Xu Qiuhui.

Li An truly didn't expect that after eight years, he would hear this name again in White Tiger City.

Back then, when the Demon Sect broke through the Profound Yang Sect, they targeted and killed many Foundation Establishment cultivators from Profound Yang Sect, yet she survived?

However, Xu Qiuhui was indeed the smartest person he had met in the Profound Yang Sect, so it was no surprise that she managed to survive.

Moreover, even though the Profound Yang Sect had fallen, she still thrived and was accepted as a disciple by the Core Formation powerhouse, White Tiger Master.

After a thorough investigation, Li An learned more.

Xu Qiuhui came to White Tiger City five years ago.

After entering the city, she went through various trials to be accepted as White Tiger Master's disciple, and finally, six months ago, she gained his approval.

It won't be long until the formal disciple acceptance ceremony takes place, making her the seventeenth disciple of White Tiger Master.

White Tiger Master treats his disciples very well, providing guidance in cultivation techniques and skills and allowing them to earn Spirit Stones from the city taxes collected within the sealed area for their cultivation.

From now on, Xu Qiuhui has truly moved up a notch.

Even during her days in the Profound Yang Sect, she never had such treatment.

Among the remnants of the Profound Yang Sect's disciples, she might have developed the best.

"Alright, let's choose here."

Li An spoke, "I'll pay for ten years first."

At the current rate, twelve Spirit Stones per month amounts to one thousand four hundred forty pieces for ten years.

But if it turns into a sealed area, the cost would be nearly three thousand Spirit Stones for ten years. Securing it now is truly a great deal.

"Brother Wei is indeed generous, Manman didn't see wrong in you!"

Manman smiled slightly, "Alright, I'll take you to pay."

Soon, Li An paid the Spirit Stones and received the certification jade token for the small courtyard, among other things. Manman then personally led Li An to the house he rented.

This small courtyard is located at the foot of a small mountain, with beautiful and quiet surroundings, an isolated and freestanding structure, with a few similar residences not far away.

Besides the slightly thinner Spiritual Qi, all other conditions are perfect.

"How about it, Brother Wei? Is it okay?"

Manman looked at the small courtyard in front of them, with a complex emotion in her eyes.

In fact, she originally reserved this small courtyard for herself, planning to live there after getting married.

However, three months ago, her fiancé went out to the Cloud Illusion Mountain Range and perished, and she couldn't afford it on her own.

She kept it at hand.

Seeing Li An so generous and giving her many benefits, she decided to introduce it to Li An.

"Manman, this place is so nice, thank you very much."

Li An smiled and suddenly took out a storage pouch, handing it to Manman, "If you ever need anything, feel free to come to me, and I'll do what I can to help."

Inside the storage pouch were a hundred Spirit Stones.

It must be noted that Li An hadn't been able to gather any information about White Tiger Mountain during his few days in the city, yet Manman somehow knew about Xu Qiuhui's news, proving she had strong information channels in the city!

Having a good relationship with such a person is very beneficial.

"Brother Wei, you're so generous... you're really good to me!"

Even though Manman had been in this business for many years, she couldn't help but feel a bit excited.

The tips Li An gave her over this time added up to her annual income!

"It's nothing, you look very much like my little sister, and seeing you reminds me of her."

"If you don't mind, how about we treat each other as siblings from now on?"

Upon hearing this, Manman's eyes couldn't help but show some excitement, "Brother!"

Li An smiled and acknowledged.

Manman then introduced many situations to Li An, clearly putting in great effort, including the people and things that Li An should be cautious of in the city.

This made Li An feel that spending the hundred Spirit Stones was very worthwhile!

Only after quite some time did Manman leave.

Li An cleaned up his residence.

The courtyard wasn't large, but it had an ancient well, a willow tree, could accommodate a stone table, and the house had two rooms, a kitchen, and a main hall.

After finishing the cleanup, Li An took out two sets of advanced array formations and set them up.

One set focused on defense, and the other focused on attack, working in coordination.

In fact, a single array formation can fulfill both offensive and defensive functions, but Li An knew well that unless it was Tier Two or higher, Qi Refining Stage arrays aim for comprehensiveness, which actually weakens each function, comprehensive but not strong!

He preferred using multiple arrays in combination.

After resting in the courtyard for a while, he went to visit the nearby residences.

As he would be living here, it was necessary to get to know the neighbors.

He knocked on the door of the first small courtyard, and when the door opened, a middle-aged man looked at Li An, a little puzzled.

"Greetings, fellow cultivator, I am Wei Ming. I've just rented the house here for ten years and came to visit my good neighbors."

Li An smiled slightly, then presented a set of Tier One lower-grade formation arrays, saying, "A small token, nothing significant."

The middle-aged man was instantly pleased, smiling, "I am Liao Cheng, a physician. Fellow Daoist Wei is an Array Master? Please, please come in."

Li An promptly entered and sat in Liao Cheng's residence for a while, drank a cup of tea, and then left.

Liao Cheng was quite courteous, providing some simple medicines for bruises in return and also mentioning, "Oh right, fellow Daoist Wei, you don't need to visit the neighbor. Miss Xiaoxiao isn't home these days."

Through Liao Cheng, Li An learned that, aside from himself, there were four people living here in total.

They are: Physician Liao Cheng, Talisman Master Wang Can, Alchemist Luo Yong, and Guo Xiaoxiao.

Liao Cheng didn't say much about Guo Xiaoxiao, only mentioning that she's as beautiful as a flower and rarely stays here.

From this statement, Li An inferred quite a bit.

This indicated that Guo Xiaoxiao at least had other places to stay within the city.

Wang Can, already in his sixties, appeared quite weathered and old. Knowing that Li An is an Array Master, he subtly inquired whether Li An also knew Talisman crafting.

Generally, array formations and talismans have some similarities.

Li An replied that he didn't know how, which relieved Wang Can a lot—his talismans were the best-selling ones in the area, and a new competitor would certainly affect his business.

He then gifted two of the lowest-grade talismans in return.

Finally, Li An arrived at the door of Alchemist Luo Yong.

After knocking for quite some time, an impatient voice replied, "Who is it!"

When the door opened, he saw a chubby man with an irritable face, fat-faced, in his thirties or forties, wearing luxurious clothes, looking down at Li An.

"I am Wei Ming, I've rented the house here for ten years, and came to visit my good neighbor. A small token, nothing significant."

Li An presented a Tier One lower-grade Spirit Gathering Array.

Luo Yong only glanced at it casually and said, "Oh, I see, you don't need to bother with the gift."

Clearly unimpressed.

As an Alchemist, he was very much sought-after, and he had the right to be proud.

He also did not invite Li An to enter.

"Alright,"

Li An still smiled warmly, "Please take care in the future."

Luo Yong casually dismissed Li An with a few words and then closed the door.

Returning to his residence, Li An had a mental assessment of these people.

Except for the unseen Guo Xiaoxiao, Liao Cheng, Wang Can, and Luo Yong posed no significant threat, all being at the Late-Stage Qi Refining.

Liao Cheng's depths were yet to be seen, Wang Can was narrow-minded, and Luo Yong was arrogant and conceited, but none of these were issues.

He could now cultivate with peace of mind!

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