Xu Qiuhui’s warning put Li An on edge.
The small beast tide in the Spirit Beast Mountain Range had lasted nearly a year, with the mysterious beast’s whereabouts still unknown. Then the sect suddenly halted all related missions.
Now, Xu Qiuhui was telling him to be careful…
Sothing had definitely happened in the Spirit Beast Mountain Range, and it might even affect Spirit Plant Mountain!
He felt grateful for persistently building a connection with Xu Qiuhui.
One word from her could save him a lot of trouble and keep him inford.
…
Out of caution, he visited the outer sect’s Righteous Intent Residence, where registered disciples lived.
A nial at the gate handled visitor registration. After signing in, Wang Dazhu soon rushed out.
“Brother An, you finally ca! This is great!” Wang Dazhu was thrilled to see him.
To Li An’s surprise, Zhao Xianchuan ca out with him.
Zhao Xianchuan looked worn out, his spirit low. Seeing Li An, he managed a weak smile. “It’s been over half a year. Co on, let’s drink. My treat!”
…
Soon, they sat in a pavilion by the outer sect’s Moon Lake.
Li An shared that his spirit root was healed.
Wang Dazhu was ecstatic, raising cups to celebrate.
Even Zhao Xianchuan avoided any sharp remarks, acting friendly, as if he no longer held a grudge against Li An.
He drank quickly, his face soon flushed.
“Li An, congrats on fixing your spirit root… That’s great,” he slurred. “You’re smarter than . You know your place. I’m an idiot… From now on, we’re brothers. We’ll drink together, drink together!”
Drunk, he collapsed on the table, passed out.
Wang Dazhu sighed. “Last month, he went to Nurture Path Residence to see Mu Qingwan. He found her close with another guy. They fought, and the other guy broke his hand and got his official disciple status revoked…”
Li An was stunned.
Unlike them, Zhao Xianchuan ca from a cultivation family with Foundation Establishnt experts—a minor second-generation immortal, in a way.
To be humiliated like that?
“The guy’s Han Cheng, supposedly an inner sect elder’s grandson, at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining. His background and strength far outmatch Zhao Xianchuan’s…” Wang Dazhu explained. “This past month, Zhao’s been drowning his sorrows in drink, totally depressed…”
Li An got it. A second-generation t a stronger second-generation.
Initially, Zhao Xianchuan’s hostility toward Li An stemd from Li An’s closeness to Mu Qingwan during their entry batch.
Plus, Li An’s decent talent back then posed a threat.
Now, a failure himself, Zhao Xianchuan had adjusted to the sect’s harsh reality. Looking back, their early competition seed laughable.
So, feeling a shared struggle, his attitude toward Li An softened.
“Dazhu, do you know what’s going on with the Spirit Beast Mountain Range?” Li An asked, his tone serious, uninterested in the gossip.
Wang Dazhu shook his head. “Not much. We were doing simple missions on the outskirts. Then I heard sothing happened deeper in, like a Foundation Establishnt expert got hurt. After that, all missions stopped.”
A Foundation Establishnt expert hurt?
From Li An’s experience, if that was the rumor, the truth was likely worse.
Probably not just injured… but dead!
Otherwise, the Clear Sun Sect wouldn’t halt all missions over one injury.
Danger was brewing…
A sense of urgency hit him.
“Brother An, keep it up! In a year and a half, the sect’s big exam cos. You could beco a disciple!” Wang Dazhu said, hopeful.
Li An gave a wry smile.
It took him nearly two years to reach the Second Layer of Qi Refining.
Wang Dazhu and Zhao Xianchuan were already at the Third Layer.
He was still far behind.
…
That evening, Li An returned to Spirit Plant Mountain and ate dinner.
He imdiately started making talismans.
“Spirit Gathering Talismans are too basic, not much use…”
He focused, gripped his brush, and began working on Fla Talismans.
The first four sheets failed.
But with his breakthrough and the Super Sense Technique boosting his ntal control, the fifth sheet bore a vivid fla pattern, fully completed!
A Low Grade First Rank Fla Talisman, done!
The quality was solid—Li An figured it could seriously injure a Third Layer Qi Refining cultivator!
He didn’t stop, pushing through 40 sheets in one go.
Five successes!
Fla Talismans were much harder than Spirit Gathering Talismans, a Top Tier Low Grade First Rank Talisman. This success rate was decent.
His past life’s experience made it possible. A beginner would need at least half a year for one Fla Talisman.
“Fla Talismans are for attack. I need control and defense talismans too.”
He thought, then started on two other types.
Chill Wind Talisman created a three-ter wind zone lasting a few seconds, slowing enemies caught inside.
Earth Shield Talisman ford a defensive shield.
Both were as tricky as Fla Talismans.
Switching types cost him 13 sheets to make his first Chill Wind Talisman.
Soon, he completed four Chill Wind Talismans.
Fla and Chill Wind Talismans used up 76 sheets.
The four Chill Wind Talismans alone covered the cost of the papers.
Only 24 sheets remained.
“I need at least one Earth Shield Talisman!”
Li An focused intently.
On the 13th sheet, he made an Earth Shield Talisman!
“Ten high-quality talismans!”
Li An felt a bit safer.
Tucking the ten talismans into his sleeve, he fell into a deep sleep.
…
The next month, besides his daily Cloud and Rain Technique, Li An occasionally ventured into the forests near Spirit Plant Mountain.
He honed his Water Arrow Technique and scouted for changes, even probing a few miles deeper.
He dared because his talismans gave him confidence, and the Life Seed let him mask his aura, keeping him safe.
His Water Arrow Technique could now fire 20 tis in a row, launching four arrows at once with a 60-ter range!
That was the limit for the Second Layer of Qi Refining.
With talismans, he could likely take down a Third Layer cultivator instantly and even hold his own against a Fourth Layer!
“The forest has more beasts than before. Leopards and lynxes, not native here, are showing up… Sothing’s coming.”
One day, after killing a leopard with his Water Arrow Technique, Li An fell into thought.
Near Spirit Plant Mountain, there used to be only Stink Rat Wolves and rabbits. But lately, he’d killed multiple fierce beasts.
He had to prepare.
“The area’s surrounded by steep mountains. If sothing’s coming, this pass is the only way through.”
He scouted the area, using his past life’s experience to run ntal simulations.
What if it was a person?
What if it was a spirit beast?
How would he escape if danger hit?
He analyzed the terrain thoroughly. In one afternoon, he mapped out four relatively safe escape routes through the pass!
He planned where to set traps and hide, keeping everything clear in his mind.
“Knowing escape routes isn’t enough. If I’m not fast enough, I can’t get away—”
He decided he needed a movent technique.
“For early Qi Refining, Light Step Technique is the most practical!”
He started practicing in the forest, his figure darting between trees.
…
Back at his hut that evening, he prepared to make more talismans.
“Li An, you ho?” Zhang Susu knocked on his door.
Li An quickly hid his talisman papers and brush, then opened the door. “Sister Susu, what’s up?”
Over the past year, Zhang Susu had grown more mature and alluring, her figure curvier, her skin fairer, radiating charm.
She stepped into his room, closing the door behind her. Her face flushed, and she spoke softly. “Fan Jie’s been gone three days and won’t be back for a few more days. I’ve been struggling lately. Can you help out?”
Li An’s brow furrowed.
…
(Chapter End)
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