DIV Chapter 33: The Zheng Family Recruits Guest Officials

Under normal circumstances, disciples of families and sects had superior cultivation techniques, spells, and magical artifacts compared to rogue cultivators.

Because of this, when cultivation levels were equal, rogue cultivators' strength was often weaker than that of family and sect cultivators.

However, rogue cultivators often had more ruthless temperaments.

In life-and-death battles, it was hard to predict who would live or die.

Li Chang'an previously only knew a few of the most common low-grade wood element spells, so his combat abilities were mediocre.

"Learning too many low-grade spells is useless. Now I need better spells." He pondered while searching through the black market.

After a long time, he finally discovered a suitable mid-grade wood element spell called Green Vine Entanglement!

This spell had low consumption and moderate power, mainly used for trapping enemies.

"How many spirit stones for this Green Vine Entanglement?"

"Four hundred spirit stones, no bargaining!" The stall owner said lazily.

Li Chang'an frowned and said, "This isn't like a magical artifact with material costs, it can be copied freely, yet it's so expensive?"

"Precisely because it can be copied freely, that's why I sell it expensive."

The stall owner smiled and glanced at Li Chang'an.

He explained, "Fellow Daoist, once you learn this mid-grade spell, you'll have an advantage over those who only know low-grade spells."

"If I sold it too cheaply, causing everyone to know it, what advantage would you have left? I'm thinking of you!"

Li Chang'an was startled.

This reasoning sounded quite twisted, but thinking it over carefully, it really was the case.

The price of mid-grade spells was already a threshold for most rogue cultivators.

"Fine."

Li Chang'an threw out four hundred spirit stones and bought the spell.

After this, he searched for another half day and found two more suitable mid-grade wood element spells.

They were Green Profound Sword Qi and Wood Armor Spirit Shield.

One offensive, one defensive, perfect for him.

Of course, neither was cheap.

"Strange, I've searched so long but haven't found any body cultivation techniques, and I've barely discovered any escape techniques either."

Li Chang'an frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping back and forth across the stalls.

Body cultivation techniques were indeed too scarce.

As for escape techniques, Li Chang'an only found three low-grade escape methods: "Blood Burning Escape Technique," "Earth Escape Technique," and "Water Escape Technique."

The first consumed lifespan, while the latter two didn't match his spiritual roots.

"Are there no other escape techniques?"

Li Chang'an inquired of a stall owner who specialized in selling spells.

That stall owner shook his head, "Fellow Daoist, our small place only has these few. If you want better escape techniques, you could visit Yellow Crane Immortal City."

"Yellow Crane Immortal City?" Li Chang'an's heart stirred slightly.

Yellow Crane Immortal City was established by a Golden Core rogue cultivator called "Yellow Crane True Person" and was regarded as a sacred land by countless rogue cultivators.

Such a place would certainly have more treasures and greater opportunities for finding bargains.

However, it was quite far from Qinghe Market, and various accidents might occur on the journey.

Moreover, there were too many strong cultivators in the immortal city.

Li Chang'an had no plans to go there for now.

"By the way, it's said that the third leader of Black Wind Mountain has unparalleled escape techniques and can flee from the hands of Foundation Establishment experts."

The stall owner suddenly spoke, mentioning something he had heard.

"If Fellow Daoist has connections and sufficient resources, you could try trading with that person for escape techniques."

"Good, thank you for the information, Fellow Daoist."

Li Chang'an cupped his hands.

Afterwards, he bought some materials needed for puppet crafting and talisman drawing.

Perhaps because their origins were unclear, some items in the black market were cheaper than those in the regular market.

Even so, Li Chang'an's wealth shrank by a small amount.

"I still have over two thousand spirit stones left, enough for cultivation." He calculated in his mind.

Fortunately, he had saved the spirit stones for buying formation arrays and armor, otherwise his wealth would have shrunk even more.

"Time to return."

Li Chang'an took all of today's gains and set out on his return journey.

The journey back was quite peaceful, without encountering any other robber cultivators.

...

Just upon returning to the market, Li Chang'an ran into Chu Daniu and learned a new piece of information from him.

"The Zheng family is recruiting guest officials?"

The Zheng family had high requirements for guest officials, requiring at least mastery of one first-tier mid-grade skill.

Once becoming a guest official, one could receive the Zheng family's salary and enjoy various preferential treatments from the family.

If performance was outstanding, one might even enter the Zheng family's library and select various cultivation techniques and spells that were difficult to obtain elsewhere.

"Sigh, if only I could become a Zheng family guest official." Chu Daniu sighed.

He only had an inheritance for low-grade spiritual wine, while Li Chang'an outwardly only had a low-grade talisman inheritance.

Neither of them had any hope.

"Big Brother Li, do you know? Senior Luo has successfully drawn first-tier mid-grade talismans and has been hired by the Zheng family as a guest official."

"Senior Luo Kun?"

Li Chang'an remembered that person who very much enjoyed hearing flattery and compliments from juniors.

"Yes, Senior Luo Kun."

Chu Daniu's face was full of envy as he spoke of the news he had just learned.

This news had caused a sensation in their small circle of craftsmen, with almost everyone envying Luo Kun.

Speaking of this, Chu Daniu sighed again.

"Big Brother Li, back then Senior Luo promised to give you special guidance several times. You should have gone then!"

Mentioning this matter, Chu Daniu always felt regretful.

You must know that Luo Kun had never taken a disciple.

If Li Chang'an had performed better back then, he might have moved Luo Kun to consider taking a disciple.

The current Luo Kun had status and position far superior to before.

Getting his guidance again would be difficult now!

"The past is past, no need to mention it again."

Li Chang'an's expression remained unchanged, appearing very calm.

But Chu Daniu was unwilling to give up.

He still felt that Luo Kun's place was Li Chang'an's best chance to obtain mid-grade talisman inheritance.

"Big Brother Li, there's actually still a chance!" Chu Daniu suddenly lowered his voice.

He said to Li Chang'an, "When I was delivering wine to Senior Luo before, I heard that the Zheng family assigned him a residence near the market's core area, where the spiritual energy concentration reaches first-tier superior grade!"

"That's quite normal." Li Chang'an nodded, since guest officials were considered half family members.

The Zheng family's treatment of him certainly wouldn't be low.

Chu Daniu continued, "Big Brother Li, Senior Luo said that residence is too large, so he plans to hire some servants!"

"This is the opportunity you mentioned?"

Li Chang'an couldn't help but laugh.

Chu Daniu nodded vigorously.

"Big Brother Li, there's nothing wrong with being a servant. You could frequently interact with Senior Luo, and you could cultivate in that residence!"

Speaking of this, Chu Daniu couldn't help but show a longing expression.

Though he had spiritual wine skills, he could barely meet his daily cultivation needs and had no means to get himself a better residence.

"Big Brother Li, think about it, that residence has first-tier superior-grade spiritual energy concentration, much better than where we live now! As long as you can..."

"Daniu, actually I'm no longer living in the old place."

Li Chang'an spoke up at the right moment, interrupting Chu Daniu's words.

Chu Daniu was startled.

"Big Brother, what happened? Did someone force you to leave?"

"No, I just moved to a different residence and haven't had time to tell you all yet."

Li Chang'an's expression was gentle as he smiled and said.

He waved his hand, "Come on, I'll show you."

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