Seeking immortality begins with daily intelligence reports.

What is the price of a unit with the "甲" (jia) designation?

Zhao Ying asked.

The shopkeeper surnamed Qian immediately replied:

"In reply to Senior, a Class A room costs ten low-grade spirit stones per day. If you stay for more than five days, it can be calculated as eight spirit stones per day."

"This price isn't cheap."

Li Shen secretly made his own calculations.

Although he could easily afford the forty spirit stones for a room with his current wealth, he still gasped when he thought about how his rent at the Yunhe Mountain courtyard was only five low-grade spirit stones a month.

He turned to look at Zhao Ying, intending to hear her plans.

Zhao Ying clearly had no intention of haggling over the price, and directly said to the shopkeeper surnamed Qian:

"Two adjacent rooms, designated as 'A', for about five or six days' stay. How about paying for five days upfront?"

"Of course, senior, this way please!"

The shopkeeper, surnamed Qian, smiled even more broadly and hurriedly led the three to the counter to complete their business.

With a flick of her wrist, Zhao Yingqian placed eighty low-grade spirit stones directly onto the counter.

The manager, surnamed Qian, quickly counted and put away the two wooden room plaques, then respectfully handed them over, saying:

"The third floor, specifically the third and fourth floors, is protected by divine sense barriers, making it difficult even for Foundation Establishment cultivators to probe inside. It is both safe and quiet, and the spiritual energy is also slightly more abundant than in other places. Senior, please follow me."

The interior of the wooden building is exquisitely structured, with staircases and corridors built of precious wood, exuding a subtle fragrance.

Upon reaching the third floor, the manager, surnamed Qian, pointed out the rooms and explained how to use the wooden room signs. He also kindly said that if there was any need, one could ring the copper bell in the room at any time before bowing and leaving.

Zhao Ying handed the room number for Class A3 to Li Shen:

"You stay in this room. My sister and I live next door, so we can look after each other if anything happens."

"Thank you, fairy."

Li Shen took the wooden plaque and said solemnly:

"The room rate..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Ying smiled calmly:

"A few spirit stones are nothing, so please settle down here."

Li Shen hesitated for a moment, then cupped his hands and smiled, saying:

"In that case, I, Li, will accept your offer without hesitation."

Zhao Ying nodded expressionlessly and followed Zhao Qian into the room with the words "Jia Si" engraved on the lintel.

Li Shen turned around and pressed the wooden plaque in his hand against a dent on the door of the third room.

The wooden sign flashed with a faint light, and the door slid open silently.

A delicate woody fragrance wafts over, instantly invigorating the spirit.

The room was simply and elegantly furnished, with tables, chairs and beds all made of fine wood, and the windows were bright and clean.

When the door is closed, a groove also appears on the inside.

Li Shen glanced at the wooden plaque in his hand and inserted it.

Immediately, faint runes appeared on the walls and ceiling, clearly the isolation barrier that the shopkeeper surnamed Qian had mentioned.

Li Shen sensed it briefly and, sure enough, his divine sense was blocked by an invisible, gentle force as soon as it touched the wall.

"That's good, it's more convenient to do things this way."

Li Shen muttered to himself, walked to the window, and pushed open the wooden window, instantly letting in a bit more of the noise from the street.

The isolation and restrictions also disappeared.

From this angle, you can just see the inconspicuous signboard of Jubao Xuan in the distance.

Li Shen's gaze lingered on the sign for a moment, then he scanned the street scene again before closing the window.

The streets were bustling with people, even more so than when we first entered the city.

Li Shen returned to the bedside, sat cross-legged, swallowed a mid-grade Qi Gathering Pill, and silently began to circulate the Evergreen Technique.

It was still early and there were many people around, so he wasn't in a hurry to go to Jubaoxuan.

Meanwhile, in the next room.

Apart from being slightly larger than Li Shen's Room 4, the furnishings inside were basically the same.

The older sister, Zhao Ying, sat at the table, while the younger sister, Zhao Qian, sat on the edge of the bed.

Almost simultaneously, the two withdrew their divine senses, and the icy blue light in their eyes slowly subsided, returning to normal.

"I didn't expect this isolation barrier to be so powerful."

Zhao Qian said casually, swinging her legs around freely.

Zhao Ying nodded slightly in agreement.

After a moment of silence in the room, Zhao Qian spoke again:

"Sister, why did you pay for his room?"

As she spoke, she frowned slightly and gave a soft hum:

"I think it's already a favor to give him a ride in a flying boat. Otherwise, it would be difficult for him to safely pass through the Fallen Soul Forest on his own."

Zhao Ying did not answer immediately. Instead, a flash of light appeared at her fingertips, causing the inverted teacup to flip over. She then took out a long-necked jade bottle containing spiritual spring water and a pre-packaged packet of high-quality cloud and mist tea leaves.

While methodically brewing tea, he said in a calm tone:

"Sister, have you forgotten what Father told you before he left?"

"I haven't forgotten..."

Zhao Qian braced herself with both hands behind her back, pursed her lips, and imitated her father's old-fashioned tone:

"We should be on good terms with Li Shen. In these turbulent times, it's always better to have one more friend than one more enemy."

But then his tone changed:

"But he looks dull and his aptitude is lacking. Although I admit that his progress is indeed faster than I imagined, with four pseudo-spiritual roots, it is extremely difficult to establish a foundation."

Zhao Ying glanced at the wall for a moment, then looked back at her teacup.

She continued in the same tone:

"We are of one mind; how could I not know what you're thinking?"

"Okay! Okay!"

Zhao Qian leaned back, spreading her arms out in a "big" shape on the couch, a hint of annoyance on her face:

"I admit this guy is somewhat clever and has a good temperament. He's more interesting than those spoiled brats in sects and markets, but, but..."

At this point, Zhao Qian's chest heaved a few times, she turned over, and muttered:

"I'm just not convinced. Why should I? I have an ice spiritual root and I'm at the peak of Qi Refining, but every time I see him, I always have the illusion that one day his cultivation will surpass mine, even though he's just a pseudo-spiritual root."

Her voice grew softer and softer as she spoke, the last few words almost muffled in her mouth.

A faint smile flickered across Zhao Ying's eyes.

The two were of one spirit and had been connected since childhood, so she could naturally hear the stubbornness hidden in her sister's words.

She understood some of the reasons behind it.

It was simply that Li Shenxiu was too diligent and hardworking, and her father often used him to motivate her, which made her want to compete with him.

"Sister, we cultivators are defying the heavens. We need a strong will, perseverance, talent, comprehension, opportunity, and luck—none of these can be lacking."

Zhao Ying's tone was subdued:

"Cultivating immortality also involves cultivating the mind. Li Shen is a person with excellent character and perseverance. Moreover, he seems to have some good fortune. He is measured in his actions, neither arrogant nor humble, and knows how to advance and retreat."

Zhao Ying poured herself a cup of freshly brewed spiritual tea, blew on it, and took a small sip:

"Such a person is worth befriending, regardless of whether they can achieve Foundation Establishment."

Zhao Qian, lying face down on the bedding, mumbled a reply:

"Okay..."

A moment later, she turned her head and looked over with bright, sparkling eyes:

"Sister, do you perhaps think... he really has a chance to reach the Foundation Establishment stage?"

-

Inside room three, Li Shen sat cross-legged, slowly exhaling a breath of stale air, and opened his eyes.

I got up and opened the window. Dusk was falling outside, and the lights of the market were shining like stars.

The number of pedestrians on the street has visibly decreased.

He looked up in the direction of [Jubao Pavilion] and muttered to himself:

"Now I can go and browse around Jubaoxuan."

Li Shen straightened his robes, took out a high-grade concealment talisman, and pushed open the door to go out.

He closed the door behind him, activating the isolation barrier from the outside, and then moved swiftly towards Jubaoxuan.