MTLNOVEL Chapter 22
Back at his residence, Li An was still a bit annoyed.
He’d gotten himself trapped…
“Tan Qingxue probably has less than 4,000 contribution points, far behind Sun Lin,” he mused. “She’s losing to him in the Talisman Hall, so she’s banking on other ways.”
“A Second Grade Spiritual Herb could easily fetch thousands of points, but the Spirit Beast Mountain Range… it’s risky.”
Li An had kept tabs on the range. Since the Spirit Plant Mountain battle, the Hundred Beasts Sect hadn’t troubled the Clear Sun Sect’s core. The range had returned to normal, less dangerous than before.
Many low-level disciples flocked there, reaping rewards. Over the past year, few reports of injuries or deaths surfaced.
Sticking to safer areas and leveraging his experience, Li An was nearly certain he could stay safe.
But he disliked risks. Life in the Talisman Hall was cozy, his lifespan long. Steady breakthroughs were ideal—why complicate things?
Still, laying out his newly acquired High Grade talisman brush and papers lifted his spirits.
The brush, made from special white jade and spirit wolf hair, bore a simple bird rune carving.
It offered sharper precision in sensing and tracing the Great Path!
The 70 sheets of High Grade paper, snow-white, smooth, and heavy, were crafted through multiple processes.
Normally, even Mid Grade First Rank Talisman Masters got only 20 sheets monthly. Li An bought the extra 50 for two spirit stones.
For the Spirit Beast Mountain Range, more prep was essential!
“In the range, opportunities aren’t the priority. The key is escaping danger safely,” he thought, forming a plan.
“Cold Rain Talisman, an upgraded Chill Wind Talisman, a control type to slow enemies more.”
“Swift Step Talisman, boosts running speed briefly—great for fleeing!”
“Pitfall Talisman and Thorn Talisman could help too. All good for survival.”
Gripping the heavy High Grade brush, he focused, pushing his Super Sense Technique to its limit. Every subtle shift of the brush was crystal clear.
He began drawing, spiritual ink tracing Great Path symbols on the white paper.
The first sheet failed halfway.
But Li An wasn’t discouraged—it was a good start!
He ruined 14 sheets before succeeding with a Swift Step Talisman on the 15th.
“Swift Step Talisman lasts three minutes. One’s not enough!” he said, pleased.
Three minutes was plenty in combat, but for escape, the distance wasn’t far.
He kept drawing.
That night, he used all 70 sheets, making three Swift Step Talismans!
His success rate was well below one in ten.
A Mid Grade First Rank Talisman like the Swift Step sold for about one spirit stone each. Selling all three barely broke even!
His past life’s experience helped. Others would have lower success rates, spending more than they gained, unable to sustain it.
No wonder Tan Qingxue thought his request for High Grade tools was pointless.
“It’s slow at first, but improving success rates won’t be hard…” Li An was satisfied. With his spirit root’s sensitivity, breaking even initially was solid.
After, he resumed his “iron sand bath”!
Over six months, his skin had shed and regrown countless times.
He could now enter the sand without pain.
Grabbing a grain, he saw it was nearly as smooth as a pearl.
“The first batch of iron sand’s almost used up,” he murmured, picking up a dagger—not his Star Glow Dagger, but an ordinary iron one.
He gripped it hard. No blood flowed; instead, a metallic scraping sound rang out. The blade curled under his palm’s pressure!
“Iron Tree Technique’s first layer, ‘Iron Skin,’ is nearly complete!” he said, delighted.
Checking his dantian, the Life Seed’s third leaf was fully unfurled.
In another six months, he’d peak at the Third Layer of Qi Refining and aim for the Fourth.
…
The next day, he visited the Tool Forging Hall to see Wang Dazhu.
“Brother An, the silver sand you wanted will take more time… It’s tough to gather,” Wang Dazhu said, his frame even sturdier, skin dark with a red glow, vitality surging.
He was close to the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining.
Li An had asked him to craft spiritual silver sand for the Iron Tree Technique’s second layer, flesh training.
“No rush, Dazhu. How’s the storage bag coming?” Li An asked.
“Here, Master Yu crafted it. Cost price—20 spirit stones.” Wang Dazhu handed over a new storage bag.
Li An inspected it, very pleased.
A low-grade bag held a cubic meter of space—enough for him.
Bags were convenient for storing and accessing items. Crafting Mid Grade First Rank Talismans, carrying too many on him risked exposure.
“Thanks, Dazhu!” Li An pulled 20 stones from his pack, adding ten Flame Talismans. “Dazhu, a token of thanks for Master Yu.”
Wang Dazhu grinned. “Got it, Brother An. Master Yu says come to him with any needs.”
Over two years, Li An had bought iron sand privately from the Tool Forging Hall, always adding talismans for Wang Dazhu to gift Master Yu.
This earned Master Yu’s favor.
Bypassing sect channels, Li An bought a cheap storage bag, and Master Yu made it well.
No middleman took a cut.
The sect banned such deals, but they were common under the table. Trusted connections kept them small, not harming the Clear Sun Sect’s interests.
…
Wearing the storage bag, Li An felt relieved, no longer lugging a pack everywhere.
He stored his Star Glow Dagger, a few bags of spirit rice, dozens of Low Grade First Rank Flame, Earth Shield, and Chill Wind Talismans, and three Swift Step Talismans.
…
With the bag, he spent the next few days buying 300 sheets of paper at the Talisman Hall’s trading post, costing 12 spirit stones.
His spree drew attention.
But on the seventh day, when a haggard, dejected Li An sold his remaining 31 High Grade papers at a loss, everyone chuckled.
This was common—overconfident disciples thinking they were geniuses, only to crash after burning stones and effort.
Li An fit the mold.
“You haven’t slept well?” Tan Qingxue frowned after a lecture, eyeing him. “I told you, drawing Mid Grade First Rank Talismans is too soon.”
Hearing of his flop, she sighed, doubting Xu Qiuhui’s praise. How could Sister Xu, so sharp, misjudge him?
Li An’s rashness didn’t seem steady at all.
“You’re right, Sister Qingxue… I got greedy. Didn’t expect this,” Li An sighed.
“Rest today. Tomorrow morning, we head to the Spirit Beast Mountain Range!” she instructed, second-guessing her choice to bring him.
…
The next morning, Li An rose early, waiting at the gate.
Soon, Tan Qingxue arrived with a man and a woman.
The woman was Cao Zhiruo, who’d guided Li An initially. The man, Jiang You, was also from Tan Qingxue’s faction.
Tan Qingxue’s talisman talent was strong, but her naivety in dealings lagged behind Sun Lin’s savvy.
Of the hall’s seven Mid Grade First Rank Talisman Masters, five leaned toward Sun Lin.
“Qingxue, do we need Li An?” Jiang You frowned, spotting him.
He and Cao Zhiruo were at the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining, Mid Grade First Rank Talisman Masters.
Li An?
Third Layer, Low Grade First Rank Talisman Master…
He’d drag them down.
Li An hoped Tan Qingxue would agree, thinking Jiang You was a saint.
Tan Qingxue had doubted bringing Li An, but days ago, she’d written to Xu Qiuhui about her Spirit Beast Mountain Range plan. Last night, Xu Qiuhui replied, praising her for including Li An, saying she’d matured and thought things through…
Xu Qiuhui also urged her to heed Li An in danger, showing she was still worried.
This made Tan Qingxue question herself.
Was her judgment off, or was Li An hiding his skill?
“No matter, more hands mean more strength. Let’s go!” she said, deciding to watch him closely.
Li An: “…”
The four left the Talisman Hall.
From the outer sect, they headed north, past the North Mountain Gate, entering a lush mountain range.
The range was vast, majestic, stretching endlessly.
Rumors said Core Formation-level beasts lived deep within, but few had seen them.
Clear Sun Sect disciples trained in the outer areas, facing mostly Qi Refining-level beasts, manageable threats.
Following a rugged path, they entered dense wilderness, the air tinged with rotting leaves and beast droppings. As they passed, rabbits darted from bushes, birds scattered from treetops.
“Word is, in the northwest, a Peak First Rank Black Needle Giant Ape was spotted multiple times. These apes are clever, often guarding Second Rank Spiritual Herbs, eating them to advance when they reach their peak,” Tan Qingxue explained. “We’ll check the ape’s known spots.”
Li An frowned inwardly.
Peak First Rank was like a human at the peak of Qi Refining. Only Foundation Establishment cultivators could handle it reliably. Tan Qingxue, at the Sixth Layer, where’d she get the confidence?
Did she have a hidden trump card?
Li An readied himself to bolt if things went south.
Xu Qiuhui’s kindness didn’t outweigh risking his life for Tan Qingxue.
…
Deeper in, they found more herbs, mostly ungraded. The others ignored them, but Li An gathered every one of them, stuffing them into his storage bag.
Though worth little, they’d be useful for Zhao Xianchuan to have Medicine Hall alchemists make salves for his body training.
Cao Zhiruo and Jiang You shook their heads. Typical menial mindset—Li An, poor from his roots, hadn’t seen the world.
“Hey, a First Grade Spiritual Herb!” Li An exclaimed at dusk near a dead tree stump.
The others rushed over.
“A First Grade Tree Spirit Mushroom, growing among junk herbs,” Cao Zhiruo said, her expression mixed.
“Didn’t notice. This kid got lucky…” Jiang You said regretfully.
They’d seen the junk herbs from afar but skipped them.
Only Li An, grabbing even trash, stumbled on a Tree Spirit Mushroom worth 20 stones…
Li An happily bagged it, thanking his Super Sense Technique.
His heightened smell, hearing, and sight let him dodge beasts and sniff out herbs early.
“We’ll rest here, then head to Black Mulberry Forest tomorrow,” Tan Qingxue said.
They set up camp, building a shelter from branches.
As they worked, Tan Qingxue kept glancing at Li An.
They’d faced a few fierce beasts today, but Li An barely fought, yet reaped the most.
Was he really holding back?
To Cao Zhiruo and Jiang You, Li An’s actions were normal—weakest, so he contributed least in fights, his haul just dumb luck.
But Xu Qiuhui’s repeated praise gave Tan Qingxue a bias, making her see more.
Recalling Li An’s day…
When they met a Third Layer Qi Refining tiger, Li An, at the front, paused, letting Cao Zhiruo take it.
When a Fourth Layer wild boar charged, Tan Qingxue and the others were caught, but Li An stayed far, avoiding combat.
His only fight was against two First Layer snakes—mating ones he crushed with a foot.
She suddenly thought, this Li An might actually be shady!
Had he fooled her?
If Li An knew her thoughts, he’d be stunned. Who’s the shady one?
Thinking like that, anyone normal would seem suspicious!
“We’ll split the night watch. Li An, you and I take the first half,” Tan Qingxue said as the shelter was finished.
Li An’s brow twitched faintly. What was she up to?
To him, Tan Qingxue’s talisman talent was great, but her sheltered life made her less mature than Xu Qiuhui.
Her naive—bluntly, foolish—mind was hard to predict, and she could stir trouble.
“You’re the weakest, I’m the strongest. Pairing a strong with a weak, to watch isn't okay?” she asked when he didn’t respond.
Li An: “…”
…
(Chapter End)