Immortality begins with equipping a worn-out talisman pen.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yan'er's face flashed with approval. Over the years, this Master Li's cooperation with Jubao Pavilion had always been so steady and never made a mistake. This was why she had gone against the majority opinion to place her bet on Li Mufeng this time.

"Fellow Daoist Li, I won't keep you in suspense any longer. As you know, the landscape of Black Stone City has undergone significant changes in recent years, and my Liu family is taking advantage of this opportunity to expand further."

She gently set down the teacup, leaning slightly forward, and a faint fragrance wafted out with her movement.

"Simply put, we plan to open another talisman shop in the center of the market."

Li Mufeng remained calm and listened quietly.

"Over the years, Fellow Daoist Li must have witnessed the changes in the market. In the past, Black Stone Market was just a small market on the outskirts of the Black Stone Mountains, with only the same few people coming and going all year round."

But things are different now.

Liu Yan'er tapped her slender fingers lightly on the table.

"The Xuan Yin Sect has been expanding continuously over the years, and has successively swallowed up several small sects. Even cultivation families outside the Fourteen Provinces have suffered."

"In order to deal with the threat of the Xuan Yin Sect, the Qing Xuan Sect, the Wan Shou Sect, the Dan Xia Sect, and two other righteous sects have formed an alliance to attack and defend."

"After the establishment of the Righteous Path Alliance, the exchanges between the various sects became several times closer than before, and a large number of independent cultivators, caravans, and industries of various sects began to converge on the border market."

At this point, Liu Yan'er looked up at the window.

Through the window of the elegant room, one could vaguely see the monks flowing endlessly on the street.

"Blackstone Market is located at the intersection of several sects and is backed by the Blackstone Mountains and spirit mines. As a result, its size has more than doubled in just two years."

"Nowadays, in the market, there are not only monster material shops opened by the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, but also pill pavilions of the Danxia Sect. Even some merchant guilds that used to only be seen in big cities have begun to send people to be stationed here."

Hearing this, Li Mufeng was filled with emotion.

When he first arrived in Black Stone Market, it was just a remote market under the rule of the Azure Profound Sect.

Three major forces stood in a tripartite balance in the market.

The royal family, having reached the Foundation Establishment stage, controls mineral veins and spiritual fields.

The Bai family is responsible for the management of the market area.

The Chen family monopolized most of the trade in elixirs and magical artifacts.

The Liu family, on the other hand, is a cultivation family that has gradually risen to prominence in recent decades by managing the Jubao Pavilion. The reason for their rise is that a Foundation Establishment cultivator has emerged in the family, and he is now the manager of the Lingyun Peak of the Qingxuan Sect.

In recent years, the original balance of the market has been broken due to the continuous changes in the surrounding environment.

Opportunities are increasing, but the undercurrents are also becoming more and more turbulent.

Liu Yan'er continued:

"Although the current structure of the major Foundation Establishment families in the market remains the same, the financial backers behind them have long since changed."

"The Foundation Establishment Wang family has gained favor with the Qingxuan Sect's Weapon Refining Peak by contributing to the excavation of spirit mines. In recent years, they have become increasingly powerful thanks to the mineral veins."

"The Bai family has produced a pseudo-core cultivator, and now the administration of the entire Black Stone Market has fallen into the hands of the Bai family, making them the number one family in the market."

"As for my Liu family..."

At this point, Liu Yan'er gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"It's just a newly established Foundation Establishment force in recent years, and its foundation is still lacking. If it wants to gain a firm foothold in the market, relying solely on the Treasure Pavilion is far from enough."

"Therefore, we need to develop new industries."

She raised her eyes and looked at Li Mufeng.

"And the talisman shop is the most important move the Liu family will make next."

Li Mufeng had already vaguely guessed the other party's considerations. Over the years, thanks to the existence of the Spirit Gathering Talisman, Jubao Pavilion had basically secured its position as the leading shop in the market, unlike those old Foundation Establishment families that had their own core industries.

The Liu family is trying to take advantage of this opportunity to promote their reputation for being close to Lingyun Peak and good at drawing talismans.

Sure enough, Liu Yan'er continued speaking:

"Therefore, I would like to invite Fellow Daoist Li to serve as the resident talisman master of my Liu family's talisman shop for ten years. In addition to your monthly salary, you will also receive an extra 10% of the shop's profits. At that time, I will also become the new manager of this talisman shop. If Fellow Daoist Li agrees, my Liu family's two superior talisman inheritances will be open to you."

After hearing this, Li Mufeng gradually began to consider his options.

Now, as his cultivation level rises, he feels that relying solely on the first-level spirit-gathering array in his cave is gradually becoming insufficient.

Moreover, as his cultivation level increases, the spirit stones he spends on cultivation become a significant expense. While ordinary mid-grade talismans can earn him a considerable income, it is difficult for him to accumulate spirit stones.

In the future, spirit stones will definitely be needed to purchase more equipment, and the Liu family's offer of a 10% share of the shop's profits is very attractive.

In addition, over the years of hard work in the market, he has increasingly realized that his own strength is ultimately limited, and he relies on his neighbors to find out about many news and information.

This is no longer applicable to the current chaotic market environment. Even an experienced monster hunter like Shen Yuan perished in the Black Stone Mountains. Li Mufeng did not believe that there was no interference from other sects or evil cultivators behind this.

If one becomes a resident talisman master at the Liu family's talisman shop, one will undoubtedly have a natural channel for information.

Moreover, since the Liu family is planning to vigorously develop talisman shops and has chosen a location in the center of the market, it is very likely that they will equip them with second-tier spiritual vein cultivation rooms.

Thinking about this, Li Mufeng was already feeling a little restless.

Earning spirit stones while cultivating, and taking the opportunity to gather various intelligence in the market, with an experienced manager like Liu Yan'er at the front desk, all I need to do is draw talismans in the back. Not to mention the two high-grade talisman inheritances, it seems like a sure-fire way to make money.

However, a few questions still need to be clarified.

Li Mufeng pondered for a moment and then slowly spoke:

"Manager Liu, I naturally long for such an opportunity, but since it concerns my future, there are a few questions I need to clarify beforehand."

"Fellow Daoist Li, please speak freely."

"First, what exactly are those two talisman inheritances? Second, what is the current cultivation level and age of the Liu family's Foundation Establishment ancestor? Third, how many Qi Refining stage cultivators does the Liu family currently have?"

The first question was already intended for Li Mufeng, and Liu Yan'er quickly voiced it:

"One is a superior talisman of the Divine Speed ​​Talisman, the Flying Escape Talisman; the other is a superior talisman of the Spirit Absorption Talisman, an ancient talisman inheritance—the Concentration Talisman."

Upon hearing this, Li Mufeng's eyes lit up instantly. They actually had an ancient talisman inheritance. The Liu family was quite something.

As for the latter two questions, Liu Yan'er naturally couldn't reveal all the details of her family's background; she only mentioned some of the more obvious aspects.

"My Liu family currently has a Foundation Establishment cultivator in charge."

"He is the patriarch's elder brother and my uncle, Liu Chengyue, the external affairs manager of Lingyun Peak."

"My uncle is currently at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage and has just turned one hundred years old this year."

At this point, Liu Yan'er's tone clearly carried a hint of pride.

"Foundation Establishment cultivators have a lifespan of two hundred years. My uncle is in the prime of his life, and there may be opportunities for him to advance further in the future."

Then she continued:

"In addition, my Liu family currently has twelve cultivators in the late stage of Qi Refining."

"My father, Liu Chengshan, is the current head of the family, and his cultivation has reached the peak of Qi Refining."

"There are five young people in the clan who are expected to reach the Foundation Establishment stage."

As she spoke, the corners of her lips lifted slightly, a hint of a smile on her face.

"I am not very talented, but I can barely be considered one of them. My current cultivation level is the eighth level of Qi Refining."

Upon hearing this, Li Mufeng nodded slightly.

One Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivator in his prime, twelve Qi Refining late-stage cultivators, and five Foundation Establishment seeds among the younger generation.

With such a foundation, in Black Stone Market, they could already be considered a prosperous family.

At least on the surface, the Liu family is enjoying great fortune and is in a period of rapid growth.

Compared to those families facing a generational gap and whose Foundation Establishment ancestors are nearing the end of their lives, they are far superior.

Thinking of this, the last trace of concern in Li Mufeng's heart gradually dissipated.