Immortality and Cultivation: I Have Too Many Talents

Chapter 649 Undercurrents (Please Subscribe)

After leaving the talisman room, Yang Yunfan did not return to Crimson Cloud Peak, but instead went to Flame Island Market.

After all, it is a third-tier spirit island, inhabited by tens of thousands of rogue cultivators.

Flame Island Market is built against the mountain, with shops lining both sides of the street and a constant flow of people, mostly Qi Refining stage cultivators, with Foundation Establishment cultivators only occasionally appearing.

The sounds of vendors hawking their wares and haggling filled the air, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

Yang Yunfan had barely entered the market when a gruff voice greeted him warmly.

"Hey, Brother Yang, you're here! You have some free time to buy groceries today? What a coincidence! I just slaughtered a fine Black Horned Bull, it's very fresh and still steaming hot. Shall I cut some for you to take home and try?"

The speaker was a burly man with a thick waist, wearing a greasy leather skirt and carrying a gleaming boning knife. He was none other than Zhang the Butcher, a well-known figure in the market.

The butchering profession is quite lucrative.

Without any foundation, it cannot stand firm at all.

At this moment, Butcher Zhang had a big smile on his face and was much more enthusiastic than before.

Yang Yunfan stopped and glanced at the beef from the barbarian beef section, then looked at the snow beef on the other side of the meat counter.

Wild beef is a low-grade Tier 1, while snow beef is a mid-grade Tier 1.

The spiritual energy they contain is fundamentally different.

The two prices differ by a factor of three.

Zhang the butcher was incredibly shrewd. Following Yang Yunfan's gaze, his smile widened as he picked up the boning knife and patted the piece of beef.

"Brother Yang, you have a good eye! This is northern snow beef that was just delivered yesterday. The meat is tender and juicy, with a hint of icy essence. It's incredibly refreshing! Want some?"

"How much?"

Yang Yunfan asked.

"Hehe, the price is the same, three catties for one low-grade spirit stone. Don't worry, Brother Yang, it's absolutely fresh!"

Butcher Zhang patted his chest and guaranteed it.

Yang Yunfan pondered for a moment and then said, "Alright, then let's cut three catties."

"Alright. Brother Yang, please wait a moment."

Zhang the butcher worked swiftly and skillfully, slicing off three catties of snow beef with precise strokes. He wrapped it in a clean lotus leaf, handed it to Yang Yunfan, and casually took a spirit stone from him.

He chuckled and whispered, "Brother Yang, isn't three catties a bit too little? Huo Feng has been a big eater since she was little. How about we cut some more?"

Yang Yunfan waved his hand: "Three catties is enough, I'll come again next time."

After saying that, he put away the snow beef and walked slowly toward the core area of ​​the market.

As Zhang the butcher watched, they slowly entered Baiwei Pavilion.

This is a place that specializes in selling the meat of second-tier monsters.

Ordinary Qi Refining cultivators simply cannot afford it.

Zhang the butcher stared at Yang Yunfan's retreating figure, then slapped his forehead, suddenly realizing what was going on.

"Pig brain! Yang Huofeng is already a Foundation Establishment Immortal cultivator, why would she even look at this level of snow beef? Yang Yunfan bought this for himself! Tsk tsk, truly a case of a father gaining status through his daughter..."

On the other side, Yang Yunfan stepped into the threshold of Baiwei Pavilion.

The shop is elegantly decorated and filled with a spiritual atmosphere. The monster meat displayed in the counter has a faint glow and looks exceptional.

The shopkeeper, surnamed Hu, had a prosperous appearance and was at the peak of his Qi cultivation. He was calculating accounts at the counter.

Upon seeing Yang Yunfan enter, Manager Hu was slightly taken aback at first, but then a warm smile instantly bloomed on his face as he quickly greeted him.

"But was it Brother Yang from Crimson Cloud Peak in person?"

"I wouldn't dare. My name is Yang Yunfan."

"Brother Yang, please come in."

Manager Hu bowed respectfully, speaking in a friendly tone as if he were an old friend, and instructed the waiter to serve the spirit tea.

He had met Yang Yunfan before.

However, at that time, he was not someone that Yang Yunfan, a menial servant of a sect, could associate with.

But this time it was different.

Behind this "Brother Yang" are two large Buddha statues.

His daughter, Yang Huofeng, is a genius girl who has reached the Foundation Establishment stage at the age of sixteen.

Master Shen Haoming is a secret disciple of Master Yuanhuo.

A businessman like him is adept at adapting to changing circumstances, so he certainly wouldn't be negligent.

Yang Yunfan had never received such courtesy before, and was somewhat flattered. He quickly returned the courtesy, saying, "Manager Hu, you're too kind."

Shopkeeper Hu asked with a smile, "Brother Yang, are you here today to visit my humble shop? Do you need some second-tier monster meat?" He deliberately emphasized the word "second-tier" to indicate the quality of the shop's goods.

"Exactly."

Yang Yunfan nodded.

After her daughter achieved Foundation Establishment, she trained diligently every day, and even first-tier spiritual food could not satisfy her appetite.

When he had a little extra money, he was asked to buy some second-tier monster meat to replenish his energy and blood.

"Does your shop have any second-tier fire-attribute demon beast meat?"

"Brother Yang, what you're saying is true!"

Upon hearing this, Manager Hu laughed even louder: "This is Flame Island. I dare not speak of anything else, but when it comes to fire-attribute demon beast meat, need I say more?"

"Brother Yang, come with me, let me introduce you to some rare treasures."

Manager Hu led Yang Yunfan to a row of jade counters and began to introduce them as if they were his own treasures.

"Look at this piece, the hind leg meat of the Fiery Tiger, brimming with vital energy and blood, is extremely nourishing. This piece next to it is the inner rib of the Rainbow Leopard, the meat is delicate and easy to refine. And this is the heart of the Fire Fox, nourishing yin and yang. The tendons of the Cloud-Stepping Beast strengthen bones and muscles..."

He introduced six or seven kinds of fire-attribute monster meat, all of which were of the highest quality.

Yang Yunfan listened attentively, occasionally asking about the price and efficacy.

After an incense stick had burned, Yang Yunfan walked out of Baiwei Pavilion.

Behind him, Manager Hu's smile was as bright as a chrysanthemum.

This time, Yang Yunfan spent a thousand spirit stones.

Thirty catties of Fiery Tiger meat, and a Fire Fox Heart was given as a gift.

This is a big business deal.

On Flame Island, there were more than twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators, most of whom were disciples of the Fire Cloud Sect, and each one of them was poorer than the last.

As for the Qi Refining cultivators on the island, even if they come in, they are only purchased by the "tael".

Customers like Yang Yunfan, who spend a thousand spirit stones at a time, are extremely rare.

Shopkeeper Hu knew that this Fiery Tiger meat was definitely being sold to Yang Huofeng, the newly promoted Foundation Establishment cultivator.

He had also heard rumors about Yang Huofeng.

If she really has that much of an appetite, this would definitely be a big, long-term business opportunity.

"Brother Yang, please take care. Next time you need anything, just let me know, and my shop will definitely prepare the best goods for you!" Manager Hu stood at the shop entrance, bowing repeatedly to Yang Yunfan's retreating figure, his smile lingering for a long time.

……

Fire Cloud Sect Talisman Chamber.

After seeing Yang Yunfan off, the enthusiastic smile on the face of the disciple in charge, Chen Xingyu, gradually faded.

He returned to the inner room, took out the jade box containing the Fire Dragon Talisman, and gently opened it.

Thirty-six fire dragon talismans, shimmering with spiritual light, lay quietly within.

Chen Xingyu picked up a card at random.

A warm touch came from my fingertips. The fire dragon drawn with cinnabar on the talisman paper was lifelike, with a faint red halo flowing slowly under the lines of the runes.

"The calligraphy of the runes is acceptable, and the spiritual energy is abundant and even. Judging from its quality, it should be around seventy points, which is indeed a good product." Chen Xingyu stroked the talisman paper, his brows slightly furrowed, and muttered to himself.

As a second-tier superior talisman master, drawing fire dragon talismans is his forte, and his eyesight is naturally sharp.

Judging from appearances alone, this batch of fire dragon talismans is of quite good quality and could fetch a good price in the market.

However, an indescribable sense of unease lingered in his mind.

The aura emanating from the Fire Dragon Talisman, besides its normal scorching and violent intensity, also seemed to carry a hint of terrifying destruction.

After taking a closer look, he felt a little uneasy.

This feeling is something that no ordinary fire dragon talisman can provide.

Something feels wrong.

"Relying solely on sight and touch is bound to be biased. It is safest to verify it with the Talisman Mirror."

Just now, in front of Yang Yunfan, Chen Xingyu wanted to maintain his composure and did not conduct the test on the spot.

At this moment, he took out a bronze mirror engraved with complex array patterns, gently placed the fire dragon talisman in his hand on the mirror surface, and then cast a spell.

The mirror flashed, and a line of clear numbers appeared on its surface.

88 points!

"so tall?"

Chen Xingyu's pupils suddenly contracted, and he almost cried out in surprise.

He rubbed his eyes in disbelief, and when he looked again, the numbers on the mirror were still there.

"Eighty-eight points! How is that possible?"

A storm raged within him.

The quality of talismans is categorized as follows: 60 points is acceptable, 70 points is good, 80 points is excellent, and 90 points or above is considered a fine product.

He originally estimated that the quality of this batch of talismans was around 70 points, which was more or less good.

Unexpectedly, the actual quality far exceeded expectations, reaching the threshold of being a high-quality product.

"Take a look at the other talismans."

Suppressing his shock, Chen Xingyu took out another Fire Dragon Talisman and placed it on the treasure mirror.

The brilliance shines again.

Eighty-six points.

Chen Xingyu's expression changed completely.

He picked up the third, the fourth...

He tested all thirty-six talismans in one go.

The result left him speechless.

Except for one score of 78, all the other 35 scores were above 80.

One of them even reached an astonishing score of 92.

This means that the Fire Dragon Talisman is a high-quality talisman.

"The calligraphy of the runes still has flaws; the turns of the lines are slightly stiff, far from being perfectly smooth and harmonious. Why is the quality so high?"

Chen Xingyu picked up the 92-point excellent fire dragon talisman and examined it carefully against the light, completely baffled. The talisman itself could not possibly reach such a high score.

His eyes flickered as he thought rapidly.

There are no problems with the external factors such as runes, cinnabar, and talisman skin.

Then there is only one truth.

"It's spiritual power! The problem lies in the spiritual power used to draw the talisman!"

Chen Xingyu slapped his thigh, as if waking from a dream.

"That's right. Junior Brother Shen Haoming incorporated a trace of Crimson Cloud Elemental Fire when he drew this talisman."

Having figured this out, Chen Xingyu's face was instantly filled with complex emotions, including shock, realization, and an overwhelming sense of envy and heartache.

"What a waste! What a waste!"

He couldn't help but gasp in surprise, pounding his chest and stamping his feet.

"What a precious thing is Master Yuan Huo's Crimson Cloud Yuan Fire! If we are fortunate enough to obtain it, we will cherish it as our life and use it as our trump card. We will not use it lightly."

Junior Brother Shen actually used such a divine object to draw this second-tier fire dragon talisman! It's like using fine wine to water ordinary flowers and plants!

He carefully held the exquisite fire dragon talisman, which scored 92 points, in his hands, feeling the destructive aura within it that made his heart tremble.

He wanted to activate one and see for himself just how powerful the Fire Dragon Talisman containing Crimson Cloud Primordial Fire truly was.

The thought had barely crossed his mind when he forcibly suppressed it.

Reluctant to part with it!
A qualified Fire Dragon Talisman is worth one hundred spirit stones on the market.

This rare fire dragon talisman, containing the Crimson Cloud Primordial Fire, is a high-quality item and should fetch at least three or four times the price.

Even if he were the head of the Talisman Chamber, he wouldn't be so extravagant.

"Oh, Xiao Fengxian got a good deal!"

Chen Xingyu shook his head.

He selected sixteen high-grade fire dragon talismans from them as his means of protection.

The remaining twenty sheets were put back into the jade box.

Then, he took out thirty-six mid-grade spirit stones from his storage bag, added them to the Fire Cloud Sect's talisman room account, and quietly erased the record of this batch of talismans from the account.

He naturally wanted to keep this high-quality fire dragon talisman for himself.

If he hadn't been short of money, he wouldn't have resold those twenty Fire Dragon Talismans.

After doing all this, Chen Xingyu took a deep breath, and a bright and beautiful face appeared in his mind.

"Get a good rest tonight. Tomorrow I'll go find Xiao Fengxian and give her a good beating!" Chen Xingyu muttered to himself, completely satisfied.

……

Inside the cave on Crimson Cloud Peak, an enticing aroma of meat wafted through the air.

Yang Huofeng walked in with light steps, carrying a large string of iron skewers. The grilled meat skewered on them smelled delicious.

These roasted meats were precisely the second-tier Blazing Tiger meat that she had carefully roasted.

With a look of anticipation and a smile like she was presenting a treasure, Yang Huofeng walked up to Shen Xuan, who was sitting cross-legged and practicing his internal energy, and offered him the meat skewers with both hands.

"Master, please try this. This is freshly roasted Fiery Tiger meat, it smells amazing."

Shen Xuan slowly opened his eyes, glanced at the roasted meat, and then at Yang Huofeng.

I casually picked the smallest bunch from the top, which weighed about two pounds.

"It smells good."

After saying that, Shen Xuan gently tore at the food in front of Yang Huofeng.

His posture was composed, and he chewed silently.

In fact, the meat of a second-tier demon beast is almost useless to him.

However, the roasted meat tasted good, and the cooking time was perfect.

Watching from the side, Yang Huofeng subconsciously swallowed and couldn't help but ask, "Master, is it delicious? How does it taste?"

Shen Xuan nodded slightly: "It sounds nice."

He made a comment and then waved his hand.

"You can eat the rest yourself."

"Yes, Master."

Yang Huofeng had been waiting for these words, and her face instantly lit up with a bright smile.

She sat cross-legged, picked up the remaining meat skewers, and began to eat heartily.

They ate with gusto, wolfing down their food, their cheeks bulging, their mouths greasy.

She finished off a skewer of grilled meat weighing over two pounds in no time.

Shen Xuan glanced at Yang Huofeng's ravenous eating and waved his hand, "Go eat outside."

"Ah? Okay. Master, I'll take my leave now."

Yang Huofeng was taken aback at first, then realized what was happening. She wiped her mouth sheepishly, bowed, and happily withdrew from the inner part of the cave.

After Yang Huofeng's figure disappeared, Shen Xuan lowered his gaze slightly.

The oil stain that had fallen on the robe faded away quietly.

"Of pure character and simple mind."

To him, the meat of these second-tier demonic beasts was no different from ordinary food.

The fire elemental power contained within is negligible compared to the Golden Core of the Primordial Fire True Person.

However, after Yang Huofeng finished baking, she thought of giving it to him as a token of her respect.

This sentiment is far more valuable than the barbecue itself.

"Yang Yunfan is a man of low cultivation and whose life is as worthless as grass, but he has raised his daughter quite well."

Shen Xuan's thoughts stirred slightly.

"Alright, since I've already taken this girl as my disciple, I'll put in more effort to protect her safety."

Shen Xuan stretched out his finger and condensed a wisp of pure Primordial Ice Spirit Power.

Spiritual energy, like silk threads, swirled and coiled around his fingertips, instantly transforming into a tiny, transparent tracking barrier.

He pointed.

The fake trace restriction flew towards the outer layer of the cave and silently entered Yang Yunfan's body as he was watering the flowers.

With the tracking restriction in place, he could sense Yang Yunfan's whereabouts within a thousand miles.

After doing all this, Shen Xuan closed his eyes again and continued his cultivation.

at the same time.

Outside the cave, Yang Huofeng was sitting cross-legged in the hall, enjoying the remaining roasted tiger meat with gusto, his hands covered in oil as he ate.

Suddenly, she stopped moving.

Shen Xuan's voice echoed in her mind: "One hour later, at the summit of Crimson Cloud Peak, practice the talisman array."

Yang Huofeng's smile froze instantly.

She looked at the fragrant roasted meat in her hand, and then, thinking of her teacher's strict training, her little face scrunched up.

"Ugh!"

She sighed heavily, then channeled her grief and anger into her appetite, viciously biting into the remaining roasted meat, muttering incoherently.

"You need to be well-fed to have the energy to take a scolding!"

……

The following night.

Yueyun Immortal City.

The back room of a cultivation-themed general store called "Phoenix Perch Pavilion".

Inside the room, a warm fragrance wafted through the air, and soft red silk curtains hung in the room.

A sweet, warm fragrance filled the air, mingling with the woman's unique orchid scent, creating a beautiful atmosphere.

Several pieces of men's and women's clothing were scattered on the ground, clearly indicating that a fierce storm had just passed.

Chen Xingyu, shirtless, leaned against the soft bed, his chest rising and falling slightly, his face showing a mixture of exhaustion and satisfaction after his indulgence.

He was in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, in the prime of his life.

However, the female cultivator beside him, Xiao Fengxian, was also at the Foundation Establishment stage.

Moreover, it was precisely at the age when one is as vigorous as a wolf or a tiger.

Xiao Fengxian, dressed in a light pink gauze dress, with a plump and graceful figure, slightly disheveled hair, and a hint of spring in her eyes, lazily lay on his chest.

She looked to be in her early thirties, with fair and smooth skin, and a unique mature charm in her eyes. Every smile and frown was captivating.

Actually, Xiao Fengxian is not young anymore.

However, she possesses the art of preserving her youthful appearance, having mastered water-attribute cultivation techniques and deeply understood the principles of yin and yang harmony, thus still appearing as fresh and tender as water.

“Chen Lang.”

Xiao Fengxian stretched out her slender fingers and drew circles on Chen Xingyu's sweaty chest, her voice alluring.

"Weren't you just now so adamant that you would discuss philosophy with me all night long, without sleep? You've already given up after only a few rounds?"

His words carried a hint of teasing and provocation.

Chen Xingyu blushed, coughed awkwardly twice, and explained, "Little Fengxian, lately, the sect's orders for talismans have been piling up, and drawing those fire dragon talismans has been too taxing, so I'm a bit exhausted..."

What he said was half true and half false.

Xiao Fengxian didn't pursue the matter any further.

She was merely a rogue cultivator, in the early stages of Foundation Establishment.

Opening a shop in Yueyun Xiancheng may seem glamorous, but in reality, it has a shallow foundation.

Chen Xingyu gave her many benefits.

He sold her some of the Fire Cloud Sect's spiritual items at a low price.

This fleeting affair was mutually beneficial for both of them.

Xiao Fengxian changed the subject and asked in a sweet voice, "Chen Lang, do you have any good stuff this time?"

At her age, all she cares about are spirit stones.

After a hard night of service, it shouldn't be for nothing.

Chen Xingyu was also very self-aware.

After each time we made love, he would automatically give her some good stuff so she could resell it and make a profit.

Chen Xingyu's spirits lifted slightly, and he took out a jade box from his storage bag.

"Nature has brought good things; take a look."

Xiao Fengxian's eyes lit up with joy. She took the jade box and eagerly opened it.

Inside the box were twenty fire dragon talismans, each shimmering with spiritual light.

A hint of disappointment flashed in Xiao Fengxian's eyes.

A mere twenty Fire Dragon Talismans have limited value.

"Chen Lang."

Xiao Fengxian raised her watery eyes, her tone tinged with grievance: "Is this all the Fire Dragon Talismans you have? I thought..."

Chen Xingyu reached out and lifted Xiao Fengxian's chin, forcing her to look into his eyes.

"Little Phoenix Fairy, listen carefully to me. These Fire Dragon Talismans are no ordinary items. Each one must be sold for no less than two hundred spirit stones, not a single spirit stone less!"

"Two hundred spirit stones?"

Xiao Fengxian's beautiful eyes widened instantly.

"This is the price of a high-quality talisman. Chen Lang, are you joking? This isn't a high-quality talisman."

A standard, qualified Fire Dragon Talisman is worth 100 spirit stones, while a superior one is worth 200 spirit stones.

Chen Xingyu lowered his voice and said solemnly, "These fire dragon talismans are not ordinary fire talismans. Their power definitely surpasses that of high-quality fire dragon talismans."

"These fire dragon talismans contain a trace of Crimson Cloud Elemental Fire."

"It has been infused with the Crimson Cloud Elemental Fire?"

Xiao Fengxian gasped.

She had some knowledge of the Fire Cloud Sect.

Yuan Huo Zhenren was the number one Zhenren of Huoyun, a master of the Golden Core stage, and renowned for his excellence.

His natal fire is the Crimson Cloud Primordial Fire.

She had known Chen Xingyu for many years and knew him well as a womanizer and a greedy man.

However, they won't make unfounded claims about the quality of goods.

Chen Xingyu sighed and said, "If I weren't so poor lately, how could I bear to sell such a treasured possession!"

Xiao Fengxian's eyes sparkled, and with a soft moan, her supple body wrapped around Chen Xingyu again, her breath sweet as orchids.

"Chen Lang, don't worry, I'll do as you say. Two hundred spirit stones per sheet, not a single one less!"

As they spoke, a soft, boneless hand slipped quietly under the brocade quilt.

Chen Xingyu shuddered, a bright light suddenly flashed in his eyes, and his breathing became heavy.

He grabbed Xiao Fengxian's waist and pinned her down.

"This time I want to..."

He lowered his voice and whispered in Xiao Fengxian's ear.

Xiao Fengxian let out a series of captivating giggles, her voice alluring.

"Chen Lang, you're so naughty..."

The red silk curtains fell again, concealing the increasingly intense spring light.

……

Beyond the Immortal City of Clouds, thousands of miles away.

Deep within the Wanyao Mountains, ancient trees reach for the sky, their gnarled branches intertwined, blocking out the sun.

As dusk approached, the last rays of the setting sun struggled to penetrate the dense canopy of trees, casting dappled shadows among the trees.

It brought no warmth whatsoever, but instead made the forest seem even more secluded and eerie.

The air was filled with a strange stench of decaying leaves, damp earth, and the smell of blood, revealing the cruel laws of this primeval jungle.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Five streaks of light, each a different color, frantically weaved through the thick tree trunks in a disheveled manner, startling a flock of birds into flight.

Within the escaping light were five cultivators, four men and one woman, all at the early Foundation Establishment stage.

The five people's robes were torn, their breathing was disordered, and their faces were filled with panic.

The leader was an old cultivator dressed in black robes, standing on a flying sword that shimmered with blue light. He was the backbone of the small group and was known as Elder Mo.

Following closely behind was a burly man wielding a golden-backed machete, named Iron Tower.

At this moment, Iron Tower was running away while cursing, "Damn it! What bad luck! The intelligence said they were a pair of second-tier low-grade Ironback Bears, how come they both broke through to second-tier mid-grade!"

"This beast has thick skin and immense strength; it almost killed me!"

On the other side, a beautiful female cultivator dressed in a pale yellow flowing fairy dress was desperately urging her flying sword to move.

Her name was Liu Yiyi, and her voice was trembling with tears: "Old Master Mo, they've split up and are surrounding us."

Two enormous demonic bears, their fur gleaming with a metallic sheen, had already formed a pincer movement, one on the left and one on the right.

It was two points faster than the five people flying on their flying devices.

Its eyes, like copper bells, gleamed with a brutal, ferocious light; its fangs were exposed, and its demonic aura surged.

(End of this chapter)