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Chapter 26: Recruitment
Chapter 26: Recruitment
Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Recruitment
Lu An arrived at the market and saw two figures in the spot that had been empty for a long time. They were the Chang couple, who had just emerged from seclusion.
He was delighted and went up to greet them, sensing the change in their aura. The True Qi they emitted was incredibly profound and deep, far beyond what a Qi Refinement cultivator could achieve.
"Brother Ying, Sister Fang, have both of you advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage?"
The Chang couple greeted Lu An in return and cupped their fists in respect. "It is all thanks to you, brother. If it weren't for the middle-grade Clear Mind Talisman you gave us, my wife might have failed her breakthrough."
After speaking, Fang Ling also bowed to Lu An and recounted their breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment stage.
It turned out that Ying Chang had been fighting demonic beasts daily, building a solid foundation. With the help of the Foundation Establishment Pill, his breakthrough was smooth and faced few obstacles.
Fang Ling's situation was different. Her foundation was weaker, leading to many issues during her breakthrough. Fortunately, with the Foundation Establishment Pill, many problems were resolved. However, due to over-reliance, her Dao Heart became unstable at the critical moment, and the middle-grade Clear Mind Talisman played a significant role.
She quickly stabilized her mind and forcefully broke through, finally entering the Foundation Establishment stage.
Lu An was deeply moved. Even with the Foundation Establishment Pill and Clear Mind Talisman, the Chang couple faced difficulties entering the Foundation Establishment stage after accumulating for a long time. It showed how challenging the Foundation Establishment was.
With his current strength and lack of experience in true life-and-death battles, he might fare even worse than Fang Ling when the time came.
"I must go out and train, solidify my foundation, and prepare for Foundation Establishment."
He pondered for a moment and then asked, "Brother Ying, what is the current state of the demonic beasts outside? If I want to go out and train, where would be a suitable place?"
Ying Chang was somewhat surprised. Given Lu An's talent in talisman making, why would he need to venture out on an adventure? However, he still answered, "The demonic beasts outside are becoming increasingly rampant. There is no absolutely safe place outside of Gushan County nowadays."
"With your strength at the fourth level of Qi Refinement, I would suggest you go to Mangdang Mountain in the west. It is only about thirty miles away from here. The demonic beasts there are not very high in level, with the highest being at the late stage of Qi Refinement. As long as you are careful and avoid them, it should be manageable."
Lu An nodded. It seemed Mangdang Mountain was indeed a good place to go. He had already made up his mind to finish his current tasks and then head to Mangdang Mountain.
"Brother Ying, now that you and Sister Fang have reached the Foundation Establishment stage, you are considered major cultivators in Gushan County. What are your future plans?"
In Gushan County, there was only one Nascent Soul cultivator as the county protector, and besides that, the Foundation Establishment stage was the pinnacle. If a loose cultivator reached the Foundation Establishment stage, various families and even the county protector would extend olive branches to them.
Since the two of them had just broken through and the news had not spread yet, they would likely receive invitations in due course. The small stalls in the market were no longer suitable for their status.
Ying Chang and Fang Ling exchanged glances, pondered for a moment, and then spoke, "We haven't decided yet, but one thing we can be sure of is that we will not join the local immortal cultivation families."
Lu An was somewhat surprised. Joining a clan as a named steward came with monthly offerings and would elevate their status. Why refuse?
He voiced his doubts, but Ying Chang shook his head with a wry smile. "Sister Fang's identity is somewhat special. If we join a clan, it would greatly increase the risk of exposure. At that point, even the small clans of Gushan County wouldn't be able to protect us."
Hearing this, Lu An was moved. When Fang Ling had traded the Qi Gathering Talisman with him, he had suspected she was from the Fang family of Yongning County. Now he was even more certain. If they were indeed from the Fang family, the families in Gushan County would indeed be unable to protect them.
The Fang family was a major talisman-making family, one of the top families in Yongning County. They had two Nascent Soul ancestors in their clan, and if they came here, even the county protector of Gushan County would have to treat them with respect.
Lu An pondered for a moment and said to them, "I do have a place in mind, though it might be somewhat underutilized. Are you interested?"
"Oh? Where is it?"
Lu An smiled slightly and said, "It's my small talisman shop. With its current income, it should be able to provide for you."
"Sister Fang can stay in the shop to prevent any troublemakers, while Brother Ying can help me find some materials for talismans and guide my cultivation. What do you think?"
Ying Chang and Fang Ling looked at each other and both started to smile.
"Brother Lu, it's not that I'm saying this, but you have two Foundation Establishment cultivators guarding such a small stall?"
"It's not that we are unwilling, but we feel that the spirit stones you're spending are somewhat wasted."
Lu An shook his head and pointed to the store across the street. "I'm no longer at that stall. Look over here."
They followed his finger and saw a newly opened talisman shop across the street. The sign at the entrance read "Lingfu Residence." They had noticed this shop earlier in the morning and even discussed how it had taken away Lu An's business, but they hadn't expected it to be Lu An's own shop.
"Brother Lu, is this shop really yours?"
Lu An smiled slightly and said, "Of course. Do you think I would lie to you?"
Ying Chang and Fang Ling looked at each other in disbelief. It had only been a little over a month since their seclusion, and Lu An had expanded his business so much?
"Let's go. I'll take you inside so you can decide."
He then led them into Lingfu Residence. Even though it was still morning, there were quite a few customers inside. Bai Sheng was beside the customers, introducing the talismans.
Seeing Lu An arrive, Bai Sheng was about to greet him, but Lu An waved his hand, signaling him to continue with his work.
When Ying Chang saw the various talismans on display, he was stunned. "Brother Lu, did you draw all these?"
Although most of these talismans were low-grade first-tier, the variety was extensive. Counting the several display stands, there were more than twenty kinds, which might even rival the Divine Talisman Pavilion.
Lu An nodded, feeling quite proud. "These aren't even all of them. In a few days, there will be even more."
Ying Chang was astonished. Indeed, it was a matter of days; Lu An had become a top talent in talisman making.
"Brother Lu, you truly are a prodigy in talisman making."
He sighed inwardly and looked at Fang Ling, only to find her frowning and looking a bit serious.
"What's wrong?"
He transmitted a message, asking, "Brother Ying, all the talismans sold by Lu An are recorded in our Fang family's True Method of One Hundred and Eight Talismans. Could it be such a coincidence?"
Ying Chang's face changed dramatically upon hearing this. "Is this really the case? Could it be that Lu An is from the Fang family?"
Fang Ling shook her head. "It's impossible. I've lived in the Fang family for many years and have never heard of such a person. Moreover, if they wanted to capture us, why would they send a cultivator at the mid-stage of Qi Refinement?"
"If he were really from the Fang family, there would be no need to reveal the talismans in front of us."
Ying Chang found this reasoning plausible, but after much thought, he had no clues.
"Never mind. I believe Brother Lu has no connection with the Fang family. Since we have this doubt, let's just ask him directly."
With this thought, he turned to Lu An, who was leading them, and asked, "Brother Lu, may I ask where you obtained the True Method of these talismans?"