Chapter 281: The Road of Cultivation Is Long and Endless
Time was merciless. No matter how heaven-defying one’s cultivation was or how domineering one appeared for a time, none could resist the passage of time.
Just as Lin Chang’an was preparing to enter the stage of refining his life-bound magic treasure, shocking news spread across the Five Dragon Island Sea Region.
The pillar of the Long Clan, the Long Island Lord, had passed away in meditation.
This man had led the Long Clan to dominate the Five Dragon Island Sea Region for over a hundred years. Although his attempt to plan and achieve the Nascent Soul Realm ultimately failed, he was undoubtedly still a powerful Core Formation expert.
Yet he had passed away silently.
Many Core Formation cultivators could not help but feel melancholy. If even such a figure had perished unwillingly like this, would they have the opportunity in this lifetime to form the Nascent Soul?
The Long Clan fell into mourning, witnessing the transition of a once powerful clan from prosperity toward decline.
“Please accept my condolences.”
Lin Chang’an arrived at the Long Clan, presented a condolence gift, then cupped his fists toward the Long Clan’s Core Formation cultivators and spoke a brief sentence in silence before sighing and shaking his head.
Just like the other Core Formation cultivators present, he wore a melancholy expression.
When the rabbit dies, the fox grieves. These Core Formation cultivators seemed to see their own future in this moment.
“Still, I must not appear too conspicuous. At the very least, I have to look the same as everyone else.”
Standing within the crowd, Lin Chang’an pondered inwardly.
He understood this feeling.
These Core Formation cultivators claimed to mourn the Long Island Lord, but in truth they were lamenting their own uncertain futures.
But Lin Chang’an possessed tremendous opportunities. Even after reaching the late Core Formation stage, he would cultivate the Xuantian Spirit Body. When it came to forming the Nascent Soul, he was not as lost as others.
“Once the Xuantian Spirit Body is completed, even if I fail, my powerful Regenerative Body will ensure that—even if I am gravely injured and my vitality heavily damaged—my lifespan will not be harmed. I will still be able to attempt forming the Nascent Soul again.”
A flicker of light flashed in Lin Chang’an’s eyes. This was one of the sources of confidence that set him apart from other Core Formation cultivators.
While countless Core Formation cultivators were still confused about the path to the Nascent Soul, he already had a clear direction and knew what road to take.
“Fellow Daoist Lin, to think that Fellow Daoist Long has left just like this. Truly, the world is unpredictable.”
After leaving the Long Clan, the cultivators of Xuanyin Pavilion and the Lu Clan traveled together on their return.
Even Fairy of Rainbow Skirt rarely sighed softly, perhaps lamenting her own future as well.
Lin Chang’an, however, shook his head.
“The Nascent Soul is far too distant. I have only just barely succeeded in Core Reforging. I am merely a minor cultivator in the early Core Formation stage.
If I can step into the late Core Formation stage in this lifetime, that alone may already be heaven’s blessing.”
Xu Lingfeng, standing beside him, nodded with rare rationality.
“Indeed. How many Core Formation cultivators exist across the Beast Sea Region, and how many Nascent Soul cultivators are there?”
“How many cultivators are at the early Core Formation stage? But among those at the peak of Core Formation, which one is not a renowned great expert?”
Xu Lingfeng spoke solemnly. Lin Chang’an did not refute this point.
Within the Beast Sea Region, there were many Core Formation cultivators, but those whose reputations spread widely and were known by most people were almost all old monsters of the late Core Formation stage or peak Core Formation stage.
These were the true Nascent Soul seeds.
As for Heavenly Spirit Roots or spiritual bodies, compared to these people, they were nothing.
One group truly possessed the probability of advancing to the Nascent Soul.
The other merely had the potential possibility.
……
Spring passed and autumn arrived. Goose-feather snowflakes drifted down.
【Lifespan: 165 / 603】
【Realm: Early Core Formation (28 / 100)】
This year Lin Chang’an was one hundred and sixty-five years old.
He sat alone in a pavilion, gazing at the falling snow.
A trace of recollection flickered in his eyes, as if he had returned to the moment when he broke through to Foundation Establishment and saw the familiar smiling faces of old friends.
“When I emerged after breaking through Foundation Establishment, it was snowing like this as well. And now I am already a Core Formation cultivator… yet those joyful congratulatory voices can never be heard again.”
The road of cultivation was filled with loneliness.
A rare bitter expression appeared on Lin Chang’an’s face.
“So this is the loneliness on the path of cultivation.”
And this was only the beginning.
“Moo!”
Beside him, the Azure-Horned Ox seemed to sense its master’s loneliness. It lifted its head with puzzled bovine eyes.
It let out a familiar moo that pulled Lin Chang’an back to reality.
Looking down at the Azure-Horned Ox at his feet, Lin Chang’an could not help but smile.
“Fortunately, I still have you all.”
As his cultivation grew higher, memories of Yue Country, Bamboo Mountain, and Tianxuan City instead became increasingly clear.
It seemed that only this Azure-Horned Ox and the Wind-Chirp Bird reminded him of the road he had once walked.
At this moment, a Sword Attendant descended while flying on a sword. She then approached with a jade box held respectfully in both hands.
“Master, this is a letter regarding you sent by a cultivator of Xuanyin Pavilion.”
Seeing these letters, Lin Chang’an revealed a rare nostalgic smile.
Sitting in the pavilion, he opened the jade box with anticipation and began reading the letters from his familiar homeland.
Yet within his hopeful gaze, a hint of disappointment gradually appeared.
“They are no longer the same old acquaintances.”
Lin Chang’an sighed softly, bitterness appearing on his face.
In recent years, letters from juniors such as Li Yifan, Shen Fan, and Wei Yingying had become increasingly respectful and restrained toward him, their Core Formation elder.
Even Wei Yingying no longer had her former mischievousness. What remained was the respect that came with maturity.
He missed the feeling from before.
The stubbornness of the younger generation, and Yingying’s lively cleverness.
But it could never return—unless he was still that Foundation Establishment cultivator of the past.
With the disparity in strength and the difference in status, combined with the great distance between them, unfamiliarity gradually replaced familiarity, and the respect that low-level cultivators held for Core Formation cultivators took its place.
“Still, it’s good that everyone is doing well.”
The next moment, Lin Chang’an revealed a relieved smile.
Yingying and Shen Fan had already become well-known Foundation Establishment patriarchs of Qingshui Bay Marketplace.
With their mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation and their joint strike secret technique, even ordinary late Foundation Establishment cultivators did not dare provoke them easily.
They already had numerous descendants.
“Talented juniors joining Xuanyin Pavilion and wishing to come to the Beast Sea Region?”
Not only the descendants of Shen Fan and Wei Yingying, but even one of Li Yifan’s grandchildren appeared.
“So they’re coming as a group.”
Seeing this, Lin Chang’an could not help but laugh and shake his head. Naturally he understood the thoughts of these juniors.
If this long separation continued, their relationship would only grow more distant.
Whether in terms of benefits or otherwise, that would be a poor choice.
Thus they were trying to mend the connection.
Furthermore, his identity as a Core Formation cultivator had already spread through Xuanyin Pavilion’s merchant ships traveling back and forth.
A third-rank Formation Master.
Successful Core Reforging.
All of these brought him greater attention, and people hoped to secure a powerful backing for their descendants.
Moreover, the two families had become increasingly stable within Yue Country.
“This must be Yingying’s clever idea.”
Lin Chang’an recognized it immediately. Wei Yingying was clearly worried that after they grew old, their relationship would fade.
Especially since the letters never once mentioned asking him to take disciples.
They only mentioned coming to assist him temporarily, and if he did not need them, they would join Xuanyin Pavilion instead.
After all, the current situation in Yue Country meant that joining Xuanyin Pavilion was the inevitable trend.
Only Yingying was clever enough to arrange this without making anyone feel uncomfortable.
Even the Zhou Clan had arranged for many of their clan members to join Xuanyin Pavilion.
This was also the trend of the times. After obtaining a quasi–third-rank guardian spirit beast, the Zhou Clan had begun expanding their development in other directions.
“So they truly are coming as a group. Though Tianquan Peak is indeed rather quiet, and I could use some trustworthy helpers.”
As the wind and snow howled, Lin Chang’an narrowed his eyes while sitting in the pavilion.
Helping the descendants of old friends with a casual gesture was something he did not mind.
Especially since the Lu Clan’s business had expanded greatly in recent years and Xuanyin Pavilion had firmly established itself.
He had also participated in some enterprises within the Five Dragon Island Marketplace.
Having trusted people would save him much trouble with various trivial matters.
“However, Xuanyin Pavilion’s methods are truly sharp.”
Lin Chang’an immediately saw that Xuanyin Pavilion was also involved behind the scenes.
Strengthening relationships and drawing people closer was only natural.
By continuously absorbing fresh blood from Yue Country, Xuanyin Pavilion could stabilize both the homeland’s situation and the hearts of the people.
Yue Country was the richest nation among the Seven Kingdoms.
Originally it had been divided among three major sects, but now Xuanyin Pavilion occupied it alone.
It was easy to see that within the Seven Kingdoms Alliance, Xuanyin Pavilion’s foundational base would develop the best.
However, Lin Chang’an did not care much about such trivial matters.
He simply smiled and brushed them aside.
After all, he was still a Guest Elder of Xuanyin Pavilion.
The stronger Xuanyin Pavilion became, the more beneficial it was for him.
He then smiled and replied to the letters one by one, especially scolding Wei Yingying jokingly.
Only when reading these letters did he feel that he was not completely alone in this cultivation world.
……
The final two letters were from Hu Jin and Yun Yao.
“This Old Hu…”
After reading Hu Jin’s letter, Lin Chang’an smiled and shook his head.
Hu Jin was once again boasting about rewards he had received.
But Lin Chang’an could see the risks behind it.
Within the enforcement hall of Bihai Palace, rewards were never given without reason.
They were always earned through dangerous merit.
Lin Chang’an quickly wrote a reply, teasing Old Hu about how comfortable life was in the Five Dragon Island Sea Region.
Although he had not opened a black market, he was still earning spirit stones in large quantities and living quite comfortably.
Of course, it was merely a joke. His visible income likely meant little to Hu Jin.
But when he read Yun Yao’s letter, Lin Chang’an clearly felt happier.
“Yun Yao actually secretly returned to Yue Country once.”
Lin Chang’an looked surprised, then sighed in understanding.
Yun Yao had returned to visit old acquaintances.
Her letter mentioned visiting Lu Qingqing, Shen Lie, Li Erniu, Wei Buyi, and the others.
They had even shared a pot of spirit wine from Bamboo Mountain Marketplace together.
As for where they drank it, it went without saying.
Seeing this, Lin Chang’an’s eyes dimmed.
Of the friends who had walked the path together in the past, only a few remained.
“However, that boy He Yan has done quite well.”
Yun Yao’s letters were always concise.
She mentioned that He Yan had achieved great merit and used the secret technique of the Mystic Yin Divine Sect to condense a Baleful Core.
This meant He Yan had become a False Core cultivator.
However, because it was a Baleful Core, he had forever lost the opportunity to form a true core.
Even his lifespan was limited to three or four hundred years.
“He Yan…”
Lin Chang’an remained silent for a long time while reading these letters.
In the end he sighed softly.
He could reply to everyone else and inform them of his current situation.
Only Yun Yao was different.
As a member of the Mystic Yin Divine Sect, Yun Yao could send him letters, but he could not reply.
The two had walked the road together since the Foundation Establishment stage.
For a long time, their relationship had already reached the level of cultivation companions.
Over the long years, feelings naturally arose between them.
But Yun Yao belonged to the demonic sect and was bound by circumstances.
Both of them placed cultivation above all else.
With mutual understanding, they never allowed their feelings to cross the final boundary.
Yet both knew one truth.
Power.
In the cultivation world, any problem could be solved with power.
If it could not be solved, it only meant one’s power was insufficient.
Even life and death.
As long as one could become the legendary immortal.
“My strength is still too weak.”
Lin Chang’an sighed softly and carefully placed Yun Yao’s letter into a jade box that contained all the letters exchanged between them.
“Moo! Moo!”
The Azure-Horned Ox beside him seemed to smell the familiar scent on the letter and let out mournful cries.
“You silly ox.”
Lin Chang’an scolded it with a smile and told it that Yingying and the others were doing well.
As a quasi–third-rank spirit beast nearing breakthrough, the Azure-Horned Ox possessed intelligence not inferior to humans.
It also missed the familiar people who had once fed it spirit fruits.
It also missed those happy days.
The Sword Attendant stood respectfully beside them in the pavilion, listening to the conversation between Lin Chang’an and the Azure-Horned Ox.
Her eyes revealed deep envy.
She seemed to envy that she had not shared those unforgettable experiences with her master.
If only she had met him earlier.
Lin Chang’an then turned back to gaze at the falling snow.
The loneliness in his heart had already dissipated somewhat, and a rare trace of ease appeared between his brows.
Inside the pavilion, on the stone table, were several exquisite spirit dishes and a pot of spirit wine.
Lin Chang’an pondered for a moment before raising his hand.
Three wine cups suddenly appeared on the stone table.
The spirit wine floated up and slowly filled the cups.
With a gentle wave of his hand, one cup of spirit wine appeared before the stunned Sword Attendant.
“Ma… Master…”
The Sword Attendant panicked, completely at a loss.
Meanwhile, the Azure-Horned Ox mooed excitedly.
It swallowed the entire wine cup in one gulp—cup included.
Lin Chang’an glared at it.
“You stupid ox, did you forget last time?”
Last time the greedy beast had swallowed a bottle storing demonic energy and nearly died.
But the thick-skinned Azure-Horned Ox simply mooed and looked at its master in a flattering manner, clearly wanting more.
“Forget it. This spirit wine was sent by the Palace Master of Xuanyin Pavilion for the New Year. It’s extremely precious—only this small pot.”
Naturally the Azure-Horned Ox had sensed the rich spiritual energy within the wine.
The second cup of spirit wine turned into a streak of light and flew into the cave abode.
Passing through layers of restrictions, it arrived before the Fusang Divine Tree in the Earthfire Cavern.
The Wind-Chirp Bird chirped excitedly.
Then it narrowed its eyes and imitated humans, sipping the wine delicately.
Meanwhile the Sword Attendant in the pavilion remained flustered and had not even noticed the fate of the other two cups.
“Tha… thank you, Master. This subordinate wishes Master eternal prosperity on the immortal path and hopes Master becomes a Deity Transformation cultivator soon.”
Lin Chang’an burst into rare laughter upon hearing this blessing.
“You really dare to say that.”
Deity Transformation cultivators were legendary beings.
The Sword Attendant, however, remained completely bewildered.
Holding the cup respectfully with trembling hands, she gently sipped the wine.
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