“Senior Brother? Are you looking for me on Xiao Liang Mountain?” Li Mu asked vigilantly, arriving on his sword and looking directly at the other party.
Just as Li Mu and Zhang Baiping were verifying the value of the Wind Spirit Grass, spirit chicken chicks, and puppies, Zhang Baiping quietly informed him that someone nearby was secretly monitoring him.
Li Mu's heart tightened. After sending Zhang Baiping away, his Divine Sense swept over the observer hidden in a patch of grass. He immediately flew in front of the other party.
“No, no, not at all! I took the wrong path!” Zhou Guangzhi responded in a fluster, caught red-handed.
“Hmm! I’ll see Senior Brother down the mountain! Xiao Liang Mountain is barren of resources; there’s nothing good to see here.” Li Mu gave Zhou Guangzhi a meaningful look.
“No need, farewell.” Seeing that the situation was unfavorable, Zhou Guangzhi regained his composure, rose on his sword, and flew towards Qing'an Town.
Senior Brother Xu misjudged him!
How could that guy be Qi Refining Fifth Level? He was clearly Qi Refining Seventh Level, with a formidable Spiritual Pressure. If they fought, it's uncertain who would win!
Zhou Guangzhi was eager to report this news to Xu Lijin to see if they could strive for it again. A Medium Grade Spirit Field worth twenty to thirty thousand lower spirit stones was worth fighting for.
Watching the other party fly away on his sword, Li Mu frowned deeply, feeling a sense of familiarity, as if he had seen him somewhere before.
Except for the old Daoist who sold Cultivation Techniques, Li Mu had always acted very low-key, believing he hadn't offended anyone, except…
Li Mu looked at the five acres of new Spirit Fields that were almost cultivated, and a hint of understanding gradually dawned on him.
That person seemed to have been seen at the Sect's station. Could it be someone sent by Senior Brother Xu? But why? Li Mu thought of some clues, but he couldn't figure out Senior Brother Xu's motive for doing this.
Without any reason, he hadn't offended Senior Brother Xu?
Li Mu sighed. If he couldn't figure it out, he wouldn't bother. He could only tell himself to always remain vigilant. This time, he was informed of being monitored by Zhang Baiping; he didn't have that level of vigilance himself.
Li Mu decided that after making a fortune by drawing Talismans, he would first create a batch of surveillance Puppets to guard the surroundings.
After figuring out the solution, Li Mu walked to the edge of the Spirit Field, released the Qingfeng Huanyu Technique, watered the Spirit Field, and then weeded and fertilized the spirit rice fields and Cui Ling Fruit fields, beginning his busy farm work.
Qing'an Town, Qingxuan Sect Location.
Xu Lijin saw Zhou Guangzhi and, upon hearing his report, was somewhat bewildered.
“Junior Brother Zhou, could you have misjudged him? He clearly only had Qi Refining Fifth Level cultivation. How could his cultivation possibly jump two levels in just a few days?” Xu Lijin frowned deeply, questioning him in disbelief.
“Senior Brother, I truly didn’t lie to you. The Spiritual Pressure and Aura emanating from that kid were no weaker than yours. I swear on my Dao Heart, I guarantee there’s not a single false word,” Zhou Guangzhi said earnestly, raising his palm to swear.
“Junior Brother Zhou, you’re being too serious!” Xu Lijin quickly spoke to appease him. With Zhou Guangzhi so confident, he had no choice but to believe him.
“That’s strange then. I’ll go myself in a few days!” A hint of curiosity flashed in Xu Lijin’s eyes.
——
Under the night sky, the slightly cool weather changed in an instant.
In the pitch-black night sky, a flash of lightning appeared without warning, followed by rumbling thunder.
Soon, a torrential downpour began to pour down.
At the foot of Xiao Liang Mountain, a lonely small courtyard still had a stubborn candle flame burning, appearing particularly solitary.
Inside the room, Li Mu sat at a table, holding a Talisman brush, concentrating on Spiritual Charms Drawing. The thunder and rain outside, though noisy, were unrelated to him.
The wolf-hair Talisman brush in Li Mu's hand moved across the thin Talisman paper. The Spiritual Power he continuously poured into the brush flowed steadily and precisely into the tip, seeping into the spirit ink made from Yao Beast Blood, and drawing the Talisman patterns and spiritual pathways on the Talisman paper.
Soon, Li Mu's brush moved with divine inspiration, depicting a complex and complete Talisman pattern in one fluid motion.
The Talisman paper glowed, and a First-Order High Grade Binding Vine Talisman, full of Spiritual Power, formed from gathered spirit, shimmering with a light green spiritual light.
With the birth of the basic Wood Binding Talisman, it signified that Li Mu had successfully mastered the ten basic Talismans recorded in the 《Basic Talismans》: Fireball Amulet, Breeze Talisman, Light Body Talisman, Body Protection Talisman, Evil Expulsion Talisman, Fire Guiding Talisman, Water Gathering Talisman, Mud Transformation Talisman, and Golden Light Talisman, a total of ten types of Talisman drawing methods.
Relying on the experience gained from his Level 4 Symbol Making Art, the effect of his powerful Divine Sense, and his understanding of Five Elements Spiritual Power, the Talismans Li Mu drew all reached First-Order High Grade.
If the quality of the Talisman paper, spirit ink, and Talisman brush used were improved further, Li Mu was confident he could draw First-Order Extreme Grade Talismans.
Li Mu calculated a sum: a First-Order Low Grade Talisman was worth 4-5 lower spirit stones. Improving the quality by one grade increased its power by 30-40% and its value by 2-4 lower spirit stones. High Grade Talismans could easily sell for 10 lower spirit stones or more. However, the cost of making a First-Order Talisman was only about one lower Spirit Stone, a nearly tenfold profit.
Li Mu had a 100% success rate in drawing First-Order Talismans. He could draw sixty to seventy High Grade Talismans in one night, earning five hundred lower spirit stones a day, a definite huge profit.
“Excellent! Once I sell this batch of Talismans, I won’t have to suffer from poverty anymore.” Li Mu was overjoyed; this kind of income was unimaginable to him before.
If he were to draw Second-Order Talismans, the success rate would likely decrease, but he could earn even more. Unfortunately, Li Mu didn't have the Talisman pattern formula for Second-Order Talismans, so he was powerless to draw them.
Li Mu drew one Wood Binding Talisman, then continued to draw the next, preparing to finish all the remaining blank Talisman paper.
...
The next day.
The sun rose in the east, and the birds chirped crisply.
Dazzling sunlight slanted in through the window, and Li Mu suddenly opened his eyes on the bed, waking from his dream and stretching comfortably.
Li Mu rolled out of bed, washed up, and walked to the stove to prepare breakfast.
“Woof woof!” A powerful bark sounded at his feet, and soon, Li Mu felt a wet sensation as a small, furry crimson creature licked the back of his foot.
“Little fellow, are you hungry? Don’t rush, I’m getting food for you!” Li Mu looked down and smiled, picking up the puppy.
Li Mu used spirit rice and minced spirit deer meat to cook a pot of minced meat porridge, eating a little himself and feeding the rest to the puppy.
“Little fellow, I haven’t named you yet! What should I call you! Red Fur?” Li Mu asked with a smile, looking at the puppy.
As Li Mu gazed, the puppy's attribute information immediately appeared in a virtual box.
【Crimson Shepherd Spirit Dog (Juvenile Stage)】
【Grade: Mortal Grade Spirit Dog】
【Characteristics: Carnivorous, Fire Spirit Affinity, Atavism】
【A Crimson Shepherd Spirit Dog with a partial Crimson Wolf Bloodline. Aversions: None. Traits: Loyal, intelligent, relatively easy to train, keen sense of smell, with signs of Bloodline Atavism. Has a chance to advance after growth and gain partial Bloodline Legacy.】
“Your Bloodline is pretty good; you need a more domineering name. Hmm, let’s call you Crimson Wolf!” Li Mu decided.
Soon, the spirit rice porridge was cooked, and the aroma of rice and meat filled the air.
Li Mu found a wooden basin, served a bowl for Crimson Wolf, and watched him heartily eat.
After a simple breakfast, Li Mu tidied up and went to work in the Spirit Field.
Last night's heavy rain caused considerable damage to the Cui Ling Fruit Seedlings. Li Mu released his Divine Sense and manipulated the Cui Ling Seedlings to straighten them, then used Wood-attribute Spiritual Qi to regulate the plants and recover the losses.
After all this, Li Mu locked the courtyard gate and flew on his sword to Qing'an Town to deal with the Talismans he had just drawn last night.