I need to buy some talisman-making materials and stock up on a few more sticks of Ning Shen Xiang.

After breakfast, Jia Ren left his residence and walked along the street.

The environment of Smoky Willow Lane was far inferior to that of Heavenly Arts Lane. The stone houses were even more crowded. Although there were no feces or the like on the ground, one could see sewage flowing and occasionally a bizarre odor wafting through the air.

Along the way, young female cultivators with scant clothing and tattered garments kept coming out of the stone houses.

"Sir, why not come in and sit down?"

"It's cold outside, come in and warm up."

"For just two Spirit Stones, we can share the joy of dual cultivation!"

Jia Ren passed by more than a dozen stone houses, most of them with beautiful female cultivators soliciting outside.

The beauty and physique of the female cultivators in the Inner City far surpassed those of the Outer City, and their prices had also doubled.

With a stern face, Jia Ren dodged the women's attempts to pull him in and quickly left the area.

I'll go to the Outer City to buy Blank Talisman Paper, but the Spirit Ink must be the specially prepared Evil-warding Spirit Ink.

Buying talisman paper in large quantities could draw the attention of the Talisman Cultivators' Association. This was especially true now, when the talisman crafting genius Zhen Yi had disappeared, so he had to act with caution.

The Outer City stalls had many kinds of Blank Talisman Paper. Their quality was mixed, but they were barely usable.

Only the Spirit Ink was a bit more troublesome.

General Spirit Ink was suitable for normal talismans. The Evil Warding Talisman was extremely special, being one of the few talismans that could affect Bizarre Demons. While Blank Talisman Paper could still be reluctantly used, the Spirit Ink had to be special.

Otherwise, the resulting Evil Warding Talisman would be just an ordinary Spirit Talisman and would not have any effect on Bizarre Demons.

He already knew the method for making the special Spirit Ink through Talisman Master Zhang. His only concern was that the talisman-making materials might be restricted.

As it turned out, Jia Ren's guess was correct. It didn't take long to gather most of the materials for producing Evil-warding Spirit Ink from various stalls. However, the main material, Rhinoceros Horn, was nowhere to be found.

Only after careful inquiry did he learn that the Rhinoceros Horn came from a special Spirit Beast called the Rhinoceros Beast. The horn on its forehead naturally had a certain effect of warding off evil and could be used to forge Evil Warding Artifacts or to prepare Spirit Ink for Evil Warding Talismans.

Rhinoceros Beasts in the Great Wilderness were rare. Besides being bred by several large families, any that occasionally appeared would be bought by the Talisman Cultivators' Association and other Talisman Masters.

For a Talisman Maker to create an Evil Warding Talisman, they needed the consent of the Talisman Cultivators' Association. The biggest issue was that the Talisman Cultivators' Association and its affiliated powers had monopolized the Rhinoceros Horn in the Great Wilderness Market.

Without the materials, it's impossible to craft talismans in secret.

Jia Ren changed his appearance and visited several stalls and shops selling Demonic Beast Materials before he learned the truth.

I thought that obtaining the Evil Warding Charm Art would allow me to craft Evil Warding Talismans in peace and improve my Proficiency Level.

I didn't expect to hit a roadblock at such a critical moment.

Without rice, even the cleverest housewife cannot cook a meal.

Jia Ren felt a knot of frustration in his chest, unable to calm himself for a long time.

To solve the problem, I either have to find another way or take action against the Talisman Cultivators' Association and its Talisman Masters.

Jia Ren was more inclined towards the latter, for example, dealing with that Talisman Master Mo who had made things difficult for him.

I need to plan this carefully.

Since he couldn't craft Evil Warding Talismans, other talismans like the Heart-Questioning Charm, Featherweight Talisman, and Fire Bullet Talisman were still waiting for him to improve their proficiency.

He made his purchases in the Outer City in five separate trips. Each time, he used the Thousand Fantasies Face to change his appearance, making it difficult for anyone to recognize him.

Ning Shen Xiang was essential; he bought ten sticks at once. The Spirit Stones spent to enhance efficiency were well worth it.

Jia Ren had just returned to his residence, ready to make talismans, when someone knocked on the door.

"I have no Spirit Stones!"

The downsides of living in Smoky Willow Lane were obvious. Ever since word got out that a man lived here, female cultivators short on business would knock on his door from time to time. Even hanging a 'Closed for Cultivation' wooden plaque outside didn't help.

No wonder Smoky Willow Lane had the cheapest rent.

"Law Enforcement Office! Open the door!"

Why would an Enforcement Division Cultivator come looking for me?

What major event has happened now?

Jia Ren quickly stashed his talisman-making tools and carefully hid his Spirit Beast Bag and other valuable belongings in the hidden tunnel.

Before Jia Ren could open the door, it was forcibly smashed open. A faint golden barrier stopped the stone door and also barred the intruders.

"Huh, the Solid as Golden Soup Formation!"

"This Loose Cultivator is quite rich!"

"Hiding here in Smoky Willow Lane, could it be he has some unspeakable motives?"

The voices of the two men came from outside the formation. Jia Ren recognized the faces of the two Enforcement Division Cultivators. His heart nearly stopped when he saw the one leading.

Qi Yulong?!

I never thought I'd see him like this!

Qi Yulong stood alongside another Enforcement Division Cultivator with an unfamiliar face. Both were examining the Solid as Golden Soup Formation with amused expressions.

"Aren't you going to open the formation and let us in for inspection? Believe it or not, we'll dismantle your shabby formation!"

Jia Ren recalled that he was under the disguise of the Grandmaster Level Thousand Fantasies Face, which had been thoroughly tested and had never failed during previous inspections by the Law Enforcement Office. This reassured him.

"I am Xu Sheng, just an ordinary Loose Cultivator. I apologize for not knowing of the distinguished officials' arrival."

Quickly, Jia Ren performed a hand seal and deactivated the Solid as Golden Soup Formation.

Qi Yulong and the other Enforcement Division Cultivator swaggered in, rummaging around the stone house as if searching for something.

Unfortunately for them, they found nothing.

He had already moved all suspicious items the moment he heard the Enforcement Division Cultivators arrive.

"Have you ever seen this person?"

A portrait was handed to Jia Ren, causing his eyebrows to raise.

The person in the portrait is none other than my former identity: Zhen Yi.

What's going on?

Didn't I just learn the Evil Warding Charm Art and run away?

Why would they deploy Enforcement Division Cultivators to find me?

An ordinary Loose Cultivator wouldn't have this kind of pull. The ones who ordered this must be from the Talisman Cultivators' Association.

"Distinguished officials, I have never seen this person."

Jia Ren adopted a subservient and cautious demeanor.

"Humph!"

"Not a single truth comes out of your mouth!"

"I suspect you're a Bizarre Cultivator, come with us to the Law Enforcement Office!" Qi Yulong roared. He then casually confiscated the Impenetrable Defense Formation Plate that had been set up.

This isn't about him thinking I'm a Bizarre Cultivator. He clearly covets the Solid as Golden Soup Formation and is just using this as an excuse to take it.

Most people living in Smoky Willow Lane are paupers. Their entire net worth might not even exceed three hundred Spirit Stones. How could they afford an artifact like the Impenetrable Defense Formation Plate, which costs five hundred Spirit Stones?

Most importantly, Loose Cultivators in Smoky Willow Lane have absolutely no backing. They can be extorted without consequence.

"Sir, I'm truly not a Bizarre Cultivator. The Solid as Golden Soup Formation is an heirloom; if you fancy it, sir, please accept it."

If I don't offer him something, given Qi Yulong's greed, he'll surely find a way to drag me to the Law Enforcement Office.

By then, it wouldn't just be the Impenetrable Defense Formation Plate that's gone. The Spirit Stones in my Storage Bag would probably be lost too.

Most crucially, the large amount of talisman-making materials I have might be linked to Zhen Yi's disappearance.

I don't want to fall into the hands of the Talisman Cultivators' Association, nor do I want to join the Meng Family.

Better to lose wealth to avoid disaster.

But my Spirit Stones aren't that easy to take!

I originally planned to lay low for a while before dealing with the Qi Family Brothers. But now... you're courting death!

"You've got some sense, kid!"

Qi Yulong patted Jia Ren's shoulder, satisfied as he left with the Impenetrable Defense Formation Plate.

Jia Ren's expression grew ugly. Today, nothing was going right.

He hadn't found the Rhinoceros Horn, and the Impenetrable Defense Formation Plate he had bought for a hefty sum had been taken by the person he despised the most.

He glanced at the place where Qi Yulong had patted, his expression turning even uglier.

Lingering Fragrance Powder?

His methods haven't improved at all!

Jia Ren vividly remembered Qi Yulong using Lingering Fragrance Powder to track Wang Qian. He never thought that one day, this same method would be used on him.

This is good too!

I was just wondering how I could get a chance to meet Qi Yulong alone.

And now, hasn't the opportunity presented itself?

Isn't it good to be alive? I was going to let you live a bit longer, but since you're so eager to die, I don't mind obliging you!

Jia Ren tapped the stone bed. A rustling sound came from beneath it as the large Earth Corner Worm King burst through the soil, retrieving the hidden Storage Bags and Spirit Beast Bags.

After a thorough check to ensure everything was in order, he also collected any remaining valuable items in the stone house.

My Xu Sheng persona won't last much longer. Killing an Enforcement Division Cultivator is a very serious matter.

Jia Ren didn't use the Thousand Fantasies Face to change his features this time. Instead, he applied a simple disguise and promptly left his dwelling.

Qi Yulong and the other Enforcement Division Cultivator were still searching the area. Naturally, Jia Ren's simple disguise couldn't fool them.

They acted as if they hadn't noticed anything and quietly waited for Jia Ren to move farther away.

"This guy has a lot of Spirit Stones on him; is he planning to leave the Great Wilderness Market?"

"Brother, do you want to make a fortune?"

Under normal circumstances, Qi Yulong would invite his brother Qi Yuhu. The two siblings would be less likely to have disagreements when dividing the profits. A cultivator at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining would offer a greater guarantee of safety.

The Qi Family Brothers hadn't given up on locating the Spirit Stone Vein. However, instead of both keeping watch, they now took turns monitoring Yang Bingzhi. The wealth of a Loose Cultivator, no matter how much, couldn't compare to a Spirit Stone Vein. They couldn't abandon all their previous efforts after persisting for so long.

"With such a good opportunity, naturally, I cannot miss it."

"He is just a Loose Cultivator, not a concern."

The Cultivation Techniques and Magic Artifacts of Five Elements Sect Cultivators far surpassed those of Loose Cultivators. Plus, they had the advantage in numbers. If they were afraid of a single Loose Cultivator, they would truly be unworthy of being called Five Elements Sect Cultivators.

If Xu Sheng could afford to buy the Impenetrable Defense Formation Plate, he must certainly possess even more enviable wealth. The chance to get rich was right in front of them; of course, they couldn't miss it.

"Heh heh, he won't escape."

The two no longer searched house by house but swiftly left the Inner City and the Great Wilderness Market.

"Act fast, don't waste too much time."

The two of them rode their swords, accelerating their pursuit.

As they neared the edge of the Great Wilderness, they spotted Xu Sheng's furtive figure from a distance. He was digging under a tree.

The soil was turned over, revealing seven or eight bulging Storage Bags.

What a rich fellow!

"You're tracking me?!"

"No, these are my belongings?!"

Jia Ren, playing the part, reached out to retrieve the Storage Bags he had dug up.

"Get lost! Otherwise, don't blame us for being impolite!"

Qi Yulong and the Enforcement Division Cultivator exchanged glances, both seeing the wild joy in the other's eyes.

They had known this guy wasn't poor, but they hadn't expected him to be so much wealthier than they had imagined.

"Leave the Storage Bags you have on you!"

Jia Ren, feigning resignation, took the Storage Bag from his waist and tossed it towards the closer of the two.

The Enforcement Division Cultivator caught it with a brilliant smile. But the moment his palm touched the Storage Bag, he retracted his hand as if shocked by electricity. The back of his hand was already red and swollen.

"It's so itchy! The Storage Bag is poisoned!"

Before he could react further, a golden fingertip attack that followed closely shot through his head.

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