Chapter 10: Technician Census

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In the world of cultivation, change and upheaval are the norm. After all, there exist individuals of great power. However, as a major faction’s stronghold, the Immortal City is comparatively more stable, and even when shifts occur, they unfold over extended periods, often imperceptible to ordinary mortals with short lifespans.

Based on the limited information at hand, Li Jianan deduced that even if the Azure Cloud Sect were to make a move, it would not imperil the safety of Golden Radiance Immortal City. Indeed, even if the Azure Cloud Sect were to fall, the city would stand firm, as the combined forces within the city are by no means inferior to the sect. At worst, the various factions inside the city serve as a barometer—unless they all start fleeing, a genuine crisis would be at hand.

Naturally, if a better, safer haven presented itself, he would not hesitate to relocate. Yet, after a year in the Immortal City, poring over ancient texts at a cost and listening to the myriad travelers at the Peaceful Inn, he had come to understand the general landscape of this realm.

The Azure Cloud Sect resides in Cangyun Prefecture, in the southern part of the Celestial Azure Domain. North of Cangyun lies the domain’s core prefecture, Tianyuan, and to the northeast of Tianyuan is Daoyuan Prefecture, one of the three prefectures comprising the Celestial Azure Domain.

These three prefectures form the Celestial Azure Domain, which itself is but one region within the Greater Marsh cultivation world. There are a dozen or so such domains in the Greater Marsh World, most separated by impassable natural barriers—heavenly chasms, boundless spiritual wastelands, or forsaken abysses—impenetrable to cultivators below the Foundation Establishment stage. The southernmost edge of the Celestial Azure Domain is bordered by the savage desert, which separates it from another cultivation domain called the Profound Cloud Realm.

Within the Celestial Azure Domain, the three prefectures are similarly divided by natural barriers, though these are somewhat easier to traverse. The boundary between Cangyun and Tianyuan is marked by a branch of the Great Marsh mountain range said to span the entire world. Many passes along this range have been cleared, allowing Foundation Establishment cultivators to travel freely. Qi Refining stage cultivators, if fortunate enough to avoid second-tier beasts, can also pass through.

Given his current circumstances, Golden Radiance Immortal City remains Li Jianan’s best choice. He quickly composed himself and pressed onward steadily.

In the past year, his progress in talisman craft had been limited, as he focused on breaking through to the late Qi Refining stage. Now that he had reached this advanced stage, his spiritual power had increased markedly, especially his divine sense. It was time to devote serious effort to refining his talisman skills. With his current understanding, even at late Qi Refining, if his divine sense reached Foundation Establishment level, he could theoretically craft second-tier talismans.

Second-tier talismans correspond to the Foundation Establishment realm—a formidable trump card within his grasp at this stage.

Half a month later, Shopkeeper Wu sent word inviting Li Jianan to the main plaza for a grand ceremony.

“Handsome Uncle!” Just as he stepped outside, a soft, sweet voice called out. Li Jianan turned to see little Qiao, now six years old.

Over the past year, Elder You had come monthly to purchase pills. After several observations, Li Jianan ruled out any hidden agenda on her part.

During this time, he had once sought her advice on the basics of formation arrays and returned the favor. Gradually, little Qiao no longer regarded him with the suspicion she once had.

Still, the child was honest to a fault, always speaking the truth, including her forms of address.

“Fellow You, little Qiao.”

“What a coincidence, Pill Master Li, you’re going out too?” Elder You greeted him with a smile.

Li Jianan smiled and nodded. The three then walked out of the alley together.

Along the way, the two women chatted easily as usual. Though the conversation was trivial, it was relaxing.

“Pill Master Li, are you headed to the main city plaza as well?” After some distance, Elder You gently reminded him, concerned he might lose his way while talking.

Li Jianan nodded. “Fellow You, you’re going to the main plaza too?”

A flicker of surprise crossed Elder You’s eyes. After a year together, especially at first when Li Jianan was only a sixth-level Qi Refining alchemist, she had never expected him to be a first-tier senior alchemist. At his age, his alchemical fire should not suffice; at best, he was a sincere mid-level alchemist.

Each time she paid for pills, she gave him the mid-level alchemist’s price, with a slight premium—considering it a favor to his business.

Li Jianan smiled wryly. In the Immortal City, formation array technicians were few, and since setting up an array was lucrative with ongoing maintenance fees, he assumed Elder You was not among the top echelon of array masters, who rented large estates closer to the inner city.

Soon, the three arrived at the main plaza and were invited onto the stage.

“Third place! First-tier elite alchemist, Pill Master Li! How my poor eyesight has brought shame—most embarrassing indeed,” Elder You declared.

“I never imagined Fellow You to be a senior formation array master; I apologize for my neglect,” Li Jianan replied.

Elder You was a first-tier senior array master, ranked first among the city’s wanderers—a fact Li Jianan had not anticipated.

Recalling how she had once offered to help repair his courtyard’s protective array, which he had declined out of concern she might inadvertently damage it and that the city authorities would hold him liable, and also due to doubts about her identity, he realized her true skill now.

This technician selection ceremony had brought many low-profile experts into the spotlight.

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Li Jianan and Elder You’s recognition was not entirely unexpected.

A puppet master, however, caused quite a stir—at Qi Refining ninth level, yet with an extraordinary soul, already a second-tier puppet master.

Second-tier puppetry rivaled Foundation Establishment cultivators, and due to the nature of puppets—largely immune to toxins and lacking human fear or pain—such a master was a true assassin, capable of forcing even ordinary Foundation Establishment fighters to retreat.

Still, Li Jianan suspected the Immortal City concealed many hidden talents; those unveiled were surely only a fraction.

Perhaps some were especially cautious, driven by enmity or other reasons, preferring lower gains but refusing to trade with shops or markets, dealing only privately. Such individuals would evade any general investigation.

After the ceremony, both Li Jianan and Elder You received numerous visitors, with Li Jianan attracting the most.

This technician census bore an additional benefit: should any misfortune befall the Alchemy Pavilion in the future, he now had a substantial clientele, and with his growing reputation, his private earnings might rival those from the pavilion.

He bore no enemies and had no dark secrets. His alchemical progress was documented, and at worst, his lineage and talent were attested by the “Li Family Alchemical Legacy”—his father’s skill passed down to him, entirely plausible.

With more private clients, Li Jianan often refined pills in rapid succession, no longer worrying about arousing the pavilion’s suspicion by producing too many.

He now split his output: half submitted to the Alchemy Pavilion, half sold privately, doubling his income without delay.

As his wealth increased, his cultivation and talisman craft advanced in tandem, growing ever more refined.

Six years slipped by in the blink of an eye.

One day, a message arrived that caused him some unease.

Six years had passed since the first technician census, with no apparent changes and the event held annually as usual.

Yet just now, Elder You came to bid farewell.

An elder of the Azure Cloud Sect had personally come to invite her.