Li Jizhou was momentarily startled, then suddenly realized.
No family, no ties, how could they possibly take him away?
Moreover, if he were truly to be taken there, he couldn't afford the living expenses in the Immortal City now.
He couldn't help but laugh at himself, blaming his eagerness to leave this chaotic place, which made him seem naive instead.
"Jizhou, the Yang family of Qingshui River has been established for nearly three hundred years. The family members are gentle and conservative, with a solid foundation. They make a good match. Coincidentally, now that Caiwei has joined the Golden Sun Sect, they will give me some face. Why don't I help you make a connection?" Lin Chaobei continued.
"Uncle Lin, you have a kind heart, and Jizhou appreciates it deeply." Li Jizhou smiled in gratitude.
"Aye, there's no need for that. This is also the heartfelt intention of Caiwei, after all, she has always seen you as a brother."
"Please thank Sister Caiwei for me." Li Jizhou instantly understood.
"However, I appreciate your kindness, but let's leave it at that."
"Why? You don't fancy the Yang family? Jizhou, don't be too hasty to decline. I've already spoken with the Second Elder of the Yang family in advance. If you join the Yang family, they'll at least let you choose among the direct line girls with Spirit Roots, and...as I understand it, the current Patriarch's daughter is a peerless beauty, a well-bred young lady, not inferior even when compared to Caiwei, you..." Lin Chaobei suddenly became a bit anxious.
Li Jizhou wanted to laugh, waving his hand and said, "Uncle Lin misunderstood me, it's not that I don't fancy the Yang family, rather, I'm currently focused on my cultivation and unwilling to be distracted by romantic entanglements."
"This..." Lin Chaobei was momentarily at a loss for words.
"Ah, Old Lin, so you're here! What are you talking about with Jizhou?" At this moment, Zhang Caifeng pushed the door open and entered.
"Aunt Zhang." Li Jizhou stood up.
"Nothing much, I was thinking since we're going to the Golden Crow Immortal City, I wanted to help Jizhou make a connection, but it turns out this child, he doesn't want romantic concerns, haha, maybe you can persuade him." Lin Chaobei seemed to grab onto a lifeline, his expression relaxed as he looked at Zhang Caifeng.
"Alright, you go greet the guests first, I'll have a chat with Jizhou." Zhang Caifeng replaced Lin Chaobei.
"Jizhou, have a seat."
After a series of well-intentioned speeches, seeing Li Jizhou remain indifferent throughout.
Zhang Caifeng appeared slightly hesitant, ultimately sighing as she revealed her own scars.
"Jizhou, are you aware of the situation with Uncle Lin and me?"
"Aunt Zhang and Uncle Lin are a loving couple, a model for the rest of us!" Li Jizhou flattered.
"Ah, to tell you the truth, your Uncle Lin has been held back by me his entire life; otherwise, his prospects would have been limitless.
Your Uncle Lin back then..."
Past events were recounted one by one.
"Therefore, Jizhou, you must understand. In our cultivation path, how important it is to find a cultivation partner?"
"A cultivation partner is meant to accompany on the path, mutually accomplishing and supporting each other. If the person's talent, character, realm, and prospects differ too significantly, they're a burden, not aiding the path, instead causing endless harm."
"So...Jizhou, you should seek a suitable cultivation partner, and as for Caiwei in my family..."
Seeing Zhang Caifeng finally broach the core topic of the day, Li Jizhou gently smiled, humbly saying, "Aunt Zhang, have you misunderstood? I've always regarded Caiwei as a sister, absolutely no ulterior motives, and since Caiwei and I are on divergent paths in the Immortal Dao, I have no thoughts in that regard, please rest completely assured!"
He had already realized that Lin Chaobei and his wife had arranged today's meeting specifically to resolve the karma between him and Lin Caiwei.
After all, back then, Li Jizhou, known for his strong soul, was seen as the most likely to be accepted by the Golden Sun Sect, and Zhang Caifeng had often tried to matchmake between Caiwei and him.
In this light, Lin Chaobei ultimately regretted it.
"Do you really think this way?" Zhang Caifeng couldn't quite believe it.
"Absolutely true!" Li Jizhou solemnly affirmed once again.
"Good, good, Jizhou, you are indeed extraordinary, a child who can assess the situation, do you have any requests, feel free to let us know, if we can fulfill it, we shall." Delighted, Zhang Caifeng said.
"So, how did your talk with Jizhou go?" Lin Chaobei opened the door just at the right moment.
"I knew Jizhou was a sensible and considerate child, just as expected. Quickly, since he gave us so many good things today, we must reciprocate." Zhang Caifeng happily announced.
Hearing this, Lin Chaobei beamed with joy, immediately withdrew three spirit stones the size of quail eggs from his storage pouch and handed them to Li Jizhou.
"Jizhou, take these, as a token of our appreciation."
Li Jizhou did not refuse: "Thank you, Uncle Lin, I consider it a loan and will repay a hundredfold in the future!"
"Oh, don't be so formal, don't be so formal, if you have any other needs, feel free to let us know." Zhang Caifeng continued to ask.
Li Jizhou immediately stood up, respectfully bowed to Lin Chaobei: "My uncle, I wish to study talisman techniques, could you please fulfill this request?"
Although Xu Mei's storage pouch contained a jade talisman, which should be a talisman technique or something similar, Li Jizhou was unwilling to touch what she provided unless absolutely necessary.
In the cultivation world, people's minds are unpredictable, and methods emerge endlessly. Xu Mei's identity is mysterious, and Li Jizhou is reluctant to be further involved with her karma.
"You wish to learn talisman techniques? The Yang family primarily deals with spirit fish and water products, possessing ancestral crafts. Why learn talisman techniques?" Lin Chaobei asked in surprise.
"Uncle Lin, you misunderstood. I will not go to the Yang family, I need to learn talisman techniques to stand on my own!" Li Jizhou calmly said, then slightly released his magical power in the dantian.
"Not going to the Yang family, you...hiss, Eternal Spring Magical Power? Why have you chosen to cultivate the 'Evergreen Skill'? You...you are making a mistake!" Lin Chaobei, who primarily cultivated a middle-grade metal attribute cultivation technique and supplemented with the 'Evergreen Skill' for drawing talismans, detected and immediately identified what cultivation technique Li Jizhou practiced.
"You cultivated 'Evergreen Skill'!" Zhang Caifeng was equally shocked.
Lin Chaobei and his wife exchanged a glance, understanding why Li Jizhou had been insisting he wouldn't go to the Yang family.
Now that Li Jizhou principally cultivated 'Evergreen Skill,' with his talents, building a foundation would be challenging, essentially severing his immortal path. Switching to another technique would necessitate a Disperse Pill, and dispersing magical power before foundation establishment could severely harm the Spirit Root.
No matter how you look at it, Li Jizhou no longer holds investment value.
"Oh, you!"
"You wish to learn talisman techniques, and I will certainly teach you, but, the talisman arts at beginner level are worthless,
additionally, with your main cultivation in 'Evergreen Skill,' progress in cultivation is slow, and the same goes for the divine soul,
yet the advancement of talisman arts demands a high divine soul, considering your situation, likely difficult to progress in talisman arts,
thus, even if I teach you talisman techniques, it would hardly sustain you.
Moreover, we are leaving here tomorrow, there's no time to condense jade slips, I'm afraid it's hard to fulfill this request!" Lin Chaobei sighed, shaking his head.
Li Jizhou also sighed, knowing that the immortal path is often heartless, with the warmth and coldness of human relationships, this is just the way it is.
However, he was not particularly disappointed; after all, there wasn't much expectation, it was just a slight attempt.
"Oh well, let's go out and start the dinner!" Lin Chaobei felt there was no need to say more, inviting Li Jizhou out the door.
"Jizhou, those three spirit stones are a token of our two families' longstanding friendship, there's no need to think about repaying them. The mountains and rivers may keep us apart, it is uncertain if we will meet again; I only wish you a lifetime of peace, with fewer hardships." Zhang Caifeng contemplated, summarizing the karma of both families.
Li Jizhou understood her meaning and immediately cupped his hands in respect: "The seniors' kindness is remembered in my heart, if paths cross again in the immortal journey, a greeting of 'Daoist friend' will be enough to satisfy!"
"In that case, very well!"
That night, after a hearty meal and acquiring three spirit stones for free, Li Jizhou peacefully returned to his room.
At this point, he could only take out the jade talisman from the storage pouch.
Indeed, it was a Tier One talisman inheritance.