The Immortal Clan begins with deductive intelligence.

Qi Refining Level 2.

Of the Xu family members of the Yan generation, apart from Xu Yanfeng who barely managed to reach the second level of Qi Refining through sheer grit and a bit of luck, the others were all just hovering around the first level of Qi Refining.

"So, among the members of the 'Yan' generation, only Yan Feng has a chance?"

Xu Changqing frowned

"Only him."

Wan Huaiyi glanced at the big, dumb guy in the distance who was still gesturing at the air.

"Although this kid isn't very bright, he has good potential."

"As for the others, they'd be wasting their lives going there. They wouldn't even pass the test of conscience. It's better to keep them at home so they don't all perish outside."

Since Wan Huaiyi has put it this way, then there's no hope.

Xu Changqing was also someone who could take things in stride and let them go, so he immediately gave up on that idea.

After Wan Huaiyi finished speaking, he glanced at the three little guys jumping up and down on the plum blossom stake.

"As for the three younger ones, they've only been feeling the effects of the illness for a few days; they're being forced into this situation."

Whether they can pass that test of their conscience depends entirely on their own fate. If they are lucky, it's like their ancestors' graves are emitting auspicious smoke. If they are unlucky, they can just consider it as going to the market to broaden their horizons. Don't have too high expectations.

Xu Changqing nodded; what he said was true.

Cultivating immortality is three parts hard work, seven parts destiny, and the remaining ninety parts depend entirely on how strong one's fate is.

Just then, the sound of a cane clicking came from the courtyard gate.

Xu Yanzhen walked in with a limp, carrying a cloth bag under his arm.

Today he was wearing a faded blue cloth long gown, and although the cuffs were worn out, he was clean and tidy, which dispelled much of his gloomy aura, and he looked quite energetic.

Seeing Wan Huaiyi, the strange man wearing a ghost mask, standing next to the clan leader, Xu Yanzhen was not afraid. He simply bowed respectfully and then got straight to the point.

"Chieftain, these are the paintings I made over the past few days."

He untied the cloth bundle, revealing a neatly stacked pile of yellow paper inside.

"A total of fifty cleansing talismans, the success rate... barely reached 20%."

Two percent.

Xu Changqing's eyelids twitched.

It's only been a few days?

It's been no more than ten days since I last gave him spirit stones.

This kid was able to put together fifty finished pieces in such a short time; he must have been drawing day and night.

Xu Changqing took the stack of talismans and twirled them between his fingers.

Although the paper was still the cheap kind, the spiritual energy fluctuations on it were very stable, showing no signs of dissipation.

"good."

Xu Changqing gave a compliment and casually put the stack of talismans into his storage bag.

"Perfect timing, I need to go to the market today."

"We need to buy another batch of fish fry to release into the fish ponds at home, and also buy some spirit grain seeds."

"I'll sell these talismans for you while I'm at it, exchange them for spirit stones, and give you your share when I get back."

Xu Yanzhen's tense face finally relaxed a little. He nodded, didn't say anything more, and turned to leave.

Wan Huaiyi, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up.

"Physical disability but strong will and resilient character."

Wan Huaiyi's voice carried a rare hint of appreciation, and even a touch of emotion.

"In the art of talismans, one must be extremely careful not to be impatient or agitated. Although this child's body is crippled, his mind is even more insightful than that of able-bodied people."

"If this were in my sect... humph, never mind."

Wan Huaiyi seemed to recall some old story, his tone suddenly lowered, and his eyes, fixed on Xu Yanzhen's crippled leg, became somewhat empty and distant.

"My junior brother back then was like that too... It's just a pity..."

I'm getting sentimental again.

Xu Changqing had no time to listen to his reminiscences.

Dozens of mouths to feed at home, fishponds waiting to be stocked, fields waiting to be sown—all of these require money and time.

"Fellow Daoist Wan sighed slowly, "I, Xu, am still tied up with clan affairs, please excuse me."

Xu Changqing cupped his hands in greeting to Wan Huaiyi, not caring whether the man was still running in the sunset to mourn his lost youth, and turned to walk towards the study in the inner courtyard.

Xu Yanzhen wasn't stupid. Seeing the clan leader leave, he bowed to the strange, eccentric man and walked away quickly, leaning on his cane.

Passing through the moon gate, you enter the study.

As soon as I opened the door, a wave of warmth washed over me.

There was no sandalwood incense in the study; instead, there was a faint scent of soapberry.

Jiang Rou was sitting behind her desk, fiddling with an abacus, with several thick account books piled up beside her.

Seeing Xu Changqing enter, Jiang Rou quickly put down her abacus, got up, and poured herself a cup of hot tea.

"My husband is back."

Xu Changqing took the teacup and drank it all in one gulp.

"Recent expenses have been quite high. How much savings do you have left?"

"The family's expenses have been high these past few days, not to mention the food for this whole family..."

Jiang Rou's voice was soft, but it carried a hint of helplessness.

Xu Changqing looked down at the densely packed expenses in the ledger, his brows furrowing slightly.

"No need for details, just tell me how many usable spirit stones we have left in our warehouse?"

"All I have left is five hundred and twenty yuan."

"After deducting daily wear and tear, there's still 420 yuan left..."

Xu Changqing tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

Cleansing talismans are worthless; fifty of them might fetch a maximum of five spirit stones, which is just a bonus.

We need to buy fish fry, seeds, and some healing pills for those martial arts kids. We also need to replenish Xu Yanzhen's spiritual ink and talisman paper.

The 420 yuan still needs to be saved for those kids' expenses to participate in the assessment at Qinghe Sword Sect.

If one were to actually enter the outer gate, one would still need to acquire appropriate attire.

"understood."

Xu Changqing took out the small money bag that Liu Sandao had contributed from his pocket, and then counted out fifty yuan and put it on the table.

"Keep these fifty dollars in reserve. If someone in the family gets a headache or fever, or if we suddenly need to buy something we urgently need, we won't be caught off guard."

Jiang Rou looked at the spirit stones on the table, wanting to say something, but swallowed it back. She simply put the spirit stones away quietly and recorded them in her account.

Xu Changqing stood up and straightened his clothes.

"I'll take the rest with me and head to the market now."

Jiang Rou nodded, got up and straightened his collar, her eyes filled with worry.

"The market has been in chaos lately, so please be very careful on your trip. If you encounter any trouble, just bear with it."

"Don't worry, I'm someone who values ​​my life the most."

Xu Changqing patted the back of her hand, turned around, and pushed open the door to leave.

……

Qinghefang Market.

Although the year-end had just passed, the market was still bustling with activity.

Perhaps because the battle at the Demon-Slaying Dike was intense, there were more independent cultivators in this market. They were all in a hurry, either buying life-saving pills or selling the junk they brought back from the front lines.

This time, Xu Changqing didn't dress up in a way that covered his face.

He first went to a small shop called "Lingfuxuan" in the west corner of the market.

The shop is small and the storefront is old, but it has the advantage of fair prices for goods.

Xu Changqing walked into the shop, where an old man was sitting behind the counter, dozing off.

"Shopkeeper, are you accepting the goods?"

Xu Changqing reached out and tapped on the counter.

The old man opened his eyes groggily, saw Xu Changqing's shabby clothes, but didn't get up. He just lazily yawned.

"Sure, what kind of goods?"