Immortality and cultivation begin with drawing talismans...

Chapter 37 Alchemist Zhou Qing
Inside the secret room.

The spirit-gathering arrays arranged at the four corners, activated by spirit stones, made the spiritual energy in the air even more concentrated.

[Qi Refining Level 6 +1 (23/100)]

Lin Chang'an slowly opened his eyes, a smile appearing on his face.

"As expected of a spirit-gathering array that cost two hundred spirit stones, it is indeed worth the price."

Although it consumes three spirit stones every day, his cultivation speed is undeniably fast.

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth is chaotic and disordered. In addition to being absorbed by the cultivator himself, this process can also be accelerated through formations.

Simply put, it means exactly what it says: to gather more spiritual energy and change the cultivation environment.

"However, the maximum power of this small spirit-gathering array is only three spirit stones per day."

Lin Chang'an was somewhat dissatisfied. He had spent ninety spirit stones in just one month. Even ordinary cultivators from major clans had never been so extravagant.

"The sixth level of Qi Refining is still not enough. The three major sects might start a war any day now. I need to be at least in the late stage of Qi Refining to have the ability to protect myself."

Just as Lin Chang'an was deep in thought, a familiar voice suddenly came from outside the courtyard.

……

"Brother Lin, I've come to trouble you again today."

Zhou Qing, over fifty years old, is a collateral disciple of the Zhou family of Beast Tamers, with a cultivation level of the eighth level of Qi Refining, and is an alchemist.

Upon seeing the newcomer, Lin Chang'an smiled and stepped forward to bow.

"Brother Zhou, your arrival is an honor to our humble abode."

During his five years at the Zhou family, Zhou Qing had become a fairly good acquaintance, and the two had exchanged many pills and talismans in private.

After all, without middlemen taking a cut, every little bit saved counts.

"Brother Lin, don't flatter me. You're a top-grade talisman master now, living a more comfortable life than anyone else."

As he said this, Zhou Qing glanced at the spirit-gathering array inside the room and a hint of envy appeared on his face.

Lin Chang'an smiled and shook his head. After entering the house, the two drank tea and chatted familiarly about the situation outside. Then they exchanged supplies.

"Brother Lin, this is a top-grade Golden Marrow Pill. It's worth exchanging it for your first-grade superior talisman."

"Brother Zhou, this could save my life in a critical moment."

Lin Chang'an said with a smile, but at the same time he had some questions. It seemed that this person had been coming to exchange talismans more frequently lately.

Faced with Lin Chang'an's suspicion, Zhou Qing sighed helplessly:

"What else could it be? The whole market knows about what happened before. Recently, the clan has been preparing supplies to help Brother Tieshan establish his foundation. We're just worried about what might happen."

Lin Chang'an understood immediately. The Zhou family was a clear target, and Zhou Qing was afraid of further turmoil, so he bought more talismans to protect his life.

This is understandable, since he always carries dozens of talismans with him just in case.

……

half a month later.

The market was both turbulent and exceptionally prosperous.

The appearance of the purple gold mine led to the emergence of numerous magical artifacts in the Xuan Yin Pavilion's Treasure Pavilion.

That day, Li Erniu was in a bad mood and came to him to drink alone.

“Brother Lin, the Zhou family has been on guard while the clan is preparing foundation-building materials, but they have assigned me to be in charge of a business.”

Lin Chang'an understood that, just in case, the Zhou family had even arranged for Erniu to be stationed on the periphery, in order to avoid any oversights.

Even the honest and simple-minded Li Erniu was somewhat dissatisfied, since they were already calling them the Zhou family.

"Erniu, this might not be a bad thing. Staying away from trouble and having a decent job, isn't that better than risking your life outside the market?"

Lin Chang'an smiled and comforted him, saying that the Zhou family wouldn't make arrangements one day and then kick them away the next.

So, Erniu can be said to have turned misfortune into blessing, as he was in charge of a business that not only earned him a lot of money but was also safe.

After drinking a few cups, Erniu thought about it carefully and realized that it seemed to make sense. He nodded and said in a low voice, "Brother Lin, you're right. This is a good opportunity for me to take advantage of my time to cultivate and try to catch up with you as soon as possible."

Li Erniu broke through to the fourth level of Qi Refining first, but Lin Chang'an has now surpassed him.

Lin Chang'an has already reached the sixth level of Qi Refining, while he is still stuck at the fifth level.

At their current age, once they pass sixty, their qi and blood will decline. Therefore, Li Erniu is also holding back his efforts, trying to see if he can break through to the late stage of Qi Refining before his qi and blood decline.

Lin Chang'an doesn't usually like drinking, but today he still drank a few cups with Erniu to comfort him.

As Lin Chang'an watched Erniu leave, his eyelids twitched slightly, giving him a bad feeling.

"Could it be that the Zhou family is about to encounter trouble again?"

Even Erniu, who had been a son-in-law for over twenty years, was assigned to an outside position, which gives you an idea of ​​the situation within the Zhou family.

"I hope this peaceful life won't be disrupted."

Lin Chang'an sighed inwardly, and could only pray that he wouldn't be affected.

News of the Zhou family's plans to establish a foundation once again spread, causing many cultivators to secretly keep an eye on the direction of the second-tier alchemists of the Xuan Yin Pavilion.

After all, the head of the Zhou family had been in the residence of this second-tier alchemist for several days, clearly indicating that he was refining Foundation Establishment Pills.

Among the independent cultivators outside, they might not have the guts to rob, but if a powerful cultivator were to make a move, they might very well take the risk and fight it out in the chaos.

The market has been noticeably quieter these past few days.

……

"Brother Lin."

On this day, a familiar voice came from outside the courtyard again. Alchemist Zhou Qing had come to visit once more, this time rubbing his hands awkwardly.

"Brother Lin, as you know, such a big thing happened last time, so I'm still quite worried this time. I'd like to ask you to exchange two more high-grade Golden Light Talismans. Of course, I won't take advantage of you; I'll offer you some top-quality pills."

When Lin Chang'an saw Zhou Qing looking worried, as if he feared another upheaval and wanted to buy two more talismans for his family to protect themselves, he smiled and immediately invited him in.

"Brother Zhou, it's no problem."

After all, the two had been doing business in private more than once or twice, and everyone knew it.

Zhou Qing, a mere mid-grade first-level alchemist, was able to produce high-quality pills every now and then, clearly indicating that he was lining his own pockets a little.

But this has nothing to do with him.

"Brother Lin, it has to be you again. Don't worry, I will definitely not take advantage of you."

With a smile on his face, Zhou Qing followed Lin Chang'an into the house, but as he walked behind, a cold glint flashed deep in his eyes.

However, upon entering the house, Lin Chang'an's nose twitched slightly, and a strange sense of irritation arose within his magical power.

No! wrong!

A strange light flashed in Lin Chang'an's pupils in an instant, and he glanced subtly at his old friend, Alchemist Zhou Qing, behind him.

"Brother Zhou, please have a seat. I'll go pour you some tea."

Lin Chang'an still wore a familiar smile, but his palms were already sweating.

【Changchun Kung Fu (Perfect: 1/10000)】

If it weren't for the fact that he bought two books from Yun Yao some time ago, both of which were insights into cultivating the Wood Attribute Evergreen Technique.

It allowed him to break through to the perfect realm in his understanding of the cultivation technique; otherwise, he wouldn't have noticed it at all.

Besides its characteristics of prolonging life and extending the flow of Qi, Changchun Gong also has the advantage of being a wood-attribute practice, which naturally enhances its sensitivity to and immunity to toxins.

The perfect state of the Everlasting Spring Technique means that Lin Chang'an has reached the same level of understanding as the cultivator who created the technique.

That's why we can detect these subtle toxins entering the body.

Beneath Zhou Qing's amiable smile, a sachet hanging from his waist subtly emitted a faint fragrance.

(End of this chapter)