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Li Shen slowly turned his head to avoid the other person's gaze.

Lin Xiaoxiao caught this subtle movement.

I had originally planned to bring Li Shen along to expand my connections in high society.

But why does it seem like Li Shen knows quite a few people here?

She nudged Li Shen and asked curiously:

"Fellow Daoist Li, that's Zhao Ling, the daughter of Elder Zhao Yue, who's in charge of talisman affairs for the Zhao family. Do you perhaps know her too?"

Hearing the other person emphasize the word "also" and seeing the astonishment on Lin Xiaoxiao's face, Li Shen was at a loss for words.

He would never have known them before today.

But after the little incident that just happened, he and the other person not only know each other, but also have some minor emotional friction.

Li Shen nodded slightly and replied calmly:

"We've only met once."

"You've only met him once?"

Lin Xiaoxiao repeated it with a hint of disbelief.

Zhao Ling's expression just now didn't seem like something someone who had only met her once would have.

Although Lin Xiaoxiao was puzzled, she didn't press for details, but instead added:

"Fellow Daoist Li, although I don't know what happened between you, if you have offended Miss Zhao Ling, I can help you smooth things over. Let me tell you quietly, Zhao Ling and I share the same master, so we are considered fellow disciples."

After saying that, Lin Xiaoxiao's expression unconsciously showed a hint of pride.

This situation is quite normal for independent cultivators.

Social connections are also a form of strength.

Especially for a rogue cultivator like Lin Xiaoxiao, who is only at the third level of Qi Refining, being able to be a fellow disciple with the child of a Foundation Establishment family elder is something that would make countless rogue cultivators envious.

In the world of cultivation, almost no one can be a complete lone wolf.

Before you can muster your strength, you need connections to survive in this world.

After hearing this, Li Shen couldn't help but become curious about Lin Xiaoxiao's identity.

A rogue cultivator at the third level of Qi Refining can become a disciple of a Foundation Establishment family.

Based on Song Changshan's nephew Song Ming's previous attitude towards him, there can only be two possibilities.

Either Lin Xiaoxiao herself has a very strong talent in alchemy, similar to how she discovered Li Niu, but she was taken in as a disciple.

Either Lin Xiaoxiao's parents or her elders were cultivators with a certain status in Yunhe Mountain Market.

From the moment they first met, Li Shen had a suspicion that the other party, with only the third level of Qi Refining cultivation, could live in a courtyard near the inner city in the outer city of the market.

However, speculation is speculation, Li Shen is not the kind of person who likes to gossip.

Sometimes knowing too much can be detrimental.

He shook his head and whispered:

"Thank you for your kindness, Fellow Daoist Lin."

The relationship between him and Zhao Ling is not so easy to navigate.

The banquet gradually moved into its next phase.

Both male and female cultivators were served by beautiful dancers.

The parties clinked glasses and chatted amongst themselves.

Li Shen wasn't interested in this kind of activity and was looking for an excuse to leave.

A female nun stopped in front of him.

Li Shen looked up and was slightly surprised.

The person who arrived was actually Zhao Ying's twin sister, Zhao Qian.

The other person was wearing a long yellow and white dress, shaking a jade cup, and looking down at Li Shen.

A powerful aura, indicating the ninth level of Qi Refining, pressed down on Li Shen.

It seems that she will be the next member of the Zhao family to prepare for foundation building.

One school, two foundations.

If the Zhao family patriarch succeeds, the power structure of the four major families in the market will likely change.

"What brings you here, fairy?"

Li Shen took the initiative to stand up and inquire, speaking respectfully.

While physically taller than his opponent, he was not inferior in terms of imposing presence.

The Concentration Pill is still working.

Zhao Qian took a small sip of wine, her breath coming in steady hands:

"Not bad, you've reached the fifth level of Qi Refining in just one year."

"It was just luck."

Li Shen gave a polite reply on the surface, but was speechless inside.

If Zhao Qian came here only to test my cultivation level, then there's no need for that.

Don't you realize that you are one of only two people who are the focus of attention in the entire event?

Approaching someone without warning could cause them unnecessary trouble.

Just then, a young cultivator walked over, dressed in fine clothes, with a jade pendant hanging from his waist. The side facing Li Shen had the character "Tang" engraved on it.

The aura of the seventh level of Qi Refining floated with each step.

His cheeks flushed, and he greeted them:

"Fairy Zhao, it's been a long time."

"Have we met before?"

Zhao Qian frowned slightly and asked in return.

"I am Tang Wu, whom I met at the previous Three Sects Meeting..."

The young monk gave a somewhat dazed reminder.

"I don't recall. Does Young Master Tang have something to discuss with me?"

Zhao Qian interrupted him, her tone clearly impatient.

Tang Wu's smile froze. He awkwardly touched his nose, shook his head, and happened to see Li Shen beside him. His gaze swept over Li Shen, and he said with a rather contemptuous tone:

"Qi Refinement Level 5? How can just any Tom, Dick, or Harry sneak into a place like this?"

Then he noticed a female cultivator at the third level of Qi Refining standing next to Li Shen, who grinned at Lin Xiaoxiao:

"This lady is also quite unfamiliar, but she's rather pretty. How about having a drink with me?"

After saying that, he tried to go up and touch Lin Xiaoxiao.

Lin Xiaoxiao's face turned pale, and she subconsciously shrank back half a step behind Li Shen.

The opponent's late-stage Qi Refining aura made it hard for her to breathe.

Li Shen's gaze turned cold. If it weren't for the crowd and the presence of many people around, he would have already summoned his soul slave to sober the other party up.

Is this alcohol really that strong?

Li Shen pondered for a moment, then took a step back and calmly said:

"Fellow Daoist Tang, please have some self-respect."

"Self-respect?"

Tang Wu seemed to have heard a joke, chuckled, and drunkenly pointed at Li Shen:

"Who do you think you are, a rogue cultivator? You dare to talk to me about self-respect? Do you know who I am? Tang Wu, the Third Young Master of the Tang Family! My father is a Foundation Establishment cultivator; he could crush you with a single finger..."

Before he could finish speaking, a cold female voice interrupted him.

"This is not a place for you to cause trouble. Go back home."

Tang Wu was taken aback by the blunt rebuke, his face flushing red and then turning pale.

He looked at Zhao Qian, then at Li Shen, and couldn't understand why the other party would stand up for a rogue cultivator.

Thinking of the cold treatment he had received earlier, his suppressed anger finally erupted:

"Fairy Zhao, it's not just your sister who's reached the Foundation Establishment stage. My elder brother is also currently in seclusion to establish his foundation and will soon succeed. When that happens, your sister will marry my elder brother, and you will marry me..."

Before Tang Wu could finish speaking, a powerful pressure swept over them.

It wasn't Zhao Qian in front of me, but rather coming from the direction of the person in the main seat.

Zhao Yuan looked indifferently at this place, a hint of killing intent in his eyes.

"Master Zhao, please calm down!"

The Foundation Establishment cultivator leading the Tang family shouted and quickly arrived behind Tang Wu. The two Foundation Establishment auras collided and dispersed.

Those Qi Refining disciples who were nearby were so shaken by the aftershock that their legs almost gave way and they nearly knelt on the ground.

Fortunately, Foundation Establishment cultivators from their respective families shielded their respective family members from the attack.

Without the protection of their families, the rogue cultivators all used their magical artifacts to defend themselves. Li Shen originally wanted to give Lin Xiaoxiao and himself a Mind-Concentrating Pill, but Zhao Qian stopped him in advance.

In front of him, he saw an ivory-white, round jade pendant floating in mid-air.

A spiritual energy barrier was formed in front of Li Shen.

"Is this the strength of a Foundation Establishment cultivator? Just a clash of auras is enough to make them so terrifying."

Li Shen's heart tightened, and he took half a step back, his mind racing.