Chapter 75: Notification

Li Zhen had crafted mid-grade ‘Diamond Talismans’ and ‘Lightening Talismans’, all on first rank inferior talisman paper.

By the standards of another world, he could now be considered a first rank mid-grade talisman maker.

In that other world, becoming a mid-grade talisman maker only required crafting three different mid-grade talismans—this was their minimum standard.

In the Xian Nation, one needed to pass an examination to obtain certification as a mid-grade talisman maker.

Li Zhen couldn’t possibly get certified here; without a powerful background, the more his talent was exposed, the greater the danger he faced.

At midnight, he activated his spatial divine ability, teleporting from his bedroom to the market hut in another world.

It was daytime there now. He emerged from the hut to see Old Cultivator Qian waiting for him.

Today was their scheduled meeting every two days; usually, Old Cultivator Qian arrived early.

Without much conversation, Old Cultivator Qian handed Li Zhen a bag of spirit stones, and Li Zhen gave him a stack of talismans in return.

After months of collaboration, they had become very familiar with each other and established basic trust.

“Old Man Qian, can mid-grade talismans be easily obtained?” Li Zhen asked as Old Cultivator Qian was about to leave.

“Mid-grade talismans? You’ve become a mid-grade talisman maker?” Mr. Qian, the old cultivator, asked incredulously. Realizing his question touched on Li Zhen’s secret, he quickly changed his approach. “I know many cultivators at the market. With my reputation built over the past three months, these mid-grade talismans would be highly sought after, especially if the prices are more favorable than the shops!”

“I can provide you with five mid-grade talismans every two days,” Li Zhen nodded, “and continue supplying the same number of low-grade talismans as before, still at the same appointed time for transactions!”

“Absolutely!” Mr. Qian’s face couldn’t help but break into a smile. He was delighted, of course; in just three months, helping Li Zhen sell talismans had already yielded him more profit than he’d earned in years. And being able to sell mid-grade talismans would only multiply those profits. This might be his chance to change his fate, allowing him, at this ripe age, another shot at the starry heights of this world.

As for how Li Zhen could have suddenly learned to create mid-grade talismans, that wasn’t something he needed to inquire about—the cultivation world was full of such prodigies.

Li Zhen made his way to the spirit field, where he cast the Small Cloud Rain Spell (??) to water the plants and cleared away any spirit pests. He then harvested ten spirit tea leaves from a Grade 1 High-Grade Spirit Tea Tree, which could later be processed into spirit tea.

Having refrained from using this tier of spirit tea in the past three months, his current cultivation level still considered even Grade 1 Mid-Grade spirit tea somewhat beyond his means.

Emerging from the spirit field, he gazed at the outskirts of the marketplace.

He yearned to venture outside, eager to test his combat prowess. However, even after three months, the area beyond the marketplace remained volatile. The reprisals between the Iron Sword Gang and the Zhao Clan showed no signs of abating.

Rumor among the cultivators in the marketplace suggested that without intervention from a powerful faction, this strife would persist for years.

Fortunately, he needed to Wait only about half a year in the marketplace before he could participate in the Ten Directions Valley’s recruitment trials. At that point, he’d be free to leave.

Returning to his log cabin, he rested within the small Inverted Five Elements Array for several hours, sensing the bottleneck weakening further.

Checking his dragon heart space, he noted that his spirit stone reserves had dwindled significantly. Only twenty-three remained. Thankfully, he could craft mid-grade talismans using inferior-quality materials, buying him some time before the spirit stone issue became pressing.

While Old Mr. Qian continued to sell his talismans, the volume was limited. He dared not entrust too many talismans to Old Mr. Qian, knowing human nature couldn’t withstand the test of great temptation.

Unbeknownst to him, his steady supply of forty inferior-grade talismans every two days, modest as it seemed, gradually caught the attention of those with keen interests over time.

Precisely because he provided talismans at low prices, and of top quality among inferior-grade talismans, Old Immortal Qian’s offerings significantly encouraged many early-stage Qi Refining cultivators to venture out of the marketplaces. They began actively hunting monsters and gathering spirit medicines.

The talismans possessed by these early-stage cultivators all originated from Old Immortal Qian. If a thorough investigation were to be carried out, it would be exceedingly difficult to conceal this fact.

Unaware of these implications, Li Zhen returned to his home in the Immortal Country immediately after completing his cultivation practice.

Traveling between two worlds had reduced his need for sleep to a bare minimum. However, cultivators generally required less rest, and as a Body Tempering disciple, Li Zhen needed only a brief nap each day to feel refreshed.

After a full day of classes, including two afternoon sessions, Li Zhen headed to their usual training ground as per routine.

Shi Xuan and Wang Rushi had already arrived, making Li Zhen the third to reach the spot.

“Li-Junior!” Wang Rushi greeted him first. Shi Xuan also treated Li Zhen with great respect, showing no signs of treating him like a freshman.

Three months of training had impressed upon them the true strength of Li Zhen. Facing him alone, they found themselves on the losing end nine times out of ten, despite being at the fifth level of Qi Refining. Their occasional victory could only be attributed to Li Zhen holding back, unable to fully unleash his combat prowess.

“Senior!” Li Zhen responded with a smile.

“Before the annual school challenge, we’re scheduled to visit Tianchang City first,” Wang Rushi said softly. “I heard the school plans to send us through the Tianchang Passage into the Monster Realm for some training!”

“Is it confirmed? We’re really going to the Monster Realm?” Shi Xuan asked, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

Despite the dangers of the Monster Realm, aspiring cultivators in the Immortal Nation harbored high expectations of it. Resources were scarce in the Immortal Nation, and the only way to acquire more was by venturing into the Monster Realm. Additionally, the Monster Realm boasted a wealth of monster resources. To human cultivators, every part of a monster was valuable; slaying a single monster could yield more rewards than struggling for months in the Immortal Nation.

Although Shi Xuan had already reached the fifth level of Qi Refinement, he was still a student. Previous opportunities to enter the Monster Realm had thus far eluded him. For gifted students like him, schools maintained strict oversight to prevent any mishaps in the treacherous realm.

The fact that they were now being allowed entry must have had a compelling reason.

“We leave tomorrow, and I’m sure the school will announce it today!” Wang Rushi declared with conviction.

As if on cue, Fang Congzhi arrived, followed by Mr. Zuo, Mr. Du, and Ms. Wu from the senior class.

“Ms. Wu!”

“Mr. Du!”

“Mr. Zuo!”

The students greeted their respective academic advisors before addressing the other teachers.

Mr. Zuo solemnly announced, “The school has informed us that students participating in the college challenge will depart for Tianchang City at 9 AM tomorrow. We’re fortunate to have invited a Foundation Establishment alumnus who will lead you through the Tianchang Channel’s trials. This is a rare opportunity—make sure to seize it!”

Everyone was taken aback; even Wang Rushi hadn’t known a Foundation Establishment senior would be accompanying them.

“We’ll definitely give our best!” Wang Rushi declared, clenching her fist.

“Today’s your last training session here. Me, Mr. Du, and Mr. Wu will face you—you’ll be split two to one—with a formal match on the arena stage!” Mr. Zuo continued.

“I was hoping for your guidance!” Wang Rushi glanced at Li Zhen and Shi Xuan, receiving their nods of agreement before smiling and accepting.

Outside the arena, Fang Congzhi gazed at those within, envy flickering in his eyes.

At the forefront of the arena stage, Li Zhen stood with the Xingrui D13 longsword in hand, serving as the vanguard of their formation. Behind and slightly to his left was Wang Rushi, and behind and slightly to his right was Shi Xuan.

“Battle commenced!” the arena’s intelligent system announced.

Shi Xuan and Wang Rushi simultaneously propelled their flying swords towards Mr. Zuo.

Li Zhen also charged at Mr. Zuo, completely disregarding the dozen-meter distance between them.

This was a combat formation they had practiced, concentrating all their firepower to eliminate one opponent first.

The main strategy here was to catch the enemy off guard. Li Zhen’s formidable swordsmanship could face few equals when close to his target, while Shi Xuan and Wang Rushi’s flying swords were to create conditions for Li Zhen’s approach.

The teachers adopted a combat approach nearly identical to Li Zhen’s team.

In truth, if the teachers fought with full intensity, Li Zhen’s trio stood no chance. The teachers might not have been geniuses, but they had risen from the ranks of elite students.

Their combat experience alone far surpassed that of Li Zhen and his friends.

Moreover, the teachers were highly proficient not only in close-quarters swordsmanship and long-range flying swords but also in magic, which was essential to becoming the school’s combat fundamentals instructors.

Mr. Du and Mr. Wu’s flying swords engaged with Shi Xuan and Wang Rushi’s, while Mr. Zuo and Li Zhen drew closer to each other.