Chapter 124: Fire and Evil Qi
Tianxuan City.
Finally returning to the long-separated Immortal City, the sudden clamor around made the disguised Lin Changan smile.
“Indeed, even Foundation Establishment cultivators dislike long-term isolation from fellow cultivators. This bustling atmosphere is just right.”
Perhaps some people liked solitude and quiet, but it wasn't as if one could truly stay alone for life—rather, they just preferred their own cultivation grounds to be undisturbed.
He hadn't alarmed anyone along the way. After all, with so many Foundation Establishment cultivators in Tianxuan City, who would have the idle time to keep an eye on him?
Eventually, after smoothly returning to his own cave abode, Lin Changan released the Green-Horned Ox from the Spirit Beast Pouch.
“Moo！”
At first, the Green-Horned Ox remained wary of its surroundings, but upon realizing it was inside a comfortable cave abode, it slowly relaxed.
Though the large bump on its head had nearly faded, touching it still caused unbearable pain, prompting the Green-Horned Ox to cautiously crouch into the pool.
Though it continued basking in sunlight, its occasionally twitching ears clearly revealed it remained three parts alert.
Seeing this, Lin Changan couldn’t help but nod in satisfaction.
“Seems this journey to the Cloudmist Mountain Range has awakened the demon-beast instincts inside this ox.”
It had grown too comfortable before. Though well-fed and strong, the Green-Horned Ox lacked the vigilance of wild demon beasts.
“But after so much hardship, it’s rare to relax.”
After years of arduous cultivation, Lin Changan rarely wore such a relaxed expression. Entering the cave abode, he allowed himself two rare days of rest.
But after those two days, he resumed his daily cultivation routine without the slightest slack.
After all, his Spiritual Root aptitude was poor and he had established his foundation late. Without awakening his innate talent and gaining this ancient opportunity, he wouldn't have come this far.
Therefore, he couldn’t waste such a great opportunity.
Otherwise, burdened with such fortune and still failing to form a Core—he’d have truly lost out.
……
Inside the cave abode.
A purple-patterned bronze Alchemy Furnace glowed under the true fire of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Meanwhile, within the furnace, the merging pill liquids gave off a faint fragrance.
“Done.”
Seated cross-legged before the furnace, Lin Changan slowly withdrew the true fire, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.
“This Evergreen Art has long and enduring meridians—perfect for this kind of sustained alchemy.”
As the furnace opened and seventeen pills flickering with spiritual light were each stored into jade bottles, several pill bottles already lay before Lin Changan.
“These pills are enough for a year of cultivation.”
At that moment, Lin Changan was beyond satisfied. Though it had been tiring, the rewards were considerable.
“This journey to the Cloudmist Mountain Range, aside from the cultivation method, the greatest reliance was this sword art and the Spirit Eye.”
The Spirit Eye’s ability to see through fog and stone was like divine aid deep within the miasma-covered Cloudmist Mountain Range.
Whether it was hidden Poison Insects launching surprise attacks or detecting distant dangers, it played a critical role.
“And the power of this sword art—now I understand why he was called the Blood Fiend Sword Lord.
The more it injures the body, the redder the sword radiance becomes—and the power multiplies instead.”
At that moment, Lin Changan couldn’t help but sigh. Practice truly proves the truth.
He raised his hand. A green sword radiance coiled before him. In the next moment, he forcibly sped up the technique. As his meridians were injured, the green sword radiance turned red.
Its power had doubled from before.
“Truly worthy of being a demonic cultivation method that harms the enemy a thousand while hurting oneself eight hundred.”
As the sword radiance dispersed, Lin Changan smiled in satisfaction.
【Killing Origin Sword Art (Proficient 982/1000)】
As long as one didn’t fear the side effects, demonic cultivation methods progressed rapidly.
This journey to the Cloudmist Mountain Range also unearthed the abilities of his Regenerative Body. In the future, he must seek out more demonic cultivation methods if the opportunity arose.
“Of course, those that consume lifespan or reverse yin-yang and change gender—those are out of the question.”
Even with Evergreen Art and the nourishment from his Life-bound Spirit Plant, and the strength of his Regenerative Body—it wasn’t enough to recover from that kind of damage.
【Spirit Eye (Grandmaster 232/5000)】
“And the Spirit Eye—it’s time to exchange for more Spiritual Liquid. Both it and the Life-bound Spirit Plant need it for cultivation.”
Then Lin Changan stood up, cleaned up the pill scent from the cave and the jade bottles, and stored everything into the Storage Pouch.
……
“Did you hear? Our Tianxuan City’s Master Lu has also issued bounties for Lihuo Palace’s genius disciples and cultivators with exceptional skills.”
“Bounties? Those sect geniuses have long been on the bounty lists. How many have actually succeeded?”
On the streets of Tianxuan City, countless cultivators discussed the current turbulent situation. A skinny Late Qi Refining Stage cultivator shook his head and sighed, clearly not optimistic about Tianxuan’s bounty notices.
“That’s true. The Three Major Sects of Yue Kingdom have long been at odds—whoever gets a chance won’t let it go. But us Drifting Cultivators?
Even if you manage to kill those sect disciples—what then? Do you have a backer? Or do you think someone will protect you from retaliation?”
A fellow cultivator walking beside him glared and retorted, “Then why do bounty notices for Drifting Cultivators cause such panic?”
The skinny cultivator sighed helplessly and spoke the bitter truth.
“Because our lives are cheap. If we die, we die. And it’s always our own people killing each other.
Plus, there’s always a chance to join a major sect. They can’t wait. But have you seen how many sect cultivators actually want to defect?”
“You say there’s bounty money—but would they really give up being a proper sect disciple to become a Drifting Cultivator?”
Walking within Tianxuan City, Lin Changan overheard the discussions of many cultivators and secretly nodded.
Crude words, but not wrong. How many sect disciples would really defect and become Drifting Cultivators? If it were a Golden Core opportunity, someone might risk it.
But a Foundation Establishment opportunity? Once on the sect’s traitor list, the pursuit spans generations.
The risk-to-reward ratio is completely unbalanced.
But for Drifting Cultivators, it’s different. Claim the bounty, and you might even join a sect—countless people are desperate for that.
“Master Lu is already over five hundred years old. His strength has begun to decline. For a Golden Core cultivator, that’s already quite long-lived.”
Recalling the information on Master Lu, Lin Changan couldn’t help but shake his head inwardly.
Normally, Golden Core cultivators live five to six hundred years easily. But for one who fought their way up—especially a Drifting Cultivator—living six hundred years was already exceptional.
“But that’s all still too far for me. I can only hope Master Lu lasts a few more decades.”
With that, Lin Changan calmed his thoughts and headed toward Tianxuan City’s Many Treasures Pavilion.
……
Tianxuan Peak.
“Master, recently Robber Cultivators have been running rampant, and rumors are spreading. Although things in the city are still stable, the situation outside is clearly worsening.”
Su Miaoyin spoke seriously while reporting the outside situation. Yet between her brows, there was no worry—instead, she covertly glanced at the seated Master Lu.
Wearing a Blue Robe and appearing like a skinny old man, this Master Lu sneered sarcastically upon hearing those words.
“Trying to test this old man? Better weigh your worth first.”
At this point, Master Lu seemed to remember something, revealing a sly smile.
“The ignorant masses only know Golden Core cultivators can live five to six hundred years. They don’t understand the vastness of the World of Cultivation—there are secret techniques, pills, and cultivation methods that extend life.
Even formations—I’ve seen ones that can delay aging in defiance of heaven.”
He sneered coldly in his heart.
He had once obtained a secret method for turtle-breath longevity. Regular use greatly extended his lifespan.
Based on his current lifespan, he could live at least eight hundred years.
No one knew that this five-hundred-plus-year-old old man was still in his prime.
“Master, what now?”
Su Miaoyin frowned. She didn’t know her convenient father’s thoughts, nor did she want to. She only wished to cultivate peacefully.
But sometimes, matters had to be faced.
“Next, this old man—injured and over five hundred years old, just wanting to live a few more years—will enter seclusion.
Good daughter, you prepare as well. Next time, we’ll go for a big catch. We have to give these people some hope, don’t we?”
With a mocking smile, Master Lu watched Su Miaoyin remain silent.
“Master, your return to Yue Kingdom this time—was it truly to plan for my Golden Core?”
Finally, Su Miaoyin couldn’t help but look up and ask her convenient father the question in her heart.
She never could see through what he was plotting.
Under her direct gaze, Master Lu huffed and patted his chest.
“Of course!”
“Good!”
Su Miaoyin did not hesitate at all and turned to leave immediately.
However, behind her, Master Lu stroked his beard and, while watching her departing figure, couldn't help but mutter in a low voice:
“My obedient daughter, this father wasn’t lying to you. It’s just that planning for your Golden Core was only part of the arrangement.”
...
Many Treasures Pavilion.
“Second-rank Centipede Shell, Twin-Tailed Venomous Scorpion, Dark Green Venom Sac... Fellow Daoist Lin, you’ve truly opened this old man’s eyes.”
This Foundation Establishment old man surnamed Wind revealed a trace of surprise upon seeing this pile of second-rank demon beast materials.
The materials from five second-rank demon beasts weren’t particularly remarkable. He had followed Master Lu and even seen third-rank demon beast materials.
What surprised him was that Lin Changan had always been cautious, usually relying on Drawing Talismans for arduous cultivation.
“Old Wind, don’t tease me.”
Faced with the emotional value offered by Old Wind, Lin Changan shook his head helplessly. He might have believed it if it came from a Qi Refining cultivator, but this old senior had lived for so many years already.
In the Sea Abyss of Beasts, what great storms had he not weathered?
Seeing Lin Changan’s expression, Old Wind let out a rare chuckle.
“Fellow Daoist Lin, this is what a true cultivator should be. Before, you only relied on Drawing Talismans for bitter cultivation. Perhaps your resources surpassed ordinary drifting cultivators, but only to a limited degree.
One must understand that after Foundation Establishment, every step is like walking on thin ice. We drifting cultivators—if we don’t even have the courage to fight—how can we speak of pursuing the immortal path, let alone breaking through to Golden Core?”
Beneath Old Wind’s hearty smile, the look in his eyes carried a sense of desolation, as if he had experienced far too much.
Lin Changan nodded in agreement.
“Indeed. One adventure could equal years of gain. No wonder they say that robber cultivation and demon-beast hunting easily become addictive for cultivators.”
It was the allure of “poverty at midnight, wealth by dawn” that made people grow used to such sudden riches. Who would still be willing to honestly earn spirit stones through slow Drawing Talismans or alchemy?
Even someone as talented as Lin Changan, who had secretly and openly earned so much, still felt tempted—let alone others.
“Fellow Daoist Lin, our Many Treasures Pavilion will take all of these materials. Do you wish to exchange them for treasures or spirit stones?”
“Exchange one defensive spirit artifact. The rest, all for cultivation resources.”
Lin Changan did not hesitate at all. In fact, from the moment before he hunted the demon beasts, he had never planned to hide.
Sometimes, a cultivator must not always hide their edge—when it’s time to show, one must show it.
He wanted to use these demon beast materials to trade for high-grade resources available only in Tianxuan City and the Three Major Sects.
This kind of thing—he couldn’t hide it even if he wanted to.
Moreover, as a drifting cultivator with low aptitude, this also served to conceal any future progress in cultivation.
If people grew envious, let them fight for it.
“A defensive spirit artifact, huh? This Blackiron Flying Shield has astonishing defense—it’s perfect for you, Fellow Daoist.”
Looking at the heavy, massive shield, Lin Changan nodded inwardly. With this, he now had a defensive spirit artifact, greatly enhancing his safety.
“Second-rank High-grade Spirit Liquid—exchange for six bottles. Also...”
With the jade token given by Su Miaoyin earlier, he could exchange for many strategic high-grade resources not open to the public in Tianxuan City.
Of course, that was only relatively speaking. Some internal rare resources would naturally never be easily circulated outside.
“There’s even Fire Flame Baleful Energy!”
When Lin Changan saw the Fire Flame Baleful Energy among the resources he could exchange for, he couldn’t help being surprised.
Old Wind nodded with a broad smile and said:
“Previously, on Blazing Fire Peak, there was a crevice connected to the earth fire, which occasionally emitted Fire Flame Baleful Energy.
This Fire Flame Baleful Energy is an excellent treasure for both body tempering and artifact crafting. It can even significantly enhance the power of some cultivation methods.”
It was not rare for cultivators in the World of Cultivation to utilize baleful energy, so Old Wind was not surprised.
Lin Changan nodded inwardly. He had already witnessed the might of the Killing Origin Sword Art, and this would be an excellent supplement for cultivation.
“Give me two bottles of Fire Flame Baleful Energy.”
After exchanging for a pile of cultivation resources, Lin Changan sighed emotionally. No wonder Old Hu always returned with full gains, only to soon become penniless again.
Now he finally understood.
This kind of sudden wealth would lead cultivators to spend lavishly, converting everything into cultivation resources.
When those were nearly exhausted, the natural thought was to try another haul.
It was a vicious cycle. Without risk, drifting cultivators had no resources.
Seeking wealth in danger—yet many lost it in danger as well.
Still, that could not stop the steps of cultivators. After all, without risking, they had no chance at all.
Take a gamble, and perhaps they could carve out a future.
In the past five hundred years in the Yue Kingdom, wasn’t the most outstanding cultivator none other than the current master of Tianxuan City, Master Lu?
“Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Wind.”
After finishing the exchange, the old man surnamed Wind chuckled and did not ask about the demon cores.
After all, demon cores were widely useful. Many Foundation Establishment cultivators often used them to assist in cultivation.
“Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Lin.”
Just as Lin Changan was storing the pile of cultivation materials he had exchanged for, Su Miaoyin happened to appear, saw the scene, and couldn’t help but smile and salute.
“So it’s Fellow Daoist Su.”
Seeing who had arrived, Lin Changan also smiled and returned the salute.
At her side, the black-clothed, veiled female cultivator exchanged an inconspicuous glance with her. Both revealed odd expressions.
Yun Yao!