142: I will not change my name or surname, I am Lu Zhishen.

"I must spare no cost, even if it means sacrificing my own body!"

Fang Qingjue's expression was downcast; she had no choice but to make a decision.

"If this fails, the Southern Unification Dynasty will truly have no hope of recovery."

Elder Zheng cupped his hands, bowed respectfully, and said anxiously, "Your Majesty, for the sake of the country and the people, please think twice!"

"This old subject asserts that this person will definitely achieve the Golden Core Realm within twenty years!"

"Achieve the Golden Core within twenty years?" Fang Qingjue was shocked.

A Golden Core Ancestor was a nation-protecting level Cultivator, and every one of them was incredibly precious.

In the Thirty-Six States of Donglin, protecting any small country would be effortless for them.

"You may withdraw for now; let me think this over carefully."

She frowned slightly, weighing the pros and cons in her mind.

The other party was simply too unique—and too ugly.

If his face had been even slightly normal, she wouldn't have hesitated at all.

After much thought, Fang Qingjue finally made up her mind.

"As long as I offer my body, I can completely win this person over!"

For the grand plan of the Dynasty's revival, for the expectant gazes of her ministers, and for the people's longing for the future.

"Then I... it's... not impossible..."

Her eyes became increasingly firm, and she encouraged herself internally.

"Someone, pass on my decree: prepare my bath and change my clothes!!!"

A moment later, Fang Qingjue donned a simple white gauze dress and easily walked into Qin Dong's tent.

She was full of confidence, even feeling a bit smug.

Regardless, she had at least managed to secure a quasi-Golden Core!

However, after entering the tent, she was dumbfounded.

On the other side, Qin Dong, having just left the tent, was sprinting wildly through the mountains and forests.

He was running as fast as he possibly could.

There were too many beautiful little Fairies, and Qin Dong didn't dare to provoke any more of them.

"Hmph, this woman is truly insane!"

"Fortunately, I am a well-rounded individual, otherwise I might have fallen for it."

Whoever wants to marry her can go ahead!

Anyway, having Zi Xuan and Wantang is enough for me!

He ran wildly the entire way, having remembered to bring a map this time.

However, he did not choose to return to the Western Yan Dynasty.

Because he sensed that after this incident, not only had his pockets grown heavier.

But even the unattainable opportunity for a Breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm was beginning to show signs of appearing.

Therefore, he felt he must strike while the iron was hot and achieve his Golden Core Breakthrough!

Although he had some savings now, he had to consider that...

Wang Wantang couldn't go without a Physique.

He still needed to earn more.

Scanning the map, his target was locked!

His destination this time!

The Fulong Dynasty!

Qin Dong identified the direction and immediately set off on his sword.

To avoid the kind of trouble he had faced in the Southern Unification Dynasty, he decided to change his appearance again.

This time, he disguised himself as an old woman.

Furthermore, he sculpted his face to be extremely ugly, looking like a monster that had crawled out of a painting.

That face resembled an old woman of nearly sixty, with deep-set eyes and rough skin.

Even his voice became hoarse; he was "ugly" to a shocking degree, with a double chin and a long horse-like face that would make anyone who saw it want to vomit.

Qin Dong refused to believe this wouldn't work.

He had made himself look like this; surely he wouldn't be targeted... right?

"Phew, finally here."

After finishing his journey, Qin Dong stood before a city.

This time, his luck was not bad.

He had arrived directly at an important rear stronghold of the Fulong Dynasty.

This place was far from the front lines and free of the fires of war; it was primarily used to produce supplies for the frontline troops.

"Recruiting Alchemist! Must be able to independently refine Medicinal Pill of Yellow Rank or higher!"

The shouts from the stalls rose and fell one after another.

"Recruiting Talisman Maker! Need Advanced Talisman techniques, or Materials for making Talismans!"

"Recruiting Beast Tamer! Must be proficient in the feeding, taming, and control of Spirit Beast!"

Qin Dong entered the city's cultivation market and tried to interview at several stalls, but no one was willing to pay him any mind; they seemed to be frightened by his appearance.

Seeing the strange looks from the vendors, he shook his head and thought, "It's time to show them my true skills!"

He walked up to a stall, asked for a set of Talisman Materials, dipped his finger in blood, and with a gentle stroke across the Materials, began to draw a Talisman.

Before long, a Profound Rank Low Grade Thunderstorm Talisman was completed.

"Hmm, barely usable." Qin Dong nodded with satisfaction.

Then, with a slap, he slammed it onto the stall, "It's yours."

The stall owner was an old man, a Yellow Rank Talisman Maker, and his face showed some disdain.

He had started cultivating at ten and making Talismans at fifteen; fifty years of experience had brought his Talisman making technique to a Major Achievement.

When performing at his best, he could refine Yellow Rank Medium Grade Talismans with ease.

Today, instead of business upon opening, he had waited for an ugly woman.

In order not to let her affect his stall, he had casually given her a set of Talisman Materials.

"Just a piece of trash Talisman."

He picked up the covered Talisman and took a look, "Profound Rank Low Grade!!!"

Next, he went to the Alchemy stall, threw the Materials into the Pill Furnace, and began to refine them seriously; eventually, a Medicinal Pill was born amidst the flames.

Then, the Formation stall, the Artifact Refining stall, and the Beast Taming stall were all challenged by him one by one.

Profound Rank Talismans, Profound Rank Medicinal Pill, Profound Rank Formations, and Profound Rank Magical Artifact were all successfully refined, and a dying Yao Beast at the Great Perfection of the 9th layer of Qi Refining was even brought back to life!

For a moment, the entire cultivation market was in an uproar!

"A Great Master! Proficient in all the arts of cultivation!"

"Quick, go tell the City Lord! A Great Master has come to our city!"

"Ugh... this Great Master is really ugly."

"Make way, I need to vomit here too."

As the news spread, everyone looked over.

They were calling out "Great Master" one after another, eager to cooperate.

Seeing this scene, Qin Dong felt secretly pleased, "As expected, pretending to be cool is satisfying for a moment, but always pretending to be cool is always satisfying."

Before long, the City Lord arrived in person, warmly inviting him to be a guest at the City Lord's Mansion and promising generous gifts.

Qin Dong was ecstatic internally, "Finally, I've hooked the main target." But on the surface, he feigned reluctance, "This... alright then."

Under the other party's repeated warm invitations, Qin Dong "reluctantly" agreed.

"Hahaha, many thanks to the Great Master for honoring me with your presence."

The City Lord was all smiles and immediately brought Qin Dong to the City Lord's Mansion.

After the banquet, the City Lord brought up the main topic.

"My apologies, my apologies. I haven't even asked for the Great Master's name yet."

"I do not change my name when I go, nor do I change my surname when I sit; this seat is Lu Zhishen!"

"So it is Great Master Lu! I have long admired you."

"I heard that you, Great Master, are capable of both Artifact Refining and Alchemy; truly a talent, truly a talent! Our Fulong Dynasty is willing to invite you to become a consultant with a heavy reward!"

"I will not join any country; I am only here to do business!" Qin Dong politely declined.

"I, this Great Master, can refine anything from Profound Rank High Grade down to Yellow Rank Low Grade."

"The premise is that the Materials are provided." He added.

The City Lord smiled slightly, his eyes flashing with a clever light:

"Rest assured, Great Master. As long as you help our Fulong Dynasty, we will pay you the reward you deserve!"

"Hmm? Reward?" Qin Dong feigned ignorance, "Could it be Spirit Stone?"

"Exactly!"

Just like that, Qin Dong began assisting with the logistics of the Fulong Dynasty.

Every day, large batches of Talismans, Medicinal Pills, and Magical Artifacts were refined by him and continuously sent to the front lines.

Qin Dong was "honest," simply reporting a higher failure rate. The actual success rate was fifty-fifty, but he reported it as thirty percent.

For every ten refining attempts, he could earn two hundred Spirit Stones, plus keep two Profound Rank items for himself.

In just half a month, Qin Dong had already accumulated a massive amount of wealth!

His top-up points reached a staggering thirty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stone.

If he added his gains from the Southern Unification Dynasty, he had frantically raked in nearly fifty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stone!