Longevity: My Talents Are a Bit Abundant

At that time, the Sect Leader of the Bishui Sect had three direct disciples: two men and one woman.

The female disciple was his legitimate great-granddaughter.

The two male disciples were both people of extraordinary talent and determination.

The events that followed were a very typical melodrama.

The three grew up together as childhood friends, competing and racing with each other all the way to the Perfection of Foundation Establishment.

Like the Cyan Cloud Sect, such a major sect in the Song Country, the chance of a Golden Core inheritor reaching Core Formation is only ten percent.

The Bishui Sect is a medium-level sect.

Within the sect, the Sect Leader is the only Golden Core True Master.

The three of them simultaneously attempted Core Formation.

The Bishui Sect spared no resources in a full-scale effort to support them.

Among the three, as long as one could condense the Inner Core, it would be considered a success.

Beyond everyone's expectations,

Heaven favored the Bishui Sect.

All three of the Sect Leader's direct disciples successfully condensed the Inner Core!

The great-granddaughter's was an ordinary Inner Core, but nevertheless a True Pill.

The other two male disciples were even more remarkable!

Both became genuine Golden Cores!

For a time, the surrounding regions were shocked, and hundreds of sects came to congratulate them.

The small Bishui Sect had three Golden Core True Masters!

The rise of the sect was in sight!

Just as the Bishui Sect celebrated,

a sudden change occurred.

The inside story is unknown.

The outcome was that the current Sect Leader suddenly passed away.

One of the male disciples stayed within the Bishui Sect and took over the position of Sect Leader.

The other male disciple and the original Sect Leader's great-granddaughter left without a word.

They proclaimed that the two of them had become Dao companions and went to the Central Strong Country for travel and training.

"So, that nameless old Daoist might very well be the Sect Leader's direct disciple from back then!"

Ruan Siting said with a grave expression.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, you mustn't agree!"

"I heard that in the past century, the Sect Leader personally killed two Core Formation True Masters who practiced the Immortal-Slaying Water Qi Technique!"

Shen Xuan said seriously, "Thank you for your kind intentions, Fellow Daoist Ruan. I will definitely not see that nameless old Daoist again."

He dared not go to Luoying Market again.

And he did not know if that white-haired old man was still there.

In any case, even if he succeeded in his cultivation, he would not challenge the Sect Leader of the Bishui Sect.

That was a Golden Core True Master of many years!

Even his master, Master Gu Feng, was no match for him.

He didn't have the headstrong courage to entertain such extravagant thoughts.

As for the Heavenly Dao oath.

Shen Xuan didn't care at all.

Cultivators vie with Heaven for survival, going against the natural order.

They do not adhere to the natural laws of birth, aging, illness, and death.

Why would they be afraid of the Heavenly Dao oath!

The two chatted for a while.

Ruan Siting escorted Shen Xuan out of the residence.

Before parting, Shen Xuan reminded Ruan Siting to continue helping him acquire Water Demon Essence Blood.

If there was any Tier Two Top Grade that was not outrageously priced, they should buy it first.

As for Tier Three…

Well, there's no need to even mention it.

Tier Three Water Demon Essence Blood is beyond the reach of someone like Ruan Siting.

Ruan Siting readily agreed.

...

A few days later.

Shen Xuan rode a Red-winged Snake to Silver Hook Island.

The Patriarch of the Huang Family personally came out to greet him.

At the Huang Family banquet, accompanying him, in addition to the Huang Family's ancestor and the family head, both at the Foundation Establishment, was Huang Wanting, an acquaintance.

She and Shen Xuan had met twice before.

This was their third meeting.

Shen Xuan had a slight impression of her.

More than ten years had passed.

The once young girl, now in her thirties.

Her appearance had not changed, but she had become a little less naive, a bit more mature.

She appeared even more charming.

At this moment, Huang Wanting poured wine and served dishes for the three of them, her movements practiced.

Obviously, she had been well trained.

"It has been many years since we last met. Talisman Master Shen remains as impressive as ever, making me, Huang, feel ashamed!"

"Patriarch Huang is too modest. You didn't even send word when you advanced and broke through!"

Though these were his words, Shen Xuan's tone did not convey much respect.

In the world of cultivation, a Foundation Establishment cultivator from a cultivation clan holds no weight in front of sect cultivators.

If the Huang Family's ancestor broke through to the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, it might barely deserve a salute.

As of now, the cultivation level of the Huang Family's ancestor remains stagnant at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment.

Shen Xuan used his Divine Sense to observe.

The Huang Family's ancestor was getting old, his vitality starting to decline, making it likely very hard for him to break through again.

But the Patriarch of the Huang Family still had a thirty percent chance.

"Talisman Master Shen is from a great sect, a disciple of a True Master. How could I dare to disturb you at will!"

The Patriarch of the Huang Family laughed.

He was still as smooth and polite as before, his words flawless.

The Huang Family's ancestor sat for a bit and then excused himself from the table under the pretext of needing to leave.

Shen Xuan returned the courtesy and saw him off.

Once he rejoined the table,

The Patriarch of the Huang Family took three portions of Water Demon Essence Blood from the Storage Pouch that Huang Wanting brought.

Shen Xuan took them, scanned with Divine Sense, and felt slightly delighted.

They were all Tier Two Low Grade Water Demon Essence Blood.

At least it could accumulate some Dao Rhyme Points.

"Are these three portions of Water Demon Essence Blood satisfactory to you, Fellow Daoist Shen?"

"They'll do. How many Spirit Stones?"

Like with Ruan Siting, Shen Xuan had long instructed the Patriarch of the Huang Family to help him collect Tier Two Water Demon Essence Blood.

"To be honest, Fellow Daoist Shen, the market price is about fifteen thousand Spirit Stones. I would like to exchange them for Thunder Talismans."

Shen Xuan nodded.

"I have been acquainted with Fellow Daoist Huang for many years. I'll sell the Thunder Talismans at the regular price, four hundred Spirit Stones each, how about that?"

"Then thank you very much, Talisman Master Shen!"

After the Dao-demon conflict, the price of Thunder Talismans, such deadly weapons, skyrocketed.

The market price rose to five hundred Spirit Stones, with demand outstripping supply.

Receiving thirty-eight Breaking Evil Divine Thunder Talismans from Shen Xuan, the Patriarch of the Huang Family was quite pleased.

Even Huang Wanting beside him took the initiative to toast Shen Xuan.

"Senior Shen, I will never forget the life-saving debt I owe you last time!"

"I have little to repay Senior Shen with, but may I toast with Spirit Wine to wish Senior Shen eternal prosperity on the Dao!"

Shen Xuan smiled slightly, sipping some Spirit Wine casually, but did not drink it all.

Huang Wanting glanced at the untouched wine in the cup, feeling slightly disappointed.

However, being a wise person, she neither showed discontent nor continued to offer a toast.

Shen Xuan exchanged pleasantries with the Patriarch of the Huang Family for a while.

He inquired about Tier Two Water Demon intelligence nearby.

The Patriarch of the Huang Family took out the Geography Jade Scroll and made annotations.

The information was somewhat less than what Tang Fuhao and Zhu Jintang had provided.

Additionally, most of it was duplicated.

This also indirectly confirmed that the Information Jade Scrolls Tang Renhao and Zhu Jintang had given him were genuine and reliable.

Shen Xuan collected the Geography Jade Scroll annotated by Patriarch Huang.

Suddenly, his brow furrowed slightly.

His heart was slightly trembling.

This was the Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil Technique warning him.

Someone was secretly watching him.

At the banquet, there were only Patriarch Huang and Huang Wanting present.

Shen Xuan's gaze shifted from the smiling Patriarch Huang to the graceful and charming Huang Wanting.

He exerted the Insight Technique with full force.

There was something amiss, but he couldn't see clearly.

Shen Xuan's eyes faintly took on a reddish hue.

It was the Illusion-Breaking Spirit Eye Technique.

In his vision, there were faint strands of strange, transparent demonic qi swirling at Huang Wanting's glabella.

Shen Xuan remained calm, continuing to chat with Patriarch Huang.

The feeling of being watched soon disappeared.

Huang Wanting, excusing herself for a matter, bowed and hurriedly left with graceful steps.

Shen Xuan did not expose her.

Whether Huang Wanting practiced demon techniques was none of his concern.

Besides, Huang Wanting was merely at the Qi Cultivation Realm and posed no threat to him.

Shen Xuan and the Huang family were merely in a transactional relationship.

"It's getting late, I still have a journey ahead of me. Farewell!"

"I trouble Fellow Daoist Huang with the acquisition of Water Demon Essence Blood!"

Shen Xuan took his leave.

"This person is unfathomable!"

After seeing Shen Xuan off, Huang Wanting silently emerged behind Patriarch Huang.

At this point, at her glabella, the demonic qi flickered, forming a strange talismanic pattern.

If Shen Xuan saw it, he would surely recognize it.

It was the mark of the Yin Sha Sect's Saintess.

...

"Strange, why is the Huang family affiliating with the Demon Sect without reason?"

"Never mind. Cultivation clans affiliating with the Demon Sect is common. It's best to feign ignorance!"

Shen Xuan rode on the Red-winged Snake, floating above the sea, heading towards the Cyan Cloud Sect.

The East Sea, Longze River, Dragon Gate Market.

He was more than familiar with this route.

His master advised him to avoid returning to the sect when unnecessary.

But that didn't mean he couldn't go to the Immortal City under the Cyan Cloud Sect.

Lv Zhengying had sent a message.

The largest Immortal City under the jurisdiction of the Cyan Cloud Sect, Qing Yun City, was about to host an auction.

Currently, he was quite wealthy.

Just in Spirit Stones alone, he had amassed millions.

Though due to the Devouring All Things, he had to spend seventy to eighty thousand Spirit Stones annually on Demon Beast Meat.

But he excelled in talisman making.

He had a considerable number of Poison Talismans and a steady income from Thunder Talismans.

The Thunder Talismans were a different story.

There weren't many, and they had to be sold to fellow sect members in Cyan Yang Prefecture.

But the Poison Talismans had a high success rate and were easy to make.

Over the year, Shen Xuan crafted over two thousand Poison Talismans.

Apart from keeping three hundred top-grade Poison Talismans, the rest, being ordinary, were mostly useless to him and could be sold.

The Immortal City auction was an excellent outlet for them.

After all, a man with money always wants to spend some.

Shen Xuan attended the auction in Qing Yun Immortal City to see if he could acquire some cultivation spiritual objects.

Such as high-tier Water Demon Essence Blood, Purifying Foundation Pill main ingredients, tier three Spirit Bamboo, Water Attribute Magical Treasures, etc.

If there was a spatial magical treasure for cultivation at a reasonable price, he might buy it as well.

In the Rain Listening Pavilion, he had planted over twenty Tier Two Spirit Plants.

Among them, the Thunder Sound Bamboo gifted by Scholar Qianzhu was the most precious.

It was indeed a Tier Three Spirit Bamboo.

Also, the Silver-Horned Celestial Horse required the Emperor's Liquid when breaking through Tier Two.

Previously, Shen Xuan had Immortal Bai Lian inquire with the Beast Taming Zhou Family.

The head of the Zhou Family politely refused.

The Emperor's Liquid was the key spiritual object for a Demon Beast's advancement to Tier Two, akin to the Foundation Establishment Pill for Human Race cultivators.

Due to its rarity, as Moonlight Essence descended only once every sixty years, collection was difficult.

The Zhou Family didn't even have enough for themselves, let alone sell it easily.

Upon arriving in Qing Yun Immortal City, Shen Xuan paid his respects to the Chief Elder hosting the auction.

The two exchanged pleasantries for a while.

Shen Xuan presented three Poison Talismans as a meeting gift.

He submitted over a thousand Poison Talismans as auction items.

The return gift was a beautifully crafted booklet.

Inside was a list of items for the auction.

Illustrated, with descriptions and starting prices for the items.

Evidently, this was prepared for the auction's distinguished guests.

Shen Xuan's thousand Poison Talismans would also be included.

However, after perusing the exquisite catalogue, Shen Xuan felt slightly disappointed.

There were no particularly precious treasures at the auction.

The cultivation spiritual objects he needed included only two Spirit Plants, the main ingredients for the Purifying Foundation Pill.

Everything else was nowhere to be found.

Not even better Tier Two Water Attribute Magical Treasures.

Shen Xuan reviewed it three times.

His final assessment was two words.

Garbage!

There were barely any eye-catching Tier Two spiritual objects for auction.

Clearly meant to cater to clan cultivators and loose cultivators.

In hindsight, it made sense.

Superior Tier Two spiritual objects were scarce even for the Cyan Cloud Sect.

Among the three hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators, ninety percent were ordinary cultivators and ten percent were Golden Core Inheritors, causing undercurrents due to significant sect investments.

Days later, the auction began.

"Sunflower, Tier Two Top Grade Spirit Plant, five hundred years old, can slightly enhance Fire Technique Spiritual Power."

"Starting bid, two thousand Spirit Stones!"

"Two thousand one hundred Spirit Stones!"

"Two thousand two hundred Spirit Stones!"

Several Foundation Establishment Cultivators practicing Fire Techniques began bidding.

Spirit Plants that could increase Fire Technique Spiritual Power were indeed popular among Fire Cultivators.

"Four thousand Spirit Stones."

Shen Xuan directly called out a price above market value and won the item.

The other item was a six hundred years old Moon Frost Grass.

This was relatively niche.

Its effect was to slightly increase Ice Technique Spiritual Power.

It was of limited use to Water Cultivators.

Shen Xuan offered three thousand Spirit Stones, purchasing it easily.

Besides these, there were no other auction items worth his bidding.

The thousand Poison Talismans were auctioned off for a high price of twenty-four thousand Spirit Stones.

After the auction concluded,

Shen Xuan collected the Spirit Stones and the two Spirit Plants, returning to the inn.

After resting for a night,

Shen Xuan flew to Weimu County.

Qi Wanqing had written to him multiple times.

Requesting him to come to Weimu County.

She had an important matter to discuss.