Zheng Qingqing's fine brows arched slightly as she sized up Li Chang'an once more.
It hadn't been long since they last met.
Li Chang'an still had that same cautious and meticulous demeanor.
"I heard that you were able to kill those two Tribulation Cultivators because you used Talismans to launch a sneak attack, catching them completely off guard?"
"That's right."
Li Chang'an answered truthfully.
The whole process sounded perfectly normal.
But Zheng Qingqing knew very well.
Not everyone had the courage to act when faced with two vicious and cruel Tribulation Cultivators.
Many Cultivators would just hide, not daring to intervene even if their own friends were being attacked and killed by the Tribulation Cultivators.
With Li Chang'an's cautious and prudent nature,
he must have been thoroughly prepared before deciding to step in and save someone.
In other words,
Li Chang'an's trump cards amounted to far more than just two Mad Blade Talismans.
But how could an ordinary Loose Cultivator have enough Spirit Stones to prepare so many trump cards?
Either he'd had a great stroke of fortune, or he was hiding some kind of Skill for earning Spirit Stones.
Zheng Qingqing's thoughts shifted, and she asked him directly, "Li Chang'an, are you a Talisman Master?"
"Young Miss, your intelligence is extraordinary. I couldn't hide it from you."
Li Chang'an offered a compliment, his tone utterly sincere.
Zheng Qingqing gave a faint, beautiful smile, seemingly pleased by the compliment. The look in her eyes changed subtly.
Originally, in her eyes, Li Chang'an was just an insignificant passerby.
But now,
Li Chang'an, with his skill in Talisman Painting, was worthy of her serious consideration.
"You want to end the Spirit Contract early and regain your freedom?"
Zheng Qingqing asked in a soft voice.
Li Chang'an nodded.
"Young Miss, would that be difficult?"
"Don't worry, it's a simple matter."
Zheng Qingqing summoned a Maid and gave her a few instructions.
The Maid hurried away.
Before long, she returned with a Spirit Contract.
It was the very Spirit Contract Li Chang'an had signed with the Zheng Family all those years ago!
This Spirit Contract placed immense restrictions on Li Chang'an. If he ever went against the Zheng Family's wishes, he would suffer a backlash.
At best, he would be injured; at worst, he would die!
He couldn't terminate the Spirit Contract unilaterally, but the Zheng Family could.
Next,
Zheng Qingqing raised a slender hand. A faint light flashed from her fair fingers as she gently wiped them over the two words of his name—Li Chang'an—at the end of the Spirit Contract.
"There!"
Zheng Qingqing said with a smile.
On the Spirit Contract,
Li Chang'an's name slowly vanished, leaving only a blank space, as if it had never been there.
He instantly felt a lightness spread through his entire body.
It was as if some shackles had been unlocked. He felt reborn, and even his soul was at ease.
"Thank you, Young Miss!"
Li Chang'an was overjoyed and hurriedly expressed his thanks.
Zheng Qingqing smiled, pursing her lips. "You eliminated two Tribulation Cultivators for my Zheng Family. This is what you deserve."
From now on,
Li Chang'an and the Zheng Family were even. They owed each other nothing.
He would deal with the Zheng Family anew, but this time as a Loose Cultivator and Talisman Master.
A while later,
Li Chang'an and Chu Daniu left the Hundred Affairs Hall.
Chu Daniu's Spirit Contract was not terminated. After all, he hadn't been the one to kill the Tribulation Cultivators; he only received two bottles of Healing Elixir Pills.
Even so, he was extremely grateful.
"The Young Miss is such a good person. She's beautiful and kind, without any of the arrogance of Noble Family Descendants. I wonder who'll be fortunate enough to marry her one day."
Chu Daniu clutched the Elixir Pills, sighing with genuine emotion.
In fact,
many young Cultivators in the Marketplace secretly admired Zheng Qingqing.
After all, whether in terms of status or cultivation talent, she was someone most Loose Cultivators could only look up to.
Li Chang'an smiled and glanced at Chu Daniu.
"Big Bull, just focus on healing. Don't overthink things."
"You're right, Brother Li!"
Chu Daniu scratched his head. He wouldn't dare to hope for anything like that.
Afterward,
the two parted ways and returned to their respective rooms.
Li Chang'an closed his door and took out the two Tribulation Cultivators' Storage Pouches.
'I can finally check out the spoils of war!'
A smile appeared on his face; his mood was excellent.
Taking action this time, though a bit risky, had been completely worth it.
'Not having a Storage Pouch was always inconvenient, but that's not a problem anymore.'
Two Storage Pouches were enough for Li Chang'an to store his necessities.
He spent some effort breaking the restrictions the two Tribulation Cultivators had placed on the Storage Pouches.
After opening the pouches and seeing what was inside,
his mood improved even more!
'The Spirit Stones from both pouches add up to over a hundred.'
'There are five bottles of Qi Nourishing Pills, three bottles of Qi Recovery Pills, and some other Elixir Pills for Healing and calming the mind.'
A smile touched Li Chang'an's lips as he picked up the vials one by one to identify them.
Besides the Elixir Pills,
there were also various Tier One Low Grade Spirit Medicines, mostly for Healing, and quite a lot of them.
There were also two Magical Artifacts.
A Meteor Hammer and a Great Axe, both Tier One Low Grade Magical Artifacts.
'And more than ten Tier One Low Grade Talismans, plus three Tier One Middle Grade Talismans, all for self-defense.'
Li Chang'an picked up a Talisman, feeling secretly relieved.
It was a good thing he had launched a sneak attack.
And succeeded in one blow.
Those two Tribulation Cultivators never even had a chance to activate their Talismans.
'In the future, if I have to fight, I should use a sneak attack whenever possible. Even against those with lower Cultivation than me.'
Li Chang'an warned himself, then continued to take inventory.
Finally,
he made a rough calculation.
The total value of the items in the Storage Pouches exceeded three hundred Spirit Stones!
Furthermore, each of the two Storage Pouches themselves was worth over one hundred Spirit Stones.
'As expected of Tribulation Cultivators, they were quite wealthy!'
Li Chang'an mused to himself.
How could an ordinary Early Stage Qi Refining Cultivator have so many Spirit Stones?
Then again, it made sense.
The business of murder and arson has always been extremely profitable!
'Even though it's fast money, the risk is huge, and it's too vicious. I'd better just stick to Talisman Painting.'
Li Chang'an put everything away and took out the Inheritance Jade Scroll he had previously obtained from the fish's belly.
He began to study the art of creating Tier One Middle Grade Talismans.
That evening,
Steward Zheng Jinbao came to visit.
"Chang'an, it's me! Are you home?"
His voice was a bit more enthusiastic than last time.
Li Chang'an got up to open the door.
He saw Zheng Jinbao standing outside, his face wreathed in smiles.
"Steward Zheng, what can I do for you?"
Li Chang'an asked calmly, his expression as neutral as ever.
Zheng Jinbao chuckled. "Chang'an, you really know how to hide your skills! To think you quietly became a Talisman Master. You know, Talisman Painting is a great test of talent!"
He praised Li Chang'an's talent for a few moments.
Then, he stated his purpose for coming.
"The Young Miss asked me to inform you that even though your Spirit Contract with our Zheng Family has been terminated, the house you're living in now still belongs to you."
"Oh? I don't need to rent it?"
Li Chang'an was slightly surprised.
The house he was living in had been assigned to him by the Zheng Family.
After all, according to the Spirit Contract he had signed, the Zheng Family was required to provide them with a Spiritual Land for cultivation.
Qinghe Marketplace was built on a Tier Two Spirit Vein, making it an excellent place to cultivate.
But now that the Spirit Contract was terminated,
Li Chang'an would either have to spend Spirit Stones to rent a house like any other ordinary Loose Cultivator, or leave the Marketplace.
Of course,
he was a Talisman Master now, so he could certainly afford the Spirit Stones to rent a house.
Zheng Jinbao smiled and shook his head.
"Chang'an, the Young Miss said that since you've worked for the Zheng Family for so many years, you're practically one of the family. As long as you remain in Qinghe Marketplace, this house is yours."
"I see."
'An ordinary Cultivator probably wouldn't receive such good treatment,' Li Chang'an considered. 'The special treatment I'm getting must be because of my status as a Talisman Master.'
This was a good thing that had fallen right into his lap.
He did not refuse.
The path of cultivation was impossible without Spirit Stones, so saving even a little was for the best!