Chapter 41: Sixth Layer of Lian Qi

Another year has passed.

Xiao Zhangqing has been transmigrated into the Cultivation World for almost four years.

"My cultivation has finally broken through to the Sixth Layer of Lian Qi."

"Next, taking one more step, I'll reach the Late Stage of Lian Qi!"

Xiao Zhangqing is overall satisfied with his cultivation speed.

In the four years since his transmigration, he rose from Qi Refining Second Layer to the Sixth Layer of Lian Qi, roughly one layer per year.

Such a pace is almost unheard of in Nanshan Fang; even a typical high-grade spirit root prodigy might not achieve it.

The reason Xiao Zhangqing can cultivate so quickly is not only the Grand-level Longevity Technique, but also his later improvements in mid-grade spirit root and comprehension.

Another crucial reason is that he's been spending money this year! His monthly salary is only forty to fifty Low-grade Spirit Stones, yet his side earnings in Spirit Stones are nearly ten times that! After all, he can draw almost sixty Talisman Scripts a month; after costs, that still nets at least four hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones in pure profit.

Of that monthly income, only a tiny portion Xiao Zhangqing saves for emergencies; the bulk is spent on Gathering Spirit Pills, Nurturing Pills, and other pills that can accelerate cultivation in the Qi Refining Realm.

Let alone ordinary Scattered Cultivators.

Xiao Zhangqing can be sure that even core disciples of the four major foundation-building families would not dare to consume pills as recklessly as he does!

Perhaps only those specially nurtured prodigies, expected to successfully establish a foundation, receive such treatment.

"I want many things—Flying Sword, storage bag, magical artifacts… but none of those matters as much as increasing my own strength. I'll consider those external items only after reaching the Late Stage of Lian Qi."

Xiao Zhangqing has a very clear plan.

Only when his cultivation reaches the Late Stage of Lian Qi, with increased mana and spiritual awareness, will he qualify to wield powerful magical artifacts and Flying Swords.

Take Flying Swords, for example: in the mid-stage of Lian Qi they can barely be activated for Sword Flight, but they're far from being as handy as an arm, let alone usable in real combat; they're merely for show, their flashy attribute outweighing any practical use.

Another example is the Talisman Script.

In the early to mid-stage of Lian Qi, only First-Grade Talisman Scripts can be activated; even the legendary Second-rank Treasure Talisman, if obtained, is not dared to be used!

Because the Second-rank Treasure Talisman's power is too great, it demands extremely high mana control from the user to channel its lethal release.

If one's own mana isn't strong enough, the control is too weak; using a Second-rank Treasure Talisman might not even kill the enemy before it blows the user up.

Precisely for this reason, Symbol Masters enjoy high status in the Cultivation World, yet not absurdly high; they are on the same tier as Pill Masters, Formation Masters, and Artifact Masters.

There are no strict prerequisites to use a Talisman Script; does that mean a rookie in the Qi Refining Realm could grab a fourth-rank Talisman Script and instantly slay a Core Formation Great Refinement practitioner?

Thinking about it, that's impossible.

That's why, when shopkeeper Hong Jiantao gave Xiao Zhangqing a Protection Talisman, he only provided a First-Grade Talisman Script.

Even if he were willing to give a Second-rank Talisman Script, Xiao Zhangqing's mid-stage Lian Qi cultivation couldn't make use of it.

"I have to move again."

Xiao Zhangqing thought to himself.

The Ding-level Cave Dwelling he currently lives in was spacious enough at Qi Refining Fourth Level, fully sufficient. At Qi Refining Fifth Level it became rather cramped, slightly slowing his rate, but with his money‑fueled pill consumption the effect is almost negligible.

Now at the Sixth Layer of Lian Qi, edging toward the Late Stage, the Ding-level Cave Dwelling's spirit‑qi density is no longer adequate.

…

Two days later.

Xiao Zhangqing moved back to a Bing-level Cave Dwelling.

However, it wasn't the suite the Mu family had provided when they invested in him; it's a smaller, higher‑spirit‑qi, economically practical cave dwelling.

The monthly rent is 26 Low‑grade Spirit Stones; after the Lingfu Pavilion's housing subsidy it's 13 Low‑grade Spirit Stones. With Xiao Zhangqing's apparent salary of forty to fifty Low‑grade Spirit Stones a month, the cost is no burden.

What Xiao Zhangqing didn't expect was that a few days after his move, a new cultivator moved into the neighboring cave dwelling. Xiao Zhangqing originally paid it no mind and didn't even think to greet them.

The cave dwelling area isn't like the old Peng Hu Qu; although they're neighbors, defensive and isolation measures are at least ten times stronger, so whatever one does inside doesn't affect the neighbor.

Thus, interaction between neighbors in the cave dwelling area is even less.

Just as in past years Xiao Zhangqing barely knew who the neighboring cultivator was; everyone kept to themselves.

But this time, when Xiao Zhangqing caught a hurried glimpse of the newcomer's move, he couldn't stay calm.

I must say, sometimes the world is that coincidental.

The new neighbor turned out to be… the Lin sisters!

When Xiao Zhangqing returned home from work and ran into the sisters, both parties were startled.

Xiao Zhangqing is now very familiar with these sisters: elder sister Lin Ziyu was his neighbor for several years in the Peng Hu Qu; younger sister Lin Zixi has been his intermediary for the past year, a business partner with whom he trades twice a month! So when he saw the Lin sisters in an instant, he was taken aback, instinctively wondering whether his disguise had been exposed—was this Lin Zixi here to reveal his true identity? He quickly realized it was probably not, just a pure coincidence.

Lin Zixi certainly doesn't know his true identity; even if she did, she would never dare to expose him.

Otherwise, if he revoked her agency to sell Talisman Scripts, she wouldn't even have time to cry.

Then Xiao Zhangqing thought he must find a way to make the sisters move out quickly, not to live next to him!

It's not that he has any issue with the sisters or can't stand them; he simply doesn't want any entanglement with them!

His alias Bai Wuji is extremely secretive and cautious; no one can guess that Bai Wuji is him, including Lin Zixi.

But if a diligent person investigates, uncovering Lin Zixi's collaboration with the Cao family isn't difficult.

Once Lin Zixi is found, further probing into her associates would easily flag him as a suspect if he's linked to the sisters.

Then it would be a backfire! "That Lin Zixi, really bold, huh? She actually dares to live in a Bing-level Cave Dwelling?"

Xiao Zhangqing harbored silent resentment.

Over the past year, besides cooperating with him and receiving two decent Spirit Stone payments each month, Lin Zixi also knows how to leverage the Cao family's influence.

First, she made the local cultivator Hu Yuan, who had once tangled with her and sister Lin Ziyu, appear disheveled and pleading humbly for the sisters' forgiveness, spewing a harsh evil aura.

Later she used the Cao family's tiger skin and the Spirit Stones earned by the middleman as capital, expanding her business investments and thriving.

Now, it's said the sisters earn nearly a hundred Low‑grade Spirit Stones a month! That income places them in the affluent tier of Nanshan Fang, surpassing most cultivators.

Moreover, Lin Zixi's cultivation appears to have passed the early stage of Lian Qi, reaching Qi Refining Fourth Level, while her elder sister Lin Ziyu, who was already at Qi Refining Fourth Level years ago, has finally progressed to Qi Refining Fifth Level.

It's no surprise the two moved into a Bing-level Cave Dwelling.

"If I, under the Bai Wuji alias, directly order Lin Zixi to move, she'd certainly obey. But that would be like trying to hide a missing silver coin—leaving obvious traces and making it easier to expose myself…"

Xiao Zhangqing had a slight headache.

After thinking it over, there was still no good solution for now. The two sisters had already started moving, surely they had signed a contract and paid the rent; without a suitable reason it would be hard to move them out.

It might be better to do nothing for now; in the short term it wouldn't raise suspicion.

"Fine. In at most a year or two, my cultivation should be about to breakthrough to the seventh layer of refined Qi. Then, with a legitimate reason, I'll move out myself…"

Xiao Zhangqing frowned as he thought.

He didn't even greet the two sisters, and went straight home.

This year, he also tried to avoid any entanglement or contact with the two sisters.

(End of chapter)