20: Go through fire and water

Chen Xu looked at her. This woman was not only powerful but also ruthless in her methods.

The Li Family father and son were like playthings in front of her.

"Fellow Daoist Chen doesn't seem surprised?"

Xu Zhengyue looked at Chen Xu with interest.

From beginning to end, this man's face had not shown much emotion.

Whether it was Li Shichang severing his grandson's Dao path, or her offering generous conditions.

He was as calm as an ancient well.

"The methods of a Golden Core True Person are naturally not something a Foundation Establishment Cultivator like me can fathom."

Chen Xu replied neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"You are quite frank."

Xu Zhengyue chuckled lightly; she admired Chen Xu's composure: "The Heavenly Talisman Assembly, held once every fifty years, is hosted by our Taiyi Merchant Alliance headquarters."

"At that time, Talisman Masters from the entire Great Feng Dynasty, and even several surrounding countries, will participate. It is a grand event for the Talisman Dao world."

She paused, then continued: "The rewards are extremely generous: Spirit Stones, Magic Treasures, and rare Materials are all available. Most importantly, the top ten can enter the headquarters' treasury to select a treasure. And the top three can receive personal guidance from the Talisman Dao Grandmasters at the headquarters."

Chen Xu's heartbeat quickened slightly.

The guidance of Talisman Dao Grandmasters, for him, was more attractive than any Magic Treasure or Spirit Stone.

"The Shangya Prefecture branch has always had poor results. I need someone to win honor for me."

Xu Zhengyue's gaze sharpened, "I need you to get into the top five. As long as you can do it, the 80% profit and the 'Profound Talisman Treasure Record' I promised earlier will not be a single cent less. But if you disappoint me..."

She did not finish her sentence, but the implied threat was self-evident.

"I will do my best." Chen Xu did not make a full promise.

"Just doing your best isn't enough."

Xu Zhengyue stood up and walked in front of Chen Xu, "To give you more confidence, and to let you understand the standard of this Assembly, I can introduce someone to you."

"Who?"

"Shen Wuyi."

Xu Zhengyue uttered a name: "He, like you, is a Talisman Dao Genius I've discovered in recent years. Young in age, he is already an Intermediate Talisman Master, and his Ice Soul Talismans are masterful."

"He will also represent another one of my businesses in this Assembly. You two can get to know each other beforehand and exchange insights."

Chen Xu understood that Xu Zhengyue was giving him a warning.

Telling him that he was not her only option.

"Alright."

Chen Xu nodded in agreement.

"Very good." Xu Zhengyue smiled with satisfaction: "The Heavenly Talisman Assembly is in three months, and the location is the capital. Shen Wuyi will come to the prefecture city next month; I will inform you then. You should go back and prepare well first."

"Farewell."

Chen Xu cupped his hands and turned to leave the quiet room.

When he reached the Merchant Alliance hall, Li Shichang and Li Wenbo were waiting at the entrance.

Their faces were full of the relief of having survived a calamity and awe towards Chen Xu.

"Fellow Daoist Chen! Your great kindness needs no words of thanks!"

Li Shichang immediately wanted to perform a deep bow.

Chen Xu raised his hand to stop him, his tone calm: "No need for thanks. The sincerity your Li Family can show will determine how far you can go in the future. Remember, there won't be a next time."

"Yes, yes! We understand!"

Li Shichang nodded repeatedly, like a chick pecking rice.

After Chen Xu finished speaking, he ignored them and left the Taiyi Merchant Alliance directly.

Watching Chen Xu's receding figure, Li Wenbo dared to ask his father in a low voice: "Father, are we... really going to give away those two weapons? Those are our Li Family's most treasured possessions."

"Fool!"

Li Shichang slapped him on the back of the head: "Treasures? Compared to the survival of the Family, they're nothing! Didn't you see today? In front of figures like Fellow Daoist Chen and Immortal Master Xu, our Li Family is even worse than ants!"

"Being able to cling to Fellow Daoist Chen's thigh is a blessing we've cultivated for generations! From now on, Fellow Daoist Chen's affairs are the most important affairs of our Li Family!"

Li Wenbo shrank his neck after being scolded and dared not say more.

Returning to the Chen Family in Ninghai Town, life resumed its usual tranquility.

Chen Xu, on the other hand, began a new round of seclusion.

During the day, he Cultivated the Azure Heaven Nine Revolutions Sword Art with his newly acquired Golden Snake Sword. This Sword Art perfectly complemented his Flying Sword, increasing his combat power daily.

At night, he frantically practiced drawing Fire Phoenix Talismans using the Materials sent by the Li Family.

Time flew by, and a month passed.

One day, Chen Xu was deducing a Sword Art in his study when Bu Yifan walked in with a joyful expression.

"Husband, I... I'm pregnant."

Her voice carried a hint of shyness and joy.

Chen Xu was stunned, then overjoyed.

And this was just the beginning.

A few days later, Sun Xiaoyue also found Chen Xu, blushing as she told him the same news.

Another half month passed, and the youngest, Zhao Linger, also confirmed her pregnancy.

For a time, the Chen Family Courtyard was filled with joy.

The news that Chen Xu was about to welcome three children simultaneously immersed the entire Family in immense joy.

Only Chen Qingqing, while happy for them,

Inadvertently revealed a hint of sadness in her eyes.

She often sat alone under a tree in the backyard, looking at Bu Yifan and the others' progressively swelling bellies, her gaze complex.

She also longed to have a child of her own.

But her broken body had long since cut off all hope.

Chen Xu saw all of this but said nothing more.

Some scars can only be healed by time.

All he could do was make this Family stronger, strong enough to become her most solid support.

Several more months passed.

One day, a loud cry came from Bu Yifan's room.

The Chen Family's twenty-second child was born.

It was a boy.

Chen Xu held his son, who was like a finely carved jade doll in his swaddling clothes, his heart filled with tenderness.

And at this moment, in his mind, the System's voice arrived as promised.

【Detected that the host has given birth to the twenty-second offspring. Bloodline rating: yellow grade mid-rank.】

【Immortal Family prosperity increased. Rewards issued!】

【One: Host lifespan increased by thirty years!】

【Two: Host Cultivation increased by thirty years!】

Chen Xu's heart stirred, and he immediately returned to his quiet room, sitting down cross-legged.

A pure energy appeared out of thin air, surging into his limbs and bones.

His Cultivation, which had just stabilized at Foundation Establishment First Layer, began to climb frantically!

Foundation Establishment Second Layer!

Foundation Establishment Third Layer!

Foundation Establishment Fourth Layer!

Boom!

When the energy was exhausted, his Cultivation firmly settled at the peak of Foundation Establishment Fourth Layer.

Only one step away from the Fifth Layer!

Chen Xu opened his eyes, feeling the True Essence in his body, which was several times more abundant than before.

A satisfied smile appeared on his face.

The Foundation of Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment was undeniably revealed at this moment.

An ordinary Cultivator's thirty years of arduous Cultivation might not even be enough to Breakthrough from the First Layer to the Second Layer. Yet, he had broken through three realms consecutively!

This was not the end.

Half a month later, Sun Xiaoyue successfully gave birth to a daughter.

Ten days later, Zhao Linger also added a chubby boy to the Chen Family.

Although both children had ordinary Spiritual Roots, the System's rewards descended once again.

【Detected that the host's offspring count has exceeded twenty-four. Family scale increased. Special rewards issued!】

【One: Host gains a hundred years of Talisman Dao experience!】

【Two: Rewards Divine Sense Cultivation Technique "Spirit Manifestation Art"!】

Rumble!

This time, what surged into Chen Xu's mind was a full hundred years of Talisman Dao insights and experience!

Countless techniques for drawing Intermediate Spiritual Talismans, rune combinations, and secrets of Spiritual Power control, like a sudden enlightenment, instantly merged into his memory.

Becoming his own.

The Fire Phoenix Talisman, which he had originally considered quite complex, now became as simple as breathing.

He even had the confidence to start attempting to refine High Grade Intermediate Spiritual Talismans right now!

And that "Spirit Manifestation Art" was even more a method that directly pointed to the Origin of the Divine Soul.

In Talisman Master battles, besides the power of the Talismans themselves, the most important factor was Divine Sense.

This Cultivation Technique's improvement to his strength was no less than a Cultivation Breakthrough.

Chen Xu slowly exhaled a turbid breath, his eyes shining brightly.

There was less than a month left until the Heavenly Talisman Assembly.

Originally, he only had five or six tenths of confidence.

But now, he had full confidence!

It should be known that in the Cultivation world, Divine Sense was the symbol of a Golden Core True Person.

Only a very few exceptionally talented Foundation Establishment Cultivators, or those who had Cultivated some secret art, might be able to condense Divine Sense before reaching the Golden Core stage.

Thus, the importance of Divine Sense to a Cultivator, especially a Talisman Master, was self-evident.

It could expand a Cultivator's perception range a hundredfold and allow for more precise control over Spiritual Power.

In battle, a powerful Divine Sense could even directly interfere with opponents, subtly gaining the upper hand.

The Spirit Manifestation Art was precisely such a rare method.

Chen Xu cast aside distracting thoughts and began to visualize according to the instructions of the Cultivation Technique.

His consciousness seemed to sink into a boundless, dark Void Realm!

All around was silent, with only his own heartbeat echoing.

He followed the guidance of the Cultivation Technique, attempting to ignite the first spark of spirit in this nothingness.

This process was long and painful for most Cultivators.

But Chen Xu was different; he not only had the Profound Grade Aptitude bestowed by the System but also the two Souls from his Transmigration!

His spiritual Origin was far more resilient than that of ordinary Cultivators.

After only three hours.

In that dark Void Realm, a faint but incredibly bright light quietly emerged.

It was done!

Chen Xu's heart stirred, and this newborn Divine Sense, like an invisible hand, instantly penetrated the stone wall of the quiet room and extended outwards.

The entire Chen Family Courtyard, for the first time, appeared in his mind in a completely new way.

He saw in the backyard's medicinal garden, on a leaf of a Spiritual Plant, an ant was carrying a dewdrop.

He saw Bu Yifan in her room, gently sewing a tiny bellyband for the newborn baby, her eyes full of maternal radiance.

He saw Sun Xiaoyue and Zhao Linger strolling in the courtyard, softly discussing parenting experiences.

His Divine Sense continued to extend, sweeping past the front yard, past the high walls.

He saw Chen Qingqing, sitting in a wheelchair, gazing alone at the flowing clouds in the sky, a hint of loneliness imperceptible to others in her eyes.

His Divine Sense continued to spread outwards, covering half of Ninghai Town's streets.

Finally, at a distance of about one li, he felt a slight resistance.

Chen Xu slowly withdrew his Divine Sense and opened his eyes.

This feeling of controlling everything gave him more confidence in his future path.

The next morning.

Chen Xu had just finished Cultivating the Azure Heaven Nine Revolutions Sword Art when the butler hurried to report.

"Master, there is a female Cultivator outside the mansion seeking an audience. She claims to be from the Li Family and is named Li Xueer."

Evidently, this woman was the Li Family's Artifact Refiner.

"Please invite her to the main hall."

A moment later, a female Cultivator in a blue tight-fitting outfit, carrying a long bow on her back, full of heroic spirit, entered the main hall led by the butler.

This woman was about thirty years old, with healthy tanned skin, sharp eyes, and a competent aura in her stride.

She was completely different from the other female Cultivators Chen Xu had met.

"Li Xueer greets Fellow Daoist Chen."

She cupped her fists towards Chen Xu, neither humble nor arrogant, and went straight to the point: "Forgive my abrupt visit, but there is a business deal I'd like to discuss with Fellow Daoist Chen."

"Oh? Please sit."

Chen Xu motioned for her to sit down and personally poured her a cup of tea, "Fellow Daoist, please speak."

Li Xueer was not polite; she sat down and said directly: "My Li Family has discovered a Profound Iron ore vein in the Cloud Mountain Range, but the vein is occupied by a large group of peak second-tier Iron Armored Yao Wolves, which are quite troublesome. My Li Family plans to organize a team to clear them out and needs a large quantity of Talismans."

She paused, looking at Chen Xu: "Buying from the Taiyi Merchant Alliance is not only expensive but also risks leaking information. Fellow Daoist Chen is a master of Talisman Dao, so we wish to purchase a batch of Talismans directly from you."

Chen Xu understood.

They valued his Talisman-making ability and wanted to bypass the middleman to save money and ensure secrecy.

"How many do you need? What grade?"

A hint of joy flashed in Li Xueer's eyes; she liked dealing with straightforward people like this.

"We need three hundred Elementary Intermediate-grade attack Talismans of various elements, and one hundred Elementary High Grade ones."

She held up five fingers: "Additionally, we need five powerful Intermediate Spiritual Talismans, preferably fire-elemental Talismans with area-of-effect damage, to disrupt the Yao Wolf formation at the very beginning of the battle."

This order was undeniably large.

Especially those five Intermediate Spiritual Talismans, which were priceless on the market, and ordinary shops simply couldn't produce them.

Chen Xu looked at her and asked the most crucial question: "Are these Talismans for your Li Family's own use, or do you plan to resell them?"

Li Xueer was startled, then said solemnly: "Fellow Daoist Chen, rest assured, I, Li Xueer, can swear on my Dao Heart that this batch of Talismans is entirely for my Li Family's assault on the ore vein, with absolutely no falsehood, and will certainly not be resold to damage your reputation."

Chen Xu nodded.

From his Storage Pouch, he took out a stack of crimson Talismans and placed them on the table.

"These are Fire Phoenix Talismans, Intermediate Low Grade. When activated, they can transform into a Phoenix, tracking and seeking enemies. Their flames specialize in breaking through the Yao Beasts' protective Demonic Qi, making them suitable for dealing with Iron Armored Yao Wolves."

Li Xueer's gaze was instantly drawn to those Talismans.

She could clearly feel the violent fire-elemental Spiritual Power contained within the Talismans.

Their quality was far higher than any Intermediate Spiritual Talisman she had seen in the Merchant Alliance!

"Good Talismans!"

She praised sincerely.

"As for those Elementary Talismans you mentioned..."

Chen Xu's tone was calm, and he swept his hand over his Storage Pouch again.

Rustle!

A pile of Talismans shimmering with various spiritual lights, like a small mountain, instantly filled half the table.

Metal-elemental Sharp Metal Talismans, wood-elemental Vine Thorn Talismans, water-elemental Ice Cone Talismans, fire-elemental Fireball Talismans, earth-elemental Falling Stone Talismans... a complete range, and certainly no less in quantity!

Each one was full of spiritual light and of superior quality.

Li Xueer looked at the scene before her, completely stunned.

In her sharp eyes,

For the first time, there was an expression of shock and disbelief.

She had expected Chen Xu to be able to produce this batch of goods, but she never imagined.

The other party would bring them out in such a relaxed, casual manner.

How was this like conducting a big business deal?

It was simply like casually taking out some worthless sundries from one's own warehouse.

How many Talismans had this man in front of her refined?

How terrifying was his wealth?

"The price will be 90% of the market price. What do you think?"

Chen Xu's voice pulled her back from her shock.

"Ah... good! As Fellow Daoist says!"

Li Xueer regained her composure and quickly took out a heavy Spirit Stone Pouch from her own Storage Pouch, offering it with both hands.

The transaction completed, Li Xueer carefully put away the mountain of Talismans.

She stood up and bowed solemnly to Chen Xu again.

This time, her posture carried an additional sense of genuine reverence.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, your great kindness needs no words of thanks. In the future, if there is ever a need for my Li Family, we will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

After sending off Li Xueer, Chen Xu weighed the Spirit Stone Pouch in his hand, which contained several thousand Spirit Stones.

He knew very well that after this, the Li Family was firmly tied to him.

His reputation and influence were radiating outwards from Ninghai Town.

Silently spreading across the entire Shangya Prefecture.