Living steadily in the world of gods and mystery

His mouth moved rapidly, the incantation for Palm Thunder almost forming a continuous stream.

’Bai Jinwang’ had not run thirty meters.

When a dazzling bolt of lightning struck, illuminating the entire street.

It could dodge the talisman, but not the near-light-speed strike of lightning.

Aimed and hit.

"Crack!"

"Roar!"

Bai Jinwang let out a wretched howl, collapsing to the ground with bursts of electric light flashing all over his body.

"Heh, that’s all there is to it!"

Seeing this, Chen Li felt the shadow of the evil wraith in his heart disperse greatly, and he jumped down from the top of the wall.

Bai Jinwang’s fierce growls and the dancing shadows on his body struggled to stand back up.

However, another Palm Thunder strike put ’Bai Jinwang’ back to the ground.

His body emitted billows of green smoke, twitching non-stop, and the air filled with an indescribable foul stench that made one feel nauseated.

The paralyzing effect of the lightning was still effective on him.

The power to break evil and extinguish malevolence within it caused him intense pain.

"Crack!"

Another Palm Thunder strike.

The evil wraith was indeed strong.

Master-level Palm Thunder was comparable to a first-degree, sixth-level spell.

A Qi Cultivation practitioner with no protection would have died instantly upon receiving one strike, but this evil wraith had taken three hits and was still struggling violently as if it had hardly any injuries.

But Chen Li didn’t plan to drag this out any longer.

With such a commotion, it wouldn’t take long for someone to come over.

He took out an Evil-Breaking Talisman.

Instantly struck it out.

This time, it finally hit ’Bai Jinwang’s body solidly.

"Crack!"

The power of breaking evil erupted.

"Ah!"

’Bai Jinwang’ let out an incredibly piercing scream; Chen Li’s ears suddenly went quiet, unable to hear any sound, and his mind involuntarily blurred for a moment.

When he came to his senses,

’Bai Jinwang’s whole body had already turned to ash.

Only a piece of robe remained,

And a pair of tattered underpants.

"This Evil-Breaking Talisman has powerful force!"

Countless ashes fell like snowflakes.

Chen Li didn’t want to get a mouthful of ashes; besides feeling repulsed, if he were to be cursed, that would be terrible, so he hastily retreated.

He quickly returned home, pouring himself a cup of boiled water.

While sipping it slowly,

His excited mood gradually calmed down.

He spilled the remaining boiled water onto the ground.

"Alas, Bai, may your journey be smooth. This time to help you find release, if you know of this in the afterlife, you would probably feel relieved... right!"

...

The next morning,

When Chen Li came out,

The robe left behind by ’Bai Jinwang’ had already disappeared, leaving only the pitiful underpants in their original place, unwanted.

"Wasn’t there a battle nearby last night? I was woken up in the middle of the night."

"It must have been thunder; I heard it too."

"But there was no rain last night."

A few middle-aged female cultivators chatted at the street corner; seeing Chen Li coming, they asked:

"Fellow Daoist Chen, did you hear it?"

"I heard it too, it seemed like thunder," Chen Li said with certainty.

Palm Thunder is still thunder.

Indeed, he was not wrong.

"I told you it was thunder, but you wouldn’t believe me," the affirmed middle-aged woman said loudly.

Chen Li made a loop and then returned to his abode low-key.

Keeping his skills and reputation hidden.

...

In the morning, Chen Li took Zhou Hong out for a rare stroll through the shops. Whenever he saw her gaze lingering on something, he would encourage her to try it on.

"Does it look good?"

She wore a moon-white robe embroidered with tiny yellow flowers, her face flushed and shy.

"It looks good!" Chen Li nodded repeatedly.

He had grown tired of her red robe.

This one was much more elegant. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

After all, after eating rich food for a while, it’s good to change the flavor.

"If you really want it, can the shopkeeper give us a discount?" Chen Li turned to the shopkeeper and said.

After an intense round of haggling, they finally bought the first-grade, top-quality robe for fifty mid-grade Spirit Stones.

Compared to when he first arrived, the prices of magic artifacts and robes had gone up considerably.

Luckily, Chen Li could still afford it.

But after that, Zhou Hong was reluctant to buy anymore, merely enjoying the shopping. At each stop, facing Chen Li’s urging, she would just gently shake her head: "Ah, we can’t waste money anymore; no need to buy these for me. They’re too expensive, and there will be times when we need money in the future."

Her heart always secretly ached.

After obtaining the storage bag, Chen Li put all her valuable items into it; she didn’t even know how much money Chen Li had.

"Don’t worry about money... well, then we’ll buy it next time!"

The two strolled slowly.

They didn’t return for lunch at noon.

Chen Li took Zhou Hong to the largest restaurant in Luoluo City.

This place specialized in high-end business, and the clientele consisted of Foundation Establishment family descendants and wealthy Loose Cultivators.

Chen Li booked a private room on the second floor.

"This place is so expensive, maybe we should just go back home to eat," Zhou Hong hesitated after looking at the menu.

The waiter maintained a respectful and smiling demeanor throughout.

"It’s rare for us to eat out, let me take a look," Chen Li took the menu.

All the dishes were priced in Spirit Stones.

At least a couple of Low-grade Spirit Stones for the less expensive dishes.

Up to a dozen or more for the pricier ones.

A simple meal here could cost an ordinary Loose Cultivator a month or two’s living expenses, or even more.

Chen Li quickly ordered several expensive dishes.

It cost thirty-five Low-grade Spirit Stones.

Luckily, neither of them drank alcohol, otherwise it would have been even more expensive.

Nevertheless, the food prepared by the restaurant was indeed delicious.

Vegetables grown in third-grade spiritual lands, spiritual fish, first-grade Demon Beast meat, and exquisite pastries, when crafted by skilled chefs, were almost explosive in flavor.

Chen Li felt it was worth the price.

"How is it?"

"It’s delicious, but it’s just too expensive!"

"As long as it tastes good, don’t worry about the price, we don’t eat out often," Chen Li said with a smile.

The two of them cleaned up all the dishes.

After finishing the meal, they left the private room.

As soon as they reached the entrance, a middle-aged cultivator in a blue robe approached. The crowd immediately stirred, parting ways, and the waiters on both sides eagerly greeted him.

Chen Li heard the term "Elder of the Zhou Family" near her ear.

She couldn’t help but take a glance at the man.

Unexpectedly, as if the man sensed something, he looked up with a sharp and gloomy gaze.

Chen Li immediately felt a tightness in her heart and quickly looked away, focusing inwardly.

Fortunately, the man only gave her a glance before withdrawing his attention and continued walking, asking the nearby waiter, "Has Xu Ding’an arrived yet?"

"Elder Zhou, Elder Xu has already arrived..."

...

They both sighed in relief once they were out the door.

Zhou Hong’s hand, which was entwined with Chen Li’s, was a bit stiff.

"Let’s go!" Chen Li patted his hand, a silent gesture of comfort.

After that minor incident, neither of them was in the mood to continue shopping, so they quickly headed home.

...

That night, Chen Li retrieved the five Evil-Breaking Talismans she had placed in the Bai Family’s home.

Although some of the Spiritual Power had been consumed, the loss was minor, and it didn’t diminish their value.

Given the current market’s heated demand, she could sell them as soon as she put them out.

Five days later.

In the talisman-making room.

Chen Li’s mouth moved as her hands rapidly formed seals.

The next moment, her body slightly dematerialized.

The effect lasted just an instant before returning to normal.

"So close!"

Chen Li withdrew her gaze from the mirror, popped a Qi Replenishing Pill in her mouth, closed her eyes to experience the state she was just in, then contemplated slightly, and adjusted her approach with a pen.

She continued experimenting.

Failure!

Failure!

Failure!

...

It was not until the fifth attempt.

That she finally succeeded!

Her body completely disappeared within the mirror.

Chen Li walked back and forth in front of the mirror, closely observing,

"Where the body is, there’s still a slight aberration in the light, but thankfully, it’s almost imperceptible unless one looks closely."

"Shall we test its effectiveness!?"

Unable to contain his excitement, he activated the Breath-Concealing Skill and sneakily stepped out the door.

It was morning, and the streets were bustling with people. He walked slowly along the street, and during this time, no one noticed him.

Passing by a courtyard with its gate open.

Chen Li was tempted and strutted inside as if he belonged there.

This experience was truly marvelous and thrilling.

Chen Li felt an excitement he hadn’t known in a long time.

He made his way through the living room, passed by the bedroom,

A young female cultivator was boiling water in the kitchen; under the flame’s glow, her cheeks were rosy. He even stood half a meter away from her for a while, and she detected nothing.

Until Chen Li felt the Spell’s stability waver, signaling it was about to expire.

Only then did he hurriedly make his way back, moving quickly.

Just as he entered his house, the Invisibility Technique’s effect just happened to fade away.

"That was too close... it lasted for about ten minutes! With such a short duration, there’s hardly anything one can do!"