The Immortal Clan begins with deductive intelligence.

Xu Xining didn't go back to the house. Instead, he turned around and headed straight for the servants' quarters behind Beast Peak.

There lived a "Senior Brother Chen" there, whose real name was Chen San. He had been in the sect for twenty years, and although his cultivation level was only at the third level of Qi Refining, he was a well-known old hand.

Chen San was squatting by the stove, holding an iron shovel, intently scraping the oil from the large pot where the spirit beast meat had been cooked.

Hearing the footsteps, Chen San didn't even look up, his shovel scraping loudly.

"There was no leftover food today, and that blue rhinoceros had a great appetite, even licking the soup clean."

Xu Xining didn't mind the dirt at all. He plopped down on the pile of firewood next to the stove and picked up a straw to pick his nails.

"Brother Chen, I don't run a food business."

He lowered his voice, took out two spirit stones from his pocket, and slid them across the greasy stove.

"I'd like to get some 'Hansu ants,' half a pound."

"Hansu ants?"

Chen San chuckled and threw the shovel into the pot.

"That thing is kept by the cold pool, specifically for the Ice Toad to eat. The Ice Toad is Elder Liu's darling. If it loses a bite of food, Elder Liu will throw you and me in to feed the toad."

"Junior brother, this money is too hot to handle. I'm not going to take it."

Xu Xining's expression remained unchanged. He then took out two more spirit stones from his pocket and placed them on top of the two spirit stones.

"Four pieces."

Chen San's eyelids twitched, but he still shook his head.

"It's not about the money; there are guards there, we can't get in..."

"Seven yuan, that's the most I can go. I only need half a pound of ants. Elder Liu might not be able to tell the difference, and even if he does, he'll just assume it was pecked away by some wild crane."

"make a deal!"

Chen Sanxi grinned and reached out his greasy hand to scoop the spirit stone into his sleeve.

"Tomorrow at 11:15 AM, go in through the side path. I will distract the guards, but you only have 15 minutes. Don't take too much, and don't touch anything else."

Xu Xining stood up, dusted off his backside, and bowed respectfully.

"I understand the rules, thank you for your understanding, senior brother."

……

Cangwu Island, the backyard of the ancestral hall.

In just a few months, the peach tree has grown taller than a person's head. The once unripe fruit among the branches and leaves has now grown to the size of a baby's fist. On its skin, purple and gold patterns intertwine and move about, and it has a faint sweet fragrance.

"It's almost ripe."

Xu Changqing's nostrils twitched slightly as he thought to himself.

This fruit had absorbed the essence and blood of several demonic beasts, and it was finally time for it to ripen and fall.

In just six or seven days, once the purple aura has completely subsided, it will be time to harvest.

Xu Changqing clapped his hands, turned around, and just as he reached the central courtyard, he saw Xu Yanzhen leaning on his cane approaching. Without saying a word, he directly spread the cloth bundle on the stone table.

"These are the talismans I've used these past few days. Take a look."

Xu Changqing reached out and picked up a talisman.

The talisman paper felt warm to the touch, and the cinnabar runes on it flowed like dragons and snakes, full of spiritual light without overflowing. Even at the end of the strokes in the core of the talisman, there was a faint trace of swirling spiritual energy.

A top-grade Vajra Talisman of the lowest rank.

Xu Changqing raised an eyebrow and rubbed the edge of the talisman paper with his fingers.

"Excellent quality."

Xu Changqing put down the talisman and glanced at the stack on the table. There were about twenty of them, all of the same kind.

"I've figured out a key point these past few days, and now it flows much more smoothly when I write."

Although Xu Yanzhen tried her best to restrain herself, the smugness in her eyes and brows was impossible to hide.

"However, these talisman papers and spirit ink are used up quite a bit, and the warehouse is..."

"It's alright, use it when necessary."

Xu Changqing gathered the talismans and put them into his sleeve.

"With these talismans, the spirit stones you get in return will be enough for you to squander for a while longer."

Just then, Xu Dayou peeked in from the front yard carrying a large package. Seeing the two of them there, he shouted at the top of his lungs:

"Clan leader, the boat is ready. I'll send Yanzhen's talismans and that batch of dried fish to the market now."

Upon hearing this, Xu Changqing turned around and waved his hand.

"Uncle Dayou, you don't need to go this time. I'll go myself."

"The bandits of the Great Swamp are rampant. You are only at the fifth level of Qi Refining and are already old. If you encounter a tough opponent, you may not even have a chance to escape."

"There is a protective formation on the island that can hold off even a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator. I feel more at ease having you stay home."

Xu Dayou opened his mouth, wanting to argue that he wasn't too old to lift a knife, but seeing Xu Changqing's unquestionable expression, he finally sighed and nodded.

"Then... Chieftain, please be very careful."

……

Qinghefang Market, Baibaoge.

This place is one of the top shops in the market, and they usually only sell high-quality goods. Ordinary street vendors' goods are not worth their attention.

Xu Changqing did not conceal his face; dressed in a gray-blue robe, he calmly stepped into the shop.

Behind the counter, a middle-aged shopkeeper dressed in brocade robes was fiddling with an abacus when he heard footsteps and glanced up.

Xu Changqing's cultivation level was only at the fifth level of Qi Refining, and his clothes were not particularly expensive, but he still immediately stood up and nodded slightly.

"What would you like to buy, sir? The elixirs are on the left, and the magical artifacts are on the right."

Xu Changqing walked to the counter, took out the stack of Vajra Talismans from his sleeve, and gently patted them on the counter.

"Shipping out".

The shopkeeper brought the talisman close to his eyes and examined it closely in the light.

The runes were smooth and naturally imbued with spiritual energy. In particular, the spiritual energy in the core of the rune was concentrated and did not dissipate, as if it were breathing.

"This talisman..."

The shopkeeper put down the abacus and picked up the second and third bills.

Every single one is like this.

"Fellow Daoist, this talisman is of superior quality. Was it made by your family?"

The shopkeeper's tone became much more polite.

"Although this Vajra Talisman is only a first-grade low-level talisman, both its brushwork and the sealing of spiritual power have reached a high level of perfection."

Xu Changqing remained calm, lightly tapping the countertop with his fingers.

"If the shopkeeper is interested, then give him a fair price."

He hesitated for a moment, then extended one palm.

"Five spirit stones per sheet, I'll take as many as you have."

A typical low-grade first-tier talisman would only cost three or four spirit stones, but this shopkeeper quoted five, clearly recognizing the talisman's value.

"make a deal."

Xu Changqing pushed the remaining stack of talismans over.

The shopkeeper was overjoyed and immediately summoned his assistant to count and store the spirit stones. He then personally brought the spirit stones to the shop.

After the spirit stones were exchanged, the shopkeeper didn't rush to see the guests off. Instead, he rubbed his hands together and tentatively asked:

"Fellow Daoist, are there any other talismans produced?"

Xu Changqing's heart stirred, but he did not show it on his face.

"What does the shopkeeper mean by this?"

The shopkeeper took out a wooden plaque carved with the Baibaoge logo from under the counter, handed it over with both hands, and looked sincere.

"If you have any talismans of this quality, regardless of type, my Hundred Treasures Pavilion is willing to purchase them on a long-term basis."

This means signing a long-term contract.

Xu Changqing took the wooden plaque and ran his fingertips along the patterns on it.

Xu Yanzhen's talent is beginning to show, and he will produce more and more talismans in the future. If he can have a stable sales channel, he will not have to run around selling them.

Moreover, it is said that this Baibaoge has a powerful background, and establishing a connection with it would not harm the Xu family.

"Since the shopkeeper thinks highly of you, then so be it."

Xu Changqing put away the wooden plaque and spirit stones, and without lingering, turned and left the shop.