Immortality and cultivation begin with drawing talismans...

Chapter 12 Hired Talisman Master
A bluish light flashed, and blood splattered everywhere.

At this moment, the flesh on one side of the strong man's cheek was ripped off by the blue light, revealing his hideous gums, which looked extremely terrifying.

"Damn it! I'm going to kill you all!"

The burly man was horrified. This sneak attack had almost cost him his life. He didn't care about the pain anymore and immediately released a golden talisman close to his body, preparing to fight head-on.

In an instant, a magical shield formed around him, shimmering with golden light.

"Two cows!"

Lin Chang'an and Li Erniu, however, abandoned him without hesitation and headed towards the five early-stage Qi Refining cultivators in the distance who were covered in dust and dirt from the fireball technique.

"what……"

With a scream, Li Erniu and Lin Chang'an, like tigers among sheep, skillfully and perfectly coordinated their attacks and instantly killed two cultivators who had been traversed through tribulations.

Li Erniu practiced earth-based techniques, and his broadsword strikes were powerful and heavy, while Lin Chang'an's Green Bamboo Sword was like a venomous snake spitting its tongue.

It hits the vital point directly.

Furthermore, a mid-stage Qi Refining player fighting an early-stage Qi Refining player is practically a one-sided victory.

"Damn it!"

Upon witnessing this ruthless method, the burly leader of the bandits behind him cried out in shock and anger:
"Misunderstanding! Fellow Daoists, this is a case of the flood washing away the Dragon King's temple, a misunderstanding."

This burly man clearly mistook Lin Chang'an and his companion for colleagues, given their extensive experience and methods in ambushes; they were clearly veterans.

First, they used the spirit steed as bait, then suddenly attacked from behind. After forcing him to use the Golden Light Talisman, they abandoned him without hesitation and turned to kill the others.

Using the Golden Light Talisman will restrict your movement to some extent.

These two are clearly more experienced cultivators than him.

However, in that instant, the four early-stage Qi Refining cultivators had been killed by Lin Chang'an and his companion.

Another cultivator was just burned to a crisp by the flames.

"Damn it! You local bandits are ruthless!"

Seeing the ruthless methods of the two men, the burly man Jie Xiu roared angrily, and without saying a word, he affixed a talisman and turned to flee.

Without the slightest hesitation.

Even while fleeing, the burly man gritted his teeth and threw his storage bag in another direction, leaving behind a single sentence.

"Fellow Daoists, I admit defeat today!"

In a short moment, five more corpses appeared.

Lin Chang'an and Li Erniu did not chase after them, but instead collected their spoils without hesitation.

Lin Chang'an used his coat to retrieve the storage bag that the other party had thrown out, and the two of them turned around and rode away from the scene on their spirit steeds.

……

Two hours later, after confirming that no one was following them, the two breathed a sigh of relief.

"Brother Lin, this man is an expert."

"Indeed, this person didn't run towards our spirit horse when he fled, but instead headed into the mountains and forests. This shows how experienced he is. If we give chase, there might be a trap."

They can ambush and kill, and the enemy can also set traps.

After all, they were all rogue cultivators who came from the bottom, and each of them was a person with rich experience in fighting.

Lin Chang'an was also somewhat disappointed, after all, he had set a trap on the spirit steed.

Having struggled in the cultivation world for so many years, although their cultivation progresses slowly, the way of survival has long been ingrained in their bones.

"Brother Lin, these five people actually have forty-two spirit crystals, but unfortunately they don't have a single magic weapon."

After checking the spoils and finding no traps, Li Erniu excitedly pulled out a handful of spirit crystals.

Lin Chang'an also checked the storage bag and found that it was indeed poisoned.

After using their magic to disperse the poison powder on the storage bag, the two of them, having anticipated this, found the storage bag to be completely empty.

"Brother Lin, this man is very cunning."

Upon seeing this, Li Erniu felt indignant, thinking, "It's obvious they've harmed countless people."

Lin Chang'an nodded slightly, "This person is at the fifth level of Qi Refining. If we fight him head-on, we may not come out on top."

While escaping the cycle of cultivation is indeed the top choice for getting rich, wealth and honor are sought in danger, and can also be lost in danger.

Although the storage bag was empty, the bag itself was worth three spirit stones.

However, the next moment, Lin Chang'an threw the cleaned storage bag over.

"Brother Lin, this!" Li Erniu scratched his head awkwardly, looking at the storage bag in his hand, while Lin Chang'an teased him:
"Didn't I say before that you might have a storage bag someday? Look, here it is."

Faced with the teasing, Li Erniu scratched his head awkwardly, but he still grinned at the storage bag and played with it with it, unable to put it down.

I wouldn't buy a storage bag myself, but finding one on the street makes it different.

"Erniu, remember to replace this storage bag when you get back, so that no one can recognize it."

"Don't worry, Brother Lin."

The two of them were disguised the whole way, so they weren't afraid of being recognized.

But the storage bag is another story; who knows if it has any hidden markings that might be recognized by someone you know?

Therefore, the things obtained through robbery must be spent as soon as possible to avoid being discovered by those with ulterior motives.

Li Erniu obtained the storage bag and also gave the forty-two spirit crystals he had acquired to Lin Chang'an.

Lin Chang'an did not refuse. Even among the best of friends, it's best to distinguish between interests.

There is already a premium when exchanging spirit crystals for spirit stones.

Just as Erniu was about to return the Golden Light Talisman and the Swift Travel Talisman, Lin Chang'an did not take them, but instead said:

"Be careful on the way. We'll talk about it when we get back to the market. Also, I'll have to trouble you, Erniu, to ask the Zhou family about the conditions for hiring a talisman master."

Li Erniu scratched his head awkwardly. As a son-in-law, he had no power to negotiate terms.

"Brother Lin, I'll go back and ask around for you."

Lin Chang'an nodded with a smile. He was well aware that his abilities might be enviable among ordinary rogue cultivators, but they were nothing compared to those of a long-established Foundation Establishment clan like the Zhou family.

Unless he possesses the ability to create first-grade high-quality talismans, he cannot be treated with courtesy by the Zhou family and be hired as a retainer.

Offering sacrifices and hiring external talisman masters are not the same thing.

……

The two finally made it back to Qingzhushan Market without incident.

Upon returning this time, Lin Chang'an discovered that the number of cultivators in the market had increased significantly.

The gathering of unfamiliar cultivators brought more liveliness and business opportunities to the market, but also instability.

After returning to the Zhou family, Erniu first handed over the spirit horse and then went straight to the family's steward's office.

Even a cultivator at the fourth level of Qi Refining, or a mid-grade first-order talisman master, is not qualified to alarm the foundation-building ancestor of the clan.

"Lin Chang'an, the rogue cultivator who came to the market with you twenty years ago..."

Zhou Antai, a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, is over eighty years old with white hair and beard. He is currently the steward of the Zhou family.

Facing the old man, Li Erniu nodded respectfully repeatedly.

"Grandpa Zhou, Brother Lin was able to make high-quality first-grade low-grade golden light talismans some time ago, and now he has broken through to the fourth level of Qi Refining."

Li Erniu reported everything in great detail, after all, a Foundation Establishment clan like the Zhou family wouldn't easily recruit outside cultivators.

They won't overlook the most basic aspect of identity verification, unless you're a first-tier high-grade talisman master.

Those with ability are entitled to special privileges.

"This person's background is quite clean."

Zhou Antai stroked his white beard and nodded secretly. He had spent the past twenty years cultivating diligently and had not caused any trouble.

After verifying his identity, Zhou Antai nodded and gave the instructions:

"Alright, since this person is so willing, let him come tomorrow."

"Thank you, Grandpa Zhou."

Li Erniu smiled broadly upon hearing this and repeatedly clasped his hands in greeting.

This scene brought a smile to Zhou Antai's face. Among all the sons-in-law, Erniu was his favorite, not only because his descendants married Erniu.

Most importantly, it's Erniu's honest and simple nature that makes him straightforward and honest.

Just as Erniu was about to take his leave, Zhou Antai reminded him:

"Erniu, things have been a bit unsettled in the market lately. Try to avoid going out unless necessary. Also, replace your storage bag with one from the clan when you go downstairs, so you don't attract unwanted attention at this critical juncture."

"Yes."

Erniu retreated with great joy, not only because of the storage bag, but more importantly because Lin Chang'an's matter had been settled.

Thank you all for your support.


(End of this chapter)