After buying two bottles of Qi Nourishing Pills, Li Chang'an left the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
Back in his room.
He tipped out a round Elixir Pill and swallowed it.
A dense Spiritual Power dissolved, spreading through his limbs and bones in an instant.
Li Chang'an immediately began circulating his Cultivation Technique.
About a quarter of an hour later.
He slowly exhaled, feeling the increase in his Magical Power, and let out a heartfelt sigh.
"On the path of Cultivation Immortality, resources are just too important."
A single Elixir Pill could replace a long period of bitter cultivation!
If he'd had Elixir Pills to aid him over the past ten years, he might have broken through to the Middle Stage of Qi Refining long ago!
For the next half a month.
Li Chang'an alternated between using Elixir Pills to aid his cultivation and painting Talismans.
As time went on, his Talisman Painting skills grew more and more refined.
He almost never failed anymore.
'It's about time I tried making a High-quality Talisman.'
Li Chang'an mused.
Talismans were divided into ordinary and High-quality grades.
The Talismans he had painted before were all of ordinary quality, which was why Manager Qian had described them as "unremarkable."
A High-quality Talisman possessed greater power than an ordinary one and was also more expensive.
Li Chang'an regulated his breathing and rested for a moment.
Just as he was about to make an attempt.
Xu Fugui suddenly arrived.
After this period of recuperation, his injuries had healed considerably.
He had come looking for Li Chang'an today to share some news.
"Brother Li, have you heard?"
"Heard what?"
"That guy Chu Daniu got lucky! He actually obtained the inheritance for a Low Grade skill!"
"Oh?"
Li Chang'an was slightly taken aback. 'Looks like I'm not the only lucky one,' he thought.
This was normal, though.
Everyone had their own opportunities.
"What kind of inheritance?"
"The skill inheritance for brewing Spirit Wine."
Among the Hundred Skills of Cultivation Immortality, wine brewing was considered mid-tier.
Spirit Wine wasn't a necessity for Cultivators.
Although it couldn't compare to Talismans, it was still quite good.
After all, not everyone could obtain a skill inheritance.
Xu Fugui was quite envious.
He also yearned for a skill of his own, but had never been able to acquire one.
"By the way, Brother Li, it's been ten years since we came to the Marketplace. Chu Daniu is inviting a few of us from our hometown for a get-together. He said it's his treat."
"A get-together?"
Li Chang'an thought for a moment.
He hadn't gone out in a long time. It was probably a good idea to see his friends and catch up.
Sometimes, having more friends meant having more options.
'I'll go as long as the divination is normal.'
"When is it?"
"Tomorrow evening, at Yunlai Restaurant."
"Alright, I'll be there."
After chatting for a moment, Xu Fugui said his goodbyes.
Li Chang'an closed the door to his room.
He took out the Talisman Paper and Spiritual Ink again and began his attempt at making a High-quality Talisman.
He focused his mind, his gaze intent. His arm moved slowly and steadily, gradually tracing the patterns onto the Talisman Paper.
Before long.
Li Chang'an stopped. He looked at the half-finished product on his desk and shook his head slightly.
'A failure.'
He wasn't discouraged.
It was his first try, after all. Success or failure were both within his expectations.
After regulating his breath for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn.
He gripped the Talisman Brush tightly and began his second attempt.
This time.
Everything went smoothly.
"Success!"
A slight smile touched Li Chang'an's lips as he picked up the Talisman from his desk.
A High-quality Mad Blade Talisman!
Its power was greater than that of an ordinary Mad Blade Talisman.
Although it was still a Low Grade Talisman, it could now pose a slight threat to a Cultivator at the Middle Stage of Qi Refining.
Li Chang'an didn't consider selling this kind of Talisman for now. The Spirit Stones he earned from selling ordinary Talismans were already enough to cover his basic cultivation needs.
He planned to keep the High-quality Talismans for his own use.
'I need to create a full set of High-quality Talismans, mainly covering the three aspects of attack, defense, and escape.'
Li Chang'an had long had a plan.
He already carried a full set of ordinary Talismans, and his combat strength far exceeded what it used to be. He was considered extremely strong among Loose Cultivators at the Early Stage of Qi Refining.
Once he had a complete set of High-quality Talismans...
...he would have some confidence even when facing a Cultivator at the Middle Stage of Qi Refining.
Of course.
He would never fight an enemy of a higher cultivation stage unless it was absolutely necessary.
'Fighting and killing is no good. If I absolutely have to fight, I'll just bully someone with a lower cultivation level than me. Preferably much lower.'
Li Chang'an thought to himself.
After regulating his breath for a moment.
He picked up his brush again and started on the next Talisman.
Time slowly passed.
Before he knew it, it was Midnight again.
The divination refreshed.
It still showed "Neutral"—no worries, but no joy either.
'Good, no major problems.'
Li Chang'an's mind was at ease, and he decided to attend the get-together the next evening.
...
「The next day, at dusk.」
In a private room on the second floor of Yunlai Restaurant.
Li Chang'an arrived on time.
Including him, there were only four people at this gathering.
The other three were Xu Fugui, Chu Daniu, and Sun Yulan, all of whom came from the same Mortal Country.
Originally, there were more than four of them, but several others had passed away due to various mishaps.
"Ten years of Cultivation Immortality, and more than half of my old friends are already gone."
Li Chang'an sighed softly.
The Cultivation Immortality Realm was fraught with danger; you never knew whether tomorrow or an accident would arrive first.
The four of them grew sentimental as they spoke of their departed friends.
Afterward.
They began to talk about their recent situations.
The four of them had all been more or less the same.
But now.
Chu Daniu had a skill to his name. He was no longer an ordinary Loose Cultivator.
The topic of conversation gradually shifted to focus on Chu Daniu.
"Big Bull, I'm so envious of you!"
Xu Fugui said sincerely.
If nothing unexpected happened, the gap between them would only grow wider in the future.
"It was just a stroke of good luck."
Chu Daniu smiled with composure.
He had originally been a simple farm boy.
Ten years ago, Li Chang'an had been leading Xu Fugui and the others on a quest to seek immortality when they passed through his village.
He had resolutely decided to join their group, and in the end, his wish was granted. He became a Cultivator—a lofty Immortal in the eyes of mortals.
Now, he had even acquired a skill, and his status had surpassed that of an ordinary Loose Cultivator.
His demeanor had also changed quite a bit. There was a newfound sense of calm in his speech and mannerisms.
"Big Bull, you'll have to look out for us from now on!"
Sun Yulan, the only woman among the four, said with a light laugh.
She had originally been a fisherman's daughter.
Back then, due to her striking looks, she had caught the eye of a local tyrant.
The tyrant wanted to marry her, and when he saw she was unwilling, he prepared to take her by force.
At the critical moment.
Li Chang'an happened to be passing by. Seeing the situation, he intervened and killed the tyrant in three punches!
After that.
She too joined the group seeking immortality. They came to the Marketplace together, and she had remained here ever since.
"Brother Chang'an, you shouldn't stay cooped up in your room all day. You should get out more. Maybe you'll run into an opportunity of your own."
Sun Yulan's gaze shifted to Li Chang'an, a mix of complicated emotions stirring in her heart.
Back then.
Li Chang'an had been the big brother to them all.
He had always been at the forefront, shielding them from the wind and rain, leading them over mountains and across ridges, overcoming countless difficulties, and ultimately helping them all find their path to immortality.
At that time, Li Chang'an's image in her heart had been towering.
It was as if there was nothing in the world he couldn't do.
Towards Li Chang'an.
She held a flicker of indescribable affection in her heart.
But now.
Sun Yulan had long since understood.
The omnipotent Brother Chang'an from her memories was just another ordinary Loose Cultivator among countless others.
The innocent feelings of her youth had been gradually washed away by time.
Looking at his ordinary appearance, Sun Yulan let out a quiet sigh in her heart.
'Alas...'
The Li Chang'an of today had faded into the crowd.
With his poor talent and unwillingness to venture out and take risks, he was destined to never achieve much in this life.