DIV Chapter 24: Inheritance Obtained

"Mid-grade spiritual roots?" Zheng Qingqing seemed somewhat helpless.

In the cultivation world, inferior spiritual roots and low-grade spiritual roots made up the majority.

Most rogue cultivators had these two types of spiritual roots.

After all, cultivators with mid-grade spiritual roots basically had no problem joining sects.

With such talent, as long as they didn't lack resources, Foundation Establishment was very promising.

"Ling'er, cultivators with mid-grade spiritual roots are either sect disciples or prodigies from other families, all with pride in their hearts," Zheng Qingqing said gently, continuing to persuade.

"If you become Dao companions with such cultivators, you'll inevitably suffer grievances."

"But mid-grade spiritual root cultivators have greater hope for Foundation Establishment. If I could marry a Foundation Establishment great cultivator, even suffering grievances would be worth it."

Zheng Ling'er lowered her beautiful eyes, still persisting in her own thoughts.

Hearing this, Zheng Qingqing could only sigh softly.

"Fine then. After the auction ends, you can get to know each other first."

...

Below, the puppet auction had ended.

Li Chang'an won it in the end.

He spent a total of sixty-eight spirit stones.

As a low-grade talisman master, exposing this level of wealth wasn't significant.

After this, the auction items that many cultivators were looking forward to, such as first-tier mid-grade skill inheritances and auxiliary medicines for Foundation Establishment Pills, appeared one after another.

The atmosphere of the entire auction continued to rise.

Li Chang'an made no more moves.

Among them, those few Foundation Establishment Pill auxiliary medicines made his heart skip a beat, but he just watched quietly.

Foundation Establishment Pills were different from other pills.

Their formulas were public knowledge.

Almost every rogue cultivator knew them.

The most crucial materials were a "second-tier demon core" and three main medicines targeting "essence, qi, and spirit."

"Besides those four materials, the other auxiliary medicines aren't too precious. I can slowly collect them when opportunities arise," Li Chang'an pondered.

About an hour later, the last auction item was sold.

It was a "Meridian Protection Pill" that could ensure cultivators who failed Foundation Establishment wouldn't suffer backlash.

Although it couldn't compare to Foundation Establishment Pills, it was extremely rare and was finally sold for the astronomical price of two thousand three hundred spirit stones.

This price made Li Chang'an click his tongue in amazement.

"Among the Hundred Arts of Cultivation, pill refining should be the most profitable."

The Zheng family's strength stemmed from their second-tier pill refining inheritance.

They guarded this inheritance very strictly. Even ordinary Zheng family descendants could only learn first-tier content, with only core descendants able to access second-tier knowledge.

As for others, even cultivators who married into or joined the Zheng family by marriage had no qualification to learn pill refining and could only choose other inheritances.

"Time to collect my puppet."

Li Chang'an stood up and followed the directions to the auction's private room.

In the private room, someone was already waiting for him.

What surprised Li Chang'an was that this person was actually Zheng Qingqing.

Beside Zheng Qingqing was also a petite young lady in a white dress.

Li Chang'an felt something strange and thought of a certain possibility, then bowed to Zheng Qingqing with cupped hands.

"Greetings, Young Miss."

"Fellow Daoist Li, we meet again."

Zheng Qingqing smiled warmly.

She gently raised her delicate hand and placed the puppet before Li Chang'an.

"Fellow Daoist Li, this puppet was examined by a first-tier superior-grade puppet master who serves our Zheng family. It's just an ordinary damaged puppet. Could it be that you've seen something special about it?"

"Young Miss thinks too highly of me."

Li Chang'an showed a bitter smile expression.

He shook his head and explained, "I'm just trying my luck. Who knows, maybe I can obtain some ancient inheritance?"

His words were reasonable and matched what Zheng Qingqing had thought.

However, Zheng Qingqing knew in her heart that this puppet was just used by the family to make up numbers, since an auction couldn't possibly have every item be top quality.

Li Chang'an's spirit stones were probably wasted.

She thought this privately but didn't say it aloud.

"Then I wish Fellow Daoist Li good luck."

"Thank you, Young Miss."

Li Chang'an put away the puppet.

He cupped his hands in farewell, about to leave.

But Zheng Qingqing called him back and introduced the white-dressed young lady beside her with a smile.

"Fellow Daoist Li, this is my cousin. Her name is Zheng Ling'er. Why don't you two get acquainted?"

Hearing this, Li Chang'an's body stiffened.

His heart felt increasingly strange.

But his expression remained unchanged as he looked at the young lady.

"Miss Zheng."

"Young Master Li."

Zheng Ling'er smiled lightly, lively and lovely.

Regardless of what she thought internally, she maintained proper etiquette on the surface.

"Young Master Li, I've heard that your talisman skills are exceptional and that you can draw high-quality talismans at such a young age."

"Miss Zheng flatters me."

Li Chang'an's tone was modest.

He wore a smile, his surface work equally proper.

No matter what, this was Zheng Qingqing's good intentions, so he couldn't make the situation too awkward.

Otherwise, he might offend her.

Just like this, the two exchanged a few words.

It looked very harmonious.

But both maintained a sense of distance, making the atmosphere increasingly awkward.

During their exchange, Zheng Ling'er also sensed Li Chang'an's thoughts and couldn't help but feel secretly delighted.

After a while, Li Chang'an cupped his hands in farewell.

"Young Miss, Miss Zheng, I have matters at home and really cannot chat for long."

"Take care, Young Master Li."

Zheng Ling'er smiled and rose to see him off.

This conversation thus ended.

After Li Chang'an left, Zheng Ling'er smiled sweetly with curved eyebrows and said to Zheng Qingqing, "Sister Qingqing, you saw it, right? It's not that I'm unwilling, it's that Li Chang'an is unwilling!"

"Sigh, forget it..."

Zheng Qingqing glanced in the direction Li Chang'an had left, a trace of regret flashing in her eyes.

Based on the aptitude Li Chang'an had shown so far, he had hope of advancing to late-stage Qi Refining in the future.

Moreover, he had some talent in the path of talismans.

As long as he married into the Zheng family and obtained subsequent talisman inheritance, the possibility of becoming a superior-grade talisman master wasn't small.

Late-stage Qi Refining and superior-grade talisman master, such status was already considered excellent for ordinary rogue cultivators.

But Zheng Ling'er was, after all, a daughter of a prominent family.

Her standards were higher.

This matter could only be temporarily set aside.

...

Outside the auction house, Li Chang'an had just walked out when he saw a familiar figure.

Zheng Jinbao!

He also saw Li Chang'an and immediately showed a kindly smile on his face, as if seeing a close junior.

"It's Chang'an! Did you gain anything from this auction?"

"I gained something."

Li Chang'an's expression remained normal as he answered casually.

He didn't linger.

After a simple greeting, he hurried toward his residence.

Behind him, Zheng Jinbao watched his retreating figure, a trace of sinister coldness flashing in his eyes.

"This kid can already draw high-quality talismans. His status is rising, and the Young Miss values him more and more, even wanting him to marry into the family!"

The higher Li Chang'an's status rose, the more uneasy Zheng Jinbao felt.

If Li Chang'an really married into the Zheng family and obtained sufficient resources, his future status might even surpass his own!

"I absolutely cannot let this happen!"

Zheng Jinbao's expression was ugly.

He somewhat regretted offending Li Chang'an in the first place.

But at this point, regret was useless.

He could only find a way to completely resolve this matter!

"Those two wastes, why haven't they eliminated Li Chang'an after so long!"

Zheng Jinbao cursed silently and turned to walk in another direction.

But he didn't notice that not far behind him, a seemingly ordinary yellow dog was following.

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