The disturbance in the main hall settled, but the cultivators who had gathered to watch had not entirely dispersed.

  Some shook their heads and left, others whispered among themselves, and some lingered, their gazes lingering at the entrance of Moon?Veil Pavilion.

  The outcome was unexpected. The three troublemakers had fled in disgrace, the mind?disturbing artifact was exposed, and Liu Qing’s talisman was ultimately completed, its spiritual efficacy stable. This reversal, in fact, ended up boosting Moon?Veil Pavilion's reputation.

  The attempt to sabotage the establishment had backfired completely, failing to harm Moon?Veil Pavilion and instead giving it a helping hand.

  By now, Lu Chi and the other two had already withdrawn to the inner hall to rest for a moment.

  Not long after, heavy footsteps sounded from the back hall. Cao Zhen strode in, his clothes slightly disheveled, dust on his shoulders not yet brushed off, yet his aura was steady.

  A single glance told Lu Chi that the man had just been in a fight.

  Cao Zhen grinned broadly, cupped his hands, and said, "Sect Master, those three fled the moment they stepped outside, using Escape Talismans to run. Guilty consciences, no doubt. I managed to catch them anyway. Their spiritual power is sealed, and they're locked up in the side courtyard awaiting interrogation."

  Qin Suniang nodded slightly. "You have my thanks."

  Lu Chi's heart stirred. Among those three, one was at the fourth layer of Qi Refinement, two at the third—and Cao Zhen had subdued them all by himself?

  Did that mean this Cao fellow could just as easily overpower him? The corner of his mouth twitched as he cupped his hands and said, "Brother Cao's skills are impressive. All three had Escape Talismans, yet you captured the whole net."

  Cao Zhen scratched his head and chuckled foolishly:

  "You flatter me, Talisman Master Lu. I merely walk the path of body?refinement. My physical body is a bit sturdier, my qi and blood more vigorous—just a little more durable in a fight than cultivators of the same realm. An ordinary fifth?layer Qi Refinement cultivator probably couldn't have caught them."

  The body?refinement path focused on tempering the physical form, forging bones, flesh, and blood until qi and blood surged like a dragon's, granting immense strength. In combat against peers of the same realm, they often shattered magical artifacts with a single punch or cracked spiritual light with one palm.

  However, it consumed vast resources and progressed slowly, which was why most people were unwilling to choose this path.

  Lu Chi truly hadn't detected this aspect of Cao Zhen's identity before—no wonder Qin Suniang had recruited him. He nodded in sudden understanding.

  "As for the mastermind behind this, this humble woman already has her suspicions. Once we extract the truth from those three, I will discuss it in detail with Brother Liu Qing and Talisman Master Lu. For now, do not dwell on it. Talisman?crafting remains your fundamental duty."

  Qin Suniang spoke with a light smile, her gaze lingering on Lu Chi's face for a moment, soft yet carrying praise:

  "Talisman Master Lu's handling of matters today has greatly pleased this humble woman. One month from now, if the variety and quantity of your talismans meet expectations… the position of Chief will naturally be decided."

  The implication was already quite clear. Lu Chi cupped his hands. "The Sect Master places great hope in me. I will naturally exert my full effort."

  Liu Qing stood to the side, his expression complex. He cupped his hands and said, "Sister, Brother Lu… this younger brother will take his leave first."

  He turned and departed, his steps somewhat hurried.

  Seeing this, Lu Chi also rose and said, "Sect Master, I shall take my leave as well."

  Qin Suniang nodded. "Go then, Talisman Master Lu. Rest early."

  Lu Chi left Moon?Veil Pavilion and walked along the market district's alleyways.

  The scene in the inner hall just now had stirred a ripple of unease in his heart: Where was Mu Changfeng?

  As the Mistvale Sect's publicly acknowledged highest combat strength, a late?stage Qi Refinement cultivator, he had not appeared during the earlier disturbance.

  If he had been present, he would likely have spotted the trickery of those three long before Lu Chi had a chance to intervene. And that first Spirit?Gathering Talisman had clearly been tampered with by someone inside the pavilion.

  The internal situation of the Mistvale Sect was far more complicated than it appeared on the surface, practically beset by internal strife and external threats.

  Lu Chi shook his head, suppressing the thought.

  He was merely at the third layer of Qi Refinement, a minor talisman master. In a sect like Mistvale, filled with mid?stage Qi Refinement cultivators and overseen by a late?stage expert, his only leverage was his identity as a talisman master.

  It was better not to get involved in internal affairs. As for the Mistvale Sect's mountain gate, he wouldn't consider going there either.

  Returning to his small courtyard, he closed the door behind him. The Warning Talisman remained firmly in place, undisturbed. He then took out the storage pouch Qin Suniang had given him earlier, retrieved the jade slip, and channeled a thread of spiritual power into it with his fingertip.

  The ancient formula for the Foundation Establishment Pill appeared before his eyes: three primary ingredients, seven supplementary ingredients, the refining method complex, the success rate low.

  Lu Chi closed his eyes and silently committed it to memory, word for word, a faint surge of emotion inevitably rising in his heart.

  The Foundation Establishment Pill—something ordinary rogue cultivators could spend their entire lives seeking in vain. Even an ancient formula like this was a tremendous opportunity.

  However, with his lower?grade spiritual root, his cultivation progressed slowly. Reaching the peak of Qi Refinement would likely take decades. In the meantime, he could slowly keep an eye out for the required herbs and tools.

  "From now on, it's just a matter of focusing on drawing talismans and raising my panel level. Slowly accumulate spirit stones, exchange them for spiritual resources, and push my cultivation higher."

  Lu Chi muttered to himself, determined to secure the position of Moon?Veil Pavilion's Chief Talisman Master one month from now.

  If he could secure that position, it would naturally be a good thing. With all talisman materials supplied and a share of the sales profits, spirit stones would flow in steadily. He could then purchase pills and spiritual objects to aid his cultivation progress.

  With this thought, he did not rush to draw talismans. Instead, he took out his last remaining Qi?Nurturing Pill.

  If his calculations were correct, he could make an attempt tonight to break through to the middle stage of Qi Refinement.

  He sat cross?legged. The pill dissolved upon entering his mouth, a warm current seeping into his dantian like a fine spring—gentle at first, then gradually surging.

  Lu Chi calmed his mind and began to circulate energy according to the nameless technique.

  His breath grew long and then short as spiritual energy flowed along his meridians.

  At first, it was like a thin thread pulling, carrying a faint, prickling sensation.

  Then, as the cycle progressed, warmth gradually spread, and his dantian felt like an old well slowly filling with water.

  One cycle, two cycles… until the ninth cycle.

  The thin barrier within his dantian finally loosened under the washing of spiritual energy.

  He remained calm and steady, holding his breath steady as spiritual power accumulated layer by layer, like waves crashing against the shore—each wave stronger than the last.

  Finally, a soft thudechoed only in his sea of consciousness.

  The barrier shattered, and spiritual power poured into his limbs and bones like a bursting dam.

  His meridians widened, his dantian grew denser, and his breath rose another notch.

  Lu Chi opened his eyes.

  All the congestion in his chest had dissipated. As spiritual power circulated, there was no longer the previous sense of sluggishness.

  In the early stages of Qi Refinement, spiritual power was thin and meridians narrow.

  With even a little movement, one felt unsteady.

  After reaching the middle stage, spiritual power condensed, meridians widened, and endurance greatly increased.

  In combat, one could hold out for several more breaths; while meditating, one could draw in a bit more spiritual energy.

  It wasn’t a world?shaking change, but it was a solid step across a threshold.

  He let out a long breath, a faint curve touching the corner of his mouth.

  The path of cultivation was like rowing a boat against the current—without progress, one would fall back.

  Longevity and immortality seemed distant and elusive, yet with each step forward, one drew an inch closer to that vague, far?off shore.

  Today’s small achievement was but a speck of dust, yet it reminded him:

  The Great Dao was long and winding. Only by accumulating small victories could one journey a thousand miles.

  Lu Chi stood and paced around the room for a few steps.

  After circulating spiritual power through one cycle, his dantian felt solid and his meridians wide, yet he vaguely sensed that as the old technique operated, spiritual energy was absorbed slowly.

  Although his magic power had condensed, it lacked sharpness.

  His heart sank slightly.

  The nameless technique he cultivated was crude and simple. It could sustain him in the early stages of Qi Refinement, but after reaching the middle stage, it was like an old boot rubbing his foot—increasingly showing its sluggishness.

  “It’s time to consider changing techniques. I must plan for this early. If I delay until the late stage of Qi Refinement, when my foundation is set, switching techniques might cause hidden dangers and yield half the result for twice the effort.”

  Lu Chi pondered inwardly.

  In the market district, there was no shortage of rogue cultivators and shops selling cultivation techniques.

  Manuals for the Qi Refinement stage could be found everywhere, obtainable for just a few dozen spirit stones.

  But in his heart, he held a glimmer of hope.

  Rather than just scraping by, he wanted a legacy that included the Foundation Establishment method.

  The most straightforward path seemed to be pledging allegiance to one of the three great clans, working as an external talisman master.

  With the status of a mid?grade talisman master, he could likely exchange for a technique that included the Foundation Establishment chapter.

  However… what the three great clans offered were mostly incomplete versions.

  Only after they had squeezed him dry would they hand over the full manual. By then, he would be under their thumb, trapped between advancing and retreating.

  Lu Chi shook his head and suppressed the thought.

  The former sect master of Mistvale Sect was a peak Qi Refinement cultivator.

  The sect’s inheritance likely included a Foundation Establishment method.

  Qin Suniang had treated him well, even gifting him the Foundation Establishment Pill formula.

  If he probed further, there might be an opportunity.

  His mind gradually settled:

  Another day, I’ll find an excuse to test the waters.

  Lu Chi stopped overthinking. He took out talisman paper and spirit ink and spread them on the table.

  After the [Talisman Master]? profession leveled up, experience gain had indeed slowed significantly.

  Previously, drawing a lower?grade talisman would add one point of experience. Now, when he tried again, it didn’t increase at all.

  Only when a mid?grade talisman was completed would it slowly climb by a wisp.

  His heart sank slightly:

  From now on, I must not slack in talisman?crafting. Lower?grade talismans are easy to produce but no longer helpful. Only by steadily advancing to mid?grade can I progress steadily.

  The next day, after a night of drawing talismans, several mid?grade talismans lay piled on Lu Chi’s desk.

  Their spiritual intent was stable, their quality mid?to?upper tier.

  He set down his brush and rubbed his temples.

  He had used [Fiery Will]? several times in a row. Though his soul felt fatigued, his mind had grown clearer.

  The panel quietly appeared:

  [Talisman Master Lv.2 (5/50)]

  Progress was still slow. In a short time, he likely wouldn’t unlock a new talent.

  Just as Lu Chi was massaging his temples, familiar footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door.

  After his breakthrough in cultivation, his perception had sharpened considerably. He immediately recognized the visitor’s identity.

  His heart stirred. He stood up and opened the door to see Zhou Jinyan, drenched in sweat, his clothes stained with mud, yet a look of joy on his face.

  “Brother Zhou?”

  Zhou Jinyan grinned, looking him up and down. His eyes suddenly lit up:

  “Hey! You broke through? The fourth layer of Qi Refinement! Hahaha, perfect timing! Early this morning, the spiritual energy in my field went haywire again. The rice seedlings are wilting, and I was just worrying about finding someone to help.”

  “Don’t worry, I won’t make you work for nothing. I happen to know a few mid?stage Qi Refinement spells I can teach you.”

  Lu Chi was taken aback. The other had made similar requests before, so he wasn’t particularly surprised.

  After a moment’s thought, he realized:

  He had no sect or school behind him, and the spells he knew were few. If he were to face an enemy, he would be at a significant disadvantage.

  Besides, the other wasn’t a stranger—he could go.

  Then a thought suddenly struck him.

  Since the Career Panel was named “Career,” could it be limited to just the Talisman Master path?

  If he personally tended spirit fields, guided earth veins, and performed spirit?farmer spells… would that trigger a new profession?