Immortality and cultivation begin with drawing talismans...

Chapter 23 The Shadow of War
After the snowstorm, spring rain fell again on the eaves, making a pattering sound.

Inside the room, as he slowly lifted the spirit brush, a mid-grade flying sword talisman was completed, and Lin Chang'an couldn't help but slowly exhale.

"one Year."

A year has passed since the awakening of their talents last year. In just a few months, Qingzhushan Market has expanded rapidly and, with the joint efforts of the two major sects, has become a well-known market.

Countless rogue cultivators flocked to the area, and during this time he also experienced the benefits of prosperity. Selling mid-grade talismans was exceptionally easy, which also allowed him to cultivate much faster.

Name: Lin Chang'an

【Lifespan: 41/99】

[Realm Level: Qi Refining Level 4 (58/100)]

[Technique: Everlasting Spring Technique (Grandmaster: 138/5000)]

【技能：金光符（精通106/1000）、神行符（精通16/1000）、飞剑符（精通9/1000）】

Looking at his attribute panel, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but smile.

"Old Master Lu's Changchun Gong manual has been of great help to me. But thinking about it, it makes sense, after all, it is a summary of the experience of a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator who has been immersed in it for more than fifty years."

With a deeper understanding of the Everlasting Spring Technique, and with the assistance of spirit stones, his cultivation speed accelerated once again.

The extra year of lifespan is attributed to the longevity-enhancing effects of Changchun Gong.

"If you are proficient in the corresponding mid-grade skill, then mastering it is a high-grade skill."

Through this period of exploration, Lin Chang'an realized that skills are only proof that your ability has reached a certain level, and you still need corresponding inheritance.

"The skills of a first-tier mid-grade talisman master allow me to quickly master newly learned talismans, and currently, although I only have the Golden Light Talisman and the Flying Sword Talisman, they are enough for now."

Looking at his progress in making flying sword talismans, Lin Chang'an realized that in just a few months, he had mastered the skill of creating mid-grade flying sword talismans.

"My cultivation at the fourth level of Qi Refining is still a bit weak for now. I must speed up the improvement of my skills in order to acquire more resources."

He could do without the inheritance of a first-grade superior talisman, but he had to first master the skill.

……

In just a few months, the market town has been reborn, expanding several times over.

The market was bustling with people and noisy.

As for the previous demonic beasts, they had long since become spiritual stones in the eyes of countless cultivators. Even the wolf king, who was at the late stage of the second tier, was severely injured and fled.

As I stepped out of the courtyard, I saw Erniu's children playing with several of the Zhou family's children.

"Zhou Yifan, you are not allowed to have the surname Zhou!"

"That's right, your father's surname is Li, so you should be called Li Yifan."

"Beat this guy who doesn't have the same surname."

Amidst the playful antics of a group of children, Erniu's son, Zhou Yifan, who was also found to possess spiritual roots, was angrily fighting with several older children without showing any fear.

"Yifan, you naughty child."

Li Erniu came out at this moment. After seeing this scene, he didn't want to cause trouble, so he hurriedly stepped forward and grabbed his child by the ear, which scared the children who were playing around into scattering.

When he saw Lin Chang'an returning, an embarrassed look appeared on his face.

"Brother Lin, you're here. These kids are making a ruckus."

"Come on, call him Uncle Lin."

Li Erniu then pulled out his son, Zhou Yifan, from behind him.

Although he was only five years old, perhaps due to his environment, Lin Chang'an only saw stubbornness and resilience in the child's eyes.

Lin Chang'an gently stroked the child's head, shook his head and sighed, "Life is full of ups and downs."

Besides, this is their family matter. "Erniu, your leg looks much better."

Lin Chang'an smiled and changed the subject, while Li Erniu patted his leg, which had healed from its injury.

"Already healed."

However, this time when he came out, Lin Chang'an looked at the red banners hanging in the Zhou family with some doubt.

"Erniu, is there some happy occasion at the Zhou family's house?"

"Brother Lin, we've recently discovered a lot of resources while clearing land, and our clan is planning a marriage alliance with the Wang family."

Li Erniu's expression was somewhat complicated. The two families, who had been fighting to the death not long ago, were now starting to arrange marriages between each other.

Two female cultivators from the Zhou family with spiritual root talents married into the Wang family, and three female cultivators from the Wang family also married into the family.

Upon hearing this, Lin Chang'an understood. With the expansion of the market during this period, not only have there been more cultivators from outside, but there have also been many families of cultivators from outside.

The most typical example is that two Foundation Establishment families settled down under the jurisdiction of Xuan Yin Pavilion, which made the local Wang and Zhou families feel threatened by the outside world.

Only by joining forces can the Wang and Zhou families withstand this impact.

"I see."

Lin Chang'an wasn't too surprised by this, after all, a family isn't something one person can do as they please.

While the two were talking, Zhou Yifan, the sensible child, lowered his head and went home.

Li Erniu looked somewhat embarrassed, and finally scratched his head and said:

"Brother Lin, there has been a decision within the clan recently, and I'm afraid I can no longer be your neighbor."

Lin Chang'an smiled and nodded after hearing this.

"This is a good thing, Erniu. The Zhou family didn't expect something to happen in the market. Now that you've moved to the clan's territory, you don't have to worry about the safety of your wife and children."

Perhaps it was due to carelessness or a lack of attention before.

However, although Erniu is not strong at the moment, he is still a cultivator at the fourth level of Qi Refining, so he is naturally worth paying attention to.

Li Erniu smiled in response to Lin Chang'an's congratulations, and the two then began to chat about the development of the market during this period.

"During this period, the disciples of Li Huo Palace and Xuan Yin Pavilion led many cultivators and hunted down a lot of demonic beasts. I heard that even the wolf pack that besieged the market last time was crippled."

"The young princess has ventured deep into the area several times, and recently she killed a late-stage first-tier demon beast. Business at her shop is gradually improving."

Lin Chang'an listened with deep emotion, realizing that everyone was trying their best to live.

"However, I heard from the clan that there have been many Tribulation Cultivators outside recently, and it seems that many of these Tribulation Cultivators have been tempted by the Divine Sword Sect."

Lin Chang'an understood immediately. If Li Huo Palace and Xuan Yin Pavilion could do it, then Shen Jian Sect could naturally do it too.

Use the rogue cultivators to create chaos and deplete the opponent's strength.

Before the sect war broke out, the scattered cultivators within the Yue Kingdom were either consolidated or completely exhausted.

This is the law of survival of the fittest.

"This is no longer a simple market dispute, but could escalate into a war between the three major sects at any time. Yue Kingdom has become a place of trouble."

Lin Chang'an's gaze was deep as he secretly plotted.

He did want to run away, but leaving across borders, let alone having any connections, with his small frame, wouldn't that just be blatantly telling others that he's a lamb to the slaughter?
Leaving here would actually be more dangerous.

"At the very least, one must have the strength of the late stage of Qi Refining, so that even if war breaks out, one will have the ability to protect oneself when leaving."

At this moment, Lin Chang'an felt somewhat fortunate, fortunate that he did not have the same family ties as Erniu.

Little did Li Erniu know that his companion, Brother Lin, was already considering a plan to flee.

(End of this chapter)