Seeking immortality begins with daily intelligence reports.

Back inside, Li Shenqing took stock of his belongings.

Since it is an exchange fair, the trading method must be mainly barter.

Fortunately, he still has a lot of good things left over, so exchanging them for some century-old spiritual plants and herbs shouldn't be a problem.

This is also a good opportunity to clear out some inventory.

Having made sure he had a clear idea of ​​what to do, Li Shen gathered his thoughts and prepared to draw more talismans before midnight to sell and replenish his spirit stone reserves.

According to Du Shanyan, besides the trade fair, Linlang City has many shops. If you see something you like but don't have enough spirit stones, wouldn't that be awkward?

The brush moved swiftly, and midnight arrived as scheduled.

A line of fleeting text immediately appeared before Li Shen's eyes.

Zhao Qian has successfully broken through to the tenth level of Qi Refining. In preparation for Foundation Establishment, she plans to accompany her older sister, Zhao Ying, to the exchange fair in Linlang City to exchange for some Foundation Establishment materials.

"Oh, what a coincidence?"

After reading it, Li Shen was slightly surprised:

"Zhao Qian's cultivation speed is too fast. The last time I saw her, she was at the ninth level of Qi Refining. I didn't expect that only a few months later she has already reached the tenth level of Qi Refining and is preparing for Foundation Establishment. I wonder what kind of spiritual roots and aptitude she and her sister have."

Li Shen was thinking casually, not yet deciding whether to hitch a ride to Linlang City.

He plans to make a decision after he has investigated the matter thoroughly.

The next day, early in the morning.

Li Shen put on his blue robe and went straight to the Zhao residence.

Upon arriving at the alchemy room, they found Zhang Hong and Zhao He engaged in a heated discussion.

Li Shen came here specifically to see them, so this saved him a lot of trouble.

"Master Li, you've come at the perfect time!"

Zhang Hong turned around and saw Li Shen, then walked over angrily.

Li Shen greeted the two men separately.

After a brief return gift, Zhang Hong proceeded to tell Li Shen the whole story of his argument with Zhao He.

Hearing half of it, Li Shen understood immediately.

The two disagreed on their understanding of the second level of the Thousand Refinements and Myriad Transformations Hand.

Zhang Hong's face flushed red, and he pointed at Zhao He, saying:

"Master Li, you be the judge! This old scoundrel insists that the Qi in the second level should pass through the Xuanji acupoint first, then the Tianchi acupoint, and finally the Yutang acupoint. Isn't that putting the cart before the horse? A slight mistake could result in damaged meridians!"

Zhao He, not to be outdone, confidently blew on his beard and retorted:

"What do you know, you old stubborn fool! Didn't Fellow Daoist Li say that the essence of the 'Thousand Refinements and Myriad Transformations Hand' lies in the word 'transformation'? If you follow your conventional path, how can you generate the myriad transformations that follow? My method may seem perilous, but it actually has the Fengfu acupoint secretly harmonizing it. It is a wonderful trick of seeking change amidst danger!"

Both believed they were right, and they argued heatedly over the slightest disagreement.

They argued for about fifteen minutes, neither of them able to convince the other.

All eyes turned to Li Shen, clearly wanting this young talisman master who had once guided them, and who could also be considered their master of the "Thousand Refinements and Myriad Transformations Hand," to make a judgment.

Li Shen stood aside, pondering for a moment.

He had already grasped the third level of understanding, and he was perfectly clear about who was right and who was wrong between the two of them.

Li Shen recalled for a moment and said slowly:

"Don't be impatient, you two. In my opinion, the key to the second level of the 'Thousand Refinements and Myriad Transformations Hand' lies in parallel processing."

"parallel?"

Zhang Hong and Zhao He were both taken aback.

"good."

Li Shen used his fingers as a brush to draw several airflow paths in the air:

"This technique is called Thousand Refinements and Myriad Transformations. The circulation of spiritual energy can be like the tributaries of a river, flowing in parallel. If we regard the Xuanji and Yutang as two hubs, the spiritual energy can be nurtured and permeated at the same time. Then, we can use the Fengfu as a bridge to draw the two streams of energy to converge and generate each other, thus avoiding the risk of reverse flow and obtaining its true secrets."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Hong and Zhao He first frowned in thought, then their eyes gradually brightened.

Zhang Hong suddenly slapped his thigh:

"Brilliant! How come I didn't think of that! Two paths advancing simultaneously, converging into a single flow, not only ensures safety, but also potentially allows for greater flexibility!"

Zhao He nodded thoughtfully:

"Indeed, the separate channels of spiritual energy for nurturing put less strain on the meridians and allow for greater potential for future development. Fellow Daoist Li, your words have truly enlightened me!"

The two exchanged a glance, and the tension immediately dissipated.

Zhao He shook his head and smiled bitterly:

"Please excuse our predicament, Fellow Daoist Li. We've also been stuck on this second level for quite some time, and we've become impatient and agitated."

Zhang Hong also cupped his hands in a respectful gesture:

"Fellow Daoist Li, you are so young yet so composed and insightful. I have learned a great deal from you."

Li waved his hand modestly:

"You flatter me."

Then he smoothly transitioned to the main topic:

"By the way, there's something I wanted to ask you two today. Do you know anything about Linlang City?"

"Linlang City?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Hong slapped his forehead and quickly said:

"Look at my memory, Fellow Daoist Li! Brother He and I were just about to talk to you about this. We've found out that an exchange fair will be held in Linlang City on the fifteenth of this month. You should be able to obtain the spiritual materials you're looking for there!"

Zhao He picked up the conversation and added:

"I've heard that this year's event is larger than in previous years, with cultivators from several neighboring countries of Duan Kingdom coming. If Fellow Daoist Li is also interested, you can come to the Zhao residence in two days to travel by flying boat with Qian and Ying. It will take only an hour to get there."

Flying boat!

Li Shen's heart stirred; he had naturally heard about it.

It is indeed a very convenient magical artifact for cultivators to travel, but it is quite expensive to make, and he doesn't know what kind of materials are needed. In addition, he doesn't know any weapon refiners who can master the technology of forging flying boats.

Otherwise, Li Shen still planned to get a boat for transportation.

He asked with a slightly troubled expression:

"Wouldn't this be inappropriate?"

Zhao He waved his hand:

"How could that be! If Fellow Daoist Li wishes to go, this is a small matter. I will speak with the patriarch and arrange a place for Fellow Daoist Li. The flying boat will depart at Chenshi (7-9 AM), and Master Li only needs to arrive at the Zhao residence gate on time."

"Thank you both very much."

Li Shen bowed and thanked him, then after a brief moment of thought, asked:

"I've heard that Linlang City is more than 300 li away from Yunhe Mountain. Do you two know of any places along the way that we should be aware of so we can take precautions in advance?"

Zhao He pondered for a moment, then frowned slightly as if recalling something unpleasant.

"Although it's more than 300 miles from here, there aren't many dangerous places along the way, and most of them can be avoided. There's just one place that might be a bit tricky."

"Where is it?"

Li Shen pressed for an answer.

Zhao He quickly provided the answer:

"The Soul-Falling Forest is shrouded in miasma year-round. If you're not careful, you can easily lose your way and get trapped there. It's best to travel during the day and take a Mind-Concentrating Pill. As long as you keep your mind steady and avoid being harmed by the miasma, you should be safe. Moreover, there aren't many demonic beasts in the forest, just some first-tier ones. With Fellow Daoist Li's current Qi Refining Level 7 skills, plus Qian'er and Ying'er, you'll definitely be able to get through this place safely."

Li Shen nodded slightly, understanding in his heart.

However, the name did pique his interest.

He guessed that since it was called the Soul-Falling Forest, there must be many wandering souls here, and it might be a good place to cultivate the Yin Soul Banner.