Chapter 61: Black Turtle Lu Master
One year later.
【Golden Light Talisman (Perfect 2/10000)】
【Fireball Talisman (Perfect 1/10000)】
“It's finally done!”
Inside the cultivation room, Lin Chang'an looked at the talismans on the table shimmering with spiritual light and couldn't help but reveal a satisfied smile.
The premium-grade first-rank talisman had finally, after a year of arduous cultivation, reached this realm.
“It wasn’t a waste after all, using so much second-rank talisman paper and cinnabar this past year.”
At this thought, Lin Chang'an couldn’t help but feel a pang of heartache. In order to improve his skill quickly, he had consumed a large amount of second-rank talisman paper and cinnabar.
If not for the visible increase in proficiency, he wouldn’t have been able to persist.
“Now I have talismans, magical artifacts, pills, and even post-Foundation Establishment techniques ready. What remains is for my cultivation to progress further, and then I can begin preparing the primary materials for Foundation Establishment.”
At fifty-one years old, Lin Chang'an felt a surge of heat in his heart whenever he thought of Foundation Establishment.
This was all because his golden finger had awakened late. Had it come earlier, he would probably have already established his foundation long ago—there wouldn’t be such urgency.
【Realm: Eighth Level of Qi Refinement (43/100)】
Looking again at his cultivation, Lin Chang'an nodded to himself. In another year and a half, he would break through to the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement. He was certain he could reach the peak of Qi Refinement before fifty-five.
Everything was going well.
It had been a year since he counter-killed the remnants of the Wang Clan. Although the wanted orders from the two major sects still stood, it was evident no one had uncovered the truth, which allowed him to secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
After all, without Foundation Establishment, there was no peace of mind. He didn’t want to end up like the remnants of the Wang Clan, becoming a wedding dress for someone else’s ancient opportunity.
……
“Brother Lin, something big has happened.”
After Lin Chang'an came out, Shen Lie spoke with excitement all over his face.
“This time, the location of the newly discovered Ancient Secret Realm is on a high-grade spiritual vein, enough to support the cultivation of several Golden Core cultivators. Palace of Blazing Fire and Pavilion of Mystic Sound have been fighting over it for more than a year. Finally, there's a result.”
“Brother Lin, you’ll never guess. To reverse their losses at the frontlines, Palace of Blazing Fire and Pavilion of Mystic Sound have actually invited the legendary rogue cultivator from a hundred years ago—Master Lu the Black Tortoise.”
Hearing Shen Lie’s words, Lin Chang'an’s expression froze. He hadn’t expected this outcome.
“You mean, Master Lu the Black Tortoise, who became a Golden Core cultivator a hundred years ago and was hailed as the number one rogue cultivator in Yue Country?”
In astonishment, Lin Chang'an recalled that ever since they had entered the cultivation world, they had grown up hearing the legend of this rogue cultivator.
“It is indeed Master Lu!”
Shen Lie spoke excitedly, with clear admiration in his expression.
It could be said that throughout Yue Country, and even nearby nations, Master Lu the Black Tortoise was the idol admired and pursued by rogue cultivators.
“So it’s this Golden Core powerhouse.”
Lin Chang'an was stirred internally—not because of the man himself, but because the chaotic situation finally seemed to be trending toward stability.
“This senior had already formed his core two hundred years ago. His current cultivation must be even more unfathomable.”
“Exactly!” Shen Lie’s eyes sparkled as he exclaimed:
“Master Lu the Black Tortoise is not only in the mid-stage of Golden Core himself, but that Blackwater Turtle of his is said to already be a late-stage third-rank spirit pet.”
Good heavens!
A late-stage third-rank spirit beast was equivalent to a late-stage Golden Core cultivator.
Upon hearing this, Lin Chang'an was stunned. This man had climbed his way up as a mere rogue cultivator. According to rumors, he had inferior spiritual roots, but by chance encountered an ancient opportunity and soared to greatness.
What made him most famous was the spirit pet he raised, the Blackwater Turtle. As everyone knew, demonic beasts were powerful by nature, and now it had even reached the late-stage of the third rank.
Together with his own mid-stage Golden Core cultivation, if this man truly came, wouldn’t Palace of Blazing Fire and Pavilion of Mystic Sound be worried about inviting someone hard to send away?
“Brother Shen, aren’t these two great sects worried about something going wrong?”
In the cultivation world, the strong preyed on the weak. With such power, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but suspect there was more behind the scenes.
“It’s actually not that complicated.”
At these words, Shen Lie shook his head and let out a long sigh, his mood somewhat low.
“Master Lu the Black Tortoise, according to what’s said, has less than a hundred years of lifespan left. Now, he simply wishes to return home in honor, hoping Yue Country will become more stable. It’s also to give us rogue cultivators a way out.”
This newly constructed immortal cultivation city was named Tianxuan City. Aside from Master Lu the Black Tortoise, both Palace of Blazing Fire and Pavilion of Mystic Sound would each dispatch a Golden Core cultivator.
By then, with three Golden Core cultivators stationed, it would be hailed as a sanctuary for rogue cultivators, and countless spiritual vein abodes would be opened to cultivators across the realm.”
Sanctuary for rogue cultivators!
Upon hearing this, Lin Chang'an thought silently that it seemed Palace of Blazing Fire and Pavilion of Mystic Sound had irreconcilable conflicts due to their previous dispute over the secret realm. With the Divine Sword Sect eyeing them like a tiger and advancing aggressively—
They were forced to bring in an external force. On the surface, they had invited a great powerhouse, but with less than a hundred years of remaining lifespan, and being of rogue cultivator origin, at most with only a few disciples under him—how much could he truly take?
On the contrary, it would grant the two major sects nearly a hundred years of breathing room and development opportunity.
This move—these two sects played it masterfully.
“At last, some good news.”
After analyzing the situation, Lin Chang'an finally revealed a rare smile. In this way, Yue Country would enter a stalemate, and the turbulent state of affairs could finally stabilize.
“Isn’t that right? This news has already spread throughout Yue Country, and now that Master Lu the Black Tortoise has personally declared his stationing, it’s obvious—the entire Yue Country, and even rogue cultivators from neighboring nations, will likely flock there.”
In the cultivation world, every spiritual vein had its own occupant. Once a new one was discovered, it naturally attracted countless clan forces, not to mention rogue cultivators.
Rogue cultivators lived between the cracks. Now that a city for rogue cultivators had suddenly appeared, how could they not come?
“Looks like countless rogue cultivators and clans in the marketplace will be relocating.”
Just as Lin Chang'an nodded silently to himself, a voice came from outside—it was Er Niu.
“Big Brother Lin, did you hear? Master Lu the Black Tortoise, who disappeared for a hundred years, has actually returned!
And he’s building a city for rogue cultivators right at the spiritual vein near the secret realm. The clan has already decided to send a group over first—and I happened to be included in the list...”
Pushing the door open, Li Erniu's face was glowing red with excitement. It was easy to imagine how highly regarded Master Lu the Black Tortoise was among rogue cultivators.
Master Lu the Black Tortoise had established his foundation in his seventies. His deeds were widely circulated. He was once thought to be a fleeting miracle, yet a hundred years later, he had actually entered the Golden Core realm, and thus was recorded in the annals of Yue Country’s cultivation history, his fame spreading to surrounding nations.
Especially among rogue cultivators, he was a complete inspirational legend.
“Relocating, huh.”
From Erniu’s words, Lin Chang'an gazed at the bustling Bamboo Mountain Marketplace. After thirty years of turmoil and transformation, would it ultimately become as quiet and cold as Clearwater Bay?
With a place richer in spiritual energy, who would still remain here? Naturally, they would all move toward the newly established Tianxuan City.
“Big Brother Lin, Brother Shen, are you going too?”
Li Erniu looked at the two of them with some expectation. It was clear he wanted everyone to go together.
“Erniu, the journey is long. With so many cultivators from the marketplace traveling, there are bound to be ambushes from bandit cultivators or demonic cultivators along the way.”
In response to Erniu’s excitement, Lin Chang'an was instead cautious. Sometimes, traveling in numbers didn’t guarantee safety.
More people also meant more chaos. You never knew if there were bandit or demonic cultivators mixed in. These people only needed to create confusion, and for unfamiliar cultivators, it would be a disaster.
But traveling alone would also make one an easy target.
“Indeed, Fellow Daoist Lin is absolutely right. This is no time to let down our guard.”
Shen Lie nodded solemnly. Naturally, it was good to go to the new city, but it must not be done blindly.
Meanwhile, Lin Chang'an thought to himself about his long-planned Foundation Establishment.
With Golden Core cultivators stationed there, Tianxuan City would surely attract countless rogue cultivators.
By then, it would certainly be far more prosperous than this marketplace. With a larger pond, gathering Foundation Establishment resources would also become easier.
Not to mention, it offered a cultivation ground with richer spiritual energy—the allure was unquestionably fatal.
“Trying to prepare for Foundation Establishment in this marketplace is too difficult.”
Lin Chang'an nodded inwardly. Over the years, he had been collecting items for Foundation Establishment in the marketplace, yet even auxiliary spiritual herbs were incredibly scarce.