The mystery was quickly solved.
The Guardian Immortal Master walked out briskly to welcome.
"Fellow Talisman Master Shen, your visit brings radiance to my humble abode! I am Ding Mingyan, a guardian cultivator of Hongcheng County, and I have met with Talisman Master Shen."
Shen Xuan's Divine Sense subtly swept over Ding Mingyan, discovering that he had only reached the second level of Qi Cultivation.
"Talisman Master Shen Xuan, greetings Fellow Daoist Ding. This is my wife, Ding Yuyao, and my father-in-law, Ding Yifan."
"Ah! Mr. Ding, how could you have such a remarkable son-in-law and not mention it sooner!" Ding Mingyan immediately changed his expression.
"We've been acquaintances for over a decade, how could you hide this from me!"
Shen Xuan smiled and said, "Do not blame my father-in-law, Fellow Daoist Ding. My wife and I only returned for our first visit yesterday."
"Indeed. In the mortal world, amidst the dust of the mundane, it's unfavorable for cultivation, and Talisman Master Shen cannot easily descend."
Once inside the daoist temple, Ding Mingyan had someone bring excellent tea to entertain Shen Xuan and others.
"The drought in Hongcheng County, spellcasting for rain, was originally the responsibility of us guardian cultivators."
"However, the county magistrate of Hongcheng is truly repugnant, offering only a hundred taels of gold to brush me off."
"In three days, officials from Songjiang Prefecture will come to inspect the autumn harvest in Hongcheng County."
"I had initially planned to wait for the county magistrate to be held accountable before casting spells for rain."
"But since Talisman Master Shen is here, I will set up an altar to cast spells for rain tomorrow."
Something that seemed insurmountable in Ding Yifan's eyes, Shen Xuan hadn't even spoken, and Ding Mingyan had already willingly agreed.
"Thanks to Fellow Daoist Ding."
Shen Xuan handed over a premium Breath Concealment Talisman and a premium Invisibility Talisman.
Valued at two Spirit Stones.
Ding Mingyan's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly accepted them with both hands, but he said, "Talisman Master Shen, you're too polite. Such a trivial matter is not worth mentioning."
After returning, Hongcheng County posted a notice, declaring that the Guardian Immortal Master would set up an altar to perform rituals for rain.
The next day.
Ding Mingyan set up an altar at the mountaintop and cast spells, while Shen Xuan observed from the side.
With just one glance, Shen Xuan recognized that Ding Mingyan was using the Cloud Rain Technique, commonly employed by water cultivators in the Cultivation Realm.
However, water cultivators use it to gather spiritual rain to cultivate spirit plants.
But Ding Mingyan only used it to accumulate ordinary clouds and transform them into falling rain.
Rainwater without Spiritual Qi naturally lacked the Power of Vitality usually contained in water magic.
Shen Xuan watched for a while, and after half an hour of casting spells, Ding Mingyan managed to bring about five millimeters of rainwater, exhausting his Spiritual Power and leaving him panting heavily.
"Fellow Daoist Li, let me give it a try!"
Shen Xuan had also learned the Cloud Rain Technique, though seldom used.
At this moment.
He felt an itch to try.
"Sure."
Ding Mingyan quickly stepped aside.
Shen Xuan stood at the altar, recalling the spell formula for the Cloud Rain Technique in his mind.
He remembered that back then, it would bring spiritual rain over a radius of ten zhang, nourishing the spirit fields to increase the yield of Spirit Rice.
At this moment, the Spiritual Power within him was at least ten times what it was back then!
And he had acquired the Water Control Talent.
The Cloud Rain Technique had improved from entry level to proficiency.
Shen Xuan operated the Divine Hidden Sea Technique, and the abundant Spiritual Power in his body suddenly erupted, with the Five Elements revolving, surging like a vast ocean.
Talent: Mastery of Water Control (3/400)
Cloud Rain Technique: Proficient (28/200)
On the Mysterious Jade Talisman, ancient golden characters flickered and changed.
Shen Xuan formulated the spell, and the sky abruptly changed color, thick dark clouds descended, layered upon each other, magnitudes greater than what Ding Mingyan had conjured.
A thunderous crash streaked across.
The sky seemed to tear open, fierce winds arose, and torrential rains poured down like waterfalls.
Ding Mingyan was instantly paralyzed with astonishment, taking a long time to recover.
Is this a Talisman Master?
The same Cloud Rain Technique, why did it possess such immense momentum in Talisman Master Shen's hands!
The coverage area was dozens of times his own!
Encompassing the entire town of Hongcheng County.
After half an hour.
Ding Mingyan seemed to think of something.
"Talisman Master Shen, enough! The rainwater is sufficient! Please stop gathering the clouds, or else the drought will become a flood, and that would be even more troublesome!"
"Oh."
Shen Xuan seemed slightly unfulfilled.
Just now, during the spellcasting, he felt the Water Control Technique improve slightly.
Talent: Mastery of Water Control (6/400)
After advancing to the mastery stage, the proficiency of the Water Control Talent improved very slowly.
That day.
There was jubilation throughout Hongcheng County.
The heavy rain lasted for a day and a night, bringing two inches of rain, more than sufficient to relieve the drought.
...
Ding Yifan and his wife looked at the invitation cards before them, feeling as if everything was a dream.
The owners of these invitation cards were all wealthy or noble, the true power holders of Hongcheng County.
Even the previously gravely ill county magistrate suddenly recovered and personally visited to apologize to Ding Yifan.
As soon as the county magistrate left, the commissioner from Songjiang Prefecture personally came to visit, expressing concern.
Then came the appointment letter for the County Magistrate of Hongcheng County.
Upon hearing that Talisman Master Shen and his wife had returned to Cyan Dragon Bay, the commissioner expressed great regret.
"If your noble son-in-law should return, please inform this official, Mr. Ding."
"I shall comply, your honor!" Ding Yifan replied respectfully.
He knew in his heart that everything they reaped today was because of a good daughter and a good son-in-law!
...
After casting spells for rain on the mountaintop of the daoist temple, Shen Xuan stayed with the Ding Family for two days, then set off back with Ding Yuyao.
During this time, Ding Yuyao was overwhelmed by her brother, sister-in-law, elder sister, brother-in-law, and a large group of nephews and nieces.
Under the guise of maintaining relationships, they explicitly and implicitly sought spiritual elixirs, talismans, Spirit Stones, and so on from her.
There were rumors that Ding Yuyao had a fortunate life, marrying an Immortal Master with impressive powers, who was immortal and ever-young, possessing countless spiritual elixirs and talismans.
The initial family affection slowly changed in the face of constant demands from relatives.
After staying too long in the secular mortal world, even breathing felt unrelaxed.
The skin seemed to lose its delicate smoothness.
Therefore, after some contemplation, Ding Yuyao decisively decided to return early to Cyan Dragon Bay Market with her husband.
This visit to see her parents and siblings had also resolved a personal matter.
Ding Yuyao no longer yearned for life in Hongcheng County.
Compared to Cyan Dragon Bay Market, there was no Spiritual Qi to nourish, no delicious Spirit Rice or Demon Beast Meat here.
Moreover, aging was exceptionally rapid!
She hoped to live with her husband in Cyan Dragon Bay Market, in harmony and growing old together.
...
"Thank you, Talisman Master Shen!" Receiving a Spirit Stone, the coachman Old Liu thanked profusely.
"If Talisman Master Shen needs to go out, just instruct me."
"Alright. I will look for you next time."
Shen Xuan was quite satisfied with Old Liu's service.
He wasn't talkative, was familiar with the human and geographical landscapes of the secular mortal world, making for a good guide.
As soon as he entered the house, Zhao Chunsheng hurriedly came by.
"Talisman Master Shen, do you still have any of the premium Rejuvenation Talismans from last time?"
"I have some, but not much left."
"Why don't you make more?"
"I just returned from visiting with my wife."
"Sigh! Talisman Master Shen, your premium Rejuvenation Talismans have gone up in price!"
It turned out that Zhao Chunsheng had taken some of the premium Rejuvenation Talismans to sell.
Some Demon Hunters, upon being injured during the hunt for Demon Beasts and using Shen Xuan's premium Rejuvenation Talisman, found the effects surprisingly good.
They approached Zhao Chunsheng, requesting to purchase this special water magic premium Rejuvenation Talisman by name.
"Previously, they had been using wood magic Rejuvenation Talismans. It was only for my sake that they bought some of these water magic Rejuvenation Talismans, but unexpectedly, they worked so well!"
Zhao Chunsheng rubbed his hands together, as if seeing the sparkling Spirit Stones beckoning him.