CHAPTER 49: CHAPTER 49: IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Shortly after their flying ship departed.

Black Wind slowly descended from high above.

Luckily, he was the leader of the Tribulation Cultivators and had a few spare Magical Artifacts.

However, the best two, the Flying Sword and Golden Ring, had already been taken by Shen Xuan.

All three Tribulation Cultivators’ flying ships were completely shattered and damaged.

Seeing his subordinates climbing up the riverbank of Longze River in a sorry state brought him heartache.

This business venture suffered a huge loss!

"Who gave me false information, intending to use me to kill others!"

"Chen Baldy, I’m not finished with you!"

Black Wind could confirm that Shen Xuan and the others were definitely not some easy prey.

That Water Technique Demon Hunter could absolutely kill him on the surface of Longze River!

"What kind of monster is this! Though his Cultivation Realm isn’t high, his Water Technique is Great Success, able to unleash such powerful Water Attribute Techniques!"

Five days later.

The flying ship safely arrived at Cyan Dragon Bay Market.

Just at the market entrance, it attracted the attention of surrounding cultivators.

"Wow! Such a heavy Beast Bag! Did they catch something huge this time?"

"Shh! Lower your voice, that is Master Shen Xuan, Shen the Talisman Master."

"Isn’t he the one extensively connected in Cyan Cloud Sect and rejected by the Ding Family? Not that impressive, I’m even more handsome!"

A slap landed on the back of that person’s head.

"Don’t speak nonsense! Looking to die?"

"Do you know, Shen Xuan is not only a Talisman Master but also a Demon Hunter with Water Technique Great Success!"

"I heard this time, it was all thanks to Shen Xuan that they caught a complete Water-Repelling Rhinoceros!"

"Really? Then they made a fortune this time!"

Inside Cyan Dragon Bay Market, things were still quite safe.

The Ding Family’s two Foundation Establishment masters were stationed there, so no one dared to cause trouble within the market.

Shen Xuan greeted Zhao Chunsheng and the others, leaving the remaining matters for them to handle, and went home to rest.

Along the way.

Cultivators continuously cupped their fists in greeting to Shen Xuan.

Some faces were familiar, some were not.

Shen Xuan did not stop walking and responded courteously to each greeting.

Upon returning home, Ding Yuyao joyfully jumped into his arms like a small bird.

After a month of separation, both missed each other.

"Husband, you seem to have lost some weight! Go soak in a hot bath first. I’ll prepare a hearty meal for you!"

"Alright, thank you, my dear wife!"

Shen Xuan did not pretend.

On the way back, his nerves were tightly wound, and after battling with the Tribulation Cultivators, he indeed needed to relax a bit.

While soaking in the hot bath, Shen Xuan reviewed the whole hunting process.

"Cloud Rain Technique assisted the Water-Repelling Rhinoceros in breaking out. I used Invisibility Technique and Concealing Breath Technique; even if they know it was me, there’s no evidence."

"Instantly killing the Water-Repelling Rhinoceros at the bottom of Longze River, the choice of battlefield and timing was decent."

"Displaying strength in front of Demon Hunters was to avoid meaningless conflicts!"

"On the surface of Longze River, with continuous replenishment of Water Spiritual Power, even a Qi Cultivation Perfection Tribulation Cultivator could only flee."

"Unfortunately, I didn’t seize the opportunity for a one-hit kill, allowing the Tribulation Cultivators’ leader to escape, leaving a hidden danger."

"Still lacking experience!"

After reviewing, Shen Xuan rated his performance at seventy-five points.

Good.

There’s still room for improvement.

"Dear wife, pour me some hot water!"

Ding Yuyao poured a bucket of hot water into the bath barrel.

Yet unexpectedly, Shen Xuan suddenly rose and pushed her against the edge of the bath barrel.

"Husband..."

In the bathhouse, amidst thick steam, a special aroma permeated, causing one’s blood to surge.

At this moment, Shen Xuan was engaging fervently.

He was unaware that his performance had already stirred a whirlwind around the Cyan Dragon Bay vicinity!

...

Within the market’s tavern.

A group of Demon Hunters was fervently discussing Shen Xuan.

"Talisman Master Shen Xuan, Water Technique Great Success!"

"That turtle-shaped Talisman Master over sixty years old still in the Early Stage of Qi Cultivation?"

"Indeed! You guys don’t know, I’ve heard he started as a Demon Hunter with a stunning debut!"

"What kind of stunning debut?"

"Instantly killing the Water-Repelling Rhinoceros!"

"Wow! That’s indeed a stunning achievement!"

"No way, maybe it’s an exaggeration! A sixty-year-old Talisman Master in the Early Stage of Qi Cultivation, how strong can he be?"

Some shook their head in disbelief.

"What do you know! I just got the news. Black Wind, leading his subordinates, intercepted them on Longze River, and guess what?"

"Quickly, tell us, don’t keep us in suspense!"

"All three Tribulation Cultivators’ flying ships were destroyed! Black Wind couldn’t even retrieve his Flying Sword and fled in panic!"

"No way, Black Wind is a Qi Cultivation Perfection Sword Cultivator!"

However, more and more people confirmed the story.

Someone witnessed Black Wind being beaten by Shen Xuan, fleeing into the sky.

"Water Technique Great Success! In just a few breaths, broke three Tribulation Cultivators’ flying ships."

"His companions hadn’t even acted, yet over twenty Tribulation Cultivators were defeated!"

"Black Wind was wise to escape quickly! If he retrieved his Flying Sword, he wouldn’t have survived!"

After a wave of commotion.

Inside Cyan Dragon Market, some Foundation Establishment influences paying attention to Shen Xuan were plunged into silence.

Initially thought Shen Xuan relied only on his connections with Cyan Cloud Sect’s Qin Yuehan, with Ding Family favoring him.

Unexpectedly, his strength was formidable to such an extent!

"Ding Family values Shen Xuan not just for Cyan Cloud Sect’s Qin Yuehan!"

"Even a Qi Cultivation Perfection Sword Cultivator isn’t his match, so perhaps he’s concealing his true potential, skilled in Concealing Breath and Disguise!"

...

Inside the Ding Family assembly hall.

The Ding Family patriarch, Ding Family’s leader, and Ding Yijin sat side by side.

Beneath them, Shopkeeper Ding constantly wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Just now, he recounted Shen Xuan’s history.

Starting from Shen Xuan farming at seventeen and talisman making at eighteen.

He talked for over an hour.

Even so.

The three key figures of Ding Family were still unsatisfied.

"Ding Qingtao, you’ve known Shen Xuan for fifty years, couldn’t you detect anything unusual about him?"

Ding Yijin asked with some discontent.

He had seriously misjudged Shen Xuan!

"Unusual? Does devoted practice count?"

"Also, he has talent in talisman making!"

Shopkeeper Ding timidly replied.

There was one more thing he dared not mention.

Cautious and prudent.

Afraid of troubles and unwilling to cause trouble.

"You may leave!"

The Ding Family leader waved his hand, dismissing Shopkeeper Ding.

"It’s not Qingtao’s fault. I’ve focused on Shen Xuan too. Old eyes failed me, truly missed the mark!" The Ding Family leader sighed and said.

"It’s logical too. If he were truly mediocre, why would Cyan Cloud Sect’s Qin Yuehan and Lv Zhengying favor him and exchange letters?"

"How about picking a Ding family female cultivator to test him again?" Ding Yijin suggested.

The Ding Family patriarch, who had been resting with closed eyes, slowly opened them.

"No need!"

"Had he any intention, he would have brought it up long ago."

"Relying on external forces isn’t advisable. The Ding Family’s revival ultimately depends on our own people!"

The Ding Family leader and Ding Yijin nodded in agreement.

Similar scenes were occurring in other cultivation clans like the Zhao Family of Purple Maple Mountain, He Family of Wo Hu Ridge, and Tao Family of Ten Thousand Bamboo Forest.

...

The market’s discussions were anticipated by Shen Xuan.

Revealing his strength was intentionally done.

"Appropriately showcasing one’s capability can avoid many troubles!"

In his past life, having been a voracious reader, he deeply understood this truth.

When you are weak, others will only think of bullying you.

Once you display enough strength, others won’t easily provoke you.

The law of the jungle is indeed the most fundamental natural law.

Thus, when facing the Tribulation Cultivators, he deliberately showcased his prowess to establish his reputation.

Different stages require different strategies.

After fully releasing his tension, Shen Xuan contentedly walked out of the bathhouse.

Ding Yuyao, already weakened, lay soaking in the bath barrel, too exhausted to stand.

"Take a good rest, my dear wife, I’ll go practice!"

Entering the Practice Room, Shen Xuan began to steal the bloodline talent of the Water-Repelling Rhinoceros.

A blood basin on the stone table contained only about ten pounds of Water-Repelling Rhinoceros blood.

This is the maximum amount of monster blood that the Mysterious Jade Talisman can refine at one time.

"As the Cultivation Realm deepens, the amount of monster blood refined will gradually increase."

"But for now, this is all it can do!"

Shen Xuan guided with his Divine Thought, activating the Mysterious Jade Talisman.

After the golden light passed.

[Stealable Talent: Water Repellent, Armor Transformation, Water Arrow]

Without hesitation, Shen Xuan chose the [Water Repellent] talent.

[Talent: Water Repellent (28/100)]

[Dao Rhyme: 88]