Immortality and cultivation begin with drawing talismans...

Chapter 35 The Shadow Over the Market
Such a big thing happening to the Zhou family can't be kept secret any longer.

In less than a day, the whole story had spread throughout the town.

Wang family.

"Well done! What a cunning old man Zhou! He really is treacherous!"

When the eldest elder of the Wang family learned of this, he was overjoyed. He was surprised that the Zhou family had hidden a wind spirit root, and that they had almost successfully formed a marriage alliance with a Foundation Establishment family of the Xuan Yin Pavilion.

The good news is that the Zhou family's efforts have failed. Not only have they lost the Foundation Establishment Pill and the marriage alliance, but they have also lost the genius with the Wind Spirit Root.

"Hehe, old ghost of the Zhou family, this only shows that your Zhou family is not fortunate enough to enjoy this."

Beneath the sinister smile of the Wang family elder, it was clear that the alliance between the Wang and Zhou families was forced by external pressure, but the Zhou family was trying to play dirty tricks and leave the Wang family to bear the burden alone.

Now he wanted to see how the Zhou family would get through this.

……

Zhou family.

"Father, Feng'er, he!"

The Zhou family patriarch, Zhou Renmao, was filled with grief. This was his most promising son, a genius nurtured by the entire clan, and yet he was gone just like that.

"These demonic cultivators are going too far! They've gone too far!"

The Zhou family patriarch, despite his advanced age, was so enraged by this shocking turn of events that his face turned ashen and extremely ugly.

"Father, our clan has lost its external support, and now we also lack Feng'er and the Foundation Establishment Pill!"

This time, the Zhou family suffered heavy losses. The genius with the wind spirit root was gone, the Foundation Establishment Pill was gone, and more importantly, all the previous efforts and the hard-won external allies were also gone.

“The worst is yet. As the head of the family, what you need to do now is to stabilize the hearts of the people in the clan.”

The Zhou family patriarch snorted coldly, but the deathly aura between his brows made Zhou Renmao look worried.

"While I can still live for another twenty or thirty years, and the relationship with Xuan Yin Pavilion cannot be severed, you must immediately mobilize the clan's resources and bring those two second-tier spirit beast Black Wind Wolf cubs along as well."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Renmao, the head of the Zhou family, took a deep breath, and, suppressing his heartache, resolutely said in a deep voice:
"Father, I understand. With two second-tier spirit beast cubs and the family's resources, it won't be difficult to exchange them for two more Foundation Establishment Pills from the Xuan Yin Pavilion. Even without Feng'er, the Zhou family still has Tie Shan!"

Zhou Tieshan, the strongest member of the younger generation in the Zhou family, has already reached the Qi Refining Perfection Realm before the age of forty.

Their original plan was for the Zhou family's Wind Spirit Root to marry the daughter of the Lian family, a Foundation Establishment clan of the Xuan Yin Pavilion, thus forming an alliance between the two Foundation Establishment families.

Then, preparations will be made for the foundation building for Zhou Tieshan. Once the project is completed, the Zhou family will rise to prominence.

Unexpectedly, it has now all vanished.

"I hope the foundation of Tieshan can be laid smoothly."

The Zhou family patriarch looked extremely solemn; now he could only place his hopes on Zhou Tieshan.

If it were the previous Wind Spirit Root, a Foundation Establishment Pill would be almost guaranteed, but Zhou Tieshan only has a High-Grade Spirit Root, so the chance is only 50%.

"Father, don't worry. With Tieshan's talent, a single Foundation Establishment Pill might be enough to make it happen."

Zhou Renmao, the head of the Zhou family, comforted them, saying that even with the Zhou family's resources, taking out three Foundation Establishment Pills at once would be a serious blow.

More importantly, the current situation has led to an increase in the price of various foundation-building materials.

"Let's hope so. From today onwards, let Tieshan prepare, right here in the clan."

"Yes."

The Zhou family has already suffered one accident; it absolutely cannot be allowed to happen a second time.

……

Undercurrents were swirling within the market, but Lin Chang'an was hiding at home, seizing every moment to practice drawing talismans.

[Golden Light Talisman +1 (Grandmaster 183/5000)]

As a complex and exquisite pale gold talisman was drawn on the table, Lin Chang'an revealed a satisfied smile.

"As expected of a first-grade high-quality talisman, although it is more complicated, the income from spirit stones is still quite considerable."

Thanks to the recent market turmoil, the price of his defensive talisman has increased significantly. It used to cost forty spirit stones, but now it costs forty-five spirit stones outside.

"A single defensive golden light talisman costs 45 spirit stones. Even cultivators from powerful clans wouldn't dare to forge one so casually."

Lin Chang'an sighed with melancholy. Although the rising price of talismans was a good thing, it also meant that the situation was becoming increasingly unfavorable.

However, it was this skill that allowed him to earn a large amount of spirit stones every month, which enabled him to maintain his rapid cultivation progress. This was only because he hadn't dared to fully unleash his full potential.

"What a pity, guarding a treasure mountain in vain."

Lin Chang'an sighed inwardly. He could only secretly sell a few of these first-grade high-quality talismans to avoid being discovered.

He was mostly selling mid-grade first-tier talismans. Although the quantity was large, after consuming a talisman for tens of spirit stones, the next talisman would only cost a few spirit stones.

This disparity left him feeling depressed.

"At this stage, we need to develop another type of high-grade first-tier talisman."

Lin Chang'an frowned. First-grade high-quality talismans are not easy to obtain, after all, these are all within sects and large clans.

"Let's play it safe for now. Maybe we can give it a try once we break through to the late stage of Qi Refining."

To be on the safe side, he chose not to be so greedy for now.

After all, some things you might have the life to take but not the life to enjoy, and that would be a huge loss.

……

"Brother Lin, something big has happened in the clan this time."

Half a month later, Li Erniu, looking helpless, recounted the Zhou family's experiences during this time, clearly considering himself a member of the Zhou family.

Seeing this scene, Lin Chang'an sighed inwardly. No wonder the Zhou family chose the honest and simple Erniu instead of them.

Mind and nature!
Erniu's naivety, lack of knowledge and ambition, and desire for a peaceful life make him the best choice.

"Erniu, it's alright. The Zhou family is, after all, an old Foundation Establishment clan with a very strong foundation."

Li Erniu forced a smile and nodded in response to Lin Chang'an's words of comfort.

"Sigh, the clan has recently started preparing resources for the Foundation Establishment Pill. Many people in the market are watching closely. Hopefully, everything will go smoothly."

Looking at Erniu, Lin Chang'an shook his head and then took out a talisman from his storage bag.

"Erniu, these are turbulent times. Take this talisman for protection."

"Brother Lin, this is far too valuable!"

Li Erniu's expression changed, and he hurriedly raised his hand to refuse. A first-grade high-quality talisman is worth forty spirit stones outside. Even if he emptied his savings, it wouldn't be enough.

At the same time, Li Erniu looked at Lin Chang'an with some envy.

"A first-grade high-level talisman master, Brother Lin, you will definitely have no problem becoming a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator in the future."

Even Li Erniu knew that a first-tier high-grade talisman master's ability to earn spirit stones was enough to push Lin Chang'an's cultivation level up.

"Consider this a loan from me."

Lin Chang'an shook his head and said the second half of his sentence, "You don't want your wife and children to worry, do you?" Li Erniu awkwardly accepted the sentence.

This top-grade talisman was like a hot iron in Li Erniu's hands, making him extremely embarrassed.

"Erniu, the Zhou family has also been kind to me. In the future, I will trade more of the talismans I draw with the Zhou family's shops."

Lin Chang'an changed the subject and started talking to Li Erniu.

At the same time, he sighed inwardly, "Putting aside my true feelings, is empty fame useful?"

It's useful when you need it, and useless when you don't.

If Yun Yao were usually aloof and looked down on everyone, then they wouldn't have invested when preparing for Foundation Establishment.

Similarly, although Lin Chang'an's actions may not seem like much to the Zhou family, once word gets out, many people in the market will have a better impression of him.

Small things can sometimes help achieve big things.

To put it bluntly, if two late-stage Qi Refining cultivators were to visit each other to purchase talismans, who would they choose?

Even when he went to the Zhou family's shops to buy cultivation resources, the Zhou family, not to mention whether they offered discounts, at the very least, only offered top-quality goods.

Fame is something that cannot be seen or touched, yet it exists in people's hearts.

"Brother Lin, I'll take my leave now. Be careful lately. I heard that the disciples of Li Huo Palace and Shen Jian Sect have clashed several times."

Before leaving, Li Erniu spoke cautiously, and Lin Chang'an nodded solemnly.

(End of this chapter)