Chapter 63: A Bountiful Harvest

Seeing the look on his face, Li Chang’an pursed his lips. He had a pretty good idea of what Luo Kun was thinking.

Sure enough.

Just as he expected, Luo Kun chuckled and said,

"Daoist Li, this is a rare opportunity. You’re both around the same age and are both Middle Grade Talisman Masters. You must have plenty to talk about. Take this chance during the trade to chat a bit more. Just try not to be so stiff!"

"Alright, I’ll give it a try."

Li Chang’an couldn’t be bothered to argue with him, so he just gave a casual reply to brush him off.

He didn’t go to trade with Chen Qianya immediately.

Instead, he waited a night.

After all, the last trade had nearly gotten him poisoned.

He couldn’t afford to be careless.

Fortunately, nothing went wrong this time.

[Divination has been refreshed]

[Today’s Divination: Neutral]

[You go to trade with Chen Qianya. The process will be smooth, with no unexpected incidents.]

Seeing this divination, Li Chang’an relaxed a little.

...

「The next morning.」

Li Chang’an left his home and went to visit Chen Qianya.

Their residences weren’t actually far from each other.

He arrived before long.

"Is Daoist Chen in? This is Li Chang’an. I have some business to discuss with you."

Li Chang’an stood outside the door, waiting quietly.

A moment later, the courtyard gate opened.

Chen Qianya appeared behind it.

She was dressed as she was last time, with delicate features, skin like polished jade, and an indigo long dress.

However, she seemed a bit tired, and a hint of irritation was hidden deep in her eyes.

"Daoist Li, what do you want?"

Chen Qianya’s tone was cold, and her entire being exuded an aloofness that kept others at a distance.

Li Chang’an cupped his hands and said, "I wish to make a trade with you, Daoist Chen."

’Looks like that old man Luo Kun wasn’t lying to me.’

Chen Qianya had already heard about the trade from Luo Kun.

A flash of light shone from her hand as she retrieved several Treasures from her Storage Pouch.

They were all items that Li Chang’an needed.

"Daoist Li, have you prepared the Water Element Treasure I need?"

"They are all ready."

Li Chang’an smiled and took out the Treasures for the exchange.

The trade, just as the divination had predicted, went very smoothly.

Both parties got what they wanted.

After the trade was complete, Li Chang’an took the opportunity to hand her a list of materials, which contained some of the Treasures he would need for the next few stages of his Body Refinement.

"Daoist Chen, I was wondering if you might have any of the Treasures on this list?"

Chen Qianya’s brow furrowed slightly. She had been about to close the door, but Li Chang’an had extended the conversation.

"Let me see..."

She took the list of materials and her beautiful eyes swept over it.

"I do have the ’Boiling Blood Crystal’ on this list, but I need ’Weak Water Spirit Sand.’ Do you have any, Daoist Li?"

"This... My apologies..."

Li Chang’an shook his head slightly.

Weak Water Spirit Sand was a very precious Water Element Treasure.

He really didn’t have any.

"Is there anything else you need, Daoist Chen?"

Li Chang’an didn’t give up, trying to trade for the Boiling Blood Crystal.

He said sincerely, "I see that you seem a bit troubled, Daoist Chen. I have some treasures that can calm the spirit and soothe the mind."

"No need. I only want Weak Water Spirit Sand!"

There was a hint of impatience in Chen Qianya’s tone, but she didn’t send him away.

She was so irritated purely because she had failed to achieve a breakthrough in her skills.

From yesterday to today, she had been constantly trying to draw a High-quality Middle Grade Talisman, but she hadn’t succeeded even once. Each time, she was just a little bit off.

Logically speaking, chatting with a fellow practitioner like Li Chang’an might have provided some inspiration.

But Chen Qianya felt that Li Chang’an had only just become a Middle Grade Talisman Master not long ago; he was still a long way from mastering the high-quality skills of this tier.

’Telling him would be useless, a complete waste of time.’

"Daoist Li, is there anything else? If not, I’m going back to rest."

"I have disturbed you today. Please don’t take offense, Daoist Chen."

Li Chang’an could hear the impatience in her voice.

He knew his place and didn’t say anything more. He immediately cupped his hands and took his leave.

...

「Two months later.」

Li Chang’an’s cultivation was very stable.

His Magical Power grew steadily, and his physique became stronger day by day.

What surprised him was that during this time, neither Zheng Lingfeng nor the Tribulation Cultivators from Black Wind Mountain had come to bother him again.

’It’s actually been quiet.’

Li Chang’an quite liked these kinds of days.

「A few days later.」

Luo Kun paid him a visit.

He told Li Chang’an that a small trade fair for artisans was about to be held.

"Daoist Li, many of the Treasures you need should appear at the trade fair."

"I understand. Thank you for telling me, Elder Luo."

Soon, the small trade fair began.

This kind of trade fair was very informal.

Many Cultivators simply found a corner on the spot, sat down, and displayed the Treasures they no longer needed for others to browse.

Others chatted with one another, discussing their respective needs.

Li Chang’an arrived on time and, sure enough, found many of the Treasures he needed for his Body Refinement.

’This is the ’Thousand Petal Flower’ needed for the Fourth Stage of Body Refinement, and the ’White Spirit Fruit’ for the fifth stage. Both are very rare. I didn’t expect to be able to trade for them here.’

In less than an hour, Li Chang’an had traded for more than ten different Treasures.

It was a bountiful harvest, to say the least.

The other Cultivators also had fruitful exchanges.

Almost everyone had Treasures they couldn’t use but that others could.

This was the very reason such small trade fairs existed.

Suddenly, Li Chang’an stopped in his tracks, his gaze fixed on a stall in the corner.

On that stall was a stone that was a brilliant azure color all over. It caught his attention.

’Jade Water Stone?’

This type of stone was a precious Tier One Top Grade water treasure.

’It would be very beneficial for the Profound Water Turtle’s growth!’

Li Chang’an mused, ’Although the Profound Water Turtle is growing quickly, it’s still not fast enough to meet my needs.’

’If the Profound Water Turtle can break through to the Tier One Late Stage, the effect of the Borrowing Technique will be much more powerful.’

"How much for this Jade Water Stone?"

Li Chang’an walked up and asked the stall owner.

The stall owner glanced at him.

"Daoist, this stone isn’t for sale. I’m only bartering."

"What are you looking for, Daoist?"

Li Chang’an asked again.

The stall owner replied, "I need Treasures that can calm the spirit and soothe the mind, like ’Clear Heart Incense,’ ’Peaceful Spirit Talismans,’ or ’Calming Pills.’ I won’t accept anything else."

Hearing this, Li Chang’an’s heart stirred.

He happened to have a Peaceful Spirit Talisman.

The two talked for a while. Li Chang’an learned that this stall owner was an expert at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.

He had failed to break through to the Qi Refining Seventh Layer three times. Each attempt had resulted in a backlash that nearly killed him, and he had developed a fear of Realm Breakthroughs. That was why he needed treasures to calm his spirit.

’So that’s how it is.’

The path of cultivation was truly difficult, Li Chang’an thought with a sigh.

Afterwards, he took out the Peaceful Spirit Talisman.

The stall owner was instantly thrilled and quickly signed a Spirit Contract for the trade with him.

After the trade was completed, Li Chang’an took his leave and turned to look for other Treasures.

Just then, Chen Qianya, in her indigo long dress, hurried over. Her beautiful eyes rested on Li Chang’an for a moment before sweeping over the items on the stall, and her elegant brows immediately knitted together.

"Daoist, where is your Jade Water Stone?"

She had spotted the Jade Water Stone even before Li Chang’an did.

This kind of Treasure was of great benefit to a Cultivator with a Water Spirit Root like her.

Unfortunately, although she had Tranquil Heart Bamboo, her Talisman Art was insufficient. She simply couldn’t draw a High-quality Middle Grade Talisman like the Peaceful Spirit Talisman.

Left with no choice, she had to go ask her father, Chen Yuanshan, for a Peaceful Spirit Talisman and then hurry back.

But in the end, she was a step too late.

The stall owner cupped his hands, his face apologetic.

"It’s truly unfortunate, but the Jade Water Stone has already been traded away by this Daoist."

"Li Chang’an?"

Chen Qianya noticed the Peaceful Spirit Talisman in the stall owner’s hand and turned her beautiful eyes toward Li Chang’an.

She was astonished. ’How could Li Chang’an possibly have this kind of Talisman?’