In the practice room, Shen Xuan opened the Jade Scroll of Great Song's Geography.

A spell was cast into it, and a three-dimensional map formed by spiritual light appeared before him.

Shen Xuan's gaze focused on the Shadow Forest, casting the Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil Technique seven times in a row.

The sensitivity of his intuition was elevated to the utmost limit.

After some time, Shen Xuan exhaled and put away the geography Jade Scroll.

Earlier, he concentrated his spirit entirely on the Shadow Forest within the virtual three-dimensional map.

During the process, there were moments of heartbeat and apprehension.

Fortunately, they were not very intense.

Not as terrifying and fearful as facing Murong Jun.

"It seems I passed the test without danger!"

Shen Xuan thought to himself.

Earlier, he had asked Qin Yuehan whether she had consulted Master Gu Feng before going to the Shadow Forest to collect the Purple Essence Divine Wood.

Qin Yuehan told him that she had consulted, and it was Master who gave her the intelligence on the Purple Essence Divine Wood.

"Why not ask Elder Lui to accompany you?"

"He can't."

Qin Yuehan's answer caught him off guard.

"Master said you could. Yuehan thinks so too."

With words laid out like this, Shen Xuan had no way to refuse, no excuse to decline.

Both Master and Junior Sister said he could do it.

He certainly couldn't say he couldn't.

Nevertheless, for the sake of safety, Shen Xuan asked Qin Yuehan to postpone it for two years.

"In these two years, I need to refine a very important treasure. Furthermore, I must consecrate the Water Purification Bottle to refine the Hundred-Direction Spirit Water."

"Two years? That's acceptable. Yuehan will wait for two years."

When Qin Yuehan left, she wore a smile, her lips slightly curved, as if her plan had succeeded.

"Could this Junior Sister Qin be falsely conveying Master's decree?"

Shen Xuan murmured to himself.

The reason he agreed to accompany Qin Yuehan to the Shadow Forest.

Master Gu Feng's will played a significant role.

Since it was intelligence provided by Master, and he was asked to accompany Qin Yuehan.

Given that she is a Core Formation True Master, surely she would know the level of danger.

This journey wouldn't be too hazardous.

As for Shen Xuan, he wouldn't mind.

Qin Yuehan is Master's direct disciple.

Couldn't be sacrificed in vain.

As for the two years' delay.

For Shen Xuan, it was very necessary.

Consecrating the Water Purification Bottle and refining the Hundred-Direction Spirit Water can greatly enhance his magical combat abilities.

Moreover, the two Tier Two Corpse Beasts, upon successful refining, also need time to practice the Control Technique.

Continuing to advance the Immortal-Slaying Water Qi Technique and Infinite Strength talent.

Additionally, accumulating some Tier Two Thunder Talismans in case of emergency.

"When it comes to safety of life, caution is never excessive!"

According to Shen Xuan's estimate, if he is in a place without water sources, his strength is only slightly stronger than ordinary Middle Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.

However, when he consecrates the Water Purification Bottle and refines the Hundred-Direction Spirit Water plus two Tier Two Corpse Beasts, he can withstand the Late Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators even without water sources.

Master Gu Feng thought he could do it based on his abilities two years ago.

In two years, his strength will have greatly improved once again.

Then his accompanying Qin Yuehan to the Shadow Forest to collect the "Purple Essence Divine Wood" should be smooth.

As long as he avoids those Tier Three Demon Kings, he is confident in retreating safely from the other Tier Two demon creatures, even those with gregarious hunting behaviors.

...

After Qin Yuehan left, Rain Listening Pavilion returned to tranquility.

Shen Xuan asked Su Xue'Er to hang up the sign "Pavilion Master in retreat, no visitors allowed."

Even the Su Family's Talisman Hall was temporarily halted.

These next two years, Shen Xuan has many tasks to accomplish.

The foremost is cultivation.

Upon reaching Foundation Establishment Realm, each small realm advancement appears incredibly arduous.

Many Foundation Establishment cultivators manage only to break through to Middle Stage Foundation Establishment in their lifetime.

Besides his Main Cultivation Technique, Divine Hidden Sea Technique, the powerful Immortal-Slaying Water Qi Technique also holds potential for advancement.

Moreover, the Infinite Strength talent is the most useful talent skill besides Water Control, remaining at just the small-accomplishment stage is insufficient.

Additionally, he must create Thunder Talismans, refine Corpse Beasts, and condense Spirit Water.

Constantly busy day after day.

And at present, Shen Xuan's Storage Pouch is already nearly depleted.

"White Lotus Immortal, I truly don't have so many Thunder Talismans!"

White Lotus Immortal disregarded the sign rejecting visitors at Rain Listening Pavilion and barged in directly.

"Talisman Master Shen, don't refuse first, have a look at the terms proposed by White Lotus."

The Beast Taming Zhou Family, although possessing over a dozen Tier Two demon beasts, has only three with water attributes.

Among them, the essence blood of two demon beasts has already been pocketed by Shen Xuan.

As for the remaining one, it is the mount of the Zhou Family ancestor, living and healthy.

The Zhou Family cannot possibly extract all its essence blood freely for Shen Xuan.

Since there is no Tier Two Water Attribute Demon Beast Essence Blood.

Shen Xuan sees no necessity for a transaction with White Lotus Immortal.

Since encountering the demon cultivator Murong Jun, Shen Xuan conscientiously accumulated Thunder Talismans.

Especially middle-grade Thunder Talismans, which have special effects on demon cultivators, gaining merely two to three pieces each month, are never sold.

He does not perceive White Lotus Immortal as capable of offering a compelling chip.

White Lotus Immortal gently approached Shen Xuan.

"A new Secret Realm has emerged in Cyan Yang Prefecture, very likely the Grotto Heaven Blessed Land of the ancient Master Lieyang."

Her voice was crisp and pleasant, akin to a songbird, intoxicatingly sweet.

"This matter is known only by our Zhou Family, Zhao Family, and Wu Family three patriarchs. The Su Family is unaware, you see."

"If you wish to enter Master Lieyang's Secret Realm, White Lotus can negotiate on your behalf to secure an entrance quota!"

The Secret Realm formed by Master Lieyang's Grotto Heaven Blessed Land?

Shen Xuan had heard of this individual.

He was a renowned Core Formation Loose Cultivator in Cyan Yang Prefecture a thousand years ago.

If it indeed is his Grotto Heaven Blessed Land.

It likely contains numerous cultivation spiritual objects.

Technique inheritances, spirit plants, refining materials, among others.

The quality is likely above Tier Three.

Undoubtedly, the Grotto Heaven Blessed Land of a Tier Three True Master is enormously tempting to cultivators.

Though slightly excited, Shen Xuan decisively refused.

"White Lotus Immortal, don't say anymore! I'm currently engrossed in cultivation, and my spirit stones are spent!"

He didn't even bother to ask about the price.

Even if free entry was offered, he'd consider thoroughly.

To spend a fortune purchasing an entry quota from the three patriarchs.

How could Shen Xuan be willing to squander such unjust expenditures?

White Lotus Immortal's face paused.

She was stunned for quite a while, then teasingly touched her hair, her eyes sparkling like autumn water, she glanced at Shen Xuan and smiled slightly, revealing two shallow dimples.

"Is Talisman Master Shen worried White Lotus would demand a high price?"

"Rest assured, White Lotus will navigate for you for free, not earning a single spirit stone. The entry quota costs twenty-thousand spirit stones each..."

Shen Xuan waved his hand: "White Lotus Immortal, I genuinely have no spirit stones left!"

He open-handedly took out his Storage Pouch and emptied it.

Inside lay merely a dozen middle-grade spirit stones.

"Shen Xuan, what a joke! How can you, a talisman master who crafts Thunder Talismans, be this broke!"

White Lotus Immortal gazed at the dozen middle-grade spirit stones on the table, speaking in disbelief.

"Doesn't a talisman master need cultivation? Doesn't cultivating require money? The good things I had have long been extracted by you, White Lotus Immortal!"

Shen Xuan spoke with displeasure.

He was never one to take advantage of others.

White Lotus Immortal has come to him several times, always taking advantage; he wasn't unaware.

Considering White Lotus Immortal is a local force in Cyan Yang Prefecture, valuable for her influence, he dismissed the grievances.

"I'm sorry. Talisman Master Shen, I truly didn't know you'd also become this hard-pressed!"

White Lotus Immortal's eyes shifted.

"Let's discuss Master Lieyang's Secret Realm later. However, Talisman Master Shen, White Lotus has a business opportunity that could relieve your urgent need! Interested?"

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