14: First meeting with Han Yunzhi

The night was as dark as ink, shrouding the bustling Tai Nan Valley that had been lively all day.

The lights in the market gradually dimmed, most shops had already closed, and only a few stalls still glowed with faint light; most of the vendors looked tired and were preparing to pack up.

Han Li, dragging his exhausted body, circled the valley a few times but ultimately couldn't bring himself to pay the exorbitant inn fees.

Every Spirit Stone he possessed was hard-earned, and spending it on accommodation felt too extravagant to him.

Waves of stomach cramps assailed him, causing fine beads of sweat to seep from his forehead.

"Damn it, that accursed fusion yang pill!" Han Li gritted his teeth and cursed silently.

He finally chose a relatively secluded small forest on the outskirts of Tai Nan Valley.

He took out a worn beast hide from his Storage Pouch and spread it on the ground, then found some dry grass to simply cover himself, preparing to make do for the night there.

The evening breeze blew, carrying a hint of coolness, but it couldn't disperse the frustration in his heart or the discomfort in his body.

He curled up on the beast hide, only wishing for this difficult night to pass quickly.

Unlike Han Li's miserable plight, Lin Feng was in a rather pleasant mood at this moment.

The subsequent Cultivation Technique of Evergreen Technique was in hand, the damaged treasure incense burner was already in his possession, and the System rewards were generous; it could be said he had gained a lot.

He was currently strolling through the market, intending to pick out a decent gift for Mo Fengwu.

It was the little girl's first time attending such a Cultivator gathering, so she ought to have some memento.

Moreover, a suitable Magical Artifact could also enhance her self-preservation ability.

Lin Feng walked into a shop named "Hundred Treasures Pavilion."

This shop was quite large, and its decor was rather impressive; most of the items displayed inside shimmered with spiritual light, clearly indicating their high quality.

A middle-aged man who looked like a manager, seeing Lin Feng's extraordinary demeanor, quickly came forward to greet him.

"Esteemed Immortal Master, welcome to Hundred Treasures Pavilion, how may I be of service to you?"

Lin Feng's gaze swept over the dazzling array of Magical Artifacts, Medicinal Pills, and Materials in the pavilion, finally settling on a light blue, feminine inner armor.

This inner armor was as thin as a cicada's wing, with flowing runes shimmering on its surface, emitting a strong spiritual energy fluctuation.

"This 'Flowing Water Soft Armor,' what is its grade? What are its uses?" Lin Feng asked, pointing at the inner armor.

The manager's eyes lit up, and he smiled, saying, "Immortal Master has excellent discernment! This is a top-grade Magical Artifact, the 'Flowing Water Soft Armor,' refined from thousand-year-old ice silkworm silk supplemented with the essence of soft water. It is not only light and comfortable but can also easily withstand a full-strength blow from a Cultivator in the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment. If its 'Water Screen Protection' is activated, it can even withstand attacks from Cultivators in the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment for a short period."

"Oh?" Lin Feng was slightly satisfied.

Mo Fengwu's cultivation was still shallow, so this inner armor would be a great safety guarantee for her.

"What's the price?"

"Immortal Master, this armor's original price is four hundred and twenty Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Seeing your sincerity, we can offer it to you for four hundred Spirit Stones," the manager said with a beaming smile.

Lin Feng nodded, not haggling.

For a top-grade Magical Artifact, this price was quite reasonable.

He readily threw out a large bag of Spiritual Plants and Medicinal Pills he had exchanged from the System Mall but didn't need.

Soon after, the manager finished counting and handed Lin Feng a Storage Pouch containing over a thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

Lin Feng didn't even look at it, casually kept four hundred, and then put the Flowing Water Soft Armor into his Storage Pouch.

"Thank you for your patronage, Immortal Master!" The manager's smile became even brighter.

Lin Feng walked out of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, preparing to return to the Welcoming Immortal Inn.

"Ding! Detecting a female supporting character, Han Yunzhi, capable of forming a bond, three hundred zhang ahead of the host, in the area at the end of the left street."

"Han Yunzhi's current status: Troubled."

"Triggering side quest: [First Meeting with a Beauty]."

"Quest objective: Achieve a 'Friendly' bond with Han Yunzhi (30 bond points), and exchange the Golden Bamboo Talisman Brush, which originally belonged to Old Devil Han in the original work, from her in a reasonable manner."

"Quest rewards: System Points +300, Talisman Dao Insight Fragment x1 (significantly increases understanding of the Talisman Dao and success rate of Talisman creation upon use)."

Lin Feng's steps paused, and a slight curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Han Yunzhi? Golden Bamboo Talisman Brush?

This was a very important tool in Han Li's early Talisman-making career.

Without this item, Han Li would likely Face significant difficulties in making Talismans, given his Aptitude.

"System, is there some trouble at Han Yunzhi's stall?" Lin Feng asked in his mind.

"Ding! Han Yunzhi has a gentle personality and is not good with words. Her Talisman Brush stall is currently being harassed by two Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators who are attempting to force a purchase at a reduced price."

Lin Feng understood.

A hero saving the beauty trope? Although old-fashioned, it was effective.

He quickened his pace, following the System's guidance, and walked towards the end of the street.

Indeed, in a dimly lit corner, a somewhat flimsy stall was surrounded by several people.

The vendor was a young woman in simple, elegant clothes, about twenty years old, with a delicate Face and a hint of scholarly air between her brows; at this moment, however, her pretty brows were furrowed, and she seemed a bit helpless.

On the stall in front of her, more than a dozen Talisman Brushes of various colors were neatly arranged, along with stacks of already drawn Talismans, emitting a faint scent of ink and spiritual energy fluctuations.

Two burly men with rough Faces were spitting as they spoke to the woman, their expressions quite unfriendly.

"I say, little lady, your Talisman Brushes are crudely made, and the Materials are ordinary, yet you dare to sell them for so much?" One of the triangular-eyed strong men said in a strange, mocking tone, picking up a dark Talisman Brush and weighing it. "I think, this brush is worth at most three Spirit Stones! You're selling it for ten, isn't that too greedy?!"

Another round-faced big man echoed, "Exactly! And these Talismans, I see their spiritual energy fluctuations are very weak, perhaps they are defective products? Little girl, you must be honest in business, don't try to deceive honest people like us!"

Han Yunzhi's pretty brows were tightly furrowed, and she softly said, "Fellow Daoists, all of my Talisman Brushes are family heirlooms, made with superior Materials and meticulously refined. This 'Ink Jade Brush' uses hundred-year-old ink jade bamboo as the main material, supplemented with the hair of a Level 2 Yao Beast wolf, and the price of ten Spirit Stones is already fair. These Talismans are also all personally drawn by this humble one, there are absolutely no defective ones."

Her voice was gentle, yet carried a subtle hint of persistence.

The triangular-eyed man sneered, "Less talk! I'm taking this brush today, five Spirit Stones, are you selling or not? Don't be ungrateful!"

As he spoke, he reached out to snatch the Ink Jade Brush.

Several Cultivators watching the commotion around them shook their heads, but no one stepped forward to stop it.

In the Immortal Realm, the strong inherently rule, and such acts of bullying are not uncommon.

Han Yunzhi's Face paled, and she took half a step back, a flicker of panic in her eyes.

She was only at the sixth layer of Qi Refining, while these two burly men were at the seventh and eighth layers of Qi Refining respectively; she was no match for them at all.

"Fellow Daoists, why bother a little girl?"

A calm voice came from the side.

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice, only to see a handsome young Cultivator in a green robe standing in front of the stall, having appeared at some unknown time.

It was Lin Feng.

He didn't even glance at the two burly men, his gaze falling on a golden Talisman Brush on the stall, its shaft subtly patterned with bamboo nodes.

That was precisely the Golden Bamboo Talisman Brush.

"Esteemed Fairy, this Talisman Brush, what is its name? And what is its price?" Lin Feng asked gently, as if completely oblivious to the tense atmosphere in front of the stall.

Han Yunzhi was slightly startled, looking at the handsome young man who had suddenly appeared before her, somewhat unable to react.

The two burly men, seeing someone interfere, immediately showed displeasure.

The triangular-eyed burly man glared fiercely at Lin Feng: "Kid, where did you pop out from? This is none of your business, mind your own business and get lost!"

The round-faced big man also said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoist, I advise you not to meddle. It's her good fortune that our brothers have taken a liking to the things at this stall. If you're sensible, you'll leave quickly to avoid asking for trouble!"

Only then did Lin Feng shift his gaze from the Golden Bamboo Talisman Brush, calmly glancing at the two of them.

"Oh? Things you fancy are yours then? When did this Tai Nan Valley become your private property, you two?"

His tone was calm. But in the eyes of the two, Lin Feng's demeanor was one of looking down on them.

"Kid, you're courting death!"

The triangular-eyed burly man's temper was clearly more volatile; seeing Lin Feng show no Face at all, he immediately flew into a rage.

He let out a low growl, his spiritual energy circulating, and his fist, as big as a casserole, came smashing towards Lin Feng's Face with a fierce gust of wind!

Such a close-range strike from a seventh-layer Qi Refining Cultivator would likely catch an ordinary Cultivator of the same stage off guard.

Among the Cultivators watching the commotion, someone let out a low gasp, seemingly anticipating Lin Feng's misfortune.

Han Yunzhi's Face turned even paler, and she instinctively cried out, "Fellow Daoist, be careful!"

Lin Feng stood still, not moving a muscle.

Just as the fist was about to reach his Face, he slowly raised his right hand.

"Bang!"

A muffled thud.

The triangular-eyed burly man's fist was effortlessly caught in Lin Feng's hand, unable to advance another inch.

"What?!" The triangular-eyed burly man's Face changed dramatically.

He felt as if his fist was clamped tightly by an iron vice; no matter how he urged his spiritual energy, he couldn't break free in the slightest.

A mighty force emanated from the opponent's hand, making him feel as if his bones were about to be crushed.

Lin Feng's wrist gave a slight flick.

"Crack!"

A crisp sound of bone breaking echoed.

"Ah—!"

The triangular-eyed burly man let out a shrill scream, his entire arm twisted at a grotesque angle, and cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead.

Lin Feng casually flung him away like trash, sending the triangular-eyed burly man flying to crash heavily against a stone wall several zhang away, letting out a muffled thud, then sliding to the ground, clutching his broken arm and wailing incessantly.

The exchange between the two lasted only a single encounter, and the outcome was already decided.

The round-faced big man beside him watched, dumbfounded, the flesh on his Face twitching uncontrollably.

He never expected that this seemingly gentle young man's strength would be so terrifying!

One move!

Just one move, and he had crippled his seventh-layer Qi Refining companion!

What kind of cultivation was this? Qi Refining Perfection? Or... a Foundation Establishment Stage Senior?!

His heart was filled with horror, a chill rushing from the soles of his feet straight to his scalp.

The surrounding Cultivators watching the commotion were also utterly silent at this moment.

Everyone was stunned by Lin Feng's clean and decisive methods.

Their gazes towards Lin Feng were filled with awe and dread.

Lin Feng clapped his hands, as if he had just done a trivial thing.

He once again turned his gaze to the Golden Bamboo Talisman Brush on the stall, and to Han Yunzhi, who was still in shock, a gentle smile appearing on his Face.

"Esteemed Fairy, can you tell me the price of this Talisman Brush now?"

His voice was still calm, yet it made the round-faced big man tremble all over, his legs giving way, and he fell to his knees with a "thump."

"Se... Senior, spare me! Senior, spare my life! It's my fault for being blind and offending Senior!"

He kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy incoherently, his previous arrogance completely gone.

Lin Feng frowned slightly, seemingly a bit impatient.

"Noisy."

He flicked his finger, and a faint green finger-wind shot out, precisely hitting the round-faced big man's mute acupoint.

The round-faced big man's pleas for mercy abruptly ceased; he opened his mouth but couldn't make any sound, his Face filled with fear and shock.

Lin Feng no longer paid attention to these two clowns, his gaze once again falling on Han Yunzhi, awaiting her reply.

Han Yunzhi only now recovered from her shock.

She looked at the young Cultivator before her, who spoke with calm indifference but acted decisively and ruthlessly, feeling both gratitude and a strange sense of awe.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her turbulent emotions, and softly said, "Senior, this... this brush is called the 'Golden Bamboo Brush.' It is primarily made from hundred-year-old golden bamboo heart, supplemented with the tail hair of a Level 3 Yao Beast Golden Silkworm Monkey King. It is best suited for drawing metal and earth attribute Talismans, and its price... its price is fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

After speaking, she looked at Lin Feng with some apprehension.

This Golden Bamboo Talisman Brush was the best one at her stall, and its price was naturally the highest. But no Loose Cultivator would be willing to spend 50 Spirit Stones to buy a Talisman Brush.

She was also worried that this Senior expert would force a purchase, just like the two men before.