I tamed beasts and achieved immortality in the world of cultivation.

After Zhang Yanshu left, the atmosphere in the hall immediately relaxed a bit.

A senior brother at the seventh level of Qi Refining let out a long breath and patted his chest: "Uncle Zhang's aura is more than twice as strong as before. I didn't dare to breathe loudly when I was sitting there just now."

"Late Foundation Establishment stage, how can that be the same?" another senior brother chimed in with a laugh. "If I could break through to Foundation Establishment one day, I'd be laughing in my sleep."

"You? Forget it, you should be thinking about how to cultivate to the late stage of Qi Refining."

A burst of laughter erupted from the crowd, and the atmosphere in the hall gradually became lively. Soon, someone took out various items from their storage bags, their spiritual light shimmering, a dazzling array.

Chen Qing and Xiao Chunan exchanged a glance, then got up and started walking around in the crowd.

This time, Chen Qing's goal was very clear—talismans.

A moment later, Chen Qing arrived in front of a senior brother who was at the seventh level of Qi Refining. The man had the words "Talisman Edict" on his waist and a thick stack of talismans spread out in front of him. They were all different in spirit and of extraordinary quality.

"Junior brother, which one has caught your eye?" The senior brother from Fuzhao Peak greeted Chen Qing with a smile when he saw him stop.

Chen Qing glanced at them, then pointed to several stacks: "Five of each of the Swift Travel Talisman, Spiritual Light Shield, and Golden Sword Talisman. What's the price?"

"All three types of talismans are first-grade high-quality. The Swift Travel Talisman costs six spirit stones each, while the Spirit Light Shield and Golden Sword Talismans cost ten spirit stones each." The senior brother from Talisman Peak calculated for a moment, "Five of each, for a total of one hundred and thirty spirit stones."

Chen Qing pondered for a moment: "Let's add five more Swiftness Talismans, making it one hundred and forty?"

The senior brother from Fuzhao Peak shook his head and said with a wry smile, "Junior brother, I really can't do it at this price. Swift Travel Talismans don't make much profit to begin with, and adding five more would make it one hundred and sixty. How about this, one hundred and fifty, and I'll give you two low-grade Minor Thunder Talismans as a bonus?"

Chen Qing nodded slightly.

Although the Lesser Thunder Talisman is only a low-grade first-level item, its power is not weak, comparable to a mid-grade first-level item. One talisman is equivalent to a strike from a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator. Moreover, this price is the internal price among fellow disciples; it would be 10-20% higher outside.

After paying the spirit stones, Chen Qing carefully put away the fifteen talismans, feeling somewhat relieved. The Swift Travel Talisman was for escaping, the Spirit Light Shield was for protecting himself, and the Golden Sword Talisman and the Minor Thunder Talisman were for attacking enemies. With all three items in hand, he finally felt more confident.

Xiao Chunan also came over and bought about ten talismans. The two of them then left satisfied.

He had only taken two steps when a voice came from beside him: "Is that Junior Brother Chen from Linyuan County?"

Chen Qing turned his head and saw a young man with a worried face walking over. It was the senior brother who had just reported the situation in Mingyuan County. He had the cultivation level of the sixth level of Qi Refining and looked to be only a few years older than him.

Although he had been in Linyuan County for more than two years, he was busy with affairs in the first year and encountered the matter of the Qian Kingdom cultivators and Yang Ming in the second year, so he knew little about his neighbor.

Chen Qing cupped his hands and said, "That's me. And you are, Senior Brother?"

"Qin Yun, the garrison commander of Mingyuan County." The young man returned the greeting with a cupped hand and a wry smile. "Our two counties are neighbors, and we'll inevitably need to look out for each other in the future. Since we've met today, how about we exchange a communication talisman?"

Chen Qing was secretly delighted, but kept a straight face and nodded, saying, "Senior Brother Qin is right, that's exactly how it should be."

The two each took out a communication talisman and exchanged spiritual energy imprints.

Qin Yun sighed: "Things aren't going well on my end. You've heard about the Wu family being wiped out. If anything happens in the future, I hope Junior Brother Chen will let me know."

"Definitely." Chen Qing nodded earnestly.

As soon as she finished speaking, a female cultivator at the fifth level of Qi Refining approached. She had a round face and almond-shaped eyes, and looked quite straightforward. Smiling, she cupped her hands in greeting: "Senior brothers, I am Sun Wan'er, the garrison commander of Cangyuan County. Our three counties are close to each other, so why don't we exchange communication talismans and help each other out?"

Chen Qing and Qin Yun exchanged a glance and nodded in unison.

The three exchanged names, left each other's communication talismans, exchanged a few pleasantries, and agreed to inform each other immediately if there were any unusual developments in the future.

Sun Wan'er, being lively, smiled and said, "With my two senior brothers here, I feel much more at ease. When I have some free time, I'll treat you to some spiritual fruits."

Qin Yun rarely showed a smile: "Junior Sister Sun, you're too kind."

Chen Qing smiled and agreed, but he had other plans in mind.

Mutual support is good, but in critical moments, you can only rely on yourself. Otherwise, why didn't this Senior Brother Qin come over to exchange communication talismans when his Mingyuan County was safe last year?

Besides, after what happened with Yang Ming, he really couldn't trust these fellow disciples, so leaving Yunzhou as soon as possible was the right thing to do.

……

After staying in Yunzhou City for a day, Chen Qing bid farewell to his parents and embarked on his journey home with Xiao Chunan.

The dragon-scaled horse galloped eastward along the official road with its hooves flying.

Once outside the territory of Yunzhou City, the scenery on both sides gradually becomes desolate. Farmland decreases and forests increase. Occasionally, one can see the shimmering spiritual light on the distant mountain peaks, which are places with spiritual veins, and are mostly occupied by the cave dwellings of some immortal cultivation family or rogue cultivator.

"Have you thought it through?" Xiao Chunan suddenly asked.

Chen Qing nodded: "I've thought it through."

He pulled on the reins, slowing the dragon-scaled horse slightly so it could ride alongside Xiao Chunan.

"Yunzhou is too chaotic. The cultivators from the Qian Kingdom are like locusts, infiltrating here wave after wave. I always feel uneasy staying at Half Moon Lake."

Xiao Chunan turned to look at him: "So you're planning to pull some strings and return to the heart of the sect?"

"Hmm." Chen Qing didn't hide anything. "You've seen the situation in Yunzhou. Cultivators from the Qian Kingdom are frequently crossing the border. The Wu family in Mingyuan County was wiped out, and Cangyuan County and Jueyuan County are also not peaceful. Although Uncle Zhang will inspect the three prefectures and eighteen counties, no matter how strong he is, he can't take care of so many people."

"Therefore, I want to make some arrangements to return to the heart of the sect, even if the spiritual veins are worse and the place is smaller."

Xiao Chunan remained silent for a moment, then shook her head.

"I'm not going back."

Chen Qing glanced at him, not surprised.

Xiao Chunan raised his hand and pressed on the hilt of his sword at his waist, a sharp glint in his eyes: "I cultivate the way of the sword. When I came to Yunzhou, firstly, I was worried that you wouldn't be able to handle things here alone, and secondly, I had inquired about the situation here beforehand. Although this place is dangerous, it is an excellent place for us sword cultivators to hone our skills."

A slight smile played on his lips, his tone tinged with pride: "For the past two years, I've patrolled Zhenyuan County daily, engaging in countless battles with cultivators. Although I've faced many perilous situations, the gains have been immense. I'm now not far from reaching the seventh level of Qi Refining; in another year or two at most, I'll definitely break through."

"This progress is even faster than I initially anticipated at Sword Echo Peak. Do you think I'd be willing to leave?"

Chen Qing remained silent.

Xiao Chunan is usually carefree and sometimes not very bright, but when it comes to swordsmanship, he becomes extremely principled, and no amount of advice from others will change his mind.

Upon realizing that Yunzhou was unsafe, his first thought was to retreat to the rear, while Xiao Chunan had only one word on his mind—

Dry!

All I can say is that this is the essence of a sword cultivator.

Chen Qing sighed: "Whatever you want, but be careful, don't leave me back in Yunzhou fighting to the death with someone after I've returned to the sect."

"Don't worry." Xiao Chunan laughed heartily, "Not just anyone can withstand my sword."

Chen Qing shook his head, no longer trying to persuade him. He reached out and patted his storage bag, and three blue carp and three spirit sheep chickens appeared in his hand: "Take them."

Xiao Chunan glanced at the three fish and three chickens, then at Chen Qing, and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Why is that all you're giving me?"

Chen Qing rolled her eyes at him: "Do you want more than I've given you?"

Xiao Chunan obediently took it, stuffed it into her storage bag, and muttered, "You know me."

Chen Qing chuckled, about to say something, when Dan Yu's voice suddenly rang in his mind: "Chen Qing, there are several cultivators thirty miles to the northeast. Their auras are off; they look like Tribulation cultivators."