In the world of cultivation, one grinds for proficiency and longevity.

Having cultivated in the Spirit Abundance Land, three months later...

Without needing to take any pills, Chen Changqing, with his mid-grade spiritual root, successfully reached the fifth level of Qi Refining.

This is still the result of Chen Changqing not deliberately practicing "Spiritual Power Flicking Finger".

That's right, he wanted to save the cultivation points for when he hit a bottleneck or needed them later.

Otherwise, he would have reached the fifth level of Qi Refining even earlier.

At this time, Chen Changqing had accumulated nearly a hundred mid-grade talismans, and his success rate in making talismans had reached an astonishing 40%, which was even better than many talisman masters on the market.

In response, Zhou Ruoyun, who already had a strong liking for Chen Changqing, began to flirt with him, taking the initiative to invite him to draw talismans and even getting close to him in an ambiguous manner.

She had already begun to fantasize about the wonderful days when the two of them would open a talisman shop together.

Yes, how could she not develop strange feelings after spending three months in an ambiguous relationship with such an outstanding man?

……

"She seems a bit tipsy... uh, me too..."

Remembering that he had accidentally hurt Zhou Youran not long ago, Chen Changqing belatedly realized that he should keep a proper distance from Zhou Ruoyun.

As a result, the number of times he taught talisman drawing decreased, and he even politely declined the ambiguous teaching methods involving hand-holding.

Chen Changqing felt that Zhou Ruoyun only wanted to be ambiguous.

If Zhou Ruoyun hadn't learned that practicing the "Ninefold Prison Suppression Fist" required virginity, she would have suspected that Chen Changqing's body was truly impaired in some important functions.

"Any normal man or woman needs sexual desire... Could it be that he has some lingering emotional attachment in the secular world?"

Zhou Ruoyun was confident enough in her beauty and began to look for reasons elsewhere.

She certainly didn't believe Chen Changqing's lame reason for rejecting Zhou Youran's suggestion of "not discussing male-female relationships before Foundation Establishment."

"Sister Ruoyun, don't overthink it. Perhaps Brother Chen just doesn't want to marry into our Zhou family."

Zhou Youran couldn't hide her infatuation and continued, "A man as outstanding as him should have his own pride."

Zhou Youran was initially somewhat resentful when she saw Zhou Ruoyun "steal the guy she liked".

Now, seeing this young lady, who is far superior to him in terms of beauty, status, and other aspects, also suffer a setback at Chen Changqing's hands, he felt sorry for her and even offered her advice, determined to take her down!

Therefore, women's thoughts are truly unfathomable.

"Refusing to marry into the family?" Zhou Ruoyun's expression darkened. "In that case, it makes sense."

,

"Hey, little black widow, that's not a place for you. Get out here right now!"

He felt the spider burrowing into his hair.

Chen Changqing felt his scalp tingle.

Putting aside the dangers, the transparent threads the little guy spits out are as sticky as maltose.

If that's the case, he'll definitely have to shave off all his jet-black hair.

How can a bald man attract girls?

"Hiss, hiss~"

The little guy continued to do as he pleased, as if to say, "Don't worry, master, I know what I'm doing."

"No!" Chen Changqing dared not grab it with his hands, fearing it might do something unfriendly, so he could only threaten, "If you don't come out, I'll cut off your food!"

"Hiss~"

This trick worked! The little guy took a running start, pushed off with his eight little legs, and landed steadily in Chen Changqing's palm.

The Demon Kiss Spider has grown from the size of a fingertip to the size of a coin, and its hairs have hardened. Coupled with its sharp, sickle-like mouthparts, it looks like a formidable creature.

Chen Changqing had checked the information; based on its current appearance, it was still some time away from becoming a half-tier spirit beast. However, the most crucial poison, while not enough to knock out a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, could at least provide temporary paralysis.

"That's right, here, your favorite."

Chen Changqing played with it for a while, then took out a teacup-sized amount of dark green liquid from his storage bag.

It was made from oleander and Gelsemium elegans.

"Hiss~"

The little guy happily jumped into the container and immediately began to feast.

Don't let its small size fool you, this thing has an amazing appetite.

Chen Changqing knew that spirit beasts were better able to sense danger than humans, so he was never worried that they would be poisoned or overeaten.

Four or five days later, the Zhou family cultivators were coming and going frequently, a sign that war was coming.

Sure enough, Erniu suddenly burst into Chen Changqing's room.

"Brother Chen, the Ye family and the Zhou family are clashing outside, the fighting is fierce... I have to go to the battlefield!" Li Erniu said with a mournful face, "If, if anything happens to me... I'll have to trouble Brother Chen to take care of my many wives and children..."

"Erniu, wake up. This is the Zhou family home. Your wife and children are surnamed Zhou. It's not my place to take care of them." Chen Changqing took out several medium-grade talismans and stuffed them into Li Erniu's hand. "Just stay put and don't think about fighting for merit. You'll be fine!"

"I'm terrified of fighting, what's the point of vying for merit... I just hope to return safely..." Li Erniu said indignantly, "Those two sisters I just married! That damned Ye family!"

Not only was Li Erniu dispatched, but the other promising young cultivators were also sent out. This exposed the fact that the Zhou family was short of mid-level cultivators.

Three days later, a batch of secretly supplied combat materials was hijacked, and the person in charge, Zhou Chengjun, was seriously injured.

Five days later, several wounded soldiers were carried back, including Li Erniu.

It is said that he broke his leg while saving someone, which earned him the respect of the Zhou family cultivators.

Such a tragic situation quickly created a tense atmosphere throughout the Zhou family.

As the war continued, in order to boost morale, the Zhou family sent their eldest daughter, Zhou Ruoyun, to the front lines.

Her whereabouts were kept secret, and the Zhou family did not plan to send her to the battlefield, but only put her in charge of logistics and medical care.

Shortly after she left, Chen Changqing was also called to the battlefield.

Because he chose the path of a guest retainer, the Zhou family's higher-ups instructed him to use hidden weapons from a distance and not to engage in direct combat.

Even Zhou Ruoyun wanted to go to the battlefield, so Chen Changqing couldn't find a reason to refuse and could only agree.

……

The battle took place at a high-yield spirit mine belonging to the Zhou family.

The spirit mine is nearly three miles long, and conflicts have occurred in many places. In the most important place, Ye and Zhou each sent two late-stage Qi Refining experts, but they only stared at each other and confronted each other without taking action.

It seems that neither side wants to bear the cost of such high-level injuries.

The most intense fighting took place at the stronghold where the mid-level players were located, and the most injuries were also sustained there.

Zhou Ruoyun is at this shelter.

A stone house used for treating the wounded.

Chen Changqing was naturally also on this battlefield.

Despite knowing there were no Qi Refining experts in front of him, Chen Changqing still used a concealment talisman to hide himself.

He rarely used his hidden weapons, only firing one when he saw a Zhou family cultivator on the verge of death.

It is usually not fatal.

Because he didn't want to attract any terrifying beings.

That's right, he didn't seek to work hard, but only to avoid making mistakes.

Suddenly, he heard a scream come from inside the shelter.

He'd heard that voice for months; of course he recognized it. "Ruoyun is in danger!"

They rushed to the stone house, kicked open the door, and found that all seven or eight wounded people inside were dead. Even Zhou Ruoyun was seriously injured, with black blood seeping from her chest!

A pair of gloomy eyes looked at Chen Changqing, and their eyes met!

Chen Changqing broke out in a cold sweat because the man in black in front of him was actually a Qi Refining Level 7 expert!

"Danger! Run! Changqing..." Zhou Ruoyun shouted weakly at him.