Chapter 235: Seeking Xuanyin Pavilion’s Alchemy Services
Ten days later.
In Fatty Lei’s shop within Azure Wave Island’s marketplace.
"Alright, since everyone’s here, I’ll go first and break the ice."
With a jolly smile, Fatty Lei patted his bulging white belly. A flicker of spiritual light revealed a rare spiritual wood.
"Quasi–third-rank spiritual wood. If any Fellow Daoist fancies it, feel free to make an offer."
Still smiling, Fatty Lei made his opening move. Among the five people present, Lin Changan quietly observed the others.
His goal this time was solely the Celestial Crystal Flower—nothing else mattered.
With only five people and limited items to trade, it didn’t take long for Lin Changan’s turn to come.
Lin Changan rasped, "I heard a certain Fellow Daoist possesses the Celestial Crystal Flower. This humble one, Ge, seeks it to plan for a junior’s future."
As soon as he spoke, the others’ expressions shifted.
The Celestial Crystal Flower was the primary ingredient for refining Crystal Condensing Pills, and always in demand but rarely available.
Fatty Lei, the host of this exchange, fanned himself with a folding fan and teased with a grin:
"Fellow Daoist Ge is truly blessed, unlike the rest of us."
After speaking, he turned to a ferocious-looking False Core Cultivator with the surname Yu.
"Fellow Daoist Yu, didn’t you always want to fetch a good price for your Celestial Crystal Flower?"
The fierce-looking Yu raised a brow and summoned a jade box with a wave.
"This Celestial Crystal Flower came to me by chance. You know as well as I do—it’s priceless. For someone like me, who has no juniors, it’s just something I can trade for spirit stones.
But for a Fellow Daoist with juniors, its value is beyond measure."
Their staged exchange made Lin Changan sneer inwardly. He had seen through it—Fatty Lei was clearly in cahoots with Yu.
A typical black-market scam.
But then again, in such places, no one was forcing you—it was always mutual consent.
"Though the Celestial Crystal Flower is rare, I once saw it auctioned for just over forty thousand mid-grade spirit stones at the Five Dragon Island Auction. How much do you want for it?
If the price is too high, I’m merely a drifting cultivator with shallow resources and will have to give it up."
Lin Changan’s expression remained calm. Though he needed the flower, he wasn’t going to be a sucker.
Fatty Lei chuckled without the slightest embarrassment—this was the black market, after all.
The remaining three False Core Cultivators exchanged glances and promptly excused themselves.
They had already traded what they needed. The Celestial Crystal Flower didn’t concern them.
"Fellow Daoist, I risked life and limb for this. It’s for trade only—not for sale!"
The fierce-looking Fellow Daoist Yu shook his head in refusal.
In the end, after some bargaining, Lin Changan obtained the flower by offering a third-rank early-stage Sinister Spirit Beast King’s demon core and over twenty thousand mid-grade spirit stones.
A typical early-stage third-rank demon core of the five elements cost about fifty thousand mid-grade spirit stones, comparable to common Core Formation spirit items.
But this was a Yin-attribute demon core, which fetched a slightly higher price among peers of the same rank.
When Lin Changan took out the third-rank Sinister Spirit Demon Core, a flash of greed crossed Yu’s eyes.
"Deal!"
"Good!"
After the transaction, Lin Changan put on a bamboo hat and left the shop.
Inside, Fellow Daoist Yu stared at the demon core in his hand.
"A False Core Cultivator possessing a Sinister Spirit Demon Core… he must be cultivating a fire-attribute technique. Only then could he have hunted such a beast."
"Fellow Daoist Lei, do you have any intel on this person?"
Greedy yet cautious, Yu turned to Fatty Lei.
Fanning himself, Fatty Lei grinned and raised five fingers.
"That damned spirit-stone-greedy Fatty Lei!"
Yu cursed inwardly but still handed over some spirit stones.
"Fellow Daoist Yu is generous. That Fellow Daoist Ge first appeared six years ago. He seems to be preparing Core Formation spirit items for a junior. Otherwise, who’d risk hunting a Sinister Spirit Beast King?
Clearly, he’s after Blackwater Liquid. Based on limited intel, his strength is not low. He should be cultivating a fire-type technique..."
For five hundred mid-grade spirit stones, Yu got only this crude piece of information. His face turned green.
But based on the intel, didn’t that Fellow Daoist Ge not only have materials for the Crystal Condensing Pill but also Blackwater Liquid?
"Fellow Daoist Lei, want to come along? We’ll split it fifty-fifty!"
Yu was clearly trying to rope Fatty Lei into his plan.
But Fatty Lei immediately declined, smiling with squinted eyes:
"I’m no good at fighting and killing. I just trade in information and shady treasures. I’ll sit this one out.
Still, seeing as you’ve supported my shop for decades, allow me to offer a word of advice—those who walk by the river often get their shoes wet. Be careful!"
At this subtle warning, Yu fell silent.
Of course, he understood the saying. But did he have a choice?
As a False Core Cultivator, he dreamt of forming a true core and achieving the Dao.
"Thanks."
With a cupped-fist salute, Yu took his leave.
Watching him go, Fatty Lei shook his head and muttered:
"Still unwilling to give up... but how easy is it to reforge one’s core? What’s so bad about being a False Core Cultivator?"
Thinking this, Fatty Lei pulled out a piece of demon-beast meat from his storage pouch and started gnawing on it.
...
After leaving the marketplace, Lin Changan furrowed his brow—he could clearly sense someone tailing him.
After all, a False Core Cultivator’s escape light was indeed faster than his.
"Fellow Daoist Ge, what a coincidence meeting you again."
Two escape lights flashed behind him. One belonged to the fierce-looking Yu from before, now smiling like an old friend.
After leaving the marketplace, Yu had thought it over and, out of caution, brought along another cultivator.
One against two—surely there’d be no mishap.
“You’re the one who traded for Fellow Daoist Yu’s Celestial Crystal Flower earlier!”
This pale-faced scholar of a False Core Cultivator wore a look of displeasure the moment they met. Beside him, the ferocious-looking Yu hurriedly explained:
“Misunderstanding! This is all a misunderstanding. My friend here only came rushing to find you after hearing about it...”
The two of them, echoing each other in harmony, pretended to regret the earlier trade.
Seeing this, Lin Changan couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.
“Fellow Daoists, surely you jest. Marketplace trades are clear-cut—money and goods exchanged. Don’t tell me you two just entered the world of cultivation?”
“You!” The pale-faced scholar’s face flushed. At Lin Changan’s words, his expression darkened as he said coldly:
“Fellow Daoist, there are two of us, and only one of you!”
The implication was a threat.
From the start, these two had been cautious types, trying to probe Lin Changan’s strength with this performance.
“Fellow Daoist, it’s best not to speak in threats.”
Facing the pair, Lin Changan remained unflinching. His calm tone rang out, and without changing his expression, the Spirit Beast Pouch at his waist emitted the aura of a Golden Core Cultivator from the Wind-Chirp Bird.
In that instant, both men clearly sensed it, and their expressions changed.
“Misunderstanding! Fellow Daoist, it’s all a misunderstanding!”
Fellow Daoist Yu quickly changed his expression and pulled at his companion, smiling awkwardly in explanation.
Only when the two transformed into escape lights and departed did Lin Changan reveal a calm smile.
“All cultivators who’ve lived over a century know—being a robber cultivator takes skill. They were probing from the start. If I had shown weakness, I would’ve been bullied.”
To fight a False Core Cultivator—unless necessary—he would rather not.
After all, defeating and killing are two different things. Even though he and the Wind-Chirp Bird made a strong team now...
If he had to kill both False Core Cultivators, it would still be difficult.
And the older a cultivator lives, the more cautious they become. No hothead would just charge to the death without cause.
Only if there were unavoidable reasons.
“Besides, I have everything prepared now. No need to stir up unnecessary trouble.”
Changing his appearance, Lin Changan resumed the form of a late Foundation Establishment Cultivator and headed toward Five Dragon Island.
His preparations for the Core Formation spirit items were nearly complete. Once back, he would find a place to refine the Crystal Condensing Pill.
And look for a spirit vessel heading to Sea Abyss City.
...
Far away, the two men who had fled returned to the marketplace, cursing loudly along the way.
“Damn it, he was secretly hiding a Golden Core Cultivator!”
“Exactly! Thank goodness we were cautious, or we would’ve made a huge mistake.”
The fierce-looking Yu was patting his chest, still shaken. He had been careless.
Had they turned hostile, things would not have ended well for them.
“Alright, clearly that person didn’t want to fight either.”
...
Five Dragon Sea Region.
Upon his return, Lin Changan could already feel a change from before.
Whether it was merchant ships or demon-hunting boats on the sea, all carried a murderous atmosphere.
“To refine Crystal Condensing Pills, the better the pill furnace, the higher the quality. Among all of Five Dragon Island, only a few powers possess third-rank pill furnaces.
And according to Alchemist Jiang’s alchemy insights, it’s best to have a location with earthfire to increase pill success rate.”
This reminded Lin Changan of Xuanyin Pavilion.
Other forces were either unfamiliar or too powerful—if he went and couldn’t leave, it’d be troublesome.
“But Xuanyin Pavilion only has two Core Formation Cultivators, and I heard their Elder is nearing the end of his lifespan. No reason he’d dare provoke trouble at this time.”
After much consideration, Lin Changan chose to approach Xuanyin Pavilion.
“Looks like that identity as Fellow Daoist He, the False Core Cultivator who helped a spirit pet form a core at Xuanyin Pavilion, will need to make a reappearance.”
Smiling at the thought, Lin Changan concealed his aura and transformed back into that old persona.
Five Dragon Island.
Returning again, the island no longer held its former glory—chaos had plagued the surrounding sea region in recent years.
Lin Changan skillfully made his way to Xuanyin Pavilion’s Many Treasures Pavilion.
“Senior.”
“Young friend, I wish to borrow your Pavilion’s third-rank pill furnace and Earthfire Chamber.”
Exuding the aura of a False Core expert, Lin Changan’s demeanor earned the utmost respect from the shopkeeper, who served spirit tea without the slightest displeasure.
Half an hour later.
While admiring the graceful dances of Xuanyin Pavilion’s charming female disciples and listening to ethereal melodies, Fairy of Rainbow Skirt arrived.
“Fellow Daoist He, I didn’t expect we’d meet again after our last farewell.”
Seeing that only Fairy of Rainbow Skirt had come, Lin Changan nodded inwardly.
At the Core Formation Cultivator gathering on Five Dragon Island twenty years ago, he had sensed that this Elder’s lifespan was running short.
Even a Golden Core Cultivator couldn’t escape birth, aging, sickness, and death.
“Fairy of Rainbow Skirt, I came this time to borrow your Pavilion’s third-rank pill furnace and Earthfire Chamber. And please, this time, don’t let word slip like before.”
The implication was clear—last time, Xuanyin Pavilion’s leak had led to him being targeted by the Li-surnamed cultivator.
Fairy of Rainbow Skirt gave an apologetic smile.
“My sincerest apologies. But rest assured, this time is different. The Long Clan on Five Dragon Island is embroiled in its own troubles—they have no time to spy on others.”
“But, Fellow Daoist, wishing to borrow the pill furnace and Earthfire Chamber... could it be that you’re a third-rank alchemist?”
Fairy of Rainbow Skirt’s eyes sparkled. If they could recruit a third-rank alchemist, it would be a tremendous boon for Xuanyin Pavilion.
Naturally, Lin Changan wouldn’t admit it. He sighed and waved his hand.
“I wish. Unfortunately, I’ve been stuck at Second-rank High-grade Alchemist for many years. I recently acquired a pill formula and wish to glimpse the path to third-rank alchemy…”
Fairy of Rainbow Skirt nodded lightly with a smile, believing only about thirty percent of his words.
“You should know, our Pavilion’s Chief Elder is a third-rank alchemist. If you’re willing to become a worshipped elder of Xuanyin Pavilion, we’re prepared to offer the third-rank alchemy inheritance with both hands.”
It had to be said—her offer was tempting. But Lin Changan knew better.
His False Core Cultivation was fake. If exposed, it would all be over.
He didn’t refuse outright, but instead hesitated, showing some reluctance.
Fairy of Rainbow Skirt, clearly aware of the reason, gently said:
“I know what worries you—it’s the Long Clan. But Xuanyin Pavilion has connections. Even the Long Clan doesn’t dare openly act on Five Dragon Island.
Besides, the Long Clan is on shaky ground. Rumors say the Island Lord is attempting to form a Nascent Soul—but such a breakthrough is no easy feat!”
Mentioning the Nascent Soul, she scoffed.
Nascent Soul Cultivators were already among the elite across the Sea of Ten Thousand Demons.
“Fellow Daoist, let me consider a few more days. This matter is no small thing, and I truly don’t wish to be dragged into struggles between major powers.”
With a bitter smile, Lin Changan cupped his hands in salute.
Then the two sat to enjoy tea and discuss the Dao.
In the process, Lin Changan picked up plenty of useful information—like how the Long Clan’s tyrannical ways had stirred Bihai Palace’s discontent.
Which explained why Xuanyin Pavilion now acted with such confidence.
“Who would’ve thought the weakest of Yue Kingdom’s three major sects—Xuanyin Pavilion—would fare the best today?”
Lin Changan nodded to himself. Clearly, Fairy of Rainbow Skirt had intended to let some of this slip.
Like how Xuanyin Pavilion had now aligned itself with Bihai Palace—backed by them as well.
“Fellow Daoist, to avoid complications, I’ll return in two months.”
Before leaving, Lin Changan smiled and cupped his hands. He had also discerned that while Xuanyin Pavilion was decent, it lacked high-level combat power.
That was why they’d been relentlessly recruiting cultivators for years.
Unfortunately, few had joined. After all, the Long Clan still loomed over Five Dragon Island.