She took out an invitation card and handed it to Li An. As expected, the invitation was for him.
"Bai Jiang is raising a Spirit Beast with quite some potential. This time, heās going to the Ghostly Valley to seek a demonic transformation opportunity for that Spirit Beast. Once successful, Bai Jiang can become Mountain Master Baiās official subordinate along with the Demonic Beast. By then... Fellow Daoist Lin, arenāt you afraid of offending him?"
Li An pondered.
He already understood that this Bai Jiang was actually Jiang Ribai!
Jiang Ribai came to pay respects to Mountain Master Bai and was indeed almost beaten to death. However, he was perceptive, crippled his Beast Taming abilities, and devoted everything to cure a Spirit Beast that Mountain Master Bai valued.
Since then, he received favor.
In the Celestial Killer Mountain range, if one could raise a Spirit Beast and help it achieve demonic transformation, the caretakerās status would also rise accordingly.
It is said there is a chance to enter the Demon Race!
The Demon Race, being the oldest force, has unfathomable depths. Having them as a backing is certainly more comfortable than being a Loose Cultivator.
For example, if Bai Jiang truly succeeded, he could access all resources within Mountain Master Baiās jurisdiction.
What Mountain Master Bai wants are things from the Demon Race, and the resources primarily used by human cultivators are something the Demon Race doesnāt care much for!
Moreover, his status would be exceedingly high.
So, Bai Jiangās invitation could be accepted or rejected, but if rejected, one must consider if this would offend him...
Li An pondered for a moment, "What about Fellow Daoist Xiang Yuntian?"
"Heās like a stinky stone in a latrine pitāpoor and stingy, canāt even afford a Purifying Evil Pill, with Evil Qi already invading his body. Heās nearly a dead man, so he naturally doesnāt consider these things."
Zhou Libai mentioned Xiang Yuntian with quite some disdain.
Li An couldnāt help but feel startled. Previously, Li An thought there might be something between Xiang Yuntian and Zhou Libai...
However, after some thought, Li An still said, "Thank you for the reminder, Fellow Daoist, but for now, Lin An indeed has no intention of going."
Firstly, there are so many True Core cultivators under Mountain Master Bai, and it is clear not everyone shows face to Jiang Ribai, and Li An is not alone.
Secondly, Li An has some connections on Mountain Master Baiās sideāXiaoying.
"Alright then, since thatās the case, my husband and I wonāt insist."
Zhou Libai said no more, and the two of them left immediately.
After they left.
Li An stood up, preparing to make a trip to Celestial Evil City.
Just after leaving the Eastern Vein mountain area, he found a secluded place, changed his appearance to that of an old man, and headed straight for Celestial Evil City.
He entered a stone temple.
Waited for quite some time.
The True Core cultivators coming for the transaction gradually arrived, totaling four people, each exchanging what they needed.
Li An sold off some items and then said, "I would like to purchase a Rank Four Exorcism Talisman."
Exorcism Talismans are in high demand in the Celestial Killer Mountain range, and most cultivators would usually buy some; buying this is quite normal.
"Would a Rank Three one suffice?" a cultivator asked.
"No, the ruins I intend to explore require a Rank Four at the minimum!"
Li An shook his head; seeing that none of the True Core cultivators had one, he conceded, "If anyone can provide information about a Rank Four Talisman Master, that would also doā"
But ultimately, he gained nothing.
Li An didnāt give up; over the next period, he would occasionally come out, and finally one day, he heard from a True Core cultivator:
"I do know of one under the jurisdiction of Mountain Master Jie from the Southern Vein, a Rank Four Talisman Master, but in recent years, havenāt heard much about him; he might be in seclusion."
"This Talisman Master is surnamed Cao, living in the West Vein Hidden Tai Valley."
Li An generously gave a reward.
"A Rank Four Talisman Master..."
Now having a direction, the next step is to prepare slowly.
Returning to Mountain Master Baiās territory, he took Xiaoqing to visit Miss Xiaoying and presented a lot of precious Spiritual Food.
No matter where you are, managing relationships is extremely important!
"Why donāt you go to Ghostly Valley?"
As she nibbled on the Spiritual Food he provided, Xiaoying teased the little red bird and said, "That little lizard of Bai Jiang, though ugly, the Mountain Master likes it very much..."
"It should be close to its transformation."
"You should work harder to help Xiaohong transform quickly, so it can have a companion to play with me..."
Evidently, Xiaoying liked the little red bird, simply because Xiaohong and she are the same kind, both being birds!
"Lin An will certainly work hard!"
Li An smiled slightly, though his heart tightened.
It seems that Jiang Ribai... is really going to make a name for himself?
...
Over ten days later, Zhou Libai and her husband returned.
They reaped substantial rewards!
"Fellow Daoist Lin, you refused to go, but this trip earned us enough contributions for ten years of living here!"
Zhou Libai was overjoyed, but Li An noticed that her husband, Ba Jijian, seemed thinner and more haggard.
"Congratulations,"
To this, Li An merely smiled and continued his cultivation.
But two months after Zhou Libai and her husbandās return, one day, a voice was heard:
"Activate the arrayā"
This voice was familiar to Li An; after the activation of Spirit Charm Mountainās Mountain Protection Array, a white-robed elder came stepping through the air and arrogantly said, "Cultivators of this place, come out and see me!"
This person was none other than... Jiang Ribai!
Li An couldnāt help but furrow his brows; what was he doing here?