Chapter 63: Tianxuan City
"Three premium-grade magical tools, five mid-grade magical tools, talismans, spirit brushes, cinnabar, elixirs, and more than thirteen hundred spirit stones..."
After counting his spoils of war, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but beam with joy, his face full of smiles, and he even gained an extra Second-rank Spirit Brush.
After all, not everyone was as wealthy as him, adorned from head to toe with premium-grade magical tools.
As the saying went, 'murder and arson bring gold belts'—this group of bandit cultivators—bah! These remnants of the demonic sect—truly deserved death.
"So many duplicate Foundation Establishment materials... one can only imagine how many fellow Daoists that demonic scoundrel Ge Li has harmed."
Although these Foundation Establishment materials were auxiliary and relatively easy to obtain, their accumulated value was still considerable.
"It's just a pity about this formation disk—so badly damaged."
A Premium-grade First-rank Formation. It was Lin Chang'an’s first time seeing such a thing, and this item was far more expensive than a premium-grade magical tool.
At that moment, he gently stroked the formation disk, reluctant to part with it, while silently reflecting on today’s battle.
"This formation appeared easy to break, but Yun Yao cannot be viewed as an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator. After all, she's a personal disciple of a Golden Core elder. The cultivation method she practices is far beyond what ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators can match."
"Moreover, each formation has its unique characteristics. This one is clearly a Trapping Formation—formidable from the inside, but relatively weak externally. It's not a defensive formation, which is why it was breached so easily."
Lin Chang'an nodded to himself in thought. The study of formations was truly profound. That Talisman Master Chang was a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator, and had only just entered the formation—not long enough for anything elaborate to occur—even if he was likely poisoned.
Yet when Yun Yao broke the formation, the battle inside had clearly been fierce, while outside there was not the slightest disturbance or fluctuation.
"No wonder they say that if one wants to harvest a demon core, formations are the best tools."
The wealth of the three demonic remnants under Ge Li—three late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators—was excessive beyond belief. This haul was enormous.
"It's just a shame about this Talisman Master Chang."
Lin Chang'an shook his head. This Talisman Master had descendants, and since the incident happened inside the marketplace, the Palace of Blazing Fire would need to return his belongings to his offspring.
After all, no matter what, the Palace of Blazing Fire was a major sect on the surface, and couldn’t afford to act too disgracefully.
Otherwise, who would still hand over spirit stones to the Palace of Blazing Fire?
"Still, it's not bad. These Foundation Establishment materials already make up the majority of what I need. The extra duplicates can be exchanged for spirit stones."
Previously, he had been lacking many materials, but now someone had delivered them right to his door.
While others hoarded food, he hoarded blades. His neighbors were his grain storehouse.
As expected, the ancestors always spoke words of wisdom.
"Must not get complacent. Until Foundation Establishment is achieved, these things sitting in the storage pouch are still just dead items."
Lin Chang'an silently warned himself.
This time he had been cautious. Had he fallen into the same trap, even with his superior mana and body full of premium-grade magical tools...
To face three cultivators of the same level, along with that formation...
He likely wouldn’t have escaped unscathed either.
...
Two days later.
The marketplace, which was bustling just yesterday, had become significantly quieter today. The number of cultivators had visibly decreased.
Outside the marketplace, countless cultivators were heading in groups toward the newly established Tianxuan City.
Upon seeing this, Lin Chang'an simply shook his head.
"Mid- and late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators might manage to survive there. But for early-stage cultivators, surviving in a small marketplace like Bamboo Mountain is already so difficult—what difference would a change in location make?"
Over the past two days, he had sold off nearly all the belongings from that Talisman Master Ge had left behind.
He sold all five mid-grade magical tools, and among the three premium-grade magical tools, only kept a Blackiron Shield—after all, no one ever disliked having more defensive tools.
Gold-threaded Scale Armor on the inside, Blackiron Shield on the outside—his safety level had greatly increased.
"Brother Lin."
"Fellow Daoist Lin."
Shen Lie, Lu Qingqing, and Wei Buyi—who leaned on a pair of iron-crutch magical tools—arrived one after another, having also rented a carriage from the Zhou Clan.
Inside the carriage were Shen Lie’s son and Wei Buyi’s daughter.
"At least I have some skill in alchemy. Once we reach Tianxuan City, I won’t need to worry about getting by."
Wei Buyi had undergone a great upheaval in his life, and his temperament had become far more composed than before.
Just as they were waiting, the Zhou Clan’s group approached.
This time, the Zhou Clan’s relocation to Tianxuan City included two Foundation Establishment cultivators and nearly a hundred Zhou Clan cultivators.
It could be said they had deployed more than half their strength.
"Verify the identities of accompanying individuals. One spirit stone per person. Children are exempt. Stay at the rear of the group. Do not approach our Zhou Clan team along the way without permission..."
A late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator of the Zhou Clan issued orders in a deep voice.
Those cultivators following the Zhou Clan this time were all personally selected—backgrounds clear, with family in tow.
After all, such people were the least likely to betray them.
"Brother Lin."
Li Erniu was also among the group. At this moment, his face was beaming with joy. Holding a mid-grade magical long saber, he walked over to greet them.
"Alright, it's getting late. This time we are venturing deep into the Cloudmist Mountain Range. Everyone, set off immediately."
The Zhou Clan wasted no words. In their mighty procession, the spirit beasts raised by the Zhou Clan were especially eye-catching.
Over a hundred cultivators marched in grandeur, drawing envious gazes from many rogue cultivators within the marketplace.
"No rush. Once our cultivation advances further, it won't be too late to go to Tianxuan City."
"That's right. Tianxuan City is newly established. The leakage of spiritual energy has attracted countless beasts. We'll head over once things have settled down."
The cultivators who stayed behind in the marketplace were mostly of low cultivation or overly cautious. After all, the recent wave of beast activity had been unusually chaotic.
As the marketplace behind them grew increasingly distant, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but feel a surge of melancholy. He had lived in this marketplace for thirty years—it was here he had become a true cultivator.
"If not for preparing for Foundation Establishment, I really wouldn’t want to leave this place."
Sect and clan powers were clearly converging upon Tianxuan City. Staying here would only lead to the marketplace becoming increasingly desolate. Even if he gathered all necessary materials, there would be no Second-rank Alchemist to refine a Foundation Establishment Pill.
Tianxuan City—guarded by three Golden Core Realms. Especially under the reputation of Realman Lu of the Blackwater Turtle—rogue cultivators from Yue Country swarmed toward it, and even those from neighboring nations came in droves.
...
Over a month later.
Tianxuan City was finally in sight.
From a distance, shrouded in mist, a towering giant city came into view. Its lofty city walls were like a giant dragon, connected with the mountains and winding around the city.
The entire Immortal City was nestled among mountain ranges, surrounded by white mist and silver waterfalls. Under the rising sun, radiant clouds shimmered—it looked like a paradise on earth.
Even several li away, Lin Chang'an’s group could feel the obscure and terrifying fluctuations of magical power.
Clearly, this Immortal City was enveloped by a hidden yet active defensive formation.
"Brother Lin, this is Tianxuan City!"
The group of weary figures, upon seeing the Immortal City from afar, were all stunned by the sight.
Li Erniu, his voice hoarse, forgot his exhaustion at that moment. His scalp tingled as his eyes were overwhelmed by what lay ahead.
"This... is Tianxuan City!"
Even Lin Chang'an, staring at the majestic Immortal City before him, couldn’t hide the shock in his eyes.
Thirty years ago, during the assessment at the Palace of Blazing Fire, he had caught a glimpse of the Immortal Gate hidden in the mists—like a fairyland.
Now, the city before him sat amid grand mountains, its aura overwhelming. In the surrounding mist echoed sounds of things tearing through the air.
Magical tools, flying boats, spirit birds—the once-rare sight of Foundation Establishment cultivators—today, he saw so many all at once.
"There are so many Foundation Establishment cultivators!"
Everyone was amazed. Some even shed tears—whether out of longing for Foundation Establishment or the hardships of their journey, no one could tell.
"Brother Lin, we finally made it."
Shen Lie let out a sigh of relief after the exhausting journey. Lin Chang'an too finally relaxed a little, nodding with a tired sigh.
"This journey wasn’t easy."
Though the spirit stones collected earlier by the Zhou Clan had been refunded, Lin Chang'an and his group looked at the Zhou Clan with strange expressions.
The reason? On the way to Tianxuan City, they were targeted by a pack of Black Wind Wolves.
Who would have thought that these beasts would still hold grudges after so many years?
Had it not been for the Zhou Clan having two Foundation Establishment cultivators, and the Wolf King clearly being injured, this trip would’ve been truly perilous.
"Let’s go. Into the city."
As the Zhou Clan leader’s hoarse voice echoed, the weary group erupted with excited cheers.
【Tianxuan City】
The three giant characters, visible from afar, made countless cultivators dazed, as if this was the place where their dreams would take root.
"Tianxuan City, huh? May this place become where I achieve Foundation Establishment."
As the Immortal City became clearer in view, Lin Chang'an’s gaze grew ever more determined.