Advanced Artifact Evaluator, Li An!

Even Li An himself was stunned for a moment.

But he quickly came to an understanding.

Since Qin Xuan mentioned that it was the intention of the Prince Mansion... the only possibility should be the Third Princess.

This is the world we live in. Everyone in the Treasure Pavilion competes fiercely, openly and secretly, but in the end, Li An, who did nothing but lie low from the beginning to the end, gains the fruit everyone coveted so much just because of a single word from the higher-ups.

Strength? Not important!

In this era, the most important thing is connections.

Of course, this kind of connection... even made Li An feel a bit eerie.

The Demon Sect is raising pigs here, using these methods to help Li An acquire more cultivation resources, allowing him to reach Core Formation faster.

Before slaughtering the hog, it must be fattened up.

Moreover, the opponent's layout is meticulously crafted over thousands of miles, all disguised in reasonable garb—Li An helped the Third Princess once, so she rewarded Li An in return.

If Li An hadn't discovered the truth, he would only be smug right now, thinking he had climbed high and would henceforth rise in the world.

However, since he has decided to stay, Li An is unafraid.

The more the enemy gives, the better.

Thinking this, a trace of trepidation appeared on his face. He stood up and said:

"Thank you, Prince Mansion, thank you, Pavilion Master!"

Qin Xuan was exceedingly beautiful, radiant, and so attractive that it was hard to look away, but at this moment, her gaze was also complex. She never expected that Zuo Wen, an otherwise inconspicuous Artifact Evaluator, could reach this point...

"Congratulations Chief Xu, Deputy Master Zuo. From today on, I hope you serve with loyalty, placing the Treasure Pavilion as your priority, and do not disappoint the Prince and my expectations."

...

Everything was set, and for a moment, many Artifact Evaluators in the Treasure Pavilion proactively approached Li An to greet and show goodwill.

Among them, one or two even directly offered some valuable resources.

Li An is no longer what he used to be, especially now that he has backing from the Prince Mansion!

This means his future status within the pavilion is higher than that of the two deputies, Mo Rong and Zhou Ying.

Only second to Xu Changkong.

If Li An's life span is longer, he might even aspire to the chief position, so how could one not seek favor?

Zheng Xiaoxiao watched Li An's departing figure from afar, and for a moment, she felt incredibly bitter...

Back in the day, Lu Hua, she, and Li An all became candidate Artifact Evaluators together.

Years have passed, and Lu Hua had long been ruined, fallen to the streets, family in decline, living in extreme hardship and destitution, while she too had fallen far behind Li An and now could only look up to him...

How could decades of time and light develop into this?

She did not understand, perhaps this is destiny...

Not the slightest bit within human control!

...

Back home, Li An set up an array to isolate surrounding perceptions and began to calmly refine talismans.

These years in the Treasure Pavilion, he had accumulated quite a lot, and coupled with the Spirit Stones from the Prince Mansion, he was now not lacking in resources.

Since he wasn't in short supply, he decided to arm himself to the teeth with these resources!

He took out a large batch of Tier Two talisman papers, holding a Tier Two talisman pen.

"Now, I can make Tier Two high-quality talismans..."

His target: Ice Talisman, Gang Qi Talisman, Flying Talisman!

The Ice Talisman could directly freeze enemies, almost trapping them to death.

The Gang Qi Talisman, on the other hand, launched a swift and vigorous qi attack, extremely aggressive, and regarded as a gem among attacking talismans, far surpassing the Bursting Talisman.

As for the Flying Talisman, as its name suggests, it allowed a cultivator to traverse through the air for a short time. Of course, the distance wasn't too far, generally only a few hundred meters.

Among them, the Flying Talisman was the hardest to refine.

After all, flying through the air is something only Core Formation Stage cultivators can achieve, so enabling short-term flight with runes was already incredibly defiant.

In battle or during escape, the Flying Talisman allowed one to break free from terrain constraints and gain a brief but significantly increased speed, immensely critical.

Li An focused intently to start refining.

That night, he used thirty sheets of talisman paper to create three Ice Talismans.

He was quite satisfied!

If it had been before, even with the added experience from his past life, his success rate would not have been this high.

But now, firstly, he had strengthened his Divine Sense with the Life Seed; secondly, his Spirit Root had reached Yellow Rank Middle Grade, with a sensitivity reaching 85 points, very close to Yellow Rank High Grade.

Thus, refining talismans had twice the effect with half the effort.

The next day.

News of Li An becoming the Treasure Pavilion's deputy Artifact Evaluator had spread, and many came to visit.

After decades, Cai Chao was already gray-haired and was astonished and deeply admired today; the downtrodden scholar from his teahouse years ago had unexpectedly thrived in such a manner!

Far surpassing Song Mingzhang from back then!

Until dusk, the guests finally dwindled, and Li An prepared to continue refining talismans.

"Reporting to the master,"

At this moment, the door attendant came to report: "A woman is outside, with a young girl, insisting on seeing you. We couldn't drive her away, and she's been kneeling outside for almost an hour..."

Li An said: "A woman?"

"Yes, she claims to be an old acquaintance of yours, named Song Anning."

Upon hearing this, Li An couldn't help but be taken aback.

Song Anning...

It had been fifteen years since he left the Song Mansion.

Fifteen years, and why would Song Anning come here, and kneel outside without getting up?

In fact, Li An had heard some news about her. Back then, she had her eyes on a young genius and planned to become Dao companions with him, so she took away all of Song Mingzhang's inheritance from Li An.

She did marry the genius she fancied back then, but how did she fall to this point?

Li An thought for a moment, having no desire to deal with this person.

But, reputation still needed to be considered.

After all, Song Mingzhang had been kind to him, and the world knew it. Now, with Song Anning kneeling outside the mansion, not seeing her directly would be inappropriate...

"Let them in."

...

Soon, Song Anning entered the living room with a seven or eight-year-old girl.

Her face was weathered and worn, and her plain dress appeared dull. The beauty of the past had been smoothed by life, her face seemingly imbued with a heavy layer of sorrow.

The little girl beside her was timid, clutching her sleeve tightly.

"It's been a long time, Miss Anning... Please sit."

Li An spoke.

But Song Anning knelt directly to the ground, raising her tear-filled eyes.

"Why to such an extent—"

Li An quickly stepped forward, helping her up.

"Master Zuo, I'm sorry, Anning was blind back then, choosing a heartless person. I'm sorry, truly sorry..."

She began to cry bitterly!

Under Li An's patient questioning, the whole story was finally revealed.

After marrying that young genius, she had a period of happiness. But as the genius grew stronger and sought Foundation Establishment in recent years, she was no longer able to provide any assistance. So, after her family's wealth was exhausted, the genius kicked her aside.

Very realistic.

Back then, she had some beauty, but to a cultivator, that meant nothing.

She had been wandering in the city with her daughter for half a year, living a very difficult life.

After all, Song Mingzhang had spoiled her too much back then, and she had learned almost no skills.

Recently, she didn't even have a place to live, on the verge of being forced into prostitution.

That's why she completely cast aside her pride and came to Li An, hoping he would help her out.

"I know, it's all my own doing, Master Zuo, I don't expect you to forgive me, but I really have no other way. I don't want Qingqing to suffer with me..."

Tears filled her eyes, expressing a mother's despair and sincerity.

Her daughter's name was Cao Qingqing.

Li An thought for a long time and said: "Lady Cao, could Qingqing first have something to eat?"

He had heard the little girl's stomach rumbling several times.

Song Anning hurriedly nodded.

The door attendant then stepped forward and took Cao Qingqing to eat.

"I can't help you."

Li An said very calmly, "Here are three hundred Spirit Stones. I suggest you leave Celestial Yang City and go elsewhere—"

Song Anning was stunned for a long while before she sorrowfully said: "So be it, so be it... It's Anning's fault for not knowing better."

Swallowing the bitter fruit herself, she turned to leave.

"Qingqing can stay here. If you agree, she will take the surname Song starting tomorrow."

Li An added.

Song Anning suddenly turned back, staring at Li An, her eyes filled with countless emotions: shame, hesitation...

After thinking for a long time.

She agreed.

That night, after telling Qingqing many things, she left alone.

Qingqing stayed at the mansion, and Li An renamed her Song Qingqing. After having her pay respects at Song Mingzhang's memorial tablet, he sent her to the cultivation academy in Celestial Yang City, giving her a chance in life, a choice.

This was the last thing he did for Song Mingzhang—to leave a descendant for him, so someone in this world remembered Song Mingzhang.

It was considered a repayment of kindness.

As for Song Anning, someone who belittled and degraded themselves wasn't worth any of his emotional expense!

Just better off dead far away.

...

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