DIV Chapter 48: A New Favor

Zheng Qingqing gave her conditions.

As long as Li Chang'an was willing to become a guest elder, she would help Li Chang'an enter the Zheng family's library and freely select a wood-attribute cultivation technique.

The Eternal Spring Technique that Li Chang'an currently practiced was really too ordinary.

Even among low-grade techniques, it was considered inferior, not much better than defective techniques. It provided little help to his cultivation and was even somewhat of a hindrance.

If he could obtain a better technique, his efficiency in absorbing spiritual energy would greatly increase, and his cultivation speed would be faster.

"The Zheng family's library should have mid-grade wood-attribute techniques," Li Chang'an thought.

He had to admit he was somewhat tempted but he still refused.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Young Miss, but I truly lack the capacity to take on the duties of a guest elder."

"Since Fellow Daoist Li is unwilling, I won't force it," Zheng Qingqing smiled brightly, her tone remaining gentle.

She had expected this.

Coming here today wasn't really to make Li Chang'an a guest elder, but to discuss a business deal.

"Fellow Daoist Li, I wonder how many mid-grade talismans you can draw each month?"

"This..." Li Chang'an thought briefly, then said, "Currently my magical power is somewhat weak, so I can't draw many."

After some discussion, Zheng Qingqing proposed a trade.

Going forward, Li Chang'an would steadily provide the Zheng family with a batch of mid-grade talismans each month, and the Zheng family would pay according to market prices.

This was equivalent to Li Chang'an having a fixed sales channel.

Of course he wouldn't refuse.

Before signing the trade contract, to verify his talisman-drawing ability, he directly drew a mid-grade "Wind Escape Talisman" in front of Zheng Qingqing.

Afterward, both parties signed the contract.

This contract placed very loose constraints on Li Chang'an. Even if he couldn't provide talismans on time, it wouldn't matter much, and he could unilaterally break the contract at any time.

This made him very satisfied.

"Now that the spirit contract is formed, I won't disturb Fellow Daoist Li any further," Zheng Qingqing smiled charmingly, put away the spirit contract, and took her leave.

...

After returning, she handed that Wind Escape Talisman to Zheng Ling'er.

"Ling'er, Li Chang'an's talisman skills have indeed broken through. He's become a mid-grade talisman master."

"He actually broke through?" Zheng Ling'er was surprised, looking at that Wind Escape Talisman.

No matter what, skills couldn't be faked.

Zheng Qingqing smiled, "Ling'er, if you're looking for someone to entrust your life to, Li Chang'an is actually a very good choice."

"But... but he ultimately lacks the potential for Foundation Establishment..." Zheng Ling'er's heart was conflicted, her ten fingers all twisted together.

...

For the following period, Li Chang'an's cultivation was relatively peaceful.

Perhaps due to Zheng Qingqing's intimidation, neither Zheng Lingfeng nor Zheng Jinbao came to trouble him again.

Before he knew it, a month had passed.

"It's time for the agreed trade with the Zheng family," Li Chang'an calculated the time and had already prepared a batch of mid-grade talismans.

According to the agreement, for the first trade, Zheng Qingqing would personally come to collect them.

At this moment, Zheng Qingqing hadn't arrived yet, but another female cultivator had come to his door.

Liu Yue!

She had slender eyes and brows, slightly pursed vermillion lips, and a graceful figure, carefully dressed up.

During this period, Liu Yue had thought for a long time.

"Although Li Chang'an doesn't have mid-grade talisman inheritance, being able to live in this area clearly shows he has considerable ability, and he's much younger than Luo Kun..."

As long as she could become dao companions with Li Chang'an, she could share this cultivation spiritual land with him.

Although he was somewhat rigid, Liu Yue was quite confident in her own charm.

Just then, a familiar voice appeared by Liu Yue's ear.

"Fellow Daoist Liu, do you also have business with Fellow Daoist Li?"

Liu Yue was startled and looked toward the voice.

The speaker was none other than the Zheng family's young miss, Zheng Qingqing.

"Young Miss," Liu Yue immediately adopted a respectful demeanor.

She thought about the word "also" in Zheng Qingqing's words, and her heart immediately filled with disbelief.

"Young Miss, you're also here to see Li Chang'an?"

Liu Yue really couldn't imagine what business the Zheng family's young miss could have with Li Chang'an. The disparity in their strength and status was too great.

"Fellow Daoist Li and I have a prior arrangement," Zheng Qingqing smiled without explaining further.

She then came to the courtyard gate and knocked.

Inside the house, Li Chang'an heard the sound, got up, and went outside to open the gate.

What surprised him was that outside the gate were not only Zheng Qingqing, but also Liu Yue.

"Young Miss, Fellow Daoist Liu," Li Chang'an cupped his hands and invited both women into the courtyard.

Afterward, according to their agreement, he handed the prepared first-tier mid-grade talismans to Zheng Qingqing.

"Young Miss, these are this month's talismans. Please count them."

"No need, I trust Fellow Daoist Li," Zheng Qingqing's expression was gentle as she took the talismans with her fair hands and handed Li Chang'an the spirit stones for purchasing the talismans.

Seeing this scene, Liu Yue's mouth opened slightly as she stared at those talismans in shock.

With her talisman accomplishments, she could naturally see that the talismans in this transaction were not low-grade talismans at all!

In other words, Li Chang'an could already draw mid-grade talismans!

His talisman skills were far higher than what he had shown publicly!

"Fellow Daoist Li, you... you're already a mid-grade talisman master?" Liu Yue's beautiful eyes flickered as she looked at Li Chang'an, unable to help asking.

Li Chang'an smiled and nodded, "I was fortunate to obtain a mid-grade talisman inheritance and just broke through recently."

Hearing him admit it personally, Liu Yue was even more shocked, and many of her doubts were instantly resolved.

No wonder Li Chang'an could live in this area rich in spiritual energy.

The talent he now displayed was much stronger than that old man Luo Kun!

Worth the Zheng family's courting.

"By the way, Fellow Daoist Liu, I wonder what brings you here?" Li Chang'an put away the spirit stones and looked at Liu Yue.

"I..." Liu Yue's thoughts raced as she answered, "I've recently had many doubts about the talisman path. I came today to discuss them with Fellow Daoist Li."

"I see," Li Chang'an nodded slightly, seeming to believe her.

But he was clear in his heart.

Previously, he hadn't displayed mid-grade talisman skills.

If this Liu Yue had doubts about the talisman path, it would be better for her to find Luo Kun next door. What use would finding him be?

Not long after, Zheng Qingqing took her leave.

Before leaving, she looked at Liu Yue meaningfully.

"Fellow Daoist Li, my previous promise to you still stands. As long as you change your mind, I can introduce you to a Zheng family clan woman with spiritual roots at any time."

She suddenly spoke to Li Chang'an about this matter.

Li Chang'an was startled.

He politely said, "Thank you for your regard, Young Miss, but I truly don't have such thoughts right now."

Hearing this, Zheng Qingqing smiled and said no more, turning to leave the courtyard.

In the courtyard, Liu Yue looked incredulous.

"Fellow Daoist Li, the Zheng family plans to recruit you as a son-in-law?"

"Mm, the Young Miss has already introduced one to me."

Hearing him say this, Liu Yue found it even more unbelievable.

She had already been introduced to one.

Looking at the current situation, Li Chang'an clearly hadn't agreed.

"Many rogue cultivators outside want to cross the Zheng family's threshold and can only marry ordinary Zheng family women without spiritual roots, not daring to hope for Zheng family clan women with spiritual roots... yet Li Chang'an actually refused!"

Thinking of this, Liu Yue immediately felt somewhat defeated.

Li Chang'an didn't even think highly of Zheng family clan women with spiritual roots. Would he think highly of her?

Afterward, Liu Yue began asking about talisman skills.

She did everything she could, trying to make Li Chang'an look at her more.

But Li Chang'an remained rigid throughout, only discussing talismans and giving her no opportunities whatsoever.

In the end, Liu Yue had no choice but to leave.

...

Over the following months, Li Chang'an's trade with the Zheng family proceeded smoothly.

During this period, Liu Yue came several times, but each time Li Chang'an casually found reasons to send her away.

News of Li Chang'an becoming a mid-grade talisman master also gradually spread throughout the market.

Many people were quite surprised when they heard this news.

The most surprised was none other than Luo Kun, who lived next door.

"That kid actually has mid-grade talisman inheritance, and advanced so quickly?"

Hearing this news, Luo Kun was stunned for a long time.

He had once said that Li Chang'an was too rigid and wouldn't achieve much in the talisman path.

But Li Chang'an said nothing, only using his own strength to respond to his past words.

Thinking of this, Luo Kun felt stifled in his heart, and even drinking had no flavor.

"That kid actually hid so deeply. No wonder the Zheng family values him."

In the cultivation world, being young represented potential.

Li Chang'an was decades younger than him!

It was normal for the Zheng family to value Li Chang'an more.

But Luo Kun refused to accept his age and secretly became competitive.

"Hmph, this old man will definitely draw high-quality mid-grade talismans before he does."

High-quality talismans of every grade were more valuable than ordinary talismans of that grade, and much more difficult to create.

Luo Kun was confident that his understanding of the talisman path was deeper.

He would definitely be able to draw high-quality ones before Li Chang'an.

...

During this time, Li Chang'an paid no attention to outside reactions.

He maintained focus, daily rotating between cultivation, drawing talismans, and crafting puppets, never wasting any time.

"Under the borrowing technique state, the success rate for drawing first-tier superior-grade talismans has exceeded eighty percent," Li Chang'an thought silently.

Such a success rate was already quite remarkable.

At this moment, a new divination appeared before his eyes.

[Divination has been refreshed]

[Today's Divination: Auspicious]

[You go to the black market to sell talismans. Midway, you discover that Zheng family elder "Zheng Songhе" and his granddaughter "Zheng Ling'er" are being ambushed by two late-stage Qi Refining experts. You save them in passing and gain the Zheng family's favor]

"A Zheng family favor?" Li Chang'an's heart stirred.

If he gained this favor, could he enter the Zheng family's library?

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