Ding Yijin and the old servant in blue entered the house, seeing Zhao Chunsheng and his wife.
"Who are these two?"
"My friend Zhao Chunsheng, and his wife Jiang Xueqi."
Ding Yijin nodded.
"Shen Talisman Master's friend is my friend as well. Is Daoist Zhao poisoned by a snake?"
Zhao Chunsheng said, looking ashamed, "I'm embarrassed to say, during the land development, I got poisoned by some Tier Two snake demon mist. However, I've recovered quite a bit and it will be cleansed soon."
Ding Yijin beckoned, whispered a few words to the old servant in blue.
The old servant in blue glanced at Zhao Chunsheng, said nothing more, took out a porcelain bottle from the storage pouch, and handed it to Zhao Chunsheng.
"This is a Middle Grade Detoxification Pill, Daoist Zhao might as well try it." Ding Yijin said nonchalantly.
Zhao Chunsheng quickly accepted it.
"Thank you, Young Master Ding, I'd be embarrassed to refuse!"
Ding Yijin, upon entering the room, immediately took out a Middle Grade Detoxification Pill worth twenty spirit stones and gave it to Zhao Chunsheng. What is he planning?
It doesn't seem like he's here to verify his talisman-making skills.
Rather, it seems like he's deliberately trying to make connections.
Shen Xuan speculated in his mind.
"Young Master Ding is here for Shen Talisman Master, my wife and I will take our leave first. Shen Talisman Master, I'll come find you in a few days." Zhao Chunsheng said apologetically.
Having received the benefit, staying any longer would be ingratitude.
"Go on and cleanse the poison properly!" Shen Xuan said irritably.
After Zhao Chunsheng and his wife left, Ding Yijin sat down.
"Where is Yuyao?"
"She's working in the kitchen, I'll have her come see you."
Upon hearing the main heir of the Ding family was visiting, Ding Yuyao quickly freshened up and entered the guest room.
"Yuyao, my dear sister, when you got married, I was away. This soft whip is my wedding gift to you."
The old servant in blue stepped forward and presented a brocade box.
Ding Yuyao glanced at Shen Xuan.
Shen Xuan nodded slightly.
Ding Yuyao received the brocade box from the old servant in blue with both hands.
Inside was a pitch-black soft whip, coiled together, three zhang long.
"The main material is made from barbarian bull leather, mixed with some snow bull tendons, exceedingly tough, more than enough to handle early stage Qi Cultivators." The old servant in blue explained on the side.
Shen Xuan couldn't help but be moved.
This soft whip, its quality was very near that of a lower grade magical artifact.
And it was very suitable for Ding Yuyao to use.
It was clear that Ding Yijin had prepared thoughtfully.
However, the soft whip...
This thing, for some reason, made Shen Xuan think of some fun games.
Ding Yuyao held the whip handle, swung it a few times, and a "crack" sound filled the air, looking valiant and spirited.
"Thank you, Young Master Ding!" Ding Yuyao happily put away the soft whip.
Then, she quietly left at Shen Xuan's suggestion.
"Young Master Ding, it's rare for you to come to my humble abode. Is there anything you need me to help with?"
Living in the Cyan Dragon Bay Market, unless absolutely necessary, Shen Xuan didn't want to offend the Ding family.
He thought Young Master Ding specifically sought him out only to request more of the premium "Rejuvenation Talismans".
Seeing Ding Yuyao's sentiment, he would increase the supply a bit.
Unexpectedly, Ding Yijin smiled.
"Shen Talisman Master, don't overthink. I've long heard of your reputation but never had the chance. Today I happen to be free, so I came to visit you."
Shen Xuan didn't believe him!
No one enters the temple without reason.
Someone like Ding Yijin, a Foundation Establishment seed of the Ding family, accompanied by a late stage Qi Cultivation servant, delivered a whip near the quality of a magical artifact, and a Middle Grade Detoxification Pill without batting an eye.
If he had no purpose, does he think the Ding family runs a charitable hall?
Outside the market, in slum areas, countless destitute loose cultivators can't even afford the rent for a dwelling, let alone feast on spirit rice.
Every year, some of the old and frail die of cold during severe winters.
Yet, there's no sign of the Ding family waiving rental fees or distributing spirit rice.
"Shen Talisman Master's residence is indeed a bit humble."
"Uncle Ren, I recall there are several second-class mansions in the market. Select one for Shen Talisman Master to live in. As for the rent, seventy-two spirit stones a year should suffice."
Second-class mansions, located in the inner city of the Cyan Dragon Bay Market, are for late stage Qi Cultivators to reside.
Not only is the security good, but the spiritual qi is also denser. The practice rooms are top-tier venues.
The annual rent is at least over a hundred spirit stones.
With just a light sentence from Ding Yijin, thirty percent of the rent was waived.
Shen Xuan was somewhat tempted.
After all, the current dwelling, with its thin spiritual qi, was too small and restrictive, unsuitable for his cultivation.
"Thank you, Young Master Ding!" Shen Xuan decisively accepted Ding Yijin's goodwill.
Regardless of what plans the Ding family had for him, he would take the bait first.
Ding Yijin exchanged a few pleasantries.
When bidding farewell, he seemingly casually asked, "Is Shen Talisman Master acquainted with Immortal Qin from the Cyan Cloud Sect?"
Shen Xuan suddenly realized.
It had been over three months since the Dragon Gate Market gathering, and Qin Yuehan's connections were finally showing their effects.
"Back in the secular world during our studies, I was a classmate with Immortal Qin for three years." Shen Xuan said softly.
"Oh! I heard you had a gathering not long ago." Ding Yijin's smile grew.
"The teacher passed away, and us old classmates sent him off together. Besides Immortal Qin, Inner Sect Disciple Lv Zhengying also attended."
Shen Xuan suspected that the news was deliberately spread by Lv Zhengying.
Among the crowd, Lv Zhengying was the most eager, hoping fervently for Qin Yuehan's assistance.
Ding Yijin nodded after hearing this.
These details, he was already aware of.
Otherwise, why would he be so generous with his offerings?
Does he think the Ding family's spirit stones are just blown here by the wind?
It's a pity this wasn't known earlier, hence only marrying a mortal woman to Shen Xuan.
It's heard that Shen Xuan has succeeded in talisman making and refuses to seek a Dao companion again.
"If Shen Talisman Master needs anything, feel free to come to me. If I am unavailable, Uncle Ren can relay your message."
Understanding his intentions, Shen Xuan instead felt relieved.
"I want to check out the second-class mansion, move early if it's suitable. This place is quite humbling."
Not taking advantage is foolishness.
Ding Yijin laughed, "You can just find Uncle Ren for that matter."
Uncle Ren left behind a few communication talismans.
Shen Xuan's willingness to accept the Ding family's favor marked a good start.
Even just being a Middle Grade Talisman Master was worth the Ding family's effort to win him over.
Moreover, there was the connection to the Cyan Cloud Sect's female Foundation Establishment Elder.
Perhaps, when the time was ripe, Shen Xuan could invite Immortal Qin to Cyan Dragon Bay.
Her mere appearance could add leverage to the Ding family.
Shen Xuan courteously saw off Ding Yijin and Uncle Ren.
He returned home and sat in contemplation for a while.
"With the second-class mansion, saving over thirty spirit stones annually, I can't miss this!"
Currently, Shen Xuan's production of "Rejuvenation Talismans" yields seventy to eighty spirit stones monthly.
Although it seems abundant, it's three times the income of late stage Qi Cultivation's salary.
His expenses are also substantial.
He spends up to thirty spirit stones a month on the Spirit Gathering Array.
Buying water attribute demon beasts is also costly.
In recent months, seizing the iron-backed crab's talent left him with a deficit of over twenty spirit stones a month.
The storage pouch held only eighty or so spirit stones left.
"I'll go check it out tomorrow. If it's suitable, I should move."
"I've heard that the second-class mansions are detached, with two practice rooms. If Zhao Chunsheng and his wife share the rent, that would be even better."
Shen Xuan instinctively thought of pulling Zhao Chunsheng in to take the front.
He, being a late stage Qi Cultivator, renting a second-class mansion would be perfectly reasonable.
Thinking is doing.
On the second day, Shen Xuan took Ding Yuyao to visit Zhao Chunsheng's home.
"A second-class mansion? Only seventy-two spirit stones!"
Zhao Chunsheng hesitated.
The price was definitely cheap, but he had no budget for it.
Shen Xuan said lightly, "Daoist Zhao, what I mean is for both families to co-rent, each bearing half the rent."
"Ah!"
Zhao Chunsheng was taken aback.
Such a good deal actually exists!