Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Wealth Stirs the Human Heart

Ultimately receiving a positive reply, Li Jizhou leisurely returned home.

Sitting quietly, he contemplated all of Qi Yuan’s actions and motivations.

After pondering for a moment, he couldn’t help but smile.

Qi Yuan’s behavior towards him was somewhat unusual,

A Foundation Establishment Stage senior, and also the shopkeeper of the Ten Thousand Talisman Pavilion, in terms of both power and status, far surpassed his current self.

Moreover, the acquaintance was brief, from their initial meeting to the present, and in no aspect did it forecast any potential harm towards him.

As for seeking him out to dispel loneliness, that was pure jest.

The only explanation was the care and support a senior shows to a junior.

This might be related to Lu Zhenhua.

Though not common,

It’s also considered human nature.

The cultivation world undergoes constant changes, human hearts are unpredictable, but cultivators are human too.

Humans have seven emotions and six desires, have good and evil, have feelings and grudges,

have humanity!

It’s just that the cultivation world here is so scarce in resources, to compete for opportunities and the great Dao, many cultivators can only rival one another.

Gradually, the goodness in human nature is squandered, betrayed, extinguished in the competitive tension…

Such that many have no choice but to use coldness and evil to protect the goodness in their hearts.

However, there is still some goodness in the world, unrelated to profit, not asking for return.

Unexpected yet traceable.

Li Jizhou does not wish for others’ goodwill, but he will remember it hearts.

Just like Wu Daniu’s care over those years.

No longer contemplating this matter, Li Jizhou took out the upgraded Jade Talisman for the gazette he had just received today.

Similarly attached was last quarter’s information.

Because the range of the three-tier gazette was considerably broader, encompassing many forces, the gazette information also increased.

Skipping meaningless gossip sections and social sections,

Li Jizhou prioritized filtering information relevant to the Spirit Pearl Mountain Market where he had settled.

Everything was calm, all was normal.

Even the surrounding families were harmonious.

This matched his expectations well.

The world was peaceful, living and working in peace, wonderful!

Next was the top cultivation family closest to this place, less than ten thousand miles away, the Fenglin Wang family.

The Fenglin Wang family was in the northwest direction of the Spirit Pearl Mountain Market, just near a branch of the Purple Vine Mountain Range that traversed the entire cultivation world of the Qi Kingdom.

Since the Fenglin Immortal Pavilion was twice attacked years ago, the Wang family has mainly been consolidating their forces over the years, constantly guarding against harassment from the Demon Dao, and thus nothing happened.

Lastly was Li Jizhou’s most concerning, the Inverted Mountain.

The gazette still contained the most information about the Inverted Mountain,

Reports said:

The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, under the banner of upholding Daoist Venerable Mo Li’s decree, vowed to protect Inverted Mountain to death, fully wielding authority within a year, becoming the true master.

Internally, it was completely sealed, allowing entry but no exit.

Besides that, there were many events within the Inverted Mountain, from various angles and levels.

Browsing for a while, Li Jizhou spotted a problem.

The information about Inverted Mountain, both openly and implicitly, was negative.

The summarized message was: The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance violated Daoist Venerable Mo Li’s decree, forcibly claimed the Inverted Mountain as kings, making the Inverted Mountain increasingly chaotic!

“I see!”

Li Jizhou shook his head with a smile.

No wonder for so long, the three sects and five families haven’t been pressing with their armies; it turns out they intentionally raised enemies, then waged a public opinion battle, putting a righteous label on their later actions.

Presumably, there is still some fear of Daoist Venerable Mo Li, and maybe it’s also a kind of probe.

Thinking of this, Li Jizhou looked again at the scattered information about the three sects and five families.

Indeed, the overall direction was mostly praise.

Thus it seems, this Celestial Secret Pavilion with its so-called mysterious background has not escaped official incorporation.

Indeed, throughout ancient times, such information organizations were always the tongue of rulers.

He must henceforth analyze more when reading the gazette from the Celestial Secret Pavilion, seeing the essence through the phenomena.

Having this clarity, looking back at the changes of Inverted Mountain over the years,

Perhaps since the Thunder Spirit Crystal Ore surfaced, the three major sects couldn’t hold back anymore.

And the Celestial Secret Pavilion’s withdrawal, even that rumoured fortune teller… it should all be part of a setup.

Just to accelerate the upheaval at Inverted Mountain.

Earlier, pushing Inverted Mountain to opposition.

Yet intimidated by Daoist Venerable Mo Li’s authority, the three sects were probing, using that so-called Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance within Inverted Mountain to probe.

Even that Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance might be part of their layout.

“Richness stirs the heart, not to mention the many opportunities in Thunder Flame Sect’s underground treasury! They’ve endured for so many years, that must have taken significant efforts.

Perhaps they’ve been waiting for the seal of Thunder Flame Sect’s underground treasury to lift.

It wasn’t until the hints from Thunder Spirit Crystal Ore arose that they decided to take action.”

To this, Li Jizhou could only helplessly shake his head.

Fortunately, his current dwelling at Spirit Pearl Mountain Market was far from the whirlpool, likely having no significant impact within twenty years.

Tossing the Jade Talisman gazette aside, Li Jizhou carried on with his peaceful cultivation life.

——–

Twin Lakes, the Zhao family.

“Qian’Er, ever since you went to the Yang family’s celebration a year ago, you’ve been frequently dazed, seemingly weary; what happened? Tell me.” Zhao Kunwu, the current patriarch of the Zhao family, worriedly tapped Zhao Qian’s shoulder.

Zhao Qian came to his senses and smiled bitterly: “Father, there’s nothing wrong with me, don’t worry.”

“A father knows his child best. Go ahead, tell me.”

“Father, you already have enough concerns managing the family, you don’t need to worry about me.” Zhao Qian sighed, basically admitting he had something on his mind.

Zhao Kunwu looked guiltily at Zhao Qian.

He was supposed to be a seedling within the Golden Sun Sect, with a Middle Grade Spirit Root, having hope of Core Formation in this lifetime.

It’s unfortunate that due to family disputes, he was expelled from Golden Sun Sect.

Now he has to shoulder the family’s rise together with me, depleting mental and physical resources, delaying cultivation.

At this rate, Core Formation is probably a mere wish.

“Qian’er, you need not despair; now with the internal disputes ceased, the family’s development is about to enter the right path. If we can get support from the five major families, within ten years, I may plan to procure a Foundation Establishment Pill for you, and after you reach Foundation Establishment, just focus on cultivating towards Core Formation, you need not worry about family matters anymore.”

“Father, I…”

“What’s the matter? Speak!”

“Alas.” Zhao Qian then narrated his encounter with Li Jizhou at the Yang family’s celebration.

“I originally thought that even if expelled by Golden Sun Sect, with the family’s supply, at least it wouldn’t be worse than being a loose cultivator. Yet,

Li Jizhou, dwelling in such a chaotic place as Inverted Mountain, actually explored another path and achieved in the way of talismans; although his cultivation is not as advanced as mine,

he has the endorsement of Ten Thousand Talisman Pavilion, coupled with his talisman crafting skills; his identity and status have already left me behind, furthermore, now residing in Immortal City… I’m ashamed…”

“Is that all? Hahaha, Qian’Er, Qian’Er, you were caught in appearances!” Zhao Kunwu laughed heartily upon hearing.

“You’re talking about Li Jizhou managing to become an Honored Guest Elder at Ten Thousand Talisman Pavilion, truly no small feat,

but all he has is already bound to Ten Thousand Talisman Pavilion. Now that he’s gone to Immortal City, relying just on his Tier One Middle Level talisman crafting skills, plus his inferior talent, and cultivating Evergreen Skill, his chances of Foundation Establishment this lifetime are dim.

Not to mention Immortal City, even an average market wouldn’t suffice for self-sustenance,

to live in Immortal City still depends on Ten Thousand Talisman Pavilion, ultimately reduced to talisman crafting tool for Ten Thousand Talisman Pavilion,

on the surface it seems he moved to Immortal City, in reality, his residence, his clothing, food, and resources for cultivation, aren’t comparable to you, the young master of the Zhao family!

You can maintain friendship with him, but there’s no need for your mind to be disturbed by him,

he’s not worth your jealousy!”

Zhao Qian was slightly taken aback, then realized.

Though he is burdened by the family, at least he doesn’t have to toil for a living. Once the family stabilizes, cultivation resources will be plentiful, whereas Li Jizhou now, though outwardly glamorous, struggles with Evergreen Skill’s slow advancement, burdened by life, with slim prospects for progression, ultimately reduced to a tool.

The gloom was swept away, instantly enlightened.

——-

Three days later, as Li Jizhou just finished Body Refining, there was a knock at the door.

“Talisman Master Li, Wen here, ordered to deliver premium talisman paper.”

The door opened revealing a young gentleman strikingly similar to Wen Xiangdong, graceful, with a kindly smile.

It was he who had spoken.

Behind him stood several servants.

Near the door, a familiar figure froze his hand mid-knocking, looking unbelievably at Li Jizhou who opened the door.

“Li Jizhou! Why…”

“Brother Zhao?”

Li Jizhou was slightly stunned, Zhao Qian had actually joined the young master of the Wen family, and was responsible for knocking on the door for Young Master Wen!

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