Chapter 68: Reverence for Teachers and the Way (Please Add to Your Favorites)

Actually, there was no need for Li Guanxuan to remind her; Song Zhiqiao could already foresee it herself… To become her brother’s concubine, not only must she grasp the wisdom with which he conducts himself, but she must also pass the trial period ahead. Beyond these, she must show extra respect to Sister Wen and Sister Qin, never allowing any conflict to arise—otherwise, Brother Li would become merely Fellow Daoist Li.

Night fell upon Hundred Fragrance Pavilion.

Li Guanxuan arrived as promised, seeing Zuo Xiao had already waited for some time. He stepped forward with a helpless smile and said,

“Brother Zuo, I thought I’d arrived early today, but you are even earlier.”

“Nothing better to do, so I came straight here to secure a spot… Come, take a look at the menu, order whatever you like.”

Zuo Xiao hurriedly stood to greet Li Guanxuan, handed him the menu, then began pouring Purple Spirit Rice Wine, saying,

“Brother Li, the Purple Spirit Rice Wine here at Hundred Fragrance Pavilion is renowned in Shanggu City—calming the mind, nourishing the spirit, strengthening the soul, perfectly suited for a talisman master like yourself… Try it, and if you like it, I’ll have the waiter set aside a few bottles for you to take home.”

“That would make things a bit too formal,” Li Guanxuan teased with a smile.

Zuo Xiao was momentarily stunned, then replied with a bitter smile, “If not for that, I’d feel uneasy holding those ten supreme protective talismans.”

“Keep them, the raw material for those talismans is just a small piece of first-tier beast hide, which the manager at Myriad Phenomena Pavilion didn’t want and gifted to me. It cost very little spirit stones.”

Li Guanxuan clinked his cup with Zuo Xiao, drained it in one hearty gulp, and continued, smiling, “Besides, as a second-tier low-grade talisman master, crafting first-tier talisman slips is effortless for me, barely consuming any spiritual sense or magic power. Brother Zuo, you needn’t worry.”

“Second-tier talisman master?”

Zuo Xiao’s eyes widened in surprise.

He then finished one cup, poured and drank two more, saying, “Blame my lack of discernment—I never imagined I’d befriend a second-tier talisman master in this lifetime.”

“Don’t be so modest. When my wives and I first arrived in Shanggu City, without your introductions, we’d have struggled much more,” Li Guanxuan said with a smile.

“That’s nothing compared to the protective talisman you gave me—totally insignificant,” Zuo Xiao waved it off, refilling Li Guanxuan’s cup.

With a few more rounds of wine, the formalities between them faded, and their conversation turned to various trivial and amusing matters.

At that moment, the sound of spells clashing came from outside Hundred Fragrance Pavilion.

Looking through the window, they saw six mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators locked in combat; in the distance, the city guard patrol rushed to suppress and stop them.

Li Guanxuan asked, “Has Shanggu City become restless lately?”

Zuo Xiao nodded slightly, explaining, “The demons have established a spirit city in the Immortal Ruins, completely squeezing out the survival space for evil cultivators and marauders. Now, these marauders can no longer claim mountains as their own—they flock to the spirit city, exploiting loopholes in order to cause trouble and profit from harming others.”

Seeing Li Guanxuan’s confusion, Zuo Xiao continued, “Some of these marauders provoke others with words, waiting for their opponents to strike first, then act in self-defense. If they get injured, they demand compensation, otherwise they escalate it to the magistrate.

Some even risk injury during combat just to snatch storage pouches, tossing them to accomplices mingling in the crowd, who vanish instantly without a trace…”

Hearing these stories, Li Guanxuan was stunned.

Trouble indeed—the marauders have wised up…

Page 2 of 3

“But recently, the city has begun cracking down on these marauders. The magistrate now uses lie-detecting artifacts; once a marauder’s real intent is exposed, they’re blacklisted and expelled from Shanggu City.”

Zuo Xiao smiled, “These marauders never obey laws or order—self-indulgence is their nature. In time, they’ll all be exposed and cleared out… Before long, Shanggu City will return to how it once was.”

“Still, caution is needed,” Li Guanxuan warned, “Evil cultivators usually act alone, but those marauders, when desperate, will band together and cause great upheaval.”

Zuo Xiao was taken aback, his expression turning grave.

Li Guanxuan offered a comforting smile, “But it’s alright—most marauders are at Qi Refining stage. As long as the city’s Foundation Establishment cultivators step in, they won’t stir up much trouble.”

“What if one of those marauders breaks through to Foundation Establishment?” Zuo Xiao asked in a low voice.

Li Guanxuan narrowed his eyes, silently sipping his wine.

In that case, Shanggu City would face real danger.

If a marauder achieved Foundation Establishment, they’d become leader to all Qi Refining marauders, slowly forming a power bloc to seize greater interests.

Bloodhand Gate and Death Pavilion in Qing’an City developed in exactly this way.

Once they reach Foundation Establishment, the bandit chief becomes a sect leader.

Robbery and destruction become open and unrestrained.

“We can foresee this, and so can Shanggu City’s big shots—rest assured,” Li Guanxuan said with a smile, raising his cup.

“True enough,” Zuo Xiao raised his cup, laughing, “Let’s drink today while we can!”

…

The next day.

Li Guanxuan departed the inn for Myriad Phenomena Pavilion. As soon as he entered, he heard Liu Xiaoxian’s voice:

“Come upstairs!”

Li Guanxuan said nothing, his heart devoid of any thoughts, and went straight up to the top floor, pushing the door open.

He was greeted once again by the voluptuous, ripe beauty—her figure reminiscent of a luscious peach.

But now, a hint of anger flickered in her golden eyes.

“I’m furious, absolutely furious, so angry…” Liu Xiaoxian paced back and forth, her beautiful face twisted in frustration, hands on her slender waist, accentuating her shapely hips.

“Master,” Li Guanxuan bowed.

Page 3 of 3

Seeing her treasured disciple, capable of refining Foundation Establishment Pills with a thirty percent success rate, Liu Xiaoxian took a deep breath to compose herself, but failed, venting,

“I’d just arrived at the Red Flame Mountains when I saw that fellow beset by the Beast-Taming You Family. He swatted five ants dead with one palm, saving his life…

Then! I asked him for a Foundation Establishment Pill, promising I’d find another for him later. He simply swallowed both pills on the spot!”

Li Guanxuan was momentarily stunned—Fang Xingzhi was that reckless?

He swallowed two Foundation Establishment Pills at once?

He’s truly unafraid of dying from body overload…

“Don’t be angry, Master,” Li Guanxuan soothed. “And then?”

“Then he started attempting Foundation Establishment right there, saying his life was worthless, and he’d accept whatever fate. If I didn’t kill him, he’d help guard the area… I’m absolutely furious!” Liu Xiaoxian’s face was livid, her chest heaving dramatically, to an extent even her loose Daoist robe couldn’t conceal.

Noticing her own loss of composure, Liu Xiaoxian coughed lightly and turned to Li Guanxuan, seeing him bowing his head, and felt gratified…

What a sensible, thoughtful disciple.

“For your sake, I left behind a protective spirit talisman and a strand of magic power at the site. At least he’ll be safe for a year… Whether he succeeds in Foundation Establishment depends on his own fortune,” Liu Xiaoxian said calmly.

“He is an evil cultivator, his death matters little. Master, you needn’t waste your precious power on him.”

With that, Li Guanxuan offered three second-tier protective spirit talismans with both hands, respectfully saying, “These are all I have, Master. Please accept them as a token of filial piety.”

“It’s just a protective talisman, worth little,” Liu Xiaoxian waved it off, unconcerned, massaging her shoulder as she casually remarked, “Getting older, my shoulders are a bit sore…”

Li Guanxuan immediately understood, saying, “Not at all, Master. Your immortal path is boundless; you will surely attain Dao and live in carefree longevity… I’ve learned some basic massage techniques—if Master doesn’t mind, may I help relieve your muscles?”

Liu Xiaoxian glanced at him, her eyes brimming with satisfaction, and nodded slightly,

“Such filial devotion pleases me greatly… Very well, come and massage for me.”

“Yes.”

“Ah, that’s comfortable~”

…

PS: This is the second chapter today; there should be another tonight—not for anything else, but just hoping for some votes~