Chapter 237: Off-Course! A Bad Premonition!
Yuling Island.
Since visiting the Lu Clan, Lin Changan had taken his leave and temporarily rented a cave abode on Five Dragon Island to cultivate.
It was also to reassure the Lu Clan that he wasn’t in any trouble or on the run.
This attitude of Lin Changan made the Lu Clan believe him about seventy percent.
Out of a full score of eighty, because in the cultivation world, it was common for even Dao companions to have their own secrets.
【Lifespan: 133/293】
【Realm: Late Foundation Establishment (91/100)】
Inside the cave abode, Lin Changan slowly opened his eyes and looked at his cultivation level. In just one year, his cultivation had increased by three points.
Yet he couldn’t bring himself to feel happy.
"This low-grade spiritual root places too many limitations."
Lin Changan let out a helpless sigh. After reaching 90 points in his cultivation, he had clearly felt the slowdown in his cultivation speed.
The progress he made this past year was all thanks to the assistance of third-rank cultivation-enhancing pills.
"When I first settled here, Yun Yao left me with two pills. Later, I got three more through trades in the marketplace—for a total of five."
"I’ve used one during this recent round of cultivation."
Looking at the remaining four third-rank pills in his hand, Lin Changan furrowed his brows, and one pill floated directly into his mouth.
The remaining three flew into the pill bottle.
“Gulp!”
The pill entered his abdomen, wrapped in mana, and its effects slowly began to unfold.
His previously stagnant cultivation suddenly gave him the feeling that it might just progress again. This filled Lin Changan with both joy and helplessness.
He was glad to have the third-rank pills.
But it was unfortunate that relying on pills for cultivation was not a long-term solution.
After all, the higher the rank of the pill, the harder it was to gather the ingredients.
It was said that late-stage Core Formation cultivators would hoard a single high-grade third-rank cultivation-enhancing pill and wouldn’t use it unless their cultivation hit a bottleneck.
“As one's cultivation gets higher, pills become even more precious and rare. Even if I have alchemical skills, I can’t afford to keep refining endlessly.”
His talent in this area was undeniable, but he didn’t have a little green bottle.
At this thought, Lin Changan couldn't help but frown inwardly.
If there was no way to resolve the problem, then he had to address the root cause.
“Only by successfully forming my core can I solve my spiritual root issue.”
There were countless secret methods and spirit pills in the cultivation world that could cleanse one’s spiritual root and improve qualifications—but those were not options available to him now.
But once he reached Core Formation, everything would change.
“At the very least, I already have a method to resolve my spiritual root issue—and even potentially the quality of my Golden Core.”
With that, Lin Changan took out a pill formula from his storage pouch.
Heaven-Mending Pill!
Or rather, Spirit-Mending Pill—because the true Heaven-Mending Pill was a legendary fourth-rank spirit pill that could directly enhance one’s Golden Core quality and spiritual root to the extreme.
This Spirit-Mending Pill formula had been gifted by Master Lu of the Blackwater Turtle when they had met in Tianxuan City—his own improved version.
The formula was genuine, but the difficulty of crafting it was undeniably high.
“It’s definitely hard, but at least there’s a direction—there’s hope. But what I need to focus on now is forming my core!”
Lin Changan took a deep breath and pushed aside all other thoughts. After putting away the formula, he began circulating his mana to slowly absorb the medicinal effects.
Half a month later, while still absorbing the third-rank pill’s power inside his cave abode, a message finally arrived from the Lu Clan’s voice-transmission talisman.
“Fellow Daoist Lin, twenty days from now, gather at the eastern shore of Five Dragon Island. At that time, you may use your jade token to board the Long Clan’s giant flying vessel heading to Sea Abyss City.”
Lu Yujian’s voice came from within the voice-transmission talisman.
After confirming the time, Lin Changan finally let out a sigh of relief.
“I can finally head to Sea Abyss City.”
He immediately began rechecking his storage pouches. Previously, he had already stored his precious and small items into a pouch that could block divine sense.
As for large valuable items, he had already cleared them out.
What remained was just the wealth fitting of a typical late Foundation Establishment cultivator.
“A large amount of spirit stones has already been exchanged into spirit materials. Once I arrive at Sea Abyss City, I can just trade them back for spirit stones again.”
Lin Changan quietly reviewed his inventory and, finding no oversight, stepped out of the cave abode—a rare occurrence.
Since he would no longer live in that cave abode, he naturally needed to return the spirit stones.
He had originally rented it for a year, and with no news forthcoming, had been forced to extend the lease for another three months.
Now that there were surplus spirit stones, he wasn’t about to waste them.
Even mosquito legs were still meat—and right now, he was so broke for the sake of forming his core that every bit counted.
…
Twenty Days Later.
Eastern Shore.
“Fellow Daoist Lin, here is your identity jade token.”
Upon their reunion, Lu Yujian stepped forward with a bright smile and handed over the jade token. Madam Lu also nodded with a smile from the side.
“Many thanks, Patriarch Lu, and Fellow Daoist Lu.”
Receiving the jade token, Lin Changan smiled and cupped his fists in salute.
Meanwhile, cultivators continued to gather on the nearby beach and reefs.
Lin Changan observed quietly—those present were nearly all Foundation Establishment cultivators, with even two False Core cultivators among them.
Among the Foundation Establishment cultivators, the lowest was still at mid stage.
There were quite a few familiar faces as well—after all, as a second-rank high-grade talisman master, he had made many contacts in the same realm through business.
“Ah, it’s Patriarch Lu.”
“Madam Lu.”
“Fellow Daoist Lin.”
Several acquaintances greeted them with nods and cupped fists, and Lin Changan returned the greetings with a smile.
It was no surprise that so many cultivators wanted to leave.
Even the safest Five Dragon Island could no longer guarantee peace. In a place where even going home to cultivate wasn’t secure, many naturally considered relocating.
Even some major clans, seeing the growing turmoil, were quietly sending out their more talented clan members.
Half an hour later.
Whoosh!
A sudden sound of the sky being torn open echoed overhead as a bizarre giant flying vessel appeared.
The vessel flickered with spiritual light and began to slowly descend.
Its wooden structure was incomparably sturdy, and what was strange was that its surface was densely inlaid with demon beast bones.
This gave the massive vessel a fearsome and savage appearance—while also enhancing its practical defense.
The prow featured a massive, sharp bone spike, and the rear was adorned with two rows of jagged fangs.
“Heavens! This giant flying vessel is made from the complete skeleton of a third-rank sea beast!”
“That’s the Bone-Spike Mountain Sea Beast—a massive creature with bone armor all over its body. That terrifying spike at its mouth is especially famous.”
“It’s said that the massive fang at the front is worth more than the beast’s demon core!”
As many cultivators exclaimed, Lin Changan quietly shook his head.
“It’s more than just the bones of a third-rank sea beast. To fully utilize its power, they likely also refined in its demon core and flesh.”
“Only the Sea Abyss, with its exceptional geographic advantage, could forge something like this.”
Among the four mainstream cultivation arts, artifact refinement still lagged slightly—but in terms of creativity...
Land-based demon beasts were large, but they paled in comparison to those in the sea.
Sea beasts were generally larger, especially those from the deep sea—their size could reach staggering proportions.
“All fellow Daoists, please present your jade token for verification before boarding the spirit vessel.”
At the bow of the giant spirit vessel, an elderly man with white hair slowly walked out, exuding the pressure of a Core Formation cultivator. His expression was calm, and a deep voice reverberated slowly.
“A Core Formation cultivator!”
“That’s an elder from the Long Clan, who once had the terrifying cultivation of mid-stage Core Formation. This journey will surely go smoothly.”
Many people recognized the identity of this elder, and upon learning that he was at the mid-stage Core Formation, Lin Changan was also inwardly surprised.
That level of cultivation was certainly formidable.
Especially with the third-rank formation inscribed on this giant flying vessel—if it was controlled by a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator, then even late-stage Core Formation experts would have a hard time breaking through it.
Of course, it seemed this elder didn’t have much lifespan left, which would severely weaken his combat power, but he was still stronger than an early-stage Core Formation cultivator.
Even so, Lin Changan had no intention of recklessly probing with his divine sense.
“All of you, listen up. After boarding the flying vessel, all cultivators must go to the rooms assigned within the cabin. Without special reasons, no wandering around is permitted.
After all, many merchant ships of major sects suffered irreversible losses due to collusion from within…”
As Lin Changan prepared to board, he nodded after hearing this—it was quite understandable.
“At the same time, once inside the cabin, we’ll activate a restriction formation. Only twenty cultivators are allowed on deck each day; all others must remain still.
Furthermore, to ensure everyone's safety, all cabin rooms are randomly assigned and may not be exchanged. Any violators will be treated as robber cultivators!”
The cultivator speaking was at the late Foundation Establishment stage. When delivering that last sentence, he emphasized it with a chilling tone.
Many cultivators frowned at these freedom-restricting rules, some even showing discontent.
But in the end, all fell silent.
After all, it was only a matter of a few months. They could endure.
And in truth, this arrangement did benefit everyone.
As the crowd was preparing to board the flying vessel, several ordinary spirit ships arrived, bearing the flag of the Long Clan.
Soon after, everyone saw crates of supplies being transferred to the giant flying vessel.
Lin Changan twitched at the corner of his eyes upon witnessing this scene.
“The Long Clan really doesn’t waste a thing—neither goods nor cultivators.”
Though, it was understandable. Profiting off spirit stones wasn’t shameful.
He could even bet that when this giant flying vessel returned, it would stock up on countless materials lacking in the Five Dragon Island sea region and resell them back.
“Originally, this giant flying vessel would take just over a month to travel from the Five Dragon Island sea region to Sea Abyss City. But after rumors spread that the Long Clan possessed a Nascent Soul spirit item—
some False Core cultivators from several major clans formed grudges with the Long Clan. So now, they must take detours, and the route changes randomly every time, taking around three months instead.”
Upon boarding, a voice-transmission came from Madam Lu beside him, and Lin Changan silently nodded after hearing it.
“So that’s how it is.” The nearby sea regions on the way weren't in chaos.
…
Moments later.
Looking at the guest room assigned to him, Lin Changan fell silent.
“The Long Clan really is frugal.”
Inside the room, there was just one bed and one tea table—and that was it.
As for a window? Completely sealed. The wooden material had a metallic feel when tapped.
While for cultivators, meditating for three months would pass in the blink of an eye, this environment was exceedingly poor.
“Just as well. I can continue refining the medicinal power of this pill.”
But before that, Lin Changan first brewed himself a pot of spirit tea, enjoying a bit of solace amid the bitterness.
After calming his mind and sensing the flying vessel take off, he unhurriedly began setting up simple precautions within the room—after all, it was wise to remain cautious.
Only then did he begin preparing for cultivation.
As for the other cultivators, many cursed loudly when they saw their rooms.
But after venting, they had no choice but to accept it.
A single ship ticket cost three thousand mid-grade spirit stones, plus all the networking to get it.
For late Foundation Establishment cultivators, this was no small sum.
To find that such costly tickets led to such shabby lodging—naturally, someone would curse.
Three to four thousand mid-grade spirit stones—that was nearly the price of a top-grade spirit artifact.
…
As the flying vessel ascended and disappeared into the clouds, Five Dragon Island remained as usual.
On the flying vessel’s deck—
“Elder, all cultivators have been registered. Among them, some are ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators—most likely having spent nearly all their savings on this trip.”
“The rest are from various clans, with some possessing exceptional skills…”
Hearing this report from his subordinate, the Core Formation Elder fell silent for a moment.
“Very well. But this kind of operation shouldn’t be done often. These are special times, and our Long Clan is at a life-and-death juncture. We have no other choice.”
At these words, the Long Clan’s Core Formation Elder sighed deeply.
His trusted aide, however, had a look of unwavering resolve and said in a firm voice, “Elder, all of this is for the sake of the Long Clan!”
“But Elder, among those who boarded, there are two from the Lu Clan. It’s said that someone from the Lu Clan has apprenticed under a Core Formation cultivator of Bihai Palace in Sea Abyss City?”
Hearing that, the elder immediately shook his head and said, “Do not touch that person! These are troubled times—we cannot afford to provoke powerful enemies.”
“That cultivator’s master isn’t just any ordinary Core Formation cultivator. His elder sister is the concubine of the sixth Nascent Soul Elder of Bihai Palace.”
“…That’s some serious luck!”
His trusted aide was stunned and couldn’t help but mutter with envy.
He had originally envied people becoming Core Formation cultivators, but now he realized—having a good elder sister might be even more important.
“And another thing—don’t overdo it this time. Otherwise, people will start getting suspicious.”
“Rest assured, Elder. This time, I personally contacted the Mystic Yin Sect. Among these cultivators, only those with exceptional talents or unique traits…”
…
At the top of the room, there were two spirit stones: a sunlight stone and a moonlight stone.
Once set up, they automatically changed light based on the time of day, letting people track the day-night cycle even inside the cabin.
That Day!
“Hm? The vessel’s direction… Why is it drifting north?”
Just then, while cultivating in a seated position, Lin Changan slowly opened his eyes and suspiciously looked at the floating formation disk in front of him.
It was a special formation disk he had prepared during his years of delving deep into the Fog Sea of Tongtian, used for identifying directions.
When he began cultivating inside this room, he had brought it out as well.
“…The course corrected again. So we’re detouring, huh?”
Watching the pointer on the disk shift again, Lin Changan furrowed his brows. For some reason, the moment the vessel deviated from its course, he felt a chill in his heart.
“This bad premonition… I hope it’s not real!”
Lin Changan was inwardly startled.
A sense of danger—arriving seemingly from the void.
Some cultivators would feel such premonitions when danger approached.