Immortality begins with equipping a worn-out talisman pen.

Li Mufeng looked at the other person, his heart filled with doubt.

Isn't number fourteen of the Bing character Shen Yuan's cave dwelling?

Where did that fellow Daoist Shen go?

Seemingly noticing Li Mufeng's confusion, Huang Xuan said with a hint of regret.

"I heard it from the market manager. The monster hunter who used to live here moved away a few days ago."

"Move away?"

Li Mufeng was taken aback.

Huang Xuan shook his head.

"They said they moved out, but actually it was because they couldn't afford to pay the rent for their cave dwelling, so the market took back their residence. I don't know where they are now."

Upon hearing this, Li Mufeng's heart sank.

He recalled that several years ago, when he had just moved into Cave No. 13 of the Bing character, Shen Yuan was still a mid-stage Qi Refining demon beast hunter with profound cultivation, and in his eyes, he was almost an unapproachable figure.

Who could have imagined that just a few years later, things would have fallen into such a state?

Upon closer reflection, it makes perfect sense.

After that accident, Shen Yuan narrowly escaped death, but lost an arm. For a rogue cultivator who makes a living by hunting demonic beasts, losing an arm is almost equivalent to cutting off half of his path to immortality.

Because after losing an arm, one's cultivation level will inevitably drop, and future cultivation will become more difficult. One's body will be like a constantly leaking pool; if one's income cannot cover one's expenses, one's cultivation level will continue to decline.

For someone like him who lives a life of constant danger, once there is no stable source of demonic beasts, his spirit stones will become increasingly scarce, his cultivation will stagnate, and his income will inevitably decrease sharply.

This is the life of a wandering cultivator in the marketplace. Once they encounter some unexpected events, their originally peaceful life will plummet into an abyss. One wrong step and they may never be able to recover.

A sudden chill ran through Li Mufeng's heart.

The cultivation world is never short of geniuses, nor is it short of the dead.

What's missing is someone who can keep going.

Just then, Huang Xuan seemed to sense the heavy atmosphere, laughed, and handed over a jade bottle.

Let's not talk about this anymore.

[At this point, I hope readers will remember our domain name 1110 ...

"I've heard that Fellow Daoist Li is now a renowned mid-grade first-tier talisman master in the market. Consider this bottle of Nascent Soul Pill a small gift. I'll be visiting you frequently in the future, so please take good care of me."

Li Mufeng quickly composed himself, took the jade bottle, and smiled:

"Fellow Daoist Huang, you're too kind. If you need to buy talismans in the future, feel free to come to me; the price will naturally be cheaper than elsewhere."

As he spoke, he took out two water gun talismans from his storage bag and handed them over.

"It is only right to reciprocate, please accept these two talismans, fellow Daoist."

Huang Xuan immediately beamed and quickly accepted it.

Li Mufeng uncorked the bottle, took a gentle sniff, and a rich medicinal aroma immediately wafted out, prompting him to exclaim in admiration:

"Excellent pill!"

"Fellow Daoist Huang's alchemy skills are truly remarkable. This Na Yuan Pill has a harmonious blend of spiritual energy and its medicinal power is concentrated and does not dissipate. It is comparable to the pills produced by Danxia Peak of Qingxuan Sect."

Upon hearing this, Huang Xuan's smile widened, and he waved his hands repeatedly.

"You flatter me, you flatter me. I'm just trying to make a living."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Huang Xuan took his leave.

Li Mufeng stared at the closed gate of the cave next door for a long time without looking away.

Shen Yuan's experience was like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the joy he felt upon his return.

For a lone cultivator to pursue immortality is like rowing against the current.

One wrong step could plunge you into a quagmire from which it would be difficult to recover.

The fact that he is standing here today is simply due to a few more opportunities than others.

Thinking of this, Li Mufeng's vigilance grew even stronger.

In the world of cultivation, one must never be complacent.

Because no one knows whether they themselves will be the next to lose their cave dwelling and disappear into the market.

......

Two and a half years have passed quietly.

Inside the cave, Li Mufeng slowly opened his eyes and looked at the panel that appeared before him.

Name: Li Mufeng

Lifespan: 35/100

[Realm Level: Qi Refining Level 6 (99/100)]

【Cultivation Technique: Profound Water Technique (Mastery): 2499/3000】

[Spells: Water Arrow Technique (Perfected), Tai Xu Splitting Light Technique (Perfected)]

[Talismanic Arts: Water Arrow Talisman (Perfected), Qi Concealing Talisman (Perfected), Swift Movement Talisman (Perfected), Water Gun Talisman (Perfected), Spirit Gathering Talisman (Perfected), Concealing Essence Talisman (Perfected).]

Looking at the numbers on the panel, Li Mufeng sighed softly.

The hurdle of reaching the late stage of Qi Refining actually trapped him for a full six months.

For the past six months, he has been diligently cultivating, constantly absorbing spiritual energy. He even managed to enter a state of enlightenment once, but no matter how hard he tried, that invisible bottleneck remained in his way, and he was unable to overcome it.

"It seems that I won't be able to break through in a short time by just relying on hard work."

Li Mufeng got up and stretched his slightly stiff body.

Instead of continuing to struggle in isolation, why not go to the Treasure Pavilion? Perhaps we can find a breakthrough pill there.

Pushing open the cave gate, I happened to see that the gate of the neighboring No. 12, Bingzi, had also been opened.

Zhao Lingyue walked out side by side with a middle-aged cultivator with an honest and simple face.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao, Fellow Daoist Wu."

Li Mufeng greeted him with a smile.

A few years ago, after he rejected Zhao Lingyue's request to share the apartment, she quickly found a new tenant.

Naturally, the two eventually got together.

Zhao Lingyue's belly is now slightly protruding, indicating that she is pregnant.

Good morning, Fellow Daoist Li.

Zhao Lingyue nodded slightly, her attitude towards Li Mufeng no longer as enthusiastic as before, but her gaze towards him still carried a hint of resentment.

Li Mufeng pretended not to see it, cupped his hands in greeting, and walked straight towards the center of the market.

......

Upon arriving at Jubaoge, Li Mufeng went up to the second floor with ease.

After taking a sip of Lingshan Xiaozhong tea brewed by Liu Yan'er herself, he slowly explained the purpose of his visit.

"Manager Liu, I'd like to purchase a Breakthrough Pill to help me break through the bottleneck of the late-stage Qi Refining realm. Also, I'd like to inquire if your establishment sells any high-grade Tier 1 Talisman Master inheritances?"

Liu Yan'er looked at Li Mufeng, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

Although the other party had gradually become a senior first-tier mid-grade talisman master over the years, this cultivation speed really surprised her.

After all, he is a talisman master. Over the years, he has earned a lot of spirit stones through the talisman path and has never lacked pills. In addition, his talent is not bad. It is not incomprehensible that he has been able to get to where he is today.

"The Breakthrough Pill is naturally no problem; eight hundred spirit stones per pill shouldn't be an issue for Fellow Daoist Li. However, this is a high-grade talisman master inheritance."

At this point, Liu Yan'er paused slightly, and Li Mufeng naturally knew that what she was about to say was the key.

"As Fellow Daoist Li knows, high-grade inheritances are always precious, and all forces regard them as treasures. Even within the Qingxuan Sect, it takes a large amount of sect contribution to borrow them, and they are strictly forbidden from being circulated outside."

After hearing this, Li Mufeng waited quietly, only picking up the tea in front of him and taking a small sip.

Upon seeing this, a strange light flashed in Liu Yan'er's eyes.

"However, Fellow Daoist Li was quite lucky this time."

"At the last Talisman Inquiry Tournament, Fairy Xiyao won first place, and the Sect Master was overjoyed. He rewarded all the shops under his jurisdiction, and my Liu family also received some rewards. Among them was a first-grade high-quality talisman inheritance."

"Adding to the one passed down from my Liu family ancestors, my Liu family now has a total of two first-tier high-grade talisman inheritances."

Even Li Mufeng's eyes flickered slightly at this moment.

The inheritance of two superior talismans far exceeded his expectations.

However, he still didn't rush to speak, but simply put down his teacup and quietly looked at Liu Yan'er.

Upon seeing this, Liu Yan'er slightly raised her phoenix eyes and gave Li Mufeng a sidelong glance, filled with a mixture of helplessness and reproach.

"Fellow Daoist, this is quite boring. An ordinary person would have been unable to contain themselves long ago by now. I have never seen someone as patient as Fellow Daoist Li before."

Upon hearing this, Li Mufeng smiled slightly.

There is no such thing as a free lunch.

"Manager Liu, may I ask about your requirements?"