Chapter 298: Yun Yao’s Whereabouts
Time passed like a shuttle. Since the Internal Sect Grand Competition of the Xuanyin Pavilion, three years had already gone by.
Under the large number of Foundation Establishment Pill rewards granted by the Xuanyin Pavilion, seventy-eight Foundation Establishment Cultivators had been born within the sect in just a few short years.
For a time, the backbone strength of the Xuanyin Pavilion surged dramatically.
Mei Ning, Zhou Bingxuan, and Li Tianmo all successfully broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, while Shen Zhuang only managed to break through in the second year.
However, Lin Chang’an knew that Shen Zhuang had consumed two Foundation Establishment Pills sent by his clan before he could successfully reach the Foundation Establishment Realm.
In comparison, Shen Zhuang’s talent seemed rather ordinary, with almost nothing particularly remarkable.
Yet ever since his defeat in the competition assembly, after undergoing setbacks and tempering, Shen Zhuang had become much more steady over the past two years, and had even married another female disciple who had also failed.
After breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, he visited Lin Chang’an. Under Lin Chang’an’s guidance, Shen Zhuang switched to cultivating an earth-attribute cultivation method within the Xuanyin Pavilion.
In comparison, although Li Tianmo only possessed a Mid-grade Spiritual Root aptitude, his comprehension and other aspects seemed slightly superior to Shen Zhuang.
In terms of cultivation, he was even closely catching up to Zhou Bingxuan, who possessed a Top-grade Spiritual Root.
More and more cultivators were traveling through the Five Dragon Island Sea Region. Robber Cultivators and Demonic Cultivators from the Fog Sea of Tongtian ran rampant, affecting the trade of many merchant ships.
Meanwhile, the Secret Realm was continuously being explored as large numbers of Foundation Establishment Cultivators poured in, and many treasures were brought out.
Previously, rare Spirit Herbs and treasures had already been brought out, and even Magical Artifacts belonging to Core Formation Cultivators had appeared, causing quite a commotion.
However, none of this affected Lin Chang’an’s cultivation.
……
【Lifespan: 174 / 606】
【Realm: Early Golden Core Realm (42 / 100)】
During these three years, in the eyes of outsiders Lin Chang’an still cultivated diligently every day. Only he himself knew how much he enjoyed it, as his cultivation steadily increased.
Secretly, he also collected various materials and sold Third-rank Talismans, Spirit Artifacts, pills, and other items.
Although on the surface he had the identity of Alchemist Wen as a cover, once the quantity of pills became too large, they could not all be placed in the open.
At the same time, he also cleared out many items within his Storage Pouch that could not see the light of day. Afterwards, Lin Chang’an discovered that someone had secretly begun investigating him.
But unfortunately, with the Secret Realm now filled with a chaotic mix of forces, it was extremely difficult for anyone to investigate further.
Inside the Cave Abode, Lin Chang’an’s body emitted a crystalline glow. In the jade bottle before him, strands of black qi were nourishing his body.
“Using refined demonic energy to temper the body truly progresses at a rapid pace!”
Lin Chang’an slowly opened his eyes. Feeling the powerful strength of the late Second-rank Body Refinement stage within him, he could not help but reveal a satisfied smile.
Originally, body refinement should have been the slowest form of cultivation. Yet unexpectedly, his speed in body refinement was not slow at all now.
Even the remaining demonic energy within the Sun-Piercing Divine Sword was enough for him to catch up sooner or later.
“Only when magic, body, and spirit are all cultivated to the peak of Core Formation can this secret method of the Xuantian Spirit Body be cultivated.”
The Xuantian Spirit Body could not only increase the chance of forming the Nascent Soul, but also possessed many other wondrous uses. This was precisely why he longed for it so much.
Acquired Spirit Bodies were already among the top secret techniques of major powers in the cultivation world.
Not to mention the Xuantian Spirit Body of his cultivation method. Over the years, after searching through countless ancient texts, he had never found even the slightest trace of it.
It was as if it had never appeared in the cultivation world at all.
In the end, Lin Chang’an shook his head, attributing the spirit body’s absence to its rarity and ancient origin.
After all, in the cultivation world, unknown spirit bodies and secret techniques were countless.
“Soon. With my current progress in body refinement, I will catch up sooner or later. I might even surpass them from behind.”
Thinking of this, Lin Chang’an smiled as he looked at the jade bottle before him.
With a wave of his hand, the jade bottle slowly fell into his palm.
The precious jade bottle was now completely drained of demonic energy. However, the bottle itself was covered with cracks. Seeing this, Lin Chang’an sighed helplessly.
“Another expensive jade bottle ruined. This demonic energy is indeed excellent, but its corrosive power is too strong—even after purification.
With such terrifying corrosiveness, if I want to store it in the future, I will probably need to refine a specialized treasure for storage.”
Lin Chang’an slowly turned around.
Behind him stood a towering tree whose roots were planted within magma, continuously absorbing fire-attribute spiritual energy.
At this moment, the enormous Fusang Divine Tree had already developed two thick golden veins, extending from the crown of the tree down to its roots. This was the result of the purification he had carried out over the past few years.
The golden veins emitted scorching fire-red heat, continuously opposing the demonic energy within the Fusang Divine Tree, occasionally forcing strands of black qi out.
With a lift of his hand, two Sword Gleams flashed instantly into his palm.
At this moment, the Wind-Chirp Bird on the Fusang Divine Tree widened its eyes.
Its golden nest was gone again. Only the pitch-black tree remained, along with the formations arranged around it and the bottles used to seal demonic energy.
“Master!”
The Wind-Chirp Bird stared wide-eyed at its master—or rather, at the two ancient swords with golden patterns in Lin Chang’an’s hands.
“If you can cultivate the Golden Flame Divine Fire divine ability sooner, once this demonic energy is purified, the entire Fusang Divine Tree will become golden.”
Lin Chang’an spoke with a smile.
However, the Wind-Chirp Bird flew over and landed on his shoulder, its eyes spinning as it stared fixedly at the two ancient swords.
Lin Chang’an simply shook his head and ignored it. Over the years, he had already grown accustomed to the Wind-Chirp Bird’s temperament.
“Two Sun-Piercing Divine Swords have already been purified.”
Holding both swords, he casually waved them.
Instantly, scorching heat spread outward as flames surged into existence.
It was precisely due to the purified flames of the Fusang Divine Tree that the removal of demonic energy had accelerated.
“Now this demonic energy is like rootless duckweed. But once the Fusang Divine Tree was refined into my Life-bound Magical Artifact, it gained a root. As time passes, the Fusang Divine Tree will only grow stronger.”
The increasing strength of his Life-bound Magical Artifact should have been something to celebrate.
Yet Lin Chang’an frowned as he looked at the pitch-black Fusang Divine Tree within the Cave Abode, formed by thirty-four Sun-Piercing Divine Swords.
“The biggest problem now is that after this demonic energy is expelled, I cannot fully purify it in time, nor can I absorb and refine it quickly enough.”
Lin Chang’an frowned deeply.
As a result, he needed a special treasure capable of storing and sealing demonic energy.
After all, the purified demonic energy was far too useful for body refinement to be wasted.
“From my experiments over the past two years, Yin-attribute spiritual jade works quite well. But to store such a vast amount of demonic energy safely, it seems I will need high-grade Yin-attribute spiritual jade.”
At the very least, it would need to be a Third-rank High-grade Yin-attribute material.
“The Fog Sea of Tongtian is nearby, so Yin-attribute spirit items are not lacking. They’re just somewhat expensive. As for refining a sealing artifact, with my current skill it shouldn’t be difficult.”
【Third-rank Mid-grade Formation Master (Proficient 68 / 1000)】
【Third-rank Mid-grade Alchemist (Proficient 101 / 1000)】
【Third-rank Mid-grade Talisman Master (Proficient 32 / 1000)】
【Second-rank High-grade Artifact Refiner (Grandmaster 2654 / 5000)】
Over the past few years, his skill progression had been quite impressive. Formation mastery, alchemy, and talisman crafting had all reached the Third-rank Mid-grade level.
If this were made public, very few people would believe it.
Although the cultivation world did have geniuses, and some Core Formation Cultivators possessed two or three Third-rank skills, most of them had turned to the Hundred Arts of Cultivation after losing hope in advancing their cultivation.
Combined with talent in those arts, they had eventually achieved such accomplishments.
But without exception, such skill levels were usually attained when one’s lifespan was nearly exhausted.
Someone like Lin Chang’an possessing three Third-rank skills at such an age naturally could not expose them easily.
“Combined with my Second-rank High-grade Artifact Refinement skill, using formations to assist in sealing demonic energy shouldn’t be a problem.”
As long as the materials could withstand the corrosion of demonic energy.
Looking at his skill progress, Lin Chang’an nodded secretly.
This was also one of the benefits brought about by the turbulent situation—vast resources had gathered together. In recent years, many cultivators had been upgrading and repairing Mountain Protection Formations and Clan Protection Formations.
If formations were considered high-level goods used mainly by major clans and sects, then pills were almost indispensable to every cultivator.
Especially now, during this era of turmoil, pills used for healing and increasing cultivation were being consumed in enormous quantities.
“Now that I have become a Golden Core Cultivator, if I were still a Qi Refinement Cultivator—or even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator—I would probably still have to live cautiously every day.”
Thinking back to the turbulent days at the Bamboo Mountain Marketplace, when he was merely a Qi Refinement Cultivator hiding within the marketplace due to his weakness…
Even after reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm, he still had to tread carefully during chaotic times.
Comparing that past with the present made Lin Chang’an feel deeply emotional.
“This cultivation path truly makes people unable to stop. No wonder countless cultivators in the cultivation world pursue higher realms.”
The stronger one became, the more one understood the helplessness of low-rank cultivators.
Yet precisely because one understood that helplessness, one never wished to experience it again.
It was an endless cycle.
The law of the strong devouring the weak was displayed to its fullest in the cultivation world.
……
“Master!”
Sensing the fluctuation of the Cave Abode Restrictions, the Sword Attendant awoke from meditation and respectfully stepped forward.
Looking at the Sword Attendant’s cool face, still carrying a trace of youthful innocence, unchanged for decades, Lin Chang’an could not help but feel envious.
What he envied was not her ageless appearance, but the lifespan of a Human-beast Hybrid.
According to his perception, the Sword Attendant—currently at the Mid Foundation Establishment Realm—actually possessed a lifespan of three to four hundred years.
“Not bad. Your cultivation hasn’t fallen behind these past few years.”
Lin Chang’an walked into the Cave Abode Pavilion, already calculating silently.
It seemed he needed to find an opportunity to refine—or better yet, auction for—two Beauty-preserving Pills.
Not only for himself, but mainly to conceal the Sword Attendant’s appearance.
Having a Sword Attendant at Celestial Spring Peak was not a problem.
But if her identity as a Human-beast Hybrid were discovered, then trouble would follow.
One issue would be how such a hybrid could cultivate so peacefully.
Another was that many people on Azure Wave Island of the Fog Sea of Tongtian had once known about this matter.
With outstanding sword talent and the identity of a Human-beast Hybrid, if someone discovered it and exposed her Heavenly Spirit Sword Body, the consequences would be severe.
At the same time, there was also himself.
Although wood-attribute cultivation methods already granted longevity, his Early Golden Core Realm lifespan of six hundred years meant that by the Late Golden Core Realm he might possess nine hundred or even a thousand years of lifespan.
This meant his prime would last an extremely long time.
The Beauty-preserving Pill would conceal everything perfectly.
It seemed this time he needed to find opportunities to obtain both Yin-attribute spiritual jade and Beauty-preserving Pills.
“Master!”
At this moment, the Sword Attendant had already brewed spirit tea. Over the years, she had almost completely figured out what kind of tea her master preferred.
“Good. Has anything happened outside recently?”
Lin Chang’an asked calmly while sipping tea.
The Sword Attendant respectfully began reporting.
“Master, recently three Foundation Establishment Drifting Cultivators brought out a damaged Magical Artifact from the Secret Realm. It caused quite a sensation in the marketplace. Also, merchant ships of the Long Clan were intercepted again…
Merchant ships from the Four Seas Merchant Guild, the Lu Clan, and the Xuanyin Pavilion have all suffered attacks from Robber Cultivators…”
Hearing this, Lin Chang’an shook his head.
The outside world was still chaotic.
“However, the Xuanyin Pavilion has gained many new Foundation Establishment disciples. Cultivators have been dispatched to various locations, so the losses haven’t been too severe…”
“Also, Li Tianmo, Zhou Bingxuan, Mei Ning, and others, after reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm, are still responsible for their previous duties. But without the master’s permission, they usually cultivate outside Celestial Spring Peak.”
Lin Chang’an nodded calmly.
Although Celestial Spring Peak possessed abundant spiritual energy, without his approval Foundation Establishment Cultivators could not casually cultivate there.
After all, Foundation Establishment Cultivators consumed far more spiritual energy than Qi Refinement Cultivators.
More importantly, they themselves probably did not wish to cultivate under the constant watch of a Golden Core Cultivator.
Even Shen Zhuang and his wife had moved to another Cave Abode after reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm.
As the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Xuanyin Pavilion increased, the sect’s development was visibly improving.
Back then, there were only a few scattered Xuanyin Pavilion disciple Cave Abodes around Celestial Spring Peak.
Now there were already more than a dozen Foundation Establishment Cave Abodes nearby.
“During the time the master was in seclusion, two clans held Foundation Establishment celebrations and sent gifts to the master. I have already arranged return gifts.”
Whenever a clan produced a new Foundation Establishment Cultivator, sending gifts to him represented goodwill and submission.
But these clans had already sent gifts when Lin Chang’an formed his Golden Core and when the Azure-Horned Ox formed its Golden Core.
Thus, out of courtesy, the Sword Attendant sent return gifts on behalf of Celestial Spring Peak.
“Also, the cultivators Ma, Yun, and He from Bamboo Mountain sent Spirit Stones and letters. And recently the Many Treasures Pavilion in the marketplace has Yin-attribute spiritual jade that the master requires.”
He had always been collecting Yin-attribute spiritual jade outside, so this was nothing unusual.
But when he heard the surname Yun, Lin Chang’an’s expression changed slightly.
Yun Yao.
A year ago, Yun Yao had contacted him again.
The Five Dragon Island region was chaotic. Many cultivators or clans weakened and abandoned their spirit veins during the turmoil.
Naturally, other cultivators and clans would occupy those new spirit veins.
Although those clans were under the protection of Celestial Spring Peak, if trouble occurred outside or their Foundation Establishment Cultivators died and could no longer protect their clan, that had nothing to do with Lin Chang’an.
He had no obligation to act as a caretaker.
As the current overlord of this generation, when changes occurred among the factions beneath Celestial Spring Peak, the first thing they did was naturally come to visit him.
Among them were the two Foundation Establishment Cultivators of Bamboo Mountain—Yun Yao and He Yan.
“The Mystic Yin Divine Sect has also set its sights on this Secret Realm.”
Looking at the Spirit Stones sent annually by the three Foundation Establishment Cultivators, Lin Chang’an appeared calm on the surface, but inwardly he understood clearly.
As the restrictions of the Secret Realm continued to weaken, it was natural for major factions to set their eyes upon it.
After all, it was the ruins of a Nascent Soul great sect.
Even ordinary Nascent Soul Cultivators would find such a place tempting.
“Hmm. It seems these cultivators renting Cave Abodes are quite sensible.”
The spirit veins surrounding Celestial Spring Peak, if unclaimed, were tacitly considered to belong to Celestial Spring Peak.
After finishing the letter and slowly drinking his spirit tea, Lin Chang’an quietly put it away.
“Come with me to the marketplace.”
“Yes, Master.”
The Sword Attendant respectfully cupped her hands in acknowledgment.
At the same time, the Azure-Horned Ox in the spirit pool let out a low moo.