Chapter 23 : Clouds of War

Chapter 23: Clouds of War

After the wind and snow passed, spring rain fell again on the eaves, making a pitter-patter sound.

Inside the room, as he slowly lifted the Talisman Brush, a mid-grade Flying Sword Talisman was complete, and Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but exhale slowly.

“It’s been a year.”

Since awakening his talent last year, a year had passed.

In just a few months, the Qingzhu Mountain Marketplace had rapidly expanded, and with the combined efforts of two major sects, it had become a renowned large marketplace in the region.

Countless drifting cultivators swarmed in, and during this time he had also experienced the benefits of prosperity—mid‑grade talismans were exceptionally easy to sell, which also sped up his cultivation significantly.

Looking at his attribute panel, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but smile.

“Elder Lu’s Evergreen Art notebook helped me a lot, but thinking about it, it’s understandable—after all, it’s a compilation of the experiences of a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator who had immersed in it for over fifty years.”

With deeper understanding of Evergreen Art, coupled with the aid of Spirit Stones, his cultivation speed had once again accelerated.

And the additional year of life was the effect of his Evergreen Art tech extending his lifespan.

“If proficient corresponds to mid‑grade technique, then Grandmaster is high‑grade technique.”

Through recent exploration, Lin Chang’an realized that technique merely proved that your ability had reached a certain level, and you still needed the corresponding inheritance.

“As a first‑rank mid‑grade Talisman Master, I can quickly grasp newly learned talisman scripts. And although I currently only master Golden Light Talisman and Flying Sword Talisman, it’s enough for now.”

Lin Chang’an looked at his progress with the Flying Sword Talisman; in just a few months, he had become proficient in producing mid‑grade Flying Sword Talismans.

“The Qi Refining Stage Third Level cultivation is still somewhat weak for now. I must accelerate improving my technique to acquire more resources.”

He could do without the inheritance of first‑rank high‑grade talisman scripts, but his technique level had to reach that first.

In just a few months, the marketplace had expanded like a newborn, several times larger than before.

Within the marketplace, people came and went, making a constant din.

As for the previous demon‑beasts, they had long become coveted Spirit Stones in the eyes of countless cultivators; even the late‑stage second‑rank Wolf King had suffered heavy injuries and fled.

Stepping out of the courtyard, he just happened to see Erniu’s child playing with several children from the Zhou Family.

“Zhou Yifan, you’re not allowed to have the surname Zhou!”

“That’s right, your father’s surname is Li. You should be called Li Yifan.”

“Beat that outsider surname kid!”

Amid the children’s playful scuffle, Erniu’s child Zhou Yifan—who had also been tested as having a Spiritual Root—was angrily scrambling around and roughhousing with several older children, showing no fear.

“Yifan, you naughty kid.”

At that moment, Li Erniu stepped out, and seeing the scene, his instinct to avoid trouble kicked in.

He hurried forward and grabbed his child’s ear, which also scattered the other children in fright.

Just then, Lin Chang’an returned and saw him; an awkward expression appeared on his face.

“Big Brother Lin, you’re here. These kids are too rowdy.”

“Come on, call him Uncle Lin.”

Li Erniu tugged his son Zhou Yifan from behind.

Though only five years old, maybe due to his environment, Lin Chang’an only saw stubbornness and resilience in the child’s eyes.

Lin Chang’an gently patted the child’s head, shook his head, and sighed. In life, how many things go smoothly?

And besides, this was someone else’s family matter.

“Erniu, your leg looks much better.”

Lin Chang’an smiled and changed the subject, and Li Erniu patted the leg that had healed.

“It’s already healed.”

However, this time, Lin Chang’an looked with some puzzlement at the red decorations on the Zhou Family’s doors.

“Erniu, does the Zhou Family have some happy event going on?”

“Big Brother Lin, recently many resources have been discovered during the pioneering, so the clan and the Wang Family are preparing for a marriage alliance.”

Li Erniu’s expression was somewhat complicated—just a while ago the two great families were fighting fiercely, but now they were arranging intermarriages.

Two female cultivators with Spiritual Root talent from the Zhou Family were married into the Wang Family, and likewise, three female cultivators from the Wang Family were married over.

Hearing this, Lin Chang’an understood.

As the marketplace expanded in recent times, not only had the number of drifting cultivators increased, but many drifting cultivator families had also settled.

A typical example was that under Xuanyin Pavilion’s control, two branches of Foundation Establishment families had relocated here, making the native Wang and Zhou Families clearly feel the threat from outsiders.

Only by joining forces could the Wang and Zhou Families face this impact.

“So that’s how it is.”

Lin Chang’an wasn’t too surprised by this—after all, a clan wasn’t a single person who could act recklessly.

As the two chatted, the sensible child Zhou Yifan had already lowered his head and returned home.

Meanwhile, Li Erniu’s expression turned a little awkward, and he eventually scratched his head and said:

“Big Brother Lin, there’s been a recent clan decision—I’m afraid I can’t be your neighbor anymore.”

Hearing this, Lin Chang’an smiled and nodded.

“This is a good thing, Erniu. Previously, the Zhou Family didn’t expect any incident to occur in the marketplace. Now that they’re moving you into the clan grounds, you won’t have to worry about the safety of your wife and child.”

Perhaps they had been careless before or didn’t give it enough importance.

But now, even though Erniu wasn’t strong, he was at least a Qi Refining Stage Fourth Level cultivator, and that naturally warranted some attention.

Facing Lin Chang’an’s congratulations, Li Erniu also showed a smile, and the two of them began chatting about the recent development of the marketplace.

“Recently, disciples from the Lihuo Palace and Xuanyin Pavilion led many cultivators and hunted down a lot of demon-beasts. I heard even the wolf pack that once besieged the marketplace was heavily crippled.”

“The Little County Princess also ventured deep several times. Not long ago, she even killed a late-stage first-rank demon-beast, and the business in the shops is gradually recovering.”

Lin Chang’an listened with deep emotion—everyone was striving to survive.

“But I heard from the clan that there have been a lot of cultivator robbers outside lately. It seems that many of them were tempted by the Shensword Sect.”

After hearing this, Lin Chang’an understood.

If Lihuo Palace and Xuanyin Pavilion were doing it, the Shensword Sect would naturally do the same.

Using drifting cultivators to create chaos and deplete the opponent’s strength.

Before a war between sects, the drifting cultivator power in Yue Kingdom had to either be absorbed or exhausted.

This was the survival law of the jungle.

“This is no longer a simple conflict over a marketplace, but something that could escalate into a full-blown war between the Three Major Sects at any moment. Yue Kingdom has already become a place of turmoil.”

Lin Chang’an’s eyes turned deep as he began calculating silently.

He did want to flee, but to escape across national borders—not to mention whether he had the means—just looking at his weak build, wouldn’t that be a clear signal to others that he was easy prey?

Leaving here might actually be even more dangerous.

“At the very least, I need late-stage Qi Refining strength. Only then, if war breaks out, will I have the power to protect myself while fleeing.”

At this moment, Lin Chang’an felt somewhat fortunate—fortunate that he wasn’t like Erniu, tied down by family.

Little did Li Erniu know, the Big Brother Lin walking beside him was already considering plans for escape.