Chapter 248: Old Friends Like Fallen Leaves in the Wind
Qingshui Bay.
Lin Changan paid respects before the graves of several old friends who had passed, including Master Lu, the one who had led him into the immortal sect.
Before the tombstone, Lin Changan remained silent, yet scenes from the past continuously flashed through his mind.
The honesty of Erniu in his youth, Wei Buyi’s pride, Shen Lie’s smooth eloquence.
Later, as everyone experienced more, they gradually matured. The early disagreements of youth, in the turbulent cultivation world, transformed into mutual support as they continued onward together.
“Big Brother Lin, I believe you’ll definitely form your Core!”
“Brother Lin, you’re the most outstanding cultivator among us, you’re bound to succeed.”
“Back then, Lihuo Palace didn’t accept us. That was their greatest loss!”
The voices and appearances of Li Erniu, Shen Lie, and Wei Buyi seemed to appear once again before his eyes, and Lin Changan couldn't help but smile.
He slowly raised a cup of Bamboo Mountain Spirit Wine, its bitterness and spiciness burning his throat. This time, after downing it in one gulp, Lin Changan let out a hoarse laugh.
“I’ve formed my Core.”
Just a simple sentence—he hadn't ventured outside in vain. He had indeed reached the Core Formation stage.
If his three old friends were still here, they would surely have been happy for him.
Sitting alone atop the grave, pouring another cup of Bamboo Mountain Spirit Wine, Lin Changan smiled as he recounted his experiences over the years.
One by one, the old friends had departed. There were fewer and fewer people left with whom he could chat so freely.
At this moment, Lin Changan truly felt the loneliness of a cultivator, and finally understood why so many cultivators became eccentric, turning to killing at the slightest disagreement.
Because the people they cared about and missed grew fewer and fewer, leaving only the lonely path of cultivation ahead.
The next day, at Juxian Tower, Lin Changan attended a welcoming banquet hosted by Li Yifan, who brought along his direct descendants, as well as Shen Fan and Wei Yingying with their children.
He went nowhere else—just Juxian Tower.
Originally an enterprise of Elder Lu, later managed by Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing.
By now, Shen Fan and Wei Yingying were Foundation Establishment cultivators and naturally didn’t run things personally, instead hiring cultivators to manage it.
Juxian Tower was also a renowned trading spot for Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Qingshui Bay Marketplace.
Lin Changan’s open presence in Qingshui Bay Marketplace drew many Foundation Establishment cultivators from nearby marketplaces to pay him a visit.
For these younger generations, this was his way of offering what protection he could.
...
After living three days in the Qingshui Bay Marketplace, Lin Changan left.
As one’s cultivation advanced, past friendships with juniors often became tainted by various entanglements of interest.
The once-sullen Li Yifan had now grown into a competent patriarch of a cultivation family.
But those beneath him, especially the children born of Erniu’s other concubines, many harbored unrealistic hopes of receiving benefits from him.
This made Lin Changan shake his head. None of them had even reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, yet they dared dream of Foundation Establishment.
Some even boldly tried to become his disciples.
“This world never lacks cultivators who dare to risk it all.”
From their perspective, there was nothing to lose—which made Li Yifan secretly furious.
Shen Fan had also matured significantly over the years, but Wei Yingying remained as clever as ever, never bringing up anything about mentoring future generations.
Riding the Azure-Horned Bull toward the Qingzhu Mountain Marketplace, Lin Changan shook his head.
He had indeed been close with Erniu, but not to the point of becoming a caretaker for all of Erniu’s descendants.
Among the younger generation, he only acknowledged Li Yifan, Wei Yingying, and Shen Fan. The others held no such sentiment for him.
Besides, he had already helped them more than enough.
“Zhou Family.”
Seeing the familiar Qingzhu Mountain Marketplace from afar, Lin Changan couldn't help but feel nostalgic.
Yet there were many unfamiliar faces, and the marketplace had undergone some changes.
The trees had grown lusher.
He first went to the back hill, before Old He’s grave, now nearly obscured by wild grass, and left a bottle of Bamboo Spirit Wine.
“Old He, who knows when I’ll return again. That brat He Yan is really strong now, far stronger than you ever were.”
After paying his respects to Old He, Lin Changan sighed and turned his gaze toward the Zhou Family—the current strongest in Qingzhu Mountain Marketplace.
Also the most powerful Foundation Establishment clan within several hundred miles.
The Beast-taming Zhou Family, after years of patient growth, had finally reared a quasi–third-rank Blackwater Turtle with False Golden Core Realm strength.
More importantly, the Blackwater Turtle had a lifespan of over a thousand years, meaning that within a millennium, the Zhou Family would always have a False Core Realm Guardian Spirit Beast protecting their clan.
...
Beast-taming Zhou Family.
“Greetings, Master Lin!”
When Lin Changan arrived riding the Azure-Horned Bull, the entire Zhou Family was in an uproar. They hadn’t expected that this Core Formation cultivator, Master Lin, would personally visit.
“Patriarch Zhou, it’s been a long time.”
Seeing the Zhou Family Patriarch, Zhou Renmao, again, Lin Changan was filled with sorrow.
This once-refined man now had a head full of white hair. His remaining lifespan was clearly only ten or twenty years.
“Master Lin!”
Seeing that Lin Changan still remembered the past, Zhou Renmao, who had dedicated his life to the family, couldn’t hold back the emotion in his eyes.
It seemed Zhou Renmao knew why Lin Changan had come. With a trace of sorrow on his face, he waved his clansmen away and brought Lin Changan to the ancestral hall.
“Eight years ago, Bingyun went into the Yunwu Mountain Range in search of a spirit fruit and encountered cultivator robbers from Lihuo Palace, then...”
Upon seeing Zhou Bingyun’s memorial tablet, even though Lin Changan had long had a faint premonition, sorrow still flickered in his eyes.
In past years, Zhou Bingyun would always write him, but eight years ago, she suddenly sent a letter saying she was going into seclusion—and nothing followed. No one else mentioned her again.
Even then, he vaguely suspected that something bad had happened to that girl.
After all, the retreat had come far too suddenly. Though Foundation Establishment cultivators often secluded themselves for a decade, something had felt off.
The ever-changing world of cultivation—this was normal. That Li Erniu, Shen Lie, and Wei Buyi could pass away peacefully had already exceeded the fates of many cultivators.
“Master Lin, she left this behind before she died. As her father, I thought that if you still remembered her, you should have it.”
A bundle of unfinished jade slips appeared. Under the delicate handwriting, as Lin Changan swept his divine sense over them, he found the slips recorded various knowledge on spirit beasts and insects written by Zhou Bingyun.
Yet the entries stopped midway.
“Thank you.”
Receiving the jade slips, Lin Changan was silent for a long time. How could he not understand the sentiment behind them?
But the world of cultivation was filled with upheaval. He bore great opportunities—how could he be content without seeking Core Formation?
He hadn’t expected that their parting would become a final farewell.
“Cultivator robbers from Lihuo Palace!”
With a calm expression, Lin Changan inquired about the identities and backgrounds of these robbers.
This time, he did not linger long at the Zhou Family. After glancing once more at Zhou Bingyun’s memorial, he left behind a single sentence: he had formed his Core—and departed.
...
Yunwu Mountain Range.
Once the territory of Lihuo Palace, it had long been overtaken by the major clans and the forces of Xuanyin Pavilion.
Many direct disciples of the defunct Lihuo Palace had gone into hiding as robber cultivators, while some fled to distant lands and assumed new identities.
Among them, one faction—remnants of Lihuo Palace—comprised six Foundation Establishment cultivators who joined forces, hiding deep within the Yunwu Mountain Range and becoming infamous robber cultivators.
“Hmph! Stubborn fools, still dared to resist!”
With a displeased snort, deep in the Yunwu Mountain Range, a grandfather and grandson lay in pools of blood.
The elder clearly had mid Foundation Establishment cultivation, and the younger had perfected Qi Refining—clearly having entered the range to seek Core Formation spirit items.
But they had encountered robber cultivators.
“That’s enough. Clean it up and let’s go back.”
Tian Yuan grumbled in dissatisfaction. Once a lofty disciple of Lihuo Palace, he had now fallen to such a state. To say he felt no resentment would be a lie.
“Senior Brother, don’t you think we’re living a pretty carefree life now? Maybe we shouldn’t bother going to the Sea Abyss of Beasts to look for the Sect Master and the others. Word is they’re not doing so well either…”
This Junior Brother surnamed Gan couldn’t help joking, but Tian Yuan only fell silent.
"Let’s discuss it again when we return, whether we should go seek the Sect Master or go into hiding."
As the two cleaned the battlefield, a sudden ox bellow startled them. Only then did they realize—a figure riding an ox had unknowingly appeared before them.
"Se... Senior!"
Lin Changan gazed at the two with a calm expression, his tone gentle as he spoke:
"Both of you are disciples of a prestigious sect like the Palace of Blazing Fire. Why have you ended up as robber cultivators?"
His warm voice echoed, yet the two turned pale. The Junior Brother Gan even nervously gulped.
The cultivator before them, whose strength they couldn’t even sense, likely had at least False Core Realm cultivation.
"Se... Senior, we were forced into this..."
But before the other could even finish, Lin Changan’s expression remained serene as he raised his hand. Two sword lights burst forth toward them.
"Core Formation cultivator! Senior, spare us!"
Under the terrifying pressure, the two were horrified. Their powerful spirit artifacts, under the sword lights comparable to low-grade magic treasures, were like paper.
Their mana shields shattered instantly. The next moment, their artifacts emitted shrill clashes before being struck away with a bang. It was clear the artifacts were badly damaged.
One or two more strikes, and they would be ruined.
Before the two could even react, Lin Changan’s figure had already appeared behind them.
"Did you two gravely wound a Foundation Establishment female cultivator from the Beast-taming Zhou Family eight years ago?"
"Senior, spare us, we’re innocent..."
But amidst their screams, Lin Changan—his expression still gentle—used sword qi to utterly destroy their cultivation foundations.
Then, for the first time, he tried probing a living cultivator’s memories.
"Disciples of the Palace of Blazing Fire. Six brothers operating as robber cultivators here to gather cultivation resources..."
From their memories, when he found the event from eight years ago, Lin Changan’s expression darkened. Sword light flickered in his palm—
And the two were executed on the spot.
"Looks like your deaths weren't unjust."
Confirming he hadn’t targeted the wrong people, a murderous aura flashed between Lin Changan’s brows.
For a Core Formation cultivator to kill a few Foundation Establishment cultivators—he felt no guilt in this one-sided slaughter.
His cultivation code never dictated that after reaching Core Formation, he must only duel with others of the same realm.
"Still four more left. It seems the Palace of Blazing Fire and I truly are star-crossed."
Back then, he had sought to join the Palace of Blazing Fire, but was rejected due to his age and aptitude. That eventually led to many grudges.
...
These six had indeed been cunning. Relying on formations they had acquired from their former sect, they hid within the Yunwu Mountain Range for years.
Moreover, since all six were from the same sect and practiced joint attack techniques, ordinary Foundation Establishment families couldn’t do much against them.
However, that night, flames suddenly lit up within the valley’s formation.
"Co... Core Formation cultivator!"
"Senior, our Patriarch from the Palace of Blazing Fire is a late-stage Core Formation cultivator. Please reconsider!"
"Senior, spare us—we’re willing to be slaves..."
Under the night sky, the fire in the formation extinguished. A third-rank spirit pet, the Wind-Chirp Bird, landed on Lin Changan’s shoulder.
Within the valley, the remaining four Foundation Establishment cultivators lay dead, terror and regret etched across their faces.
They hadn’t expected that one robbery eight years ago would bring them such a terrifying enemy today.
"Core Formation versus Foundation Establishment—this truly is a one-sided slaughter."
With a calm gaze, Lin Changan seemed to forget that although he had only recently reached Core Formation, as a sword cultivator, his offensive strength was notoriously fierce among peers.
Even his divine ability, Sword Shadows Follow the Heart, could manifest three sword lights in early Core Formation. Each sword light rivaled a low-grade third-rank magic treasure.
With such strength, few early Core cultivators could match him.
As autumn leaves fell, Lin Changan sighed softly after killing the six.
"Old friends fall one by one, like leaves in the wind."
In the darkness, his silhouette seemed even lonelier—this too was a path every powerful cultivator must tread.
...
Two days later, six severed heads of Foundation Establishment cultivators appeared at the Zhou Family ancestral hall, discovered the next day.
Upon seeing them, Zhou Renmao, the Zhou Family Patriarch, got thoroughly drunk.
Not long after, various rumors spread.
Legend told of the rogue cultivator Master Lin, who in a fit of rage for a beauty, enacted swift vengeance.
But without exception, Lin Changan’s return with Xuanyin Pavilion this time once again brought stability to Yue Kingdom.
At the same time, the Beast-taming Zhou Family of Qingzhu Mountain Marketplace allied formally with the Li Family of Qingshui Bay and the Shen Couple.
The three forces formed a formidable alliance, becoming a force not to be underestimated within a hundred-mile radius.
...
At this moment, Lin Changan had already taken his two spirit pets deep into the Yunwu Mountain Range.
"Didn’t expect the miasma to grow this thick. The depths of the Yunwu Mountain Range now are practically a paradise for poisons."
The deeper he went, the more shocked Lin Changan became. In less than fifty years, the miasma in the range had grown several times more intense.
If not for his unique cultivation technique and regenerative body being immune to poisons of the same rank, he would’ve found it difficult to advance any farther.
Even now, in this very region, an ordinary Core Formation cultivator might already be frowning and preparing to retreat.
"According to the incomplete memories of Blood Fiend True Lord, just ahead lies the territory of a mid-third-rank poison insect."
In the distance, he spotted a dark, damp valley. Lin Changan narrowed his eyes.
Although the memories of Blood Fiend True Lord were over a hundred years old, for demon beasts or poison insects, territorial instincts persisted.
Just like human cultivators who, once settling on a spiritual vein, saw it as their domain and wouldn’t easily move.
"And it’s not just one—there are two mid-third-rank poison insects."
At this moment, the Wind-Chirp Bird on Lin Changan’s shoulder seemed to sense something, showing a glint of greed.
These poison insects were feared by both other beasts and cultivators alike.
But to the Wind-Chirp Bird, they were natural prey.
And as for Lin Changan—since he could now resist all poisons of the same rank—the greatest threat from poison insects no longer existed. As for their combat ability, they likely posed less threat than a typical early third-rank demon beast.
"This time, don’t get greedy. I want both of those wood-attribute demon cores saved for me."
With a warning, only the Azure-Horned Bull glared with wide eyes at its master and that foul bird.
Heavens damn it! It was the only one still at late-stage Foundation Establishment—what was it supposed to do!?