DIV Chapter 16: Foundation Establishment Conflicts

Wang Hu's words left Li Chang'an stunned. After just a few exchanges, he had determined that Li Chang'an had pure thoughts.

"This judgment is rather hasty," Li Chang'an inwardly complained.

He felt that this senior was the one who was truly pure-hearted. This was fine by him. This way, he could gain more benefits from this trade.

"Young friend, what do you think?" Wang Hu asked with a gentle expression, inquiring patiently.

Li Chang'an immediately nodded in agreement.

Subsequently, both parties signed a spiritual contract and officially completed the transaction. Li Chang'an obtained a first-tier mid-stage peak Yellow Sand Hound.

He patted the spiritual hound's head, overjoyed.

"Canine spiritual beasts are famously loyal. This Yellow Sand Hound is not only powerful but also excels at tracking, which will be of great help to me."

Beside them, Wang Hu also showed a pleased expression. The quality of this Ground Fire Stone was even better than he had imagined, making him very satisfied.

Both parties gained what they needed.

At this time, Li Chang'an voiced his earlier confusion.

"Senior, the Zheng family should have stockpiled quite a few fire-element treasures. Why didn't you seek to trade with the Zheng family?"

"The Zheng family?" Wang Hu shook his head slightly.

He put away the Ground Fire Stone and then began to explain.

"Young friend, the Zheng family has come into conflict with the other two major Foundation Establishment families. They urgently need manpower, so it's best not to seek help from the Zheng family recently."

"I see," Li Chang'an understood.

This involved conflicts between Foundation Establishment families. The market's profits were too great, yet they were monopolized by the Zheng family. The other Foundation Establishment families naturally felt uncomfortable about this.

The Foundation Establishment Cao family and Foundation Establishment Wu family were also in this region, forming a triangular formation with the Zheng family. These two major families each had a Foundation Establishment early-stage ancestor who eyed the Zheng family like tigers watching their prey.

However, the Zheng family had two Foundation Establishment ancestors, and one of them was a Foundation Establishment mid-stage expert. The Cao and Wu families had no choice but to join forces against the Zheng family.

In past years, both sides often erupted in conflicts, but they were all within controlled limits. However, after the secret realm opened, the family disciples of both sides frequently fought fiercely over secret realm treasures, escalating conflicts and making the killings increasingly brutal.

"A few days ago, a Zheng family elder at the ninth layer of Qi Refining died in the secret realm. This was done by the Wu and Cao families working together," Wang Hu slowly narrated, speaking of what he knew.

After all, he had personally ventured into the secret realm and knew quite a bit of information.

"All three major families have had high-ranking members die. This matter will definitely not end easily."

"So that's how it is. Thank you for informing me, senior," Li Chang'an couldn't help but feel fortunate.

Thankfully, he had completely severed ties with the Zheng family. No matter how short-handed the Zheng family became, they couldn't forcibly conscript him.

"In the days ahead, the situation in the secret realm will become increasingly dangerous. Staying in the market is the best choice. Young friend, you must never risk your life for those so-called 'opportunities,'" Wang Hu sighed as he said this.

He hadn't been able to resist. Hearing that many people had obtained opportunities, he decided to try his luck as well, harboring a trace of wishful thinking. But the result was severe injuries and heavy losses!

"Thank you for the warning, senior. This junior will keep it firmly in mind," Li Chang'an said solemnly, cupping his hands in thanks.

Afterward, the two conversed for about another quarter hour. Li Chang'an learned more information about the secret realm.

Back in his room, Li Chang'an began to seriously examine the spiritual beast he had just obtained.

"I'll call you Big Yellow from now on," he said with a smile, patting the spiritual hound's head.

In his previous life, when he was still a child, he had once raised a local dog called Big Yellow. That local dog was entirely reddish-yellow in color, robust and powerful, and looked almost identical to the spiritual hound before him.

Unfortunately, when thieves later invaded his home, Big Yellow fought with the thieves to protect him and died from severe injuries.

"Woof!" The spiritual hound opened its mouth wide, tongue hanging out, with bright and lively eyes, its tail wagging constantly.

It seemed to like this name very much and appeared very happy. If one only looked at its appearance, one couldn't tell it was a spiritual beast at all. It seemed just like an ordinary local dog.

But its strength and talent were quite remarkable.

"Yellow Sand Hounds are spiritual beasts with 'mid-grade' bloodline quality, equivalent to 'medium spiritual roots' in human cultivators."

The bloodline grades of demon beasts were divided the same way as human spiritual roots. From low to high, they were: inferior bloodline, low-grade bloodline, mid-grade bloodline, high-grade bloodline, earth-grade bloodline, and heaven-grade bloodline.

In other words, Big Yellow surpassed Li Chang'an, its master, in both strength and potential!

"Big Yellow, I'll be counting on you to protect me from now on!"

"Woof woof!"

The man and dog got along harmoniously in a pleasant atmosphere.

Over the following days, Li Chang'an tested Big Yellow's abilities. As an earth-element spiritual beast, Big Yellow especially excelled at earth escape, moving through underground passages silently and without trace.

This ability particularly satisfied Li Chang'an. He instructed Big Yellow to dig more tunnels underground.

"If some unexpected change occurs one day and even the market becomes unsafe, we'll escape through the tunnels," Li Chang'an thought to himself.

Better to be prepared!

Moreover, Li Chang'an also taught Big Yellow how to use talismans. Big Yellow was already strong enough, and with talisman assistance, its strength would reach another level!

"It's just a pity that there's no spirit beast bag, which makes things somewhat inconvenient."

Spirit beast bags were similar in size to storage bags, but their value far exceeded storage bags. This was because storage bags could only store inanimate objects, while spirit beast bags could allow spiritual beasts to survive within them.

Even the most ordinary spirit beast bag was worth over a thousand spirit stones!

Li Chang'an could only dream about it for now.

Half a month later, Wu Feng suddenly appeared with news.

"Fellow Daoist Li, there's great good news!"

"Oh?" Li Chang'an looked slightly puzzled.

"Fellow Daoist Wu, what good news?"

"A senior I know obtained a talisman inheritance in the secret realm. Fellow Daoist Li, can you guess what grade that talisman inheritance is?"

Wu Feng had a face full of smiles, his gaze subtly sweeping across Li Chang'an's face.

Li Chang'an showed a surprised and delighted expression, hurriedly asking, "Could it be a second-tier inheritance?"

"This..." Wu Feng was stunned, his mouth twitching.

Even when deceiving someone, one couldn't be so unrealistic. If a true second-tier inheritance appeared, it would have caused the entire market to boil with excitement!

One must know that a second-tier inheritance was enough to keep a Foundation Establishment family prosperous for generations!

"It's a first-tier mid-grade inheritance, and that old senior plans to trade it. It's within the market, and there will be a small trading gathering in a few days."

Within the market was relatively safe, and it was exactly the inheritance Li Chang'an needed most. Surely he couldn't refuse to go this time?

Wu Feng had thought this through carefully. Li Chang'an was, after all, only an early-stage Qi Refining cultivator. Whether it was Foundation Establishment tombs or Foundation Establishment spiritual items like Earth Dragon Saliva, they were all too distant for him.

But first-tier mid-grade talisman crafting skills were exactly what he urgently needed right now!

Sure enough, Li Chang'an's eyes lit up, seeming moved.

"Fellow Daoist Wu, please tell me the time and location of that small trading gathering."

"The time is tentatively set for three days from now. As for the location..." Wu Feng sneered coldly in his heart.

Finally, he had lured this old turtle out!

That so-called small trading gathering was just a trap with nets spread wide. Once Li Chang'an went there, he would surely die without question!

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