Chapter 254: The Deal with the Long Clan
“Master Lin.”
“Master Xu, Master Liu.”
As Lin Chang’an and the other two from Xuanyin Pavilion arrived, all the False Core Cultivators rose with smiles and saluted.
Their words were clearly filled with respect—after all, there was a distinct gap between False Core and Golden Core Cultivators.
Next came the other Golden Core Cultivators from the Five Dragon Island sea region. Just the Long Clan alone had sent two today.
“Greetings, fellow Daoists.”
Xu Lingfeng greeted everyone with a broad smile, and Lin Chang’an also nodded with a grin.
But seeing this group treat Lin Chang’an, a guest elder, with such deference, made Xu Lingfeng feel somewhat sour inside.
Clearly, no matter how strong Xu Lingfeng was, he was still just a typical Golden Core Cultivator from Xuanyin Pavilion, of no direct benefit to them.
But Lin Chang’an was a different matter—he was a Third-rank Formation Master.
After all, no one could guarantee they wouldn’t need his expertise someday, whether for setting up family or sect formations, or for personal use.
Or for formation repairs—currently, there were only two Quasi–third-rank Formation Masters in the Five Dragon Island sea region.
To find someone like Lin Chang’an, a full Third-rank Formation Master, they’d have to visit other sea regions.
“Fellow Daoist Lin, our Tu Clan will visit your abode someday soon. I’ll have to thicken my face and ask for your guidance.”
“Fellow Daoist Tu, you flatter me. I’ve only recently formed my core. Many times, I still need to consult fellow Daoists like yourself.”
Faced with everyone’s enthusiasm, Lin Chang’an nodded with a humble smile—after all, these were connections, walking spirit stones in the making.
But he also understood that their warmth came from both his strength and his status as a Third-rank Formation Master.
Once everyone was seated, the Golden Core Cultivators sat at the upper section, with twenty-three False Core Cultivators seated below—none showed the slightest discontent.
With spirit fruits and spirit wine brought out, everyone formed their own circles while still wearing polite smiles.
During this, Lin Chang’an also noticed some familiar faces, like Fatty Lei from Azure Wave Island in the Fog Sea of Tongtian, which surprised him a bit.
As three rounds of drinks passed, the trade gathering officially began.
There was no long-winded preamble. After all, the weakest here were still False Core Cultivators.
At their cultivation, unless it was a large auction at a major marketplace, few items could truly catch their attention.
Hence, the trade gathering came to be.
“I’ll go first. This item is a Moonlight Pearl from the deep sea. Wearing it long-term preserves appearance and it’s also a superb alchemy ingredient.”
A False Core Cultivator stood up with a modest smile and brought out a luminous pearl radiating a silvery moonlight.
Seeing this, Lin Chang’an nodded inwardly—this was a key ingredient in refining Beauty-preserving Pills.
Beauty-preserving Pills, as the name suggested, only showed their effect when a cultivator approached the end of their lifespan and began to age.
They had no other function beyond preserving appearance—thus not too appealing to male cultivators, but highly sought after by women in powerful sects.
A genuine Beauty-preserving Pill was a Third-rank Pill.
What circulated in marketplaces were mostly beauty-enhancing spirit items at best, far inferior to the real thing.
“Haha, so it’s that item. What a pity. If you were in Sea Abyss City, that Moonlight Pearl would fetch at least ten percent more.”
Some shook their heads, while others had flickering eyes. Even if they had no personal use, many high-tier cultivators had wives and concubines.
Giving it as a gift to certain figures was hardly a bad idea.
“Fellow Daoist Lin, Senior Brother Xu—this item must be secured!”
It was Liu Ruyu who reacted first. Her beautiful eyes sparkled, and while secretly transmitting to them, she feigned an enamored expression and said aloud:
“I’ll take this item. May I ask whether you seek spirit stones or would prefer to trade for other spirit items?”
There weren’t many female cultivators present. The moment Liu Ruyu spoke, beaming with joy, many realized what was going on.
This item wasn’t attractive to male cultivators, but never underestimate a woman’s obsession with youth and beauty.
“It’s Fairy Liu!”
The False Core Cultivator, seeing it was Liu Ruyu from Xuanyin Pavilion, immediately beamed with flattery.
“I’ve been in the Core Formation Realm for over two hundred years. I don’t seek further advancement in cultivation, only to prepare for my descendants. So I’m looking for some pills or spirit items.”
Lin Chang’an could understand this kind of long-term planning—it was no different from mortals.
In youth, one fights and dares; in middle age, ambitions take shape; in old age, concern for posterity grows.
Meanwhile, the trio from Xuanyin Pavilion secretly exchanged transmissions. Lin Chang’an’s expression remained calm as he observed the two fellow Golden Core cultivators from the same sect.
“Junior Sister, we’ve just formed our cores. What we need now is to refine our life-bound magic treasures, so the sect can stabilize. Not to squander resources on something like this.”
“Senior Brother, this item may be useless to us, but if gifted to the Sixth Elder’s beloved concubine, it might earn more support for our sect.”
“Junior Sister! We’re already working for the Sixth Elder...”
Xu Lingfeng and Liu Ruyu were already calculating. Though Xuanyin Pavilion was developing well, it had suffered great losses during the war in Yue Kingdom.
Upon arriving in this turbulent region, and after the Chief Elder passed away, the two of them formed their cores—burning through much of the sect’s reserves.
Thus, Xuanyin Pavilion was far from wealthy.
Lin Chang’an frowned slightly as he listened. Neither of them was wrong. One didn’t want to waste resources, fearing it would hinder Liu Ruyu’s cultivation.
The other was wholeheartedly loyal to the sect, willing to sacrifice her own gains.
“Xu Lingfeng cherishes himself, while Liu Ruyu is willing to suffer losses for the sect’s sake.”
As Lin Chang’an silently evaluated the two, Liu Ruyu smiled and directly took out a pill to trade. Xu Lingfeng was frustrated but couldn’t object.
In his mind, Xuanyin Pavilion only had the three of them as Golden Core cultivators. Lin Chang’an and the like were outsiders.
Naturally, one should prioritize their own strength—it would be wasteful to squander resources.
But since Liu Ruyu used her own resources this time, at most he could grumble. There was nothing he could do.
“Thank you, fellow Daoist.”
…
Once the trade gathering began, cultivators brought out their treasures or stated what they sought.
Some needed pills, others magic treasures, and some required rare spirit items due to their cultivation methods.
Some even sought to trade for Core Formation spirit items—each had their own needs.
“May I ask if anyone here has mid-grade Third-rank Demon Cores of the Water or Metal attributes?”
As Lin Chang’an spoke, many cultivators were startled and turned to look at the Third-rank Formation Master.
It was fine when he remained silent—but the moment he opened his mouth, it stunned the crowd.
While they were still scheming over ordinary magic treasures, he casually asked for a mid-grade Third-rank Demon Core.
For reference, ordinary magic treasures were worth around fifty to eighty thousand mid-grade spirit stones.
A low-grade Third-rank Demon Core was worth fifty thousand.
But a mid-grade Third-rank Demon Core? That was worth around one hundred fifty thousand—enough for nearly two ordinary magic treasures.
“Fellow Daoist Lin, truly worthy of being a Third-rank Formation Master.”
Someone sighed in amazement. This was the difference when one had exceptional skills.
Lin Chang’an knew his request would surprise others, but he had considered this from the beginning.
Being a Third-rank Formation Master, he had a far superior ability to earn spirit stones than ordinary Golden Core cultivators.
Still, he feigned a helpless expression and said:
“Before forming my core, I owed a favor to a fellow Daoist. I’m now seeking to exchange for a mid-grade Third-rank Demon Core.
Of course, I’m willing to pay part of it in spirit stones and offer to craft a custom Third-rank Formation in return...”
Upon hearing this offer, many were instantly moved.
A Third-rank Formation was a rare commodity. Even if one provided the materials, finding someone capable of crafting a formation suited to oneself was extremely difficult.
At the same time, Lin Chang’an was building a reputation as someone who honored his commitments.
As a Formation Master, he would inevitably have many dealings in the future, and a good reputation was more valuable than gold.
“Fellow Daoist Lin, you’re a guest elder of our Xuanyin Pavilion!”
Xu Lingfeng frowned upon hearing that Lin Chang’an would craft formations for outsiders, and secretly sent him a reminder.
But Lin Chang’an remained calm and replied:
“I’ve already discussed this matter with Palace Master of Rainbow Skirt. As your sect’s guest elder, there were no restrictions preventing me from selling formations.
The only terms were that formations be offered to Xuanyin Pavilion first, and not sold to enemy factions.”
Lin Chang’an frowned as he looked at Xu Lingfeng—this man was truly arrogant. He had only just formed his core and was already acting like the sect master.
“Senior Brother Xu!”
Even Liu Ruyu frowned and sternly reprimanded her senior brother.
This Elder Lin had already expressed his request earlier. It was just that they didn’t currently possess the required resource, so naturally, they couldn’t stop him from trading with other cultivators.
“I, from the Long Clan, happen to have a mid-grade Third-rank Water-attribute Demon Core. It might meet Fellow Daoist Lin’s needs.”
At this moment, a Core Formation Cultivator from the Long Clan seemed to have caught on and spoke with a smile.
In that instant, the other Core Formation Cultivators all fell silent. Though the Long Clan was no longer as powerful as it once was, it was still not a faction they could afford to provoke.
Xuanyin Pavilion was the new rising power, but its overall strength still didn’t match the Long Clan in its prime.
The resources of the Five Dragon Island sea region were limited and already divided. Anyone looking to expand would inevitably clash with others.
“Fellow Daoist Long.”
Seeing that it was a Core Formation Cultivator from the Long Clan, Lin Chang’an instead revealed a smile with hidden meaning.
“I’ve long heard that a Third-rank Formation Master arrived on Five Dragon Island. My clan had affairs and didn’t have time to pay a visit. I also heard that Fellow Daoist once rode our Long Clan’s spirit vessel to Sea Abyss City. Truly, what a fated meeting.”
Others might not know, but how could the Long Clan not?
This middle-aged burly Core Formation Cultivator from the Long Clan had a trace of embarrassment flash through his eyes, but he was the first to bring the matter up.
After Xuanyin Pavilion recruited a Third-rank Formation Master as a guest elder, the Long Clan naturally made inquiries.
When they came across Lin Chang’an’s profile—especially that he had been aboard one of their Long Clan spirit vessels—they immediately realized they had offended a Third-rank Formation Master.
According to the cultivators who had escorted the spirit vessel, Lin Chang’an had been on the list, yet wasn’t captured because he had ties with someone from the Mystic Yin Divine Sect.
And recalling the turmoil in Yue Kingdom back then, many cultivators from the Mystic Yin Divine Sect had infiltrated and recruited followers.
Back when Lin Chang’an was in Tianxuan City, it was said that he had connections on both the righteous and demonic sides. Having one or two demonic sect friends while running a black market wasn’t surprising.
“So there was such a connection.”
The Long Clan’s middle-aged burly cultivator feigned surprise, though countless thoughts raced through his mind. Ultimately, he considered the Long Clan’s current predicament.
They couldn’t afford more trouble.
Moreover, this was only a guest elder of Xuanyin Pavilion, not someone who served them with his life. Given the cautious nature of the other party, this grudge might still be resolved.
So he didn’t mind bringing it up directly, taking the chance to smooth things over. After all, being silently watched by a Third-rank Formation Master was uncomfortable for anyone.
If it were the Long Clan of old, they naturally wouldn’t fear him—they’d just have someone take care of him outright.
“Fellow Daoist Lin, it was actually a misunderstanding back then. We didn’t expect our spirit vessel to encounter the demonic sect. Whatever losses you suffered, our Long Clan is willing to fully compensate.”
“Oh, a misunderstanding?”
Lin Chang’an wore a smile as the two exchanged transmissions in secret.
At the same time, Lin Chang’an’s eyes sparkled. He had nothing to say to the Long Clan—the grudge ran deep.
But this might be an opportunity. The Long Clan still possessed a withered leaf of the Mysterious Sky Immortal Vine.
“Haha, one of our Long Clan’s spirit vessels had many of its formations damaged during a raid by robber cultivators. We’ll likely need to trouble you this time, Fellow Daoist.”
On the surface, the Long Clan’s middle-aged Core Formation Cultivator spoke with helplessness, but he was already prepared to pay a heavy price to resolve the misunderstanding.
“In that case, let’s first examine the formation damage. As for the rest, I’ll accept spirit stones as compensation.”
For the sake of that mid-grade Third-rank Demon Core—and a certain treasure from the Long Clan—Lin Chang’an had no choice but to feign hesitation and secretly accept their goodwill.
After all, they were all Core Formation Cultivators. Who truly wished to forge a deadly grudge? That was human nature.
Since the Long Clan offered to compensate him, he naturally wouldn’t refuse to reclaim his losses.
…
“Fellow Daoist Long!”
Watching Lin Chang’an trade with the Long Clan, Xu Lingfeng couldn’t help but frown.
But the Core Formation Cultivator from the Long Clan had no intention of clashing with today’s Xuanyin Pavilion.
In the world of cultivation, when powers were evenly matched, it wasn’t just about fighting—there were also worldly dealings.
“Fellow Daoists Xu, Liu, once this trade gathering ends, how about the three of you come to the Long Clan for a chat?”
The Long Clan’s middle-aged Core Formation Cultivator wore a warm and polite smile. Clearly, this trade gathering was the Long Clan’s gesture of goodwill toward Xuanyin Pavilion.
On Five Dragon Island, there were now three major powers. Though the Long Clan had declined, they were still the strongest.
So long as Xuanyin Pavilion wasn’t foolish, they wouldn’t go head-to-head with the Long Clan. It was better to form an alliance and squeeze out the third faction first.
“In that case, we shall respectfully accept.”
This time, Liu Ruyu smiled and nodded in reply. She knew that her sect master currently had no desire to start conflicts with other forces.
What Xuanyin Pavilion needed now was development.
However, to the outsiders watching—especially spies from other factions—this scene was shocking.
It seemed Five Dragon Island was about to enter a phase of peaceful development.
The Long Clan wanted a chance to breathe, Xuanyin Pavilion needed to grow, and the weakest faction couldn’t even hope to start a fight.
For now, none of the three great powers wanted war. Ironically, those most eager to stir internal strife were the external forces.
Xu Lingfeng glanced at his Junior Sister with a frown. Was he really such a reckless person who’d disrupt the situation? Did she really think he’d cause trouble?
Liu Ruyu, clearly irritated, sent a voice transmission in explanation. This Senior Brother of hers might not seem troublesome on the surface, but deep down, his pride could very well cause problems.
“Fellow Daoists Xu, Liu.”
Lin Chang’an also sent a transmission to the two, explaining his grudge with the Long Clan’s spirit vessel. After all, he was now a guest elder of Xuanyin Pavilion.
Some matters needed to be clarified, lest they lead to trouble for himself.
Moreover, since Xuanyin Pavilion was interested in peace talks with the Long Clan, reclaiming some of his own losses was only right.
Xu Lingfeng was suddenly enlightened, while Liu Ruyu quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Core Formation Cultivators—upon reaching their level—often acted based on their own interests.
“Fellow Daoist Long, I’ve only recently formed my core. Xuanyin Pavilion had a few Wood-attribute Core Formation techniques, but I found them unsatisfactory.
Your Long Clan stands at the pinnacle of the Five Dragon Island sea region, with a foundation far deeper than ordinary sects…”
Lin Chang’an smiled as he sent a transmission, the implication clear: a mid-grade Third-rank Demon Core wasn’t enough—he wanted further compensation.
In just a short time, the Long Clan and Xuanyin Pavilion had begun showing mutual goodwill.
As the trade gathering continued, though Lin Chang’an’s request for a mid-grade Third-rank Demon Core had shocked many, once the Long Clan produced a piece of top-grade Third-rank material…
Everyone finally understood that, even in decline, the Long Clan was still undoubtedly the number one force on Five Dragon Island.
At such a gathering, some cultivators obtained what they needed and were overjoyed, while others failed to trade and left with regretful sighs.
But the Five Dragon Island Gathering had only just begun. After this event concluded, an even grander trade gathering awaited.
Thus, the Core Formation Cultivators present weren’t too disappointed—in fact, many looked forward to the final Core Formation Cultivators’ Trade Gathering.