Chapter 89: Cooperative Transaction
Several years ago, Lan Chang'an had once sought an audience with Zhou Qingxuan at the Zhou Family encampment, where he had addressed her as a senior.
Calling her "Miss Zhou" today was not without reason.
When they first met at Bamboo Leaf Mountain, Zhou Qingxuan had been a peculiar and clever young girl, twenty years younger than Lan Chang'an.
In terms of age difference, he could be her father.
"Big Brother Lan, we've known each other for decades, calling me Miss Zhou is too formal. Why not just call me Qingxuan?"
Zhou Qingxuan smiled charmingly, her voice as crisp as wind chimes, with a hint of playful dissatisfaction.
At this moment, she seemed just like the girl next door, not the high and mighty genius Foundation Establishment elder of the Zhou Family.
Big Brother Lan?
Lan Chang'an couldn't help but reassess this girl.
If he remembered correctly, the last thing she said to him was: "I don't want to see you again."
"Miss Zhou, you flatter me. You are the genius Foundation Establishment of the Zhou Family. How could this old man dare to overstep?" Lan Chang'an didn't fall for her charm and invited her into the house.
"Big Brother Lan is too modest, reaching Foundation Establishment at seventy is something ordinary cultivators cannot achieve. And you've maintained yourself so well."
Zhou Qingxuan's lively eyes were filled with laughter, her delicate and flawless pure face in stark contrast to her undulating curves.
She thought to herself: Hmph! You old fox, if it weren't for the elders of my family asking, I wouldn't have come to see you.
...
Guan Qiaozhi poured their tea, then respectfully excused herself.
The two chatted about old times, mainly about the Bamboo Leaf Mountain Market Town.
Naturally, the auction and the rampage of the evil cultivator Liang Shaotian from back then were mentioned.
Lan Chang'an learned more details about how Zhou Qingxuan and her uncle Zhou Jingxuan managed to survive Liang Shaotian.
"Alas, all these years, there's been no news of 'Senior Yan'." Zhou Qingxuan wrinkled her nose, seemingly regretful.
Lan Chang'an found it odd, not expecting that after all these years, this girl still remembered this matter.
"That Liang Shaotian, on the other hand, has become more rampant, mastering the 'Black Dipper Demon Flame', and has been on a killing spree, exterminating several famous Foundation Establishment cultivators. In recent years, he's established a hidden demonic sect near the Black Fog Mountain Range on the border of Liang Kingdom." Zhou Qingxuan's expression was one of deep loathing.
Lan Chang'an had heard of Liang Shaotian's notorious reputation over the years.
The reason for his killing spree, according to him, was that the righteous sects were framing him.
Liang Shaotian publicly stated that he never raped and murdered the female cultivator of Xuan Yin Pavilion and that the real culprit was a direct disciple of the Flame Departing Palace.
However, Liang Shaotian had a terrible reputation in the Liang Kingdom's cultivation world, and no one believed his words.
Flame Departing Palace is a Nascent Soul-level power in the Liang Kingdom; who would dare question it?
Over the years, the charges against Liang Shaotian had only increased.
The reason Zhou Qingxuan brought up Liang Shaotian again was that the Zhou Family's territory was close to a small branch of the Black Fog Mountain Range.
The hidden base Liang Shaotian established was near the border of the Liang Kingdom, also near the Black Fog Mountain Range, not far from the Zhou Family's territory.
...
"Miss Zhou, your visit today is not just to reminisce with me, is it?" Lan Chang'an took a sip of spirit tea.
"Big Brother Lan, to be honest, this time I'm here on behalf of my family to invite you to become a guest elder for our Zhou Family." Zhou Qingxuan said seriously.
This did not surprise Lan Chang'an.
As a Foundation Establishment cultivator and a second-rank talisman master with the reputation of reaching Foundation Establishment in his ancient age, it was normal for the Zhou Family to be interested.
"I have just entered Foundation Establishment and recently became a second-rank talisman master. How could I be worthy?" Lan Chang'an politely declined.
Then, Zhou Qingxuan revealed the truth:
The Zhou Family's current second-rank talisman master was nearing the end of his life, and there was no one to succeed him in the art of talismans.
It's not that the Zhou Family lacked talent.
Most of the Zhou Family's talents focused on beast taming, followed by alchemy and talisman crafting.
When Lan Chang'an was at the ninth layer of Qi-Refining, he had demonstrated a second-rank talisman in front of Zhou Qingxuan. After reaching Foundation Establishment, he was now a proper second-rank talisman master.
Moreover, Lan Chang'an had a good reputation, which added to his appeal.
There was another hidden reason Zhou Qingxuan didn't mention.
Fu Xuemei owed Lan Chang'an a favor, which the Zhou Family valued.
The Zhou Family was located in the northwest of the Liang Kingdom, near a small branch of the Black Fog Mountain Range.
Huanglong Immortal City was directly north, adjacent to the main branch of the Black Fog Mountain Range.
The distance between the two wasn't too far, nor too close.
The Zhou Family had always wanted to deepen their relationship and cooperation with the Huanglong Mountain lineage.
The Zhou Family elders knew about Zhou Qingxuan's past acquaintance with Lan Chang'an, so they sent her to win him over.
This was the reason for Zhou Qingxuan's personal visit.
...
"Big Brother Lan, the Earth Spirit Pill I sold you last time was a mistake. This second-rank Earth Spirit Pill is to make up for that oversight." Zhou Qingxuan smiled charmingly, handing over a brown porcelain bottle.
"Oh?"
Lan Chang'an took the bottle, which contained a properly effective low-grade second-rank Earth Spirit Pill.
This gesture from Zhou Qingxuan was an apology.
"A second-rank Earth Spirit Pill can enhance the cultivation of earth-element spirit beasts." Lan Chang'an accepted it calmly.
Squeak, squeak!
Attracted by the enticing scent of the Earth Spirit Pill, an Earth Burrowing Rat emerged from a hole in the courtyard.
It ran to Lan Chang'an, looking up at him eagerly.
"A second-rank Earth Burrowing Rat?"
Zhou Qingxuan was stunned.
When she entered the courtyard, she had sensed the presence of the Earth Burrowing Rat but didn't expect it to have successfully advanced to the second rank.
"Wait! This Earth Burrowing Rat's bloodline has mutated, its demonic power is significantly stronger than that of an ordinary rat demon."
Zhou Qingxuan was filled with surprise, her delicate mouth agape, staring intently at the Earth Burrowing Rat.
"Thanks to the Earth Spirit Pill Miss Zhou gave me back then. Although its properties were abnormal, by a stroke of luck, it allowed this rat to advance to the second rank and its bloodline to mutate." Lan Chang'an said half-truthfully.
Having lived for a long time, he had no intention of hiding his spirit pets.
A second-rank Earth Burrowing Rat could display his strength.
Lan Chang'an had certain needs from the Zhou Family, such as second-rank mid-to-late stage beast skins.
"Bloodline mutation?"
Gazing at the robust rat demon with an orange-yellow tinge, Zhou Qingxuan was dumbfounded, her chest heaving.
The Earth Spirit Pill she gave, with its abnormal properties, had actually turned out to be a stroke of luck for Lan Chang'an?
Even Zhou Qingxuan herself couldn't guarantee what effects the abnormal properties of that Earth Spirit Pill would have.
Normally, bad results would occur nine times out of ten, but there was also a slim chance of triggering a bloodline mutation.
"Big Brother Lan is indeed fortunate to reach Foundation Establishment at seventy." Zhou Qingxuan's eyes sparkled as if wanting to reevaluate Lan Chang'an.
The cultivation of the Profound Water Turtle exceeded expectations. The Earth Burrowing Rat's bloodline mutation, and advancing to the second rank. Luck was one aspect, but Lan Chang'an undoubtedly possessed secrets to beast taming.
Now, Lan Chang'an was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, a second-rank talisman master, he had a second-rank spirit beast by his side, and an inspirational reputation. Even the Zhou Family couldn't easily pry into his secrets.
"Big Brother Lan, did you obtain a beast taming inheritance?"
Zhou Qingxuan's eyes softened, her delicate face moved closer, exuding a fresh lotus fragrance.
"Miss Zhou, don't overthink it. I am merely good at healing, and with the help of rare treasures, I was able to cultivate the Profound Water Turtle smoothly." Lan Chang'an dispelled her thoughts.
"The art of healing?"
Zhou Qingxuan pondered, her thoughts active.
Veterinary medicine was also one of the hundred arts of Immortal Cultivation.
If one's medical skills were high enough, it was not a delusion to raise a sickly Profound Water Turtle and promote its growth.
...
"Miss Zhou, I am accustomed to freedom and cannot join the Zhou Family. However, I am open to cooperation." Lan Chang'an didn't beat around the bush and expressed his intentions.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Qingxuan was slightly disappointed but this outcome was within her expectations. If she couldn't recruit him outright, securing a collaborative agreement was acceptable as well.
"Our Zhou Family has specific needs for second-rank talismans. If Big Brother Lan can meet these demands, we can provide excellent materials for talisman crafting in exchange."
"Oh, which second-rank talismans?" Lan Chang'an inquired.
The majority were for traps and binding, which posed no challenge for him
"No problem. I hope the Zhou Family can provide me with late second-rank beast skins." Lan Chang'an stated his request.
"Second-rank late-stage beast skins?" Zhou Qingxuan raised her eyebrows; she hadn't expected Lan Chang'an to aim so high.
A late second-rank beast's strength was formidable, and even Huanglong Immortal City rarely saw such hides.
"I wish to create mid second-rank talismans, but my skill is lacking, so I must compensate with higher-grade materials to boost my success rate." Lan Chang'an sighed.
"Mid second-rank talisman?"
Zhou Qingxuan's eyes flickered, and she surmised that Lan Chang'an must have become a second-rank low-grade talisman master while in the ninth layer of Qi-Refining. After all, he had exceptional talisman drawing talent and was no longer young.
Now that he had entered Foundation Establishment, his magical powers and spiritual sense had greatly increased, allowing him to attempt the creation of mid-grade talismans.
In the field of talisman crafting, it was not uncommon for one to boost the success rate by using higher-grade materials when their skill was insufficient.
A mid second-rank talisman was akin to a mid-Foundation Establishment-level spell, and they were rare in the market. Ordinary cultivator clans would treat such a talisman as a trump card, and even the Beast Taming Zhou Family would need to keep such powerful means at hand.
"If Big Brother Lan can refine second-rank mid-grade talisman that meets our requirements, it wouldn't be impossible for the Zhou Family to provide late second-rank demonic beast skin." Zhou Qingxuan mumbled.
Lan Chang'an's heart leaped with joy. As expected, the Beastmaster Zhou Family could afford to provide such a rare item.
The connections he had cultivated in the past came to fruition. Acquiring the materials to craft second-rank superior-grade talismans through normal channels was impossible.
(End of chapter)