Chapter 66: Wood Armor Soul Binding Array
Tianxuan City.
In the bustling Immortal City, pavilions, towers, bridges, and corridors were arranged in an orderly manner. The upturned eaves and carved beams, along with the painted decorations, were vivid and intricate, almost lifelike.
At the center of the city's marketplace stood two towering buildings.
Gathering Treasures Pavilion and Many Treasures Pavilion, each representing the landmark structures of two major sects.
“Master Lin.”
Just as he entered the Gathering Treasures Pavilion, he encountered an old acquaintance from the Bamboo Mountain Marketplace—Manager Miao. Upon seeing that it was Yun Yao bringing him in, Manager Miao greeted him with even more respect.
“Greetings, senior.”
In the cultivation world, cultivation level was paramount. Upon encountering a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Manager Miao couldn’t help but appear somewhat reserved.
“Manager Miao.”
Lin Chang'an, who was following behind, smiled and nodded to Manager Miao. He hadn’t expected that after relocating to Tianxuan City, he would still run into familiar faces.
They went directly to the third floor.
“Rogue cultivator Lin Chang'an, premium-grade talisman master, background clean, once assisted the sect in eliminating remnants of the demonic sect. I am vouching for him to purchase a formation.”
With Yun Yao’s cold voice echoing, the attending manager took Lin Chang'an’s identity token, his face blooming with a flattering smile.
“Yes, yes, with Senior Sister Yun’s guarantee, Master Lin’s identity is naturally very reliable.”
Seeing this, Lin Chang'an couldn’t help but nod secretly. No wonder formations rarely flowed to the outside—every buyer had to have their identity verified.
With Yun Yao, a direct disciple of a sect’s Golden Core elder, providing a guarantee, the third-floor manager didn’t hesitate and happily invited him inside, while Yun Yao went up alone to the fourth floor.
“Master Lin, what kind of formation are you looking for? One focused on offense? Or defense? Or a balanced type?”
Facing the smile of this gaunt manager, Lin Chang'an understood that the hospitality was entirely due to Yun Yao’s influence. He didn’t dare act haughty and instead cupped his hands politely.
“Manager, I am looking for a wood-attribute formation.”
Although not very familiar with formations, Lin Chang'an understood that only formations aligned with one’s own attributes could unleash greater power.
“I see. Fellow Daoist, take a look at these three formations in our Gathering Treasures Pavilion.”
With a proud smile, the gaunt manager gently raised his hand, and from the restricted area behind him, three large wooden boxes flew over.
It was Lin Chang'an’s first time seeing complete formations, and his eyes lit up.
As the boxes opened, each formation came with a varying number of formation plates and flags, all glowing with spiritual light.
“These three are all premium-grade first-rank wood-attribute formations. Judging by Fellow Daoist’s cultivation, you’re likely aiming to obtain a beast core. This first one is balanced in offense and defense, immensely powerful. The second...”
As the manager provided a detailed explanation, Lin Chang'an gradually understood how formations were used.
However, as he listened to the descriptions, Lin Chang'an frowned slightly. All three were premium-grade first-rank formations—quite powerful—but he wanted something capable of dealing with second-rank spirit beasts. These seemed somewhat lacking.
The manager appeared to notice his concern and rubbed his hands with a small smile.
“Fellow Daoist, each premium-grade first-rank formation costs around eighteen hundred spirit stones. Beyond that, there are quasi-second-rank formations suitable for late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators. But the price...”
Seeing the manager rubbing his hands and smiling, Lin Chang'an understood—the manager was worried about the high cost. Still, he asked cautiously:
“What’s the price for that quasi-second-rank wood-attribute trapping formation?”
When the manager held up three fingers, Lin Chang'an fell silent.
It was known that a premium-grade magical artifact cost only about one thousand spirit stones. Formation prices were easily double that.
And this quasi-second-rank, essentially like his premium-grade first-rank talismans, used second-rank materials. Due to imperfections in craftsmanship or other issues, they didn’t meet true second-rank standards.
Three thousand spirit stones—nearly enough to buy half a Foundation Establishment Pill. Ordinary cultivators truly couldn’t afford such a price.
After all, preparing for Foundation Establishment consumed a considerable number of spirit stones at every step.
“Three thousand spirit stones!”
Lin Chang'an wore an expression of hesitation before gritting his teeth and nodding.
“Luckily, I earned quite a few spirit stones when I helped eliminate the remnants of the demonic sect at the Bamboo Mountain Marketplace. I also have this damaged formation. How much might it be worth?”
When Lin Chang'an brought out the damaged formation he had obtained after defeating Ge Li at the Bamboo Mountain Marketplace, the manager examined it closely before shaking his head.
“A premium-grade first-rank formation. The cost of repairing it is significant. At most, it’s worth one thousand spirit stones.”
“Good grief,” Lin Chang'an felt a pang of pain when he heard that Yun Yao's earlier strike had broken the formation and caused a direct loss of eight hundred spirit stones. Had he known, he would have told Yun Yao to go easier.
However, formations truly were consumables, far more prone to damage than magical artifacts.
“Alright, I have one thousand eight hundred spirit stones here. I'll make up the remaining two hundred with talismans.”
Lin Chang'an looked as if he had been completely drained, while the shopkeeper's face was full of smiles, mixed with a hint of envy at Lin Chang'an's good fortune.
Three thousand spirit stones—this wasn't a fortune that ordinary cultivators could possess. But he had exchanged it with his life, so there was no reason to feel jealous.
“Fellow Daoist Lin, this set of Wood Armor Spirit-Binding Formation is extremely powerful. This is the method of use and the precautions for setting it up. If there is any damage, our Gathering Treasures Pavilion offers fair repair prices.”
Upon seeing the power of the formation described in the jade slip, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but feel a trace of hidden fear. The spirit stones were indeed well spent, but this formation was not something an average person could afford to use.
Normally, when purchasing a magical artifact, the only consumption was a cultivator’s own spiritual power.
But it was different with formations. Once set up, the formation plate needed to be embedded with spirit stones, and every use consumed a large number of them.
Moreover, as a Quasi-second-rank Formation, its materials were all second-rank. Using low-grade spirit stones could only bring out seventy to eighty percent of its power. Only with mid-grade spirit stones could its full power be unleashed.
“Each mid-grade spirit stone has a premium in exchange rate—at least one hundred and fifty low-grade spirit stones for one.”
That meant that just a single use of this formation would cost several hundred low-grade spirit stones.
“No wonder it’s so powerful—it’s purely built on piles of spirit stones.”
After storing the formation into his storage pouch, just as Lin Chang'an was about to take his leave, a maid respectfully brought over another storage pouch.
“Master Talisman Lin, this was entrusted to you by Elder Yun. She said she has not forgotten the favor from back when she formed her Foundation.”
Lin Chang'an nodded lightly, accepted the storage pouch, and turned to leave.
At that moment, on the fourth floor of the Gathering Treasures Pavilion, a pair of eyes watched Lin Chang'an’s departing figure. Yun Yao let out a faint sigh.
Powerless against the current, the youthful pride she felt when forming her Foundation now seemed laughable in hindsight.
“So, Foundation Establishment cultivators are nothing more than caged birds raised by those in power.”
Turning her gaze, she looked at the crimson and gilded banner of the Palace of Blazing Fire fluttering within the Immortal City. Her eyes gradually grew cold.
...
Meanwhile, after returning to his cave residence, Lin Chang'an opened the storage pouch Yun Yao had given him and couldn’t help but show a look of astonishment.
“These are eight mid-grade spirit stones, and this jade slip contains Yun Yao’s insights from when she formed her Foundation.”
Though he wasn't lacking in spirit stones, others didn't know that.
To him, the most precious thing was this jade slip containing insights into Foundation Establishment.
Lin Chang'an was filled with emotion. Back when Yun Yao was establishing her Foundation, they had done everything they could to help her. Now, it was his turn.
The past bond had already been repaid with a spell and a Premium-grade First-rank Talisman. Now, he was just like Yun Yao had been back then—seeking Foundation Establishment, with others lending their support.
“This favor is a heavy one.”
They had known each other for over thirty years. Though their friendship wasn’t forged through life and death or shared wealth, it was still rare and precious.
Though he didn’t know what Yun Yao was going through, Lin Chang'an understood that only by forming his Foundation could he gain access to higher circles.
Once he achieved Foundation Establishment, he wouldn’t need Yun Yao’s guarantee to buy a formation like today.
“Now that I have magical artifacts, cultivation, spells, and formations—all in place—and even a technique for after Foundation Establishment, it’s time to prepare for acquiring a demon core.”
At that moment, Lin Chang'an’s eyes gleamed as he looked beyond Tianxuan City toward the distant, mysterious Cloudmist Mountain Range.
Second-rank spirit beast!