Chapter 12: Li the Turtle

"Daoist Li, every word I’ve said is true, I swear!"

Wu Yun’s expression was serious, his words earnest.

However, with the divination result fresh in his mind, Li Chang’an wasn’t about to believe a single word he said!

The divination had just warned that a Tribulation Cultivator would try to lure him out of the Marketplace, and now here was Wu Yun.

’What a coincidence.’

Besides, even without the divination, Li Chang’an wouldn’t have agreed to go.

’A tomb supposedly belonging to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator... So what if it’s real? Who knows if it holds a fortuitous encounter or just deadly traps?’

Li Chang’an mused to himself.

He remembered how Xu Fugui and the others had suffered heavy casualties when they ran into danger exploring that ancient cultivator’s abode.

He had never forgotten the incident and used it as a constant warning to himself.

He put on a thoughtful expression.

After a moment, he offered a polite refusal.

"Daoist Wu, I prefer to play it safe and am not willing to risk exploring a tomb. You should ask someone else."

Hearing this, the two brothers, Wu Yun and Wu Feng, were both stunned.

A Foundation Establishment Level opportunity.

Countless people would kill for such a chance.

They had delivered it right to Li Chang’an’s doorstep, and he had actually refused!

"Daoist Li, with our level of aptitude, we have no hope of reaching Foundation Establishment in this lifetime if we aren’t willing to take risks!"

Wu Yun said earnestly, enunciating every word.

"The income from a Low Grade Talisman Master’s skills can only cover daily cultivation needs. It’s impossible to advance any further."

His elder brother, Wu Feng, also spoke up.

As if worried Li Chang’an didn’t believe them, he began to describe what he had seen and heard inside the tomb.

"Daoist Li, think carefully! If it’s really the tomb of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it will most likely contain the treasures needed for Foundation Establishment, or even... a Foundation Establishment Pill!"

As he spoke, Wu Feng’s voice grew more excited.

A Foundation Establishment Pill!

The Elixir Pill craved by countless Qi Refining Loose Cultivators.

Why was the Zheng Family so powerful?

Wasn’t it because they were an Alchemy Family?

Their clan possessed a Tier Two Alchemy legacy, and nearly every generation produced a Tier Two Alchemist capable of refining Foundation Establishment Pills, guaranteeing an unbroken line of Foundation Establishment Cultivators!

"Daoist Li, we Loose Cultivators have no patrons to support us and no powerful backing to rely on. We must carve out our own future! How can we afford to just play it safe?"

But no matter what they said, Li Chang’an remained completely unmoved.

In the end,

Wu Yun could only sigh, a look of regret on his face.

"Fine. We have troubled you today, Daoist Li. Please don’t take offense."

The two men cupped their fists in farewell.

"Take care, you two."

Li Chang’an watched them leave.

Afterward,

he closed his door and made up his mind.

’For the foreseeable future, I’m not accepting any invitations!’

’I won’t go out, not even for a heaven-sent opportunity.’

’No matter how good the opportunity is, can it compare to my daily updated divination?’

As for whether the Wu Brothers were actually Tribulation Cultivators, Li Chang’an couldn’t be bothered to think about it.

’I’ll just assume they are!’

"Time to get back to Talisman Painting!"

Li Chang’an calmed his mind.

’Improving my Talisman Art is what I should be focusing on right now.’

...

For the next half month, no one else came to his door.

The divinations were also uneventful.

「Until this day.」

The Wu Brothers appeared again.

Wu Yun was all smiles and in high spirits, wearing a brand-new Magic Robe.

"Daoist Li, my brother’s earlier guess was wrong. The tomb didn’t belong to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, but to a Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivator. Even so, there were still plenty of treasures inside!"

He said with a smile that they had reaped a bountiful harvest.

Since Li Chang’an hadn’t gone,

they had no choice but to invite another Talisman Master, a man named Wang.

This Talisman Master Wang received thirty percent of the treasures, and his net worth skyrocketed.

"If you don’t believe me, Daoist Li, you can go ask Daoist Wang yourself. Everything I’ve said is the absolute truth."

"There’s no need. I believe you, Daoist Wu."

Li Chang’an replied with a smile.

"Sigh... Daoist Li, those treasures should have been yours."

Wu Yun lamented.

But Li Chang’an’s mindset was peaceful, his heart completely unmoved.

After a brief chat,

the Wu Brothers left.

Over the next two months, they came to visit Li Chang’an often.

Sometimes they would discuss Talisman Art with him, other times they would tell him tales of their adventures dowsing for tombs.

Over time,

their relationship seemed to grow closer and closer.

「One day.」

Wu Yun came to the door again, his face flushed with excitement.

"Daoist Li, my brother has made another new discovery!"

"Oh?"

Li Chang’an feigned a bit of interest.

"A new tomb?"

"No, no, no! It’s a new earth-vein!"

Wu Yun was ecstatic, his voice trembling with excitement.

"A treasure called ’Earth Dragon Saliva’ forms at the source of an earth-vein. It’s a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object! Its effects are comparable to more than half a Foundation Establishment Pill!"

"Earth Dragon Saliva?"

Li Chang’an was slightly taken aback.

He had, of course, heard of this treasure before.

It could aid in Foundation Establishment, and its effects could be stacked with those of a Foundation Establishment Pill, making it extremely valuable.

The Qinghe Marketplace had once auctioned off a vial of Earth Dragon Saliva, and it had sold for the astronomical price of seven thousand Spirit Stones!

A treasure of that caliber...

...was something Li Chang’an could only dream of at his current level.

He immediately congratulated Wu Yun.

"Congratulations, then! Daoist Wu has a promising path to Foundation Establishment ahead!"

"Well... Daoist Li, you’ve misunderstood..."

Wu Yun’s tone faltered, a hint of embarrassment on his face.

He explained that they hadn’t gotten their hands on the Earth Dragon Saliva yet.

The rock and soil at the source of the earth-vein were too hard and thick to break through easily.

They were in desperate need of help.

They worried that if they delayed too long, someone else would discover the earth-vein.

"Daoist Li, what do you say?"

Wu Yun asked, his face full of anticipation.

He had come to ask for Li Chang’an’s help.

"As long as we can get the Earth Dragon Saliva, the three of us can split it equally!"

He promised a huge share of the profit.

One-third of the Earth Dragon Saliva.

And with no danger involved—all he had to do was help them dig!

However, Li Chang’an just shook his head slightly.

"I appreciate the kind offer, Daoist Wu, but I’ve had a setback in my cultivation recently. I’m not feeling well and don’t wish to go out."

"Not feeling well?"

The expression on Wu Yun’s face stiffened.

’This is Earth Dragon Saliva we’re talking about!’

’If any other cultivator heard this news...’

’...forget just ’not feeling well,’ they’d crawl over even if they were seriously injured and crippled!’

’A Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object was enough to drive countless Loose Cultivators into a frenzy!’

’Yet this Li Chang’an just wanted to hole up in the Marketplace, refusing to leave no matter what.’

’Is this guy a turtle or something?’

"Sigh... Fine. If you change your mind, Daoist Li, you can let me know anytime."

He cupped his fist in farewell and turned to leave.

Li Chang’an watched his retreating back, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.

...

「A month later.」

Wu Yun did not come again.

Chu Daniu, however, did stop by once.

The gathering for artisans like them was about to begin again.

"Big Bro, Elder Luo already promised me! At this gathering, he’s going to give you some pointers personally!"

Chu Daniu’s face was full of excitement.

But Li Chang’an said calmly, "Big Bull, I’m not going this time."

"Huh?"

Chu Daniu was stunned.

"Big Bro, this is a rare opportunity! Elder Luo’s Talisman Art is on the verge of breaking through to Tier One Middle Grade!"

Li Chang’an was unconcerned.

’He was already a Middle Grade Talisman Master himself. Why would he need pointers from a Low Grade Talisman Master?’

"Big Bull, I’ve had another insight recently and need some quiet time to reflect."

"An insight?"

Chu Daniu found it hard to understand.

’No matter how profound the insight, could it really be better than guidance from an elder?’

’Often, just a few words from an elder could save a junior several years of detours!’

Chu Daniu felt anxious, but there was nothing he could do.

He knew that once Li Chang’an made up his mind, he wouldn’t easily change it.