"Brother Lin, I think the little princess isn't too bad. She didn't look down on us at all."
After leaving Clearwater Bay, the two rode spirit steeds borrowed from the Zhou family. This time, they weren't rushing—taking it slow was a rare luxury when traveling.
"She's a good person?"
Hearing Er Niu's praise, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but be speechless. That young lady might look sweet and simple, but she's grown up—and far from naive.
She had barely arrived when word spread in the market and drew in a crowd. That normal?
From a purely profit-driven perspective, Yun Yao had certainly gained reputation and goodwill from the event.
How many Foundation Establishment Pills does a sect actually have? After allocating to those with status, lineage, or deep connections, how many are really left?
Even among cultivators with top-grade spiritual roots, Yun Yao wasn't particularly advantaged.
Reputation and goodwill may not seem important—but they're better than doing nothing at all.
Of course, that was just his take on things from a pragmatic standpoint. Judging by how Yun Yao treated them, it wasn't all for show.
"Well, it's good enough she didn't look down on us. If Fellow Daoist Yun reaches Foundation Establishment someday, we might benefit from that too."
Lin Chang'an changed the subject, smiling as he talked about the potential perks of Yun Yao's future success.
Er Niu's eyes lit up with longing. He sighed. "A Foundation Establishment cultivator… even in the Zhou family, I've only seen one from afar."
"But we probably shouldn't call her 'Little Princess' anymore."
With that, Li Er Niu sighed again. The image of that noble young girl had already faded in his mind, replaced by the valiant Qi Condensation ninth-layer cultivator, Yun Yao.
Hearing Er Niu's musings, Lin Chang'an chuckled and shook his head. Still seated atop the spirit steed, he lowered his head to study the Longevity Art Manuscript in his hand.
It was a notebook filled with insights on the Longevity Art from Elder Lu, a late-stage Qi Condensation cultivator.
[Longevity Art +10 (Mastery: 23/1000)]
As the newly gained insights appeared in his mind, Lin Chang'an's expression brightened with realization.
"So a technique's proficiency can improve rapidly with guidance from a senior's experiences. If that's the case, it should work the same way for talisman-making."
It's like the difference between fumbling your way through cultivation and suddenly receiving a step-by-step guide from someone experienced.
Naturally, the latter is far more efficient.
The biggest gain from this trip was this very gift, which Lu Qingqing had given them on behalf of Elder Lu before they left.
Li Er Niu received an original scroll of a certain chamber cultivation secret art called "Dragon Coils the Pearl", something Elder Lu had acquired by chance.
But Lin Chang'an's manuscript—elegantly penned in delicate handwriting with a faint fragrance of ink and orchid—was clearly a hand-copied version written by Lu Qingqing herself.
"Looks like this little junior sister is quite thoughtful," Lin Chang'an smiled.
Though he didn't know what gifts were given to Shen Lie and Yun Yao, both he and Er Niu had taken a liking to Lu Qingqing despite barely speaking with her.
And not just them. Even someone like Wei Buyi—who hadn't gained anything—might secretly remember this junior sister fondly.
Lin Chang'an shook his head and, once they had exited the safety zone of the market, stored the manuscript away in his storage pouch.
After all, they were still out in the wild. Better safe than sorry.
"Brother Lin, is that a storage pouch?" Li Er Niu looked at it with envy. He had seen them before, but three spirit stones? That was far too expensive.
It wasn't that he couldn't afford it—he just figured the stones would be better spent on cultivation.
Seeing Er Niu's envious look, Lin Chang'an smiled and encouraged him.
"Don't worry, Er Niu. One day, you'll have one too."
"Come on, Brother Lin, don't tease me. If I had three spirit stones, I'd rather buy a few dozen pounds of high-grade beast meat for cultivation."
Er Niu waved his hands quickly—he knew he had no talent for talisman-making.
Even though they were both Qi Condensation fourth-layer cultivators, those with a specialized skill far outperformed ordinary cultivators.
If he could draw even a single mid-grade talisman, it could sell for three spirit stones or more. After expenses, it wouldn't be hard to earn ten or more low-grade spirit stones a month.
As for someone like Er Niu—with no skill, only luck—he had married into the Zhou family's beast-taming branch. Thanks to that, he got a few spirit stones every month.
Most cultivators, however, could only risk their lives hunting beasts in the wild for cultivation resources—where danger and reward went hand in hand.
Among the mountain ranges, the two rode toward Qingzhu Mountain Market.
The Zhou family wasn't called "Beast Tamers" for nothing.
These spirit steeds could cover a thousand miles a day, and traverse rivers and mountains with ease.
On their way to Clearwater Bay, they had traveled day and night, reaching it in three days. This time, they were taking their time.
They were now just a day's journey from Qingzhu Mountain Market.
"Er Niu."
As they reached a mountain forest, Lin Chang'an suddenly frowned and spoke.
"Brother Lin?"
The trust between them since they first entered the cultivation world hadn't faded. Er Niu's hand had already gripped his broadsword.
"More and more rogue cultivators have been coming near the market lately. This place is less than a day away, the terrain's tricky—perfect for an ambush."
"Ambush?!"
Er Niu frowned, then said in a low voice, "Should we take a detour, just to be safe?"
Without hesitation, Lin Chang'an nodded and turned his steed.
"Er Niu, take these two high-grade Golden Light Talismans, and this Swiftstride Talisman."
"Got it."
Er Niu didn't hesitate at all and took the talismans immediately.
"What's going on? Why did those two turn back all of a sudden?"
In the forest ahead, several cultivators hidden among the trees exchanged confused looks.
Their leader, a fierce-looking man with a murderous air, scowled.
"Forget it. Just two early-stage Qi Condensation guys, definitely outsiders trying their luck."
"Boss is right. Life's tough. We grab some spirit crystals, we get beast meat to eat."
In the woods, six figures quickly pursued Lin Chang'an and Er Niu.
As they reached a section of forest and saw their targets within reach, excitement surged.
But the leader's eyes suddenly widened in alarm.
The two spirit steeds ahead were carrying straw dummies—wrapped in cloaks and tied with branches.
"Damn! It's a trap!"
Just then, a sharp whistling sound burst from behind them, followed by waves of scorching heat.
As the ambushers turned, their terrified eyes reflected over a dozen flaming orbs the size of lanterns.
"Just a bunch of rogue cultivators, and you dare act up near Qingzhu Mountain?!"
Er Niu roared, charging in from the rear with a powerful aura to intimidate them.
"No way! You're both mid-stage Qi Condensation!"
The rogue cultivator leader—first to realize it—turned to flee, only to run straight into Er Niu, broadsword in hand.
In that instant, his eyes went wide.
What the hell!
Qi Condensation 4th-layer and you're pretending to be newbies?!
At that moment, a tree nearby suddenly lit up with green light.
"A sneak attack?! Damn it!"
The leader was terrified. These two were more skilled at ambushing than the robbers themselves.
It was Lin Chang'an, who had used Invisibility Technique to blend in with the tree. The moment he launched his attack, the spell faded.