Chapter 74: New Trump Card

In the courtyard.

The man and dog had a bit of a conversation.

Li Chang’an learned how Dahuang felt.

’It seems a Sword Array formed from three Profound Sword Talismans is enough to pose a fatal threat to a Qi Refining Ninth Layer Cultivator.’

If nine Profound Sword Talismans formed a Sword Array, the power would be unimaginable.

It might even be able to instantly destroy a Qi Refining Ninth Layer Cultivator!

Furthermore, the Profound Sword Talisman was not the most powerful Sword Qi Talisman in Li Chang’an’s possession.

The strongest Sword Qi Talisman he could currently draw was a High-quality Top Grade Talisman called the Spirit Sword Talisman.

The Sword Qi released by a Spirit Sword Talisman was far stronger than that of a Profound Sword Talisman.

’Just how terrifying would a single-use Sword Array made of nine Spirit Sword Talismans be?’

Li Chang’an took a deep breath.

He clearly realized something.

This Talisman Sword Array had already become his trump card!

’I have to cultivate this Small Yi Mu Sword Array to the Great Success stage as soon as possible!’

Li Chang’an secretly made up his mind.

「In the days that followed.」

He temporarily paused his Body Refinement and Qi Refining.

He threw all his focus into the Small Yi Mu Sword Array.

Through constant practice, his understanding of this Magic deepened, and he soon reached the Minor Achievement stage.

He could now control a Sword Array composed of six Talismans at once.

...

「One evening.」

Li Chang’an was practicing his Sword Array when a familiar voice suddenly called out from outside his door.

"Daoist Li, are you home?"

’Eldest Miss?’

Li Chang’an was taken aback.

He immediately went to open the door.

The person behind the door was none other than Zheng Qingqing, dressed in a long, turquoise gown.

"Daoist Li, it’s been a while."

Zheng Qingqing smiled faintly, her voice pleasant.

Li Chang’an nodded. After the chaos in the Marketplace, he had rarely seen Zheng Qingqing.

"Have you been well lately, Eldest Miss?"

"I’ve been well. Without the miscellaneous affairs of the Marketplace to distract me, I can focus solely on my cultivation. This is exactly the life I wanted."

Zheng Qingqing replied with a smile, her tone relaxed.

It seemed that losing her position as Market Chief hadn’t affected her much.

Li Chang’an invited her into the courtyard.

The two sat facing each other and chatted for a moment.

Then, Zheng Qingqing explained the reason for her visit.

"The auction is about to begin. I’ve come to deliver an invitation to you, Daoist Li. With this invitation, you can choose a private room."

"Thank you, Eldest Miss."

Li Chang’an accepted the invitation, secretly surprised.

’Zheng Qingqing could still have a hand in something as important as the auction. This meant she hadn’t been completely pushed out of the Marketplace’s center of power.’

"By the way, Daoist Li, do you have any items you’d like to auction?"

Zheng Qingqing suddenly asked.

"Well..."

Li Chang’an pondered for a moment.

’At an auction, the atmosphere is heated, and the final sale price is often a bit higher than usual.’

Thinking of this, he took out a dozen or so useless Treasures, including the Shadowless Finch corpse whose Essence Blood had already been extracted, and handed them all to Zheng Qingqing.

"A Shadowless Finch?"

Zheng Qingqing was astonished.

This kind of Demon Beast was not easy to deal with.

The vast majority of Late Stage of Qi Refining experts couldn’t handle it.

And Li Chang’an was only at the Middle Stage of Qi Refining.

"Daoist Li, you certainly hide your abilities well."

"Eldest Miss, you misunderstand. I just happened to come across this Shadowless Finch corpse. How could I possibly have the ability to kill such a Demon Beast?"

Li Chang’an said with a wry smile.

Zheng Qingqing nodded slightly and didn’t question him further.

As for whether she actually believed him or not, Li Chang’an wasn’t sure.

...

「A few days later.」

News about the auction grew more and more intense.

A list of the auction items soon began to circulate.

The Treasures Li Chang’an had provided were listed right on it.

’The Zheng Family actually made the auction list public again this time.’

’Logically speaking, a normal auction would only release information about a small portion of the lots to maintain a sense of mystery and generate more discussion. But the Zheng Family insisted on playing their cards unconventionally.’

’Fine by me. I’ll see if there’s anything I need.’

Li Chang’an got a copy of the auction list and carefully looked it over from top to bottom.

Soon, he locked onto a particular Spirit Medicine.

’Seven-Night Flower, one of the Auxiliary Medicines for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill!’

An Auxiliary Medicine for the Foundation Establishment Pill had also appeared at the last auction.

But at the time, Li Chang’an’s strength was insufficient, and he lacked the means to conceal his identity, so he had given up on it.

This time, however, he could actually make a plan for it.

In total, eleven Auxiliary Medicines for the Foundation Establishment Pill appeared on the list.

Li Chang’an planned to acquire a few of them.

As he was thinking, a knock suddenly sounded at the door.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK...

He had a visitor.

Li Chang’an went to open the door and was surprised to find that it was Zheng Qingqing again.

However, there was an unfamiliar young woman standing next to her.

The young woman wore a black dress and had extremely delicate features, but her pretty face was completely expressionless. Her eyes were especially cold, as if she were an emotionless Puppet.

"Daoist Li, this is Daoist Mo Qingxue of the Puppetry Mo Family."

Zheng Qingqing introduced the person beside her with a smile.

’The Puppetry Mo Family!’

Li Chang’an was startled by her words.

’They were one of the Seven Great Noble Families of the Southern Domain of Zhao Country! These Seven Great Noble Families were all Cultivation Immortality Clans with Core Formation Level combat strength.’

According to rumor, although the Mo Family had no Golden Core Master, they possessed a Tier Three Puppet.

When pushed to its limits, that Tier Three Puppet was no weaker than an ordinary Golden Core Master.

"Greetings, Daoist Mo."

Li Chang’an didn’t dare to be disrespectful and immediately invited the two into the courtyard.

’Faced with a behemoth like the Mo Family, even the Zheng Family seemed somewhat insignificant. Why would this young woman from the Mo Family suddenly come looking for me?’

Li Chang’an couldn’t figure it out.

Zheng Qingqing suddenly sent a voice transmission to him, a hint of a smile in her tone: "Daoist Li, don’t be nervous. This is a good thing."

Hearing this, Li Chang’an secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Just then, Zheng Qingqing smiled at Mo Qingxue and said, "Daoist Mo, the Shadowless Finch Demon Corpse you wish to purchase is being sold by this very Daoist Li."

Hearing this, Li Chang’an finally understood the reason.

Mo Qingxue gave him an indifferent glance.

"Daoist Li, the Shadowless Finch Demon Corpse is useful to me. How about you sell it to me for the price of five hundred Spirit Stones?"

"I couldn’t ask for more."

’Li Chang’an wouldn’t dare refuse. After all, she was from the Mo Family. Besides, the normal price for that Shadowless Finch corpse was only around three to four hundred Spirit Stones. Mo Qingxue’s offer of five hundred Spirit Stones had clearly factored in the auction’s premium. She wasn’t taking advantage of him.’

Soon, the two parties completed the transaction.

Mo Qingxue obtained the Shadowless Finch Demon Corpse.

She spoke again, her tone as cold as ever, "This Shadowless Finch was already on the auction list. By buying it from you privately, I’ve broken the rules and caused you to lose out a bit."

As she spoke, she suddenly took out a Token.

She placed it in front of Li Chang’an.

A deep character for "Mo" was engraved on the Token.

"I reside in Yellow Crane Immortal City long-term. In the future, you can bring this Token to find me, and I will help you once."

Upon hearing this, joy sparked in Li Chang’an’s heart.

’This Token represented a favor! A favor from the Mo Family was not something just anyone could obtain.’

"Remember, only once!"

Mo Qingxue reminded him in her indifferent tone.

"I understand."

Li Chang’an clasped his hands in a salute.

’He understood the meaning behind Mo Qingxue’s words. Their statuses and talents were worlds apart. Barring any accidents, their paths would never cross again in this lifetime. After he used this favor, they would probably never meet again. Therefore, when Li Chang’an decided to use this favor, he had to be extremely cautious.’