Chapter 143: Chess Saint Master Lu
“Foundation Establishment Pill!?”
Inside the cave abode, seeing Zhou Bingyun take out resources in exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill, Lin Chang’an was puzzled.
“Miss Zhou, with your aptitude, and the Zhou Family’s current connections, getting a Foundation Establishment Pill shouldn’t be difficult.”
Especially with the Zhou Family’s development over the years—given Zhou Bingyun’s talent, he did not believe the Zhou Family would begrudge one or two Foundation Establishment Pills.
However, one knew best about one’s own family matters. Zhou Bingyun let out a rare helpless sigh.
“Brother Lin, the Zhou Family has grown large, and the cultivation resources required by everyone have also increased. Especially the few Second-rank Spirit Beasts we rear, their daily consumption is enormous.
On the surface, it looks glamorous. This time, the clan prepared two Foundation Establishment Pills for me, but I just wanted to be cautious. That’s why I used my own secretly saved resources…”
Good heavens!
This scene made Lin Chang’an reveal a strange expression. He had no idea who this girl had learned such cautiousness from.
He himself, with Low-grade Spiritual Root, already had a ninety-five percent chance of success with three Foundation Establishment Pills.
And now this girl with Mid-grade Spiritual Root wanted to tell him she needed three pills as well!
But she had not spoken the full truth.
“Brother Lin, I heard that in your black market, there is a Second-rank Alchemist who can exchange resources for Foundation Establishment Pills. These resources should be enough to trade for one, right?”
Zhou Bingyun smiled as she spoke. A Foundation Establishment Pill was a strategic resource. If it could be obtained with simple spirit stones and materials, of course she would not want to owe anyone favors.
“These materials that benefit Spirit Beasts are indeed valuable enough.”
Lin Chang’an nodded slightly. Since he ran the black market with its doors open for business, naturally he would not turn anyone away.
He could also guess a little of the Zhou Family’s intentions—nothing more than wanting to build good relations. After all, the six Foundation Establishment cultivators of the black market were already a force that could not be ignored.
Moreover, any Foundation Establishment Pills left over after Zhou Bingyun’s breakthrough would be a precious resource for the family.
Either way, the Zhou Family would not lose out.
“But given the Zhou Family’s resources over the years, it shouldn’t be this tight…”
Suddenly, Lin Chang’an thought of the Zhou Family’s Guardian Spirit Beast, the Xuan Shui Turtle, and seemed to understand.
Most of the Zhou Family’s resources over the years must have been invested into this Guardian Spirit Beast.
For some families without outstandingly gifted cultivators, it was easy to fall into a period of weakness. Rather than that, it was better to wholeheartedly nurture a Guardian Spirit Beast with a lifespan far surpassing that of cultivators.
This explained everything. No wonder the Zhou Family had been so stingy all these years.
“Very well, if Miss Zhou has such materials again in the future, the black market will accept them without exception.”
Lin Chang’an cupped his hands with a smile. No matter what, if the Zhou Family wanted to build ties, he would do the same.
After all, the Zhou Family’s conduct over the years had not been bad.
“Thank you, Brother Lin.”
Zhou Bingyun nodded with a smile. This matter of the Foundation Establishment Pill was true, and securing strategic resources for the clan was also true.
But the most important point was still the Guardian Spirit Beast.
Zhou Bingyun felt helpless. Her elder brother, with his Wind Spiritual Root, had been the most talented of the Zhou Family in the past hundred years, but fate was against him.
Now, with the Zhou Family bound in interest with Tianxuan City, a few years ago they had even traded for a secret art that could help their Guardian Spirit Beast break through to a Quasi-third-rank.
Although the flaws of this secret art were immense—ever since then, this Guardian Spirit Beast was like a Pseudo Core cultivator, unable to progress in cultivation again.
But if successful, this spirit turtle with a thousand-year lifespan could ensure the Zhou Family’s prosperity for a millennium.
That was the real reason she had come to Lin Chang’an. The clan’s resources truly were tight, and she was thinking only of the family’s future.
“Presumably, next time we meet, we will address each other as Daoists, and Miss Zhou will become the Zhou Family’s first female Foundation Establishment cultivator.”
Faced with Lin Chang’an’s blessing, Zhou Bingyun modestly nodded.
Afterward, Zhou Bingyun took the opportunity to consult him again about some insights into Foundation Establishment, and naturally Lin Chang’an did not hold back.
From his observation, this Miss Zhou had a very solid foundation. With her Mid-grade Spiritual Root, her chances of breaking through with two Foundation Establishment Pills were about sixty to seventy percent.
Moreover, her talent in alchemy was enough for the Zhou Family to invest heavily in her.
……
Time passed swiftly.
Outside, rumors spread and the world was in turmoil, but as long as Master Lu did not pass away, Tianxuan City would not experience major upheaval.
With the beast unrest in the Yunwu Mountain Range, countless cultivators from the seven surrounding kingdoms flocked in, making Tianxuan City extraordinarily bustling.
Although it brought some chaos, their six-person black market also boomed, earning a huge amount of spirit stones.
These outside cultivators came for the demon beasts, and if a beast tide broke out, they could just leave.
Some Robber Cultivators even secretly hoped for trouble in Tianxuan City, thinking they might profit from the chaos.
Half a year later, Zhou Bingyun successfully established her foundation. At her Foundation Establishment banquet, Lin Chang’an also presented a gift.
The six Foundation Establishment cultivators of the black market all attended as well. Over the past half-year, the Zhou Family and the black market had indeed collaborated quite a bit.
【Lifespan: 75/245】
【Realm: Mid-stage Foundation Establishment (12/100)】
Inside the cave abode, Lin Chang’an slowly opened his eyes. Seeing his cultivation progress, a satisfied smile appeared.
“At seventy-five years old, and still steadily advancing—if others knew, they would die of envy.”
He then slowly rose. With a wave of his hand, the Green Bamboo Sword suddenly appeared above his cave abode.
As his mana poured in, within just two breaths, the Green Bamboo Sword hovering overhead erupted with dazzling light.
It transformed into a massive green sword of light, over ten zhang long, radiating an incomparably terrifying aura.
【Giant Sword Technique】
With a sweep of Lin Chang’an’s hand, the giant sword instantly slashed toward the nine golden layers of protective barrier below his cave abode.
“Crack… crack…”
The nine golden barriers were pierced almost effortlessly, and the giant sword even stabbed three feet into the ground of the cave abode.
The terrifying might stirred up clouds of dust, but Lin Chang’an’s eyes glowed with excitement as he exclaimed,
“Nine Second-rank High-grade Defensive Talismans couldn’t stop it—such terrifying power.”
【Giant Sword Technique (Proficiency 283/1000)】
After reaching Proficiency, the Giant Sword Technique only required two breaths to activate.
With a wave of his hand, the giant green sword light dissipated, the Green Bamboo Sword flew back into his palm, and though the cave abode was now a mess, his face showed unrestrained joy.
“Fortunately, it’s a spirit artifact. Magical artifacts at the Qi Refining Stage could never withstand this mana. The consumption is considerable, but for me, it’s just right.”
Lin Chang’an silently analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of this divine ability.
His cultivation method was already renowned for strong mana and rapid recovery, so he was not worried about mana consumption.
“It’s just that activating this divine ability requires two breaths, and the commotion is enormous. Unless the enemy is restrained or distracted, it’s easy to dodge.
But against massive demon beasts, it’s an excellent target.”
If he used the Killing Origin Sword Art to fuel it, the power would double.
“But this is thanks to the generosity of the Lihuo Palace.”
Lin Chang’an waved away the dust in his cave abode. In his palm appeared a jade slip, into which he carefully inscribed notes with his Talisman Brush.
This jade slip already contained the insights generously gifted by Huang Shaohai from the Lihuo Palace, and now he added his own understanding.
【Second-rank High-grade Talisman Master (Grandmaster 11/5000)】
The nine High-grade Defensive Talismans he had just pierced through with the Giant Sword Technique marked his progress in the Talisman Path.
“If news spread that I am a Second-rank High-grade Talisman Master, my value would soar once again.”
After finishing his record, Lin Chang’an put away the jade slip with a smile on his face.
In all of Tianxuan City, the number of Second-rank High-grade Talisman Masters could be counted on one hand.
“But it’s best not to reveal this identity lightly. With cultivators from the seven kingdoms gathered here—dragons hidden among snakes—I can leak some Second-rank High-grade Talismans without attracting notice.”
Lin Chang’an could not help but sigh with emotion. In just a few decades, he had reached this stage. Truly, fate worked in mysterious ways.
“With my current strength, one day, I can attempt that fallen Golden Core cultivator’s site Daoist Yun mentioned.”
Now Lin Chang’an felt more confident. His family wealth, plus a Talisman Treasure, gave him a deeper foundation than most late Foundation Establishment cultivators.
As Yun Yao had wisely said, though Core Formation was far away, preparation must begin early rather than waiting and missing opportunities.
If he waited until his Foundation Establishment was perfected before seeking Core Formation resources, he would be like a headless fly—reckless and forced into danger.
At that moment, a familiar voice came from outside the cave abode.
……
“Uncle Lin, this is the marketplace profit share for this month.”
He Yan, the grandson of Old He, now stood before Lin Chang’an full of humility.
Looking at He Yan, Lin Chang’an felt a bit awkward. Back then, he had thought this kid was gone, and even the Foundation Establishment Pill had been taken by him.
“He Yan, now that you and I are both Foundation Establishment cultivators, we can simply address each other as Daoists.”
“Uncle Lin, you jest. Back then, this nephew was arrogant and ignorant. That Uncle Lin did not hold it against me already shows your great magnanimity.”
Over the years, He Yan had experienced who knew what. His temperament was now extremely steady. Although he was of the Mystic Yin Divine Sect, his tone was exceedingly humble.
No one could tell he was still of the Mystic Yin Divine Sect.
As Yun Yao had put it, those blindly arrogant and conceited people had long been dead. Of course, when facing enemies, one should act as arrogantly as possible.
After all, they were enemies.
Even if one lost, one could still act arrogant. It was satisfying.
“If Old He knew you had reached today, he would surely smile in the afterlife.”
Lin Chang’an also nodded with a smile. He did not conceal the matter of the Foundation Establishment Pill.
After all, the chance of him going before Old He’s grave was still high.
Therefore, when profits from the marketplace (black market) were distributed earlier, he had thought of giving He Yan another Foundation Establishment Pill.
There was no need to create enmity with a Foundation Establishment cultivator over just one pill.
But in He Yan’s words, it had been Uncle Lin’s opportunity. He himself had not had the blessing to grasp it and turn it into strength—that was his own problem.
“You brat, you must have suffered much these years.”
As the two conversed in the pavilion, He Yan always regarded himself as a junior.
“Uncle Lin, the Mystic Yin Divine Sect actually suits me well. Many say it is demonic, but in truth, many inside are pitiful people like me.
And there are not so many twists and turns. If you have ability, you rise. If you lack ability, you bury yourself in cultivation.”
Beneath He Yan’s candid smile, there was not the slightest rejection of the Mystic Yin Divine Sect.
Although the sect’s methods were a bit cruel, within their ranks, as long as one had merit and talent, rewards were truly given.
Lin Chang’an nodded thoughtfully as he listened. A Foundation Establishment cultivator in the Mystic Yin Divine Sect might be just a soldier, but it was still better than being a drifting cultivator outside.
Like him—everything had to be fought for on his own.
But He Yan, relying on the Mystic Yin Divine Sect, as long as he proved his ability, could receive cultivation.
Not that he envied it. His own opportunities were already great. He only needed to slowly digest them, build up steadily, and the good days lay ahead.
“But Uncle Lin, with the seven kingdoms’ cultivators gathering to hunt demon beasts, recently many cultivators using the Foundation Snatching Technique to establish their foundation have been discovered. Senior Yun suggested that for now, the marketplace be guarded by two cultivators.”
Upon hearing this, Lin Chang’an frowned. Since Master Lu remained in seclusion, all sorts of demons and monsters had come out.
“The Foundation Snatching Technique, as far as I know, is a demonic method—establishing foundation through a cruel secret art.”
“Correct. This Foundation Snatching Technique consumes some lifespan, but for many drifting cultivators, it is still a shortcut.”
The aged and wounded Foundation Establishment cultivators were all potential targets.
“I understand. Everyone should be cautious these days. By the way, I still have some spirit fruits given by the Zhou Family. Take some with you.”
Before leaving, Lin Chang’an casually handed over some spirit fruits useful for spirit beasts.
He Yan accepted them with a respectful smile.
The two had not become enemies over that Foundation Establishment Pill. On the contrary, it brought them closer.
At He Yan’s waist, a Spirit Beast Pouch was clearly keeping a spirit beast.
After all, regarding that premium Foundation Establishment Pill, it had been him who gained the advantage.
Watching He Yan leave, Lin Chang’an gazed at the bustling sight of Tianxuan City, unable to help but sigh.
“A storm is approaching. Who knows how long this peace can last.”
The beast tide was growing louder. Master Lu was in seclusion, unaware of the situation. The Lihuo Palace and Shensword Sect from Yue Kingdom were eyeing the city covetously.
The Grand Elder of the Xuanyin Pavilion was likely near death, and their defenses were shrinking.
Now Tianxuan City was supported by only one Pseudo Core cultivator. If something went wrong—
The great edifice would collapse.
“I wonder how this Daoist Su’s preparations for Core Formation are going.”
Thinking of this, Lin Chang’an turned his gaze toward Tianxuan Peak.
……
At the border between the Lihuo Palace and the Shensword Sect, in a marketplace.
“This old turtle may hide well, but in the last battle, my spirit beast, with its sharp sense for auras, found that the old thing’s decaying vitality could not be concealed!”
The strongest Golden Core elder of the Lihuo Palace spoke with a calm yet authoritative air.
“Master Lu was, after all, born a drifting cultivator. Though he gained some opportunities, after several great battles, his vitality was long injured. Now, having lived nearly six hundred years, he has lived long enough.”
The Golden Core elder of the Shensword Sect nodded slightly upon hearing this.
“On my way here, I passed by the Xuanyin Pavilion. My spirit beast could no longer sense the aura of that old fellow.”
As soon as the Lihuo Palace’s Elder Huang said this, the Shensword Sect elder’s eyes lit up.
“Daoist friend, are you saying the Xuanyin Pavilion now has only two Golden Core cultivators?”
“Though that Heaven and Earth Spirit Root talent is strong, she is but a fledgling girl. Do you not think having four major powers in Yue Kingdom is too many?”
Both revealed greedy expressions. They coveted the resources of Yue Kingdom.
“This time, if you and I join forces to stir up the beast tide, we can test this old turtle. If things are as we expect, then we drag down the Xuanyin Pavilion, destroy this old turtle first, and the Xuanyin Pavilion alone cannot last.”
“Agreed. This old turtle has lived too many years. Best to probe first.”
……
Tianxuan Peak.
The outside world believed Master Lu was near the end of his lifespan. At this moment, however, he sat cross-legged on the back of a turtle, fishing in the spiritual spring.
“Still no bite!?”
Seeing the empty fish basket, Master Lu gnashed his teeth and glared, his beard bristling.
“Yin’er, before your father stepped on the path of cultivation, I was a fisherman. I was skilled at netting fish, but this angling technique, I am no good at…”
On the turtle’s back was also a chessboard, upon which he played against Su Miaoyin while fishing.
But hearing Master Lu’s excuses, Su Miaoyin did not even raise her brow. With a flick of her fishing rod, a fat spiritual fish splashed into her basket.
Her basket was already full, making Master Lu’s eyes turn red.
“Master, fishing requires patience. But I heard the Grand Elder of the Xuanyin Pavilion has passed away.”
“Is that so? Then those outside will not be able to wait. But to catch a big fish, one must use heavy bait.”
“Does Master mean I am the heavy bait?” Su Miaoyin’s indifferent tone echoed, her gaze never once falling on her cheap master. Then she dropped a stone on the board.
The great dragon was formed. Master Lu, this rotten chess player, had lost completely.
Seeing this, Master Lu stroked his beard, shook his head, and smiled unconcernedly.
“Good daughter, in Tianxuan City, who could compare to you? Let us see, during this beast tide, how many harbored ill intentions.
These fools behind us think they are playing chess, but they do not know the real victory lies outside the board.”
Before he could finish, Su Miaoyin picked up her fish basket and left.
“Good daughter, no more chess—let’s fish together, eh?”
“This basket is enough to feed my Earth Dragon Beast.”
“Such waste! These spiritual fish are great tonics even for Foundation Establishment cultivators…”
Watching her disappear, Master Lu smacked his lips awkwardly and muttered,
“This girl really is like you—stubborn.”
With a sigh, clad in blue robes, Master Lu grabbed the chessboard and hurled it into the spiritual spring with a bang.
Bubbling water rose as two large fish flipped belly-up to the surface.
Meanwhile, the other spiritual fish in the spring trembled and hid at the bottom.
Only the Third-rank Xuan Shui Turtle yawned lazily, watching the scene with disinterest.
Seeing this, Master Lu put down his rod with satisfaction, plucked the two floating fish out of the air, and said,
“And this Master is best at deciding victory outside the board. Chess? What decent person plays tricks behind the board.”