The buildings in Cloudfield Market are divided into three circles. The innermost one is a street of shops and the residences of the Clearwater Sect's disciples and major families. The middle circle is a shared rental yard. Compared with the outermost buildings, the security has been improved a lot. At least the men of the Clearwater Sect Law Enforcement Team are nearby, which is somewhat of a deterrent.

Alex Reed now lives in the outermost area. The monks who live here often have their hearts and lungs ripped out by demonic cultivators. Now that he could earn spiritual stones, he came up with the idea of moving. In the past, there was no way. No matter how scary the demonic cultivator was, he could still be scarier than being a poor ghost. Now that he has some spiritual stones, the fear of the demon cultivator has climbed to the first place.

However, he met with disappointment in the General Affairs Hall. The monks of the Clearwater Sect deserve to die. All of them have donkey faces. The surrounding buildings are rented anonymously, only the nameplates are recognized. If the rent cannot be paid on the first day of the month, the Clearwater Sect law enforcement team will come in the next day and clear out the house. Casual cultivators are like leeks, being cut off again and again in rented houses. If the monk happened to be in the wilderness and couldn't come back in time, he would have to rent a house again.

The house where Alex currently lives is at No. 9, Heiyan Lane, South District of the market. He rented three new houses, two of which were on the front and back streets of his residence, only thirty feet apart. Using the Earth Escape Talisman is just right. The other one is in the West District of the market. A cunning rabbit has three burrows. He will build four dens for himself first, and then escape when in danger.

Instead of returning directly, he went to the alley of the newly rented house and walked around. The specific locations of the three houses were determined to avoid the danger of escaping to the home of a female Taoist friend.

Returning to his residence in Heiyan Lane, Alex sat cross-legged on the bed and began to rest and breathe. He was also thinking about the next path of practice. The matter of the mineral vein is still fermenting, but it is impossible to determine when the Clearwater Sect will personally end it. One hundred pieces of talisman paper must be drawn into miasma-dispelling talismans as soon as possible to get the spirit stones.

The next day.

After getting up, Alex lifted the quilt and began to draw the talismans. He did not draw the miasma dispelling talisman first, but first drew the Earth Escape Talisman, the Mysterious Trace Talisman, and other talismans for self-defense. After all, it's not safe to stay in your own building. This small, thin wooden house can protect against most casual cultivators, but it cannot protect against demonic cultivators. With four nests, he didn't believe that he could meet four nests of demon cultivators at the same time just by memorizing them.

After the drawing was completed, Alex directly took out the Earth Escape Talisman and activated it. He tried escaping twice, practiced in advance, and evacuated into new houses in the next alley. The drill results showed that the distance and target were all accurate.

In the blink of an eye, five days passed.

Knock-knock-knock.

The door rapped! Alex, who was practicing, suddenly felt tense. In Cloudfield Market, he lived in seclusion, and his only acquaintance was the fifth girl. Alex opened the door and saw the middle-aged neighbor monk he met a few days ago.

"My name is Paul Young, I moved here a few days ago and came to visit specially."

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Saying that, Paul bowed and clasped his fists. Alex did not refuse indifferently but also returned the favor with cupped fists.

"Alex Reed."

Paul didn't enter, but Alex's room was so small he could scan it all at a glance. The ink bottle left over from making the talisman was thrown at the foot of the bed, and Paul could see it clearly.

"So, Fellow Daoist Alex is a Talisman Master?"

"Studying some crafts and earning a few spiritual stones for practice."

Paul nodded empathetically. He had no doubts about Alex's words. Cultivation of various immortal arts, whether it is refining elixirs, refining weapons, or making talismans, is extremely resource-intensive. There are no casual cultivators from the family behind them, and those who are poor are just living in the dirt. It is more difficult to become a Talisman Master than a family cultivator.

"It's not easy for monks like us. We either have to risk our lives, or we have to work hard at our skills."

Paul sighed with emotion, and then opened his invitation.

"By the way, a mineral vein has been discovered outside the market. Are you interested in going to see it, Fellow Daoist Alex?"

Paul's sudden invitation suddenly made Alex wary. Is this person sick? Am I familiar with you?

"I recently made an appointment with Manager John of the Treasure Pavilion to draw talismans, so I don't have time."

"Fellow Taoist is actually familiar with the manager of the Treasure Pavilion. Good luck."

There was a hint of envy in Paul's eyes. The stewards of the Treasure Pavilion have the lowest level of cultivation at the seventh level of Qi training. There is a monthly salary and a commission for the sale of spiritual items. It is a day that casual cultivators long for.

"Being familiar with the manager of the Treasure Pavilion, it seems that fellow Taoist's talisman-making skills are somewhat modest."

Paul immediately said: "If I ever need a talisman in the future, I hope that fellow Taoist Alex will give me my love."

"Definitely."

After sending Paul away, Alex closed the door in confusion. He and Paul didn't know each other at all. Just because they lived next to each other and had known each other a few times when going out, it was too abrupt to come and invite him.

After thinking for a while, Alex couldn't figure it out. He secretly had a thought in his heart.

At night.

He did not practice or sleep but lay quietly on the bed. His breathing was steady, as if he was asleep. But in his hand, he held the flame, escape, and other talismans he had made. As long as there is any movement, he will escape.

…

Next door, in Paul's room.

As night fell, a touch of evil aura filled the quiet room.

Chichi—

A finger-thick, about one-foot-long spotted snake came out. It was obviously a demon snake, but the spotted snake's eyes were red as blood, and there was a demonic intent released.

"Senior."

Paul's body trembled involuntarily.

"How is it?"

The cold voice was imprinted in Paul's mind.

"Senior, the Taoist friend next door is a talisman master, and he may be familiar with the manager of the Treasure Pavilion, so I excluded this person from the target."

Paul lowered his voice and spoke, recounting the events of the day.

The spotted snake coiled its tail in front of him and stood up with its upper body upright, like a meditating monk.

"You did a good job. I am not in good condition at the moment. If there is any risk of complications, I must avoid it directly."

The voice of the spotted snake sounded.

"It's all because of the senior's good teaching."

"Don't choose those with complicated relationships."

"Don't choose those who form gangs."

"Don't choose those who are too strong."

"Don't choose those who are not sure of their strength."

"You will not go wrong if you follow the senior's rules."

"There are other cultivators in the middle stage of Qi training in this alley. I will definitely select the right person for you as soon as possible."

Paul knelt on the bed and bowed to the spotted snake.

"Select the next blood food within three days, the ancestor's magic..."

"Don't worry, ancestor, I will select the blood food for you tomorrow."

"Remember, be careful, don't cause trouble for the ancestor, after the ancestor has dormant for this period of time, you can..."

"Yes, yes, remember the rules set by the ancestor."

Paul knocked his head on the bed, trying his best to show his obedience.

In order to avoid unnecessary trouble, the ancestor asked that the selected people should try their best to avoid the risk of causing trouble.

Today, he visited his fellow Taoist Alex next to him. The strength of the fourth level of Qi training is suitable for the selection criteria of the ancestor. But this person is a talisman master, and he is said to be involved with the manager of the Treasure Pavilion. A casual cultivator who is related to the manager of the Treasure Pavilion and lives in a house in the outer area of the market looks a bit suspicious, and it is not known how true his words are. He does not even accept the mine task; obviously, he is a home cultivator.

Paul was too lazy to pay attention to him. There are many cultivators in the middle stage of Qi training in the market. The time to check the truth of his words is enough for the ancestor to open his heart to the next Taoist friend.

Therefore, Paul excluded Alex. As expected of the ancestor who re-cultivated, he deeply admired the degree of caution in doing things.

The ancestor is really too steady.