Chapter 112: Secret Art Accomplished
“This Fellow Daoist Song, truly, one cannot judge a person by their appearance.”
After the trading event dispersed, upon returning to his cave abode, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but sigh with emotion. This Fellow Daoist Song was indeed quite an interesting person.
Others might find him long-winded, but for Lin Chang’an, every conversation was an opportunity to absorb knowledge and gain experience.
“Who would’ve thought that the flowers planted with effort would not bloom, while the willows inserted without intent would grow into shade.”
【First-rank Formation Master (Beginner 3/100)】
Looking at his attribute panel, now with an added skill, Lin Chang’an’s face was filled with joy. His impression of Fellow Daoist Song grew even better.
A good man.
Though formations weren’t something he intended to delve into deeply for now, it was essential to understand them. Gaining an extra skill was equivalent to gaining another means of self-preservation.
“Next, with this second-rank wood attribute demon core, it’s time to cultivate this secret art.”
Inside the cave abode, Lin Chang’an retrieved the demon core he had exchanged for at the trading event.
The green demon core radiated with wood-attribute spiritual light, which made Lin Chang’an sigh in admiration.
Before reaching Foundation Establishment, how many Qi Refining cultivators had risked their lives to delve deep into the Yunwu Mountain Range for just one of these demon cores?
Now, within the circle of Foundation Establishment cultivators, it had become a tradable item.
“It’s also because Tianxuan City has gathered countless resources. Otherwise, the Zhou Family back then wouldn’t have been able to obtain one so easily.”
Back when he was at Qingzhu Mountain Marketplace, the community was small, cultivators were few, and resources were naturally limited.
But with the emergence of Tianxuan City, the attraction of high-grade spiritual veins wasn’t limited to cultivators—it also held a natural allure for the demon beasts within the Yunwu Mountain Range.
The congregation of cultivators and demon beasts had brought about endless resources.
This also explained why second-rank demon beasts used to be rare and required delving deep into the Yunwu Mountain Range, whereas now within a thousand-mile radius of Tianxuan City, countless second-rank demon beasts had already been wiped out.
Even now, there were still frequent incidents of demon beasts attacking cultivators.
Ultimately, whether cultivators or demon beasts, they were all after resources.
“Tianxuan City is a massive treasure trove. The cultivators gathered here have brought with them endless resources and opportunities.”
With a slight sigh, Lin Chang’an began to settle his mind and prepared to use the method described in the secret art to refine this demon core with the true fire of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Essence Condensation Method
While Lin Chang’an was cultivating the secret art in his cave abode, Tianxuan City was undergoing rapid changes.
Numerous drifting cultivators were arriving with their entire families. Once the first wave of rogue cultivators had stabilized and spread news of the situation, the small families of rogue cultivators in neighboring nations who had been observing from the sidelines could no longer sit still.
After all, those daring enough to take the first risk were always few; following the trend was the norm.
Drifting cultivators from surrounding nations were being drawn to this city of rogue cultivators at an astonishing speed.
Tianxuan City had now officially become the sanctuary for rogue cultivators in the region.
…
Two months later.
【Essence Condensation Method +8 (Beginner 79/100)】
As the demon core was refined by the true fire of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, it finally transformed into a relatively smooth bead, which Lin Chang’an slowly swallowed.
“Essence Condensation Method, it’s finally done.”
Within the cave abode, Lin Chang’an slowly opened his eyes, revealing a satisfied smile.
At this moment, he could clearly sense the demon core in his dantian, with mana continuously filtering through it.
“However, in terms of mana purity, it doesn’t help me much.”
Although this secret art had the ability to purify mana, at this moment, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but shake his head and sigh.
“Perhaps the quality of the core is too low, or maybe the mana cultivated from this ancient cultivation method is already extremely pure.”
It seemed that in order to further purify his mana, he would need at least a late-stage second-rank core, or even a third-rank spiritual item.
“But the ability to cleanse impurities in mana—or rather, the purification ability during pill refinement—could it truly be that powerful?”
Holding onto some doubt, Lin Chang’an took out a bottle of premium-grade first-rank pills. Without any hesitation, he swallowed three pills.
As the three pills entered his stomach, he didn’t immediately begin absorbing the medicinal effects. Instead, he used the demon core to begin filtering the three pills.
He saw the strong medicinal power of the pills begin to transform. After passing through the demon core, the transformed mana was indeed purified—just too little of it.
“This is!”
Suddenly, Lin Chang’an was startled. With his divine sense, he could clearly see a thread of black impurity slowly appearing within the demon core in his dantian.
This scene looked remarkably like what he had previously seen in Yun Yao’s Ice Soul Pearl, which also contained such black impurities.
“The impurities in the pills—this is what cultivators often refer to as pill poison.”
This discovery filled Lin Chang’an with excitement. For cultivators like Yun Yao, they might treasure the mana purification enhancement effect this secret art brought for their cultivation.
But for him, cultivating an ancient cultivation method, his mana was already extremely pure.
However, this ability to cleanse impurities was the most critical part.
“In that case, if I rely on pills for long-term cultivation in the future, wouldn’t I no longer need to worry about pill poison?”
Pill poison—just hearing it was enough to make countless cultivators turn pale.
Even he had once worried that consuming too many pills to accelerate cultivation would result in future consequences that must eventually be paid.
Unexpectedly, this secret art was so outstanding in purging pill poison.
“Truly an unexpected gain.”
Overjoyed, Lin Chang’an revealed a satisfied smile. After all, how many in the world of cultivation would dare to rely on pills as heavily as he planned to?
“However, the cost isn’t nonexistent. For ordinary cultivators, a single spiritual item used to cultivate this secret art could last a lifetime. But for me, it has become a consumable.”
Once the core became saturated with impurities, it would need to be replaced.
The more impurities the core accumulated, the worse its effects would become.
Even attempting to recycle it for refining Foundation Establishment Pills would be futile, as the excessive pill poison contained within would render it unusable.
Thus, it could only be treated as a consumable. Yet Lin Chang’an still nodded in satisfaction.
In comparison, spending a few extra spirit stones was hardly worth mentioning.
“Now that everything is ready, all that remains is the east wind. The next step is to cultivate steadily and strive to raise my alchemical skill to the second rank as soon as possible.”
At this moment, Lin Chang’an was filled with motivation for the future.
…
“Fellow Daoist Lin, I’ve come to pay a visit—apologies for the intrusion.”
This day, Chen Qing from the neighboring cave abode arrived with a smile on his face, carrying a pot of spirit wine for a visit.
Lin Chang’an naturally received him with a smile.
The two sat in the pavilion, appreciating the beauty within the cave abode, which also offered a commanding view over the entire Tianxuan City. One had to admit the scenery here was truly splendid.
“Fellow Daoist Chen, you're too kind.”
As they chatted amidst laughter, they exchanged cultivation insights and some interesting anecdotes from the world of cultivation.
After three rounds of drinks, Chen Qing, albeit with a pained expression, bought two Second-rank Golden Light Talismans for protection from Lin Chang’an.
For an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator, resources were indeed limited.
After all, not every Foundation Establishment cultivator possessed a Second-rank craft.
One could say that Chen Qing represented the typical portrait of a Foundation Establishment cultivator—while his strength had broken through, other aspects remained the same.
Before their breakthrough, many cultivators dared to take risks and gamble their lives, occasionally reaping unexpected rewards.
But once they reached Foundation Establishment, becoming the ancestral pillar of their entire clan, they often found themselves powerless and restricted within the clan.
Moreover, their clansmen could not provide much in terms of resources, leaving them in an awkward, neither-advancing-nor-retreating position.
Hence, many ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators were genuinely strapped for resources.
“Fellow Daoist Lin, sometimes I truly envy you.”
After putting away the talismans, Chen Qing couldn’t help but speak with envy, whether it was for Lin Chang’an’s unburdened life or his Second-rank craftsmanship, it was unclear.
But Lin Chang’an simply smiled and waved it off:
“Sometimes I envy you, Fellow Daoist. Being addressed as the patriarch by everyone in your clan must be quite the honor.”
To return in glory and honor one’s roots—this desire was etched into every person's bones.
Yet even after achieving Foundation Establishment, Lin Chang’an had no one to share it with.
Hearing this, Chen Qing revealed a proud smile and nodded.
Indeed, ever since he reached Foundation Establishment, he had become the most revered figure in his clan. In the future, even his ancestral tablet would be placed at the highest position in the ancestral hall, receiving the best offerings.
After some idle conversation, Chen Qing hesitated but then smiled and probed:
“Fellow Daoist Lin, as fellow rogue cultivators, I won’t beat around the bush. I came today to ask whether you might have any spare spirit fields available?”
As he spoke, Chen Qing cupped his hands and explained further:
“Fellow Daoist Lin, I mean no offense—just that the clan population has grown. Of course, if you do have any idle spirit fields, I will absolutely not take advantage on the rent. Everything will be fair.”
Chen Qing’s frank demeanor left a good impression on Lin Chang’an. If he had merely a hundred mu of ordinary spirit fields, he might have considered renting them out to this Fellow Daoist Chen.
Unfortunately...
“Fellow Daoist Chen, I truly apologize. I’ve already rented out the spirit field to the Zhou Family.”
With a regretful expression, Lin Chang’an replied, while Chen Qing, hearing this, did not show any disappointment and instead waved it off with a smile:
“Fellow Daoist Lin, you're too polite. I was just asking.”
Chen Qing could only inwardly regret—he had been a step too late. He had heard before that Fellow Daoist Lin had two or three friends, one of whom was a son-in-law of the Zhou Family.
Most likely, that son-in-law had taken it first.
After all, with the backing of the Zhou Family, how could an ordinary Qi Refining cultivator so easily rent a hundred mu of spirit fields?
In Chen Qing’s view, Lin Chang’an was trying to build a closer relationship with the Zhou Family, which he could understand.
“Looks like I’ll need to inquire at other Fellow Daoists’ abodes. Fellow Daoist Lin, as a Second-rank Talisman Master, you must have a wide network. If you hear anything, please let me know.”
“Fellow Daoist Chen, you’re too kind. If I hear of any available spirit fields, I will inform you at once.”
The two shared a hearty laugh and toasted once more.
Before Foundation Establishment, Chen Qing had been a steadfast man. But after achieving it and becoming the pillar of his clan, burdened by all sorts of clan affairs, his fighting spirit gradually waned.
This was the common state for most cultivators, not just rogue ones.
Lin Chang’an persisted in his cultivation out of confidence in his talent and the opportunities presented by his ancient cultivation method.
After Chen Qing’s departure, Lin Chang’an sat alone in the pavilion, gazing at the scenic view of Tianxuan City, when a moo sounded from behind him.
“Moo!”
The mighty Azure-Horned Bull approached with a fawning expression, causing Lin Chang’an to shake his head.
“You silly bull, always so gluttonous.”
He pulled out a spirit fruit from his storage pouch and tossed it over. The Azure-Horned Bull let out a satisfied moo and happily chewed.
Casting a glance at Chen Qing’s lively compound next door, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but sigh.
“Among rogue cultivators, Fellow Daoist Chen is already exceptional. After a lifetime of hard work, he now plans for his descendants to enjoy the fruits. That’s only natural. I just wonder how long Tianxuan City’s peace will last.”
With a shake of his head, Lin Chang’an walked into the cave abode and resumed his routine of cultivation, alchemy, and talisman drawing.
This had been his habit for decades. What others found dull and monotonous, he had already grown accustomed to.
Especially when he saw clear progress on his attribute panel, he found it all the more enjoyable.
Cultivation truly was addicting.
...
Inside Chen Qing’s cave abode.
“Patriarch, were you able to rent it?”
“Grandfather, how much of Senior Lin’s hundred mu of spirit field did you manage to rent?”
Upon Chen Qing’s return, his clan members—who had been waiting eagerly—greeted him with anticipation.
However, Chen Qing casually shook his head and waved his hand:
“Fellow Daoist Lin already rented the spirit field to a friend. Still, I asked him to let me know if anything comes up.”
Hearing that not even a single mu had been rented, some of the clan members looked disappointed.
An older man at mid-stage Qi Refining, a peer of Chen Qing, nodded and sighed:
“Patriarch, you’ve worked hard for the clan. If we can rent more, great. If not, even this hundred mu is enough for our Chen Family to develop steadily.”
“Indeed, it’s a hundred mu of spirit fields—we wouldn’t have even dreamed of it before.”
“Exactly. With just a small tax each year, Master Lu truly lives up to his title as the number one rogue cultivator.”
Most of the clan was satisfied. But the younger Chen Wen was less so, grumbling:
“Grandfather, I think that Senior Lin, as a Second-rank Talisman Master, probably looks down on our ordinary Foundation Establishment family.”
“Watch your words!”
Chen Qing’s eyes widened as he scolded his beloved grandson. It was one thing to speak like this in private, but if such words spread, they could cause trouble.
“Grandfather, I understand. I was wrong.”
Facing his grandfather—the clan’s only Foundation Establishment cultivator—Chen Wen lowered his head in apology.
But in his heart, Chen Wen still held resentment, muttering inwardly:
“He’s just relying on his status as a Second-rank Talisman Master to look down on people. I don’t believe he’ll really rent out all hundred mu.”
Seeing the others’ reactions, Chen Qing shook his head and began explaining:
“Stop making wild guesses. When you’re out in the world, be cautious with your words. This Fellow Daoist Lin has a friend who is a son-in-law of the Beast-controlling Zhou Family…”
As Chen Qing explained, the others suddenly understood.
“So that’s why.”
“The Beast-controlling Zhou Family was once a famous powerhouse in the Qingzhu Mountain Marketplace.”
While the others expressed their realizations, Chen Wen’s resentment only deepened upon hearing it.
“This is clearly to curry favor with the Zhou Family. He’s obviously looking down on our Chen Family.”
With this thought, Chen Wen made a firm resolution—he vowed that one day, when he became a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he would lead the Chen Family to rise and rival the likes of the Beast-controlling Zhou Family.
When that day came, he wanted to see whether that man would still act so superior.
“Big Brother, now that the clan has a hundred mu of spirit fields, let’s focus on cultivating.”
Chen Feng, sincere in nature, was full of enthusiasm as he spoke to his elder brother.
“Yes, with Wen and Feng, our Chen Family may well produce another Foundation Establishment cultivator after the Patriarch.”
“Indeed. With the Patriarch leading us, the opportunity is real.”
Watching his clan full of motivation, Chen Qing couldn’t help but reveal a gratified smile.
The Chen Family had risen under his leadership.