Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Assessing the Situation

Li Jizhou solemnly set aside the letter from Big Bull Wu, but did not respond.

The cultivation world is ever-changing, and many matters are beyond one’s control.

In the cruel environment, human nature becomes more unpredictable.

Moreover, Big Bull Wu has committed himself to the Yang family for life, making it difficult to have any further interaction with him.

The beautiful memories of knowing each other are worthwhile!

After setting the letter aside, Li Jizhou once again attempted to operate the Evergreen Skill.

“It remains unchanged!”

“Where exactly is the problem?”

After half a year of cultivation, Li Jizhou felt somewhat helpless. With the experience from cultivation in his previous life, there should have been no obstacles.

However, the Evergreen Skill and the Flame Phosphorus Skill he focused on in his past life were quite different.

After completing the Qi Cultivation First Level, he experienced no change and continued as before, diligently cultivating while pouring out talismans.

As a result, the magical power in the dantian did not increase at all, and he remained at the completion of the Qi Cultivation First Level.

What’s strange is that although the realm didn’t change, the Evergreen Magical Power poured out through the talismans lasted longer and appeared more robust each time.

The growth of the divine soul was also steady.

He wasn’t sure if it was the characteristic of the complete Evergreen Skill, but he wasn’t in a hurry because, although the realm hadn’t increased, he could feel his lifespan steadily increasing with daily practice.

Moreover, his talisman creation skills had become increasingly proficient over the past six months. Now, he could basically guarantee a good quality rate when creating Tier One Junior Level talismans.

“Li Jizhou, Pharmacist Zheng is looking for you. Hurry over.” At this moment, someone shouted outside the courtyard.

“Pharmacist Zheng!” Li Jizhou frowned slightly.

In his past life, he might have been very enthusiastic about such reclusive experts, even considering them his opportunities, and would use all sorts of means to become acquainted and strive for those opportunities.

However, in this life, he just wanted to stay far away from such reclusive experts.

But he couldn’t escape at this moment, so he had to attend carefully, not seeking opportunity, but simply hoping they wouldn’t bear a grudge against him.

A moment later, Li Jizhou arrived at the gate of Pharmacist Zheng’s courtyard.

“Five taels of spiritual sand, take this person from your yard away, don’t occupy my space.” Just as he entered, Pharmacist Zheng threw over five taels of spiritual sand.

Li Jizhou saw a bloody man lying on the sickbed, almost completely wrapped in bandages, his face covered in wind blade cuts deep enough to expose bone.

Yet, he immediately recognized this person.

This was his neighbor, Senior Chen, living across from his small courtyard.

Li Jizhou accepted the spiritual sand without saying much, nodded, and picked up Chen Yuankang to return.

Back in his small courtyard, after putting Chen Yuankang back in his own bed, Li Jizhou returned to his room without any emotional fluctuations.

Chen Yuankang had long reached Qi Cultivation Sixth Level peak, perhaps even crossing into Qi Cultivation Seventh Level.

In the Inverted Mountain’s eastern district slums, such quasi-late Qi Cultivation stage experts can almost be regarded as upper-tier combat power.

He regularly took guard tasks from inner city merchants, being involved in fights and life-and-death struggles as a common occurrence.

Such a cultivator possesses strong combat power.

Similar to Li Jizhou in his past life.

However, across the entire Inverted Mountain, it was not considered sufficient, even when attempting to venture out alone.

Organizing talismans created in the past six months, Li Jizhou ventured to the market with ten Cold Wind Talismans, twenty Blood Dart Talismans, ten Spiritual Talismans, and ten Golden Bell Talismans for protection.

Due to the more robust and lasting Evergreen Magical Power over the past six months, he created over twice the number of talismans compared to other talisman masters of the same tier.

However, he mostly used them for personal protection, so the number sold remained similar to half a year ago.

After purchasing daily necessities, he was left with only five Spirit Stones.

Plus the two Spirit Stones leftover from half a year ago, his net worth totaled seven, never so wealthy in this life.

Without hesitation, he went to the pavilion market within Inverted Mountain, entering a stilted building named Celestial Secret Pavilion.

The Celestial Secret Pavilion has a mysterious background, with a large organization reportedly able to divine heavenly secrets.

Inside, various intelligence levels are sold, including but not limited to certain forces, families, and individuals.

They claim that as long as you are willing to pay the price, they can collect all kinds of secrets about any target you wish to inquire about.

Regarding this, Li Jizhou is noncommittal.

But today, he wasn’t here to buy any secret intelligence, not even the cheapest information was affordable.

“This Daoist friend, are you here to purchase intelligence or?” Despite Li Jizhou’s rough attire, his demeanor was noble and composed, so the reception did not neglect.

“I’m not here to buy intelligence. I’m here to inquire about subscribing to official reports.” Li Jizhou responded with a smile.

In addition to selling intelligence, Celestial Secret Pavilion is the largest official report vendor, collecting and categorizing important and trivial matters from the cultivation world, imprinting them onto jade slips to profit.

“Alright, our Celestial Secret Pavilion’s official reports are mainly classified by region and time limit.

Regionally, with our branch in Inverted Mountain as the center, a distance of ten thousand miles outwards forms one grade.

Grade one reports include anecdotes and rumors within Inverted Mountain.

Grade two reports summarize anecdotes within ten thousand miles outside Inverted Mountain.

Regarding time limits, we have daily, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports…” The receptionist introduced them one by one.

Li Jizhou listened attentively.

A single grain of sand from the era falling on a person is akin to an immovable mountain. To avoid encounter with unlikely events while preserving oneself, one should discern the trajectory of the era and avoid being swept into its currents as much as possible!

The truly formidable figure doesn’t fight against the current but ensures they are always in favorable conditions, taking precautionary measures, avoiding getting trapped in adversity!

Now residing in a small courtyard, to gather Spirit Stones and strengthen himself with plans to leave Inverted Mountain, there should be no issues under normal circumstances, but being swept up by large dynamics remains a threat; one cannot escape flows that overturn nests. Attention to surrounding dynamics is necessary.

Ultimately, Li Jizhou chose the grade two quarterly report based on his financial situation, costing four Spirit Stones a year, paid in one transaction.

After paying, the receptionist handed Li Jizhou a jade talisman engraved with “Celestial Secret Pavilion.”

This jade talisman is a specially crafted upgraded one-way communication token by Celestial Secret Pavilion, receiving quarterly reportings on anecdotes within a ten thousand mile radius every quarter.

“Daoist Li, the jade talisman offers a free delivery of the previous quarter’s content for the first time, please ensure its safekeeping, losing it requires repayment of 4 Spirit Stones for a replacement.” The receptionist kindly reminded.

“Thank you!” Li Jizhou collected the jade talisman, expressed his gratitude, then departed.

Without lingering in the inner city, he immediately returned to the outer city.

The inner city consists mainly of late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators, even numerous Foundation Establishment individuals.

If he accidentally encounters a combat, a small fry at the first level of Qi Cultivation like him would have no chance to escape.

Back in the outer city, he specifically passed by a guild on the street.

The guild’s main business includes escorting people in and out of Inverted Mountain, requiring payment of five Spirit Stones per person.

At this moment, the place was deserted!

Once, the guild’s business was extremely booming in Inverted Mountain.

After all, the chaotic zone outside the city would suffice for early-stage Qi Cultivation loose cultivators to pay such a price.

The Huawei Escort Agency, previously leading the guild industry in the outer city.

Renowned for a hundred flawless reviews!

Until one day, an old cultivator followed clues searching for his son…

Which led to the exposure of Huawei Escort Agency’s collusion, safeguarding and conspiring with rogue cultivators outside the city.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep