"Cough, cough..." Han Mo felt slightly awkward upon hearing this, slowly stopping his hand and waving it awkwardly.
Seeing this, Zhou Zhulu couldn't help but chuckle. In the past, Han Mo was always quite rigid during their conversations; he would pull out a few talismans and start asking questions without ever chatting about anything else.
After the incident with the gourd magical instrument, the two had grown quite close, which allowed her to discover a different side of Han Mo—how should she put it? A sense of youthful innocence.
Zhou Zhulu was now twenty years old, three years older than Han Mo, though her spiritual root and background were inferior to his. Her cultivation level, however, had long since been surpassed by him.
After teasing Han Mo heartily, Zhou Zhulu didn't waste any words and answered directly, "I haven't run into anything unusual lately, but I do have a piece of news that will definitely interest you."
"What news?"
"The Foundation Establishment Li family suddenly made a move and wiped out a stronghold of the Chen Family, killing several Chen Family members at the late stage of Qi Condensation. But they didn't occupy the place afterwards; they just looted all the spiritual objects and left."
She dropped a bombshell right at the start. After finishing, Zhou Zhulu leaned in closer and added in a low voice, "It is said that the might of a Foundation Establishment cultivator appeared that day."
"Foundation Establishment? The Li family was originally a Foundation Establishment family, what's so strange about that?"
Seeing the puzzled look on Han Mo's face, Zhou Zhulu was stunned for a moment, then realized that he spent all his time in seclusion and his few sources of news came solely from her.
"The Li family has a total of three Foundation Establishment cultivators, and the Chen Family has the same number. But that day, the three Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Li family did not make a move, and the Chen Family was fooled, which is why they suffered a crushing defeat. Later, there were also rumors that the Li family has produced a new Foundation Establishment cultivator, which is why they had the courage to tear off all pretense with the Chen Family and directly strike down several of their clansmen."
*The might of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, could it be?* Han Mo thought to himself. It seemed his grandfather's initial guess was correct. With that item in hand, the Li family's strength would surely grow stronger and stronger in the future.
The two chatted for a bit longer. Seeing that there was no other news, Han Mo stood up, bowed in farewell, and left.
Arriving at the Li family talisman shop, Han Mo delivered the talismans as usual.
Li Baizhi had already broken through to the Seventh Layer of Qi Condensation and couldn't help showing off when she ran into Han Mo.
During their usual conversations, the two only exchanged experiences in the talisman Dao and didn't pay much attention to matters of advancing their cultivation. However, once Li Baizhi's cultivation stepped into the late stage of Qi Condensation, and after a period of practice, her success rate in drawing top-tier tier-one talismans naturally surpassed Han Mo's, giving her a very smug air for a while.
"You brat, your spiritual energy aura is steady and calm. Could it be that you're about to break through to the Seventh Layer of Qi Condensation?" Li Xiu, the Foundation Establishment cultivator resting nearby, chimed in during their conversation.
"Replying to Senior Li, I usually consume quite a few pills that boost cultivation. It's only been about half a month to a month since I started showing signs of a breakthrough." Whenever he came to the Li family talisman shop in the past, Li Baizhi was always the one who received him. Li Xiu usually just sat guard in the back or rested in a rattan chair, rarely speaking up. Hearing him speak now, Han Mo felt somewhat surprised.
Having received his reply, Li Xiu didn't continue the conversation and lay back down to rest. Li Baizhi, on the other hand, was left speechless, feeling slightly helpless.
Soon after, the two bowed in farewell to each other and parted ways.
After Han Mo left, Li Baizhi blurted out, "Third Uncle, did something happen?"
"Huh? Why would you ask that question?" Li Xiu lifted the book covering his face and looked at Li Baizhi through narrowed eyes.
"I've at least been following you and learning for a year now. Back then, you were the one who handed Han Mo over for me to befriend, so you certainly wouldn't ask these things yourself. Leaving the questions to me is just something you would do."
"You certainly understand me. It's nothing much, just some suspicions. Don't worry about it." With that, Li Xiu returned to his usual lazy demeanor.
Ever since he was assigned to guard his family's talisman shop, Li Xiu's personality had turned lazy. Although it was called guarding the post, when you really thought about it, it felt a bit like being a gatekeeper, which made Li Xiu feel thoroughly uncomfortable and left him wanting nothing more than to lie down and do nothing.
However, staying in the market town wasn't without its benefits. At least the spirit vein of White Jade Market Town was superior to the family's spirit vein, the troubles were few, and he only needed to complete a certain quota of talismans each month.
Hearing this, Li Baizhi didn't say anything more and returned to the back courtyard to cultivate. Even in this talisman shop, she didn't need to interact with every single customer. Those without innate talent or the necessity to be roped in naturally didn't qualify for Li Baizhi to step forward. After all, Li Baizhi was considered a little genius of the younger generation.
She only stepped forward to interact with people when Li Xiu gave the word. Throughout this past year, apart from aristocratic family scions, the only rogue cultivator was Han Mo. She would remember the days of Han Mo's monthly visits and wait for him here, returning to her normal cultivation once matters were concluded.
Seeing this, Li Xiu gave a light chuckle, then rose from the rattan chair, stretched, and yawned. "The juniors are working this hard, what's the use of me striving anymore?"
You can eat your words, but you can't just say anything.
Having said that, Li Xiu didn't actually lie flat as he claimed. Instead, he also returned to his cultivation room to cultivate. After all, given his current realm, he had already touched the threshold of the Foundation Establishment middle stage.
Both Li Baizhi and Li Xiu retreated to their respective rooms for quiet cultivation, as if the two of them were only in the shop to wait for Han Mo alone.
***
Returning to his cultivation room, Han Mo once again entered a period of bitter cultivation. Ever since he stepped into the Sixth Layer of Qi Condensation, Han Mo had already suspended his plan to practice spells. Even so, he had already been at the Sixth Layer of Qi Condensation for a full four months.
"As expected, without using pills to boost cultivation, the speed of advancement slows down all at once. Even with the help of the gathering spirit array, it's still like this. If it weren't for Grandfather, I wouldn't have the strength I have now."
He was filled with deep emotion.
Han Mo activated the spirit gathering array, sat cross-legged, and began quietly refining his spiritual power. He had a strong feeling that in less half a month, he should be able to step into the late stage of Qi Condensation. By then, his grandfather would teach him spell cultivation, combat techniques, and magical instruments.
Time flowed on.
For the past few days, Han Mo had been in quiet cultivation in his cultivation room, not even continuing to practice the talisman Dao during the day. Anyway, he had accumulated plenty of talismans in the past, and resting for a few days wouldn't delay his transactions with the Li family talisman shop.
Inside the cultivation room, absolute silence reigned. Han Mo slowly accumulated his spiritual power, and the spiritual energy all over his body grew increasingly vigorous, even causing the surrounding spiritual qi to become agitated.
Amidst the churning spiritual qi, Han Mo remained completely oblivious, sitting cross-legged with his eyes tightly closed.
Time and again, he circulated the Five Elements Generating Technique...
*Boom...*
With a muffled roar from within Han Mo's body, the chaotic and agitated spiritual qi around him slowly began to spin, vaguely forming a vortex of spiritual qi above his head that poured crazily into his body.
It was like parched earth after years of drought, frantically drinking in the sweet dew.
As Han Mo changed the gestures of his hands, pinching out a spell technique, he absorbed all the spiritual qi, devouring everything around him.
A long time later, Han Mo abruptly stood up, his aura instantly exploding and pushing outward in all directions. The stone table to the side was even nudged back an inch by the impact.
Feeling the surging aura within his body, Han Mo raised his hand slightly and clenched it into a fist, as if he were immensely powerful. Of course, this was just an illusion brought on by the sudden surge of aura during the breakthrough.
"Finally... the Seventh Layer of Qi Condensation!"
Having grown accustomed to the days aided by pills, this was the first time he had advanced his cultivation without utilizing them, and it had consumed quite a bit of time. Now that he had finally broken through, Han Mo's heart was overflowing with elation.
Calming his aura and slowly drawing the brimming spiritual power back into his body, he loosened his joints, opened the door, and walked out with a high-spirited expression.
His very first instinct was to head toward the room where Han Xiuyi was located to tell his grandfather this good news.
When he reached the door, before Han Mo could even knock or speak, the door swung open from the inside.
Han Xiuyi walked out with a look of gratification on his face, resting one hand lightly on Han Mo's shoulder and patting it as he let out a hearty laugh.
"Grandfather!"
The moment they met, Han Mo hurriedly greeted him, the excitement on his face impossible to conceal.
The laughter gradually subsided, the corners of Han Xiuyi's mouth turned upward, his eyes narrowed, and a sheen of moisture welled up in them.
Han Mo was stunned for a moment. This was the first time he had seen his grandfather show such an expression. Under his past teachings and strict cultivation schedule, his grandfather's stern and rigid personality had already been deeply engraved in Han Mo's mind; he never expected his grandfather to have a side like this.
Han Xiuyi felt immense joy in his heart for Han Mo, who had already broken through to the late stage of Qi Condensation.
Counting from the time Han Mo first came to White Jade Market Town to begin cultivation, it had barely been a full year when all was said and done. Although there was quite a bit of assistance from pills, this speed was still considered very fast, to say nothing of the fact that he had also honed his talisman Dao while cultivating.
With such innate talent, he was truly worthy of his three-attribute spiritual root, and he would definitely be able to achieve Foundation Establishment in the future.
Han Xiuyi opened his narrowed eyes slightly, looking at Han Mo, who had an infinite future ahead of him, and the joy on his face never paused for even a second.
After the two of them thoroughly vented the exhilaration in their hearts, Han Xiuyi spoke up first, addressing Han Mo.
"Mo'er, since you have now stepped into the late stage of Qi Condensation, it is time to tell you some matters concerning our Han family."
With that, Han Xiuyi moved toward the deepest part of the courtyard, and Han Mo, lost in thought, stepped forward to follow.
Han Mo had always had his suspicions about this matter. His father was the third son, and above him were two elder uncles; those uncles must have had families of their own, but he had never heard his grandfather mention any of these things.
Anxious and uneasy, Han Mo had looked at his grandfather's solitary figure over the past year and already formed certain conjectures in his heart.
During this time, he had thought about asking aloud, but since his grandfather never showed any intention of bringing it up, he hadn't asked casually. Now that his grandfather had brought it up of his own accord, he figured that after breaking through to the late stage of Qi Condensation, he finally had the necessary qualifications to know those things.
Following Han Xiuyi to the room at the very back of the courtyard, the old man reached out and pushed open the door.
As the two walked into the room, Han Mo closed the door behind him.
He cast his gaze around, taking in the interior of the room. The first thing that caught his eye was the ancestral altar placed in the hall of honor.
Three spirit tablets were set upon it:
*Late Consort Wang Family — Wang Xiuzhi*
*Late Eldest Son — Han Zhunxuan*
*Late Second Son — Han Zhunyang*