Chapter 170: The Immortal Cultivation Path is Long
Two months later.
Shen Lie, Lu Qingqing, and Wei Buyi, along with Shen Fan and Wei Yingying, the two juniors, came to express their gratitude.
Shen Fan had successfully established his Foundation!
Yet everyone’s expressions were somewhat off. Shen Fan looked silent, with a trace of guilt and self-blame between his brows—he had not even realized the problem himself.
Although Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing were a little happy, they could not truly feel happy.
As for Wei Buyi, even less so. His old face was dark the entire time. Facing the daughter he had doted on for a lifetime, today he held a gloomy face, clearly displeased.
The happiest one was only Wei Yingying.
“Alright, Shen Fan, you don’t need to blame yourself. The two of you cultivated a secret technique together. This time, Yingying also used the opportunity to improve her cultivation by quite a bit. In the future, she might not be unable to establish her Foundation.”
Lin Chang’an also sighed with emotion at the bond between the two.
“Yes, Brother Wei, don’t worry. Yingying is only forty years old. If we all work harder together, plus with Fan’er having established his Foundation, within ten years we will certainly give Yingying another chance.”
Shen Lie awkwardly stepped forward, feeling that this time they truly owed Wei Buyi a great debt.
Wei Buyi, however, was the one who had lost the most. Not only had his daughter, whom he had raised for a lifetime, been taken away, but his painstakingly accumulated savings had also been squandered by the girl.
This scene made Lin Chang’an both amused and emotional.
The path of cultivation was long, but such bonds were truly rare and precious.
…
Only after everyone left did Yun Yao, who had been hiding inside the cave abode, slowly walk out.
“That Yingying girl actually tricked that boy with a Fasting Pill. No wonder Wei Buyi had such a dark face.”
Walking into the pavilion, Yun Yao glanced at the two wine cups on the stone table. Her intelligence allowed her to see through everything.
Shen Lie, Lu Qingqing, and the others left so quickly, most likely because they also saw the wine cups on the table and knew Lin Chang’an had a guest here.
“That Qingqing, still just as clever.”
Thinking of when she secretly saw the group just now, Yun Yao’s cheeks couldn’t help but show a smile, even recalling the scene back then when she had chosen a husband for that junior sister.
She could not help but glance at Lin Chang’an sitting beside her.
Back then, it was Lu Qingqing who had keenly noticed something.
Recalling the past scene, Yun Yao’s lips curved in a faint smile.
But Lin Chang’an, sitting nearby, had no idea what Yun Yao was thinking.
“Yes, we had just finished cultivating together, and I was worried Shen Lie and the others might notice something. That’s why I purposely left the wine cups on the stone table.”
The two of them had just cultivated the Yin-Yang Joint Strike Secret Art when Shen Lie and Wei Buyi came to visit, forcing Yun Yao to hide inside the cave abode.
“Thinking about it is rather amusing. Back then Wei Buyi was single-minded in finding a female cultivator with a decent family background to inherit the family business. In the end, his lifelong savings all went into this.”
Thinking of this, Lin Chang’an could not help but laugh.
Cause and effect, fate was truly unpredictable.
“Yes, Wei Buyi must regret the thoughts of his youth.”
Yun Yao also laughed and nodded. But she still liked that Yingying girl.
“It’s just a pity for Yingying.”
Lin Chang’an naturally understood Yun Yao’s thoughts. But before he could say anything, Yun Yao raised her hand and took out a Spirit Stone Pouch.
“If not for Qingqing and the others’ support back then, and without Elder Lu, we wouldn’t have today.”
Lin Chang’an shook his head at this and said,
“Daoist Yun, though I’m not a good person, I’ve always remembered the kindness of Master Lu and everyone else. As for Yingying this time, I think perhaps it isn’t a bad thing.
True feelings are revealed in adversity, and at the same time this tempers her heart.”
For Wei Yingying, Lu Qingqing and Wei Buyi, as elders, felt both gratitude and heartache.
But for Yingying herself, this might not be a bad chance to temper her will.
Just as Lin Chang’an was about to refuse the Spirit Stone Pouch, Yun Yao shook her head and firmly said:
“Brother Lin, yours is yours, mine is mine!”
Startled, Lin Chang’an then came to his senses, smiling and nodding.
Indeed, just as Yun Yao said—kindness was his, Yun Yao was Yun Yao.
This also showed Yun Yao’s firm heart in her Dao. By repaying the old friendship, she could walk her path with focus.
“Alright then, let’s let the girl be tempered first.”
Lin Chang’an smiled as he accepted the Spirit Stone Pouch, planning to wait a year or so before preparing another chance for Wei Yingying to attempt Foundation Establishment.
A Foundation Establishment Pill was rare for a Qi Refining cultivator, but for Foundation Establishment cultivators like him and Yun Yao, who had both strength and background, it was merely a kind of resource for trade.
Besides, their bonds went back to when they had first stepped into the cultivation world together. When establishing their Foundations, both Lin Chang’an and Yun Yao had received support from others.
Not to mention the kindness of Master Lu in guiding them onto the Immortal path.
If Shen Lie and Wei Buyi had come to beg, it might have been possible. But they did not— they only gave the appropriate Spirit Stones.
In the end, those Foundation Establishment Pills were bought.
Lin Chang’an had merely lifted a hand, raising an ordinary Foundation Establishment Pill into a premium one.
If there was a request, it was only to trouble him to escort the pill to avoid accidents.
Afterwards, the two discussed in detail their preparations for exploring the relic cave abode, agreeing to secretly investigate it three months later.
Even Yun Yao did not think of directly venturing deep into the relic this time. She planned only to first check if there had been any changes or dangers.
…
【Second-rank Low-grade Formation Master (Proficiency 6/500)】
Inside the cave abode, Lin Chang’an looked at his insights into formations and secretly nodded.
“For a third-rank formation laid down by a Core Formation cultivator, perhaps it’s not enough. But a formation that has run unattended for a hundred years, who knows how much its power has already weakened.
With my second-rank understanding of formations, adding another safeguard won’t be a problem. And if I get the chance to obtain a third-rank formation laid down by a Core Formation cultivator, that would be a great gain.”
Lin Chang’an’s eyes gleamed as he planned his preparations for this trip.
“A water-attribute Spirit Artifact, Thunderclap Talismans to counter Blood Fiend Energy, and also the Wind-Chirp Bird. This preparation should be sufficient, nothing should go wrong.”
Moreover, he still had the Azure-scaled Sword and Yellow Dragon Bell— one offensive and one defensive top-grade Spirit Artifact. Coupled with his Regenerative Body, the power of the Killing Origin Sword Art was extraordinary.
“Unknowingly, I’ve already gained such strength. This path of cultivation truly makes one unable to stop.”
Lin Chang’an sighed at the steady increase of his power and the growing sense of security, which was almost intoxicating.
“Still, better to prepare more. Though the Regenerative Body is strong, healing and mana-restoring pills, as well as second-rank high-grade talismans and even quasi–third-rank talismans…”
For years, he and Yun Yao had been preparing for the relic cave abode. Even though this trip was just to investigate, Lin Chang’an still carried all his possessions with caution.
Just second-rank high-grade talismans alone numbered in the hundreds. He even carried thirty-two quasi–third-rank talismans, not to mention all sorts of pills with various effects.
After checking carefully and confirming nothing was missing, he began preparing for the exploration of the relic cave abode.
During this time, Old Hu even came by once, saying that he had discovered one of the ten Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Western District Marketplace three years ago— the one who had spoken harshly, full of resentment.
It turned out this person had joined the Shayun Kingdom’s Merchant Guild three years ago, which was how he escaped. Unexpectedly, he secretly returned, sneaking back from the Yunwu Mountain Range.
“Old Hu, I’ve recently had some insights and need to enter seclusion for cultivation.”
But Lin Chang’an was focused on preparing for the secret realm and had no mind to care about this, so he found an excuse.
Old Hu didn’t doubt much. Instead, he laughed heartily and waved his hand. Just an early Foundation Establishment cultivator—he couldn’t stir up much trouble.
Yet Old Hu didn’t truly put his mind at ease, and instead secretly kept an eye on the man.
He even suspected that this person had snuck into the Yunwu Mountain Range many times. Could it be that he had discovered something?
“The Shayun Kingdom’s Merchant Guild came from so far away, yet they’re not in a hurry to trade resources. Instead, this Foundation Establishment cultivator is secretly watching the Yunwu Mountain Range. Could it be he discovered something?”
Leaving the cave abode, Old Hu’s eyes flickered as he thought deeply.
This time, the Shayun Kingdom’s Merchant Guild was escorted by six or seven Foundation Establishment cultivators, which seemed overly cautious.
“Something fishy might be going on. I’ll keep watching in secret, and if anything happens, I’ll notify Old Lin and the others.”
Old Hu nodded to himself. He was confident in his tracking, relying on his ancestral treasure that could conceal and alter his aura—unless he encountered a Core Formation cultivator.
…
Three months later.
Deep inside the Yunwu Mountain Range.
In a miasma-filled area, even Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but frown.
“The poisonous miasma here is actually this dense.”
Although in recent years, because of the black market, he had not gone deep into the Yunwu Mountain Range to hunt demon beasts, back then he had been a frequent visitor here.
He was also very familiar with the density of the miasma here.
At his side, Yun Yao, her face covered with a black veil, also looked rather solemn. As she circulated her cultivation method, faint wisps of cold air seeped from her mouth and nose with every breath.
“So it proves that the depths of the Yunwu Mountain Range must hold secrets. But such things have nothing to do with us lowly Foundation Establishment cultivators.”
Such secrets were far beyond what Foundation Establishment cultivators could involve themselves in.
Instead, it was the relic cave abode of the Core Formation cultivator they had discovered that was the most tangible profit before them.
“Brother Lin, we’re almost there.”
The closer they came to the destination, the more solemn the two became.
Along the way, they had seen traces of many cultivators who had gone in to investigate.
After all, with the unusual stirrings of demon beasts deep in the Yunwu Mountain Range, too many cultivators wanted to explore its secrets.
Riding on the Azure-Horned Bull, Lin Chang’an had saved himself quite a bit of effort on this journey.
Meanwhile, Yun Yao took out two magical artifacts and one Spirit Artifact from her Storage Pouch.
“Brother Lin, these are detection artifacts I painstakingly obtained. One of them is even a Spirit Artifact.”
Looking at Yun Yao, Lin Chang’an could not help but sigh. As expected of someone backed by a great power like the Mystic Yin Divine Sect.
The things she could access were far beyond what an ordinary rogue cultivator like him could ever hope to.
Artifacts like these, he certainly could not obtain quietly.
After all, when it came to formations, the great powers always kept a close watch.
The moment you stepped into the Many Treasures Pavilion or the Gathering Treasures Pavilion, you might be marked right after.
“Brother Lin, just ahead in that mountain col.”
After half a day’s travel, a miasma-filled valley came into view.
Yun Yao pointed at the place with a solemn expression.
It was Lin Chang’an’s first time here. His expression was incomparably serious as he opened his Spiritual Eyes and cautiously scanned the surroundings.
“So this is the relic cave abode of the Core Formation cultivator? It is indeed well hidden, though the miasma is rather dense.”
At his side, Yun Yao nodded gravely and reminded him:
“Brother Lin, although it is concealed by a third-rank formation, this place is also a nest of venomous scorpions. We must be careful.”
The two carefully and quietly approached the edge of the valley.
What met their eyes was a rotting swamp stretching over a hundred mu.
Even from far away, Lin Chang’an caught a foul stench.
It was the poisonous gas released from the decaying swamp, mingled with the miasma.
“This miasma would probably leave a Foundation Establishment cultivator dizzy with just one breath.”
Lin Chang’an was secretly alarmed, thankful that his cultivation method rendered him immune to poisons of the same level.
At his side, on Yun Yao’s snow-white neck, a faint frost could already be seen. Even her breath exhaled wisps of cold.
The Water Yin Demonic Art also had its own unique aspects. After refinement, it granted immunity even against such deadly toxins.
No wonder Yun Yao could track her way here.
In the Yunwu Mountain Range, swamps meant danger.
Such places often harbored venomous snakes, insects, and scorpions.
Especially the insect-type poison demon beasts—most lived in swarms. Not only cultivators but even other demon beasts kept their distance.
“Brother Lin, my Water Yin Demonic Art is one of the top demonic techniques. For a short time, I do not fear this miasma. But this miasma cuts off divine sense—this is the most dangerous part.”
Even without Yun Yao’s reminder, Lin Chang’an had noticed that divine sense here was harder to extend. But with his Spiritual Eyes, everything remained clear to him.
“It seems the Azure-Horned Bull must be put away for now.”
After carefully observing and confirming safety, Lin Chang’an stored the Azure-Horned Bull into the Spirit Beast Pouch. In its place, a golden little bird landed on his shoulder.
The Wind-Chirp Bird, upon being released, immediately displayed an obsequious eagerness, rubbing its head against Lin Chang’an’s cheek.
At the sight of this golden bird, Yun Yao’s beautiful eyes flickered with a trace of surprise.
“So it was Brother Lin whom Huang Shaohai encountered.”
Yun Yao smiled faintly, as if recalling something.
Lin Chang’an did not bother hiding anything, lightly nodding as he said:
“A few years ago, while hunting in the Yunwu Mountain Range, I was ambushed by robber cultivators. Who would have thought the so-called poison fiend at that time turned out to be this man.”
If it were others, Lin Chang’an naturally would not reveal this.
But Yun Yao was different. She herself was a traitor of the Lihuo Palace, now joined to the Mystic Yin Divine Sect.
In terms of position, the two were the same.
And against insect-type poison demon beasts, nothing was more suitable than the Wind-Chirp Bird.
“A third-rank formation is indeed formidable. So many years have passed, and still not the slightest trace has leaked. With my barely-broken-through second-rank mastery of formations, it is still lacking.”
After careful observation, Lin Chang’an could not help but sigh in admiration.
In the world of cultivation, the gap of a single rank was like heaven and earth.
“Brother Lin, do we need to go deeper?”
Seeing Lin Chang’an’s grave look, Yun Yao raised her hand, and in her palm appeared a transparent veil.
“Brother Lin, this Concealing Spirit Veil can not only hide our figures but also erase all traces of aura. Unless it is a third-rank demon beast—
Ordinary second-rank, or even quasi–third-rank demon beasts, as long as we do not release our aura, they won’t detect us.”
As the veil draped over them, both Lin Chang’an and Yun Yao vanished entirely, body and aura gone without a trace.
Lin Chang’an could not help but feel envy. Yun Yao truly had too many good things.
“Daoist Yun, is your Mystic Yin Divine Sect always this generous?”
At that moment, Lin Chang’an didn’t even notice that what he usually called a demonic sect, he had now addressed as a divine sect.
The Concealing Spirit Veil was limited in size, and the two stood almost pressed together. At such close distance, Lin Chang’an’s expression of envy was crystal clear.
This made Yun Yao slightly startled. She nearly forgot that her Brother Lin was a rogue cultivator.
Only because Lin Chang’an was a second-rank Talisman Master, plus his black market earnings, did he far surpass ordinary rogues.
“This was obtained from the Gathering Treasures Pavilion.”
Hearing this, Lin Chang’an’s face turned solemn as he nodded.
“So that’s how it is.”
As for Yun Yao’s courage, he felt no envy at all.
After all, robbing the Gathering Treasures Pavilion was far too dangerous. Back then, Yun Yao had been forced into a dead end, which was why she had taken the desperate gamble.
“Daoist Yun, you and the Wind-Chirp Bird will be on guard. Let us first make close contact with this formation.”
Lin Chang’an took out the detection artifacts and Spirit Artifact that Yun Yao had given him earlier.
The two slowly advanced. Within the Concealing Spirit Veil, he could clearly feel the cold air streaming from Yun Yao behind him.
He knew this was the effect of Yun Yao’s cultivation method resisting the miasma.
Meanwhile, the Wind-Chirp Bird on his shoulder, upon seeing Yun Yao’s figure behind him, turned its glowing golden eyes. With a chirp, it cheerfully hopped onto Yun Yao’s shoulder.
Though it clearly did not like the bursts of cold air, the Wind-Chirp Bird still acted obsequiously, showing its sly nature.