Longevity Begins With Zongmen Handyman

Chapter 35: A Bountiful Harvest

Li An had no choice but to get up and open the shop door.

"Corrupt talisman master, you finally showed up!"

"Master Li!"

"Oh, benefactor!"

Outside, pairs of eager and grateful eyes stared at Li An, making him feel uncomfortable.

"Greetings, Senior Yu!"

Li An bowed to the middle-aged Foundation Building cultivator.

Yu Xiong waved his hand. "No need for formalities, Master Li. I have a question: were all those forbidden talismans bought from you?"

Li An's face turned ugly as he fearfully replied, "I really didn't know they were demonic cultivators... If they had come to my shop, I would have immediately informed the market."

But Yu Xiong laughed heartily. "Master Li, don't worry. It's not your fault. The enemy is too cunning, even the sect's array couldn't detect their presence."

Immediately, Li An respectfully invited Yu Xiong into the shop and informed him of the situation.

A few days ago, a big man came to order forbidden talismans. Due to his greed, Li An reluctantly accepted the order but found it difficult to produce them. He couldn't contact the sect's talisman hall in time, so he came up with a crooked idea... making fake talismans. Unexpectedly, the big man never showed up, so Li An sold the fake talismans.

Unexpectedly, this led to today's events.

Li An had already thought about these circumstances, so his response was natural and his explanations were reasonable.

"Senior Yu, it was my momentary foolishness and crooked intentions that tarnished the reputation of Xuan Yang Sect's Ling Fu Shop... I ask for your punishment, please punish me!"

Li An appeared anxious and uneasy.

After all, if this matter were to be seriously investigated, Li An would face severe punishment from the sect.

But Yu Xiong was in a good mood. He had saved the market from the demonic cultivators' attack, which was a great achievement for Xuan Yang Sect. And this achievement was inseparable from this greedy little talisman master.

Thinking about how those demonic cultivators had planned so carefully but were defeated by a greedy little talisman master, he couldn't help but laugh and waved his hand.

"Master Li, don't worry about this matter. I will speak on your behalf to the sect."

Li An was overjoyed and thanked him profusely.

"And the rest of you—"

Yu Xiong turned to the outside, where the group of merchants and cultivators stood solemnly. "Don't spread rumors about a corrupt talisman master anymore!"

"Master Li clearly discovered the traces of demonic cultivators and set up a trap to expose them, which greatly benefited the market. Such a righteous and wise person should not be slandered!"

"Do you all understand?"

Everyone nodded, but they couldn't help but smile.

This would probably be the biggest joke in the entire market!

A small talisman master's greedy act had ruined the Foundation Building demonic cultivators' secret plan?

Of course, everyone still had a good impression of Li An.

Mainly because the image Li An had created for himself was that of a greedy talisman master, which wouldn't arouse anyone's suspicion or attention. At most, it would be a topic of conversation over tea.

As for Yu Xiong, he casually took a broken forbidden talisman from the counter, waved his hand, and the talisman burned itself without any effect.

Indeed, it was a fake talisman.

He couldn't help but laugh. "As for the other talismans..."

Li An hurriedly said, "The other talismans were all meticulously crafted by me, genuine and without any problems."

Yu Xiong laughed heartily and patted Li An's shoulder. "The demonic cultivators have retreated. Destroy these fake talismans and don't sell them anymore."

After saying that, he left immediately.

Li An respectfully saw Yu Xiong off.

"Master... Li, don't lose this fake broken forbidden talisman. Sell one to me as a memento. Today, our lives were saved thanks to this thing!"

"Yes, this fake broken forbidden talisman brings great luck!"

"Li, the nemesis of demonic cultivators, this treasure is worth cherishing!"

Outside, many cultivators eagerly approached.

Mainly because everyone had experienced great ups and downs today and had walked through the gates of death. Their moods were high.

Li An: "..."

He didn't refuse the others and gave away all the broken forbidden talismans, then closed the shop door.

...

At night, Li An sat in his room, reviewing the whole incident.

The only thing that exceeded his expectations was that before the horse-faced demon left, he actually left a generous reward, offering Foundation Building pills as a reward for the head of a Qi Refining fourth-layer cultivator like Li An...

But Li An wasn't particularly worried about it.

It was extremely difficult for a Foundation Building cultivator to infiltrate the market.

If a Qi Refining cultivator came, it would be difficult to kill the current Li An. As long as he could hold on, he wouldn't be easily killed.

As long as he stayed in the market, it wouldn't be easy for others to kill him.

"There shouldn't be any major flaws..."

Li An whispered.

Only Zhang Shouye and Tan Qingxue knew about the formation that he set up. Even if they discovered it later and the formation was destroyed, Li An would have an excuse.

After all, the formation itself had flaws, so it was normal for it to be destroyed in the chaos of the market.

As for Wang Yun, he was an orphan with no relatives. The old shopkeeper he used to follow had already retired to the sect, and they had no contact.

No one would be concerned or investigate his serious injury and resulting mental impairment.

They would just find a place to settle him properly.

Late at night, making sure that no one was investigating him, Li An quietly opened the storage bag of the demonic cultivator.

As soon as he opened it, Li An's eyes lit up!

He had struck it rich!

This demonic cultivator could be considered extremely wealthy.

There were 323 spirit stones.

Two first-grade Qi Condensing Pills and three Rejuvenation Pills.

A first-grade middle-grade lock armor and a first-grade top-grade treasure umbrella.

To Li An's surprise, the four first-grade Fire Spirit Fruits he sold that day were also among them!

They had come back.

In addition, there was also a Purple Soul Grass.

This was a second-grade spiritual herb, and moreover, one of the main ingredients for the Foundation Building Pill!

It seemed that the female cultivator who had sought to buy the Fire Spirit Fruits that day had been targeted by this demonic cultivator and killed for her treasures.

In addition, there were two or three first-grade spiritual herbs, as well as a green-colored pill furnace. It was clear that the female cultivator was also a first-grade alchemist.

Li An couldn't help but sigh. If the female cultivator hadn't appeared so eager that day, she might not have been targeted.

Her obvious desire for the second-grade Fire Spirit Fruits naturally made people guess that she was preparing to refine the Foundation Building Pill.

So she probably had other ingredients for the Foundation Building Pill on her.

A moment of carelessness would invite disaster.

But now, everything had fallen into Li An's lap.

"Hmm?"

There was also a yellowed and tattered bamboo slip that caught Li An's attention.

He picked it up and carefully read it.

"The Yin-Yang Demon Furnace Technique!"

Li An whispered. This was a demonic technique that focused on using others as a furnace, practicing dual cultivation to improve one's own aptitude and enhance cultivation.

"It's actually a Profound-grade cultivation technique!"

Li An couldn't help but be surprised. This level of cultivation technique was extremely rare. Even though he had been a strong Gold Core stage cultivator in his previous life, he only had one copy, and he couldn't practice it until he reached the Foundation Building stage.

The demonic cultivator had mastered a Profound-grade cultivation technique... it could be considered a treasure.

This caught his attention, so he immediately put away everything else and carefully studied the technique.

"The Yin-Yang Demon Furnace Technique is not an ordinary demonic technique. Its main focus is on using others as a furnace, practicing dual cultivation to refine Yin-Yang demonic energy, improving spiritual roots, and enhancing cultivation!"

"But the drawback is also terrifying. When the Yin-Yang demonic energy breaks through the shackles of the spiritual roots, it will bring about a deadly calamity. At that time, not only will the furnace be exhausted and destroyed, but the body will also collapse. Only the spiritual consciousness and spiritual roots will remain, and one will need to seize another person's body to continue cultivation."

Li An felt a bit regretful.

This technique was excellent, but the side effects were too strong.

His Life-Nurturing Immortal Casting Technique had already slowly changed his spiritual roots. It wasn't worth taking the risk to cultivate this Yin-Yang Demon Furnace Technique.

"However, if I only cultivate the Yin-Yang demonic energy without letting it affect my spiritual roots... that would still be a very good method!"

He whispered.

In his previous life, he had also mastered many dual cultivation techniques, but ordinary dual cultivation techniques required cultivating feelings and harmonizing cultivation with a partner, which was laborious and time-consuming in order to achieve some growth in cultivation.

Not worth it.

The Yin-Yang Demon Furnace Technique was different. It was direct and domineering, without all those troubles.

If there was a chance in the future, he could give it a try...

Moreover, what he valued about the Yin-Yang Demon Furnace Technique was its other function - shape-shifting!

Once the Yin-Yang demonic energy cultivation was successful, he could change his appearance and aura, altering his own appearance and aura.

Coupled with the disguise technique of the Life-Nurturing Immortal Casting Technique, after he changed his appearance, even Foundation Building stage cultivators would not be able to discern his true identity with their divine sense.

It would be very convenient for future actions!

Satisfied, Li An put away the Yin-Yang Demon Furnace Technique. In addition, there were various miscellaneous items in the storage bag. One of them caught Li An's eye.

It was a snow-white jade bracelet.

A self-defense bracelet, he had also seen it in Mu Qingwan's hands in Xuan Yang Sect.

This bracelet was usually worn during the "Furnace-Nurturing" stage to prevent the leakage of Innate Yin Qi from the furnace, affecting the quality of dual cultivation.

"Someone in Xuan Yang Sect actually knows about the demonic techniques of the Yin-Yang Demon Sect?"

This cast a shadow over Li An's heart.

However, he didn't think too much about it and turned his attention to the white storage ring.

The storage ring was of a higher grade than the storage bag, and this ring was a fine piece. What treasures could be inside?

Li An eagerly opened it.

Then, he was stunned.

Because there was nothing else in the storage ring, only a... naked woman!

...

(End of this chapter)