With the Eight Immortals' magical treasures in hand, even a mortal like myself! Ha!

A year later, time always flies when you're cultivating. In the blink of an eye, a year has passed. If it weren't for the many outsiders who recently came to Yan Family Fort, Gu Qing would still be immersed in the joy of cultivating talismans.

During that year, Gu Qing refined talismans during the day and cultivated the Great Evolution Technique at night.

In just one year, he mastered most of the basic talismans and also cultivated the Great Evolution Technique to the first level.

As for intermediate-level talismans, they require special animal hides, and because there are no materials available, not a single one has ever been successfully crafted.

However, this already satisfied Gu Qing quite a bit, because some of the basic talismans were extremely powerful and could pose a certain threat to Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Han Li once used a fireball talisman in conjunction with his Qi Refining cultivation to defeat a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Since Han Li could do it, Gu Qing believed that he could too.

Of course, it only defeated those cultivators in the early stages of Foundation Establishment. It would be extremely difficult to defeat hundreds of cultivators in the middle or even late stages of Foundation Establishment.

However, being able to defeat a Foundation Establishment cultivator while only being at the Qi Refining stage is already quite impressive.

On this day, Gu Qing went to the old man in the red robe to draw talismans, as usual, while Tieguai Li went to gather information.

Half a year ago, Tieguai Li stopped coming to the red-robed old man's place, citing that he was not suitable for the way of talismans. But in fact, Tieguai Li only spent half a year learning everything from the red-robed old man.

Furthermore, Tieguai Li attempted to refine talismans, but ultimately failed. According to Tieguai Li, the talisman paper was too low-grade to withstand such powerful magic.

However, only low-grade talismans were sold in Yan Family Fort; there were no special talismans made from animal hides.

There are very few demonic beasts in the southern region, and their hides are mostly used to make robes or magical artifacts, so there are even fewer used as materials for making talismans.

So now Gu Qing and Tieguai Li are in a situation where even a skilled cook can't make a meal without rice.

"Old sir, what brings you here today?" Gu Qing was quite surprised to see the old man in red robes in the room. Usually, the old man in red robes would only give orders for drawing talismans and rarely waited here on purpose.

"It's about time. You've already learned most of the talisman-drawing knowledge I have to teach you, so there's nothing more I can teach you. It's time for you to leave," the red-robed old man said with a smile.

This surprised Gu Qing, who hadn't expected the old man in the red robe to say such a thing.

"Actually, I could tell from the third month that neither of you were Qi Refining cultivators," the red-robed old man said again.

Upon hearing this, Gu Qing was genuinely surprised. He hadn't expected the old man in the red robe to be able to see through it all. His gaze then sharpened: "What, are you going to report us, sir?"

"Hehehe, don't be nervous. I can tell you two don't have any bad intentions, so I won't report you. I'm just telling you that things haven't been peaceful in the fortress lately, and it's time for you to leave. If you can, go to Wanmiao Temple; it will be of more help to your talisman cultivation there," the red-robed old man advised.

Upon hearing the old man in red robes' words, Gu Qing remained silent for a moment before finally bowing respectfully and saying, "If I have the opportunity, I will definitely visit Wanmiao Temple."

The old man in the red robe, with his hands behind his back, brushed past Gu Qing, repeating his earlier words: "It would be best to leave within the next day or two!"

After saying that, the old man in the red robe left without looking back.

Upon seeing this, Gu Qing bowed deeply and then entered the side room to slowly and methodically tidy up the things he usually used for drawing talismans. There were talisman brushes, cinnabar, inkstones, talisman paper, drawn talismans, and some books introducing talismans.

You don't realize how much stuff you have until you start tidying it up.

After packing everything up, Gu Qing turned and left the courtyard. After thinking for a moment, he left a bottle of pills on the table where he drew talismans before returning to the small courtyard where he had lived for more than a year.

A petite woman from next door saw Gu Qing return and stepped into the courtyard, saying, "Brother Han, why are you back so early today?"

Gu Qing smiled slightly upon seeing the petite woman and said, "There are some matters to attend to within the family; it's time for me to leave."

When the petite woman heard that Gu Qing was leaving, she paused in her tracks and asked one last question: "Is Uncle Li leaving too?"

"Yes, it may be a long time before we see each other again," Gu Qing said, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness at parting.

The petite woman stepped forward, her voice somewhat downcast, and said, "Brother Han, you must come back to visit often in the future."

"Um!"

Gu Qing nodded, then took out some spirit stones from his storage bag and said, "Here are some spirit stones. Keep them. Eat well every day and don't deprive yourself."

"How can this be? Brother Han, you should take it back. I'm not a cultivator, so there's no use for me taking so many spirit stones. Let me help you tidy up the courtyard." The petite woman shook her head and refused, then picked up a broom and began to sweep.

Seeing this, Gu Qing stepped forward to lend a hand, and then the two of them silently began to clean the courtyard.

Only after the courtyard was spotless did the petite woman turn and leave. She did not ask Gu Qing for any spirit stones during the process, nor did Gu Qing force any spirit stones upon the petite woman.

Watching the petite woman's departing figure, Gu Qing murmured, "I hope we'll have the chance to meet again."

Just then, Tieguai Li walked in from outside the courtyard with a smile and said, "What's wrong? You seem a little reluctant, fellow Daoist. Why don't you keep him by your side to take care of your daily life?"

"What are you saying? She and I are just casual acquaintances. There's no question of whether I'm willing to part with her," Gu Qing said, shaking his head.

Upon hearing this, Tieguai Li also put away his smile and said, "The Yan family has set up a large formation around them. Although it is not yet finished, it is estimated that the formation will be activated tomorrow."

"Have you seen my disciple?" Gu Qing thought of Han Li. Everything he had done today was to wait for Han Li. If Han Li didn't come, then all his efforts would have been in vain.

Tieguai Li nodded: "I saw the person who escaped last time. He was in that group of people, and I also noticed something unusual. It seems like he's ready to leave at any time."

"It seems things haven't changed much because of my appearance. My good disciple has come after all. Let's prepare to leave then." Gu Qing looked at Yan Family Fortress, knowing it would be destroyed soon.

Gu Qing turned around without lingering and walked out of Yan Family Fort with Tieguai Li.

However, this is a crucial moment in the treasure hunt organized by the Yan family, so no one is allowed to go out.

Even if Gu Qing and Tieguai Li had tokens, they could not go out. Seeing this, Gu Qing and Tieguai Li did not force their way in, but silently waited for an opportunity.

The night passed, and the next day the treasure hunt organized by the Yan family officially began, with all participants gathered together.

There were two people who didn't attend the treasure hunt, and of course, these two people were not Gu Qing and Tieguai Li.

Gu Qing and Tieguai Li were not on the list of participants for the treasure hunt.