Chapter 8: Drifting Cultivators Don’t Follow the Rules
On both sides of the dim gray street, drifting cultivators from elsewhere were discreetly sizing up the figures emerging from the black market.
Just as Lin Chang’an stepped out of the marketplace, immersed in the joy of his future, he immediately sensed someone targeting him.
At that moment, a cultivator walking quickly with his head lowered brushed past him, and in that instant, a hand reached skillfully into his robes.
“Pa!”
A wrist was abruptly seized.
Seeing Lin Chang’an's fierce expression, the figure’s face turned panicked as he quickly forced a smile and said:
“Fellow Daoist, forgive my poor eyesight, I sincerely apologize…”
However, as he spoke, his other hand simultaneously reached for the sword at Lin Chang’an’s waist with practiced ease.
At the same time, two figures nearby cast fierce glances toward him.
Repeat offenders!
And a gang!
They had a clear division of roles—one to control the weapon, so the other two could strike!
However—
“Puchi!”
A flash of green light shot out.
As blood splattered, the young man’s face still wore a frozen apologetic smile.
His hand was still gripping the sword awkwardly, but his mouth had already been pierced by the Green Bamboo Sword.
Killed in one strike!
The man hadn’t even reacted before dying—how could someone strike so ruthlessly?
“Green Bamboo Sword! Mana released externally! Damn it, he’s a mid-stage Qi Refining old ghost! Retreat!”
The other two figures panicked at the sight of the released mana shield, terrified.
But they were given no time to react.
The Green Bamboo Sword swept cleanly and swiftly, blood spraying everywhere.
The two pairs of shocked eyes had already lost their vitality.
Even at the moment of death, they wondered—how could this happen?
They had been cautious, targeting only penniless cultivators.
Yet today, they had really stumbled.
Damn it!
A mid-stage Qi Refining old ghost pretending to be a second-level rookie—local cultivators were too insidious!
What fun was there in baiting poor bastards like them?
It all happened in a flash.
From the surprise attack executed with expert technique, to Lin Chang’an’s counter-kill while activating his mana shield—it all took place in the blink of an eye.
Too fast!
“Mid-stage Qi Refining!”
At the same time, the instant counterattack caused the shadows lurking around the alley, who had intended to scavenge or watch the commotion, to widen their eyes in shock and flee.
Releasing mana to form a shield—that was the hallmark of a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator.
“Ptui! Disrespectful drifting cultivators.”
Seeing the shadows scatter in fear, Lin Chang’an snorted coldly with a fierce, brutish look, thoroughly presenting the image of a powerful mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator.
Yet, as a gust of wind blew by, Lin Chang’an's retreating figure was no slower than theirs.
Under the gray skies, the street was left with only three gradually chilling corpses.
All of this was far too common in the cultivation world.
Before sunrise, the corpses were already taken away.
After all, even the bodies of cultivators had value.
…
After winding through the marketplace, Lin Chang’an returned home before dawn.
The first thing he did was paste High-Quality Golden Light Talismans on the door and windows.
“Ptui, just three drifting cultivators and they dared act recklessly. Penniless fools.”
Looking at the pitiful harvest of just over twenty Spirit Crystals, Lin Chang’an was full of disdain.
One at the third level of Qi Refining, and two at the second level—he couldn’t decide whether to call them fearless calves or simply stupid.
With that kind of strength, even without encountering him, trouble would have found them eventually.
It wasn’t that he was xenophobic, but he truly loathed cultivators who broke the rules and disturbed the peace.
Even the black market had its own rules.
And those who broke them—well, it was always the weakest cultivators who suffered first.
Having lived in the cultivation world for twenty years, Lin Chang’an had long become a seasoned veteran.
He was used to it.
Back home, he immediately removed the clothes he’d used to mask his scent and returned to his true appearance.
Looking at the Spirit Crystals in his storage pouch from tonight, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but smile.
Though a bit risky, it had all been worth it.
After all, the low-grade Swift Talismans he sold weren’t even worth a glance from mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators—only desperate low-level drifting cultivators would scramble for them.
Who the hell in mid-stage Qi Refining would bother with such things?
“But they did have some sense—they even recognized the Green Bamboo Sword.”
Twenty years ago, when this new marketplace first opened for pioneering, the Lihuo Palace had handed out hundreds of low-grade artifacts—Green Bamboo Swords.
So upon seeing the green glow, the attackers fled in fear, assuming they’d encountered an old ghost.
After all, only someone who had obtained that artifact twenty years ago…
And coupled with Lin Chang’an’s attire, ruthlessness, and mid-stage Qi Refining cultivation, anyone would have assumed he was a veteran who dared walk the night.
However, seeing his room’s door and windows guarded with High-Quality Golden Light Talismans, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but sigh.
“Who would’ve thought I’d someday worry about drawing too many talismans.”
Extravagant! Far too extravagant.
These could’ve been traded for Spirit Stones, yet now they sat cold and unused in a pouch—or were stuck to doors.
At that moment, he truly understood the pain of being alive yet unable to openly trade talismans for Spirit Stones.
Too hard.
“Until I have a safer channel for the black market, I’ll have to stick with low-grade Swift Talismans for now.”
For the sake of safety, Lin Chang’an sighed in pain.
He could’ve earned Spirit Stones by selling High-Quality Golden Light Talismans, but instead, he had to downgrade and earn Spirit Crystals.
…
After advancing to the fourth level of Qi Refining, Lin Chang’an became even more motivated.
He resumed the life others found monotonous—but which he found endlessly satisfying—of cultivating, drawing talismans, eating demon-beast meat, and sleeping.
Out on the street—
“Who is that, stewing demon-beast meat this early in the morning? Aren’t they afraid of internal fire?”
A cultivator who had just stepped out caught a whiff of the meat aroma and immediately turned sour.
It wasn’t that cultivators couldn’t afford meat—but demon-beast meat did cost Spirit Crystals.
If you really wanted meat, there were plenty of ordinary beasts outside the city.
“Shh, keep your voice down. That aroma’s coming from Talisman Master Lin’s place.”
“It’s actually Talisman Master Lin!”
The middle-aged cultivator was first shocked, then his face filled with envy, and soon, a sour tone followed:
“They say untalented Talisman Masters aren’t even worth a dog, but once one gets the hang of it, they earn Spirit Crystals faster than us desperate types.”
“Spirit Crystals? You must be joking. High-quality talismans go for one Spirit Stone each!”
“Once Talisman Master Lin gains more proficiency and learns mid-grade first-rank talismans, they’ll start at three Spirit Stones apiece.”
On the street, two cultivators spoke enviously.
After all, nearly every cultivator tried drawing talismans, but those who could produce high-quality ones were one in a thousand.
…
That day—
Li Erniu came to visit.
“Brother Lin, in a few days we should go to the Qingshui Bay marketplace. The Little County Princess invited us to pay respects to Elder Lu.”
“To honor Elder Lu…”
Lin Chang’an was flooded with emotions, which eventually became a long sigh.
Elder Lu was the Immortal Master who had introduced them to the cultivation world twenty years ago.
Even though neither of them had passed the entrance examination, Elder Lu had helped guide their path forward.
Sadly, he had passed away recently.
They had handled the funeral together, leaving only a junior sister behind.
Back then, the four of them had included the Little County Princess, who couldn’t attend due to a sect mission.