Chapter 213: Attribute Restraint
Inside the cave abode.
Looking at the various Yang- and Fire-attribute magical artifacts and spirit tools collected by the Three Fiends of the Zhong Clan, Lin Chang’an’s eyes flickered.
“This place of Core Formation Spirit Items was actually on a desolate island within the Fog Sea of Tongtian, where sinister spirits gathered.”
It was said that in places where sinister spirits converged, certain Yin-veined spiritual springs would give birth to a kind of spirit liquid, known as Blackwater Liquid.
And Blackwater Liquid, with its gentle attribute, was an excellent Core Formation Spirit Item.
“No wonder those three wanted to strike at me. Turns out their materials weren’t enough, and they wanted to prepare more.”
Lin Chang’an secretly nodded. If it truly was a place where sinister spirits gathered, then other cultivators would indeed need to make thorough preparations.
But he seemed to have little need for so many Yang- and Fire-attribute treasures.
“The Wind-chirp Bird restrained sinister spirits, and could even feed on them. Moreover, the Killing Origin Sword Art had reached a bottleneck after these years.”
【Killing Origin Sword Art (Perfect 4698/10000)】
Looking at his comprehension of the Killing Origin Sword Art, Lin Chang’an understood from the fragmented memories of the Blood Fiend True Lord.
To cultivate this sword art to completion required endless baleful energy.
“The Wood-attribute cultivation method I specialized in might not restrain sinister spirits, but the sword beams filled with baleful energy were in no way inferior to those Yang-attribute treasures.”
However, after this battle, Lin Chang’an was also somewhat reflective.
Though his strength was formidable, he excelled more in prolonged, exhausting battles. In terms of explosive power, he was somewhat lacking.
If not for the Talisman Treasure, the previous fight would not have ended so quickly. After all, the leader had been a late Second-rank Body Cultivator—he might very well have escaped.
“And using a Talisman Treasure takes time. My strongest means should be this evolved version of the Giant Sword Technique, the Sword Shadows Follow the Heart divine ability.”
【Sword Shadows Follow the Heart / Giant Sword Technique (Proficiency 368/500)】
Seeing the proficiency of this divine ability, Lin Chang’an grew solemn as he activated it.
In an instant, a cyan sword glow appeared around him. For defense, the sword glow encircled him, manifesting into a sword shield that protected his body.
For offense, it was incomparably sharp—essentially the evolved form of the Giant Sword Technique. It was smoother to control, and required much less charging time.
“This was a supreme sword dao divine ability. Even the late Core Formation Blood Fiend True Lord had held it in utmost regard.”
Lin Chang’an also coveted the power of this divine ability greatly.
At the late Foundation Establishment stage, condensing a single sword glow was equivalent to possessing an additional top-grade Spirit Artifact, capable of both attack and defense.
Upon breaking through to Core Formation, three sword glows would be comparable to three low-grade magical treasures.
Yet the requirements to use this divine ability were exceedingly harsh, and even the slightest mistake would lead to backlash from the sword qi.
“With my current False Core Realm divine sense!”
Thinking this, Lin Chang’an forcibly urged the divine ability. In the next moment, the sword qi within his body backlashed, causing a trace of pain to surface between his brows.
His meridians suffered damage, but relying on the power of his Regenerative Body, he ultimately endured.
Now, with his False Core Realm divine sense, he forcibly drove this divine ability.
Faintly, two sword glows appeared around him, yet in the end, he could not sustain them. One sword glow dissipated.
【Sword Shadows Follow the Heart / Giant Sword Technique +100 (Proficiency 468/500)】
The next instant, only two sword glows circled around Lin Chang’an, his aura growing even more formidable.
“As expected, I succeeded!”
Lin Chang’an’s face revealed joy. His effort to forcibly drive this divine ability with False Core divine sense had not been in vain. Although the two sword glows still carried a faint instability—
He had indeed succeeded.
In this state, he stood at a balance point between the late Foundation Establishment and Core Formation stages for this divine ability.
He could summon two sword glows.
“And the power of these two sword glows is even stronger!”
Feeling the might of the sword glows, Lin Chang’an could not help but smile.
But this state could not last long. After a muffled groan, the sword glows before him slowly faded away, though the smile on his face never did.
This was the best use of the Regenerative Body.
“I can burst out with an attack power comparable to a False Core Cultivator for a short time, though it cannot be maintained.”
This was already quite good. Indeed, it had been the right decision to continue nurturing his Life-bound Spirit Plant earlier.
With a means such as this, he finally had confidence to plan for the dangerous land where sinister spirits converged.
After all, while Talisman Treasures were strong, they would eventually be depleted.
Moreover, using them caused damage to the treasures themselves.
He could not possibly drain a magical treasure to the point of destruction, could he?
That would be far too wasteful. He was still thinking that, if it came to it, he could exchange the treasure for a demon core or two in the future.
“If this place of converging sinister spirits truly has Blackwater Liquid, then wouldn’t that mean there’s a Yin-veined spiritual spring?”
A spiritual spring, whether for his own cultivation or for nourishing his Life-bound Spirit Plant, was undoubtedly a precious land.
Since breaking through to late Foundation Establishment, Lin Chang’an had constantly been troubled. His spiritual root aptitude was poor, and his cultivation speed was far too slow.
【Lifespan: 106/283】
【Realm: Late Foundation Establishment (12/100)】
At this pace of cultivation, he gained only two points of experience a year, and the further he went, the harder it would become.
At present, ordinary Second-rank High-grade cultivation pills already had little effect.
And Third-rank pills were far too costly for him.
“Previously, Yun Yao gifted me two bottles of Third-rank cultivation-enhancing pills. Clearly, she intended for me to save them until I encountered a bottleneck.”
Lin Chang’an pondered. High-grade spiritual roots might not encounter a bottleneck until reaching level 97, but with his Low-grade spiritual root, he might face one at level 90.
Without the aid of pills, his cultivation would stagnate. If he forcibly attempted Core Formation, even with Spirit Items, the chances of success would still be slim.
This was why cultivators with poor spiritual roots and resources found breakthroughs so difficult.
“These two bottles of pills, even if I consumed them now, would merely give me a bit more mana. Far less valuable than using them later.”
If he were at mid-Foundation Establishment and on the verge of a bottleneck, he naturally wouldn’t let them gather dust.
After all, breaking through a minor realm greatly boosted strength.
But he had only been in late Foundation Establishment for a few years—the effect would not be significant.
“Hopefully, the news the Three Fiends of the Zhong Clan obtained is true, and that there really is a dense Yin-veined spiritual spring. That would greatly benefit cultivation.”
With firm eyes, Lin Chang’an began preparing for his journey into the Fog Sea of Tongtian.
During his preparations, the disappearance of the Wen Couple and Fang Tie remained unnoticed until several months later, when members of the Lu Clan came visiting.
It seemed that only because they had some dealings with the Lu Clan was the matter discovered. Otherwise, who knew how long it would have taken.
Three Foundation Establishment cultivators had gone missing at once. Though surprising, in the Sea Abyss of Beasts, such things were almost commonplace.
Not to mention Foundation Establishment cultivators—even the disappearance of a Core Formation cultivator was nothing unusual.
The Lu Clan reported the matter to Five Dragon Island, and afterward arranged for other Foundation Establishment cultivators to come and continue maintaining the stability of the formation.
On this day, Hu Jin came visiting.
“This Wen Couple and Fellow Daoist Fang’s disappearance… I fear they met with misfortune.”
Within the pavilion, Hu Jin also shook his head and sighed with melancholy.
After all, what befell the Wen Couple today could very well happen to himself tomorrow.
“I heard that the two newly arrived Foundation Establishment cultivators both brought their families with them. Though their numbers weren’t large, it clearly displeased the Lu Clan.”
As Hu Jin spoke the latest intelligence, Lin Chang’an gave a slight nod.
“By the way, I recently made the acquaintance of several fellow daoists. Next February, I plan to host a trade gathering on Five Dragon Island.”
“A trade gathering? I will certainly attend.”
Lin Chang’an nodded slightly. If late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators were hosting, there would surely be many good things.
One had to admit, Old Hu’s sociable nature, coupled with being an artifact refiner, had allowed him to befriend quite a few cultivators in such a short time since arriving here.
Lin Chang’an also often inquired after intelligence from Old Hu.
“All right, here are the two spirit tools you asked me to repair. Still, let me say this: be careful in all things. If something cannot be done, retreat in time.”
Old Hu brought out two spirit tools—these had been damaged during Lin Chang’an’s battle with the Three Fiends of the Zhong Clan.
From memory, he knew these spirit tools were newly purchased by them in secret and clean of entanglements. Otherwise, he would not have entrusted Old Hu to repair them.
With Hu Jin’s experience, he immediately saw these two spirit tools were rare Yang-attribute items. He had already faintly guessed where Lin Chang’an intended to go.
Hence the reminder.
Facing his old friend’s concern, Lin Chang’an smiled and nodded, saying,
“Old Hu, my spiritual root aptitude is poor. To cultivate this far has already consumed too many resources. If I do not fight at this juncture, I will regret it for the rest of my life.”
Others might not understand, but only Lin Chang’an himself knew just how much preparation he had done in secret before daring to attempt this.
Everyone had their own secrets—just as Lin Chang’an never asked about the treasures left behind by Hu Jin’s ancestors.
Hearing this, Old Hu nodded. “Fine. With your cautiousness, Old Lin, there will be no problem.”
The two then drank together, exchanging much information.
For instance, who had discovered an injured Third-rank demon beast in the Outer Seas, how many cultivators had gone after it, and how many died in the end.
Or who had gained some stroke of fortune.
The world of cultivation never lacked death and fortune.
Unfortunately, most cultivators were but common multitudes, never fated to touch such fortunes.
After Hu Jin left, Lin Chang’an began preparing in earnest for his journey in search of Core Formation Spirit Items.
…
“All the things the Three Fiends of the Zhong Clan prepared are in my hands, and I also have many thunder-attribute talismans. Perfectly suited.”
As Lin Chang’an inventoried his resources, he secretly nodded—especially since he also had the Wind-chirp Bird.
This exotic beast restrained sinister spirits and fed on them. It was as if it were returning home.
With the Wind-chirp Bird’s strength, even a quasi–third-rank sinister spirit could be devoured under attribute restraint.
“This trip, even if I do not obtain Core Formation Spirit Items, will still be of immense benefit to the Wind-chirp Bird.”
Looking at the bird perched on his shoulder, fawning upon him, Lin Chang’an could not help but secretly shake his head.
After raising it for so many years, there was some bond.
“Zhi zhi!”
“All right, this time I will let you eat your fill.”
With a calm smile, Lin Chang’an gently stroked the bird, his eyes firm with resolve.
If the clue left by the Three Fiends of the Zhong Clan had been about a Third-rank demon beast, he might have hesitated.
But a place where sinister spirits converged?
His sword glows brimming with baleful energy, the Third-rank Blood Fiend Scarlet Sun Grand Formation, and the Wind-chirp Bird—were they not all restraints against sinister spirits?
He even had confidence that, should a true Third-rank sinister spirit appear, as long as it fell into his formation, he could defeat it under attribute restraint.
At this thought, determination lit Lin Chang’an’s eyes.
Heaven punished those who failed to seize opportunity; heaven cursed those who missed their time.
This fortune was right before his eyes, and it came with attribute restraint. If he did not investigate, he would regret it forever.