First achieve immortality, then cultivate immortality.

After receiving 400 talisman coins, Xu Mu went to the stall area, paid a stall fee of 30 talisman coins, and set up his spiritual medicine.

This was his main business; the stolen magical artifacts were just extra income.

This time he brought 9 Spirit Gathering Fruits to set up his stall.

After the fertilizer was adapted, the harvest improved slightly.

Just like last time, a Spirit Gathering Fruit sells for 60 talismans.

The visiting rogue cultivators continued to haggle without any hesitation.

"Huh? A Spirit Gathering Fruit with insufficient spiritual energy..."

Suddenly, someone stood in front of Xu Mu and carefully examined him.

Xu Mu's heart tightened, but he still sat calmly at the stall with his hands tucked in, without saying a word.

He had anticipated this situation.

The Spirit Gathering Fruit with insufficient spiritual energy is too easily recognizable. Anyone with a discerning eye can immediately tell that it is the same person as four years ago, or at least an accomplice.

Even so, he still sold them.

The man in front of him suddenly smiled strangely: "Want a discount?"

"60 talismans, no bargaining," Xu Mu said in a deep voice.

The man thought for a moment, nodded, didn't haggle anymore, bought one directly, and left.

Xu Mu frowned as he watched his retreating figure, sensing that things weren't going to be peaceful this time either.

He clearly only wanted to start a small business, but it was like a tree wanting to be still, but the wind wouldn't stop.

……

They ended up setting up their stall late into the night, and together with the Spirit Gathering Fruit and other auxiliary medicines, they sold a total of 623 talismans.

The whole process went relatively smoothly.

I found an inn to rest, barely slept, and stayed on guard all night.

The next day, he found someone to refund the 5 taels of stall fee, and then went to the Guihe Sect's treasure pavilion to buy the Youth Preservation Pill.

The reason he chose Guihe Sect again was not because he liked the sect so much, but because the Youth Preservation Pill needed to be taken continuously, and he felt it was better to buy the same "brand".

In this way, the two Youth Preservation Pills cost 360 talismans, leaving 642 talismans remaining.

A low-grade spirit stone costs 80 talisman coins. You can buy seven stones and save the rest of the money for the next entry fee.

However, after careful consideration, Xu Mu decided to buy two fewer spirit stones and exchange them for a fire-based spell to complement his Lower Dark Fire and make up for the damage from "A Sword in Front of My Eyes".

Losing two spirit stones only means refining a few fewer pills, but gaining one more spell means greater security.

So he chose a fire-based magic technique called "Red Sun Nine Luminaries" and spent 180 talismans.

In the end, I still had 62 talisman coins left in my pocket, which I would use as the entrance fee and booth fee for the next time... if I could come again next time.

……

After buying the items, Xu Mu left immediately, being careful and cautious along the way to avoid being tracked by anyone again.

However, what you fear most is what happens.

Just after he had left Nanlian Valley for a while, he realized that someone was flanking him.

They weren't just tracking; they were openly following.

Without a doubt, they must be from Nanlian Valley. They're probably not here to rob, but to seek revenge!

Xu Mu immediately fell from the sky and used earth-遁术 (earth-遁术 is a type of magic that allows one to escape).

When using the Earth Escape Technique to burrow underground, there is an uncomfortable feeling of suffocation. Overcoming this feeling is the key to mastering the technique.

If you are someone who is more compatible with the earth element, you will be able to use the Earth Release technique with ease.

Unfortunately, Xu Mu was not suited to the art of earth-based movement, so his earth-escape technique could only take him a maximum of 150 meters before he had to break free, otherwise he would suffocate and die.

Use Earth Escape Technique to create distance, then hide in the mountains and forests, running on foot while using Wind Travel Talisman to accelerate.

After taking the Qi-restoring pill, he used the Earth Escape Technique again.

After such a series of maneuvers, the three people in the air were completely disoriented and could not find him in the vast mountains and forests.

Soon two more people joined them, and together they searched the mountains.

"Damn it! That old bastard ran really fast." The man's face darkened.

He was Chen Jianlin's younger brother. He had heard Chen Jianlin mention that he had his eye on an old man who sold elixirs, so when Chen Jianlin died, he was the first person he suspected.

After waiting for nearly five years, the old man selling Spirit Gathering Fruits came again. How could he let him go?

Nan Liangu could not stand up for Chen Jianlin because Chen Jianlin was doing shady things that seriously damaged Nan Liangu's reputation, so he could only take revenge himself.

But Xu Mu had learned his lesson this time and didn't give them a chance to surround him.

"Don't let me catch you, or I'll make you wish you were dead!" Chen Jianfeng said viciously, chopping down a large tree with his sword to vent his anger.

The other four remained silent, not daring to provoke them.

After escaping from the Dalian Mountains and finding no one was following him, Xu Mu finally breathed a sigh of relief and headed towards where he had tied his horse.

"Damn it, we really can't go to that hellhole anymore. It claims to be a legitimate market, but we've been attacked time and time again. It's so damn shady!" Xu Mu gritted his teeth.

But he will still need to buy youth-preserving pills and spirit stones in the future, and he cannot leave the markets of the cultivation world.

Unfortunately, we'll have to find another place to trade next time.

……

Drizzle, drizzle...

A light rain was falling from the sky. Zhang Yu'an held a scroll in one hand and put the other behind his back, reciting aloud to the accompaniment of the rain.

He enjoys reading alone in his study when it rains, finding it peaceful and reassuring.

Just then, a chubby girl burst into the study, waving her plump hands and shouting, "Second Brother, Second Brother, the Old Immortal, the Old Immortal is here!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yu'an's dissatisfaction at being interrupted vanished instantly. He immediately put down the book in his hand, afraid of missing out.

When the brother and sister arrived at the main room, they saw the old immortal wearing a straw hat and raincoat, leading a horse, talking with their father.

Upon seeing this venerable old man, Zhang Yu'an felt a surge of joy and a deep sense of closeness.

He always remembered being called ugly when he was a child, being ridiculed by the village children, and being called names like "uneven eyes," "cross-eyed," and "frog eyes," and given all sorts of insulting nicknames.

At first, he could only run home crying, but later he asked his older brother to beat them up.

The eldest brother is a big, simple-minded guy, but he's very protective of his younger siblings. All three of them are the ones who get teased.

Until eight years ago, an old sage came and cured his eyes.

The old sage did it casually, just a simple act of kindness, but to him it was like being given a second life; he would never again be called ugly.

"Yu'an greets you, sir." Zhang Yu'an stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

Xu Mu looked at him, stroked his beard, and smiled, "You've grown so much."

These words are actually a reflection.

Over the years, Bishi Village seems to have remained largely unchanged, but the people have changed a lot.

"I am deeply grateful for your kindness, sir," Zhang Yu'an said with a smile, expressing his gratitude.

Scholar Zhang stroked his beard, smiling proudly, always saying that his son would surely pass the imperial examinations.

Zhang Yu'an has indeed lived up to expectations. Now at eighteen, he looks like a refined and gentle scholar. He has passed the county examination and is now preparing for the prefectural examination, and finally the provincial examination, in which he will become a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the county-level imperial examination).

Xu Mu didn't pay much attention and looked at his third daughter.

The chubby girl noticed his gaze, clutched the hem of her skirt with both hands, and smiled shyly.

She was already seventeen years old. Although she was still a bit chubby and not exactly graceful, her plumpness made her quite adorable.

Finally, Zhang Xiucai's eldest son also rushed over. He was as strong as an ox and scratched his head with a silly grin when he saw Xu Mu.

He has an intellectual disability, but it's not too bad. He's just a bit too straightforward and prone to impulsive violence. As long as you don't provoke him, he's actually an honest and kind-hearted young man. Zhang Xiucai said he's going to find him a wife.

Watching this family grow up, Zhang Xiucai also had some gray hair, and Xu Mu couldn't help but sigh at the passage of time.

He didn't linger, leaving his horse there before taking his leave.

Despite his aloofness, the Zhang family still saw him off warmly.

Xu Mu didn't take it to heart; the passion of ordinary people couldn't hold him back.