Chapter 288: Secrets of the Sinister Soul Sect
【Lifespan: 168/604】
【Realm: Initial Golden Core Realm (33/100)】
This year, Lin Chang’an was one hundred sixty-eight years old. It had been nearly thirty years since he formed his Golden Core.
“Only with this kind of cultivation speed can one feel at ease. Otherwise, after hundreds of years of bitter cultivation with only the tiniest increase in strength, it’s no wonder so many cultivators eventually give up.”
Inside the pavilion, Lin Chang’an shook his head. Thinking from another perspective, he could actually understand it.
If one had no future prospects and no opportunities at all, who would still persist in bitter cultivation?
With two or three hundred years of life remaining, wouldn’t it be better to simply enjoy life?
Just like back then—after cultivating bitterly for twenty years without awakening his talent—hadn’t he also felt somewhat disheartened and nearly gone to the mortal world to enjoy life?
In the end, only when one could see hope would there be motivation to strive.
If there was not even a trace of hope, without even a direction to strive toward, what was there to fight for?
“Master!”
A crisp sound came from the chessboard. The Sword Attendant placed a black piece down, and the outcome of the chess game was already obvious.
Looking at his dragon group completely slaughtered, Lin Chang’an felt speechless. His mental state had already improved greatly now.
He could accept losing to the Fairy of Rainbow Skirt.
But why was it that he also could not defeat this Sword Attendant who had only learned chess not long ago?
It must be because the Sword Attendant possessed extraordinary talent.
Thinking about it, that made sense. The Heavenly Spirit Sword Body was spiritually attuned, and the path of the sword had always emphasized talent.
“Not bad. In the future, this chess can serve to temper your mental state. Sharpness and brilliance may not be bad, but you must also learn to control it freely.”
Putting down the white piece in his hand, Lin Chang’an looked at the uneasy Sword Attendant sitting across from him and spoke calmly.
He did not care about the result of the game at all.
However, for the Sword Attendant, it was extremely uncomfortable.
Being able to play chess with her master naturally made her very happy.
But her master had said that the path of sword cultivation emphasized charging forward without hesitation, giving one’s all.
Yet every time she gave her all, she somehow won very easily.
This caused a problem every time they played chess. Sitting on the edge of the stone stool, the Sword Attendant always felt restless.
She feared that if she kept winning, her master might become displeased and never again give her the opportunity to accompany him like this.
But if she lost deliberately, she would be disobeying her master’s command not to hold back.
However, after hearing her master’s words, the Sword Attendant seemed to suddenly realize something. Her expression immediately became excited as she nodded solemnly.
“Master, the Sword Attendant understands.”
Understands?
“You mean for the Sword Attendant to temper her mental state and pursue the higher realm of the Sword Path.”
Seeing that the Sword Attendant seemed to have gained some enlightenment, Lin Chang’an was momentarily stunned.
Was that really what he meant?
Was this the difference in talent?
Lin Chang’an fell silent.
Over the past half year, the Sword Attendant had been reading through the classics in his Library Pavilion.
Especially the countless Sword Path insights accumulated by the Divine Sword Sect. From time to time, the Sword Attendant would gain sudden enlightenment.
It seemed he had never experienced such insights.
“That’s quite reasonable.”
“After all, others suddenly raise their realms through enlightenment, making their foundation unstable and in need of reinforcement. Unlike me—I have relied entirely on talent to improve step by step.”
“The difference is obvious.”
After figuring this out, Lin Chang’an revealed a calm expression.
At that moment, three figures flew toward the cave abode.
They were Shen Zhuang, Li Tianmo, and Zhou Bingxuan.
After the three arrived, the Sword Attendant first cupped her hands toward Lin Chang’an. After he nodded lightly, she left the pavilion and went outside the cave abode.
A moment later, she brought the three inside.
“Shen Zhuang, Li Tianmo, Zhou Bingxuan pay respects to Elder.”
The three were now disciples of Xuanyin Pavilion and also juniors of Lin Chang’an.
Before coming here, calling him Elder Granduncle was acceptable—even in private.
But after joining Celestial Spring Peak, such a casual title was no longer appropriate during formal meetings.
Calling him “Elder” both displayed Lin Chang’an’s current status and also showed their relationship with him.
After Lin Chang’an nodded slightly, Zhou Bingxuan respectfully raised a jade box sealed with restrictions in both hands.
“Elder, this is a letter sent by the sect.”
With a wave of Lin Chang’an’s hand, the jade box landed in his palm.
After he signaled with a nod, the three respectfully began reporting the recent situation.
“Recently within the peak…”
While listening to their reports, a trace of nostalgia flashed in Lin Chang’an’s eyes.
The feeling was strangely familiar.
Shen Zhuang had a straightforward personality. His report mainly focused on the affairs of the peak.
Current revenues, the condition of the cultivators within the peak, their cultivation levels, and the relationships between families.
It felt very similar to how Li Erniu used to report back then.
Li Tianmo, however, was completely different. He handled affairs involving the Lu Clan and other families, much like Shen Lie in the past—skilled in interpersonal dealings.
Zhou Bingxuan was responsible for interacting with sect affairs.
Looking at how the three had been arranged, Lin Chang’an glanced at the Sword Attendant with appreciation.
Though the girl appeared cold, it was merely her personality. Otherwise, she would not have managed all the affairs of the cave abode so well before.
“Not bad. The three of you should cultivate diligently. The Five Dragon Island Sea Region will likely become chaotic soon. With your current strength, it is still insufficient.”
Lin Chang’an’s reminder made the three bow respectfully.
They had come here not only bearing the expectations of their families and clans, but also their own persistence toward the Immortal Path.
Otherwise, they would not have traveled thousands of miles to this dangerous place within the Beast Sea Region.
Lin Chang’an then opened the sealed jade box.
Inside were letters from familiar people.
Li Yifan, Wei Yingying, and Shen Fan.
Their letters were filled with concern and expectations for their descendants.
Aside from greetings, they all wrote that if the three performed poorly or were unsuited to life outside, he should simply send them back.
He should not worry about face or anything else.
Seeing this, Lin Chang’an smiled and shook his head.
Next came a letter from the Zhou Clan, which made him nod slightly.
“Bingxuan, it seems your Zhou Clan is truly willing to spend.”
Lin Chang’an chuckled and allowed her to clearly read the contents of the letter.
After reading it, Zhou Bingxuan’s eyes turned red. She nodded firmly, wanting to say something.
But Lin Chang’an waved his hand with a smile, stopping her.
“That’s enough. Given the Zhou Clan’s position, such thorough planning is only natural. But in the World of Cultivation, strength ultimately speaks for itself.”
“Yes.”
Every year the Zhou Clan sent resources. On the surface it strengthened Zhou Bingxuan’s position, but in truth it was also meant to curry favor with him.
Lin Chang’an naturally understood this.
When he had been weak before, if he had such an opportunity, he would never have missed it either.
It was simply that now he had become the powerful one.
The letter also clearly stated that although the three had come here hoping for his care, they would never request any resources.
They could each afford their own Foundation Establishment resources.
Such clarity and restraint was indeed pleasing.
The mentality of the strong was simple: I may give—but you cannot demand.
However, when Lin Chang’an read Old Hu’s letter next, he frowned slightly.
The Sword Attendant immediately understood.
Under her signal, Shen Zhuang, Li Tianmo, and Zhou Bingxuan respectfully bowed and withdrew.
…
Only Lin Chang’an and the Sword Attendant remained in the pavilion.
Along with the Azure-Horned Ox, which had just broken through to the Third Rank and leisurely walked out of the cave abode looking somewhat exhausted.
The sound of water splashing rang out.
The Azure-Horned Ox lazily soaked in the pool, actually digesting the pure demonic energy it had just absorbed during cultivation.
Although this kind of high-level spiritual energy was extremely effective, even after purification it still required considerable effort to fully absorb and convert.
That was why the Azure-Horned Ox looked so tired.
“As expected, the information Old Hu obtained within Bihai Palace far surpasses ordinary factions.”
After reading Hu Jin’s letter, Lin Chang’an’s expression turned serious.
In the letter, Hu Jin warned him not to be tempted by the Secret Realm.
This Secret Realm was connected to several Nascent Soul factions. Even the Sixth Elder of Bihai Palace had set his sights on it.
“So Bihai Palace actually knows part of the truth behind the disappearance of the Sinister Soul Sect.”
According to the letter, the once-famous Sinister Soul Sect had two Nascent Soul overlords who jointly captured a Nascent Soul Ghost King to cultivate some secret method.
Something unexpected occurred during the process.
It triggered the sect’s restrictions, and the entire sect sealed itself using seabed earthfire.
After that, the sect vanished.
This incident once shook the entire Beast Sea Region.
Investigations continued for a long time but yielded no results.
“A sect this powerful—with two Nascent Soul experts—disappeared without a trace. And judging from the signs of the Secret Realm appearing now…”
“It must have encountered a disaster impossible to resist. Only then would they drag the entire sect down and seal it using the seabed earthfire.”
“And that seal lasted six hundred years…”
As a Third-rank Formation Master, Lin Chang’an could easily see the logic behind it.
Something terrifying must have occurred.
“That’s exactly why it attracts attention. What exactly happened six hundred years ago?”
“For Nascent Soul cultivators, the most important thing is finding out that answer.”
“What kind of temptation could cause a sect comparable to the Sixteen Sects of Zhenhai to choose such a method? And there is also the inheritance of the Sinister Soul Sect.”
Thinking of this, Lin Chang’an shivered slightly.
This was clearly something targeted by Nascent Soul cultivators.
And Golden Core cultivators still wanted opportunities there?
He became even more firm in his decision.
No matter how good an opportunity was, if one didn’t have the life to take it—or the life to enjoy it—it was meaningless.
“Cultivate steadily. Judging from how slowly the restrictions of the Secret Realm are weakening, it will likely take decades before it fully opens.”
Lin Chang’an shook his head and stopped thinking about treasures or inheritances inside the Secret Realm.
It was better to take advantage of the situation and earn more cultivation resources.
“In that case… my Tranquil Spirit Talisman might become a hot commodity.”
After understanding the Secret Realm and the Sinister Soul Sect’s situation, he thought of the only Third-rank Talisman he currently knew.
“Against demon beasts or cultivators, the Tranquil Spirit Talisman is rather mediocre.”
“But against sinister souls and primordial spirits, its effect is extremely significant.”
From the speculation mentioned in Old Hu’s letter, Lin Chang’an already had a rough guess.
A Yin-vein spiritual island.
A sect skilled in puppetry and sinister souls.
Yet in the end they had to seal everything with seabed earthfire.
This likely had something to do with that Nascent Soul Ghost King.
“And after six hundred years of sealing… the entire Secret Realm is probably already a world of sinister spirits.”
Thinking of this, Lin Chang’an shook his head again.
For him, this was actually good news.
Among Third-rank Talismans, the rather useless Tranquil Spirit Talisman happened to restrain sinister spirits.
He could even guess that for Nascent Soul factions, this information was not a secret at all.
But for lower factions, it was extremely difficult intelligence to obtain.
This was where connections truly mattered.
“Still, the Tranquil Spirit Talisman alone is too limited. If there is an opportunity, I shouldn’t miss other Third-rank Talisman inheritances.”
Previously he had already written to Old Hu about this.
Hu Jin replied that he would help keep an eye out.
The letter even mentioned that Hu Jin would accompany the Enforcement Hall cultivators arriving this time.
“Old Hu is coming?”
Lin Chang’an smiled after reading this.
The arrival of Bihai Palace’s Enforcement Hall cultivators was actually a good thing.
At that time, Five Dragon Island would become even more stable.
For a cultivator like him with no great ambitions, nothing could be better.
Fishing in muddy waters?
He never even considered it.
Better to earn more Spirit Stones.
Then when someone obtained treasures in the Secret Realm that they could not use, they might eventually appear in the marketplace.
“There are too many things to do now—talismans, formations, alchemy, artifact refinement.”
Lin Chang’an shook his head.
Others might worry about lacking time, but he truly possessed two avatars.
However, among Third-rank inheritances, pill formulas were easy to obtain.
The difficulty lay in collecting materials.
Artifact refinement had the same problem.
“The Road of Cultivation Is Long and Endless. Sooner or later, they will all come.”
…
Soon afterward, countless cultivators flooded toward the Five Dragon Island Sea Region, Star Pole Island, and the Fog Sea of Tongtian.
Especially rogue cultivators desperately searching for opportunities.
Their eyes reddened as they rushed toward the area.
When word spread that the Secret Realm belonged to the Sinister Soul Sect—a Nascent Soul super sect from six hundred years ago—many Golden Core sects and great clans were also shocked.
Outside, battles and chaos erupted everywhere.
Yet for Lin Chang’an, it was as if none of it concerned him.
He continued cultivating every day as usual.
Meanwhile, he openly began producing formations.
During this time, the Artifact Refinement Pavilion of Xuanyin Pavilion was extremely busy.
From top to bottom, there were constant requests sent by Elder Lin Chang’an to refine formation plates and formation flags.
Xuanyin Pavilion.
“A sect competition will be held in two years?”
Rarely, the sect master and elders of Xuanyin Pavilion had all gathered together.
After the Fairy of Rainbow Skirt proposed the idea, Liu Ruyu had no objections and clearly supported it.
The Golden Core Elder Xu Lingfeng frowned slightly but did not speak.
Lin Chang’an also understood Fairy of Rainbow Skirt’s intention.
“In these turbulent times, strengthening the sect’s power is indeed the most important thing.”
The sect competition would target Qi Refinement cultivators.
The reward would be Foundation Establishment Pills.
This would stimulate the fighting spirit and morale of the sect’s disciples as they faced the long-lasting turmoil surrounding the Secret Realm.
Seeing everyone nod in agreement, Fairy of Rainbow Skirt turned toward the silent Alchemist Wen.
“I’m afraid we will trouble Alchemist Wen to refine some Foundation Establishment Pills over the next two years.”
The hooded Alchemist Wen nodded and replied hoarsely:
“Sect Master is too polite. As long as the materials are sufficient, refining a large batch of Foundation Establishment Pills is not difficult.”
With the Secret Realm appearing, turmoil also meant opportunity.
Xuanyin Pavilion could seize this chance to rapidly accumulate resources.
Fairy of Rainbow Skirt then began arranging the sect’s development plans during this turbulent period.
Her command not to participate in the struggle for the Secret Realm clearly made Xu Lingfeng frown slightly.
“This sect competition will allow disciples from each peak master’s line to participate as well. The reward will be Foundation Establishment Pills…”
This meant the disciples of Lin Chang’an’s Celestial Spring Peak could also participate.
However, Alchemist Wen of Blazing Fire Peak did not have many disciples serving under him.
Listening to Fairy of Rainbow Skirt’s arrangements, Lin Chang’an secretly nodded.
Wasn’t this essentially increasing the sense of belonging for elders like them?
For him, this was also a good thing.