Living steadily in the world of gods and mystery

Procurement work has always been a coveted position that one cannot block; as long as it’s not excessive, Chen Li would just turn a blind eye.

Moreover, the couple only handled the procurement of daily meals, whereas the main expenses such as the medicinal herbs for medicinal baths, pills for cultivation, and the like were personally purchased by him. Besides, the quantity of food procured daily was fixed, so even if there was corruption, they couldn’t embezzle much.

However, Bai Wei’s serious nature made Chen Li somewhat worried:

"You should not meddle in this matter. Remember, they are cultivators, though their cultivation isn’t high, they are still cultivators, and you are merely a mortal."

Bai Wei’s expression darkened upon hearing this, and she bowed, "Yes, master, this servant understands!"

"Why do you sulk when I speak a word!" Chen Li said with a laugh.

"This servant wouldn’t dare!" Bai Wei lowered her head.

"The reason I told you not to interfere is to let you know that cultivators are very dangerous, especially those born as Loose Cultivators. To them, killing people is no different than slaughtering livestock.

Don’t be fooled by their kindly appearance and their yes-man attitude, for no one who has lived to their age is easygoing.

If you are too harsh on them and they harbor resentment in their hearts, you won’t even have time to regret it."

Chen Li’s warm words sent a warm current through Bai Wei’s heart. She looked up stealthily at Chen Li and spoke softly, "Thank you for your consideration, master. This servant’s life is insignificant, and it wouldn’t matter if I died."

"Nonsense, if you die, who will concoct medicine for the master, and who will serve the master? No one else is as attentive as you," Chen Li said, feigning anger.

Blushing, Bai Wei replied, "Yes, master, this servant knows her mistake."

...

The next day, early morning.

Chen Li was dressed in his spell robe with the assistance of Zhou Hong.

"How come you haven’t been cultivating recently?" Chen Li asked casually.

"My cultivation has not advanced an inch in several years. It seems my path has come to an end, so why waste pills needlessly? Besides, at my age, even if I were to break through to the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation, I no longer stand a chance at reaching Foundation Establishment."

Zhou Hong smoothed out non-existent wrinkles on the spell robe and whispered lightly.

"What does age have to do with it? You are still young. Back then, I was only at the Third Layer of Qi Cultivation!" Chen Li said, his heart filled with mixed feelings as he comforted her.

Although Zhou Hong was forty this year, years of privileged living and proper care, along with the nourishment of Spiritual Power within her body from cultivation, made her appear much younger.

She still looked as if she were in her thirties, even more radiant than when he first met her in the Green River District.

"Stop it, you think everyone is like you!"

Zhou Hong gave him a glance, took out a hairpin to secure his hair firmly, then pushed him out the door, "Alright, off you go."

Chen Li was speechless, a woman’s mood is as changeable as the weather in June, unclear what had upset her.

He walked outside at a leisurely pace.

The snow had stopped.

The rain in the city had also ceased.

The ground was damp, and the plants in the courtyard, moistened by the rain from the night before, appeared even more lush and vibrant.

The sky remained a leaden gray, clearly indicating that the rain was not quite over.

Taking advantage of the surging Spiritual Power within him, Chen Li lightly tapped his toes on the ground, his body floating forwards, taking several leaps to reach the lake shore.

The lake water was crystal clear.

Schools of fish grouped together, frolicking and foraging among the water plants, full of mirth.

These fish were naturally not any kind of spiritual fish, just ordinary ones.

"Today seems to be your unlucky day!"

Chen Li formed hand seals, his mouth silently moving, and a humming sound filled the air. At the same time, heaven and earth resonated, and Mana faintly manifested.

His eyes turned pitch black as if they were bottomless abysses, striking fear in those who looked into them, hardly resembling human eyes.

"Soul Capture Skill!"

The activation of this spell did not cause any spectacular disturbance.

It was silent and unnoticeable.

However, that school of fish began to flip over, exhibiting their white bellies as they floated to the surface.

"Soul Capture Skill!"

"Soul Capture Skill!"

...

Chen Li cast it five times in succession, feeling his spiritual power deplete by more than half before he stopped.

He consumed a Return Yuan Elixir to recover his spiritual power.

Meanwhile, he checked his attribute panel.

He couldn’t help but shake his head.

The Soul Capture Skill was a Second Order Third Grade spell.

Being of a high level, he couldn’t practice it through the Phantom Skill, so Chen Li had to train slowly in this manner.

Working methodically every day, he had been practicing for more than half a year now, and only recently had his proficiency just stepped into the master level.

It is easy to adapt from frugality to luxury, but difficult to revert; having once enjoyed the rapid leveling of the Phantom Skill, enduring such snail-paced progress was undoubtedly painful.

As for the Second Order First Grade Dream Entering Skill, he had almost given up on it.

Firstly, the Dream Entering Skill didn’t directly enhance his combat power, and secondly, he truly lacked the energy. He planned to wait until his cultivation level was higher before practicing it.

Next, Chen Li used the Traction Skill to pull the dead fish to the shore for burial, giving them a proper interment.

A good lake would be unsightly if it stank.

...

After having breakfast with his wives and concubines, Chen Li went out early.

Walking on the road, he quickly changed his appearance when no one was around, and then he took out a Second Order medium-quality Water Element Robe from his storage bag and hastily put it on.

Wearing two sets of robes served to increase the defense, which was second in importance; its main purpose was to work in tandem with the disguise.

This was an old habit from his time in the Green River District. Even though it was slightly sneaky, it afforded safety, allowing him to quickly ditch the disguise in case of encountering a powerful enemy.

...

"Are you a Talisman Maker?"

The shopkeeper of the talisman store glanced at Chen Li, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something at the sight of the latter’s face covered in scars, utterly fierce in appearance, but ultimately, he closed his mouth.

This was clearly not someone with a good temper.

The kind who would erupt in violence and commit murder at the slightest disagreement.

Although Chen Li wasn’t afraid, it wasn’t necessary.

"Naturally, I am a Talisman Maker. Do you accept this talisman?" Chen Li didn’t care about the other’s suspicion since his own appearance hardly inspired confidence.

"We do accept them, but we must check the talisman’s quality. Our Treasure Talisman Pavilion has been in business for more than three hundred years, famous for its credibility and reputation far and wide. Every talisman here is guaranteed quality; ordinary talismans can’t make it into our selection," he said as he took the talisman and began to meticulously appraise it.

The more he examined it, the more astonished he became.

The talisman’s lines flowed smoothly, its turns were harmonious and rounded, the strokes penetrated the paper, and the spiritual power was unpretentiously contained within, revealed without being overt, with hardly any leakage.

Even without testing it, based on his many years of experience in talisman assessment, he knew that this Water Element Talisman was an exceptionally rare treasure, clearly the work of an experienced and aged Talisman Master.

It was just unfortunate that this was a Water Element Talisman—all those who would buy it were the poor Foundation Establishment cultivators who couldn’t afford a shield spell.

No matter how good the talisman, it wouldn’t fetch a high price.

The shopkeeper couldn’t help but voice his doubt once again, "Did you really draw this talisman?"

"Is there a problem?" Chen Li asked.

"No, no!" The shopkeeper could not help but laugh dryly, rebuking the attendant, "Don’t you have any sense? Hurry up and serve tea."

"Yes, shopkeeper," responded the attendant, pulling a long face as he swiftly went to prepare the tea.

"You must have more than one of these, bring them all out. If they are all of this quality, our Treasure Talisman Pavilion will buy them at a high price."