Chapter 179: Master Lu’s Six Hundred Years of Bitter Cultivation
Cave abode.
Shen Fan and Wei Yingying arrived in a sorry state to pay their respects.
“Uncle Lin, this time Fan-ge and I entered the Yunwu Mountain Range to hunt demon beasts. By luck, we managed to kill one and obtained its crystalline core…”
Wei Yingying recounted everything that had happened, including how they fought, and then suddenly how a so-called elder appeared to chase after them.
Hearing this, Lin Chang’an only nodded lightly.
“Hunting demon beasts has always been like this. Since the other party wanted to seize it, they should have been prepared to pay the price. As for that so-called claim about having injured the demon beast beforehand!”
Lin Chang’an dismissed it with disdain. If that reasoning truly held, then wouldn’t every scar left on a demon beast’s body mean ownership by whoever inflicted it?
It was nothing but sophistry.
“But Yingying, you truly were bold!”
Lin Chang’an shook his head. Originally, after accepting Yun Yao’s spirit stones, he had planned to polish Wei Yingying slowly, but unexpectedly she had already obtained the main material.
Still, it was not bad. At the very least, after a few years, Wei Yingying had become much steadier than before.
“Very well. I will keep this crystalline core here. In a few days, I will find a skilled alchemist to refine a furnace of Foundation Establishment Pills for you.”
“Thank you, Uncle Lin.”
Wei Yingying nodded excitedly again and again, while Shen Fan at her side revealed a relieved smile. Yingying could finally accompany him on the path to the end.
“Uncle Lin, don’t worry. We will definitely repay the expenses for refining the Foundation Establishment Pills.”
Shen Fan remained earnest, making Lin Chang’an smile and shake his head.
At least this junior was one he found pleasing.
“Alright, here are some healing pills. You should first…”
However, just as Lin Chang’an took out healing pills for the two of them, his expression suddenly changed. Sweeping with his divine sense, he immediately noticed something wrong on Shen Fan’s body.
“Uncle Lin?”
Wei Yingying, ever perceptive, instantly noticed his reaction and could not help but ask.
“It seems someone has marked you.”
Lin Chang’an waved his hand, and a giant palm of green mana grabbed at Shen Fan’s body. In an instant, a wisp of tracking imprint was pulled out.
“This is a tracking secret art. It is extremely hidden and difficult to detect. Once a cultivator is marked, within a hundred li they cannot escape.”
When Shen Fan saw the tracking mark being removed from his body, he could not help but bow gratefully. “Thank you, Uncle Lin.”
“Do not leave the city these days. After returning, first enter seclusion to heal.”
“Yes, Uncle Lin.”
Shen Fan still wanted to say more, but Wei Yingying tugged on her husband’s sleeve in secret, and only then did they withdraw.
After the two had left, Lin Chang’an flipped his hand, revealing the mark he had just extracted.
Hidden within that mark was an additional special filament of mana.
“This is a tracking technique unique to the Huang Clan of Lihuo Palace!”
If not for Huang Shaohai generously gifting him the inherited memories of a great clan disciple back then, even his late Foundation Establishment divine sense would almost have failed to detect it.
“According to Huang Shaohai’s memories, even within the Huang Clan, only a handful knew this tracking art. Shen Fan and Wei Yingying—how could the two of them be worth such effort!”
By their account, the other party had only been a Foundation Establishment early-stage cultivator, completely incapable of planting this tracking imprint.
At the very least, the one who planted this must have been a late Foundation Establishment cultivator.
This was clearly a setup.
“It seems the visitors harbor ill intent. Or perhaps Shen Fan and Wei Yingying are only pawns, and the true target is me?”
Lin Chang’an frowned. If the Lihuo Palace had set its sights on him, he could only think of two possibilities.
The first was that Huang Shaohai’s death had been traced back to him. But the chance was too slim—he had covered his tracks thoroughly and had not exposed himself in recent years.
The second was his identity as a high-grade Second-rank Talisman Master, combined with being one of the most prominent black market leaders in the Eastern District of Tianxuan City. For the past few years, his name had been listed high on the bounty orders issued by Lihuo Palace.
Just then, an angry shout came from outside the cave abode.
…
A white-robed middle-aged cultivator carrying a longsword on his back arrived before Lin Chang’an’s cave abode, his eyes flashing with a sharp gleam.
“Cultivator inside, come out!”
“Daoist friend, why do you make a ruckus outside my cave!?”
As the cave formation slowly opened, first came a furious roar. The Azure-Horned Bull charged out, unleashing the aura of a mid Second-rank demon beast, pressing down fiercely.
Immediately after, Lin Chang’an stepped calmly to the cave entrance.
Yet faced with the beast’s pressure, the white-robed sword-bearing cultivator only snorted coldly, showing no fear at all, and declared harshly:
“I am Gu Congfeng. Hand over the two thieves who injured my son and stole the crystalline core of the demon beast.”
His cold words carried the aura of a mid Foundation Establishment cultivator, clearly only one step away from late stage.
“Daoist friend, you must be joking?”
Lin Chang’an laughed. Regardless of the scheming behind this, this claim alone was laughable.
“Daoist Gu, is this your first time hunting demon beasts?”
These words were nothing short of mockery. In the demon beast mountains, disputes over kills were natural. Whoever had the stronger means claimed the prize.
Besides, if his son lacked the ability to kill the beast and was slain instead, could he then shamelessly say the beast was his? What a joke.
“Insolent!”
Gu Congfeng’s face twisted with rage, ready to strike, when suddenly a disheveled figure rushed over.
“Elder brother, don’t be rash!”
The newcomer was none other than his second brother, Gu Congjian, who quickly pulled him back and sent a sound transmission:
“Brother, don’t be rash! This is Fellow Daoist Lin, a high-grade Second-rank Talisman Master, one of the six Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Eastern District black market, with many connections in Tianxuan City…”
Hearing Lin Chang’an’s identity and influence, Gu Congfeng’s face turned blue then white, extremely ugly.
“Shut up! How can my Gu Family have a coward like you, afraid of death?”
Gu Congfeng’s furious rebuke made Gu Congjian’s face flush with shame. Ever since that incident back then, he had been unable to raise his head within the clan.
Humiliated, his heart brimmed with killing intent. Fine! When the time comes, I’ll make sure you go to the grave with me!
Breaking free of his brother, the greatsword on Gu Congfeng’s back came out with a loud clang, radiating a sharp sword intent.
The edge of it made even Gu Congjian’s skin sting painfully.
Lin Chang’an’s eyes narrowed slightly. A sword cultivator!
But he was not made of mud either.
Before entering the black market, he had long expected fame would bring trouble. Still, it was far better than risking his life hunting demon beasts in the mountains, where standing too long by the river meant eventually getting wet.
Staying in Tianxuan City was safer.
“Lin Chang’an, others may fear you, but I do not!”
Even as Lin Chang’an released his own mid Foundation Establishment aura, Gu Congfeng pointed at him, though his voice no longer carried the same domineering edge as before.
As the clash was about to erupt, Gu Congjian gritted his teeth and once again barred the way, stopping his elder brother. This plan absolutely could not fail.
After all, he had promised Huang Yuntian of Lihuo Palace.
“Brother, you are strong, but our Gu Family has only the two of us in the Foundation Establishment Realm. Would you really drag our clan into disaster for your own pride?
Brother! Think clearly. If you offend this man today, just the six black market Foundation Establishment cultivators alone—our Gu Family…”
When family survival was invoked, the hard-headed sword cultivator’s face grew extremely dark, his aura clearly weakening.
Lin Chang’an, watching, also slowly retracted part of his pressure. Whether the other was acting or genuinely wanted an excuse to retreat, he could not say.
“I!”
Gu Congfeng, humiliated, finally stormed off after leaving behind a threat that this matter would not end here.
Naturally, many people nearby witnessed the scene.
But given Lin Chang’an’s current status, most offered him polite smiles.
Lin Chang’an only snorted coldly and returned to his cave abode. He knew well, however, that this was only the beginning.
Since the enemy’s true target was him, they would not give up so easily.
…
As expected!
That very afternoon, someone delivered an invitation letter.
“Master Lin, this matter was the fault of our Gu Family. We did not know those two juniors were your disciples. It was my elder brother’s foul temper earlier. Please, be magnanimous.
On behalf of the Gu Family, I will host a banquet at the tavern to apologize to you and your fellow Daoist friends. From today onward, let us turn hostility into friendship. We hope Master Lin and the others will not pursue this matter further…”
The one delivering the invitation was Gu Congjian, his face full of smiles, every word implying that it had all been a misunderstanding.
After listening, Lin Chang’an’s expression became strange. Invitation? Banquet? Was the target not just him, but Yun Yao as well? Or perhaps even their entire marketplace?
Though the words carried nothing but respect for the power of the six black market Foundation Establishment cultivators, claiming the Gu Family wished to make friends—
Had it not been for the tracking mark from Lihuo Palace, he might have believed it.
But now!
In the end, Lin Chang’an’s expression softened as he nodded and accepted the invitation.
“Very well. We naturally do not wish to be enemies.”
Gu Congjian rejoiced inwardly, but outwardly he only feigned a sigh of relief, as though not wanting to offend them.
“I also ask Fellow Daoist Lin to pass word to Daoist Yun. After this matter, my Gu Family will certainly prepare a token of gratitude for her as well.”
…
“An invitation? At a tavern inside Tianxuan City?”
Once the other left, Lin Chang’an held the invitation in thought.
Truly, it was step after step, one link after another. If he had not known of many of the Huang Clan’s methods from Huang Shaohai’s memories, he might really have fallen for it.
First, they created conflict. Then, after discovering his identity, they came to apologize.
No outsider would see any problem.
“And the tavern is inside Tianxuan City. Who would ever guard against it? Yet the other party dares attempt this—clearly, their true target is not me.”
Perhaps they were merely incidental.
“If my guess is correct…”
Lin Chang’an pondered, recalling that Tianxuan City had been unstable for the past two years. With the tense situation at the frontlines, Master Lu had not appeared for a long time.
“Could it be they want to probe Master Lu?”
It was not arrogance. Their black market had indeed grown large over the years. If unrest erupted in their marketplace, together with the Lihuo Palace’s other arrangements—
Given Tianxuan City’s situation now, with Master Lu’s three disciples and spirit pet all at the frontlines, unless Master Lu himself appeared, nothing else would suffice.
Beyond this, Lin Chang’an could not think of what value he or the other six had that would merit such scheming from Lihuo Palace.
Even exposing his killing of Huang Shaohai would not be enough.
“In this case, it is no longer merely my matter. As a guest cultivator residing in Tianxuan City, can I not contribute when the city itself is targeted?”
At that thought, Lin Chang’an looked in the direction of Tianxuan Peak.
If he refused such easy merit, would he not be a fool?
Then, Lin Chang’an quietly departed his dojo and headed straight for Tianxuan Peak.
…
Tianxuan Peak.
“Fellow Daoist Lin, you mean this person behind the scenes is not just some simple robber cultivator, but has set their sights on Tianxuan City?”
Master Lu’s three disciples were all at the frontlines, while he himself was in seclusion. These years, affairs were instead managed by Old Wind.
After Lin Chang’an reported, Old Wind’s brows tightened in anger.
“Yes, Fellow Daoist Wind. I am but a drifting cultivator. Even though I manage this small marketplace, how could I be worth such elaborate schemes?
I fear the enemy’s true intent is to stir chaos—perhaps ambushing us while simultaneously sowing disorder in the marketplaces of Tianxuan City…”
Lin Chang’an’s solemn tone matched the high likelihood.
If the black market left only one or two behind while the rest were drawn out, causing chaos would be effortless.
The Eastern District black market was also the largest in Tianxuan City. Any unrest there would ignite the spark.
“Fellow Daoist Wind, you must know Tianxuan City holds many foreign drifting cultivators. If turmoil breaks out, with Master Lu absent for so long, and no Core Formation cultivator currently in the city—once greed explodes…”
Lin Chang’an’s subtle reminder made the matter sound even graver.
Thus, his merit would be greater.
“Fellow Daoist Lin, I understand.”
Old Wind’s expression grew serious. Having lived so many years, he too understood the danger.
The hardest part of creating chaos was the beginning. Once someone ignited the spark, countless cultivators’ greed would spread like wildfire.
This was common in the cultivation world.
It was also the typical strategy of those who wished to disrupt marketplaces.
Especially as he himself was a drifting cultivator once, Old Wind knew full well their dangers. This was why many sects and clans despised them.
As long as someone suppressed them, they abided by rules. But once turmoil began, drifting cultivators became nothing more than greedy robber cultivators.
“Old Wind, I have been targeted only because of Tianxuan City. My cultivation has progressed slowly these years. If I could obtain some third-rank pills to improve my realm…”
Lin Chang’an put on the look of one suffering for the city’s sake. Old Wind could only sigh.
Why did he not mention the profits the black market had been reaping?
But precisely because of those profits, Lin Chang’an and the others would never betray Tianxuan City.
The black market’s benefits alone bound them together.
Lin Chang’an was no fool. This was a rare opportunity.
Master Lu was a high-grade Third-rank Alchemist. Though Tianxuan City might not match the Three Major Sects in other ways—
In pills, it lacked nothing.
Not even the Three Major Sects had a high-grade Third-rank Alchemist.
“Third-rank pills, you say.”
Old Wind pondered, recalling Lin Chang’an’s ties with two of Master Lu’s disciples, and finally nodded.
“I must consult Master Lu. But if the enemy truly has a major plot in the shadows, rest assured—Master Lu will not begrudge you a few third-rank pills.”
“Thank you, Fellow Daoist Wind.”
Lin Chang’an was overjoyed. He had been worrying about how to obtain some third-rank pills through Yun Yao’s connections.
He had not expected them to be delivered so conveniently.
…
Tianxuan Peak, inside the dojo.
“Master, guest cultivator Lin Chang’an has come to report…”
Old Wind respectfully spoke outside the cave abode. After a long pause, an aged voice sounded from within.
That aged voice filled Old Wind with sorrow. So even Golden Core cultivators could not escape decline?
“It seems some little rats can no longer hold back. It is time that girl returned. As for a few third-rank pills, give him some. What does it matter?”
“Yes!”
Old Wind respectfully departed, beginning preparations for Tianxuan City’s looming unrest.
Inside the cave, Master Lu’s eyes gleamed with vigor. His body was undergoing transformation as the aura of decay faded away.
“For over a hundred years, this poison has proven even more troublesome than that of a shape-shifted Demon Flood Dragon.”
He exhaled slowly. At once, the barrier before him corroded into holes, proof of how fierce the poison was.
Even at the peak of late Golden Core stage, it had taken him a century to expel it.
“But it was all worth it. Without Fellow Daoist Blood Fiend’s diversion, I would not have so easily obtained the spirit liquid of the Three Great Divine Spirit Springs.”
That liquid was a supreme treasure for Core Formation and Nascent Soul.
As the aura of decay retreated, though Master Lu’s hair remained gray-white, his complexion improved greatly.
“Six hundred years of bitter cultivation—if I delay any further, I truly will grow old.”
Master Lu smiled faintly. After centuries of arrangement, it was time to bring matters to an end.