Chapter 51: The Conspiracy Begins to Surface
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, two years had passed.
【Lifespan: 49/116】
【Realm: Eighth Level of Qi Refinement (1/100)】
Inside the secret chamber.
“Eighth Level of Qi Refinement, I finally broke through. The speed of cultivation was much faster than I had imagined.”
Within the secret chamber, under the surging waves of pure and immense mana, Lin Chang'an’s robes flapped loudly in the air.
Due to cultivating the Evergreen Art, time had not left many marks on Lin Chang'an’s face. Instead, he appeared more composed and tempered.
As he slowly opened his eyes and sensed the changes within his body, a smile unconsciously surfaced on his face.
The reason why he progressed so rapidly in cultivation was thanks to the supreme-level Evergreen Art, and of course, the abundant supply of spirit stones.
The Evergreen Art at the supreme level produced mana that was even purer and more powerful.
Compared to other cultivators also at the Eighth Level of Qi Refinement who practiced the same technique, his mana was at least thirty percent greater.
“Not only in terms of cultivation, the Wood Spirit Thorn spell has also reached the supreme level after the technique, and its power now even surpasses that of its original creator.”
At the same time, various other spells and talismans had improved significantly.
“At my current cultivation speed, in another five or six years I can attempt Foundation Establishment.”
Looking at his own attributes, Lin Chang'an nodded to himself. He had originally thought of trying Foundation Establishment before the age of sixty, but judging by the current situation, he could attempt it before the age of fifty-five.
In fact, he had already started preparing over the past two years, collecting Foundation Establishment materials whenever the opportunity arose at the Bamboo Mountain Marketplace, starting with the easier ones.
“Moo…”
As he pushed open the door, the Azure-Horned Bull, who guarded the house and had grown large enough to carry a person, walked up and affectionately leaned against his pant leg upon seeing Lin Chang'an.
“You thick-skinned, gluttonous, silly bull.”
Lin Chang'an chuckled and cursed, yet still took out a few stalks of spiritual herbs from his storage pouch to feed it.
Over the past two years, the Azure-Horned Bull had grown at an astonishing rate. Given that there was never a shortage of resources, it had already reached the mid-stage of the First Rank.
This was equivalent to the mid-stage of Qi Refinement. But as everyone knew, in battles of the same rank, spirit beasts were generally stronger.
“With Eighth Level of Qi Refinement, I now lack nothing in terms of magic tools, spirit beasts, and spell techniques. Among those at the same level, unless they are geniuses from major sects or great clans, ordinary rogue cultivators may not be my match.”
Having stepped onto the path of immortality for nearly thirty years, he finally had the strength to protect himself. In his joy, he could not help but let out a few light chuckles.
“But for now, I should also start preparing the few core materials required for Foundation Establishment.”
Lin Chang'an thought to himself. Let alone rogue cultivators—even someone like Yun Yao, a disciple of a major sect, had spent several years gathering the materials for Foundation Establishment.
It was completely normal for rogue cultivators to take more than ten years to prepare.
Moreover, the core primary materials for Foundation Establishment were best gathered in secret. If others found out, it was easy to become a target.
“I must strive to reach the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement within three years, achieve perfection in Qi Refinement before the age of fifty-five, and then prepare for Foundation Establishment!”
…
Gathering Immortals Tower.
“Brother Lin, I’ve already entrusted our clan to forge your Bamboo Sword into a high-grade magical tool. Take a look.”
Li Erniu handed over the Bamboo Sword with a face full of envy. This sword was once a symbol of this marketplace during its pioneering days.
A year ago, Lin Chang'an had asked Erniu to bring it to the Zhou Clan to be reforged once, advancing it to a mid-grade magical tool. Now, it had been upgraded further to a high-grade magical tool.
The green blade had a faint golden sheen along its edges. Holding it in his hand, Lin Chang'an felt an unprecedented sharpness and could not help but sigh with emotion:
“No wonder it's a magical tool infused with a trace of Gold Essence.”
As a First Rank high-grade Talisman Master and a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator, it was quite normal for him to own one or two high-grade magical tools.
“Brother Lin, Brother Li.”
Shen Lie pushed open the private room door with a broad smile and cupped his hands at the two of them, but there was an irrepressible weariness between his brows.
“Brother Shen.”
The three of them sat in the private room, but their expressions were a bit unnatural. Compared to two years ago, the Gathering Immortals Tower seemed much more deserted now.
“Brother Li, Brother Lin, I won’t be going to the Yun Clan Merchant Guild for the time being. I’ll be managing the Gathering Immortals Tower with Qingqing. If you need to procure materials in the future, I’m afraid you’ll have to go yourselves.”
Shen Lie forced a lighthearted tone, which left Li Erniu in silence, while Lin Chang'an felt a bit suspicious.
Half a year ago, Yun Yao had already begun to distance herself from them, even putting on the cold and aloof demeanor of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Now, even Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing, the couple, had been kicked out of the merchant guild.
The reason was simple: Shen Lie, while managing the guild, had committed deception and embezzlement, which was discovered by Yun Yao.
“Brother Shen, today is your celebration for breaking through to Late-stage Qi Refinement. Come, have a drink.”
Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Li Erniu forced a smile and changed the subject.
Shen Lie, despite cultivating diligently for the past two years, had been unable to break through. He took a Barrier-Breaking Pill and recently advanced to the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, becoming the second Late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator after Lin Chang'an.
Meanwhile, Li Erniu was still stuck at the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement.
However, Lin Chang'an fell into silent contemplation. Even Erniu knew not to recklessly use a Barrier-Breaking Pill—why would someone like Shen Lie take one?
After all, using a Barrier-Breaking Pill to break through a bottleneck came at the cost of one's potential.
Shen Lie, and even his junior sister Lu Qingqing, shouldn’t be that unwise.
Something was wrong!
“The business of the Gathering Immortals Tower is enough for me and Qingqing to get by, not to mention I’ve now reached Late-stage Qi Refinement.”
With Shen Lie's seemingly carefree smile, Lin Chang'an and Li Erniu suppressed their doubts and joined in celebrating his breakthrough.
For over half a year, it seemed Yun Yao had been deliberately distancing herself.
He didn’t know why, but every time they met, he could feel the cold and sinister mana within her growing stronger.
No one was foolish. They didn’t ask too many questions. Sometimes, being ignorant was the key to surviving longer.
…
Yun Clan Merchant Guild.
“Senior Yun, here is this month’s ledger.”
Lu Qingqing respectfully handed over the business records of the Yun Clan Merchant Guild, while Yun Yao, seated across from her, wore a cold expression and gave a slight nod.
“Junior Sister Lu, things outside are getting more chaotic. Let someone else handle the merchant guild. You should focus on cultivating, lest you become a burden.”
Yun Yao, clad in a deep blue palace robe, spoke with an indifferent tone that left Lu Qingqing pale and silently nodding her head.
The intelligent Lu Qingqing understood one thing: even someone like Yun Yao, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, had to act this way. She, just a Qi Refinement cultivator, had no strength to resist.
The moment she handed over the ledger, Lu Qingqing severed all ties with the Yun Clan Merchant Guild.
Once Lu Qingqing’s figure disappeared and only Yun Yao remained in the room, a chill surfaced between her brows.
“Heh heh, this Water Yin Divine Art truly lives up to its name as an extremely yin and frigid technique—it’s enough to freeze someone to death.”
A shadow slowly emerged. Beneath the bamboo hat appeared deathly pale skin and a mocking smile.
“I heard that three female Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Palace of Blazing Fire have already met their end. Tsk tsk. What are your thoughts, Fairy Yun?”
Facing this demonic cultivator, Yun Yao remained silent.
A year ago, while she was out eliminating bandits, she encountered this man—False Core stage!
She thought she was doomed, but upon exchanging blows, the other party, after seeing her technique, revealed a teasing smile and then exposed a secret.
A Gold Core elder of the Huang Clan from the Palace of Blazing Fire had secretly been taking Water Spirit Root disciples over the years, passing on the Water Yin Divine Art—for the purpose of dual cultivation harvesting.
In simple terms: ‘furnace’.
Among the three female Foundation Establishment cultivators the other party mentioned, one was a senior whom she had known since her Qi Refinement days and who had helped her significantly during her Foundation Establishment.
And she had cultivated the exact same technique as that senior.
“The Palace of Blazing Fire is unreliable, but do you demonic cultivators think you’re any more trustworthy?”
Yun Yao sneered, and the demonic cultivator smiled as well, though his laugh was grating.
“Fairy Yun, I am Xiang Jing, a protector of the Mystic Yin Sect.”
“Protector Xiang!”
The moment Yun Yao addressed him as ‘Protector Xiang’, it signified the two now had grounds for further discussion.
“Rest assured, the old ghosts of the Palace of Blazing Fire only obtained a fragmented portion of our sect’s technique. Right now, you’re still too weak; the old ghost will need to raise you for a while longer.
So during this period, you can focus on raising your cultivation. Meanwhile, we can cooperate. With your talent, Fairy Yun, if you join our sect, the complete Water Yin Divine Art will be offered to you with both hands.”
“Very well!”
Yun Yao’s cold voice rang out—decisive and without hesitation.
This forthrightness stunned even the demonic Protector Xiang for a moment, but then he smiled.
“Interesting. Fairy Yun, you’re far more decisive than those wishy-washy male cultivators. You’re the kind of person who naturally belongs in our sect.”
“Don’t worry, you’re no useless pawn. We have a common enemy. You just need to... secretly leak the news of this secret realm to the Pavilion of Mystic Sound, the Palace of Blazing Fire, and the major clans in the marketplace.”
Upon hearing this, Yun Yao furrowed her brow slightly.
“A secret realm? If you want to pit the Pavilion of Mystic Sound against the Palace of Blazing Fire, that won’t be so easy.”
“What if this secret realm is real?” The demonic Protector Xiang revealed a meaningful smile.
This girl had a sharp mind, even using this chance to probe him.
Upon confirming the secret realm was real, Yun Yao was inwardly shocked. This man was cunning.
Clearly, he intended to use the Foundation Establishment cultivators in the marketplace as bait—while he, as a False Core cultivator, would swoop in and seize everything. Who could stop him?
“An inside-outside coordination—I understand.”
Yun Yao didn’t hesitate in the slightest. The two sides were unequal in strength, but one point was clear: they shared a common enemy.
After learning she had been groomed as a ‘furnace’ by her sect all along, Yun Yao, who once believed herself a favored daughter of heaven, had plummeted from the clouds.
No wonder she was suddenly accepted as a disciple by the sect’s Gold Core ancestor—turns out it was all a conspiracy.
Now, if she wanted to live, she had no choice but to grow stronger.