After seeing Xu Qiuhui off, Li An sat in the shop, deep in thought.

The Profound Yang Sect had obtained the Yin Yang Demon Furnace Skill over a decade ago, which aligned with some information he had previously acquired.

It seemed that Mu Qingwan had been selected as a furnace.

However, the Yin Yang Demon Furnace Skill obtained by the Profound Yang Sect should be similar to the "simplified version" currently circulating widely, otherwise there would be no need to research for many years to deduce the side effects of the Yin Yang Demon Furnace Skill.

The issues during Spirit Root advancement were detailed in the complete version that Li An had acquired.

He just didn't expect that he could become a heart demon to a Foundation Establishment Stage demon cultivator…

Were the demon cultivators of this era really so mentally fragile? The more he thought about it, the stranger it seemed…

But that's not important anymore.

From Xu Qiuhui's words, the Profound Yang Sect had already decided to use Li An as bait!

Even if they do catch a fish, the bait often gets eaten…

His first thought was to escape.

But the risk was also high; he was already being watched by Xu Qiuhui, making it difficult to find an opportunity, and even if he managed to escape using the Shifting Skill, he would face endless trouble, pursued by both the Profound Yang Sect and the Demon Sect.

If he didn't run and stayed behind?

If what Xu Qiuhui said was true, he would certainly face the slaughter of demon cultivators.

To deal with the Demon Sect cultivators, the Profound Yang Sect would undoubtedly arrange for people to ambush secretly, but would those in ambush care about Li An's life or death? Those fishing would certainly wait for the fish to take the bait and get hooked completely before pulling up the rod.

In short, in the Profound Yang Sect's plan, Li An was just a sacrificial pawn!

Otherwise, Xu Qiuhui wouldn't have advised him to leave a child with Tan Qingxue quickly.

"The people of the Demon Sect have already been attracted by the Profound Yang Sect's herbal materials."

"So, from the perspective of the Demon Sect, they probably wouldn't come to kill me temporarily, because doing so would alert the Profound Yang Sect and increase the difficulty of looting the herbs."

"Similarly, they wouldn't let me live long. Once they loot the Spirit Medicine, Life-taking Horse-Faced would definitely advance to the Spirit Root at the fastest speed, allowing me no chance to live long."

"Therefore, if I were a demon cultivator, I'd act simultaneously, plundering Spirit Medicine while entering the market to kill, that's the best way!"

Li An carefully analyzed.

"To act on both fronts at once, I might not necessarily face Life-taking Horse-Faced!"

His eyes lit up!

If he faced a Foundation Establishment Stage demon cultivator like Life-taking Horse-Faced…Li An truly felt a bit desperate.

He was now at Qi Refining Fifth Layer Perfection, standing little chance of survival against such an existence.

But if it were other demon cultivators, as long as they were not at the Foundation Establishment Stage, there was hope.

Where would Life-taking Horse-Faced go?

Li An thought that the other party would mostly go to seize the herbs!

After all, as long as Li An was alive, there was always a chance to kill him, but herbs were rare opportunities.

Moreover, Li An's importance was likely less than the herbs, so the Demon Sect would probably guess that the Profound Yang Sect would guard the herbs more heavily, making such a tough battle one Life-taking Horse-Faced would certainly undertake himself.

With this in mind, Li An felt a little more certain.

Next, he began to deduce the possible situations that might occur.

"The other party wouldn't likely attack the market directly; they'd probably use the old method—sneak into the market, and then come to kill me."

"The Spirit Talisman Shop is the core!"

"At that time, the experts of the Profound Yang Sect will be lying in wait around."

"What I need to do is hang on to survive; the longer I hold out, the higher my chances of survival!"

Li An grasped the key to the problem.

The Profound Yang Sect, using him as bait, feared most that the arriving demon cultivators would be too strong, capable of killing him instantly or very quickly.

In such a case, even if Profound Yang Sect had hidden experts, they probably wouldn't care about Li An's life or death.

But if Li An could entangle with the opponent for a long time, hold on, then the experts of the Profound Yang Sect would undoubtedly act.

Because they also dare not delay.

"Currently, I have twenty Upper Grade Tier One Spirit Talismans, two Upper Grade Tier One Magical Treasures; moreover, the Silver Flesh stage of Iron Tree Skill has been mastered. Even against the Seventh or Eighth Layer of Qi Refining, I can hold out for a while."

"But it's not enough."

He murmured.

Then he counted his Spirit Stones.

With years of savings, plus the gains from killing demon cultivators, he now had over two thousand one hundred Spirit Stones.

Truly a fortune.

Looking at the Spirit Stones, a plan gradually formed in his mind…

At night.

Today, Tan Qingxue was dressed gorgeously, both pure and alluring, more charming than usual.

"Li Lang, why aren't you happy today? Is it because of Sister Xu?"

She clung to Li An, asking with concern.

"I am worried."

Li An sighed deeply, "The Demon Sect is so rampant, and I have offended a great cultivator from the Demon Dao. What if something happens, what should I do?"

Tan Qingxue said, "Li Lang, you don't have to worry too much. Once the sect captures all the demon cultivators in a few days, we'll be safe."

Li An nodded, "However, those demon cultivators are unpredictable. If we wish to have children, we must plan for the long term..."

Tan Qingxue was immediately thrilled, "Li Lang, you've finally thought it through. What are you planning to do? I'll listen to you!"

Li An said, "I'm planning to buy a Tier Two array to protect the Spirit Talisman Shop, so we can rest easy..."

Tier Two array?

Tan Qingxue couldn't help but find it funny. Li Lang was perhaps... being overly cautious?

After all, this is Qingyang Marketplace, the territory of the Profound Yang Sect, already one of the safest places. Yet Li Lang still wants to install a Tier Two array, which is... extremely cautious!

It's known that a Tier Two array is meant for Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators!

However, she was already excited, and immediately leaned close to Li An, softly whispering in his ear, "Today you financially support us, tomorrow I will support you. Buy whatever you like..."

...

The next morning.

Li An did not go out, but Tan Qingxue went out for a while.

Under Li An's guidance, she went straight to the array shop.

Typically, array shops wouldn't have Tier Two arrays in stock, but a few years ago, a Foundation Establishment Stage family ordered an array here and didn't retrieve it before being wiped out by the Life-taking Horse-Faced. The array remained in stock.

Li An had been eyeing this array for a long time, but had never bought it as there was no need before.

By noon, Tan Qingxue had returned with the Tier Two array.

"One way or another, it still cost three thousand five hundred spirit stones... Li Lang, for your sense of security, we've exhausted all our savings."

Even though she had mentally prepared herself last night, spending such a large amount of money still made her feel heartache.

Three thousand five hundred spirit stones could have bought a Foundation Establishment Pill, enough to start a decent small cultivation family.

"Thank you, Qingxue!"

Li An spoke gratefully and without hesitation, immediately set up the array.

Unlike the previously damaged array, this is a complete Tier Two array, costing about a hundred spirit stones a day to operate!

Even with Li An's stable income, it's only just enough to sustain it.

Tan Qingxue truly couldn't understand.

However, seeing Li An busy, she said nothing, just turned around and quietly prepared dinner for him.

...

In the blink of an eye, the third day arrived.

This day, in the evening.

Xu Qiuhui came by again.

"Qingxue, do you have time? Come out with me for a while."

She didn't tell Tan Qingxue the truth.

"Ah, now?"

Tan Qingxue was in the kitchen making soup, slightly surprised, "Are you busy? If not, I'll just finish making soup for Li Lang; he drinks Nourishing Essence Soup every night..."

Xu Qiuhui sighed lightly, not urging her.

Tan Qingxue carefully tended to the fire. Once the Nourishing Essence Soup was ready, she gently placed it on the table and reminded Li An,

"Li Lang, I've put the soup here. Remember to drink it while it's hot. I'll go out with Sister Xu for a bit..."

In the room, Li An was silent for a moment, then suddenly said,

"Wait a moment."

"What's wrong, Li Lang?"

Li An got up, gently smoothed her hair, brushed off some dust she had picked up in the kitchen, then said, "Go on, just remember to be careful about everything when you're out."

Tan Qingxue smiled sweetly, and without regard for Xu Qiuhui outside the door, she gently hugged Li An, kissed him, said, "I'll be back soon, wait for me—"

She left with Xu Qiuhui.

Li An was alone in the room, quietly waiting.

The soup was not yet cold when several figures appeared in the Spirit Talisman Shop, all disciples of the Profound Yang Sect, and at the forefront was Jing Ao, whom Li An had met before.

He had successfully established his foundation.

"Talisman Master Li, we meet again."

He smiled slightly, "I heard from Sister Qiu that you've set up a Tier Two array here?"

Li An didn't speak but calmly picked up the Nourishing Essence Soup on the table and took a sip.

The soup was delicious, rich, warming as it went down.

...

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