Chapter 171: Talisman Treasure Showdown! Old Hu!
Deep within the Cloudmist Mountain Range.
The damp, rotten stench mixed with the dense poison miasma of this place.
This area had clearly already become a perilous zone.
“Finally found it.”
The two cultivators and one bird, having hidden their forms all the way here, finally discovered something. A smile surfaced on Lin Chang’an’s face.
At this moment, the Eight Trigrams Disc in his palm glowed faintly with spiritual light.
【Spiritual Eye (Perfect 3120/10000)】
With Lin Chang’an’s Spiritual Eye observing at close range, he also discovered the concealed formation barrier.
These past years, he had not neglected cultivating his Spiritual Eye.
“Blood Fiend Scarlet Sun Formation. As expected of a third-rank formation—truly profound.”
Facing a formation one rank higher, Lin Chang’an inwardly sighed. If not for a hundred years of wear, he probably still wouldn't have discovered it so easily.
“Brother Lin, how’s the formation?”
Yun Yao’s expression was solemn. Although she had only recently broken through to the late Foundation Establishment stage, she too needed to begin preparing her Core Formation Spirit Item as early as possible.
So close with the Concealing Spirit Veil, Yun Yao looked at Lin Chang’an, who was attentively studying the formation, and her gaze grew dazed.
This scene seemed to pull her back to that time when they were heading to an immortal sect.
“A bit troublesome.”
Looking at the corner of the formation he had discovered, Lin Chang’an frowned deeply, his eyes flickering before finally shaking his head.
“I am still lacking in skill. The Blood Fiend Scarlet Sun Formation... we need to locate the Baleful and Yang Nodes and investigate them thoroughly.”
Their purpose this time was mainly to scout, not to directly enter.
The Restriction-Breaking Talisman would cause too much commotion. It would be best to find a weak point in the formation and break a gap to enter with a single strike.
Otherwise, the Twin-Tailed Venomous Scorpions hiding nearby would surely swarm in.
“Baleful and Yang Nodes?”
Yun Yao, despite her talent, had focused all her energy on cultivation. When it came to formations, she clearly knew only a little.
Seeing this, Lin Chang’an smiled and shook his head, then handed a formation disk to Yun Yao.
“Fellow Daoist Yun, take this formation-detecting artifact and operate it here. I will circle the formation barrier to find the Baleful and Yang Nodes.”
Upon hearing this, Yun Yao finally understood. But she frowned tightly and said in a low voice,
“Brother Lin, this place is dangerous. There’s only one Concealing Spirit Veil…”
However, before Yun Yao could finish speaking, Lin Chang’an simply smiled faintly, then activated the Breath Concealment Technique and the Invisibility Technique.
Wood-attribute cultivation techniques naturally enhanced both concealment and invisibility. Not to mention his Life-bound Spirit Plant was also nourishing him in return.
After casting the techniques, without exerting more spiritual power, Lin Chang’an’s presence completely vanished—merging with the surroundings, like a plant.
This scene caused Yun Yao’s eyes to flash with admiration, and she softly murmured,
“Yun Yao truly underestimated Brother Lin.”
Lin Chang’an did not explain further, only giving a few reminders about the formation disk.
Meanwhile, Yun Yao repeated everything she had discovered in previous investigations of this formation, down to the smallest detail.
…
Night gradually descended.
Lin Chang’an, hidden from sight, moved through the poisonous miasma zone.
“The Yang Node… finally found it.”
After painstaking effort, Lin Chang’an let out a quiet sigh of relief. At least all his work hadn’t been in vain.
He carefully examined the area, then continued searching for the Baleful Node.
At last, on the third day, Lin Chang’an finally located it.
During these days, he and Yun Yao had been communicating via Voice-recording Talismans in secret.
“I still don’t have the ability to dismantle a third-rank formation. But a third-rank formation weakened by a hundred years—finding its weak spot isn’t difficult.”
With a confident smile, Lin Chang’an felt gratified that his years of studying formations weren’t wasted. Now they were finally paying off.
“No! Something’s off! Someone’s been here before!”
While Lin Chang’an was using his second-rank formation master knowledge to identify the weak points, his black pupils lit up with his Spiritual Eye—and he saw faint traces of someone having concealed their presence here.
“Could it be… we’ve been discovered?!”
Lin Chang’an’s brows knit together. Exploring a relic cave abode was already perilous, and if other cultivators were involved, the danger would increase dramatically.
…
At that moment, near the outskirts of the area.
“Fellow Daoist, I am a cultivator of Shayun Kingdom. If you kill me—”
A Foundation Establishment early-stage cultivator fled in panic. But from behind, Old Hu, who had secretly followed him all the way, raised a large fire-red hammer and sneered coldly,
“You shouldn’t have come back after fleeing to Shayun Kingdom!”
“It’s you! Hu Jin! Are you really going to kill me without mercy?!”
The fleeing cultivator was terrified. No wonder this person had chased him so relentlessly—turned out it was a narrow encounter with an old enemy.
Masked, Hu Jin snorted coldly once he realized he’d been recognized.
“Now that you’ve recognized me, I definitely can’t let you live.”
“Fellow Daoist, show mercy! Don’t you want to know why I’m here? Spare me, and I’ll tell you a tremendous secret!”
“Fool. I’ve got plenty of ways to learn your secret after you’re dead.”
Hu Jin barked coldly, without the slightest intent to spare his life.
Meanwhile, at the edge of the formation, Lin Chang’an suddenly saw a flash of cold light approaching from afar.
Seeing this, his face darkened.
“Damn it. Why are there cultivators here?”
His Spiritual Eye clearly showed two figures chasing one another at low altitude.
The one in front was an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, fleeing in panic. The one behind—mid-stage, dressed in black and masked—was clearly pursuing with murderous intent.
As cold lights rained from above, Lin Chang’an had no choice but to raise a spiritual shield. In an instant, all the cold lights in front of him were blocked.
But the moment he activated his spiritual power, his presence was naturally exposed—and noticed by both parties.
“Fellow Daoist! Fellow Daoist, save me! He’s trying to kill me to silence me!”
The fleeing cultivator, seeing another hidden figure, shouted desperately and flew toward Lin Chang’an.
The masked Hu Jin, startled by the hidden presence, cried out, “Another expert?!”
“Die!”
This attempt to divert disaster onto someone else instantly triggered killing intent in Lin Chang’an.
With a wave of his hand, a sword beam shot forth. The fleeing cultivator, now panicked and enraged, shouted:
“Fellow Daoist, I have a great secret! There’s a secret realm here—”
Splurt!
Blood splattered. Facing deadly blows from two mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, the already panicked man was instantly torn apart.
In an instant, his blood splashed all over the rotting leaves, creating a dense, sticky sound.
Even in death, the cultivator stared in disbelief at the figure before him.
“Those who shift disaster onto others must be prepared to die.”
Lin Chang’an, also clad in black combat attire and masked, stared coldly at the other figure.
Both sides eyed each other warily.
“Mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation!”
After exchanging glances, hesitation flashed in their eyes—but only for a moment. Then they struck simultaneously.
Though the man was dead, the secret he revealed just before dying sparked murderous intent in both of them.
Lin Chang’an cursed inwardly. Sure enough, this place had already been discovered.
Old Hu, on the other hand, was deeply shaken. No wonder someone was here.
“This guy hides himself well. If not for an accidental discovery, I might have been in trouble.”
Masked, Old Hu muttered inwardly. He was glad for his luck—if he had been ambushed by a hidden Foundation Establishment cultivator…
The thought alone sent a chill down his spine.
“Mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation. Even if he’s a sect or clan disciple, so what? Old Hu’s background isn’t shallow either. And in such a dangerous place, the guy acted instantly upon hearing of a secret realm. Could it be… it really exists?”
Old Hu recalled the earlier words, and his decision was made in an instant—he had to capture this person alive. There’d be plenty of ways to extract the truth later.
Likewise, the masked Lin Chang’an was secretly shocked as they exchanged blows.
This cultivator’s strength wasn’t weak—and more importantly, he actually possessed several spirit artifacts.
A hammer flickering with flames, a defensive armor on his body, and even the shoes on his feet weren’t ordinary items.
“Fellow Daoist, if we keep fighting and alarm the swarm of venomous scorpions in the miasma, neither of us will walk out of here alive.”
Though Lin Chang’an said he wanted to stop and make peace, his hands didn’t show the slightest intention of pausing.
In fact, he secretly activated the Killing Origin Sword Art, and its power greatly increased.
The masked Old Hu cursed loudly,
“Despicable scoundrel!”
He spoke of ceasing the fight, yet his strikes grew fiercer by the moment.
Blood vessels flickered in Lin Chang’an’s pupils, and as he raised his hand, the sword light turned blood-red, with a significant boost in offensive power.
In no time, the masked Old Hu was forced back step by step, exclaiming in shock that this man was a demonic cultivator.
“You’ve gone too far! Do you really think I have no means left?”
In a flash, flames erupted—and sure enough, their battle disturbed the venomous scorpions hiding in the area.
Rustle— A dense swarm of black venomous scorpions began crawling out, sending chills down the spine.
At the same time, their clash revealed a corner of the formation of the cave abode ruins.
“This is—!?”
The masked Old Hu widened his eyes in disbelief. There was actually a formation in this poisonous miasma region of the Cloudmist Mountain Range.
What that man said was true!
Old Hu wasn’t stupid. His mind turned quickly, and he immediately understood—this place was likely the cave abode of an ancient cultivator.
No wonder a demonic cultivator was lurking in such a forsaken place.
“Courting death!”
Seeing the cave abode ruins exposed and the venomous scorpions stirred—
A cold light flashed in Lin Chang’an’s eyes. With a wave of his hand, several Second-rank High-grade Talismans shimmered into view.
Firebird Talisman, Ice Talisman, Thunderclap Talisman—Boom! Boom! Boom!—they struck continuously without pause.
Lin Chang’an had many talismans—and so did his opponent.
In just a brief exchange, both of them had the same thought flash through their minds—
This person must be from a major clan or a sect!
Such wealth!
As this thought passed, and seeing the horde of venomous scorpions swarming from afar, Old Hu’s eyes turned ruthless. He knew this had to end fast.
“You’re staying here today!”
Lin Chang’an’s heart sank as well. He had truly underestimated the people of the world—this man was incredibly difficult to deal with.
If it came down to a war of attrition, he had confidence. But with the scorpions soon to arrive, if word of this leaked—
Just thinking about that, a cold gleam flickered in Lin Chang’an’s eyes.
But the masked Old Hu moved faster. He suddenly retreated at lightning speed. Before Lin Chang’an could react, a talisman glowing with golden light appeared between Old Hu’s fingers.
“Talisman Treasure!”
The moment that terrifying aura surged, Lin Chang’an’s face filled with shock.
Why was his luck so terrible? The last time he encountered Huang Shaohai, a talisman treasure appeared. Now this robber cultivator also had one?!
“You sneaky rat! To die under my Shensword Sect’s talisman treasure, consider it—”
Under Old Hu’s vicious glare, the words were cut off—because Lin Chang’an also drew out a talisman exuding a terrifying aura.
“Talisman Treasure!”
Old Hu’s eyes widened further. Since when were talisman treasures so common?!
All of this happened in an instant. Both were thinking of killing to silence and ending it quickly—now it escalated into a direct talisman treasure clash.
Lin Chang’an flipped his palm—revealing a fiery red talisman with a small sword drawn on it, emanating terrifying pressure.
“Don’t think you’re the only one with a talisman treasure! I hail from the Huang Clan of the Palace of Blazing Fire—today, I’ll make this robber cultivator pay!”
Lin Chang’an shouted coldly, with not the slightest guilt about impersonating the Palace of Blazing Fire.
But just then, as Lin Chang’an was preparing to activate the talisman treasure, the Yellow Dragon Bell on his waist gleamed defensively—and Old Hu saw it, eyes widening in disbelief.
That defensive magical artifact!
Old Lin!?
“Don’t—Lin—”
“Die!”
In an instant, a condensed crimson sword blade formed—the talisman treasure activated.
【Talisman Treasure · Scarlet Sun Sword】
As the talisman treasure’s aura surged, even the venomous scorpions in the distance became agitated in fear and began swarming wildly.
“Damn it!”
Feeling the terrifying power of the talisman treasure, Old Hu, on the verge of tears, hastily activated his own.
Any later, and it would’ve been too late.
When did Old Lin become a cultivator of the Palace of Blazing Fire? How had he not known?
【Talisman Treasure · Golden Light Wheel】
One red sword, one golden wheel—collided in an instant, erupting in dazzling radiance.
“Old Lin, it’s me… Old Hu!”
Amid the violent collision of talisman treasures, Old Hu quickly tore off his mask, revealing his face and shouting urgently.
Lin Chang’an was equally shocked—Old Hu!?
When had Old Hu joined the Shensword Sect?
After the intense clash of talisman treasures, both were forced to retreat under the explosive force, quickly withdrawing their respective talismans.
Though they recognized each other, they remained far apart.
“Old Lin, you sure know how to hide.”
Across from him, Old Hu landed clumsily, face covered in dust, glaring wide-eyed at Lin Chang’an.
And Lin Chang’an, having landed as well, stared right back.
Both wide-eyed at one another.
How could it be such a coincidence?
“How is Old Hu here? The cave abode ruins have been exposed, and the talisman treasure only has one use left…”
Countless thoughts flashed through Lin Chang’an’s mind.
Likewise, Old Hu’s thoughts raced wildly.
“Old Lin was hiding too deeply—secretly part of the Palace of Blazing Fire, and even has a talisman treasure!”
Old Hu was deeply shaken. At the same time, his peripheral vision swept the surroundings, preparing to escape at any moment.
He had only three uses of his talisman treasure left.
“Old Lin, don’t worry—I’ll keep this secret to the grave.”
Just as Old Hu prepared to retreat, a terrifying chill swept over, turning his face pale.
“Misunderstanding! It’s a misunderstanding!”
The moment the battle started, Lin Chang’an had secretly sent a message to Yun Yao, asking for support.
The fight with Old Hu hadn’t lasted long—both had been aiming to end it quickly.
When he saw Yun Yao arrive, Lin Chang’an quickly messaged her.
“Fellow Daoist Yun—it’s Old Hu. He has a talisman treasure!”
“Talisman treasure!”
Yun Yao’s expression changed instantly, and she withdrew her spear and leapt back without hesitation.
At that distance, she didn’t dare take risks. If he activated the talisman treasure, even her life would be at risk.
Old Hu’s face also turned ugly. He was cornered from both sides.
He already knew from earlier that Old Lin’s strength was no less than his own.
Now, with Fellow Daoist Yun—a late Foundation Establishment cultivator—coming up from behind…
Cold sweat poured from Old Hu’s body. Familiarity was one thing, but in this situation, he dared not be careless. One wrong move, and he might die here.
Activating his defensive magical artifact, Old Hu gripped his talisman treasure tightly.
Under the overwhelming temptation of a cave abode’s fortune, even true Dao companions of a hundred years could turn on one another.
Let alone Old Hu, who understood well: from the looks of it, Old Lin and this Fellow Daoist Yun were clearly working together.
And he… was all alone.