After seeing Xu Qiuhui off, Li An sat quietly in his shop, deep in thought.
The Clear Sun Sect had acquired the Yin-Yang Demonic Furnace Technique over a decade ago—this aligned with so information Li An had previously gathered.
Mu Qingwan, it seed, had once been selected as a furnace.
However, the version obtained by the sect was likely no more than the “simplified” version now spreading across the realm. If it were complete, they wouldn’t have needed years to deduce the technique’s side effects.
As for the issue with Spiritual Root advancent, the complete version in Li An’s possession contained detailed explanations.
What surprised him most, however, was that he had sohow beco a Foundation Establishnt demonic cultivator’s inner demon…
Are demonic cultivators these days really so fragile?
No matter how he thought about it, it all seed ridiculous.
But such details no longer mattered.
From Xu Qiuhui’s words, it was clear—the Clear Sun Sect had resolved to use Li An as bait!
Even if they caught the “fish,” the bait would likely be consud…
His first thought was to escape.
But that was extrely risky. Xu Qiuhui was already monitoring him—it would be hard to find a chance. Even if he managed to flee using the Shifting Body Technique, he’d still be hunted by both the sect and the Demon Sect.
And if he stayed?
Then, as Xu Qiuhui had said, he would surely face an attempt on his life from the demonic cultivators.
To ensure success, the Clear Sun Sect would surely have hidden experts lying in wait. But would those experts care whether Li An lived or died? Likely not. They would allow the "fish" to swallow the bait entirely before striking.
In short: Li An was a sacrificial piece in the sect’s plan.
Why else would Xu Qiuhui advise him to hurry and leave a child with Tan Qingxue?
"The Demon Sect has already been drawn to spirit herb. So, from their perspective, they won’t try to kill imdiately—doing so would alert the sect and make stealing the spirit herb more difficult. But once they have the spirit herb, they’ll definitely want dead. Horse Face of Death would never allow his inner demon to live."
Li An analyzed calmly.
“To strike both targets at once would be ideal—one team to seize the spirit herb, another to enter the market and kill .”
That realization lit a spark in Li An’s eyes.
If he were to face Horse Face of Death, a Foundation Establishnt cultivator, he would indeed feel hopeless.
He was only at the Peak of the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining—against such a foe, his survival chances were slim.
But if the attackers were other demonic cultivators, those under the Foundation Establishnt stage… then he had hope.
As for Horse Face of Death—he would most likely go for the spirit herb himself.
After all, Li An would always be available for killing, but rare spirit herb were not always within reach.
Moreover, the Demon Sect surely knew the sect would deploy stronger defenses around the spirit herb. It would take soone powerful like Horse Face of Death to lead that front.
This thought steadied Li An’s heart.
He began ntally deducing the likely flow of events—
“They probably won’t attack the market directly, but sneak in and try to assassinate from within. The Talisman Shop will be the center of it all. At that ti, sect experts will be lying in wait nearby. My goal is to hold out—the longer I last, the higher my chances of survival.”
He’d found the key:
The Clear Sun Sect’s greatest fear was that the attacking demonic cultivators would be too strong, killing Li An instantly.
Even if they had hidden experts, they might not intervene if it happened too quickly.
But if Li An could stall and fight back, those hidden experts would have to act.
They couldn’t afford to wait too long either.
“Right now, I’ve got twenty High-Grade First-Rank Talismans, two High-Grade First-Rank Artifacts, and my Iron Tree Art has reached the Silver Flesh stage. I can survive against a Seventh or Eighth Layer cultivator for a while.”
“But it’s not enough.”
He murmured softly.
Then he checked his spirit stones.
After years of accumulation—and the spoils from killing a demonic cultivator—he had over 2,100 spirit stones.
A true fortune.
As he stared at the pile of spirit stones, an idea began forming in his mind…
That night.
Tan Qingxue had dressed herself, more alluring than ever, a perfect blend of innocence and seduction.
“Li Lang, why are you not happy today? Is it because of Sister Xu?”
She clung to him, asking gently.
“I’m worried,” Li An sighed. “The Demon Sect is so rampant, and I’ve offended a powerful demonic cultivator… if anything happens, what then?”
Tan Qingxue replied, “Li Lang, don’t worry too much. Once the sect wipes out the demons, we’ll be safe.”
Li An nodded. “Still… if we wish to raise a child, we must prepare for the long haul.”
Tan Qingxue was thrilled. “Li Lang, you’ve finally co around! What’s the plan? I’ll follow your lead!”
“I plan to buy a Second-Rank Defensive Array to protect the Talisman Shop. With that, we’ll be truly safe.”
A Second-Rank Array?
Tan Qingxue couldn’t help but giggle inwardly. Wasn’t Li Lang… a bit too cautious?
This was Sect's Market, one of the safest places under the Clear Sun Sect, and yet he wanted to install a second-rank formation? That was bordering on paranoia.
Second-Rank Arrays were made to resist Foundation Establishnt cultivators!
Still, she was already in high spirits. She leaned in close, whispering hotly in Li An’s ear: “If you spend everything today… tomorrow, I’ll spend everything on you. Buy whatever you want…”
The next morning.
Li An stayed ho. Tan Qingxue went out.
Following his instructions, she headed to the Array Shop.
Normally, they wouldn’t have any Second-Rank Arrays in stock. But years ago, a Foundation Establishnt clan had custom-ordered one and was wiped out by Horse Face of Death before retrieving it. The array had been sitting in storage ever since.
Li An had been eyeing that array for years but had never needed it—until now.
By midday, Tan Qingxue returned with the array.
“It still cost 3,500 spirit stones after all my haggling… Li Lang, just for your peace of mind, we’ve basically drained our savings.”
Even with last night’s ntal preparation, spending such a vast amount still stung.
With 3,500 spirit stones, one could almost buy a Foundation Establishnt Pill. Or raise a small cultivation clan.
“Thank you, Qingxue!”
Li An spoke with heartfelt gratitude, and without hesitation began installing the array.
Unlike the damaged array from before, this was a complete Second-Rank Formation. Just running it consud about 100 spirit stones per day!
Even with Li An’s steady inco, he could only barely sustain it.
Tan Qingxue didn’t understand.
But seeing Li An work so earnestly, she said nothing. She quietly went to prepare dinner.
Three days passed in a flash.
That evening, Xu Qiuhui returned once more.
“Qingxue, do you have a mont? Co out with .”
She didn’t reveal the truth.
“Huh? Right now?” Tan Qingxue was in the kitchen making soup and looked surprised. “Are you in a hurry? If not, let finish cooking first. It’s Li Lang’s Nourishing Vitality Soup—he has it every night…”
Xu Qiuhui sighed softly and waited patiently.
Tan Qingxue carefully tended the stove. Once the soup was done, she brought it over and placed it on the table, gently telling Li An:
“Li Lang, I’ve set the soup here. Drink it while it’s hot. I’ll head out with Sister Xu for a bit…”
Li An was silent for a mont.
Then he suddenly said,
“Wait.”
“Hm? What is it, Li Lang?”
Li An stood, gently smoothed her hair, and brushed off a bit of kitchen soot from her shoulder. Only then did he say, “Go on. Once you’re out, be careful—every step.”
Tan Qingxue smiled sweetly. Not minding that Xu Qiuhui was still waiting outside, she leaned in, hugged Li An softly, and kissed him.
“I’ll be back soon—wait for .”
She left, following Xu Qiuhui.
Li An sat alone in the room, silently waiting.
The soup had not even cooled yet when multiple figures appeared inside the Talisman Shop—all disciples of the Clear Sun Sect. Leading them was none other than Jing Ao, soone Li An had t before.
He had now reached Foundation Establishnt.
“Talisman Master Li, we et again.”
He smiled. “Senior Sister Qiuhui said you’ve set up a Second-Rank Array here?”
Li An said nothing. He simply picked up the bowl of Nourishing Vitality Soup and took a sip.
The soup was rich, flavorful, and warm as it slid down his throat.
…
(End of Chapter)
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