Seeking immortality begins with daily intelligence reports.

With a slight movement of spiritual energy, the items appeared on the square table.

Instead of looking at the "Mysterious Soul Refining Scripture" and the "Secret Essentials of Spirit Insect Control," Li Shen began to ponder a python egg the size of a head that he had found in the Crimson Python's nest.

The surface of the eggshell has a faint iridescent sheen.

Li Shen gently stroked the surface of the egg, and as soon as his spiritual energy penetrated it, he could feel the vibrant life force inside.

As one of the various arts of cultivation, Li Shen had some basic knowledge about beast taming.

There are four methods to ensure successful hatching.

One method involves the mother incubating the snake herself. The mother of the Seven-Colored Python has her soul in the Yin Soul Banner, while her body was taken away by the Jade Sword Sect. This method is automatically excluded.

One option is to find a place with abundant spiritual energy and let it absorb the energy to hatch on its own. Li Shen lives on the outskirts of the market, where the spiritual energy is barely enough.

The remaining two methods are either to build it up with spirit stones or to infuse it with one's own spiritual power.

Li Shen's cultivation level was barely at the fourth level of Qi Refining. He would probably be drained dry before he even hatched.

Without a second thought, Li Shen can only use spirit stones to build up his resources.

But it was his first time incubating eggs.

He had no idea how many spirit stones he would need, but he hoped it wouldn't be too much.

Pinching his brow, which was swollen from poverty, Li Shen turned his gaze to the ten spirit insect eggs.

The hatching method of the spirit insect is very similar to that of python eggs.

However, given the painful lessons of his predecessors, Li Shen needs to use his own blood essence to ensure that the hatched creature will not become a traitor.

Since they are ant-like spirit insects, Li Shen plans to dig up some spirit soil to simulate a living environment for them, allowing the spirit insects to reproduce on their own.

Then, Li Shen looked at the Yin Soul Banner, which was emitting a little black mist.

The banner pole was broken, the edges of the banner were torn and damaged, and the beads at the top of the banner used to ward off evil spirits also had some cracks.

Even so, the basic functions of the Yin Soul Banner are still intact, which shows that the predecessors used solid materials.

However, Li Shen dared not release the unrefined Crimson Python's soul until it was properly repaired.

A trace of her former consciousness remained in her soul. It seemed that she sensed that Li Shen had brought her child out, and her temper flared up even more. The black aura around the Yin Soul Banner swayed.

However, finding the materials to repair demonic artifacts in the markets of righteous sects proved difficult for Li Shen.

Without thinking for too long, Li Shen began to look through the diary of the demonic cultivator.

The first few pages are packed with explosive content.

He described what he saw, heard, and felt when he accompanied his master to the Hehuan Sect.

The last sentence is:

We must visit these sects often in the future!

Not for themselves, but to solidify the friendship between the Yin Soul Sect and the Hehuan Sect.

Li Shen's lips twitched, and he continued flipping through the pages.

The following content is fairly normal.

What he wrote were his own insights into cultivating the "Mysterious Fiend Soul Refining True Scripture".

Because he only had the cultivation level of the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, the Yin Soul Sect only provided him with the Foundation Establishment stage.

Then, he obtained the Soul-Devouring Ants in a secret realm, as well as the "Secret Manual of Spirit Insect Control" from a fellow demonic cultivator—a disciple of the Spirit Control Sect.

The last few chapters depict him being hunted down by the Righteous Alliance and forced to flee into the Prison Mountain.

He left behind only a few last words, and ended up being bitten to death by spirit insects.

This diary was of great help to Li Shen in cultivating the secret techniques in the "Mysterious Soul Refining Scripture".

He gathered all his belongings, returned to his bedside, circulated the "Evergreen Mantra," adjusted his state, and prepared to draw talismans that evening.

During the trip to Laoshan, most of the talismans in my possession had been used up. I had very few mid-grade talismans left, and I had also used two concealment talismans.

Through this hands-on experience, Li Shen also clearly understood the drawbacks of the Concealing Breath Talisman: it would automatically become ineffective upon contact with an object.

Whether it's treasure hunting or fighting in the future, you must be careful.

Time passed, and midnight arrived.

The intelligence emerged as expected.

The Zhou family, a Foundation Establishment clan in the market, and disciples of the Demonic Joyful Union Sect are searching for who took the ancient cultivator's treasure.

Upon seeing the contents of the intelligence report, Li Shen's eyelids twitched involuntarily.

Indeed, while intelligence has a certain degree of predictability, the opportunity it points to may not be known only to oneself.

He could understand why the Zhou family was looking for him, since the ancient cultivators' caves were located in the Prison Mountain. But what about the demonic disciples?

A bold guess immediately popped into Li Shen's mind: demonic cultivators had already infiltrated Yunhe Mountain Market.

What do they want to do?

Shall we provoke a war between good and evil?

Li Shen couldn't help but feel uneasy. If the situation really developed to this point, he had to plan his escape route as soon as possible.

Recently, he has to lay low for a while.

Putting aside his wandering thoughts, Li Shen laid out the talisman paper, calmed his mind, and prepared to draw the talisman.

Not only to supplement their own means, but also to accumulate enough spirit stones.

The next day, early in the morning.

After Li Shen finished his preparations, he was about to repeat the actions he had taken the night before when an untimely knock on the door suddenly sounded.

Who is it this morning that's coming to see me?

He cautiously stepped forward, as usual keeping one hand behind his back, holding an ice cone talisman.

Through the crack in the door, Li Shen could see the appearance of the person who came in.

It was actually Li Niu?

Why is she coming to see me so early in the morning instead of staying home to take care of the kids?

Li Shen opened the door, greeted Li Niu as usual, and then stepped aside to let him in.

A chair was handed to Li Niu, and Li Shen was about to ask him what his purpose was.

Li Niu looked delighted and said:

"Li Shen, you're famous now!"

What?

Who became famous?

I?

Li Shen was shocked, took a sip of tea, and forced himself to remain calm, saying:

"Where did this all begin?"

Li Niu immediately launched into a long explanation of the contribution point ranking system that had been created in the market.

Li Shen is far ahead with a score of 186.

If you're going to hunt monsters, just hunt monsters properly. Why bother with ranking lists?

Li Shen was speechless for a moment, feeling extremely depressed.

Li Niu, on the other hand, looked pleased.

In his eyes, Li Shen's fame meant he would receive more attention, and if he were appreciated by a certain family, he wouldn't have to live in this humble place.

Li Shen understood, sighed inwardly, waved his hand, and said with an awkward smile:

"It was just good luck. If it weren't for the two fairy leaders who helped me, I probably would have lost my life inside."

But Li Niu didn't think so. He had been Li Shen's shadow since he was a child, and he would admit that becoming Zhao's son-in-law was a matter of luck.

But he couldn't accept that Li Shen becoming number one was just luck.

Even though the Zhao family didn't choose Li Shen as their son-in-law, he felt it was because the Zhao family hadn't recognized Li Shen's true worth!

"So you've been assigned a position as a patrol guard in the market?"

Li Shen took a sip of tea and changed the subject.

Li Niu chuckled and scratched his head.

"Since having a child, I've had nothing to do. The elders of the Zhao family arranged a leisurely job for me in the western part of the market. I make a few rounds every day. It's very easy. The elders said that once I give the family two more children, they will arrange for me to manage a small shop."

Seeing that Li Niu spoke with sincerity and had a simple, honest face, Li Shen poured him another cup of tea.

"That's not bad, at least I have a proper job now."

He wanted to remind Li Niu not to forget his cultivation, but he stopped himself from saying it.

Perhaps, his current life is a good choice for him.

After chatting for a while, Li Shen casually asked Li Niu to keep an eye out for some nice places to live in the market, as he planned to move there in a while.

Li Niu patted his chest and readily agreed.

After he left, Li Shen sat on the edge of the bed, glanced at the bright sky outside, his mind a jumble of thoughts. After much deliberation, he decided to go to the market to see what was going on with that ranking list.