeed, he and Xu Changqing did have some connection.
But their relationship had not reached that level.
Besides, his younger cousin had come to Red Maple Valley Market on urgent business.
Thus, he merely nodded to Xu Changqing as a greeting.
Afterward, the group led by Li Lingbi continued onward.
Before long, they arrived at the entrance of the Farmer's Heart Society trading point.
Nearly ten people quickly came out to greet them.
"Who do I have the honor of receiving? So it is Senior Brother Ling Bi!" At the head of the group was a female disciple with a Wood Spirit Root, delicate features, and a slender figure. Several handsome male Water Spirit Root Dao companions followed at her side.
"Junior Sister Lu!"
Li Lingbi teased, "It has been a long time. You've changed Dao companions again."
Lu Yuanyuan smiled faintly. "Even spirit plants get replaced once a year!"
In other words, the Dao companions around her were just like the spirit plants in her Spirit Fields.
Once the time came, or she grew tired of them, she would replace them with a new batch.
There were new disciples every year, and handsome men were never in short supply.
Li Lingbi then entered the Farmer's Heart Society trading point with Lu Yuanyuan.
The onlookers gradually dispersed as well.
"Could Li Lingbi be here to purchase resources?" Xu Changqing pondered.
This showed just how frenzied the competition for resources had become.
Even core disciples had no choice but to seek help from the Farmer's Heart Society.
Therefore, if he wanted to earn more, especially if he wanted to come into contact with people of that level,
he could not merely grow Spirit Rice. He needed spirit plants that others could not do without.
Xu Changqing was not a rigid and pedantic man.
When it was time to lie low, he certainly had to lie low.
But when an opportunity came, he had to seize it as well.
He had already made up his mind. When spring arrived, he would not only grow Spirit Rice.
Only by working hard to increase his own value could he avoid being manipulated by people like Zhang Er.
He might even have a chance to negotiate with a colossal force like the Farmer's Heart Society.
By evening,
Xu Changqing rode a Flying Paper Crane back to the Spirit Field Core.
This trip had greatly broadened both his gains and his horizons.
His home was unchanged from when he had left, blanketed everywhere in heavy snow.
After settling everything, he finally released Little Yellow Dog from the Spirit Beast Pouch.
Having been brought somewhere unfamiliar, he looked nervous and kept examining his surroundings.
"From now on, this is your home."
"Don't pee everywhere, all right?"
"When it gets warmer, you'll have to go outside and watch the fields!"
Xu Changqing reached out and stroked the little fellow's fluffy head.
Then he began preparing dinner.
Since he had a pet now, and a spirit beast at that,
the portions had to be slightly larger than before.
In any case, he still had several hundred catties of Second-Grade Spirit Rice on him, so there was no need to worry about food.
Outside, the cold wind howled.
Snowflakes drifted slowly down from the sky.
The entire world grew colder and colder.
The light also became dimmer and dimmer.
Inside the crude wooden hut, before the narrow dining table,
one man and one dog ate Second-Grade Spirit Rice and drank Grade-One Spirit Rice Wine.
Though it was somewhat lonely and monotonous, it carried a flavor all its own.
"A toast to myself. I need to work even harder next year." Xu Changqing raised his cup and drained it in one gulp. Feeling the wine vapors spread continuously through his mouth, he smacked his lips.
"Woof, woof!" The little fellow barked twice, wagging his tail excitedly.
"All right, a toast to you too. You'll have to guard the house well from now on!" Xu Changqing grinned, refilled his cup, and lightly clinked it against the dog's water bowl.
And so, one cup after another.
By the end, he had barely eaten anything, but the wine had filled him up.
He had originally planned to stay up through the night to keep the New Year's vigil.
Yet before long, he fell asleep in a drunken haze.
"Fellow Daoist Xu!" After who knew how long, someone's voice called out from outside the house.
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