In the courtyard.
"The art of talisman making is easy to learn but difficult to master. Although your spirit roots are poor, the Hundred Skills of Cultivation emphasize enlightenment."
In the sunny courtyard, four Zhou family youths with inferior spirit roots sat before the table, determinedly picking up their brushes to paint talismans.
Especially after Lin Chang'an mentioned that talisman painting relies on perception, he was practically encouraging them.
Their spirit roots were already determined, but the art of painting talismans was just beginning.
"Yet this word 'enlightenment' has stumped countless cultivators. Some achieve sudden enlightenment at first contact, while others painstakingly study for decades and eventually experience a breakthrough, leading to unstoppable progress. Such examples are countless in the Immortal Cultivation Realm."
Lin Chang'an, draped in a blue robe, taught the four Zhou family apprentices meticulously, like a knowledgeable teacher.
After all, receiving benefits from the Zhou family, he naturally had to teach wholeheartedly, unlike others who might hold back.
He truly worked for the payment received.
For in the art of talismans, he relied on his talent, which was unlearnable by others.
"Breadth does not rival depth, this Golden Light Talisman..."
Lin Chang'an generously imparted all his knowledge, even earnestly pointing out each individual's mistakes.
Until the sun was high in the sky, two hours later, the foursome of early-stage Qi Refining Zhou family youths finally stopped, having depleted more than half of their mental energy and mana.
"Master Lin, your lecture was excellent. We've heard from Master Huang too, but yours is much more detailed."
The four joyfully stepped forward to compliment him, sincerely from the heart.
Being of inferior spirit roots made them more mature than peers their age, so they naturally discerned who taught carefully and who did perfunctory work.
Faced with their flattering compliments, Lin Chang'an accepted them with tranquility, smilingly advising:
"Don't flatter me. I'm taking your Zhou family's spirit stones and resources, so I must teach seriously, or else I'd get kicked out by your Zhou family."
The four smiled. Two months of interaction transformed their initial apprehension into familiarity. They adjusted to this easygoing Master Lin.
"The market has gotten lively lately, waves of loose cultivators are arriving, and it's said the market is preparing to expand outward."
"Many loose cultivators have had good fortune recently. Heard some bought Black Wind Wolf cubs."
"But folks say it's likely spirit beasts trained by our Zhou family."
As the conversation drifted to Lin Chang'an's ears, he pondered quietly.
"This market is getting busier. Although pioneering represents some disorder, it's also a great opportunity."
Seizing the chance, he could secretly sell talismans, earning some cultivation resources.
"Maybe selling a few Tier One Middle Grade Vajra Talismans is possible, given the lively market where Tier One Middle Grade talismans aren't rare."
While Lin Chang'an mulled over this, Erniu's voice echoed from outside the courtyard.
"Brother Lin, look at what I've brought for you."
Li Erniu entered with a smile, carrying two bottles of spirit wine, causing Lin Chang'an to chuckle.
"Erniu, this spirit wine isn't cheap."
"Brother Lin, you've misunderstood. It's a family reward; every mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator in the family gets a bottle of top-grade spirit wine."
Upon hearing it was top-grade spirit wine, Lin Chang'an smiled, recognizing the perks of joining a major family: not only backing but also rewards during festivals and joyous occasions.
"This top-grade spirit wine isn't cheap, costing at least one spirit stone. Does the family have any celebration?"
"The patriarch bought two cubs of Tier Two bloodline Black Wind Wolves, which will grow into Foundation Establishment realm spirit beasts if raised well."
The biggest advantage of Black Wind Wolves as demon beasts is their short breeding period, unlike Zhou family's current clan guardian spirit beast, the Profound Water Turtle, which took nearly two hundred years to mature.
Generations have come and gone.
"Two Tier Two bloodline demon beasts; it's indeed a joyous occasion."
Accepting the spirit wine with a smile, Lin Chang'an suddenly froze as a flash of spiritual insight crossed his mind, causing his smile to stiffen.
Old He, Black Wind Wolf cubs, Zhou family acquiring two Tier Two demon beast cubs — individually, they seem fine, but together, they feel strangely unsettling.
Suppressing his doubts, Lin Chang'an casually inquired:
"Erniu, I heard there are lots of Black Wind Wolf cubs being auctioned at the market recently?"
Li Erniu replied innocently, smiling and nodding in agreement.
"Yes, even the black market seems involved. Many late-stage Qi Refining cultivators have bought them, and I'm suspicious if the family is capitalizing on this occasion to sell spirit beasts."
At this point, Li Erniu appeared eager and wistful, saying:
"If one day I could reach late-stage Qi Refining, I'd buy a spirit beast cub for my rascal son at home."
Observing Li Erniu's expression, Lin Chang'an felt he grasped something, furrowing his brow.
"Erniu, you just mentioned that the Zhou family is selling spirit beasts outside?"
Li Erniu proudly nodded, smiling.
"Though the family hasn't confirmed it, who in Cyan Bamboo Mountain Workshop doesn't know of Zhou family's renowned beast taming?"
Seeing Li Erniu, Lin Chang'an's smile grew increasingly stiff. Even Zhou family's own people believed, intensifying his inner unease.
Having joined Zhou family recently, relief from securing a backing was quickly overshadowed by suspicion of becoming engulfed in a conspiracy whirlwind.
...
Zhou family.
"Father, did you say many Black Wind Wolf cubs are being sold at the market recently?"
Patriarch Zhou Renmao, having recently secured two Tier Two demon beast cubs from auction, saw his joy replaced with gravity.
"Indeed, just after you requisitioned spirit stones from the family and acquired these two spirit beasts outside, this kind of event unfolded at the market."
The Zhou family's Foundation Establishment Ancestor, his face conveying solemnity beneath hair and beard turned white.
"Wang family!"
As father and son reviewed their accounts, exchanging glances, they gravely named the mastermind.
"Damn it, that Wang family truly lingers like a specter."
Though angry, Zhou Renmao, as the Zhou family patriarch, calmed down to formulate countermeasures.
"Cultivating spirit beasts requires time, and even more so for Tier Two ones. Opening wildlands soon, Wang family intentionally aims to exhaust our family's essence, much like fifteen years ago.
Using wilderness development to deplete Zhou family, even turning these Tier Two spirit beasts into a final straw crippling us."
He gritted his teeth further: "That Wang family is still so insidious."
Tier Two spirit beast cubs are quite costly; however, should Zhou family miss the optimal breeding time and fall into a quagmire, these spirit beasts would be wasted.
"Let's stabilize for now. Regardless, owning two Tier Two spirit beast cubs remains beneficial for the family. We should amplify our presence, and meanwhile, recruit more people from outside loose cultivators."
The Zhou family's Foundation Establishment Ancestor contemplated, aware that their current position left them in passive defense due to unequal family strength.
Zhou family had two Foundation Establishment cultivators, yet his remaining lifespan was a mere thirty years, and even counting the clan guardian spirit beast, only constituted three Foundation Establishment entities.
In contrast, Wang family boasted five Foundation Establishment members, with the eldest two still having fifty to sixty years of life ahead, while the other three were in their prime.
All they could do was defend against incoming challenges.