Chapter 130: Restriction-Breaking Talisman Shows Its Might
Inside the pavilion.
After mortgaging one hundred mu of Spirit Field, Lin Changan pondered for a moment, then shook his head and sighed:
“Daoist Chen, it is not that I don’t wish to earn the Spirit Stones you offer as a middleman, but Foundation Establishment Pills are strategic resources. You know well the current situation.”
In the end, Lin Changan tactfully refused, and what he said was the truth.
Although this one hundred mu of Spirit Field was valuable, the situation in Tianxuan City was turbulent, and Master Lu had not shown up for three years.
The value of these Spirit Fields naturally kept dropping again and again.
More importantly, though his connections were not bad, and he might be able to obtain two Foundation Establishment Pills, why should he owe such a favor?
How much could he even profit from this?
It was impossible that he would secretly refine Foundation Establishment Pills himself, taking on such risks for another person.
“Daoist Lin!”
Seeing Lin Changan’s rejection, Chen Qing revealed a bitter smile on his face.
It was not that he did not wish to deal with the Foundation Establishment families, but those families were all the type to eat the meat and not spit out the bones.
“I understand Daoist Lin’s concerns. But if I were willing to give Daoist fifty mu of Spirit Field in exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill?”
Looking at Chen Qing’s hunched figure, there was no trace of the heroic spirit he once had after first establishing Foundation.
This made Lin Changan sigh.
Though he did not speak, Chen Qing understood everything from that silence, and his expression dimmed.
“In that case, I shall not trouble Daoist further.”
Watching Chen Qing’s departing back, Lin Changan shook his head.
“In the cultivation world, strength still speaks the loudest.
If Chen Qing had maintained his fierce progress, he might not have failed to obtain one or two Foundation Establishment Pills.
Now that his vitality has been damaged, who knows how many people are staring at this fat piece of meat.”
He did not wish to help Chen Qing only to secretly offend others.
“Right now, a single Foundation Establishment Pill outside has already risen to twelve thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones, and even then it is priceless without market supply.”
Lin Changan shook his head in secret.
This was caused by the tense situation of Yue Kingdom, forcing the four great powers to consume their reserves to strengthen themselves.
At the same time, with too many wandering cultivators arriving, the chaotic situation made the market price somewhat inflated, which was also normal.
Of course, no matter how turbulent Tianxuan City became, its prosperity would not be affected.
After all, wandering cultivators originally had nothing, so they were the least afraid of gambling their lives.
Many of them were now joining in, all betting that Master Lu would have successors, and then Tianxuan City could remain stable for another five hundred years.
……
Inside Chen Qing’s cave abode.
“Grandfather, how did it go?”
When Chen Qing returned, Chen Wen and Chen Feng both looked at him full of expectation.
But their grandfather Chen Qing only forced out an ugly smile.
That one sigh made the two brothers’ faces sink to the extreme.
Chen Wen said angrily: “Grandfather, that Senior Lin once even called himself your friend.
Now that our Chen Family is in distress, he actually refuses to lend even the slightest aid.
Everyone knows he has close ties with Master Lu’s disciples of Tianxuan City.
Yet he is so cold-blooded, no different from those hungry wolves outside staring at our Chen Family’s one hundred mu of Spirit Field.”
In his agitation, Chen Wen could not help cursing Lin Changan for standing by while others suffered.
It was not that he lost his composure, but their Chen Family was truly in a dangerous situation.
Once their sole Foundation Establishment cultivator Chen Qing had an accident, they would not be able to keep the one hundred mu of Spirit Field at all.
“Elder Brother!”
Chen Feng on the side was also full of grief.
This was the sorrow of ordinary Foundation Establishment families—unable to withstand the slightest storm.
“Enough. It’s just one hundred mu of Spirit Field.
This old man will go to the Zhou Family and the Han Family.
In such great clans, there will always be someone interested.”
Chen Qing let out a long sigh of disappointment.
Once they turned to such families, even if they managed to obtain the pill, they would have to pay dearly.
After all, without benefits, those great families would never do such things.
They had first approached Lin Changan precisely because they believed he would not be as greedy as those wolves.
“Wen’er, you have already consumed one Foundation Establishment Pill.
If you take another, the chances of breaking through will be higher.
Therefore, Feng’er, I hope you can understand.”
Chen Qing’s hoarse voice echoed.
Upon hearing this, the two brothers’ expressions turned complicated.
Chen Wen lowered his head in guilt.
If he had succeeded in breaking through, his grandfather would not have been forced to take risks, nor would he have suffered such heavy injuries.
Chen Feng also felt some disappointment, but for the sake of the family’s future, he steeled his heart and said firmly:
“Grandfather, don’t worry. Your grandson understands.
With two Foundation Establishment Pills, Elder Brother will surely succeed in establishing his Foundation.”
Chen Qing’s meaning was already very clear.
“Brother Feng!”
Looking at his younger brother who always yielded to him, Chen Wen’s eyes turned red, and he finally said hoarsely:
“Brother Feng, rest assured.
If I succeed in Foundation Establishment, I will definitely help you achieve it in the future.”
“Elder Brother, don’t be anxious.
After you establish Foundation, reclaiming the family’s Spirit Fields will be the top priority.”
Chen Feng forced a smile.
Though he also longed for Foundation Establishment, the family’s survival outweighed everything.
This so-called family cohesion warmed Chen Qing’s heart.
All his years of teaching them were not in vain.
Meanwhile, Chen Wen secretly swore that he would not fail the expectations of his grandfather and brother.
He also resented Lin Changan for watching them die without helping.
The other clearly only needed to speak a few words to easily obtain two Foundation Establishment Pills.
Their Chen Family was not expecting him to work for free.
They were even willing to let him profit.
Hateful!
Once he succeeded in Foundation Establishment in the future, he would make that man regret his choice today.
Yet while the Chen Family was preparing for Foundation Establishment, Lin Changan was already secretly heading towards the Yunwu Mountain Range.
……
Inside the Yunwu Mountain Range.
“Mooh!”
The Green-Horned Ox bellowed furiously as a massive venomous python coiled around it.
A terrifying pressure bore down, yet it did not panic.
Instead, it rammed heavily into a giant boulder nearby with a booming crash.
Although the python’s scales were tough, under the crushing force from within, it vomited blood and opened its jaws wide.
“Die!”
At that instant, a blood-colored sword light pierced into the python’s open mouth from the shadows, stabbing deep inside before stirring violently.
The python hissed in pain and finally collapsed with a loud crash.
Standing at a distance, Lin Changan remained vigilant, while the Green-Horned Ox stomped furiously, trampling the python again and again.
“This White Phosphorus Python may only be an early Second-rank Spirit Beast, but it truly is troublesome.
Its scales are incredibly tough.”
He lifted his hand, controlling the Green Bamboo Sword to nail the python’s head firmly to the ground.
Only then did Lin Changan breathe a sigh of relief.
Soon, however, he smiled.
The value of a Second-rank White Phosphorus Python was no small matter.
Sometimes, it was worth more than three other Second-rank Demon Beasts combined.
Its scales, venom sac, and fangs could all be used in Artifact Refinement.
Its gallbladder could be used in Alchemy.
Its flesh and blood nourished the body.
Its bones had wide applications, whether in Artifact Refinement, Alchemy, or brewing Spirit Wine.
In short, every part of this serpent was a treasure.
“Just this one Second-rank White Phosphorus Python is worth as much as three ordinary Second-rank Demon Beasts.”
With a wide smile, Lin Changan still remained cautious, scanning the surroundings while letting the Green-Horned Ox stand guard.
Then he stepped forward to begin skinning and dissecting the python.
“This snake meat should be kept.
Even for Foundation Establishment cultivators, it is excellent nourishment.
As for the snake blood, it can be used in several pills……”
With Lin Changan’s practiced hands, the massive python was swiftly flayed and butchered.
“Mooh.”
When the battlefield was cleared, the Green-Horned Ox eagerly came forward, its tail swishing back and forth.
“All right, this Demon Core is yours.”
At once, the Green-Horned Ox happily swallowed the Demon Core.
For years, it had followed Lin Changan on beast hunts, each time obtaining a Demon Core.
After all, if one wanted a beast to run faster, it had to be rewarded with Demon Cores.
In recent years, the Green-Horned Ox’s strength had improved greatly, its body brimming with dense demonic energy, clearly close to a breakthrough.
Watching, Lin Changan could not help but sigh in admiration:
“A top-grade bloodline—comparable to a cultivator’s top-grade Spiritual Root.”
Over the years, this once pampered Green-Horned Ox had fully revealed its beastly nature.
Even now, with a wound on its leg from the python’s bite, it acted as though nothing was wrong, diligently nudging Lin Changan before following him into the miasma.
Seeing this, Lin Changan shook his head with a smile.
He swept his Spiritual Eyes around in vigilance while channeling Evergreen mana into the Green-Horned Ox.
The venom in its leg slowly flowed out, and the wound gradually healed.
……
Half a month later.
Lin Changan walked out of the miasma zone of the Yunwu Mountain Range, and on his way back toward Tianxuan City, he suddenly sensed the fluctuation of a distant battle.
“This is!?”
Lin Changan frowned.
He originally did not want to meddle, but then he sensed a familiar aura.
He saw three masked, black-robed Foundation Establishment early-stage cultivators join forces, trapping two Foundation Establishment cultivators within a formation.
“Hand over your Storage Pouches and Magical Artifacts obediently, and I’ll spare your lives.”
“You think this Old Hu is a fool?
If I hand over the artifact, where would my life be left?”
Inside the formation, one of the trapped cultivators was already injured.
The other was Hu Jin, who shouted furiously as he fought against the Robber Cultivators.
“Old Hu, Brother Ning has already fallen.
This time, I fear I won’t make it either.
In a moment, I’ll block for you—find a chance to escape if you can.”
“Jia Datou, stop talking nonsense.
If it were someone else, I wouldn’t care, but last time I owed you a life.”
A thin middle-aged cultivator surnamed Jia wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
He and Hu Jin resisted with great difficulty.
The masked Robber Cultivator who controlled the formation sneered coldly with baleful aura all over his face:
“Second Brother, Third Brother, finish them quickly.
These three are well-known Demon-Hunting cultivators.
Since they just came out of the Yunwu Mountain Range, they must have plenty of good things.”
“Haha, Big Brother, this time we finally caught fat sheep.”
Of the three Robber Cultivators, the burly leader controlled the formation, while the other two were attacking.
“It’s actually a Second-rank Fiery Flame Formation.”
Hiding in the shadows, Lin Changan was secretly startled.
Inside the Fiery Flame Formation, firebirds could be summoned to attack, each strike equal to a Foundation Establishment cultivator’s Firebird Technique.
Not only was the power great, but it also amplified allied fire-type spells.
“These are definitely not ordinary Robber Cultivators.”
Formations were strategic resources, tightly controlled by the four major powers.
Ordinary wandering cultivators could not possibly get them.
“All three of these Robber Cultivators are early-stage Foundation Establishment.
This was clearly a premeditated ambush.
And since Old Hu and his companions just came out of the Yunwu Mountain Range, their strength isn’t at peak.
With the formation tipping the scales, they fell into disadvantage.”
Lin Changan frowned secretly.
If it were others, he wouldn’t even glance and would just leave.
But Old Hu had good character.
Even in crisis, he didn’t think of abandoning his companion.
That made Lin Changan secretly nod.
“This is just the time to test the Restriction-Breaking Talisman, see how powerful it is.”
Lin Changan had no intention of clashing head-on.
As long as he could break the formation to relieve them, that was enough.
Though Restriction-Breaking Talismans were rare and hard to sell, as a mid-grade Second-rank Talisman Master, making them was perfectly reasonable.
No one could fault him for it.
He also had many doubts.
By right, Old Hu was experienced—how could he fall into Robber Cultivators’ hands again?
To set up a formation in advance and ambush, this was no coincidence.
He wanted to understand what methods these Robber Cultivators used to track cultivators.
After all, he too hunted beasts in the Yunwu Mountain Range in secret.
He didn’t want to someday fall into the same trap.
Better to take precautions early.
Not only for Old Hu’s sake, but for his own.
“Jia Datou, are you useless or what?”
“Nonsense! Hu Big Mouth, if you dare say I’m useless again when we get back, I’ll tear your mouth apart.”
Inside the formation, the two still bickered, which made the three Robber Cultivators sneer.
“Who’s there!”
At that moment, a streak of flowing light flashed, startling the Robber leader.
A twisted beam of light spread a strange power—completely different from ordinary talismans.
Seeing this, the Robber leader’s face turned to terror:
“A Restriction-Breaking Talisman!
Someone from Tianxuan City is here—run!”
Seeing how quickly this Robber recognized the talisman, Lin Changan was even more certain—this was no ordinary Robber Cultivator.
After all, Restriction-Breaking Talismans weren’t common goods.
Ordinary wandering cultivators would not recognize them so instantly.
Boom!
The formation barrier cracked open, a gap several zhang wide.
And under the Restriction-Breaking Talisman’s residual force, it kept collapsing.
Inside the formation, Hu Jin and the thin Jia cultivator were overjoyed at this sight:
“Someone’s helping!
Old Hu, escape quickly!”
Hu Jin and Jia hurriedly rushed out, while the three Robber Cultivators, without any hesitation, decisively abandoned the formation and fled.
Both sides were decisive—clearly seasoned veterans.
Lin Changan clicked his tongue in amazement.
Everyone here was an old hand.
At such times, even a moment’s hesitation meant unknown danger.
They wouldn’t even waste the breath of time to collect the formation, choosing instead to flee directly.
And all three ran in the same direction.
Who knew if they had another ambush waiting.
Lin Changan had thought to use the chaos to sneak attack one of them and see how they had tracked Old Hu.
But they gave him no chance.
“Haha, this Old Hu always has great fortune.
Jia Datou, hurry and thank our Daoist friend for helping us.”
Hu Jin and his Foundation Establishment companion Jia both cupped fists toward the shadows, smiling in relief after escaping death.
But neither relaxed their guard.
Who knew if this was a case of robbing the robbers.
After all, around Tianxuan City, the atmosphere was fierce, and cultivators were of high quality.
Anything could happen.
“We don’t know which Daoist friend lent us aid, but Old Hu and Old Jia are grateful.”
Seeing them bow, Lin Changan patted his Spirit Beast Pouch.
At once, a heavy bellow shook the air.
Then, a Green-Horned Ox with terrifying aura, at the peak of early-stage Second-rank strength, appeared.
“Old Hu, it seems your fortune really is strong.”
Lin Changan rode the Green-Horned Ox out slowly.
He didn’t approach too close, maintaining a safe distance.
“Brother Lin!”
Seeing who it was, Old Hu’s face lit up with joy.
From afar, he cupped his fists and laughed:
“Jia Datou, this is Brother Lin, one of our own.”
Though the two sides both knew each other, and Lin Changan had just saved their lives, all remained cautious, keeping a safe distance.
After all, outside, cultivators who survived to this day all relied on caution.
In front of them, Lin Changan casually retrieved the formation plates and flags hidden around and stored them in his Storage Pouch.
Neither Old Hu nor Jia had the slightest complaint.
“Brother Lin, for this life-saving grace, once we return, Jia Datou and I will certainly visit your home.
Everything inside the formation that belonged to Old Ning, and our harvest from this trip—by rule, all of it belongs to Brother Lin.
But some personal tokens, we ask that Brother Lin hold onto them for now.
In a few days, we’ll come redeem them in person.”
Lin Changan naturally understood the rules between Demon-Hunting cultivators.
Since he saved their lives, their harvest was his.
Of course, as for personal tokens of fallen companions, the others could later visit him to redeem them.
One was to show thanks, the other was to return such keepsakes to the deceased cultivators’ families.
These rules existed for a reason.
“All right.”
Without hesitation, Lin Changan smiled and cupped his fists, then retrieved the dead cultivator’s Storage Pouch and artifacts, along with Hu Jin and Jia’s harvest.
He stored them all away.
Without benefits, who would risk saving others?
The Jia cultivator, seeing Lin Changan take the items, secretly sighed in relief.
So it wasn’t a case of robbing them.
“Old Hu, see you in Tianxuan City.”
After finishing, Lin Changan smiled, cupped his fists, and departed without hesitation.
Outside, unless it was a truly trusted cultivator, even in such rescues, one rarely traveled together afterward.
Though he and Old Hu had a good relationship, in the wilds it was best to remain cautious.
Since Lin Changan himself, despite saving them, had no intention of traveling together, Old Hu and Jia naturally would not foolishly suggest it.