76: Chapter 76 The Hunter Sharpens His Knife

Senior Brother Zhou nodded and pointed to an inconspicuous shop deep within the market.

"That 'Spirit Talisman Pavilion' specializes in Talismans. The owner is a Senior Brother at Qi Refining Level 9 who sources his stock directly from Talisman Peak. His prices are fair."

Li Changsheng thanked him, and after selling the Gale Wolf, he headed straight for the Spirit Talisman Pavilion.

The shop was small, with various Talismans hanging inside and price tags stuck to the walls.

The owner was a tall, thin young man who greeted him with a smile upon seeing a customer enter.

"What kind of Talismans are you looking for, Junior Brother?"

Li Changsheng scanned the prices on the wall, calculating silently in his mind.

Among the offensive Talismans, the cheapest was the 'Fireball Talisman' at ten Spirit Stones each, with power equivalent to a full-strength strike from someone at Qi Refining Level 3.

A better option was the 'Thunderstrike Talisman' at thirty Spirit Stones each, with power equivalent to Qi Refining Level 5.

For defensive Talismans, the 'Golden Light Shield Talisman' was the most practical; at twenty Spirit Stones each, it could withstand three attacks from anyone below Qi Refining Level 4.

"Do you have any higher-grade Talismans?"

The tall, thin youth glanced at Li Changsheng again, confirming that his displayed cultivation was only at the Qi Refining Level 3 Realm.

"I do have some."

"However, the higher the grade of the Talisman, the harder it is to activate, and the slower the activation process becomes."

"Usually, Cultivators buy Talismans that match their own cultivation Rank or are lower."

Seeing that Li Changsheng seemed to know very little about Talismans, he added another point.

"A Talisman two sub-Realms higher than your own is already the limit for a successful activation."

"I see."

Li Changsheng thought for a moment, took out his Spirit Stones, and bought three Thunderstrike Talismans and two Golden Light Shield Talismans.

"Good eye, Junior Brother."

The owner took the Spirit Stones, wrapped the Talismans, and handed them over.

"These Thunderstrike Talismans are powerful, but be careful when using them so you don't accidentally injure yourself."

"Keep the Golden Light Shield Talismans close to your person; you can activate them just by injecting Qi when you encounter danger. They're very convenient."

Li Changsheng nodded and carefully tucked the Talismans into his robes.

As he walked out of the Spirit Talisman Pavilion, the sky had already begun to darken.

He stood on the market street, looking toward the lush green back mountain in the distance.

The back mountain.

It was a place he frequented, and also... the most likely place for something to happen.

Zhao Yan was waiting for an opportunity.

He was waiting too.

But he would not sit and wait for death.

A few Talismans might not turn the tide of a battle, but they would at least give him a few more measures for self-preservation.

He turned and walked toward the Hundred Herb Garden.

The night wind blew, bringing the chill of early autumn.

He thought of the jade bottle in his robes, the emerald-green spirit liquid, and the fact that his Qi Refining Level 4 Late Stage Bottleneck was about to be broken through.

Soon.

He said to himself in his heart.

Just a bit faster.

When Zhao Yan thinks he has finally found his opportunity, he will discover something.

What he found might not necessarily be prey.

Perhaps, it will be the hunter.

Wanqi Peak, Zhao Yan's courtyard.

A Disciple in grey stood with his hands down in a respectful posture, reporting the news gathered over the past few days in a low voice.

"...That Li Changsheng goes to the back mountain to hunt Yao Beasts every day, aside from going to the spirit fields."

"His movements are very regular, and he basically stays within the Sect's boundaries."

Zhao Yan sat in a grand armchair, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest.

"The back mountain?"

"Yes. He goes once every ten days, for about half a day each time."

"He takes the Yao Beast Materials he hunts to the market to sell."

A sharp glint flashed in Zhao Yan's eyes.

The back mountain.

It was within the Sect's territory, but it was considered the outskirts.

If he made his move there, while there was still some risk, it was much better than doing it inside the Sect.

"Does he go alone?"

"Yes. He's never seen with anyone else."

Zhao Yan was silent for a moment before waving his hand.

"Keep watching him. Figure out his specific route and the timing for each trip."

The grey-clad Disciple acknowledged and withdrew.

Zhao Yan stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the lush back mountain in the distance.

The sunlight was just right, and the mountains were shrouded in mist, a picture of peace.

But a cold, sinister smile slowly curled at the corners of his mouth.

"Li Changsheng..."

He whispered the name as if savoring some delicious prey.

"Just you wait."

The wind blew in from the window, carrying the chill of early autumn.

He clenched his fist.

Then he loosened it.

No rush.

The best part of the show is yet to come.

Three months passed quietly in tranquility.

Section C Field No. 7 of the Hundred Herb Garden had completely transformed.

The area once contaminated by Spirit-Eroding Water had long since recovered; the newly planted clear heart grass was lush and grew even better than before.

The Spirit Tea Tree had grown taller, now nearly the height of a person, with dense foliage that shimmered with an emerald luster in the sunlight.

The most striking feature was the row of newly developed small plots at the edge of the field.

Those were new seedlings Li Changsheng had cultivated from the side buds of the Jade Dew Ginseng.

One became three, three became nine, and now there were twelve Jade Dew Ginseng plants in total. Although they were still only inch-high seedlings, in time, they would provide twelve portions of spirit liquid.

Li Changsheng stood by the field, looking at the spirit field he had personally cultivated, a very faint smile appearing on his lips.

For three months, his daily life had been as regular as clockwork.

Watering the spirit fields at dawn, tending to the spirit plants in the morning, studying ancient texts or practicing fist techniques in the afternoon, and Cultivating his Qi in the evening to improve his cultivation.

At night, he would use the Jade Dew Ginseng spirit liquid in that simple tool shed to assist his training, raising his cultivation bit by bit.

And every ten days, he would go to the back mountain to hunt Yao Beasts.

The bottle of Jade Dew Ginseng spirit liquid was now more than half gone.

Every drop consumed was a warm surge, a widening of his Meridians, and a solidification of his Qi.

Qi Refining Level 4 Late Stage.

Qi Refining Level 4 Peak.

Qi Refining Level 5.

Half a month ago, when the last drop of spirit liquid turned into a warm current and merged into his Dantian, the Bottleneck that had troubled him for so long finally shattered.

Qi Refining Level 5.

Li Changsheng opened his eyes, feeling the surging Qi within his body, but there wasn't much joy on his face.

He knew this was not enough.

Qi Refining Level 5 was only considered mid-tier in the outer Sect; against Zhao Yan at Qi Refining Level 7, he still didn't have much of a chance.

But he had trump cards.

He had mastered the thirteen forms of the Green Wood Fist to perfection.

He had practiced the move 'Withered Wood Meets Spring' countless times in seclusion.

Each time, he could feel that Concept of finding life within death.

The Talismans in his robes had also been replaced.

He had used two Thunderstrike Talismans while hunting Yao Beasts and replenished them with three more; he used one Golden Light Shield Talisman and added two more.

Additionally, he bought two Gale Talismans and three Fireball Talismans.

The Gale Talisman could increase speed for a short time, useful for both escaping and pursuing. The Fireball Talisman could be used for attack or to burn grass and trees to release a signal in a critical moment.

The types of Yao Beasts in the back mountain had also changed.

Early Rank 1 Gale Wolves and Iron-backed Badgers were no longer a challenge.

He began attempting to hunt Middle Rank 1 Crimson Flame Foxes and Golden-Eyed Leopards.

Although the difficulty had increased significantly—even ending in failure once—

The rewards were also greater.

A single Crimson Flame Fox pelt could sell for over two hundred Spirit Stones.

Everything was proceeding in an orderly fashion.

But he knew that beneath the calm surface, the undercurrents had never stopped churning.

Wanqi Peak, Zhao Yan's courtyard.

Zhao Yan stood by the window, listening to the grey-clad Disciple's report, a cold smile slowly curling on his lips.

"Three months."

He muttered, "This kid really knows how to stay patient."

The grey-clad Disciple stood with hands down and said softly,

"Senior Brother Zhao, everything has been figured out."

"That Li Changsheng goes to the back mountain once every five days, always in the afternoon. His route is fixed, and he never brings anyone with him."

"Recently, he's been going more frequently, supposedly to hunt some Crimson Flame Foxes."

"Crimson Flame Foxes?"

Zhao Yan raised an eyebrow.

"A Middle Rank 1 Yao Beast? They have the strength of at least Qi Refining Level 4 or 5."

"He's only at Qi Refining Level 3; he dares to hunt those?"

The grey-clad Disciple hesitated for a moment.

"I also find it strange."

"But according to the people at the market, he has indeed sold two Crimson Flame Fox pelts."

"Could it be... he's hiding his true strength?"

Zhao Yan was silent for a moment, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.