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

"What's the use of getting close but not being able to have him? He's only at the fifth level of Qi Refining. Even if Zhou Ruoyun were to take a liking to him, Zhou Dezheng would never agree!"

Zhou Guang seemed quite certain about this, saying, "He's still somewhat useful to the Zhou family, but now that I've been promoted, I have even less reason to lay a hand on him!"

Actually, the Zhou family was investigating a traitor, and Zhou Guang dared not act rashly in order not to reveal any clues.

"What if those two really get together?" the masked man quipped.

"He wouldn't dare!" Zhou Guang clenched his fist. "Then I'll make sure he dies a horrible death!"

"Alright, enough nonsense. I didn't call you here today for idle chatter." The masked man suddenly became serious.

"Get to the point! Who wants to chat with you?" Zhou Guang said impatiently.

"When Zhou Hao goes out alone, I need you to reveal his whereabouts!" the masked man said earnestly.

"What! Why do you still want to attack the Zhou family?!" Zhou Guang roared in fury. "I disagree!"

He betrayed the Zhou family before because he had no faith in them and wanted to find a way out.

Now that he has become an elder, and Zhou Hao has broken through to the ninth level, and the Zhou family has grown stronger, he no longer has this thought.

"Because none of our families—the Ye family, the Duan family, or any other family—want to see your Zhou family produce a second Foundation Establishment cultivator!"

The masked man grinned sinisterly, pulling out a recording stone from his person. "I knew you wouldn't agree. Take a look!"

Zhou Guang's divine sense had only penetrated the recording stone for less than half a breath when he was so enraged that he crushed it to pieces. "Damn it! You bunch of bastards! I'll kill you!"

It turns out that the photographic stone recorded evidence of his betrayal of his family.

"We're both at the seventh level of Qi Refining, let's not even talk about whether you can kill me."

The masked man pointed to the stone fragments on the ground:

"Our Ning family has many more of these recording stones! Even if you can kill me, do you think the Zhou family's higher-ups will let you off? Do you think they'll let you go?"

Having said that, the masked man vanished. Only his lingering voice echoed behind him:

"Young man, I'm waiting for your good news. I believe you won't keep me waiting too long..."

boom!

Shortly after that man left, a hemlock tree the size of a bowl was suddenly smashed in half by a punch!

……

……

Black Widow went out to forage for food for the first time, and she had not returned even as the sun was setting. Chen Changqing was worried and had no heart to draw talismans, so he went out for a walk.

Remembering that Old Man Sun next door who sold spirit rice was quite good, he went over and said, "Old Man Sun, I've heard your spirit rice is good. Give me three catties first."

"Young man, you look familiar. I feel like I've seen you somewhere before?"

Old Sun stroked his white, uneven, and messy beard, constantly looking Chen Changqing up and down, but he just couldn't remember.

No wonder, Chen Changqing only made a brief appearance on the opening day of Baiyunfu Shop, and the rest of the time he stayed at home and rarely went out.

Chen Changqing had no intention of hiding anything, so he said, "I'm a junior talisman maker at Baiyun Talisman Shop. We met at the opening that day, didn't we?"

"Oh, oh, oh, I remember now..." Old Sun slapped the back of his head hard. "I'm getting old, look at my stupid brain."

"Hehe, it's not your fault, I've just been too busy." Chen Changqing then chuckled awkwardly, "I haven't even had a chance to visit our old neighbors, it's my fault."

After saying that, he quickly took out several talismans and stuffed them into the old man's hand.

"Oh dear, young man, you don't earn money easily, you can't do this, you can't do this!" Old Man Sun couldn't refuse, so he had to say, "These talismans of yours are too valuable, I'll give you another two catties of spirit rice."

"No, no need."

……

"To be honest, your beautiful boss is too ruthless! She doesn't even let you leave the door, she treats you like an animal!"

After a few exchanges, the two quickly became acquainted. Old Man Sun, having received a bribe from Chen Changqing, even spoke ill of Zhou Ruoyun on his behalf.

"You bet, it almost dried me out." Hearing this, Chen Changqing was both amused and exasperated, and he was happy to respond in a joking manner.

In fact, what he said was true; Zhou Ruoyun had been asking for it for three consecutive nights.

It's not so much about demanding, but rather about seducing.

Therefore, traces of the two people's movements can be found throughout the second floor of the talisman shop.

Needless to say, the array that Zhou Dezheng left in Zhou Ruoyun's room had long been removed by someone.

As for Xiaoyue, she seemed unable to endure the torment and applied to live outside the house the day before yesterday.

"Tsk tsk tsk, who would have thought such a beauty could be so cruel!"

"So, you jerk, you should still find a wife like me, right?"

Suddenly, a middle-aged woman with a booming voice, a physique resembling a water vat, and a appearance similar to Zhang Fei swayed in, asking, "Are you deaf?"

"Yes, yes, yes, I feel safest with someone like you."

Old Sun quickly responded with a smile, but when his wife wasn't looking at him, he gave Chen Changqing a look of utter despair.

"Hey, a handsome guy?" Old Sun's wife turned her gaze to Chen Changqing, her eyes filled with interest. "Old man, do you know him?"

"Hello, ma'am, I'm Chen, the talisman master from the talisman shop next door," Chen Changqing said before Old Man Sun could reply. "I'm taking advantage of some free time to come out and get to know the neighbors. I'm on my way to the Crippled Tea Shop now."

"Yes, yes, I also need to see Liu the Cripple about something. I'll go with you."

Before Old Man Sun's wife could react, the two of them had already rushed outside the door, both panting and showing signs of lingering fear.

"..."

Upon arriving at the Crippled Tea Shop, Chen Changqing ordered the legendary spirit tea, which was said to be worth two spirit stones per cup.

When the tea was served, Chen Changqing felt that the tea leaves were of poor quality and the tea itself was mediocre.

Sure enough, after taking a sip, I felt a bitter taste in my throat, and the spiritual energy in it was almost negligible.

"You dare to sell this tea for two spirit stones? Aren't you afraid of getting your legs broken?" Chen Changqing said to the shopkeeper, Lao Liu, after finishing the tea, feeling cheated.

"Young master, guess why I only have one good leg?" the lame man replied. "Ask away."

"What do you mean?" Chen Changqing asked, puzzled.

At this moment, Old Man Sun spoke up, "Young Master Chen, Old Liu isn't selling tea, he's selling information. Let me tell you, in this entire Lingshan Market, there's no information that even that cripple doesn't know!"

"Oh?" Chen Changqing looked at Old Liu again. The man was sitting calmly, as if it were true.

Then, Old Man Sun added, "Because Liu the Cripple secretly keeps a group of earth spirit rats specifically for gathering information, so if you want to know anything, just go and ask. I guarantee you'll be satisfied!"

So, Chen Changqing thought for a moment and walked straight up to Liu the Cripple.

Old Sun, who was standing nearby, knew the rules and had already run far away.

"Who does Manager Wu of the old-established talisman shop on West Street work for?" Chen Changqing's voice wasn't loud, but it was clear enough for everyone to hear.

Upon hearing this, the previously composed cripple Liu instantly changed color and immediately took out two spirit stones to return to Chen Changqing:

"I don't know about that. You should ask someone else!"