DIV Chapter 12: Li the Turtle

"Fellow Daoist Li, every word I speak is true, absolutely no falsehoods!" Wu Yun spoke seriously with earnest words.

However, with the divination as a warning, Li Chang'an wouldn't believe anything he said! The divination had just warned that rogue cultivators wanted to trick him out of the market, and then Wu Yun came. How could there be such a coincidence?

Moreover, even without the divination, Li Chang'an wouldn't agree to go.

"A large tomb suspected to belong to a Foundation Establishment cultivator, so what even if it's real? Who knows whether there are opportunities or deadly traps inside?" Li Chang'an pondered silently.

Previously, Xu Fugui and others had encountered danger while exploring an ancient cave dwelling, suffering heavy casualties. He had kept this incident in mind and constantly reminded himself of it.

He made a thoughtful expression. After a moment, he politely declined.

"Fellow Daoist Wu, I wholeheartedly seek stability and am unwilling to take risks in tombs. You should find someone else more capable."

Hearing this, both Wu Yun and Wu Feng brothers were stunned. A Foundation Establishment-level opportunity was something countless people desperately sought. Now they were offering it to Li Chang'an, yet Li Chang'an actually refused!

"Fellow Daoist Li, with your and my aptitude, if we're unwilling to take risks, there's no hope of Foundation Establishment in this lifetime!" Wu Yun spoke sincerely, word by word.

"The skills of a low-grade talisman master can only meet daily cultivation needs and cannot advance further."

His elder brother Wu Feng also spoke up. Seemingly worried that Li Chang'an wouldn't believe them, he began describing what he had seen and experienced in tombs.

"Fellow Daoist Li, think carefully. If it really is a Foundation Establishment cultivator's large tomb, there are likely to be treasures needed for Foundation Establishment inside, or even... Foundation Establishment Pills!"

As he spoke, Wu Feng's words also carried more excitement.

Foundation Establishment Pills! The pills that countless Qi Refining rogue cultivators desperately desired.

Why was the Zheng family so powerful? Wasn't it because they were an pill-refining family? The clan had second-tier pill-refining inheritance, with almost every generation having second-tier pill masters who could refine Foundation Establishment Pills, ensuring unbroken Foundation Establishment in the family!

"Fellow Daoist Li, we rogue cultivators have no predecessors to support us and no backgrounds to rely on. We must carve out our own bright future. How can we only seek stability?"

However, no matter what they said, Li Chang'an remained unmoved.

Finally, Wu Yun could only sigh with a regretful expression, "Fine, we've disturbed you today. Fellow Daoist Li, please don't take offense."

The two cupped their hands in farewell.

"Farewell, Fellow Daoists," Li Chang'an watched them leave.

Afterward, he closed his door and made up his mind. For the coming period, he would absolutely not accept any invitations! Even if there were tremendous opportunities, he wouldn't go out.

No matter how good an opportunity was, could it compare to the daily refreshed divination?

As for whether the Wu family brothers were actually rogue cultivators or not, Li Chang'an couldn't be bothered to think about it. He would just treat them as such!

"Continue drawing talismans!" Li Chang'an calmed his emotions. Studying talisman techniques was what he should be doing most right now.

...

For the following half month, no one came to his door again. The divination was also calm and peaceful.

Until this day, the Wu family brothers appeared again.

Wu Yun was all smiles, in high spirits, wearing a brand new dharma robe.

"Fellow Daoist Li, my elder brother's previous speculation was wrong. That large tomb didn't belong to a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but to a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator. Even so, there were still quite a few treasures inside!" He smiled, indicating that their harvest this time was quite abundant.

Since Li Chang'an didn't go, they could only invite another talisman master surnamed Wang. Talisman Master Wang received thirty percent of the treasures from them, and his wealth increased dramatically.

"If Fellow Daoist Li doesn't believe it, you can personally ask Fellow Daoist Wang. Every word I speak is true."

"No need, I believe Fellow Daoist Wu," Li Chang'an replied with a smile.

"Sigh, Fellow Daoist Li, those treasures should have been yours," Wu Yun sighed with emotion.

But Li Chang'an maintained a peaceful mindset without any internal changes.

After chatting briefly, the Wu family brothers left.

For the following two months, they frequently visited Li Chang'an. Sometimes they exchanged talisman techniques with Li Chang'an, other times Wu Yun told Li Chang'an about what he had seen and experienced while surveying and searching for tombs.

Through these interactions, their relationship seemed to grow better and better.

On this day, Wu Yun came to the door again with an excited expression.

"Fellow Daoist Li, my elder brother has made a new discovery!"

"Oh?" Li Chang'an showed some interest. "A new large tomb?"

"No, no, no, it's a new earth vein!"

Wu Yun was elated, so excited that his words trembled slightly.

"The source of earth veins gives birth to treasures like 'Earth Dragon Saliva,' which is a Foundation Establishment spiritual item! Its effects are comparable to more than half a Foundation Establishment Pill!"

"Earth Dragon Saliva?" Li Chang'an was slightly stunned.

He had naturally heard of this treasure. It could assist in Foundation Establishment, and its effects could stack with Foundation Establishment Pills, making it extremely precious.

Qinghe Market had once auctioned a portion of Earth Dragon Saliva, which sold for the astronomical price of seven thousand spirit stones!

Such a treasure was something Li Chang'an could only dream of now.

He immediately congratulated Wu Yun, "Then congratulations, Fellow Daoist Wu has hope for Foundation Establishment in the future!"

"This... Fellow Daoist Li has misunderstood..." Wu Yun's tone faltered, and a trace of embarrassment appeared on his face.

He indicated that they hadn't obtained the Earth Dragon Saliva yet because the rock and soil at the source of that earth vein were hard and thick, very difficult to break through. They urgently needed manpower to help, fearing that delaying too long would lead to others discovering that earth vein.

"Fellow Daoist Li, what do you think?" Wu Yun looked expectant as he asked.

He had come to ask Li Chang'an for help.

"As long as we can obtain the Earth Dragon Saliva, the three of us can divide it equally!"

He promised great benefits. One-third of the Earth Dragon Saliva, and there was no danger whatsoever, they just needed to go dig holes!

However, Li Chang'an shook his head slightly, "I appreciate Fellow Daoist Wu's kind intentions, but I've recently had problems with my cultivation and am feeling unwell, so I don't want to go out."

"Feeling unwell?" Wu Yun's facial expression froze for a moment.

This was Earth Dragon Saliva! If other cultivators knew about this news, let alone feeling unwell, even if they were severely injured and disabled, they would crawl over there!

Foundation Establishment spiritual items were enough to drive countless rogue cultivators crazy!

Yet this Li Chang'an only wanted to shrink in the market and wouldn't come out no matter what. Was he a turtle?

"Sigh, fine then. Fellow Daoist Li, if you change your mind, you can notify me anytime."

He cupped his hands in farewell and turned to leave.

Li Chang'an watched his retreating figure, his eyes flickering thoughtfully.

...

For the following month, Wu Yun didn't come again. However, Chu Daniu came once.

The craftsmen gathering was about to begin again.

"Big Brother, Senior Luo has already promised me that during this gathering, he'll specifically guide you!" Chu Daniu was beaming with joy.

However, Li Chang'an said calmly, "Daniu, I won't go this time."

"Ah?" Chu Daniu was stunned.

"Big Brother, this is a rare opportunity! Senior Luo's talisman skills are about to break through to first-tier mid-grade!"

Li Chang'an was nonchalant. He was already a mid-grade talisman master himself, so why would he need guidance from a low-grade talisman master?

"Daniu, I've had new insights recently and need to be quiet for a while."

"Insights?" Chu Daniu found it hard to understand.

No matter how good the insights were, could they compare to a senior's guidance? Many times, a few words from a senior could save juniors several years of detours!

Chu Daniu was somewhat anxious but helpless, because he knew that once Li Chang'an made a decision, he wouldn't easily change it.

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