From Paper Craftsman to World-Suppressing Immortal

Zhang Zhixuan worked tirelessly for a whole day, finally raising the levels of both the paper craftsman and the Taoist priest by one. This time, the harvest was enormous, and while he was overjoyed, he also felt completely exhausted.

Just as he was about to get some rest, dragging his drowsy body along, the Book of a Hundred Industries suddenly flashed with light, and another different change occurred.

[All trades: Paper maker has reached level 3, Taoist priest has reached level 2, pawnbroker has reached level 1...]

[The conditions for the "All Trades" skill have been met, and it has been automatically activated: "All Trades - Mustard Seed Bag".]

【All Trades - Mustard Seed Pouch: A mustard seed can hold Mount Sumeru, all trades can be stored in one pouch. It opens up a special space that can store all trades' items.】

Zhang Zhixuan was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed: "I was just worried that the heavens wouldn't send rain, and now the Dragon King has sneezed! Now I won't have to worry about where to put my paper puppet soldiers and all those talismans. They won't be inconvenient to carry when I travel in the future. How wonderful!"

Then, with a thought, Zhang Zhixuan glanced at the three paper puppet soldiers and the thick yellow talisman paper in the room, and all the items that could be stored by Baiye disappeared instantly.

However, after searching, Zhang Zhixuan did not find the so-called Mustard Seed Space. Puzzled, Zhang Zhixuan quickly flipped through the Book of Trades.

Only then did he realize that new patterns were appearing in the large blank spaces on each page of the book of trades.

The paper craftsman's page features three paper puppet figures standing like ink paintings; the Taoist's page displays four talismans representing wind, fire, thunder, and lightning, with the number of usable talismans clearly indicated after each talisman. Each page, from text to image, is a seamless and aesthetically pleasing creation, as if it were always meant to be this way.

"I never expected that all these items from Baiye would be stored like this." Zhang Zhixuan was surprised, but then another thought popped into his mind. He looked at the other ordinary paper figures and horses, but when he thought of them, he found that there was no reaction.

"It seems that the Hundred Industries Mustard Seed Bag can only hold things from all industries at present." Having understood this point, Zhang Zhixuan had a clear understanding of the situation.

Overwhelmed by drowsiness, Zhang Zhixuan could no longer resist his exhaustion. He released three paper puppet soldiers to guard the house and the gate, ate a few mouthfuls of food, and then lay down on the kang (a heated brick bed) and fell fast asleep.

I slept soundly through the night without any dreams. When I opened my eyes again, it was already bright outside, and the sun was high in the sky.

Zhang Zhixuan turned over and struggled to get up from the kang (a heated brick bed).

After sleeping all night, at this time of day, Zhang Zhixuan still felt weak all over. He guessed that he had worked too hard all day yesterday and hadn't eaten properly. Now the aftereffects were kicking in, and his body couldn't take it.

After getting off the kang (a heated brick bed), Zhang Zhixuan wanted to wash his face to refresh himself, but when he saw himself in the basin, he had big dark circles under his eyes, looking as if he had been drained and was exhausted.

Zhang Zhixuan couldn't help but sigh: "Alas, my predecessor's physical condition was already weak, and I've been working day and night like crazy. My proficiency in various trades has improved a lot, but my body is probably almost exhausted. If this continues, I'm afraid I'll kill myself."

"I need to replenish! I have some savings now, so I can at least eat and drink well every day. Besides, I still need to learn martial arts to become a martial arts master. If my body is so weak that I can be knocked over by a gust of wind, how can I practice martial arts?"

"I can take on ten of them by myself! Who else can do that!" Zhang Zhixuan gulped down a mouthful of chicken soup for his soul.

After splashing cold water on his face and quickly washing up, Zhang Zhixuan left home.

The food stall closest to Zhang Zhixuan's house was closed down by the owner after Liu San caused trouble last time, and he hasn't come back since. I wonder if he and his family have moved away to avoid trouble.

With no other option, Zhang Zhixuan could only drag his weary body toward the most bustling area of ​​Wuliu Town.

Wuliu Town is located in the suburbs of Tianjin and can be considered a well-known century-old town. Over the centuries, it has developed a unique cultural charm of the suburbs of Tianjin. The local people are simple and honest yet somewhat fierce. They speak in a very serious manner, which is somewhat similar to the accent of the capital city.

In the past, Wuliu Town was a bustling gathering place for merchants, and the most lively place was the area at the crossroads.

This crossroads has witnessed the rise and fall of two dynasties. The street is paved with a century-old bluestone road, worn smooth by generations of people and countless feet.

Shops lined both sides of the street, selling cloth, grain, blacksmiths, and pharmacies, their colorful signs swaying in the wind. At the corner teahouse, several tables were set up, where a few old men sat playing chess, occasionally taking a sip of tea from the teapot, and sometimes pointing and criticizing their opponents for being bad chess players and taking back their moves.

Across from the teahouse is a steamed bun shop. When the steamer is lifted, white steam carrying the aroma of meat wafts out across half the street.

Zhang Zhixuan was starving, so he quickly went forward and bought a few freshly steamed meat buns.

The filling was generous with meat, and even the bun skin was soaked in oil. Zhang Zhixuan didn't care that it was too hot to eat. He took a bite, and the rich aroma of braised meat filled his mouth. After a few more bites, he let out a long breath of hot air. It was so satisfying!

Zhang Zhixuan, holding the remaining steamed buns, wandered aimlessly through the streets.

Having traveled through time and witnessed the prosperity of Tianjin, this is the first time I've truly explored Wuliu Town, where I've lived for so long.

Heading west from the crossroads, the counter of Xiangji Cloth Shop is piled high with bolts of foreign cloth, their colorful patterns quite eye-catching. Early in the morning, many of the town's wives and young women have already gathered at the shop's entrance, each clamoring to own this bolt or that bolt.

Next door was the Derentang Pharmacy, and a strong smell of herbs wafted out from under the door. Zhang Zhixuan glanced over and wondered if he should chat with the old Chinese medicine doctor on duty and ask him to prescribe some tonics to strengthen his body.

The streets were bustling with people, including peddlers selling needles and thread and street performers wielding knives and guns.

Although it is far from being as prosperous and grand as Tianjin, it has a sense of contentment and peace of mind that comes from being content with modest wealth.

Zhang Zhixuan finished his steamed bun and was about to find a teahouse to sit down when he suddenly heard a commotion in the distance. He then saw a mule and horse caravan slowly making its way into the town.

A horse-drawn carriage followed behind the mule cart.

These two horse-drawn carriages were much more impressive than the mule carts, with blue cloth curtains and copper nail trim. The carriages were pulled by a tall, glossy, chestnut-red horse with a neatly combed mane, looking very spirited.

The appearance of this convoy in town attracted the attention of many pedestrians.

Zhang Zhixuan glanced at it from afar and was about to leave when suddenly the carriage curtain was lifted, and a slender figure peeked out, calling out from a distance, "Zhang Zhixuan!"

"Huh? Who called me?"

Hearing a woman's voice calling him from behind, Zhang Zhixuan stopped and turned around. When he saw who it was, he was immediately stunned: "Liu Ling, Sister Liu!"

Liu Ling jumped off the carriage cleanly and walked straight toward Zhang Zhixuan.

Today, Liu Ling was wearing a moon-white jacket and skirt, her hair was tied back and adorned with a silver hairpin. From afar, she appeared tall and graceful, her already fair skin glowing with a rosy hue under the sunlight, making her exceptionally charming.

In the blink of an eye, Liu Ling walked up to Zhang Zhixuan. A delicate and pleasant jasmine fragrance wafted in with the wind. The scene of the fragrant flowers and the beautiful woman was like a painting, and Zhang Zhixuan was slightly lost in thought.

"Zhang Zhixuan, what are you staring at? Haven't seen me for a few days, don't you recognize me?"

"Hey! Sister Liu Ling, how could I not recognize you! I was just eating those meat buns so deliciously that my soul drifted off to heaven, and then I was hit by the floral fragrance on you, which brought me back down to my senses," Zhang Zhixuan said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Liu Ling chuckled and teased, "A few bites of meat buns and you're already swooning over the aroma? Where did you buy them? Let me try some too."

"Alright, since Sister Liu has spoken, then there will be plenty of big meat buns today!" With that, Zhang Zhixuan paid for all the buns in several large baskets, personally took a few and handed them to Liu Ling, and then instructed the bun shop owner to distribute the rest of the buns to the workers in Liu Ling's caravan.

Zhang Zhixuan and Liu Ling got back into the carriage, and the caravan set off again, swaying and rattling towards Zhang Zhixuan's dilapidated old house.

On the way, Zhang Zhixuan couldn't help but ask, "Why did Sister Liu come in person today?"

"I've had too many worries lately, so I decided to come out for a stroll and clear my head..." Liu Ling said, then pulled out a newspaper from the side and handed it to Zhang Zhixuan.

Zhang Zhixuan took the newspaper, somewhat puzzled.

"Open it and take a look. You're quite the big shot in Tianjin now!"